any thing but dismal and funestuous Objects She suffer'd her self to be Conducted away without pronouncing one Word But when she came into her Chamber the Sight of Zayde embitter'd her Sorrow and gave her Strength to speak Are you now satisfyed Madam said she to her Alamire is Dead I Alamire is Dead continued she as if she were speaking to her self I shall never see him more I have then lost all Hopes of ever being Beloved of him It is no longer in Love's Power to preserve him for me My Eyes shall never meet with his His Presence which sweeten'd all my afflicting Misfortunes is for ever vanish'd from my sight Ah Madam said she to Zayde Is it possible that any Man should please you when Alamire could not How Cruel was your Humanity Why would not you love him He Adored you most Religiously What could there be wanting in him to render him more Amiable But replyed Zayde softly You very well know that I should encrease your Sufferings if I had loved him and that it was the only thing in the World which you apprehended most It is true Madam answered she it is true I was unwilling you should make him so Happy But I would not have had you deprive him of Life Alas Why did I with so much Care conceal from him the Passion I had for him Perhaps it had won upon him happily it might have given him some Diversion from that fatal Love which he had for you What was I afraid of Why should not he know that my Heart Adored him The only Consolation which is left me is that he suspected some-thing of it Well although he had known it it may be he would have dissembled that he loved me and so would have deceived me What if he had continued to deceive me as he begun Those dear Moments wherein he made me believe that he loved me are yet precious to my Memory Is it possible that after suffering so many Evils there should rest still so great for me to endure I hope at least that my Grief will be strong enough to bereave me of Force to support them As she talked thus Gonsalvo came to the Door of her Chamber not thinking she was there to know in what Condition she was in after returning from Alamire's Apartment He with-drew himself suddainly that he might not irritate her grief by his Presence But he could not do it so quickly but that she had a Glimpse of him and this sight of him made her cry out so mournfully that the hardest Hearts could not choose but be moved there-at I beseech you Madam said she to Zayde to give order that Gonsalvo comes not inâ—â— my sight I cannot endure the Sight of a Man from whose Hand Alamire received his Death and who robb'd him of what was dearer to him than his Life The Violence of her Grief took away her Speech and her Senses And her Health being already much impair'd it was easie to perceive that her Life was in danger The King and the Queen being told of her Condition came to see her and sent for all that could give her Ease After five or six Hours lying in a kind of Lethargy the Strength of the Medicines which was given her brought her to her self She knew none of the Standers by but Zayde who fate weeping by her with much sorrow Do not lament my Loss said she so low that she could hardly be over heard I should no longer be worthy of your Friendshp nor could I love a Person that caused the Death of Alamire She could say no more She fell into the same Fainting-Fits again And the next Day about the same Hour that she saw the Prince of Tharsus depart she ended a Life which Love had render'd so Unfortunate The Death of two Persons of so extraordinary Merit was so worthy of Compassion that all the Court of Leon was afflicted there-at Zaydes Grief was inexpressible She loved Felime passionately and the manner of her Death added more Sorrow to her Affliction All Gonsalvo's Prayers and his Cares could not prevail for several Dayes with her to moderate her Grief But her Apprehensions of leaving Spain and losing Gonsalvo gave some Respite to her Tears to afflict her with another sort of Discontent The King returned to Leon And there remain'd so little now of what was to fulfil the intire Accomplishment of the Articles of Peace that in all appearance Zulema was very shortly to re-pass into Africk Yet he was not in a condition to Travail for he was dangerously sick when Felime dyed and the Extreamity he was reduced to was kept from Zayde that she might not be oppressed with so many Afflictions at one and the same time Gonsalvo was full of Mortal Disquiet and studied all wayes by which he might either induce that Prince to consent to his Happiness or perswade Zayde to stay in Spain with the Queen since Reason seemed to dispense with her for not following a Father that appeared in a Resolution to force her to change her Religion Some Dayes after they came to Leon Gonsalvo came one Evening into the Queens Closet where Zayde was but her Eyes were so fixt upon a Picture of Gonsalvo's that she did not see him when he came in It is decreed Madam said he that I must alwayes be jealous of Pictures since I am so even of my own and must envy the Attention you have in looking on them What of your Picture answered Zayde with an extream Surprize Yes Madam of my Picture replyed Gonsalvo I see you can hardly believe it because it is so Handsom but I assure you it was drawn for me Gonsalve said she was there no other Picture drawn for you like this Ah Madam cryed he with that kind of Trouble which uncertain Joyes creates in us May not I believe what you give cause to suspect and what I can scarce dare to tell Yes Madam other Pictures like this you see have been drawn for me But I dare not give my self the Liberty to believe what I perceive you think and what I should have thought long since if I had judged my self worthy of those Predictions which have been told you and if you had not alwayes assured me that the Picture which resembled me was drawn for an African I believed so by the Habit and the Words of Albumazar perswaded me to it You know added she how much I desired that you might be the Man you resembled But what surprizes me is that having wished it so much my Pre-occupation should hinder me from believing it I spoke of it to Felime the first time I saw you at Alphonso's House When I saw you again at Talavera and was informed of your Birth and Quality this very Imagination came into my Mind but looked only upon it as a pure Effect of my Wishes But How hard a matter will it be continued she fetching a deep Sigh to perswade my Father to believe this Truth And how much I
to admit his visits during his abode in Cyprus At his going from us he told me that if his presence had been troublesome to me or should be for the future I must blame my self alone for it Nevertheless I had taken notice that his looks were often upon Zayde And I observed likewise that his eyes were as often fixed upon me after a manner which appeared so natural to me that joyning the Language of his Eyes with many things which he had said to me I remained convinced that I had made some impressions upon his heart O Gods How deep were those he made upon mine As soon as he was out of my sight I felt a sadness that was utterly unknown to me I quitted Zaydes company I went dreaming about my thoughts were confused I was weary of my self I came again to find Zayde and my thoughts it was onely that I might speak to her of Alamire I found her busy with her Maids making Garlands of Flowers And she seemed to me as unconcerned as if she never had seen this Prince I felt a kind of a Mazement at her being so busy with her Flowers and found my self so little disposed to amuse my self with them that I snatched them from her whether she would or no. We went to walk I talked to her of Alamire I told her that I saw him look very much upon her she made answer that she did not observe it I endeavoured to find out whether she had taken notice of the inclination which he professed for me but I found she had not so much as a thought of it And I remained so astonished and so confounded to see the different Effects which the sight of Alamire had upon Zayde from those it had wrought upon me that I blamed my self and used such reproaches against my self as were already but too just Some days after he came to see us at a time when Alasinthe and Beleny were gone abroad and were not to return untill night Alamire appeared to me more Lovely than ever and as Zayde was not present it was my Misfortune to see him when there was nothing that could divert his attention from looking upon me and made me so many protestations of his love that the inclination I had for him perswaded me that I was as acceptable and pleasing to him as he was to me He took his leave of me before the hour that Zayde was to return after such a manner that I flattered my self with the opinion that he had no thoughts of seeing her she returned a great while after and I was surprized when Alasinthe told me that they met him very neer the Castle and that he came back to conduct them to the Castle Gate I fancied by the space of time since he left me he should have been farther off than they said and that if he had not waited for them he could not have met them This thought gave me some disquiet Nevertheless I did attribute their meeting to Chance rather than any thing else yet I was in greater impatience to see Alamire again then ever I had felt before He came some dayes after to bring Alasinthe the news of the Warr the Emperor Leo Designed to make against Cyprus And this news that was of such Consequence served him as a pretence to come more often to see us And as often as he came he still made the same protestations of love to me as formerly I had need of all my reason to conceal from him the Disposition of mind in which I was towards