Meonimus from which that of Almidon was not far distant Where having staid some hours to repose my selfe and write that letter to you which you was pleased most obligingly to answer I got again on horsebacke and leaving behinde me my freind's house was quickly at that of my enemie I found him at home was receaved by him better than I desired and soon understood from him that he knew nothing of the death of Cartagenes for I reckoned him to be by that time no more among the living and that he beleived I knew nothing of the reports which he had made to him concerning me Hiding therefore my resentments from him after I had staid with him neer an houre and refused the invitations of eating which he very civilly prest me with I acted so that I engaged him to ride out with me When we were come far enough from his house in the midst of a wood whither I served myself of the occasion of a great roade to bring us taking him by the hand and obliging him to make a halt as I did Almidon said I to him I know not where to find a place more proper to require an account of the injury that you have done me than this Amaz'd at which words without giving me leasure to proceed what is it Alcidor said he which moves you thus to surprize me I never had a minde said I to him again to surprize any man unhandsomely but knowing that you have not freeness enough to satisfie willingly those whom you have wronged I have chose to draw you clanâ—ularly hither that so you might not be able to find any way of escaping or giving yourself a dispensation from fighting But tell me then returned he to me what the injury is which you accuse me of having done you and for which you thus set upon me Do you not remember replied I to him or can you deny that you not long since spoke of me to Cartagenes otherwise than was true and honest who answered he hath told you that I did Cartagenes himself reparted I. He hath indeed allwayes told me returned he that he would ingage me in a quarrell with somebody and I have now too much experience of it to question that he was in earnest But I will maintain to him that he lyes and that I never spoke of you but as I ought At those words provokt with his baseness in denying what I was sure he was guilty of and laying the blame upon one of whose innocence I had sufficient proofe I took my sword in my hand against him but he made no offer of putting himself in a posture of defence Seeing which are you so great a coward cried I to him as not only to unsay what you have broached but also to refuse fighting with one who defies you to it and will kill you if you do not resist him But these reproaches stirred him not and I was unwilling to strike a man who would not defend himself To try therefore if I could begeâ— a courage in him and withall the better to convict him I repeated to him the words which he had said to Cartagenes Struck with which and his owne conscience together he sat on his horse like a statue as if he had had nothing of sense or motion left him At length recovering spirit Cartagenes said he hath been most disingenuously unjust to fixe upon me what I never thought of and I shall act powerfully enough against him to let you quickly see his artifice and baseness and that I am no such base or cowardly person as you accuse me to bee Cartagenes no longer lives cried I to him this sword which I hold in my hand to punish you hath forced him to make a voyage into another world for having too lightly given credit to your discourses That unhappy Cavaleir was as valiant to attacque me as you are heartless to defend yourself but the equity of my cause surmounted the injustice of his and you Impostor shall if I can make you run the same adventure expiating your crime with your blood Take your sword therefore in your hand or I will run you through But these words warned him no more than the former and could he have fled I dare confidently say he would not have staied long in the place In sine when after I had with a great deal of patience waited upon him he saw I would wait no longer but was resolved to use him enough to his ignominy unless he would stand upon his guard he told me that his sword was not equall to mine as indeed it was not being as bad a one as I have commonly seen and that if I would stay till the next morning he would render himself where I should appoint to give me the satisfaction that I desired As commonly they who have an ill paymaster their debtor are content to be paid with such money as they can receive I consented to his procrastination and we concluded upon a place and hour where and when to meet the following day Which being come about halfe an houre before Limonides came to me I saw enter the house of Meonimus one whom though disguised I knew to be Almidons lacquey The fashion in which I saw him and the manner in which he inquired for Meonimus whom I had sent from home in the morning upon other business that so I might have leasure to perform that which I had in hand with Almidon made me suspect that his Master was brewing something of treachery To ascertain myself of the truth of it and know what this disguise meant I took the lacquey by the collar and shewing my self most violently angry threatned him to make him hang if he would not quickly tell me why he was metamorphost and for what reason he came into the house covertly and like a theife Presently the poor boy who had his senses frozen with