from Heaven and next to her company he loved none best When alone which for her sake he was often he was perpetually reflecting upon all her words and actions and having considered them the several wayes they were capable of being turned drew from them accordingly either hopes or fears then remembring his own expressions of kindness was never satisfied with himself sometimes he thought he was too timerous sometimes too bold and remained alwayes at last as much displeased with himself as pleased with her He begun by degrees to give over all those recreations he was wont to be fond of Hunting which he loved best became a dull thing to him when she was not there and if he still minded his Exercises it was but to appear more agreeable to her In a word he considered Zelinda as if there had been no Body in the World besides Love on the other side had got into the heart of Zelinda but had not made so great a progress whether it were that fearing her high spirit he durst not make himself known to her at first or that she being the younger by two years was less sensible of that passion Yet she was not altogether unconcerned for when ever she saw the young Prince she had more care of her beauty and dress than ordinary she loved the Countess the less because she was designed for him and every little respect that out of decencie he paid her took somewhat from the satisfaction of the fair Zelinda Yet as she had a Soul generous resolute and infinitely sensible and by consequence capable of none but passions of the same nature the merit of Alcidalis formed in it an affection as fair and perfect as it self Love between Persons of so eminent quality like fire upon a Beacon is so impossible to be concealed that it is seen a great way off The affections of Alcidalis and Zelinda was soon observed by all the World and a great many perceived they were in Love one with another before they discover'd it themselves In the beginning when Childishness made their actions less observable though they saw one another with great joy no body thought there was any other Love between them then that of the innocent diversions they took together But as by degrees Zelinda grew more serious and Alcidalis began to shew himself master of a judgment fit to govern his Fathers Kingdom and a courage capable of conquering any other There was scarce any body in the whole Court but judged their Souls to be united by so strong a passion that it would be almost an equal difficulty to part 'em from their bodies or from each other The Queen who was politick beyond her Sex and designed nothing so much as marrying her Daughter to Alcidalis was the earlyest jealous of Zelinda's beauty and consequently the first that took notice of this amour But having a great confidence in her Interest and more in her self she thought they at last would be the only Sufferers and feared no stubborn resistance from minds so tender In the mean time the beauty of Zelinda increased daily and though it dawned but a while ago now shone with such light and lustre that she seemed to proclaim open War against the Queen and all her designs On the other side the young Prince sensible of his birth and parts began to be weary of living under the slavery of a Governour and the conduct of a Woman That heart great and Royal by Nature when filled with Love disdained any other Empire but Zelinda's He began to carry his inclinations for her a little more openly and favoured none but such as she recommended He run at the Ring only in her colours all his motto's spoke of her and he was so proud of her Chains that he hated all the World should not see them There were none who in their hearts did not favour their affection The Queen soon began to fear she had dallyed too long with a flame so fatal to all her purposes which now required her utmost care and endeavours to extinguish it Yet she resolved to trie violent remedies at last and strove by all fair means to win upon the disposition of Alcidales which she perceived to grow less tractable to her every day than other She used all the Arts she could to Eclipse the beauties of Zelinda and to advance those of her own Daughter whom she daily instructed both what to say and do never suffering her to appear but with pompe and luster But Zelinda trusting still to Nature whom she had been so much obliged to already neglected by her self was more admired by others and without any Pearl but those of her teeth or any Rubies but those of her lips and such other Jewels as a waiting Woman Muse dresses a Poetical Mistress in out-shone the other though adorned with all the glories of the East so much the wealth that Heaven bestows Ecclipses whatever the Earth can lend her Favourites The Queen seeing the danger of their continuing any longer in the same place and dispairing of all other wayes to interrupt their increasing affection resolves to trye if absence though it be the greatest torment of a settled might not prove the cure of a growing inclination And to that purpose under pretence of some indisposition desires leave of the King her Husband to pass two or three Months in Catalonia and having gained his consent she commanded all things to be in readiness for her journey and said she would have none attend her but the Ladies This news extreamly surprised our Lovers who had never felt the sting and been only acquainted with the sweets of Love and except some few apprehensions for the future which makes but slight impressions in minds so young and full of confidence their joy had been without trouble and their inclination without the least check Alcidalis was most concerned or at least could worst dissemble there was nothing he would not have attempted to divert this journey a thousand extravigances past through his imagination about it but seeing the time drawn on and the Queens resolution invincible he resolved at least not to let Zelinda part without a full and open declaration of his passion for her which till then though all his actions continually proclaimed to her his words had never presumed to offer the least hint of Whether it were that he wanted confisidence or thought it needless to declare a passion that none could ever hide The last night being come he went on the Queens side where after some time he found an opportunity of entertaining Zelinda alone it was the first minute that ever Alcidales knew what fear was He attempted once or twice to discover his passion but having not resolution enough to go on was fain to turn his discourse to something else and though at other times he was the gayest Man in the World near Zelinda he was then the most perplext But at last his heart beating and his
be loved that there is no folly they are not capable of in that condition but the knowledge they have of themselves scarce suffers them ever to be firmly perswaded of it The Duke was no sooner in love but he became Jealous That passion which in other Countries is an accidental effect of love is there inseperable from it they conclude there cannot be a great desire without a great fear Love and Jealousy are Twins with them and ever born together Were it then the excess of kindness the Air of his Countrey or his own natural distrust or that he had heard somewhat concerning Alcidalis that had caused that effect his Jealousy arrived to that height that he never thought her safe but when she was with him and even then had scarce patience she should be seen by any eyes but his own She who for another reason cared not to be seen much easily complied with his Humour and told him she loved all the effects of his Passion equally that his very fears were agreeable to her since they were marks of his Love That her greatest content was to procure his that in having him she thought she had all the World and cared not if she was shut up for ever on these Tearms He receives these offers of hers with great joy and made use of the Liberty she gave him to take away all hers so that cutting off dayly somwhat of her Attendants and of a great Pallace which before she had the freedom of he reduced her to four or five Rooms and a few necessary Servants as the Duke gave her many marks of his Jealousy he also gave her some of his Love And strove to make her Prison as agreeable to her as possible there was no part of the World that did not contribute its greatest varieties to her Closets Art and nature seemed to strive which should most adorne her Retirement And she saw all things she could wish but men and those she saw only out her Windows The Duke bought the Lustiest and Handsomest Slaves that could be found which to divert the Malancholy which must needs attend such a solitude he caused to be taught to Fence Ride run at the Ring and all the exercises of the