him and perhaps all my reason would have been too weak if the Concern I saw he had sometimes for Zayde did not help to retain me for all that I attributed what I saw him do to please her onely to his innate Civility and he had addresse enough to hide from me what might give me other thoughts We had intelligence that the Emperors Fleet was in sight of our Coasts Alamire perswaded Alasinthe and Beleny to leave the place we were in Although our Religion gave us no Apprehension of the Emperors forces yet the Alliance we had with the Arabians and the apprehensions we had of the disorders which attends upon War obliged us to follow Alamire's Counsels and remove to Famagosta I was very glad of it both because I thought I should be in the same place with Alamire and that Zayde and I should be no longer Lodged together Her Beauty was so dreadfull to me that I was glad to be where Alamire might see me without seeing her I believed I should be fully satisfied of his intentions towards me and should see whether I ought to abandon my self to the inclination I had for him but my heart was no longer in my power I am perswaded neverthelesse that if I had been then as well informed of Alamires humours as I have been since I might have defended my self against the inclination which drew me to Love him But as I knew onely the agreeable and charming qualifications of his Wit and Person together with the Passion he pretended for me it was hard for me to resist an inclination which was so violent and so natural The day we arrived at Famagosta he came to meet us Zayde was that day so Charmingly Beautifull that she appeared in the eyes of Alamire what he appeared in mine That is to say the only person that can please I perceived the extraordinary care he took to view her attentively When we were arrived Alasinthe and Beleny separated Alamire followed Zayde without so much as pretending an excuse to leave me I remained struck with the sharpest grief I ever felt I knew by the violence thereof the true Passion I had for this Prince and this knowledge increased my sadness I now saw the Horrible Misfortune I was fallen into by my own fault but after having afflicted my self for a long time I saw some beams of hope still I Flattered my self as all those that are in Love do and I fancied that some Reasons unknown to me might occasion what displeased me I was not long fed with this weak hope Alamire for a while would have us believe that he lov'd us both that he might determine afterwards according to the usage he received to whom he should stick But the Beauty of Zayde without the succour of hope carried it Nay he had forgotten that he had ever endeavoured to perswade me to believe that he had a kindnesse for me He seldom or never came to see me after or if he did it was to follow Zayde he loved her with an extraordinary passion In sine I saw him in that condition for her as I should have been for him if decency would have pormitted me to shew my sentiments for him I know not whether it be necessary for me to tell you what I suffered and the various impulses that perplexed my heart I could not endure to see him with Zayde and to see him so Amorous of her and of the
the Concern I have for him not only the Interest of my Honour would make me inconsolable but I should be likewise so by that of my Passion I might flatter my self with the Hope of being Beloved if he should know my Inclination to Love him Yet I know Love do's not alwayes beget Love Therefore I will not deprive my self of that Hope as weak as it is since it is the only Comfort I have left me I gave Zayde so many other Reasons that she was of my Opinion that I ought not to discover my Passion to Alamire I found a great Ease in having open'd my Heart to her and much Satisfaction in making my moan to her The Wars in the mean-time held on still though at such a Rate as was plainly to be seen that we should not be able to hold out long All the Country was lost but Famagosta Alamire expos'd himself every Day with a Valour or a Temerity that clearly shewed the Despair he was in Mulziman would tell me of it with an extraordinary Affliction and he so often hinted to me the Amazement he was in to behold Alamire so violently passionate of Zayde that I could not forbear asking him the Reason and pressing him to tell me Whether Alamire had never been in Love before he saw Zayde He made some difficulty to tell me the cause of his Astonishment But I conjured him so efficaciously that at last he told me the Adventures of that Prince I will not trouble you with the whole Story because it would be too tedious But only what may suffice to let you know Alamire's and my Misfortunes The HISTORY of Alamire Prince of Tharsus I Have already acquainted you with Alamire's Birth What I have told you of his Person and my thoughts of him ought to perswade you that he is as worthy of Love as a man can be He had likewise made it his whole Study from his Youth to gain the love of all Women And although the manner of living of the Arabian Women be directly opposit to Gallantry Alamires addresse and the pleasure he took in Surmounting difficulties made all that easie to him which would have been thought impossible by others As this Prince was unmarried and his Religion gave him the liberty to have several Wives so there was not a Young Lady in Tharsus that did not flatter her self with the hopes of Marrying him Nor was he sorry to find that this hope made him to be more fayourably used But his inclination lead him to no ingagement that he could not break at pleasure He aimed at nothing but being Beloved the pleasure of being in Love was utterly unknown to him he never had a sincere Passion but he was so well Versed in appearing in Love without being so that he perswaded all those he had thought worthy of his Love It is true also that during the time he made it his business to please the desire of making himself to be Beloved gave him a kind of Ardour which might be taken for a real Passion but as soon as 0202 he saw himself beloyed having nothing more in his desires and not being enough in Love to find any Pleasure in Love alone separated from Difficulties and Intregues he thought of nothing more but how to break with those that loved him and to find out others whom he might draw into the same Ingagements One of his Favorites called Selemin was privy to all his Amours and was himself as unconstant the Arabians do celebrate certain Feasts at certain times of the year it is the only time that the Women have any liberty they are permitted at those times to go about the Town and to walk in the publick Gardens they assist at the solemn Plays which are shewed somtimes but always Vail'd Alamire and Selimin waited with impatience for those Opportunities they never failed of finding out some new unknown Beauties and ways of speaking to them and managing some private Intregues with them Upon one of these Feasts Alamire saw a young Widdow called Naria whose Vertue Beauty and Riches were extraordinary by chance unveiled as she was speaking to one of her Slaves he was surprized with the Charms of her Beauty she was a little startled at the sight of this Prince but could not forbear looking earnestly upon him which he perceived he followed her and made it his business to let her take notice that he did so In fine he had seen a Fine Woman and was seen by her and that was enough to erect in him both Love and Hope the Character he received of Naria's Vertue and Witt doubled in him the desire he had to make her in Love with him he sought Her in all places with much industry he passed very often by her House without seeing her or being seen by her he met her by chance as she was going to a Bath and was so happy as to have a sight of her Face two or three times and as often found her most Beautiful and was so smitten with her that he believed she designed to put a stop to all his lightness and inconstancy Several Days passed before Alamire could find any signe that Naria approved of his Love and begun to be very much concerned at it Yet for all that he did not quit the Designe he had laid to gain the good Esteem of her or those other fair Persons and above all of a young Lady called Zoromade very considerable by her Father's Quality as well as her own Beauty The difficulty of seeing her was almost as great as that of seeing Naria But he was perswaded that this Fair Maid would have easily found means to overcome them if she were not so narrowly watched by her Mother So that he was not so eager to surmount these Obstacles as he was to over-come Narias Resistance being she had no Body to controul her He had endeavoured two or three times but in vain to gain some of her Slaves to know from them the Dayes she used to go Abroad and the Places where he might see her At last one of those that seemed the most Obstinate promised him to give him Notice of all she did Two Dayes after he told him She was going to a very fine Garden she had out of Town and that if he would please to walk about that there were about it Risings from whence he might easily see her Alamire made use of this Intelligence He goes out of Tharsus disguised and passed all the Afternoon about this Garden Towards Evening as he was ready to return he saw a Door open and perceived it was the Slave which he had gained who beckon'd to him to approach He believed Naria was walking and that he might have a sight of her from that Door He advances and enters into a Magnificient Arbor richly adorned with all things that might add to its Beauty But what surprized him most was the Sight of Naria sitting upon Cushions under a stately Canopy after