feare confest to me that his Master had given him a summe of money to advertise Meonimus secretly of the Duel which he was to perform with me and to feigne that it was his owne proper motion to give him the advertisement Inquiring then of the lacquey where his Master was and hearing that he was gone to the place assigned for our meeting I thought of nothing any more but to make haste to him But Limonides arrived at the instant with your most wellcome letter and I staid to read it twice over and to speak a few words to him that brought it Which done to come upon Almidoâ—â— unawares I galloped to him by a private way Perceiving him wholly astonisht to see me instead of Meonimus whom he expected I gave him leasure to recollect himself and then I with much difficulty made him draw his sword But he used it so ill that I with little difficulty gave him a wound which let out the best part of his blood upon the place The rest Limonides I suppose hath acquainted you with I shall therefore only add that
I have not without a very great displeasure to me been compelled in this fashion to make good my honor against a gallant man and a cowardly He having said so the action of the former of them said Dorame does indeed afford a subject of praise that of the latter carries infamy in its remembrance Nothing is more certain adjoined Vindorix than that a mans good or bad reputation depends for the most part upon his actions Some more words they had upon this occasion and Alcidor fell into particularities with Dorame in which the other company being about to leave them the table presently shewed it self coverd and called them all to take their seates As soon as they had dined Dorame carrying them into a private room requested Alcidor to make the reciâ—â—ll that he had promised of the remainder of his loves and he obeyed her in a discourse to this effect Vindorix knows the trouble which the absence of Florisa gave me to which was added that which I had to see him fall sick and constrained to leave me The imprisonment also of â—lâ—cidas which I knew he sufferd for favouring of me I had such a sense of that had I known where Lucimon had shut him up I should either have drawn him thence or lost myself in undertaking it I had I am sure too much cause to complain of that prince to serve him in his army I therefore put my self in that of Lisantus and there I past some time without learning any news of the princess though I had continually spies about Lucimon to discover in what place of the earth he kept her By this my cares of Love appearing without hopes of prosperity and the War every moment furnishing me with new means of laying both them and the melancholy which they caused to me asleep I began after some months to think no otherwise of the Princess than as of one who was wholly lost to me Among these thoughts an expedition carrying us towards the province of Sancy the second day after our arrivall in those quarters I saw come into my chamber one whom though disguised I presently knew to be Alexis page to Florisa and who gave me a letter the contents whereof I still remember were these Florisa to Alcidor AT last in despight of Lucimon and his tyranny I have the means to informe you of the torments that I undergo I am more restrained than slaves and more rigorously used than Crimiâ—alls Excepting this Page and Leonora I have no body about me whose fidelity is not corrupted Judge then if I am not to complain and if my afflictions ought not to touch you But I shall be in a great measure happy amidst my unhappinesses if I can but be assured that you still love me I no sooner knew of the approach of Lisantus towards this Towne of Sanchio but I imagined that you was with him and have therefore sent Alexis to you to let you know that my greatest fear is that of not seeing you Send me word how you do and whither the courage of Alcidor can suffer that Florisa should live allways miserable Seriously affected with these lines when I considerd that a page had had the faithfullness wit and courage to deceive the Princess's guards I could not but reckon myself obliged to practise all possible means of seeing her Sending therefore Alexis before to advertise her that I would be suddenly at her feet but that she and Leonora must dissemble their knowledge of me with a select Troop whom I durst trust and whom in that confidence whichI had in them I instructed to call me by another name I took the way withall she speed that I could after him Coming to the place about twilight I askt to speak with Doliban the Captaine that guarded the princess who presently appearing I told him that Lisantus having received advise of a design that was on foot of taking away the Princess had sent me to impede the execution of it Taking what I told him for certain he received me with a great deal of freeness shewed me what souldiers he had and what order he observed for preserving his fair charge and desired me to do what I judged in the present occasion fitting Accordingly to confirm him in his beleife of what I had affirmed I appointed sentinells to be set at all the avenues of the place and concerned my self to see that and severall other things done with as much zeal as if I had really been affraid of the rape that I pretended and with as much diligence as if I expected it would have been presently attempted All this while I discoverd nothing to him of the desire that