Nobility by the best Masters of Italy these were called the Slaves of the Dutchess thrice a Week they were brought into a Court all strewed with Sand where they did all their Exercises The Duke had two designs in this one of diverting his Dutchess and the other of making her despise all men by letting her see in Slaves the same Qualities which are admired in people of the highest Birth and most advantagious Education Alcidalis at his coming into Italy was informed of all this and judged that no Quality would so soon introduce him as that of a Slave to the Dutchess he communicated his designs to his Gentleman who had always attended him who Disguising himself like a Merchant went to the Officers that had the Government of the Slaves and exposed to sale Alcidalis who having all the Qualities necessary in a very eminent degree was soon Bought and so one of the greatest and most accomplisht men in the World became a Slave A while he was fain to learn of them he might have taught and seeming to learn every day somewhat of his exercises he in a short time so advanced that he was admired of all the World if he were challenged to run Wrestle Fence or Ride he was so constantly successful that at last he seemed but to be invited to so many Victories There was no Prize that any one or number of his Companions durst dispute with him Yet among all the commendations he obtained he felt a secret shame in himself that his Victories were gained only over a few Slaves for he had a heart as Generous as that Prince who scorned to Run with any but Kings though he did all things with an incomparable Grace it was with so much neglect and contempt of what he was about that it was no hard matter to see his thoughts were somewhere else When ever he entered the Lists for the Divertisement of the Dutchess he came the first and went away the last In all his exercises he had his Eyes and Heart fixt upon the Window he thought she stood at For the Jealous Duke had so contrived it that she could see without being seen What Mistakes and Errors are not men capable of the most Faithful Lover upon earth adores now a Beauty he has never seen Sighs before her and gives her at his eyes his heart And being born a Slave to Zelinda has blindly sold himself to another Alcidalis who had been remarkable amongst the most accomplisht Princes was easily so among these Slaves The first day she saw him his Beauty and the Graces that accompanied all his Actions attracted the eyes of the Dutchess afterward he gained her esteem and then her admiration and having considered how throughly she thought she saw in his Mine and Courage somewhat worthy of a Nobler destiny and much above his present Fortune She took notice how fixtly he looked up at her Window of the Paleness and Sadness of his Face which all the applauses continually given him were never able to change for a Minute All this together gave her at first Pity then Curiosity and at last Love One Night as this Illustrious Slave went out of the Palace of the Duke in a dark Passage he felt himself pulled by one whom by that light he could only perceive to be a Woman who taking him aside said Clariantes for that was the name he chose to be called by in this Disguise If you are as truly Brave as you appear come to morrow morning at two a Clock to the foot of the Greek-Tower there you shall be put in a way of being the Happiest man living She said this in great haste and left him without staying for his answer But this was enough to set his Thoughts a work Since Fortune began to persecute his love this seemed to him the first Moment she began to remit of her usual Rigour he made no question but this Message came from Zelinda since to make him Happy was in the power of none but her Yet whether it be that men so extraordinary hold some little intelligence with their destiny or that the unfortunate entertain hope but Coldly which has so oft deceiv'd them he durst not be confident of his good Fortune but expected the hour she had assigned him successively agitated by Impatience Hope and Fear The time so much longed for being come as soon as it was dark he came to the foot of the Tower which was an old Building which entered some fifty Foot into the Sea Alcidalis came in a small Fisher Boat which having fastned to the Wall he attended the success of his Adventure an hour before any body came to him His Mind all the while no less toss'd between Hope and Fear then the small
Vessel he was in by the Waves of the Sea Passions which though they are very contrary are very often together the Wind was so high that there was small hope the Rope that held the Boat would endure much longer so that every Minute he imagined it would break at last as he began to despair of his expected Happiness and entertain the dismalest thoughts the Night the Sea and rising Storm could furnish him with he heard a noise from the top of the Tower which he answered to and immediatly somthing fell into his Boat which he soon perceived to be a Ladder of Rope Alcidalis then gave himself entirely into the Arms of a deceitful hope and was confident he should once more behold his unfortunate Zelinda which made him slight all dangers and run up the Ladder as fast as he could have done the easiest Stairs in the World when he was at the top he found a Window open and a Woman who gave him her Hand and without saying any thing brought him through a great many turnings into a Closet the Richliest Furnisht that ever he had seen lighted with three Lamps of Gold He perceived then she was the same Woman had spoke to him before in the dark Passage then putting all things together he concluded she came from Zelinda and had now no fear but that of not staying long enough with her He had a thousand several and some contrary Passions at once in his Mind which cannot be represented on Paper since the Soul of man and amongst them only the Lovers is capable of such confusion He was for an hour in the stillest Silence imaginable but at last he heard as he thought the tread of a Woman and the noise of a Key to which turning his Head about he saw a Door open and the same person enter who gave him her hand at the Window who Smiling upon him said Clariantes I do not doubt but you will pardon me for having made you wait thus long and confess the Honour you are going to receive an abundant recompence for all you have suffered The Prince thanked her and desired she would inform him a little what this Honour was she meant She paused a while and then replyed Were I not by the Greatness of your Meen and Courage sufficiently assured of that of your Mind I should not venture to let you know your good Fortune thus at once lest excess of joy should overpower your Spirits but it is to be supposed a man of your Merit can never be surprized at his good Fortune whatever it be know then that you are now in Zelinda's Closet and shall immediatly be brought into her Chamber the Dutchess has taken notice of your good Qualities and finding nothing amiss in you but your Fortune is resolved to better that her self and to that end desires your acquaintance On your part see you make good use of this occasion and shew as much Discretion and Conduct hereafter as you have hitherto shewn Courage and Generosity Having said this she led him into the Dutchesses Chamber How strangely are our Minds wrought upon Alcidalis whom death it self would not have discomposed trembles in a place where he knew there were none but Women that heart which would have encountered a world of Enemies without fear melts at the imaginary approach of the only person upon earth he loves and knows himself to be beloved by The Chamber had just the light that such affairs required which was not much the shame and disorder of a Young woman unpractis'd in the Thefts of Love made her conceal her self so much that had Alcidalis been less prepossest then indeed he was he could not easily have found his mistake He immediately fell upon his Knees to her and after a few words confusedly uttered and worse followed he stopt in the middle of his Discourse Amazement Joy and Love seised him so in an instant that half beside-himself he let fall his head upon the Bed of the young Princess who lifting it up with her hand brought him a little to himself but a consciousness of his disorder kept him still in it so that he could only say at last Zelinda Heaven has had some pity on the unhappy Alcidalis and once before I die given me a sight of those perfections I would have dyed to have seen my love is still the same and I am not the less yours for your being anothers the Tyranny of Fate may force our Persons out of our own disposal but hearts are given by themselves alone and sure what is unjustly taken we justly may recover