the resemblance of the Goddess of Love two or three of her Women stood at a Corner of the Arbor Alamire could not forbear running towards her and casting himself at her Feet with an Air so full of Transport and Astonishment that he augmented the modest Blushes which appeared on the Face of this Beautiful Lady I know not said she to him intreating him to rise whether I ought of a suddain to shew you the Inclination I had for you having concealed it so long a time from you I believe I should have hid it all my Life-time if you had taken less pains to shew me the Love you had for me But I confess I could not but resist a Passion that was pursued and maintained upon such weak and slender Hopes The first Moment I saw you you appeared Lovely to me I have endeavoured to see you undiscovered with more care than you did to see me In fine I was desirous to be as well assured of the Passion you had for me by your Words as you had convinced me of it by your Actions Great Gods What Assurance could Naria have in Alamire's Words She little knew the bewitching and inevitable Charms of his alluring Speeches He out-did all the Hopes she conceived of his Love and by his flattering and insinuating Wit he gained an intire Conquest over the Heart of this Lovely Creature She promis'd to give him a second Meeting in the same place He returns to Tharsus fully perswaded that he was the Man of the World the most in Love and had almost perswaded Mulziman and Selemin that he was so He visited Naria divers times who shewed him the greatest Inclination and truest Marks of Love that ever were But she told him That she had learnt the great Disposition he had to Change That she was incapable of giving any share of her Heart to any other and that if he intended to preserve hers he must think of no Body else And upon the first occasion she should have of being Jealous of him she would for ever break with him Alamire answered her with so many Oaths and so much Address that he perswaded her of his Eternal Fidelity But the very Thought of such a strict Engagement troubled him and as there were no Obstacles to hinder him from the Freedom of seeing her his Love began to grow cold Nevertheless he continued making still the same Protestations of Love to her As she had no other Thoughts but of Marrying him she believed there was nothing could obstruct it since she both Loved and was Beloved of him insomuch that she begun to talk to him of Marriage Alamire was surprized at the Discourse but his Address was such that the Surprize was not taken notice of And Naria made a full Account that in a few Dayes she should be Marryed to this Prince Since his Love for Naria began to diminish his Pursuit of Zoromade began to increase And by the Assistance of an Aunt of Selimens whom her Nephew's Favour made Complaisant to the Princes Passion he found means to write to her The Impossibility of seeing her was still the same by which his Passion still augmented All his Hopes was in the Feast that is kept in the beginning of the Year It was the Custom to send great Presents one to another during this Feast and the Streets were crowded with Slaves laden with all that was Rich and Rare to be found Alamire sent Presents to divers Persons Naria being of a haughty and and proud Disposition would not give way to any considerable Presents yet he sent her some Arabian Sweets which were so Rare that none had any of them but himself and sent them with all the Ornaments that might make them more agreeable to her Naria's Passion was grown so violent for this Prince upon the Receipt of this Present that if she had followed the Dictaments of her Heart she had staid at Home to think of him and would have avoided all Divertisements where he was not to be Notwithstanding being invited by Zoromades Mother to a Feast at their House she could not with Decency gratify her Inclination herein She went thither and was not a little surprized at the Smell of the same Perfumes as she came into a large Closet which Alamire had sent She stopped with some Astonishment to inquire from whence that Pleasant Smell came Zoromade who was Young and not used to conceal any thing Blush'd and was out of Countenance Her Mother seeing her make no Answer said She thought they came from Selimen's Aunt who had sent them to her Daughter This Answer confirmed Naria that they came from the Prince She saw them with the same Ornaments as hers were but some-what Richer This Discovery made so violent an Impression upon her that she feigned her self indisposed and went Home as really sick as she desired to appear She was violent and quick of Apprehension The Thought of being deceived by the Man she Adored put her into a deplorable Condition But before she would give her self up to Despair she took a Resolution to be more fully informed of the Princes Infidelity She sent him word That she was sick and that she could not go to any of the Publick Entertainments during these Festivals Alamire came to see her and assured her that he also would not see any of those Publick Divertisements since she could not be there and talked to her after a manner that did almost perswade her that she did him wrong to suspect him Nevertheless as soon as he was gone she got up and disguis'd her self so that she could not be known She frequented those Places where it was most likely to find him The first Object that offer'd was Alamire disguised but no Disguise could hide him from her She saw him following Zoromade and during the Playes that were Represented she perceived him alwayes close by this Fair Lady The next Day she followed him again But instead of finding him in Pursuit of Zoromade she saw him in another Disguise closely Courting another Lady Her Grief at first began to lessen and she was not a little pacifyed to think that Alamire had only talked to Zoromade by Accident or to divert himself only She crowded her self amongst those Women that attended this Young Lady whom Alamire followed and she came so near to him that at the turning of a Street where this Young Lady made a stop she heard Alamire speaking to her with the same Aire and those very Terms that had so forcibly perswaded her of his Love Judge what became of Naria and the sensible Affliction she felt She would have thought her self Happy at that time if she could have been convinced that Zoromade was the only Object of Alamire's Pursuit She would believe at least that the Inclination he might have for this Beautiful Person might cause his Change She might have slatter'd her self to have been Beloved of him before his Inclination for Zoromade But finding that he
was able to have the same Care and speak the same Words to two or three at the same time she was satisfyed that she only had busted his Wit and not possessed his Heart and that she was only amused without attaining to her Happiness It was such a cruel Adventure for a Person of her Humour that she had not Force enough to bear it She returns Home over-whelmed with Grief and Affliction where she found a Letter from Alamire assuring her that he was shut up in his Closet at Home not being able to indulge himself the Pleasure of seeing the Publick Entertainments since he could not hope for that of seeing her there This Cheat made her judge of what weight were all the pass'd Actions of Alamire She was confounded with Shame for having so long pleased her self with a Passion that was but a meer Treachery She soon resolved what to do She writ to him all that Grief Affection and Despair could invent of most sensible and most passionate without acquainting him what should become of her only bid him an Eternal Fare-well This Letter surprized him and gave him some sense of Grief The Beauty and Wit of Naria were of such high Perfection that it render'd the Loss of her troublesome even to the Inconstant Humour of Alamire He went to tell his Adventure to Mulziman who made him ashamed of his Precedure You are deceived said he to him if you think your manner of dealing with Women is not contrary to the true Sense of an Honest Man Alamire was netled at this Reproach I will justifie my self to you answered he for I have too much Esteem for you to let you continue in so bad an Opinion of me Do you think me so great a Beast as not to Love with sincerity a Person that I thought Loved me truly But do you think interrupted Mulziman to justify your self by accusing those you Love Did any of them deceive you Did not Naria Love you with a true and sincere Passion Naria believed she Lov'd me replyed Alamire but she lov'd my Quality and the Rank to which I might raise her I have hitherto found nothing but Vanity and Ambition in Women They loved the Prince and not Alamire The desire they have to make a signal Conquest and the Ambition to raise themselves above that Slavish Life to which they are subject has created in them what you call Love as the Pleasure of being Beloved and the desire to over-come Difficulties begot in me what seemed a Passion to them I believe said Mulziman you wrong Naria for I am confident she truly loved your Person Naria spoke to me of Marriage answered Alamire as well as the rest and I know not whether her Passion was more sincere than theirs How replyed Mulziman Would you have a Woman Love you and not think of Marrying you No said Alamire I would not have them think of Marrying me while I am above their Quality that should pretend to it But I would not be unwilling they should desire it if they did not know my Quality and did in a manner believe they transgress'd against the Rules of Prudence in Marrying me But so long as they look upon me as a Prince that may raise them above the Sphere they are in and may give them a Prerogative to claim more Liberty than they enjoy in the