Assembly who are men of courage to have pity of my mis-fortune and to employ their valour for the deliverance of my Princesse Every one being moved with this preface gave double attention and promising to himselfe to heare something that should be strange made known to Median that they had a great minde to heare him He thereupon after he had discovered the Picture of the Princesse of Telinfin that was painted on his Buckler went on thus There is none in this Assembly who knowes not the greatnesse of the Kingdome of Telensin and who in some way hath not heard that the Kings of it have made themselves redoubtable to their Enemies He which now raigns What said I He which raigns No he raignes not for the fury of his Subjects excited by the Sorceries and predictions of a false Prophet come out of Tefesca hath loaden him with Irons and dispoyld him of his Government The poore Habdulac-Numen so is that Prince called hath one only daughter of whom I dare say nothing for feare I should not speake as I ought This Angell of Light is called Arzila and should not have been put amongst the List of mortall things if the affection which she beares to the least of men had not cut off somewhat from the opinion they had conceived of her Divinity I was that Happy man though an unworthy object for Arzila's affection I received that favour with the respect that I ought and not being able to deserve her by any service I never vaunted of any thing but that I could not merit her I was even on the point to be elevated unto heaven when a Divell gotten loose from hell I meane the false Prophet of whom I have spoken ruined all my hopes and buryed my felicities under the ruines of the Royall Progeny Habat Elmely so was that cruell Tyrants Name covering his ambition and Pride with a falle and pernicious piety entred into Telensin with a great company of his Sectaries and after he had there preach'd his Heresies gain'd the Brutish and inconstant people and made them rise in armes against heir Soveraign I Joyn'd my selfe with those that were loyall and did my best endeavour tBut after divers defeates and being left for dead in the feild of the last Battle Abdulac Vmen was taken prisoner loaden with Irons and thrown into a horrible Dungeon The false Prophet presently took on him the Royall Authority and since that he had acused to be published at the beginning of the War that he was come from Heaven and the great Prophet Mahomet to teach the truth to the Telensiens and by the marriage of himselfe with Arzila beget them Kings that should chase all the Christians out of Africa he commanded that in what place soever that Princesse should be retyr'd they should bring her to him and declar'd that not only he which conceal'd her should be impal'd alive but also that if she came not in within foure dayes Abdulac Vmen should be flead alive in the great place of Telensin At this last newes Arzila who passionately lov'd her Father left the place where she was in safety thought it good in appearance not to dis-allow of the false prophets designe came to him to his Palace only with two Women and casting her at his feet Behold said she the Maiden for whom thou hast testified hitherto so much respect and affection reduc'd to submssions and prayers If the desire to raigne which hath made thee forget the Loyalty thou owest my Father hath not made thee lose the Love thou didst beare the Daughter repent thy selfe for having displeased him and setting a period to his mis-fortune give him cause to acknowledg so great a service I present not my selfe before thee to make use of that absolute power which my birth and thy affection gives me over thy will but I beseech thee as a Subject and submit to all thou shalt ordeine me Provided thou restore to me the King my Father Ought not the false Emely to have beene moved by the prayers and tears of that faire Princesse He was not a jot though he feigned to be so His infamous brutality seeing it self at the point to be satiated made him dissemble his hatred and advis'd him to promise Arzila all that she requested to the end that she might the more willingly sacrifice her self for the safety of her Father He then led her into a place where she could be heard by no body and taking her by the hand said I keep not Abdulac prisoner not have I taken on me the title of a King but to oblige you not to be cruell to me Have pity of one that is unfortunate succour a man desperate pay with some small favour so many yeares services which I have given you though my discretion hath hindered me from making it appeare to you and dispose as you please of the Crown of Telensin I restore it you with your Father and renounce for ever all other glory but that of enjoying you He added many other immodest and lascivious words to those and seeing himselfe sweetly refused began to be moved and told the Chast Arzila that she should not hope to see againe her Father on the throne if she did not grant him what he had so many yeares search'd for The Princesse hiding her just displeasure threw her selfe again at the feet of that abhominable wretch in Lieu of answering him and melting into teares My Lord said she consider what t is you require of me thinke who I am and do notmake me beleeve that thou hast ever lov'd me The Tyrant laugh'd at the Princesse virtue and raising her from the ground you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me invane said he if you havenot a will to fulfill my desire I have a long time observâ—… all the Lawes which Love and respect imposed on me You must now receive mine or we must be equally miserable At those words Arâ—…ila be came red as fire and stepping a pace or two backwards My honour then said she is the only ransome thou desirest for thy Princes liberty I ever beleev'd that thou wert an in famous fellow and a Traytor But expect not that the feare of death nor the hope of reseeing Abdulac in the throne shall ever bring me to lose that which I love more then the Crown or my life The King my Father would disavow me for his Daughter and would be his owne executioner should he know I had reestablish'd him by so sordid so shamefull and execrable a treaty The false Prophet enraged to see himselfe so farre from his purpose caus'd Arzila to be taken away by some of his guard brought her into the Dungeon where her father lay and to affright her more and by other wayes then by threatnings commanded her Fathers Nose to be cut off At which horrible spectacle Arzila tore her haire cast her selfe into her Fathers Armes be-bloodied her face against his and after some lamentations able to make the heart of a common Executioner