Here his Sighs interrupted his Discoutse and as he would have continued it they heard a great noise in the Palace which she that was intrusted came out of Breath to tell them it was the Duke and that he was already on the Dutchess Side Who good man far from thinking what had happened had designed to spend two or three days in Hunting but whether it were Love or Jealousie or that he thought that for being less expected he should be the more welcome to the Dutchess he returned the very day and the first thing he did came to visit her I hate him for coming so unseasonably for I would fain have seen what reply she would have found to a Discourse she so little comprehended and less expected and had I made the Story Alcidalis should have made him what the Dutchess pleased But as things were there was no staying any longer and the Lady that brought him in all haste conducted him to the same Window he came in it Seeing and detesting this last Treachery of Fortune he had more mind to precipitate himself then to make use of his Ladder of Ropes and had done it but for the hope of Climing up by it another time The sweetness of that thought perswaded him to live a little longer but with many rash Vows and deep Imprecations not to survive such another Jilting trick and brought him safe and unobserved to his Lodging for the Dukes unexpected arrival had raised all from sleep and put the Court in such Confusion that they ran against each other as if it had been at blind-mans-Buffe a Recreation much used at Courts in that Age and not yet wholly disesteem'd To save the trouble of making doleful Speeches and avoid the danger of speaking untruths or worse then he did I will not presume to relate exactly how often Alcidalis Sighed Tumbled and Rouled in his Bed somtimes Rayling at and sometimes wheadling Fortune or whether he tore his lovely Hair which in a thousand Curls adorned his spreading Shoulders for he being then under the qualification of a Slave had no attending Esquire to hear and discover his Soliloquies But let the ingenious Reader imagine after a long and passionate Courtship of so Beautiful a Lady as Zelinda if he was Kneeling by her Bed the Altar of Love pressing her soft Palm laying his amorous head on her panting Breast in the height
charge this distressed Orphan and so ordered this disastrous beginning as to make it a means of setting her in the Throne of two mighty Kingdoms Zelinda was the most perfect creature Heaven ever made her Person was as miraculous as her life and this Story though very natural in every other part is incredible where it speaks of her Since the Sun went round the World he never saw so exact a Beauty and in this Beautiful body there was a Wit above the imagination of ours and such a one as no other body but hers had been worthy of In the age when others scarce spake Words she spoke Sense and such as might have become any mouth At her Birth all the Stars were agreed to contribute their best influences And she appeared so Divine a thing as one could not but imagine her fallen from Heaven by a Miracle She was so naturally inclined to Good that doing it in her was scarce a Virtue and it was not in her power at least not without great self-denyal to avoid the practice of all things commendable If we could look into the minds of the most extraordinary we should not find them so faultless as their lives and though their vertue at last gets the better 't is a victory like those in Civil Wars by which they must needs suffer since their Resolutions are no more their own then the inclinations that opposed them But in this perfect Creature Vertue reigned by Birth and not by Conquest and therefore she could never fail of doing well while she did what she liked best Besides these perfections which are to be described those Names Charms and Secret graces which make us love so often we know not why Zelinda possest in such abundance that she was the general inclination of every man and woman All her motions were so agreeable that no others Beauty was half so Charming and in her gentle Voice there was somthing like Enchantment Perhaps this is not all that might be but 't is certain all she deserved cannot be exprest and it will be easily much imagined that where there was so much there must be a great deal more And since Madam by this Description she appears so very like you I had as good confess ingenuously that in the story there were so many remarkable things of her that though I minded it extreamly I could never have drawn so good a Picture if you had not sat before me These were the Arms with which Zelinda was to be victorious and there needed no other since they were enough to Conquer Alcidalis who would easily conquer the rest She was received into Court with so general a joy that it seemed an Omen of her future Greatness there of which she then took possession The Queen who thought her self uncapable of any comfort since her Mothers death found the contrary whenever she was with her and the Kings affections scarce knew a difference between her and his only Son Alcidalis and Zelinda were of that Age in which Painters represent Cupids and had all the agreeable Beauties the greatest Masters in that Art could give them Their Charms were so equally taking though extreamly different and their very childhood was so extraordinary that none saw them without concluding them Born for one another and each had been an unparallel'd wonder of the World if it had not seen them together Indeed though they had the hearts of all that saw them they could never have been loved equally to their Merit by any but themselves no Souls but their own being capable of a Passion great enough to deserve theirs Accordingly the God of love intending to make his power remarkable by shewing it in persons so extraordinary settled it in their hearts so very early that they felt it long before they knew it and were not suffered to pass in quiet that first part of life which Nature seems to allow undisturbed by Passions Thus the first sight of Zelinda wrought the same effect upon Alcidalis which it was wont to do upon others and he made some impression upon the heart of Zelinda which she had never felt before The Queen in pursuance of her great design had bred up this Prince with all the artifice imaginable that might incline him to love her Daughter His first pratling was taken advantage of that he might be used to call her his Mistris he was dayly brought to see her and those about him still took all occasions to commend before him either her Face or Fashion But his inclinations were not the same with the Queens he that had Softness and Complaisance for all the World seemed to want it only for her Daughter and was no where so constrained as in her company Whether his high Spirit disdained to be thus given away without his own consent or that his Stars which brought him into the World for Zelinda gave him a natural aversion to whosoever would usurp that place they had designed her But from the first moment she came to Court and was by the Queen made her Daughters Companion his mind appeared immediately changed he was perpetually in the Dutchess's apartment and no where so well pleased as there Love to introduce himself easily into our souls at first comes alwayes accompanied with Delight and Beauty and makes no shew of violence or Cruelty till he knows himself Master of the place and too strongly fixed to fear being dispossest At first these young lovers felt his power in nothing but an extream pleasure in seeing one another and then such a sweetness mixt with joy spred it self about their Countenance that it was very visible their love made them appear more lovely Zelinda had still then been like others of her age but now began to be more lively and Alcidalis when he saw her was so gay and agreeable that it look't as if he had reserved for her company some particular Grace and the best of his humour In that innocent age they enjoyed a pleasant tranquillity of mind for some Months in which they were much happier then in many more that followed But their passions increased daily with their understandings and Love became so powerful that he quickly made himself be both felt and understood Alcidalis now grew more thoughtful then ordinary and when Zelinda was absent with an unusual sadness paid dear for the pleasure of having seen her there was no sport for him in any diversions but those he took with her for seeing her was his only pleasure or if any thing else was not indifferent to him it was talking himself and hearing others talk of her That heart which even from his Childhood was set upon conquering the World now hath no hopes nor thoughts but of gaining Zelinda or if sometimes those of his former ambition return it is but with design of rendring himself more worthy of her by laying at her feet as many Crowns as she deserved When ever she quitted the room he was as if fallen