Quality of a Subject I shall not think my self obliged to take any great Notice of the Designe they may have to Marry me or take it for a true Love You should see added he That I am very capable of Loving sincerely if I found a Person that should Love me without knowing who I am You desire an Impossibility to shew your Fidelity replyed Mulziman and if you were capable of being Constant you should meet with enough without expecting such extraordinary Occasions to shew it The Impatience he was in to know what was become of Naria broke off this Conversation He goes to her House where he learnt that she was gone to Mecka and that none knew the Way she took nor the Time when she would come back This was enough to make him forget Naria All his Thoughts are now bent upon Zoromade who was guarded with so much Care that it render'd all his Addresses in a manner vain Not knowing therefore what other Course to take he resolves to venture upon a way the most dangerous in those Countries that could be thought of which was to hide himself in one of those Houses where Women use to Bath themselves Those Baths are stately Pallaces Women frequent them two or three times a week They take a pride to shew their Grandure and Magnificence by making a great number of Slaves to March before and after them carrying all those things of which they have use in their Bathing Houses the entrance of those Houses is forbidden to all men upon pain of Death and there is no Mercy for them that are found there Alamire's quality seemed to warrant him against the ordinary Laws but his Rank exposed him to a general Revolt and Sedition in which he should not be able to save either his Life or Estate All Reasons were too weak to retain him from it he writ to Zoromade that he was resolv'd to hazard all for to see her intreated her to instruct him how he might speak to her Zoromade made a difficulty to consent to the hazard to which he was to expose himself but at last Led away by her Passion for him and forced by that insupportable Constraint under which the Arabian Women live writ to him That if he could find means to get into the Bathing House he must inform himself of that Appartment where she used to be that there was a Closet where he might conceal himself that she would not Bath that Day and that whilest her Mother was in the Bath she might have the opportunity of entertaining him Alamire felt a sensible pleasure in the difficulty of his enterprise He won the master of the Baths by great Presents he learnt the Day Zoromade was to come thither he got in by Night and was conducted to the Appartment wherein that Closet was where he remain'd until morning with all the the impatience that a man truly in love could be in Much about the time that Zoromade was to come he heard a Noise in the next Chamber as if divers People were come into it a little after the Noise lessen'd and the Closet Dore is open'd he expected to see Zoromade come in to him but in her stead he sees another Person whom he knew not Richly attired of a Beauty that had all the Flower and all the Life of a blooming Youth This Lady was as much surprized at the sight of Alamire as he was to see her he was no less proper than she to cause Astonishment by the agreeableness of his Person and the richness of his Apparel It was so unnatural a thing to see a Man in that
with the opinion that he had a great share in the care she took to learn it at least the sight of Zayde and the hope he had not to be hated by her made Gonsalvo feel all the pleasure that a Lover that is not assured of the affections of his Mistress can be sensible of The return of Don Olmond from the Castle whether he had sent him to place some of his Troops interrupted his thoughts as he found him in the same place with Zayde he thought he might inform himself of that fair Princesses Birth and Adventures but he apprehended that he might be in Love with her and his fear of finding a Rival in the Man he believed his Friend retarded for a long time his Curiosity but could not forbear at last asking Don Olmond by what Accident he was brought to Talevera After he had learnt that he was taken Prisoner going to look after him at Tarragon he spoke to him of Zulema first the better to bring on the discourse of Zayde You must know said Don Olmond that he is Nephew to the Caliph Osman and that he should have been in the place of Carmadan that reigns at this day if he had been as fortunate as his Merit deserves he holds yet a considerable rank among the Arabians He came into Spain to be General of the King of Cordoua's Army where he has lived with so much Honour and Grandeur that I was surprised at it At my Arrival here I found a very agreeable Court Belleny the Wife of Prince Osmin Zulema's Brother was then here this Princess was no less respected for her Virtue than her high Birth She had with her the Princess Felime her Daughter whose Wit and Beauty are full of Charms though there appears in both something of Languishing and Melancholly You have seen the incomparable Beauty of Zayde and you may judge how great my Astonishment was to find at Talevera so many Persons worthy of Admiration It is true replyed Gonsalvo that Zayde is the most accomplish'd Beauty I ever saw and I question not but she has a great number of Admirers here Alamire Prince of Tharsus is passionately in Love with her answered Don Olmond he began to be in Love with her in Cyprus and came along with her from thence Zulema suffer'd Shipwrack upon the Coast of Catalonia he is come since that into Spain and Alamire came to Talevera to find out Zayde These words of Don Olmond struck Don Gonsalvo to the heart they confirm'd him in all his Suspicions and he found in an instant that all his Imaginations were true the hopes of being deceived with which he had so often flatter'd himself quite left him and the Joy which he received in his last Conversation with Zayde served only to augment his grief He was no longer in doubt but that those Tears which she shed at Alphonso's were for Alamire that it was him he was like and that it was he that carryed her away from the Coast of Catalonia These thoughts gave so much disquiet to his mind that Don Olmond believed he was Sick and gave him to know that he was much concern'd thereat Gonsalvo concealed the cause of his Affliction and was ashamed to own that he was in Love after what he had already suffer'd by it he told him he should be well again in a little while and ask'd him if he had ever seen Alamire whether he was worthy of Zayde or whether she Loved him I never saw him replyed Don Olmond for he was gone to joyn with Abderam before I was brought to this Town his Reputation is great but I know not whether Zayde Loves him or not but I believe it is not easie for her to despise the Application of a Prince so deserving as he is given out to be and he appears so assiduous about her that it is hard to say that he should be altogether neglected by her the Princess Pelime with whom I have contracted a sincere Friendship in spight of the reservedness in which the People of her Country and Quality live has often spoke to me of Alamire and to judge of him by what she says there cannot be a more accomplish'd Person or a more passionate Lover than he is If Don Gonsalvo had followed the impulse of his thoughts he had ask'd many more questions of Don Olmond but he was with-held by the fear he had of discovering to him what he studied to conceal he only asked him what became of Felime Don Olmond told him that she was gone after the Princess her Mother to Oropese where Osmin commanded a Body of an Army After this Gonsalvo withdrew pretending to take some rest but in reality to be at Liberty to Afflict himself and to reflect upon the stubbornness of his invincible Misfortunes Why did not I know that Zayde was in Love with Alamire before I found her again If I had been assured of that when I lost her I should have been less afflicted for her absence I should not be so joyful for having found her nor should I endure now the cruelty of losing all the hopes she came from giving me What kind of Destiny is mine that even the sweetness of Zayde must create me nothing but Misfortune Why should she seem to Countenance my Love if she approves Alamires passion Or what means that wish of hers that I might be the man I resemble These kind of reflections augmented his Grief and the next day which he ought to have wished for with impatience and which ought to be to him so grateful since he was sure to see Zayde and to speak to her seemed to him the most frightful of all his Life for he fancyed that in seeing her he could hope for no other thing but the Confirmation of all his Disasters About Mid-night the Messenger whom he had sent to the King to acquaint him with the taking of the Town came back with Orders for Gonsalvo to March away at that very instant with all his Cavalry to joyne the Army Don Garcias knew that the Moors expected a considerable Recruit and as soon as he knew that Gonsalvo had taken Talevera he thought it expedient by the benefit of this Victory togeather all his Forces and to fall upon the Enemy before they were re-inforced by their new Succours Though Gonsalvo saw the difficulty of executing his Majesties Orders by the trouble he should find to make his Souldiers March being scarce refreshed after the Fatigue of the precedent Night yet the ardent Desire he had to be at the Battle made him use so much Diligence that he put his Men in a very short time in a readiness to March and he did himself the cruel Violence of parting with Zayde without taking his leave of her He ordered Zulema to be brought into the same Castle where the Princess was and commanded him that was Governour of it to acquaint her with the Reasons that obliged him to leave Talavera in such hast At Break of