I had to see the Princess but as soon as we had settled things for her safety he of his own accord offerd me to conduct me to her I took the offer and went along with him like one sufficiently disinterested and she received me as coldly When Doliban indeed with longer eulogies of me than either she or I at that time cared for told her what rank I held with Lisantus and upon what errand I was come from him she payd me those respects which in common manners were due but yet she in every thing acted her part so sagely that one would have firmely beleived she had not had the least acquaintance with me Leonora also gave authority to the dissimulation by the curiosity which she shewed in inquiring after my name and severall other things about me But Doliban being after a while called away we quickly changed the fashion of your converse We recounted she to me the severities which her Uncle Lucimon had exercised upon her since he had removed her from Paquin I to her the pains that I had taken to learn her abode both I to her and she to me how bitter our forcible separation had been to us and how sweet our present stoln interview was we deliberated of the means of keeping Doliban blind and of seeing one another for the future we discourst of all that we could think of past present and to come that concerned either our good or our ill we determined that for prevention of discovery and to keep of suspicion it was necessary that as I had come after the sun was gone down so I should be gone before it was gotten up In breife the most of the leasure that we had we spent in reciprocating testimonies of affection to one another the most emphaticall that her vertue and my respectfullness could allow us But this kept us not from being so wary that when Doliban returned to me he found me examining whither all things were in good order at the inlets In which work he bearing me company I took occasion to remonstrate to him that it was necessary the plot should be kept secret from every body and particularly from Lucimon for fear it should alarum him so as to disturb him in the great affairs which he had upon his hands It is sufficient
becomes him But had he occasions of enterprizing things satisfactory to the height and magnitude of his â—oul his Element would be to conquer Kingdoms A great Princess and as fair as great would have made it her glory to have gained him for her Husband but that she could not dispose of her own will nor could he conclude it convenient for him to Marry so famous a Parsonage If he loves you as I have no reason to doubt but he does by the testimonies that you have given us of it and your good Fortune brings you to be his Wife as I have hopes it will you may with a just confidence rank your self among the most happy Women of China I know his humour I am acquainted with his Birth and Education I understand a great part of the motions of his Life and can therefore speak of him as I do with assurance You speak too much on his side Sir said Dorame not to make him uppear amiable and to oblige me to court his neerest friendship Satisfied therefore as I am that you know he out-weighs Cartagenes I am resolved to follow your advise and not by a dis-ingenious foolish unworthy coâ—ness debarre my self of the present which heaven seems willing I should receive You have reason indeed Couzen interposed Melian to think no more of your old servants for the one Alcidor's lustre darkens all theirs how considerable soever He who knows him said Vindorix and will not acknowledge him composed of worth must be concluded either to overflow with envy or to be very defective in judgment I with a great deal of Solicitousness wish you married to him and I am in continual fear least this good fortune should be ravisht from you by some sinister accident Heaven if it thinks good returned Dorame to him will preserve him from me You had seen him here at present had not a quarrel between two of his friends called him away but to morrow he is to return and if he loves not me yet he loves his word better than to fail I wish resumed Rolimon that he veiled not his design from you and instead of going to agree some friends is not gone to fight some Enemy Give not your self the trouble of such fears replied Dorame to him for I am very certain he hath nothing of difference of his own to decide with any body having sight of a Letter which informed me he was only arbitrator in a disagreement of others But since you are paâ—ticularly acquainted as you was saying with his life the History of it during his absence would be a diversion very agreeable to me if not a labor too troublesome to you You could not ask me a thing answered her Rolimon which is more to my mind than to entertain you with what I understand of his affairs and if you will not give me that attention which I may claim as their right I doubt not but to make you confess that few things more considerable have come to your ears Presently Melian Vindorix and Dorame seating themselves about him he began his Narration in these Tearms The History of 〈◊〉 SInce I have undertaken to give you an account of as much as I know of Alcidor's Life it is just that I first shew you what his Original was and what his younger Motions rhat so by the one you may see what a Noble Stock he grows upon and by the other what an Elevation of Spirit he gave evidence of in his feeble years He is Issued by his Father