in Sea Affairs was a long time the Terrour of all the Coasts of Greece and Italy he had Mercy and Generosity more then his Country or indeed his Profession allowed of naturally and without knowing they were Vertues As there are in the North some Veins of Gold as perfect as those in the Indies though not in so great quantity So nature in all Climates does produce now and than an extraordinary Genius which she instructs and cultivates her self and indues with all imaginable perfection without help of Art As Orcantes for so this Pyrate was called was looking over his Captives and the Prize he had gotten The Majesty and Beauty that shined in Zelindas Face compelled him to ask her who she was she answered she was a Spaniard and her name was Zelidan Nephew to the Captain of that Vessel he had taken that she wisht her self with him and esteemed him happy to have preserved his Liberty with the loss of his Life She said this with a meen worthy of a better Fortune and with an assurance more usual in the Conquerours then the vanquisht her Constancy her Courage prevailed more on the Generous Disposition of the Captain then all the mean Submission of the rest he was charmed with the Greatness of her Mind and Beauty of her Person and desired her to be of good Courage since she was fallen into the hands of one who made Slaves of none but such as deserved to be so That for himself he sought Glory more then Gain upon the Sea and took more pleasure to give Liberty then to make Slaves That he left the rest of the Prize to his Souldiers and desired only Zelidan for himself and that the first brave Action they were in should be his Ransome And Sir said he If the advantages of your Mind answer those of your Person I shall soon be more a Captive to your Worth then you are to my Arms. Zelinda who expected nothing of this nature from a Barbarian and a Pyrate was almost as much amazed as he was pleased and the loss of Liberty as a Slave to Orantes was so much more supportable then it would have been to her as Wife to the Prince of Tarentum that she began to bear it with some sort of satisfaction She thought there was no misfortune but to be given to another nor no Happiness but to be Married to Alcidalis All things else were indifferent to her And so her great Soul worthy of the Empire of the World submitted to her present condition with less concern then the meanest Seaman that was taken with her But Zelidan for so we must hereafter call her besides that Heaven had given her all Advantagious Qualities both of Mind and Body was indued with all those Graces which almost insensibly create Love Respect born to command and not to obey She soon got the ascendant over her new Master the Slaves Souldiers Seamen all loved her so well that she Governed absolutely in the Vessel where she was Prisoner seeing the kindness Orantes had for her she judged that it would turn to Love if once she were discovered and then his inclination which else would be of great advantage to her would be infallibly her ruine She took all the care imaginable to conceal her self continually exercising her Courage and all these Qualities that her Sex is least capable of They past all that Summer without ever landing but to take in Fresh-Water in which time the new Zelidan signalized himself on all occasions There was no Vessel taken where he was not the first Aboard so that the Pirate found no difficulty to pay him the full esteem and friendship he had promised The Winter coming on and the Sea growing fuller of fears then hopes even for Pyrates themselves they laid up their Vessel in the first Port of Barca Orantes gave Zelidan his Liberty with a great many Complements and professions of perpetual Friendship He desired to bring him to Court saying he would shew the King the Richest Prize he ever took upon the Sea In the mean while Alcidalis who was informed of the Queens whole proceeding believed Zelinda in the Arms of the Prince of Tarentum and thought her capable though not of loving yet of suffering another the generous resolution of starving her self to death which Zelinda was ready to have executed Alcidalis was not able to imagine But after he had given some time to a helpless and a most speechless sorrow he lost all fear all respect together with his hope and had no other though but that of Revenging himself immediately upon the Queen or of forcing Zelinda from the Arms of the Prince of Tarentum But at last his Body being unequal to the violent Agitations of his Mind he fell into a Feavour accompanied with such Raving Fits as all that knew their true cause had reason to believe he would never outlive them he was in a short time without any strength and which was happiest for him without any thought at all thus Fortune can mock at all our Purposes and confine him a whole Month to his Chamber Who threatned straight to search the whole World for Zelinda A Feavour Love and Jealousy which are certainly the greatest ills of Mind and Body raged at once in Alcidalis every one of them with their most desperate Circumstances So that each seemed incurable and altogether unsupportable But at length contrary to all expectation he recovered but with his Health his Grief his Love and all cares returned so that without staying till he was perfectly recovered or making any one acquainted with his designe he stole out of Saragosa and going a by way to the Kingdom of Valentia he embarqued at the nearest Port and past over into Italy Where he hoped to see Zelinda which expectation was all the Happiness he was capable of in her absence The false Zelinda had better Fortune then the true one and her designes better success she had as observed a moderate Beauty and that kind of understanding that gives us cunning and subtility for the Affairs of the World seeing what a dangerous business she had undertaken she endeavoured all she could to gaine the Prince her Husbands Heart and so fortifie her self against all accidents He was of those years wherein men begin to feel the approaches of Old Age and to be somewhat less confident of themselves and where the most reasonable and best deserving cannot hope to be loved by Women but out of gratitude or duty So that the Beauty Conduct and Kindness of his Young Wife gained him intirely As we are never so fond of Flowers as in the beginning of the Spring or towards the end of Autumne the first for their Novelty and the others because we think we shall see them no more So the pleasures of love are at no time so dear to us as in the buginning of our Youth and the approaches of our Age It is so great and unexpected a Happiness for an Old Man to
Love which like an impetuous Tyde bare down his Anger Faith and Reason seeing his dear Dutchess Bleeding and as he thought breathing out her Soul by his accursed hand he threw himself at her Feet beat his Head against the Ground tore his Hair and rooted up his Comely Beard hold let me not lye neither perhaps Beards were as much out of Fashion then as now and consequently he wore none I would not have Posterity imposed upon in matters of such weight truth will go through the World But I am sure he called himself a thousand thick sculled Ophes Jealous Cox-combs Villains Murtherers and turning to his Guard begged them to Dispatch him for he was a Tyrant not worthy to live but among Beasts from intreaties he proceeded to commands and threats but seeing them reverse their Faces and hang their Heads at his strange Proposition Why said he will you be cruel to your Prince and deny him the only favour he ever begged from you or that you can grant I have most inhumanely pierced my own soul what safety can you hope from me My hearts blood stains the Floor and I can gaze upon 't without dying can you expect Justice from such a Monster Gods Why do I descâ—â—d to Petition so poorly for what is in my power Oh my Zelinda the Blossoms that enriched the early Spring and with their fragrant seent perfum'd the gentle Southern Wind were not so sweet nor half so Beautiful as thee 't would undoe the vast Vniverse to purchase so rich a Jewel as I have rashly thrown away What ean my hated Carkasse this dull Clod of earth do in the World when my Sun that gave it warmth and life lyes here Eclipsed Fool Fool Fool that I am Then he cast himself again on her Body and striving in vain to find some signs of life cryed out Zelinda Zelinda She 's gone for ever for ever gone if thy injured soul is yet hovering in the ambient Air as sure it is loth to go far from so rich so beautiful a Cabinet let it behold the Sacrifice I offer for its Peace