he was at Talavera and came back in so short a time But it is no hard matter to know the Truth of this for two of my Officers have assur'd me that they lay last Night where this Prince did and we shall know from them where they met him The King commanded these Officers to be sent for presently and when they were come he asked them in what Place and what Time they met with Alamire One of these Officers made Answer Sir We were coming Yester-day from Ariobisbe whither we were sent we made a Halt in the Evening in a great Wood that is three or four Leagues from the Camp we lighted and lay down to sleep in this Wood I over-heard a Noise that waked me I saw at a distance thorow the Trees this Arabian Prince speaking to a Lady that was Magnificiently Dress'd This Lady after a long Conference left him and came to sit down by another Lady not far from the Place where I lay They spoke loud enough but I could not understand what they said because they spoke a Language that I knew not and which is not the same that the Arabians use They named Alamire divers times and tho their Backs were turn'd so to me that I could not see their Faces yet my thought that she who spake to Alamire wept bitterly After this they went away I heard Waggons and a great Noise of Horses going towards Talavera I awaked my Comrade and pursued our Way We saw Alamire at a distance lying under a Tree as if he had been indisposed his Squire asked me whether they could reach the Camp of the Arabians by Day-light I told them they could not so they came and lodged in the same Village where we lay The King repented him to have examin'd these Officers As soon as they were gone Gonsalvo said You see Sir whether I was in the wrong to believe that Alamire had seen Zayde But can you imagine that it was possible said the King for her to come out of the Town being she is a Prisoner My ill Fate Replyed Gonsalvo never lets me fail of any thing that can prejudice me I gave order at my coming away That Zayde might have the Liberty of going out of the Town to take the Aire as often as she would She expected Alamire in these Woods He had reason to send me word That an Affair of Importance that concerned not the War hinder'd him to make any stay in this Camp He has seen her then Yester-day She wept when he was gone It is true then that Zayde is in Love with Alamire and now I am no longer in doubt Leave me Sir Cast off your Care of a Man that is too much persecuted by ill Fortune to deserve your Esteem I am ashamed to be prized and beloved by you being so Wretched Don Garcias was sensibly touched at the Condition Gonsalvo was in and endeavoured to comfort him by the Assurances he gave him of his Affection and Friendship The next Day word was brought that the Prince of Tharsus his Wounds were very dangerous his Feaver was so violent the ensuing Dayes that there was little hopes of his Recovery Gonsalvo imagin'd that as soon as Zayde should come to know the danger this Prince was in she would send to know how he did He gave order to one of his Servants in whom he confided to go every day to the Castle where Alamire was kept to discover whether any came to try if they could see him He would fain have known like-wise Whether there were any of that Resemblance betwixt them which caused in him so much Curiosity But the Extreamity to which this Prince was reduced hinder'd all Discoveries of that Nature few or none of the Features of his Face being now distinguishable He that was commanded to go to the Castle acquitted himself of his Commission with Industry For he told Gonsalvo That since Alamire had been there none had desired to see him but that certain People whom he knew not came every day to know the state of his Health without telling who sent them Although Gonsalvo doubted no longer of Zaydes Love to Alamire yet every little Circumstance that assured him of it gave him new trouble and disquiet the King came into his Tent as he was agitated with the fresh Affliction he had received and apprehending that so many Displeasures would hazard his Life he forbid all those that came about him to speak to him of Alamire or the Princess Zayde In the mean while the Truce was ended and the two Armies fell to Action Abderame Besieged a little Place where he expected no great Resistance by reason of the Inconsiderableness and Weakness of the Place But it happened that the Prince of Gallicia nearly related to Don Garcias who by chance was carryed to this Place the more commodiously to be cured of some Wounds he had received in the last Battle undertook the Defence of it with more Rashness than Courage At which Abderame was so enraged that as soon as the Town was surrender'd he caus'd his Head to be struck off It was not the first time that the Moors abused their Victories and treated the bravest of the Nobility of Spain with a barbarous unparallel'd Inhumanity Don Garcias was extreamly incensed at the News of the Death of the Prince of Gallicia The Spanish Army was no less they lov'd the Prince and already weary of so many Cruelties for which no publick Satisfaction was made or required they came in Troops to Petition the King that Alamire might be used as the Moors had done the Prince of Gallicia The King consented to their Desires because it was dangerous to refuse to please an Army so much incensed He sent word to the King of Cordoua That he would cause the Prince of Tharsus his Head to be cut off so soon as he should be in a better condition of Health and that his Wounds would permit him to be made a Publick Example off without leaving Cause to report that he had only hasten'd his End Gonsalvo by the King's Order was ignorant of what had been transacted touching Alamire Some Dayes after they brought him word that a Gentleman belonging to Don Olmond desired to see him He order'd him to be admitted This Gentleman after having told him That his Master was extreamly troubled that the King's Order did detain him at Bâ—ragel and hinder'd him from coming in Person to ask him how he did gave him several Pacquets Gonsalvo open'd that which was addressed to him and read in it these Words The LETTER of DON OLMOND TO DON GONSALVO IF I were not well assured of the Inclination you have to do great Actions I would not send you the Inclosed and should believe it to no purpose to intreat you in the behalf of your Enemy But I am too well acquainted with your generous Soul to doubt of your kind Entertaining the Request I am desired to make to you However just it may appear to
otherside I could not live without him I had rather see him with Zayde than not to see him at all in the mean while what he did to gain her esteem instead of lessening my Passion raised it to the highest pitch All his words and all his Actions were so adapted to my fancy that if I could inspire a conduct into those that should desire to please me it should be that which Alamire used towards Zayde It is true that it is so dangerous a matter to see Love made that it inflames even those to whom it makes no tenders nor addresses Zayde gave me an account of his thoughts for her and her aversion for him when she spoke to me after that manner of him I was sometimes ready to discover to her the disposition I was in to engage her by this confession not to suffer the continuation of this Princes love but I was fearfull of making him appear more lovely to her by showing how much he was beloved yet I set my self a Rule not to render any ill offices to Alamire I was so sensible of the Horrible Misfortune of not being loved again that I resolved not to contribute to his feeling of it whom I so passionately loved and perhaps it was the little propensity I saw in Zayde towards him that made me stedfast to that resolution The Emperors Troops were so considerable that there was no doubt made but that Cyprus would quickly fall into his hands upon the noise of this invasion Zulema and Osimin awakened out of their profound Oblivion in which they had so long continued the Caliphe began to be afraid of them and seemed to be resolved to send them further off they prevented him by desiring him to give them the command of those forces which he intended for the relief of Cyprus and we saw them arrived when we least expected them this was a sensible joy for Alasinthe and Beleny and it would have been so for me if I had been capable of it but I was oppressed with sorrow and the Arrival of Zulema gave me new apprehensions fearing he should favour Almires designes My fears were not without cause Zulema who by his long abode in Affrica grew more stubborn and stedfast to his Religion than ever wished that Zayde would leave hers He came from Tunis with design to carry her thither and to marry her to the Prince of Fez of the house of Idris But the Prince of Tharsus appeared so deserving of his Daughter that he approved of his passion for her I saw then a necessity of endeavouring to hinder that Zayde should not love Alamire it being the only thing I apprehended most in the world to see him happy by her means This Princes passion was grown so violent that all that knew him were amazed at it Mulziman of whom I spoke to you whom I entertained sometimes because Alamire had a kindness for him seemed to me so astonished at it that I concluded that this Prince never until then had been susceptible of a Passion so strange and lasting Alamire made Zulema understand the intentions he had for his Daughter and Zulema acquainted Zayde with the desire he had she should Marry Alamire As soon as she was told of the thing she most apprehended she came to tell me of it