Miraldus of one of the most antient Houses of the Province of Quincij by his Mother Deifila of a Branch Royal of China by both allied to the most Eminent Families of the Kingdom The Pomp of his Birth was equal to the height of it there was no body considerable in the Vicinage who came not to welcome him into the World and Feasts Bals and all the more fashonable and elegant expressions of joy were for five days together the exercises of them that came The first hours of his birth they who seriously considered him not out of flattery but judgment congratulated his Parents concerning him as a work of their Mariage which Nature had taken a pleasure to render compleat They themselves indeed could not look upon him without fancying his eyes beamings of a Genius that promised nothing mean and he gave a very early confirmation of their Fancy for by that time he had gotten over four years he delighted himself in nothing so much as in seeing Arms and Horses and in handling the one and mounting the other thereby giving Omens that holding dear in his Childhood the instruments of glory he would in time prove by them as worthy an Heir of Miraldus his Reputation as of his Estate When he had attained to an age capable of learning things worth the knowing he found nothing difficult to him but comprehended them wholly almost as soon as he had the beginnings of them taught him I my self have not without astonishment observed him to understand at seven years that which a better spirit than ordinary must have been at a great deal of pâ—ins to apprâ—â—hend at twelve his judgment and gracefulness were while he was a Child advanced to a maturity that spake him Man Grown bigger he shewed himself furnisht with so many excellent quallities that his glad Parents thought it time that he should see the Superbe Court of Florimen where they hoped he would one day make his Vertue shine and there if he was taken with the beauties of the place he took all that saw him with the early and most hopeful blossomes of his youth Arcantus in particular the King's Brother took him into his Bosome and affectionately made it his caiâ— that there should be nothing wanting to the rendring of him a most compleat person The various practises of the Indian Kingdome inciting the great Lords of China to revolt anew and combustions being by that means kindled and blown up very dammagable to the State in aggravation of the disorder Arcantus complained that he was slighted and that Podamus â—rastes and Belliman had in the Counsell of the twelve Auditors without calling him to it acted as they thought good very much in prejudice of his concerns Nor did he complain only but also not able to brook the Bravades of those Princes who were strangers from the Royal Bloud he departed from Court and levied Forces In these Alcidor commenc't the Soldior following his Colours with an ardor answerable to the obligation which he had to him and which remarkably auspicated those great things which he afterwards performed From this spring many different motions arising in China the Prince Arcantes within a few days published a Declaration in which he protested that he had not departed and armed but to employ his Fortunes Forces and Life to remove the Authors of the publick confusion to prosecute justice for 〈◊〉 the Rapires and Massacres comitted during the Reign of Trasilas and to restore
take her Uncle Rolimon in his chamber but she found that he was together with Vindorix and Melian gon to walk in the garden She going thither to them I hope my neice began Rolimon to her the same phantasmes have not troubled you this night that did the former I can never sleep with more tranquillity answered she to him than I have don to night and if any thing came in my mind when I was awake more than ordinary it was only what you have recounted to me of Alcidor and some feares I must confess least by the way hither he should be met by some freind of Cartagenes and called to an account for his death Disturb not your mind with those suspicions replyed Rolimon to her for he hath in this province a more redoubted name than that any body should quickly be as rash as was Cartagenes to commit the like indiscretion of assaulting him Have you then so ill an opinion of the courage of Cloriastes said Dorame to him smiling as to beleive that he will not fight upon my account I hold him for a man of heart returned Rolimon to her but since he knowes not that Alcidor is your Lover would you have me imagin that there will be a combat between two persons who have nothing of quarrell Let us not amuze ourselves in prognosticating a mischeif of which there is no probability that it should quickly if at all fall out but let us think of seeing Alcidor here at dinner for my part I have strong hopes that we shall for I am sure there is nothing of expedition which he will not use when he knowes that you desire to see him The night had not shades so thick as to hinder him from travailing and besides when he undertakes any thing he makes his way through all nor woods nor rocks nor pitchy darkenesses are unpassable to him I have practised him enough to know him and I speak no more than what I know to be true of him To this Dorame was going to say something when they saw enter the coverd walk where they sat Limonides with a look though not so overcast as when he brought the newes of the death of Cartagenes yet very legibly inscribed