Starting up he endeavoured to cast himself on his Sword but was prevented by the Physitians and Chyrurtgeons who were then arrived the Dutchess was recovered from her swoun and her life assured if no new accidenr prevented their care The Duke begged a thousand pardons for his folly and stirred not from her Bed till she was Cured binding himself with many vows never to be Jealous again nor did I ever hear of any farther difference between them therefore I will leave them with the same farewell people give their departed Friend who dyed with a Lord have mercy upon me in his Mouth though he lived impiously doubtless they are Happy Oh Woman Woman thou dark abysse of Subtilty 't is easier to trace a wandring Swallow through the pathless Air then to explicate the crafty wyndings of thy Love or Malice Thy swift excuses and evasions still like the Hydra's Heads increase As Wizzards in a moment y' are transformed to various Shapes and when the injur'd Friend or Husband thinks to crush a Serpent that has poisoned all his Health and Peace strait in the form of a Dove-like innocence you Baffle and Betray his justest Rage Angels would emulate the perfect Glory and the Blest estate of man were he not subject to the subtil Snares of your frail deceiving Sex The Reader ought to pardon this Satyrick excursion to the Author who has been more Injured by Woman then e're the Duke or Alcidalis was That Prince it may be concluded soon found his Gentleman which lay incognito receive his commands and taking his Jewels repaired immediatly to the Sea side where a Ship being just ready to leave the Port for that must never be wanting to a Hero upon the Ramble without asking whither she was Bound they went Aboard and soon lost sight of that unfortunate Coast With a prosperous Wind let them proceed while we return to the distressed real Zelinda whom we unkindly left in mans Habit under the name of Zelidan in a strange place at Barcha in Africa By the favourable assistance of that same generous Pyrate Orcantes that gave her liberty she obtained a Passage for Spain and without meeting any extraordinary adventure safely landed at the same Port of Barcelona from whence she had been forced away by the contriving Jealous Queen The sight of that Fatal place presenting all past Fortune freshly to her Memory oppressed her Breast with Sighs which Tempest was allay'd by a shower of Chrystal drops from her fair Eyes Ah Alcidalis said she if you do still preserve your vowed affection for the faithful Zelinda what reason will she have to glory in her Sufferings Here she paused a while pleasing her self with that delightful thought but on a sudden breaking silence she went on No! wretched Zelinda no! never hope such Blessings were ordained for thee doubtless the Authority of a King and Father managed by the insinuating artifice of the Prudent designing Queen the interest of State and the Beauties of the too charming Princess to which adde his belief of my being Married to the Prince of Tarentum have prevailed and he is now for ever chained to the imbrace of that fortunate Princess Die die Zelinda let not the imperious Queen insult ore thy Distress Already was her hand upon her Sword when Heaven that never quite forsakes the Virtuous inspired her with more reasonable thoughts That death was the extremest refuge of the miserable and might safely be deferred as a remedy always in her power since no earthly Tyranny could compel the Wretched to live longer then they pleased if they had courage enough to die She pleased her self with the fancy that to die in his sight which she vowed if he were false to her would extract remorse and pity from him so much does Love misguide the Judgement of the most prudent that even in death they cheat themselves with vain hopes of a future satisfaction they can never be sensible of In this humour she posted towards Saracusa but near the Gates was stopped by a great press of people some driving Beasts of Carriage laden with variety of Goods others carrying on their backs those whom Infancy or Age rendred uncapable to assist themselves as if they fled from the fury of some Foreign Invader or from the mercilcss rage of a devouring flame Loud Sighs and doleful Groans were all the answers she could gain to her enquiry of the cause long use of Arms and Virile exercise had added much to her courage in which she naturally outstriped her Sex That with a determined purpose to behold the reason of this Consternation carried her through the smoaking bloody Streets which were strewed with dead and mangled Bodies the sad marks of a Civil War strait to the Pallace amidst a thousand Swords and other Instruments of Death There she beheld the Gates shut and the Queen and Princess out of a large
part with him she had some satisfaction when she thought of the eminent proof it would give him of her love and resolution The Captain of the Vessel besides that she was then their charge had a particular esteem of Zelinda having known her at Court as soon as they thought she was awake they went into her Chamber and askt her what she would eat she answered that not only she would not eat then but that she would never eat more this reply amazed them extreamly but they concluded she was relapsed into her former Melancholly and a little Time a properer Remedy then any discourse Three or four hours after finding that she called no body they returned and employed all Prayers and perswasions to make her receive a little Nourishment to which she answered only with a Sullen silence and a Beheaviour so cold and so resolved that she scarce seemed to have heard them They left her this second time but began to apprehend some Tragical event of this strange resolution The next night they came again with a Neece of theirs who was of the same age with Zelinda and kneeling to her begged her to have a care of her life with as many Tears and as much earnestness as if they had askt their own of her but all in vain so that they retired and left her to her self Three dayes past thus whilst neither Prayers Tears or Perswasions could prevail with Zelinda to speak one word but the fourth day these good people with their Neece came to make their last attempt And desired her not to be her own Murderer and commit a Cruelty upon a Person so excellent as even the rudest Barbarians would both spare and Worship Zelinda having hearkned a while to their Discourse fetcht a deep Sigh and rising from her Seat shewed her self plain to them which made them the better perceive the extremity she was in in the Beautifullest Face in the World they beheld a frightful Image of dispair and approaching Death and somewhat that gave at once horrour and pitty having looked round upon them all she thus broke the Silence she so long had kept My Friends you ask of me a thing that only you can give me you would have me live and I would willingly obey but have resolved never to come alive upon the Shore of Italy and here I swear it once more to the Gods above by Fire and Light and to those below by the Ghosts of my Ancestors My life is then no longer in my power it now depends on your carrying or not carrying me to Italy be not then my Murtherers you to whose care I was committed The Duke of Tarentum expects me he has never seen me you have here your Neece of my Age and Stature and not unlike me in the Face you may put her in my place and so at once advance her Quality and Fortune in the World and save me from the greatest Misfortune I know how to fear 't is true you will deceive the Duke in giving him another then was promised him but could you bring me to him in the condition and weakness I am now she whom I would perswade you to give him would much better resemble that Zelinda he has heard of The Duke will sure be happier in a Wife that will receive if not meet his love then in the forc't Possession of another who upon serious consideration has preferred her Grave to his Bed But 't is not me he aims at since he never saw me it is the Dutchy of Otrante that he desires and I give it this minute to your Neece with the Quality and Name of Zelinda and call to Witness the same Gods I have so lately Sworn by that none shall ever know the contrary from me and that I never will repent of it The Queen I know commanded you to carry me where he expects me but you will do her better service in obeying her Will than her Words anâ— can you think if she were here now and saw the condition I am now in and knew the resolution I have noâ— taken That she had not rather sâ—â— me safe in any part of the World then to seed me dead into Italy dâ—â— she command you to put me alive â—â— dead into the hands of the Prince â—â— Tarentum do not you believe she dâ—signed my Happiness and Advancement in this