with such marks of disquiet that I confess I was puzled to comprehend the reason of her Affliction for being design'd to spend her Days with Alamire This unfaithful Man had so throughly forgotten those Protestations he had made me that being informed by Zulema of the Aversion which Zayde had for him he came to make his moan to me and to implore my Assistance All my Reason and my Resolution were scarce strong enough to contain me I felt such a conflict and agitation of Mind that he might easily have perceived it if he had not been prepossess'd with the same Passion that disorder'd me At last after a silence which but two plainly spoke my mind I told him I wonder'd much at Zaydes Resistance against Zulema's Will but I am the most unfit Person in the World to make her change her Opinion I should speak against my own Judgment and besides the misfortune of being tied to one of your Nation is so well known to me that I cannot perswade Zayde to expose her self to it Belenia has too well informed me ever since I was capable of knowing any thing and I believe Alasinthe has so throughly instructed her Daughter that it will not be easie to make her Consent to what you desire and for my part I assure you once more that I am the unfittest Person in the World to undertake it Alamire was out of his Wits to find me so indisposs'd to favour him yet he was in hopes to win upon me by letting me see his Affliction and the violence of his Passion for Zayde I was in despair to hear what he said upon this occasion and yet I could not but pity him through the Conformity that was betwixt our Misfortunes All my Thoughts were distracted The Aversion which Zayde shewed for him gave me some Joy by the Sweetness of Revenge which I tasted plentifully And yet my Glory was offended to see one that I so much Adored thus despised I resolved to tell Zayde the State of my Heart but before I would do it I pressed her to consider well with her self Whether she should alwayes be able to resist the Designe Zulema had of Marrying her to Alamire She told me There was no Extreamity which she would not indure rather than consent to marry a Man so opposite in Religion to hers and whose Laws permitted him to take as many Wives as he pleased But that she believed that Zulema would not compel her or if he should endeavour it that Alasinthe would find means to hinder him What Zayde had told me gave me all the Joy imaginable And I began to endeavour to tell her what I had resolved to discover to her but I found more Difficulty and Reluctancy than I thought In fine I over-came all the Oppositions of Pride and Bashfulness and I told her with many Tears the State I was in She was strangely amazed at it and she seemed as much concerned at my ill Fate as I could wish But why said she did you conceal your Thoughts with so much Care from him that gave them Birth I do not doubt but that if he had at first discovered them he would have Loved you and I believe That if he should yet be made sensible of your Inclination for him the Hope of being Beloved together with the ill Usage he receives from me would quickly make him forsake me Will not you give me leave added she Embracing me to try to make him conceive that he ought rather to address himself to you than to me Ah Zayde answered I Do not rob me of the only thing that hinders me from dying with more Grief I should not be able to survive Alamire's Knowledge of
inexpressible He retired being unwilling his Face should be known to his Mistresses Mother and went to his own Lodging to wait for the time which he appointed to speak to Zebelec The fair Slave came to him with as much Sadness as he shewed the Day before aad brought him Elsiberyes Answer He was over-joyed at this Letter He found in it Modesty mixt with much Affection She assur'd him that she would have for him the Complacency of not seeing the Prince of Tharsus and that she should never make a difficulty of granting him such Favours She prayed him likewise not to hazard himself for her because that her own Natural Fearfulness and the strictness of the Watch that was kept over her would render all his Indeavours ineffectual Though Alamire was extreamly satisfyed with this Letter yet he could not endure the Beauty and Sadness of the Slave He asked him divers Questions about the Means of seeing Elsibery But the Slave made but cold Answers This Proceeding increased the Princes Suspicions and as he found himself more touched with the Beauty of Elsibery than he had ever been with any other so he feared to enter into a necessity of using her as he had done all those that he Loved before or to engage himself to a Person that might have other Inclinations In the mean-time he writ to her every Day He obliged her to let him know to what Places she went And his Love made him as careful to avoid seeing her in all Publick Places where she might know him to be the Prince as he was industrious to find out the means of seeing her in Private He so carefully observed all the Places about the House wherein she lodged that he found that upon the Top of the House which was made into a Terrass there was a Balcony jetting out over a Back-Street which was so narrow that one might Discourse from the House that was against it He soon found wayes to be Master of that House He writ to Elsibery conjuring her to be the Night following upon the Terras where she might be seen and entertain'd by him For being come thither Alamire might easily discourse with her without being over-heard by any other Nor was the Night so dark but that he might have the Pleasure distinctly to see that Beauty of which he was so enamour'd They enter'd into a long Discourse of the Inclinations they had for each other Elsibery desired to be informed what Adventure had brought him to the Bathing-house He confessed to her the whole Truth and all that had passed betwixt Zoromade and him Young People are too sensible of these kind of Sacrifices without apprehending the Consequences of them for themselves Elsibery had a violent Passion for Alamire She gave her self wholly up in this Interview and they resolved to see one another often in that Place As he was ready to withdraw he turned his Head by chance and was not a little surprized to see the Fair Slave that had already caused him so much Disquiet standing at one of the Corners of the Terrass He could not conceal his Trouble but said Madam if I have shewed you some Jealousie the first time I writ to you may I be so bold as to shew it you again the first time I speak to you I know that Women of your Quality have alwayes Slaves about them But I think they are not of the Age and Meine of him I see with you I do confess that what I know of the Person and Wit of Zebelec may render him as dangerous to me as the Prince of Tharsus can be Elsibery Smiled at this Discourse and calling the Beautiful Slave Come Zebelec said she Come and cure Selemin of the Jealousie you have caused him Madam I dare not without your Permission and I wish replyed Zebelec That you had the Power to make him Jealous It is not for my own Interest I wish it it is for Yours and for the Apprehensions I have of the Misfortunes to which you are going to expose your self But Sir continued the Slave addressing her self to the Prince whom she took for Selemin It is not just to let you suspect the Vertue of Elsibery I am a wretched Creature whom Chance has placed in her Service I am a Christian of Greece of a Birth far above the Condition you see me in A little Beauty of which there are scarce any Foot-steps left drew many Lovers to Court me in the Prime of my Youth I found so little Truth and so much Treachery in them that I looked upon them with Scorn One more Unfaithful than all the rest but who knew how to disguise it better gain'd my Affections I broke off for his sake a considerable Match My Parents persecuted us He was forced to fly He Marries me I Disguis'd my self in Man's Apparel and followed him We took Shipping There happen'd a Person of great Beauty to be in the same Ship brought thither by some extraordinary Accident to pass into Asia as well as my self My Husband fell in Love with her We were set upon and taken by the Arabians They shared the Slaves My Husband and one of his Relations had their Choice to be in one Lot with those that should fall to the Captain or the Lieutenant's Share It was my Lot to fall to the Captain and by an unheard-of Ingratitude my Husband chose to go with the Lieutenant to follow this Woman he Loved Neither my Presence nor Tears nor what I had done for him nor the wretched Condition in which he was going to leave me could move him Judge of my Grief I was led hither My good Fortune gave me to Elsiberies Father Though I have seen my Husbands Ingratitude I cannot altogether lose the Hope of his Returning and that was it that caused the Change you observed in my Face the first time I came to speak to you I was in hopes it might be him that desired to speak to me and as ill grounded as this Hope was I could not lose it without Grief I do not oppose the Inclination which Elsibery has for you I know by woful Experience how vain it is to oppose such kind of Thoughts But I grieve for her and I do fore-see the Mortal Pangs into which you will throw her She never was in Love She is now Engaging her self into a sincere and real Passion for you which no Man that has been already in Love can deserve When she had left speaking Elsibery told Alamire That her Father and Mother knew her Quality her Sex and her Merit but for Reasons that she had to remain unknown she appeared in the Guise of a Slave The Prince was Charmed with the Wit and Vertue of Zebelec but more to find how vain the Grounds of his Jealousies were In the Sequel He found so many Charms and so much Sincerity in Elsiberies Conduct that he was convinced that he was never Beloved but by her alone She lov'd him for Loves sake without