his own wonderful acts is bound to beleeve those of His life I feare not to relate to you a Life as miraculous as any of those Heroes of whom your Forefathers and ours have made them their first Gods Some have bin of opinion that Kings receiv'd from Heaven some advantages which were not granted to other men I have known divers Kings who have made me doubt of the verity of that beliefe But having the honor to know you withal Polexander as I do I am forc'd to confesse that as there are Kings who are alwayes children there are others too who are men in their Infancy Without giving then ought to my affection without soothing I dare say that my King is of those last and that he came into the world with those excellent qualities which age Study and experience sell to ordinary men at so deare rates His Soule in her descent from Heaven preserv'd retayn'd al it had receiv'd in the 〈◊〉 of her originall Her descent or fall made her not lose or forget any thing She was câ—…eated full of knowledge and so entred compleat into the habitation appointed for her and in spight of all the fetters and vayles of the body kept still her prime agility and fiâ—…t illuminations But it was very fit and I dare say absolutely necessary that Polexander should be borne with those qualities which are seen but in very few Princes for it would have bin a peice of prodigie if there had come ought that was any way vulgar from Periander the wonder of his age and Axiamira the Admiration and glory of her times The Prince which for good cause I alwayes call incomparable was borne in this Island and with his life receiv'd the Crown of almost all the Canaryes Not that he had his extraction from those barbarous Kings which heretofore raign'd here His derivation is more glorious being descended from two of the greatest houses that ever flourished in Europ The one is that of the Kings of France and the other of the Emperors of Constantinople It is but little lesse then three hundred yeares since the French had for their King a Prince who for the sanctity of his life hath been thought worthy to be ranâ—…d in the number of the Semy-Gods This King had a Brother call'd Charles of Anjou The greatnesse of whose courage and renown of his virtues acquird him the Crowns of the two Sicylyes and Ierusalem From that Prince in a direct line from Father to Son is Polexander descended and if Fortune had not too cruelly exercis'd on that house that horrible fury wherewithall she useth to break Septers and over-tumble Thrones he should be now as his Predecessors have been King of the best part of Italy Greece and Thrace But those of Arragon on the one side and the Paleologues on the other and lastly the Turks have deprivâ—…d him of the inheritanee of his Ancestors and left him nothing but most just causes to be sensible of their common usurpations But alas I know not whether I should wish that Polexander might change the affection he hath to Alcidiana for an inclination to â—…evenge For when I think on the disasters which are fatally linck'd to such an enterprize and reflect on the unfortunate life and Tragicall death of the great Periander I feare that which I have most passionatly desired and requested of Heaven even that the King my Master might never think on those Territories which his Predecessors had lost The famous Amaâ—…ontus Father of Periander seeing that by the remissenesse of the last Paleologue Constantinople fell into the hands of the Turke and besides many times but vainely attempting to make the Easterlings arise in Aâ—…es against their Tyrants had such a detestation to a people so infamous that to lose their memory with the sight of them he forsook Greece desirous to seek out in some other end of the world a place of retirement where he might live unknown But Fortune who soon repented her of the injustice done to so great a Prince brought him into these Seas and in lieu of the most rich Crown of the World which she had taken from him gave him the fairest and most delightfull I meane that after she had long time made him wander on the Ocean she brought him to cast Anchor and land on this Isle the very day whereon the Inhabitants were assembled to chuse them a King He was called to this Little Monarchy by the consent of all and in lesse then three or four yeares made himselfe so much valued amongst those of the neighbor Islands that in emulation of one another they would needs have him for their Commander After the death of that Prince his Son Periander not only succeeded him but to extend the bounds of this little Empire drove the Portugalls out of the Isles they had guarded and without doubt might have gotten the Crown of Spaine it selfe if the desire of recovering his ancient inheritance had not engag'd him in a War with the Turk In his first voyage into the Levant he marryed with a Grecian Princesse call'd Axiamira who by her spirit and virtue made it well appeare that she came from that Heroick blood which had so often triumph'd over the Monarches of Asia He returned hither with that Princesse and within the four or five first yeares of his marriage had on her Polexander Iphidamantus and Cydaria Assoone as he saw himselfe made happy by so fair a posterity he thought on the meanes to make their condition equall to that of his Predecessors and to that end renewing the Treaties wherein the Knights of Rhodes and many other Princes of Christendome would have before time engaged him he undertook a busines which as impossible as it seem'd he had infallibly effected had it not been for the treason or cowardize of his Allyes He got him secretly to Rhodes and not finding matters there as he had been by some made to hope would therefore be himselfe his owne Agent He travell'd alone through all Greece visited all the Princes of the Imperiall house who were banished into the Islands of the Mediterranean passed thence into Syria to cause the Heyres of the house of Antioch to take armes and lastly disguiz'd like a Turke came to Constantinople where he abode neer six moneths and dealt with so many Christians during that time by the mediation of the Patriark that he thought himselfe powerfull inough to drive thence the Turke Thence he returned to Rhodes with that good hope and having wrought his enterprize to it's perfection at least he thought so he departed from that Island with an army which should have been invincible Assoon as he arriv'd he made himselfe Master of those Castles which shut up the mouth of the Hellespont and by that surprise threw so great a terror into Constantinople that Bajazet was on the point to forsake it Periander entred into the Propontis and sâ—…iz'd on the Isles of Marmora and Calomina in spight of