Marriage and that she wâ—â— had so great a care of my Fortuâ—â— would have a much greater care â—â— my Life When I am dead and â—â— the World shall reproach the Queâ—â— with this inhumane Cruelty â—â— not she say she was most Innoceâ—â— in that she did not know my Miâ—â— my Aversion to the Match and last of all my Desperate Resolution May she not justly lay the whole fault on you but what need you give her any Account at all This Vessel is your own where ever Wind or Waves have passage you may go Then taking out a little Box the Queen had left her where all the Jewels of her Mother were she continued These Jewels are of infinite Value the Queen cannot make you a greater Present except she gives you Barcelona Take them and give me nothing in return but my Life and Liberty and since Liberty it self is more then all the Riches of the World I shall acknowledge my self still your Debtor too many would kill the Innocent Zelinda for half the Wealth I offer you to save her I buy a good Virtuous Action of you at a Price able to engage many men in the the most Barbarous If you make a scruple of disobeying the Queen you ought to have an horrour for the death of an Innocent will you rather choose to destroy one of her Friends then to break one of her commands If you are afraid of her displeasure or wrong you should consider that shortly Alcidalis will be greater in Arragon then she who will seek you all over the World and bring you to a severe account for my Life and Person But if all these reasons should not prevaile I conjure you by the Friendship you have profest to me by the compassion you shewed but now by these Tears and all that is dear to you to deliver me from this Distraction I am in your suddain resolution will double the Obligation and incline me to believe that you were disposed to it more through your generous Pitty of my afflicted innocence then any other consideration But if neither my Prayers nor Tears nor Offers can prevail with you This Tongue that has pleaded my Cause so unsuccessfully shall never speak again and death in a short time will give me that Liberty which you refuse Then she shewed them all her Jewels which Charmed their Eyes as much as her Discourses had done their Ears so that they were no longer able to resist that double violence The Captain was a Souldierly man and very Brave who had run through divers Fortunes without ever making his own He thought now was the time
Treacherously Ravished from my Arms And if a Thief has Robbed me shan't I seize my Treasure where I find it Concluding with a close imbrace Go ye are an unkind naughty man said she and I wont love you indeed if you offer Sighing and gently striving to defend what she had rather have dyed then keep What oh powerful opportunity may not be effected by thy assistance How sweet a recompence did the mistaken Alcidalis think he had for all his pains and what a full revenge on Fortune for her Jilting Tricks while he lay dying in the Arms of his supposed Deity But oh the shortness and uncertainty of humane felicity Who would not think the tired Duke now taking large Arrears of sleep for his last nights Disturbance Who would believe he should so soon a second time molest these Lovers Yet so it was for in the height of all their Bliss Florella almost Breathless with her haste rushed in casting back such frightfull Looks as if some ghastiy Phantasm had pursued her and by the Blazing light of a great Wax Taper which she brought discovered to the surprised Alcidalis the false Zelinda and e're he could discharge his Senses from the Amazement that object raised she increased it by crying out The Duke The Duke was privately returned and just entered the Palace which truth their ears immediatly confirmed by the hasty Footsteps which they heard The Dutchess Pale and Trembling had not power to speak but with up-lifted Hands and Eyes seemed to implore the assistance of Alcidalis while Florella whose Senses were more at liberty threw a loose Robe and Head-Tyre of the Dutchesses on Alcidalis hiding his Face as much as the Dress would permit Scarce was this done when the Duke entered clasped him in his Arms and spake the kindest things a doting Husband could invent to oblige the best Wife in the World To which he dar'd make no reply but Florella freed him from that trouble telling the Duke a suddain Tooth-ach got by a cold she took the preceding night made speaking extreamly troublesome and swelled her Face so she dared not expose it to the Air lest it increased her Malady Alcidalis took the hint and began to Groan so Lamentably it put his Grace into such mortal apprehensions of her danger that it was hard to judge who was in the greatest perplexity He the Prince or the Dutchess who lay quaking under the Bed-Cloathes like a Child frighted with the Tale of Raw head and bloody Bones Death was the least punishment the Lovers could expect if they were discovered A hundred times did Alcidalis resolve to force his Passage over the Dukes feeble Body But the consideration of the Dutchesses danger as a Woman in distress though her imposture had much incensed him diverted all those thoughts to a Generous resolution of freeing her or sharing in her destiny Thus Affairs stood when Fortune seemed weary of tormenting them and gave some prospect of hope for the Uxorious Duke would himself be the Messenger to call the Physitians which gave all hopes of setting things right ' ere he returned but their Joy vanished like a swift reflection of the Sun cast from a moving Looking-Glasse for the blind Quean whose sole delight consists in Tantalizing those that trust her thrust them the next Minuit on the very brink of Ruine The Duke unable to leave his Dear Zelinda without a Kiss found a strange unusual Roughness on his Chin and surprised with a sudden fit of Jealousie surveying him the same instant from Head to Foot imagined his dimensions six times as big as his Zelinda's for Passion blinds the Understanding as some Diseases cheat the Sight and rending off the Head-Dress saw not only a man but his Slave Clariantes whose extraordinary valour had made him worthy of his particular knowledge Immediatly running out with loud Exclamations of Treason Treason the Guard repaired to his aid when his back was turned you may think Alcidalis was not idle but casting off that faetal Robe with a bravery of Spirit which never forsook him he prepared though unarmed to dispute his Life But e're he went turning to the Dutchess who was almost drowned in Tears Madam says he if extravagancy of Passion had not wholly seized my Reason with my Senses your Deportment so contrary to her strict and spotless Virtue had assured me you were not the ncomparable Zelinda but if you give me not some account of that excellent Princess by all the Gods I swear to unvail your imposture and expose you to the just Cruelty of the deluded Duke though my death accompany your Infamy Ah Sir said the deplorable Dutchess can you with such extream rigour pay my excess of Love ingrateful man the too happy Zelinda since so esteemed by you lives in the Isle of Sardignia it was to save her life I consented to become a Dutchess 'T is not Cruel Prince to the care of my own safety you owe for this discovery for with your self you take from me all desire to live But to preserve your Life notwithstanding all your unkind contempt ten thousand times dearer to me then my own I once more tell you your too happy Zelinda lives yet in Sardignia in obedience to her own desire attended thither by my Father Shortness of time forbids to tell you more Now leave me to the severity of an incensed Jealous Husband but when you think of my failing remember the Cause and pity me Here the noise of the Dukes return stayed her Speech Alcidalis had dyed in her defence so graceful and so moving was her grief but hopes of seeing the true Zelinda banished all other sentiments With Courage even to rashness he cast himself amidst the Guard and got safely off for their too much hast the Mortal enemy of most designs brought the Guard 〈◊〉 with so little light that in the Confusion it was not difficult to pass without being discerned The inraged Duke entring found his Dutchess standing in that very Dress and Posture he left Clariantes only the Head-Tyre he had disordered was again put on and by the advice of Florella who was old excellent at sudden Shifts she was so placed Strait he cryes out to his Guard There There behold the audacious Traytor take him seize him away with him to Tortures let him be 100 Years dying The Guard seeing none but the Dutchess like Statues stood without motion The Duke stormed Vowed all were in the Plot should dye together but first that Villain Clariantes Andrunning at the Dutchess with his Drawn Sword had certainly killed her if Florella's shriek at his first motion had not made her start aside Yet she escaped not without a Wound in her Side which together with her fright cast her on the Bed in a swoun and by the falling off of her Head-Tyre shewed the Duke what he had done He did not as some would expect search round the Chamber and the Palace for Clariantes but wholly submitted to his Uxorious