Religion This fair Creature being touched with what she had heard her say and with the Inconstancy of Alamire for which she hoped for no Redresse resolves to turn Christian to follow Zebelec and live with her in a profound Oblivion of all earthly Tyes She went away without giving any notice to her Parents only by a Letter which she left for them Alamire was already got far on his way when he understood by a letter from Selemin what I came from telling you of Elsibery But where ever she be perhaps she would find some Consolation could she but know how severely her Quarrel was revenged upon Alamire for his Infidelity to her by the Violent Passion which Zaydes Beauty kindled in him He arrived in Cyprus and fell in Love with that Princess as I told you after ballancing some time betwixt Her and Me But he Loved her with a Passion so different from all others he ever Loved that he scarce knew himself Formerly he would alwayes declare his Love from the first Moment that he felt it He never was afraid to offend those to whom he declared it But to Zayde he scarce durst let her have any inckling of it He was astonished at this Change in himself But he being forced by the Violence of his Passion to declare it to Zayde and that he found that the indifference she had for him did but irritate his Love for her when he saw himself brought to Despair by her usage to him without being able to disintangle himself from his Passion for her he felt a Grief that was not to be expressed How would he say to Mulziman Love never had more Power over me but I was pleased to give it and though it had entirely Conquer'd me I alwayes was pleased with all Places where I Loved And now he must through the only Person in the World in whom I found a Resistance to Domineer over me with so absolute an Empire that he has left me no Power to dis-ingage my self from him I could not Love all those that Lov'd me and I am compelled to Adore Zayde that despises me Is it her extraordinary Beauty that produces this unusual Effect Or Can it be possible that the only way to fix me was not to Love me Ah Zayde Shall I never be in a Condition to know that they are not your Rigors that ty me to you Mulziman could not tell what to say to him such was his Surprize to see him in the Condition he was in He endeavoured notwithstanding to comfort him and to ease his Pain Since the Arrival of Zaydes Father and her Declaring never to Marry that Prince his Despair grew greater and hurryed him to seek his Death any where with Joy This is as near I can remember what I learnt from Mulziman continued Felime and perhaps I have been too exact in my Narrative But you must pardon those Charms which those that are in Love found in the Persons whom they Love though it may be even upon disagreeable Subjects Don Olmond told the Princess That far from thinking her self obliged to excuse the Length of her Narration That he was bound rather to return her Thanks for informing him of Alamire's Adventures He conjured her to finish what she had begun to tell him She continued her Discourse after this manner You may very well judge that what I learnt of the strange Adventures and Humour of Alamire could give me no great Hope since I was covinced that the only way to make him Love was not to love him notwithstanding I did not love him less The Dangers to which he dayly exposed himself gave me Mortal Apprehensions for him I did believe that every Stroke might fall upon his Head that he was the only Man that could be in danger I was so over-whelmed with grief that I thought nothing could be added to it But Fortune exposed me to a kind of Misery more cruel than any I had yet felt Some Dayes after Mulziman had told me Alamire's Adventures I was speaking of them to Zayde and I made such sad Reflections upon the Cruelty of my Destiny that my Face was all bathed in Tears One of Zaydes Women pass'd thorow the Room where we were and left the Door open which I not perceiving It cannot be denyed said I to Zayde but that I am very Unfortunate to have settled my Affections upon a Man that is so unworthy in all Respects of the Inclination I have for him As I ended these Words I heard some Body behind me in the Room I thought at first it was that Woman that was going thorow again But What a confusion and trouble was I in when I saw it was Alamire and that he was so near me that he could not choose but hear my last Words But the Trouble I was in and the Tears that trickled down my Cheeks took from me all Means of hiding from him the Truth of what I had said My Strength fail'd me my Speech left me I wished my self Dead In short None ever was in such a taking as I felt my self And to add to the Cruelty of my Adventure the Princess Alasinthe came in accompanyed with divers others who went all to speak to Zayde and left me alone with Alamire The Prince looked upon me with an Ayre that shewed the fear he had to increase the Confusion in which he saw me I am sorry Madam said he that I came in at a time when in all appearance you were not willing to be heard by any but Zayde But Madam since Chance has ordained it otherwise do not take it ill if I ask you How it can possible be that a Man that has been so happy as to please you could oblige you to say That he was unworthy in all Respects of the Kindness you have for him I know no Man can deserve the least of your Favours But Can there be any Man that could give you Cause to complain of his Intentions Be not angry Madam that I have some share in your Confidence you shall not find me unworthy of it and though you took care to conceal from me what I have heard yet I shall alwayes have a great Value for a Secret which I owe only to Chance Alamire had spoke on for a long time if he had stay'd untill I had been able to interrupt him I was so out of Countenance and so daunted with the fear he should find out that he was the Man of whom I complain'd and with Grief that he should believe that I loved another Man that it was utterly impossible for me to answer him You think perhaps that having concealed from him the Passion I had for him with so much Industry and seeing him so much in Love with Zayde I should be indifferent whether or no he imagined some other might have gain'd my Esteem But Love had already put so much Constraint upon it Self to hide it from the Person that gave it Birth that it could not be so cruel
Person is so pleasing to me that if I am design'd for a Man that resembles him what should make me Happy is like to make my Life uncomfortable My Inclination is deceived with this Resemblance and hurries me to him to whom I ought not to belong and perhaps prepossesses me so strangely that I shall not be able to Love him whom the Destinies have ordained I should Love There is no other Remedy continued Zayde but to leave a Place where I run such hazard and where Decency it self forbids we should continue any longer It is not in our Power answered Felime to leave it We are in a strange Country even where our Language is not understood We must stay for the Ships But take notice that what soever Care you seem to take to leave Theodorick you will not easily be able to blot out the Impression he has made upon your Heart I perceive in you the same things I felt when I began to love Alamire and would to the Gods I could see in him what you cannot but see in Theodorick You are mistaken said she if you think that Theodorick has any Inclination for me he has doubtless for some other Person And the Sadness I perceive him in proceeds from a Passion of which I am not the Cause I have at least this Consolation in my Misfortune that the Impossibility of expressing my Thoughts to him will hinder me from the Weakness of declaring to him that I love him A few Dayes after this Conversation Zayde saw Theodorick at a distance looking with great Attention upon some thing which he held betwixt both his Hands Her Jealousie made her fancy that it was a Picture She resolves to find out the Truth and steals towards him as softly as she could but she could not do it so gently but that he heard her He turned his Head and hid what he had in his Hands so that she could see nothing but the Lustre of some Diamonds She no longer doubted but that it was a Picture-Case as she had imagined the Assurance she believed she had of it struck her with such a Grief that she could not hide her Sadness nor look upon Theodorick And she felt such anguish of mind to be so passionately smitten with a Man whom she believed in Love with another Theodorick by chance let fall what he hid she saw it was a Knot of Diamonds which held to a Bracelet of her Hair which she had lost some Dayes before The Joy she was in that she had been mistaken would not let her shew any Anger She snatch'd up her Bracelet and return'd the Diamonds to Theodorick who presently threw them into the Sea to let her see how much he despised them when they were separated from her Hair This Action convinced Zayde of the Love and Magnificence of that Spaniard and did no small Feats in her Heart After this he gave her to understand by the help of a Picture where he made the Painter to draw a Beautiful Lady weeping over a Dead Man that the Severity she shewed him proceeded from the Tyes she had for that Man whom she lamented It was no small Grief to Zayde to find that Theodorick believed that she loved another She was now no longer in doubt of his Love for her and she loved him with so much Tenderness that she no longer endeavoured to smother it The time in which