he had a mind to lose himselfe he could not doe it in a more high enterprize But how I pitty him for not having seen but through a very obscure veyle this so shining and lively a light which makes him contemn all others Certainly those pictures of Alcidiana which he hath are the works of ignorance or envie and I may say after what I have seen that Prince adores a Divinity to him unknown Alcippus desirous to qualifie the disquiet of this new Lover Me thinks said he that instead of lamenting Abdelmelecs fortune you ought to extoll your own and give thanks to Love that since he hath inspir'd you with a desire to serve ALCIDIANA He hath not only made you worthy of her but by a singular priviledge hath conducted you as by the hand where your service may receive their reward Ah flatâ—…erer replyd Polexander dar'st thou who hast seen that Princesse make me beleeve I am worthy to serve her The love thou bear'st me suffers the not well to consider me Thou representeâ—…t to thy selfe all things to my advantage and I doubt not but thou beleev'st thou doest it justly But I who am freed from the love of my selfe and can be a good Iudge in mine own cause I look on my fortune on that side it ought to be regarded and am not dazled as thou art with I know not what luster which a false light casts on it Know my friend that I am absolutely unworthy of Alcidiana's chaines that the least of her slaves hath those qualities to which I can never pretend and that fortune hath thrown me on these inaccessible coasts for no other end but to engage me in a dispaire which surpasseth the dispaire of all that have been unfortunate from the beginning of the world Wouldst thou have morâ—… palpable or more visible proofes oâ—… this truth then the contempt wherewith Alcidiana cast her eyes on me Think on the circumstances of her meeting Examine alâ—… that passed in that little time she permitted me to see her Weigh seriously her precipitated departure and thou wilt confesse with me that her eyes and silence have declar'd me unworthy of the honour to be reckned amongst her slaves I intend to contest with your Majesty replyd Alcippus For having not your light and knowledge I stop at things which sence makes me see and cannot as you penetrate into soules and discover the secrets of thoughts And not to lye to you if your discourse had not taken off somewhat which hood-winkd mine eyes without perceiving it I should yet have drawn very advantagious consequences from the meeting with Alcidiana and maintaine stifly my beliefe of your giving her more cause of admiration then contempt All her Nymphes forgetting the chase and even not seeing the Hynde which fell at their feet press'd to come neer you and pointing with their fingers seemd to say to one another that they had never seen your equall As you love me Alcippus said Polexander interrupting him make an end of this discourse Thou makest me madde in thinking to comfort me I know what my destiny is but as sadde as t is t is to me deare t is to me glorious since t is perfected by the hands of Alcidiana By this answer he impos'd silence on Alcippus and beginning to walke in his Chamber was about an houre in that exercise At last he remembred himselâ—… and calling Diceus askd him whether he had brought Abdelmelec's bucklers They are in your Majesties trunâ—…kes replyd Diceus I would faine have them said the Prince We must goe for them then replyd Diceus The place where I have left them is not so farre hence but that I can be quickly backe againe But Sir said he if the Viceroy presse me upon your staying what shall I say to him Thou shalt tell him replyd the Prince all that thou thinkest fittest to keep him where he is Diceus presently took one of his hosts Horses and in full speed came to the Towne where I was retyred I was wonderfully astonish'd at so quick a returne and askd him the cause T is nothing said he nor no other then the curiosity of a great Lord of this Isle He desires to see Abdelmelecs bucklers and I have ridden all last night that he might not long expect his desir'd contentment After he had told me this tale he took the two bucklers and returnd with as much speed as he came Polexander seeing him come back commended his love and diligence and with an excesse of joy forgetting what he was embrac'd him a long time in his armes Then he set Alcidiana's Pictures in their best light and considering them well I am confirm'd said he to Alcippus in my first opinion These Pictures are nothing like Alcidiana I saw the Princesse so little replyd Alcippus that my memory represents her not to me but very confusedly Yet if that Idea of her which I retain hathany conformity with the Original I find not these Coppies any way do resemble her Assuredly said Polexander with a litle passion they are nothing at all like her Where find you that sweet and majesticall livelinesse which sparkles in her eyes or that fresh and cleere whitnesse of her complexion and brest No no there is nought here of Alcidiana Only a man may see by some strokes that t is the portraict of some excellently faire creature In this discussion was the Prince when the Shepheard who two dayes before had left him entred his Chamber and presenting to him another Shepherd of a very good aspect for an old man made him understand by signes that that was it which he had promised him The old Shepheard presently beginning to speake saluted Polexender in Arabian and by that language made him sufficiently conceive the good office done him by the young Shepheard The Prince went and imbrac'd him to signifie how sensible he was of that obligation After that satisfaction he streight did the like to the old man and told him in Arabicke that he was too happy in meeting with one to whom he might make himselfe understood This venerable old man answered him his joy was not lesse and should he reap no other fruit of his travells then the tafting the sweetnesse of his conversation he would all the rest of his life blesse that curiosity which at first made him to undertake them T is for me Father replyd Polexander to give thanks to fortune for shipwracking me on this Iland Scarce had I set foot on this Land but that I was 〈◊〉 of the happinesse it enjoyes as one of its naturall proprieties In three dayes I met with a thousand causes of contenâ—…ment but there are few of them on which I set so high a price as on the happinesse of your acquaintance The old Shepheard thinking in his opinion he had not words good enough to answer these replyd by the teares which joy drew from his eyes and to make an end of all Compliments besought Polexander to beleeve that if he could