indulgent Stars sent me to your aid the Gods had by some Miracle preserved in you the brightest Ornament of their Creation Many fine things were said on this occasion for they were both excellent at reparties and rejoynders but my treacherous memory has lost them Besides I believe the repetition would be as tedious to the Reader as to my self therefore I 'le on to the matter which was thus Zelidan was treated with all the Magnificence and Honour gratitude and love could invent and failed not by her discreet conduct to settle a perfect correspondence again between the Court and City but her thoughts were still hankering after Alcidalis purposing after a little rest and what light she could get by enquiry to guide her on to search the World till she found him The Queen gave every hour new marks of her Passion and sought occasion of discovering it more plainly to Zelidan who by all returns his different Quality would petmit added Fewel to augment the Flame And by the Sighs and Torments he observed her suffer for her great heart was loath to make the first address and he as positively determined as he had good reason not to ease her by making the first Courtship received some compensation for her former injurious treatment The poor Princess was as unable to defend her self from the assault of this Victorious Amazon as the Queen and with deepresentment observed her Mothers Passion Thus did the feigned Zelidan revenge what the true Zelinda had endured Love and Jealousie was the business of the Court and the Queens supposed Marriage with Zelidan the discourse of the City For the blind fears or unreasonable wishes of the inconsiderate Multitude always anticipate the intentions of their Princes transforming their very supposed thoughts into Acts which receive their publick censure or applause e're they have Being The Queen observing how carefully Zelidan declined all occasions of being attaqu'd resolved to push on her destiny by a naked Declaration of her Love In pursuance of her intention having commanded her Attendants to convenient distance while Zelidan was leading her in a walk of Oessamine whose interwoven Branches made so thick a Shade that the Sun in its Meridian strength and lustre could not pierce them with the gentle pressings of his hand reiterated Sighs and speaking looks having strove in vain to prevent the shame of a plainer discovery at last with broken interrupted Language thus she spake Is it possible that the owner of so many accomplishments as wait on the Illustrious Zelidan should be insensible of that noble Passion which is to others the very cause of all hrave Actions and the great reward at which they aim has Love that reigns o're all the World besides no power in our Court or is there no Object worthy of your Sighs casting her eyes on those of Zelidan which were fixed on the earth she paused and in a restless Agony waited his Answer which he had just began when a Gentleman whose earnest business might well warrant his rude interruption of their Privacy relieved him by crying to the Queen Save your self Madam Save your self by sudden Flight the Rebellious Citizens are again in Arms and Headed by a desperate Stranger like an impetuous Torrent that has o'reflowed its Banks are rouling to the Palace overthrowing all opposition with their resistless Fury Justice and Liberty is Ecchoed through the Streets but Blood Mischief is their aim E're his unwelcome Message was finished the scattered Courtiers came thronging about the Queen and Zelidan like frighted Chickens seeking shelter from the ravenous Kite He strait attended the Queen into the Pallace assuring her by the way That his swâ—â—â— victory or death should evince the great desire he had to serve her And staying not for her answer which doubtless would have been That if he had any respect to her safety he should preserve it in that of his own for her fate was so inseparably linked to his that she could not survive his death or some such obliging thing snatched what Arms he soonest found and ran to the Palace Gate followed by a small but resolute Company of faithful Servants to the Queen The Princess who till then had smothered her Passion for Zelidan in the narrow limits of her Breast despairing of success against a Rival which Duty forbad her to oppose and seeing what she prized dearer then her soul hasting to apparent death took a Sword from the nearest Attendant and followed Zelidan hoping some Fatal Blow would in his sight end her hopeless Passion with her life The brave Stranger for so his Acts declared him that led on the Citizens conquered all opposition till Zelidans arrival put a cheque to his growing victory With an undaunted Meen she met him and by her resolute Action gave proof of a Courage far above her strength but the invincible Alcidalis for he it was who had before conquered her in her own Province of Love found but small danger from her Arms. He received her first charge on his Shield and by several marks taking her for Zelidan the famous Stranger and as he thought pretender to his Crown cryed out If thou wilt be a King go Reign among the shades and boast thou dyedst by the hand of Alcidalis At the beloved name of Alcidalis Zelidan endeavoured to retreat and discover her self but in vain for with such fierce Blows he pursued his Speech that she fell Breathless at his Feet The unhappy amorous Princess striving with her feeble Arms to defend the fallen Zelidan notwithstanding all Alcidalis could do to preserve her fell a deplorable Sacrifice to the incensed Rabble and dyed imbracing of Zelidan The Queen who from a Window beheld all this Action at first lamented not the death of her Daughter but considering her as a Rival Sacrificed all sentiments of Nature to the satisfaction of her jealousy But seeing her beloved Zelidan Bleeding on the ground extremity of Grief made her so insensible of all other considerations that she was about to precipitate her self from the Window But hope which is the last thing that leaves the unfortunate made her still think it not impossible to recover him She was running out to that purpose when Alcidalis now a compleat Victor was entring the Pallace with all the submission of a Pious Son he met her and declared He would take all for Enemies that failed to render her the Honour due to the Widow and Mother of their King Without staying or answering him at all but with an upbraiding look where Rage and Compassion strove for Superiority which seemed to call him a thousand Cruel Murthereres she abandoned her self wholly to the impulse of her Passion and casting her body on those of Zelidan and the Princess her Daughter she divided her Kisses and Lamentations between them 'Till excessive sorrow like a Tyrannical Usurper seized and oppressed all her Vitals By its sad weight reducing her to a state as deplorable and void of life
as theirs whom she grieved for Never had Love and Grief a greater Sacrifice then here nor misery more powerful Arguments to gain compassion from the most obdurate hearts here is a large Field for the Author to expatiate on the vicissitude of humane things but the Gentle Reader would think him very inhumane nay in my Conscience accessary to their Murthers if he suffered three of the most Illustrious Persons in the World to lye neglected on the ground and dye for want of careful attendance while he was shewing his Common-place Wit therefore he hastens to their relief with resolution to save them all if he can Alcidalis took the Queen in his Arms while others performed the same service to the Princess and Zelidan conveying them to their several apartments the uncertain Multitude that some few Minutes before breathed nothing but death and damnation against them now followed them Houling and Groaning All the Arts and strength of Physick were diligently applyed which restored some weak symptoms of life in Zelidan and those were carefully Cherished but the unfortunate Princess was irrevocably dead The Queens Swouning being only the effect of a vehement surprizing Passion death soon was beaten off and his pale spreading Ensigns rufled up by her returning Senses But life came accompanied with all those killing Griefs that waited on its exile which like the envyed Favourites of some weak unhappy Prince for forrows soon insinuate themselves into the hearts affection