she was to depart drew on and not being able to resolve upon her Departure without letting him know that she loved him she told Felime That she was resolved to write to him the Inclination she had in her Heart for him but not to give it him until the very moment she was to Embark He shall not know the Passion I had for him until I am sure I am out of danger of ever seeing him more It will be a great Comfort to me that he shall know that I thought of no other but himself whereas he believed I was wholly taken up with the Remembrance of another Man I shall find a great Pleasure in expounding all my Actions to him and in giveing my self the Freedom of telling him how much I loved him I shall have this Delight without breach of Modesty He knows not who I am He shall never see me more And what matter is' t if he knows that he touched the Heart of that Stranger whose Life he has saved from Shipwrack You have forgot Madam said Felime to her that Theodorick does not understand your Language So that what you will write to him will be of no use to him Ah Madam If he has any kindness for me he will find means to be informed of what I shall have written to him and if he has not I shall be glad that he does not know that I love him And I am resolv'd to leave him with my Letter the Bracelet of my Hair which I so cruelly took from him and which he deserved but too well Zayde began the very next Day to write what she intended to leave to Theodorick He surprized her as she was Writing and she easily found that he was Jealous at it If she had followed the Impulse of her Heart she had then told him That she writ to none but him But her Prudence and the little Knowledge she had of the Quality or Fortune of this Stranger kept her from saying any thing that might be taken for an Engagement and made her conceal what she desired he might know when he should see her no more Some short time before she was to depart Theodorick left her and made her comprehend that he would be back the next Day The Day following she and Felime went to walk upon the Beach not without Impatience to see Theodorick's Return and this Impatience made her more Pensive than usual So that seeing a Boat put in to the Shore instead of being Curious to see those that were in it she walked another way But she was much surprized to hear her self call'd and to distinguish her Father's Voyce She ran to him with great Joy and he was transported to see her again After she had acquainted him how she escaped from Shipwrack he told her in few words That his Ship was driven upon the Coast of France from whence he could not depart till some few Dayes before and that he was come to Tarragone to wait for the Ships that were to sail for Africk That in the mean-time he resolved to Row along the Coast where Alasinthe Felime and she had suffer'd Shipwrack to find if any of them had chanced to escape At the Name of Alasinthe Zayde could not contain her Tears by which Zulema understood the Loss he had received Having bestowed some time upon his Grief he commanded the Young Princesses to go into the Boat to sail along with him to Tarragone Zayde was in great Perplexity how to perswade her Father not to carry her away just then She told him the Obligations she had to those
for her and know moreover that Zulema has changed his Resolution All these Obstacles replied Alamire shall never make me change nor the continuance of Zaydes unkindness and in despite of the Fates and the manner she uses me I will never let fall my hopes of being beloved Felime more than usually Netled at the Obstinacy of Alamires Passion disputed with him a good while upon the Reasons that ought to draw him from his Pursuit But seeing all her Arguments were in vain Rage did so inflame her that ceasing for the first time to be Mistress of her self she told him That if the Decrees of Heaven and the unkindness of Zayd would not make him lose his hopes she knew not what would Nothing answered Alamire but to see that another Man has won her Heart then you must lay by all your hopes replied Felime for Zayde has met with a Man that has found the way to please her and by whom she 's Adored Beloved Alas who is that happy Man cryed Alamire A Spaniard said Felime that resembles the Picture you have seen in all likelihood it is not he for whom that Picture was Drawn nor whom Albumazar meant But as you fear none but him that may please Zayde let it suffice you to know that she loves him and that it is her fear of displeasing him that makes her not to consent to see you What you say cannot possible be replied Alamire Zayd's Heart is not so easily Conquered if it had been so you would not tell it me nor would Zayde give you leave to reveal such a Secret nor have you any Reason that may induce you to tel me of it I have too many replied she transported as she was with her Passion and you She was going to continue but of a suddain she recover'd her Reason She was out of Countenance at what she had said she was troubled and was sensible of her Error this same increased her Surprise She remain'd a while without speaking and as it were besides her self at last casting her looks upon Alamire and believing she saw somthing in his looks that discover'd somthing of the Truth she put a constraint upon her self and reassuming a Countenance wherein appeared more of tranquility than she had in her mind You have reason said she to believe that if Zayde were in love with any body I should not acquaint you with it I had only a mind to make you apprehend such a thing It is true that we have met with a Spaniard that is in love with Zayde and resembles that Picture which you saw But you have made me perceive that I have perhaps committed an Error to have told it you and I am in great perplexity fearing lest Zayde should be displeased at it There was something so natural in what Felime said that she believed it had wrought some part of the effect at which she aimed Nevertheless her Surprize was so great and the words she had Spoken were so remarkable that excepting the trouble in which she saw the Prince of Tharsus she could not flatter her self with the hope that her words had not laid open her own thoughts Osmin who came to them just then interrupted their discourse Felime pressed by her sighs and her tears which she could not contain walked into the wood to hide her grief and ease her mind by making her moan to one in whom she had an intire confidence The Princess Belleny her Mother order'd her to be call'd back that they might return to Oropese she durst not look upon Alamire for fear of seeing in his eyes too much grief for what she had told him of Zayde or to much knowledge of what she had said of her self She saw notwithstanding that he went towards the Camp and it was some satisfaction to her to think that he did not go to visit Zayde The King could not forbear interrupting of Don Olmond in this place I do not wonder now said he to Gonsalvo at the sadness in which you saw Alamire when you met him after his leaving Felime It was to her that the Trooper saw him speak in the Wood what she said to him was the cause he knew you And we now understand the meaning of those words which he spoke to you when he drew his Sword at you and which appeared to you then so obscure and gave us so much Curiosity to know what they meant Gonsalvo made no answer and Don Olmond followed the thred of his Discourse It is not hard to judge how Felime passed that Night and into how many sorts of Afflictions her mind was divided She saw that she had betrayed Zayde and she feared that she had put Alamire into Despair And in spite of her jealousie she was troubled that she had made him so Unhappy Notwithstanding she wished he might know that Zayde was ingaged in her inclinations to another she apprehended that she had too well diswaded him from the Opinion she gave him of it But above all she fear'd that she had to much discover'd her own Passion for him The next day a new Affliction blotted out all the rest She heard of the Combat that was betwixt Alamire and Gonsalvo and her whole Mind was taken up with the fear of losing him She sent every day to the Castle where he lay to know how he did and when she began to have some hopes of his Recovery she heard what the King had ordered about his Life to Revenge the Prince of Gallicia's Death You saw the Letter which she writ to me the last Day to oblige me to labour for his Preservation I told her what Gonsalvo had done at her Request And I have nothing more to tell you but that I never saw in one and the same Person so much Love so much Discretion and so much Grief Don Olmond thus ended his Relation during which Gonsalvo felt an inexpressible Pleasure To know that he was beloved of Zayde to find Marks of Kindness in all that he took for Marks of Indifference was an Excess of Happyness which transported him beyond Expression and made him taste in one moment all the Pleasures which other Lovers taste only by fits The King was going to tell Don Olmond that Gonsalvo was Theodorick when word was brought him That the Deputies who came to treat of Peace desired Audienco He left those two Friends together and Don Olmond taking up the Discourse I might with Justice complain said he that I owe the Knowledge who Theodoric was only to my self since our Friendship might claim that Knowledge from you I wonder how you could believe it could be possible for you to conceal it from me while you shewed so much Curiosity to know all that might concern Zayde I know you loved her the first Day you spoke to me of her And I could not well believe that the first sight could produce in you so violent a Passion as to me it appeared by what Felime told me since I was