with something of sadness As soon as he came near them have you some new unhappiness prevented him Rolimon to informe us of that you carry so melancholick a face Have your pains been unprofitable in seeking Alcidor or have you met with him and some ill hath befallen him Almidon Sir replyed Limonides to him hath followed Cartagenes Alcidor hath made him pay at the point of the sword for the outrage that he did him in reporting what was false of him to Cartagenes What â—ighting is here cryed Dâ—rame sighing This is not the way to let us quickly see Alcidor as we expected This will not all retard his coming Madam said Limonides to her you will see him with you within an hour You tell me what will be enough to my contentment Limonides said she in answer to him provided it proves true There is nothing in the world more true Madam returned Limonides to her than that he intends it I shal make no more question of it replied Dorame to him but tell us what you know of his fighting with Almidon Being conducted Madam said Limonides by Alcidors lacquey to the house of Meonimus a freind of his which is not far distant from that which was my Masters while he lived nor from that also of Almidon I there found him and delivered to him your Letter which when he had read he told me there was no cure that I could have brought him like that for the greif with which he resented my Masters death Saying little else but that little enough to make me perceive that he had some business which he was in hast to dispatch with somebody he jumpt on horseback and galloped away To see whither he went I followed him with as much speed as I could without being perceived by him but I was not able for some time to set eye upon him At length I discerned him above a hundred paces from me with his sword in his hand against a man whom at that distance I know not Riding as hard as I could to the place I had scarce discoverd his adversary to be Almidon but I saw him run into the body by him and fall When Alcidor saw me by them confess before Limonides Almidon said he the wrong that you have don me in reporting to his Master those things that were the occasion of his death I can by no meanes excuse returned Almidon to him what you charge me with and therefore if I may say that I forgive what is just I forgive you the wound which you have given me and which is apace letting out my soule At these words Alcidor dropping some teares upon his misfortune as he had don upon my Masters stopt his wound with his handkercheif set him upon his horse and conveighed him to the house from which we came There we said as Almidon desired us to say and said himselfe that an enemy who had met him by chance had given him his hurt and the Master of the house endeavouring to inform himself of the name of that enemy he would never tell him but desired him to content himself with this that he was a gallant man who had just occasion to set upon him and that he died satisfied with him not knowing how to complain of his action which he was free and valiant He said but little more and died in the armes of Alcidor who his eyes being closed commanded me back to you with assurance that as soon as he had taken order to have him caried home he would come away by the light of the moon to render himself with you Limonides having said thus and holding his tongue It is indeed Alcidors happiness said Dorame that those whom he fights with and kills die his freinds but I am notwithstanding that very much troubled at these occurrences That said Rolimon is the part of honest persons that come to be so unfortunat and these incounters indeed said Vindorix though they are to be accounted good in regard that Alcidor hath had the better in them yet they are not so in regard that two men and one of them a man of true gallantry have in a privat quarrell lost their lifes by his hand But we shall have the less reason to be troubled provided Cloriastes increases not the number of those unfortunats and we have reason to hope that he will not because at present he does not think that he hath any occasion of falling out with Alcidor and if he should think so hereafter he must also think that to fight with him is not but to augment his trophes For one to have two such combats one upon the heels of another said Melian and in both to kill his adversaries without being at the cost of a drop of blood does not
usually happen but it is to Alcidor that it hath happened and that hinders it from being a wonder A great reason of his good success said Dorame surely is because he drew not his sword but upon a just cause for who can deny but he had right on his side in both these duells in the one as being assaulted in the other as being outraged No man Cozen said Rolimon to her can with justice condemn him for what he hath don and if any man should have either so much malice or so little judgment as to speak ill of him for it he would finde enough ready to revenge it upon him But let us withdraw hence to wait for him in the house as shady as this place is the rayes of the sun peircing it and beginning to set it on fire Removed into the house they for some time held conversation upon severall worthy things which Cartagenes had done and then Dorame turned it to Florisa and Alcidor speaking very much in commendation of the former for regarding the merit rather than the birth of the latter though reserving the quality of Prince