the resentment of my favours have not been able to quell thy ill Nature nor stay thy inconstancy Abominable follower of false Prophets who are risen against the Great Prophet Musulman unworthy of thy Circumcision speak and tell me who oblig'd thee to come under the vayle of allyance and friendship to seduce me even in the Palace of the King my Father Thou knowest in thy conscience thou knowest that I have contributed nothing at all to my misfortune The subtleties that my Sex imploy to make themselves Masters of thine have been hitherto unknown to me or at least hatefull I would never yet do that affront to Nature as to change the colour of my Haire nor hide the blacknesse of my complexion under a strange white My words and actions have not been lesse genuine nor lesse naturall then my disastrous beauty and I dare say that I oftentimes complain'd to Heaven that mine Eyes express'd so ill the feelings of my Soule In short the more I reflect on my selfe the more my conscience assures me that I am guilty of nothing but of loving thee And if that crime deserv'd to be punished surely thou oughtest not for it either be the Judge or the Hang-man If my Love seem'd to thee injurious if my little stock of beauty distasted thee if the rudenesse of my wit were insupportable to thee yet my simplicity should at least have wrought some pitty from thee and my goodnesse was great enough to oblige thee not to do me any wrong VVhy hadst thou not rather said this Maidens face hath somehing dismall in it My eyes cannot indure to look on her colour yellow and black She hath not wit and the best things she speaks are but very bad expressions Yet shee is good she loves me and if I cannot affect her yet must I pitty 〈◊〉 â—…cence and not deprive her of that quiet which her stupidity affoords her T is noâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that ill which a man may do without feare of punishment and if we exercise â—…ity in comforting any one that is miserable we practise it a great deal more in not permitting him to becom so These good thoughts were not likely to possesse a Soul so wicked as thine And if by chance some good angel would with them have inspir'd thee thy pernicious inclination would not have suffer'd to receiv them Those that brought thee into the world underwent the curse of Heaven thy parents should call thee rather the punishment of their offences then the blessing of their marriage Nor art thou come out of thy Country but to free it of a Monster which was become the cause of terror and hatred to all Truly the successors of the great Mansor have good cause to rejoyce since the usurper of their Estates hath left so abominable a Race Comfort thy selfe Comfort thy self in thy disgraces The Tyrants who drove thy Ancestors out of Africa have left such heires that they wil soon have reason to envy thee But what said I No No Nephizus who shall be ever dear to me I do not beleeve all this The Love I bear my self hinders me from mine own knowledge and makes me throw on thy inconstancy that change whereof I onely am guilty The audacious Mescenarez having dared to pretend to that which Love reserv'd for thee alone made thee jealous and the little care I took to cure thee of it compell'd thee without doubt to leave mee It may be thou yet wandrest through the Deserts of thy Numidia and askest from Love that he should give thee Iustice for the faith which I have violated If it be so O too credulous Prince return where thou hast left me Thou shalt know how I have suffer'd the wooings and rashnes of Mescenarez and since thy departure whether he or his adherents have been able to get any advantage of the scorn and neglect thou hast made of me Why sawest thou not me as I am now discheveld furious an enemy to my self or rather repentant desolate Thou shouldst have seen me with my knees on the earth tears in my Eyes imploring thy mercy and confessing my self guilty though I am nothing but a most miserable creature But thou most to be abhorred neither carest what I do not what I suffer Thy lightnesse is satisfied in deceiving me may be it now glories in my being abused Go go whether thou wilt the Horror of thy Sex mine I wil folow thee as a Fury making thee suffer a part of those torments which I have endured I wil not permit thee to rejoyce unpunish'd of that death which thou hast given me Benzaida stopping at that word held her eyes some-while fix'd on the planching at thelast she cast them on Nephizus who with Izilia and my selfe hearkned to her without a word speaking and changing her voice t is enough ingratefull man said she t is enough to have reproved thee of thy misdeeds I am in such an humor that I am weary of complaining I wil only tel how long I have sought thee by what chance I heard news of thee Know therefore that some few dayes after thy departure I found my self so extreamly desirous of re-seeing thee that I could not possibly stay longer in Granada I then forsook my Fathers Palace without the knowledge of any but Zamaella and my Nurse and commanding them to take with them all that was necessary for me stole away one night without fearing the cruelty of the Spaniards who ransack'd our country or the dangers of a long Journey and swore never to sojourne in any place of the world till I had met with thee With this resolution I took my way to the Sea-side and as I was ready to imbarque my selfe in a vessell that was bound for Africa the generous Prince which thou shouldst never forget as ingratefull as thou art Tindarache I say being not to be put off neither by my cruelties nor by our common extravagances presented himselfe to me and casting him at my feet besought me I would be pleas'd that he might accompany me Benzaida said he I come not here to make you alter your resolution nor to intreat you to acknowledge my perseverance I come to you because my fidelity commands it and because I cannot resolve to dye till I see you happy These offers much troubled me yet knowing of a long time Tindaraches respect and doubting that I might have need of his assistance I tooke him into my company But for feare he should not observe all that he promis'd me I receive you said I on condition that you take no heed neither to my actions nor my words and look not on me but as on a person that knowes no more what she doth That young Prince full of love and pitty was so much mov'd at my speech that the teares came into his eyes He looked upon me he gaz'd on heaven and being able to endure his fortune without murmuring What ever thou be cried he O Providence