raised new Commotions among the souls discontented faculties and the oppressed Senses those necessary Subjects and support of Life which were like to prove as fatal as the former had not the News of Zelidans hopeful Recovery repressed their Violence by the removal of the cause Weak as she was she caused her self to be removed to his apartment But Gods what a universal amazement seized the Queen and all the Attendants to find their Champion was a Woman For so her swelling Breasts declared which by undressing her the better to apyly their necessary aid were discovered Her Senses in a little time were perfectly restored and 't was difficult for the most curious observer to determine whether the Queen or Zelinda for so we must call her now she s discovered was in the greatest confusion after they had a long time gazed upon each other the Queen finding in the transformed Zelidan the well known Beauty and Meen of the persecuted Zelinda lifting her eyes to Heaven cryed out I yeild just Gods I yeild to my inexorable destiny Ab Zelinda thy injuries have been too well revenged Having said this e'r Zelinda could answer she retired Love being now wholly exextinct Nature resumed her power and carried her to the apartment of the Princess where with such moving passion she deplored her loss that the most inssible were forced to sympathize with her The News of Zelidans Transformation flew straight through the Pallace and the extraordinariness of the change raised a Curiosity in Alcidalis to behold her for he had not heard that it was Zelinda The Messengrr he sent to obtain that liberty entered her Chamber just as one was going from her to entreat the favour which he sought The Prince full of shame for his Victory over a Woman hastened to beg her pardon When he entered his Attendants respectively withdrew to the furthest part of the Room Neither the Paleness her loss of Blood had planted on her Cheeks nor their long separation could hinder the discovery of the true Zelinda at first sight So perfectly had love engraven her Image in his heart What Pen can describe the Violence of their differnt Passions which then Tyrannized in this Princes Breast Shame and grief for wounding her he prized above his Life and joy that she survived and was in a place where he was now sole Master and able to give and receive the highest proofs of a mutual unalterable Love like meeting Tydes whose opposed forces change swift running Streams a while into a fixed Calme reduced him to a state of insensibility Without Speech or motion he beheld her Such extasies are the usual effects of sudden Joys or Grief the heart being surprized and oppressed with unexpected Events all the Vital Spirits croud so fast to its assistance that they often cause that ruine Nature sends them to prevent As some whose Animal Spirits are obstructed and as it were smothered by the indigested Vapours which from the Stomach fume into the Brain and a while deprive them of the benefits of Life as interposing Clouds obscure the Suns lustre retain their Senses but want power to imploy them such the present State of Alcidalis was he knew what he ought to speak and act but the greatness of his Love and violence of his desires took from him all ability of utterance till Zelinda whose condition much resembled his fearing his silence proceeded from some change in his affection thus began Is this the kind reception Alcidalis gives the unfortunate Zelinda do all the dangers I have past and all my constant Love merit this cold return Great Gods have you preserved me from so many various Deaths to perish here here in the only Haven where I had deposited my last hopes of assured safety Oh Alcidalis let thy Sword give me a speedy and more welcome death then thy disdain Here casting himself on the Bed and imbracing her he could get out no more but Oh my dearest Zelinda and was relapsing again into his former extasie which overcoming with much difficulty he proceeded Your safety and your love my adored Zelinda are blessings too great to be received at once with less concern Since your loss in blindness to all other objects of delight I have wandred ore the World pardon me if I could not meet the first appearance of my Glorious Sun without amazement Give me ye Divine Powers proportioned strength to bear my Happiness lest like a starving man while I too greedily receive it that hastens my death which only can restore my fainting life Then do you yet love me cryed the overjoyed Princess and will the King keep those vowes which Alcidalis made to the then Happy Zelinda For ever for ever answered the transported Alcidalis the enjoyment of my adored Zelinda is more then ten thousand Empires Ah Sir said she but interest of State State cryed Alcidalis my Zelinda is all all to me I would not thank the Gods for a Crown but to lay it at her Feet Then turning to the Attendants which had now filled the Room impatience of beholding their long lost Prince bringing them thither from all parts raising his voice he cryed out He is a Traytor and the Mortal Enemy of Alcidalis that will not kneel and Petition the excellent Zelinda to be his Queen whose Beauty and Virtues merit the Empire of the Universe The Gods to whom I pay all reverence shall never but by death Divorce me from thy Arms. Were I Racked to ten thousand peices as every part of a
broken Mirrour presents an entire face in every part of Alcidalis would appear the bright Image of my adored Zelinda Then they renewed their Embraces and mutual Vows asking and answearing twenty several Questionâ— at once She related all her Adventures from her departure from Barcelona till that instant which Alcidalis requited with his Story how he sought her in Italy but omitted his intrigue with the Dutchess of Tarentum and at Sardignia where meeting the News of his Fathers death the preservation of his Crown hastened him to Spain But with a resolute determination to imploy all his new power in search of Zelinda How near Saracusa by some faithful Nobility to whom he made himself known and who received him with marks of unexepressible satisfaction he was informed of the Actions of Zelidan his interest with the Queen and his supposed design of Marrying her and usurping the Crown This gave Honour a while the preheminence of Love and led him in the Head of those Friends the shortness of the time could get together to this mistaken Revenge and real Happiness The Queen notwithstanding all the submissive importunity of Alcidalis and all the assurances of Power and Honour he could give her would not be diverted from a resolution she had made of retiring to a Religious House there to pass the remainder of her now hated life After the Funeral of the Princess her Daughter was with all Ceremonious Pomp celebrated she performed her Vow and was accompanied to the place of her retirememt with a Magnificence becoming that Solemn occasion To that solemnity immediatly succeeded the Coronation and Marriagof Alcidalis and Zelinda The day with all imaginable Circumstances of an universal joy was finished After which Gentle Reader I may safely call you so now for I am sure you are tyr'd as well as I you may suppose the long-wished night are riv'd though very lazily in the Opinion of the King and Queen And you may suppose their impatient Love hastened them to Bed And what followed you may suppose too if you please for I have more Civility then to speak what I think but as the most Ingenious Sir John Suckling said What is this who can tell But I believe it was no more Then thou and I have done before With Bridget and with Nell I have naturally so much kindness for Lovers that I will without further disturbance leave them to their private Banquet and if no other Pen raises them they shall lye there till Dooms day FINIS Books Printed and Sold by James Magnes and Richard Bentley in Russell-Street near the Piazza's GOds Revenge against Murther Fol. Bacons Natural History Fol. Nostra damus Prophesies Fol. House of Mourning Fol. Fodinae Regalis Fol. Dr. Whitby of the Idolatry of the Church of Rome in Vindication of Dr. Stillingfleet in 8 o. Plato's Apology of Socrates and Pheodo or of the Soul in 8 o. Burnt Child dreads the Fire 4 o. Natural History of the Passions in 8 o. 〈◊〉 Garden Drollery in 8 o. â—â—angers Letters in 8 o. â—ipsious of Constancy in 8 o. Dr. Taylors Psalter in 12 o. Bishop Andrews Devotions in 12 o. Colets Devotions in 12 o. Thomas a Kempis in 24 o. Plays Tartuffe or the French Puritan Forced Marriage or the Jealous Bridegroom All Mistaken or the Mad Couple English Monsieur Andromicha The Tragedy of Nero. Calisto or the Chaste Nymph a Masque at Court Acted by Persons of the Highest Quality frequently The Mistaken Husband Sophonisba or Hannibal's Overthrow