she knew he was issued of one of the best families of the kingdom and of him they were speaking when he came into the room where they were At the sight of one another he and Dorame were struck into a little stupor which being quickly dissipated and salutations performed you have since you left us Sir said she to him been to us the cause and the object of more than ordinary apprehensions my Uncle and Cozens who came hither two dayes since have been both witnesses and partners of them but was there a necessity that you should abuse us by making shadow to us of going to agree some freinds and engaging yourself in mortall quarrells I hope Madam interrupted her Alcidor Limonides hath not done me the ill office to conceal what past between his Master and me He hath given us a full account of it Sir said Rolimon to him but my neice taking a particular interest in your preservation therefore sets thus upon you that she may persuade you not to be another time so ready to satisfie the resentments of men void of reason What could I do less replied Alcidor than use my sword against a man who forced me so to defend me honor and my life I am certainely no quarreller much less am I of a humor to fall foul upon those whom I do not beleeve to have a design of offending me but that it should be said that out of cowardise I disengaged myself from a provocation or that any body should set upon me without my giving them to see as far as I am able that I am not insensible I can by no meanes bring myself to endure You gave sufficient demonstration of this to Lisimax said Dorame to him and thereby acquired a far more triumphing reputation than that any body should be easily disposed to pass sentence upon you as pusillanimous I see you know Madam returned Alcidor to her what in respect of its in considerableness I had reason to think lay private from you but that is too small a thing to procure me credit with any body much less can it bring me into esteem with you to whom those things are common which to others are rare Not to dissemble what we have done Sir said Rolimon to him Vindorix and I to divert my neice have imparted to her the knowledge which we have of your life which reaches you know to the time that you was taken prisoner excepting what became of Florisa and what intercourse you maintained with her after her Uncle removed her from Paquin I am sorry replied Alcidor that she hath had no better a diversion the occurrences of War usually making horror rather than harmony to those of her sexe and temper Notwithstanding my weaker sexe reparted Darame I am not of so weake a temper as to be frighted with the bruite of things on the contrary they have been very melodious aires to me both those of your martiall deeds and those of your amorous intelligences whith the princess Florisa In the remainder of which latter I beseech you to instruct me after you have recounted to us that which I also begge of you how things went between you and Almidon But yet before you doe this I will shew you what Cartagenes wrot to me dying With those words she took out of her pocket and presented to him the letter of that defunct which he having read How few such men said he are there to be found in the world and how much regret have I that such a man should fall by my sword though withall by his own fault But let us leave him in peace Madam continued he and suffer me to tell you that you use me with too much ceremony to intreat of me what it is your part to command Had you as much favor for me as I have honor and obedience for you you would only say Alcidor it is my will you should do thus and thus this freeness would make me do what you desire with greater cheerfullness But you beleive you should render me too happy should you treat me so You have no reason surely to complain answered she to him if I pay you the respect which I know to be due to you loose no more time therefore in producing to us these punctilio's of your spirit we being better assured of its excellency than to need such testimonies of it but relate to us the adventure which you have had with Almidon Not to tell you again what you have been told allready Madam said Alcidor to her be pleased to take this breviate of the rest After I was informed by Cartagenes and Limonides how Almidon had calumniated me to the former and by so doing been the author of his misfortune over which I could not choose but weep I had no longer any thing besides my love of your self so busy in my minde as revenge but I was a while unresolved of what means I should serve myself in prosecution of it sometimes I thought of acting one way sometimes another I was indeed most inclined to go find him myself in his house and draw him into the feild there to demand an account of him for what he had done but I was withall miserably agitated with fears of incurring your displeasure by so doing and of acquiring the tittle of a gladiator more than of your servant I had agreed those upon whose occasion I went hence with the success that I desired and there was nothing but my love that stood in the way of my anger But when I considered that you was of a more generous humor than to take it ill that I should seek satisfaction for the wrong that was done to me and for the mischeife that was done to Cartagenes I wavered no longer but leaving that dying man in the armes and to the care of Limonides I betook myself to the house of