against other enemies Two or three dayes after this last resolution of the King Diceus assured him Alcippus might get on horseback and they all three departed from their Inne and the same day betimes arrived at Copenhagen They lodged neere the Pallace and understood the very next day Phelismond was by the Kings command brought into the City and being absolutely out of danger was seene and visited by every one This newes exceedingly pleased Polexander yet resolved to attend his certaine health before he would make knowne to Phelismond the cause of his voyage and thought it fit withall to restore him his boxe and disclose himselfe that so at his returne he might intimate to him that which lay on his heart One morning therefore taking Alcippus with him he went streight to the Favorites lodging as soone as he came in he noted there was nothing in that man but savoured of the greatnesse of his courage His house was open to all men No person hindred the entrance into his chamber no not of his withdrawing roome T is true he was so generally beloved and the respect the whole Court had alwaies borne him was so strong a guard to him that neither great nor lesse came to disturbe him but upon some very just cause The first to whom Polexander addrest himselfe to know whether that Prince was to be spoken with offred to conduct him into his chamber and Polexander accepting his courtesie followed him He went through great Halls very stately furnished through chambers and anti-chambers far more magnificent wherein he saw none but Phelismonds domesticall servants This sollitude so much ravished him that he could not hold from telling his Conductor the Courtiers of Denmarke were either very negligent or little ambitious since they gave so much ease and quiet to the man who only next the King might make them a fortune You see answered his Guide that our Poâ—…ters have no greate imployment and there is no great crouding in our chambers Yet t is not because our Couriers are not the most diligent and ambitious of all men but the Prince long since told them once for all that he pretended not to be the most unfortunate in all Denmarke because his Master did him the honour to love him more particulaly then others That he engaged himselfe to serve them as often as his credit could adde any thing to their merrit or their Princes will but he would not promise it but on condition they would suffer him to live at liberty Truely replied Polexander I understand dayly there are most eminent virtues in Phelismond though he be of their number with whom they have been thought even till this day to be incompatible The mindâ—…s of the multitude must needes be very bad since some of them have been to wicked as to finde fault with the actions of so great a personage It may be said the guide some one may have cause to complaine of the Prince yet I intreate you to believe they are much in the wrong who make him the cause of their publick miseries He dayly toiles to put a period to them and when he thinkes to be at the point of relieving the people some spirits borne for their ages affliction alter those good designes and inforce him whether he will or no to raise the charges and impositions to deter the intire desolation of the Kingdome But let it suffice I have not in command to justifie his actions nor condemne other mens and see we are at the chamber doore I intreate you then said Polexander to see what the Prince doth and if you thinke it fitting to tell him that the Gentleman to whom he gave a picture boxe is come to restore it to him At that word the Guide smiling left him and presently returning said that Paelismond intreated him to come in At his first step into the chamber divers Gentlemen came and saluted him and all with a great deale of civility led him to the Prince his bed side He raised himselfe halfe to embrace him and received him with so great expressions of joy and sensibility that Polexander had not been worthy to have lived had â—…e not been moved with his courtesie He began his compliments by the boxe he presented him and often besought his pardon for the long unacquitting himselfe of what he owed him Phelismond embracing him againe tooke him from the continuing those civilities and wringing his hand I see well said he that you have no better an opinion of me then of custome men have of such who are in the same degree of fortune with me Every one believes that no man can be a Favourite but he must instantly forget himselfe But if I might have the happinesse of seeing you often I hope you would change your opinion and finde that I left not to be rationall when I came to be a Favourite I aske your pardon for this ill discourse but I am so much afraid to be taken for another that by this declaration I begin my acquaintance and friendship To this Polexander answered with so much freedome and gentlenesse as if he had not beene Polexander or the other Phelismond he felt within him an extraordinary debaâ—…e and his virtue opperating her accustomed effect compelled him to love his Rivall and Alcidiana's enemy At last his passion and that Princesses command got the upper hand Hereupon he resolved his owne ruine or to avenge both and for that cause would be but a little with Phelismond who did all he could possibly to stay him But Polexander came off so gently that without any incivility he had the liberty he wished When he was returned to his lodging he began to muse on his fortune and passing and repassing through his memory all Pâ—…elismonds endowments I am said he to himselfe reduced to two extremities far differing from one another If I put not in execution what Alcidiana commands me I am a coward a traytour and ought to thinke no more on the meanes to finde the Inaccessible Island On the other side hath any man seene an example of brutallity equâ—…ll with mine if I yield not my selfe captivated by all those generous actions wherewithall Pâ—…elismond obligeth me to love him But what of this Alcidiana shall not then have satisfaction Instead of excuting her commands I shall become the censurer of her will and have the impudence to accuse her of injustice when it accords not with my opinion No no she must be obeyed Let those who know not how to love aright reprove my ingratitude Let them convince me of extravagancy and take me either for some inâ—…m us person that cannot indure the lustre of extraordinary virtues or for an execrable fellow who would make himselfe immortall by some signall villany Alcidiana is more to be feared then all these accusers I will act what I ought Phelismond cannot blame me for it and whosoever is truely generous shall at the same instant he deplores the misfortune of so accomplished a
considerations the overflowing of that passion but Almanzor cutting me short Do not said he imitate Hydaspes and speake against your owne thoughts through a desire to hinder a matter already resolv'd on Your Son Almaid must love he must heaven will absolutely have it so and that love Axiamira But said he how unfortunate am I in that I must give an account of my life to others then my selfe I am overtyr'd with visits and businesse and for a little vanity which the power of Commanding gives me I must deprive my selfe of my contentment yeeld my selfe a slave to other mens passions and for the accomplishment of all misery have all my labours and industry rewarded with perfidy and ingratitude They are not suspitions and doubts which make me speake thus No they are truths Almaid and such truths as you have unwittingly told me Ah! ingratefull Zabaim King incident to all crimes must thou needs after so many services which I will not remember be the author of my just complaints and the object of a yet more just indignation But he went on addressing him to me to the end we may proportion the punishment with the fault bring me hither Osmin I will from his mouth understand the wrongs Zabaim hath done him I very attentively gave eare to all these words and knowing they proceeded from an extreame affection and hatred I fear'd lest the power of love might be able to violate that of nature and winne Almanzor to breake with Zabaim These feares made me oppose against the complaints of my deare Master all that I thought availeable to get him from that opinion he had of Zabaim I therefore besought him to do nothing hastily nor upon the relation of parties interessed dissolve an amity which seem'd to be immortall I know said he what I owe to Zabaims favour He knows too how I have serv'd him Notwithstanding he hath sayl'd of his word and endeavour'd to rob me of the treasure wherewith I intrusted him Judge to what a resentment so great a contempt and so base a treason obligeth me Yet I will not doe what love adviseth me It shall never be reproach'd me that I neither know how to make or preserve friendship If Zabaim have injur'd me his fault shall not make me commit another but it shall teach me how to demeane my selfe with him that so hereafter I may cut off all causes of sayling in our amity Go then Almaid fetch me Osmin and let us see how farre Zabaim is guilty Presently I went and brought Osmin to Almanzors chamber The presence of that old man extreamely comforted the Prince and made him seeme farre lesse unquiet then he was before He spake to him with a very temperate spirit and intreated him to relate all his fortunes but before you begin said he you must satisfie me in one thing which troubles me and make knowne how Zabaim hath treated you since my absence I know you had rather lose your life then preserve it by an untruth Therefore I intreat you not to forget the injuries Zabaim hath done you no nor so much as to suspend the resentment of them to the end that without preoccupation you may make me a plaine and true recit all of what hath befalne you in Guinea Begin then and without considering that Zabaim is my friend tell me the truth purely Osmin whom I have alwayes knowne most sincere taking heaven to witnesse what he was to speake Two dayes said he to Almanzor after your departure Zabaim took the paines to come to my lodging where he staid a while with Axiamira but seeing her in a silence and sadnesse not to be surmounted he left her and taking me by the hand Father said he let us leave this faire maiden to her selfe I follow'd him and when he was come to the Sea side he made me a long Speech of the obligations in which he was ingag'd to you and repeated all the requests you had made him in behalfe of my daughter and my selfe Hee added that for your sake and particularly for mine hee would alwayes respect mee as his owne Father and that hence forward hee would put no difference betwixt his wife and my daughter I rendred thankes for his proffers and telling him they were too advantagious for a stranger like my selfe and a poore maiden as mine was I humbly besought him to contract all his liberalities into one which was to give me the meanes by which I might returne into mine owne Countrey Father repli'd the King I am ready to grant what you have desired but I must not for the infinite love I beare you become mine owne enemie and in preferring your content before mine owne leave an ill opinion of my selfe in those who looke not on the actions of Kings but to finde fault with them yet let us passe by the conceptions of the multitude which commonly are most unreasonable and fasten on that of Almanzor Will not he have cause to beleeve that I have abus'd you when he shall understand that contrary to what we had agreed together you have staid so short time with me Stay therefore here yet a few dayes and have patience till I can send him your resolution You are too generous and too good I repli'd and if the love you beare were not founded on the worthiest cause in the world I could not but still thinke on the excesse of your courtesies But Sir as I imagine your Majestie needs not use so much circumspection in so inconsiderable a businesse We are three poor Wanderers that have no name but by our miseries and who cannot receive the least favour but we must acknowledge it to be beyond our expectations Suffer us then to accomplish the course of our calamities and let not your goodnesse be so sensible as it is of those outrages which Fortune is not yet wearie of making us undergoe I made this long speech to Zabaim to the end that mov'd with compassion or overcome by my reasons he might give way to our departure I cannot tell you whence those impatiencies of parting which I discovered proceeded but I confesse to you they were very extreame and yet my wife's and Axiamira's were greater For all that my prayers my solicitations and intreating Zabaim in your name could not obtaine the leave I demanded He oppos'd so many shewes of amitie and so many reasons to my request that at last to comply with him I went against mine owne thoughts and yeelded to stay yet with him That conformitie of mine was so pleasing unto him as imbracing me with the transport of a man very passionate Father said he I will make you confesse that Almanzor is not the sole man deserves to be beloved and raise you to that happinesse that with the one part of your affection you beare to him you shall lose all that other which you beare to your native soile After all these artificiall promises he return'd to the Palace and leading me by the hand made his
received thence for I am as unable to doe it as I was unworthy to receive them These are effects of thy eternall power which in one day hath redeem'd me out of all my blindnesses I know now to whom I owe my life and by that knowledge see those feares dissipated which Hismelita's maledictions threw on me I did ever believe quoth Zelmatida interrupting her that weake Montezuma and cruell Hismelita had contributed nothing to your birth She is too faire to come from them As he was going on Izatida stopp'd him and her goodnesse not induring any should speake ill no not of her very enemies Confesse said she that Montezuma hath been very mercifull and Hismelita had much power over her selfe since they suffered not themselves to be transported by the just causes they had to hate me but rather chose to hazard their Crowne then deprive me of my life 'T was brutishnesse and superstition replied Zelmatida which restrain'd Hismelita's fury or rather 't is the hand of all powerfull heaven the Protector of Innocence which hath disarm'd that of our enemies The threatnings they had from the mouth of their Prophets were too terrible for Hismelita not to be affrighted at them or not defist from her cruell resolution I am obliged said Izatida to publish every where that I doe not onely owe her my life but the quality of Princesse since she might if she had listed have given me no other breeding then the worst of her Slaves Zelmatida perceiv'd well that he was not to goe further with that discourse He therefore replied not out of respect and complaisancy but turn'd to Polexander to invite him to take part in his joy Our Heroe forgot his owne disasters to be sensible of his friends contentment Garruca had told him the cause in interpreting to him Mexiqua's narration and wonne him to receive this great and good chance as a presage that he should not be alwaies unfortunate Zelmatida discoursing a while with him began againe to intertaine Izatida and finding himselfe stung and put on by soâ—…e new desire which he durst not discover to the Princesse to give her some notice of it Doe not said he suffer a Prince and Princesse to whom I owe almost as much as to your selfe languish any longer The good Quasmez is my father aswell as yours and if the Queene your mother had not looked on me as her Son the great Guina Capa would never have acknowledged me for his Your desires are just replied the Princesse and mine which should have prevented them intreate their accomplishment Restore to Quasmez that Xaira which hath cost you so much trouble and hasten as much as you can to discharge your selfe of a burthen which should now begin to be troublesome unto you Zelmatida had not beene without an answer on so faire an occasion but that the Princesse the second time impos'd him silence Polexander unwilling to leave these lovers any longer in their great solitarinesse invited them to walke to his 〈◊〉 and the more to egge on Izatida told her by Garruca all that had betided him in the kingdome of Benin and the accident which had ingaged him â—…o laâ—…d on tâ—… Island No sooâ—…â—…id she heare of Cydaria's sicknesse but shewing her 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goe with them and assist â—…er When she saâ—… 〈◊〉 make soâ—… 〈◊〉 of â—…iving her proffer she intreated 〈◊〉 to gâ—…â—…is conseâ—… â—…o telling 〈◊〉 that his civilities were unjust he obeyed after many 〈◊〉 â—…o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sâ—…e pass'd the way from her liâ—…le Cote to Cydaria's 〈◊〉 with an iâ—…edible coâ—… â—…d received a great deale more when after the firâ—…t complementâ—… she kâ—…w â—…hat Cydaria was no lesse discreet then faire Her arrivall gave so great comfort to the sick Lady that after three or foure dayes of her company she found her selfe perfectly recover'd They were yet ten or twelve dayes together and not onely tasted such incredible sweetnesse in their communication but made the two Princes partake so much of it that Polexander might have term'd himselfe happy if he could have beene so and beene out of hope of reseeing Alcidiana Zelmatida in the meane time thought of his returne and how extraordinary soever his joy was he never gave him self so much absolutely over to it but that he hast'ned his workemen to put his ship in case to make once againe a voyage to the new world But before he parted he would needs try by Polexanders meanes an affaire which he thought of himselfe he was not able to resolve on To that end he besought our Heroe to fit his Sister so by an Interpreter as she might sound into Izatida's minde and if it could be possible get her a little to unfold her selfe Polexander promis'd him to doe his utmost for his contentment and indeed put it on so earnestly and with so much affection that Cydaria yeelded to what he desired One day therefore being with Izatida she made her by little aâ—… little fall into Zelmatida's discourse and passing from the greatnesse of her birth to that of her happinesse told her that she wanted but two things to make her perfectly happy The one was to be with her father and mother after so long an exile and the other to end her life in the company of Zelmatida For the first replied Izatida 't is so necessary to my happinesse that in fayling of that I shâ—…ll never be so For the other I confesse that without ingratitude I can finde nothing which should trouble me in the company of a personage who for these five yeares hath done nothing nor thought of nothing but for me But when I call to minde that to satisfie him I must prepare my selfe to lose my parents assoone as I have found them I cannot be of your opinion Izatida thus ended when the two Princes came in where they were At sight of them she repented her of what she had said for feare lest if Zelmatida should come to the knowledge of it he might finde new cause of affliction She was therefore desirous to prevent that mischiefe and Polexander giving a faire occasion of explicating her thoughts I take to witnesse said she to Zelmatida that Deity which with his presence fils all the parts of nature that I wish your contentment with the same fervency of affection wherewithall I desire to see those who gave me life Next to them two you shall have the first place in my heart I will beare you the same respect and hold you in the like esteeme as Nature injoynes me for them and promise you in presence of this Prince and Princesse that I will beseech them assoone as it shall be fitting never to dispose of me unlesse that disposition be first pleasing to you Zelmatida transported with joy at such obliging promises fell at Izatida's feet and I said he here sweare by the same Deity you invok'd never to wish any thing more then to see you perfectly contented Polexander and Cydaria much pleased that their
othâ—…s like â—…im that those 〈◊〉 â—…o have 〈◊〉 enough to avenge the Gods that have impâ—…y sufficient â—…o 〈◊〉 theâ—… Aâ—… ingratâ—…ll Fortune Why giv'st thou mâ—… thougâ—…s â—…o 〈◊〉 my coâ—…ion so 〈◊〉 to my apprehension Since I was borne fâ—… the Wiâ—…sse and wilâ—…â—…sts why have I not low desires and brutish imaginations The agitations and disâ—…rse of Almanzor shewing me evidently that hâ—…s wounds had 〈◊〉 yeâ—… 〈◊〉 enough to apply the first remedy I intended to let time wâ—…ke and to give way to the 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 which I could not stop that I might not be altogether â—…rofitable in desiring to be too rigorous I therefore began to â—…tter this yâ—…ung Prince and told him that love was a passion which might be divers waies considered That in some it inspâ—…red the greatnesse of actions and as such she might be justly call'd the Mother of fame and glory but in others as the Daughter of idlenesse she betraied their birth and courage â—…often their hardiest inclinations and breeding in the Heroes themselves desires weake and â—…ffeminate making them betake â—…mselves to the needle and the distaffe My deare Almanzor I added it shall be youâ—… 〈◊〉 if you make not good use of a matter so proper to all kind of formes Let her have 〈◊〉 fairest she is capable of and doe not imitate those cunning but capricious Artisans which come off in nothing so well 〈◊〉 in making Monsters My Master answered Almanzor my passion is of those that inspires high resolutions and swaies the minde to glorious actions but what boots it me to have these motions since I want the power to put thâ—…m in execuâ—…ion and possesse not those great Fortunes without which the fairest virtues lie unexercis'd Almanzor accompanied his discourse with so many sighes and â—…eares that being no longer able to hide what till then he was ignorant of comforâ—… your selfe said I and hope well iâ—… the goodnesse of our Gods If so be that you will promise me banish from your thoughts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein your young 〈◊〉 findeâ—… so many pleasures I will discover to you such secrets as shall make you acknowledge how infinitely you are obliged to Nature and Fortune He had scarce heard me when throwing himselfe at my feet and embracing my knees my deare Master said he I will live if I may doe it without shame but doe not abuse my credulity to retard my death you cannot deceive me long and in doing so you will have done nothing but added another death to that I have already prepared me Almanzor said I I will never betray you know then that you are borne to be a King and are the Son of the victorious Sabaym who by his valour and conquests hath reduc'd almost into one Monarchy all the estates which are watered by the one and the other Nyle At this day he reignes and happily and he constrained by the love which he bore you to hide you in these deserts he did me the honour to trust you to my fidelity The generous Almanzor was not touched with the least pride to heare himselfe in an instant so elevated He was on his knees when I began this discourse and remained so after I had ended it and though I entreated him often to rise no no my deare Master said he let us be still if you please the same that we were Fortune that hath beene able to change my condition shall never alter my nature You have given me documents which are not subject to her inconstancy I will keepe them till death and if to be royally borne cause any alteration in my minde it shall be only such as you will wish for My dispaire is ended and hope succeeds it since without too much boldnesse it is permitted me to raise my thoughts to contemplate the portraict of Alcidiana And to put in practise those brave things that you have taught me With this he rose and taking me by the hand my Master said he two new displeasures trouble the peace and quiet which you give me The remorse of conscience stings me I feele I know not what that reprocheth me the basenesse I acted in stealing the Picture of Alcidiana and a jealousie that freezeth my heart tells me that the true owner of this Portraict is a Monster which should not be suffered to liâ—… any longer I will therefore instantly goe and restore it and withall submit my selfe to what he pleaseth for the reparation of the wrong I have done him But after I â—…ave given him a full satisfaction I will regaine by a just combate that which I can neither keepe without a just infamy nor leave forever without the giving my selfe over to my first despaire You may be may imagine that my resolutions come from those impetuous and inconstant flyings-out that usuall accompanies youth beleeve it not my deare Master for I would have you to esteeme me unworthy of your care and instruction that the hope of ever seeing Alcidiana be taken from me if I follow not to the death the executing of that I have propos'd The Prince here staying to let me speake I told him that in lieu of imputing the altering his intentions to the imprudency and heat of his age I would give him the title of a discreet man if considering the greatnesse of his birth and the duties that were linked to it he would sacrifice his love his pleasures and the thought of Alcidiana to the welfare of so many people who after the death of Zabaym expected their happinesse and support from his wisdome and courage And it is not because I will now condemne for a vice that which lately I praised for a virtue but there meet so many difficulties in what you undertake that though I approve of the cause I cannot allow of the effects I beleeve that Alcidiana may be as faire as this Picture shewes her nay I will goe farther and on the faith of the Poet that hath so much prais'd her I yeeld that she had an excellent wit a conversation incomparable and that there is no lesse sweetnesse then majestie in her eyes let us now see the reverse of this Medall and without being too indulgent or too severe to your passion let us consider what you would undertake You aime at a happinesse which none can attaine to You seeke for a treasure unknowne to your selfe and to all the world besides and your enterprise seems to me no lesse unreasonable then if you went about to make a way up to Heaven to fetch thence one of the Goddesses we suppose there Here Almanzor interruptingme my deare Master I pray said he stop there I conceive what you would say but know that that which doth usually smother the desires of most men is it which increaseth mine The difficulty excites my appetite I would penetrate further then is permitted to my equals and have made knowne my courage by the impossibility of those things I undertake if I cannot doe it by the felicity of my
to him of which Fortune onely is guilty Farewell my deere Master live and by undergoing my death with a true constancy practise that faire doctrine which thou hast so profitably taught me and with these words he pierced himselfe to the heart with his sword and by so speedy and bold a blow surmounting his haplesse fortune he got that victory for which she had so long contested with him I threw my selfe on him but too late and stopping his wound with my hand strove to stop the bloud which gushed out in great bubbles and clots he thrust away my hand and falling on his bed with a countenance wherein you might behold a mixture of extraordinary joy and death got together at least said he do thou Almandrian keepe thy pro Hee dyed before he could finish the word and left me with a powerfull example for the contemning of life I had not heart enought to make use of it but my cowardise covering it selfe with a specious pretext of my faith made me beleeve that I could not kill my selfe without suffering in hell those tortures which are reserved for the unfaithfull I resolved then to live till I had fully executed the last will of the King my Master and though my despaire oftentimes opposed me in it I am yet so happy that before my death I see my promises accomplished There remaines some part of the will of that Prince not performed but it is from thy noblenesse that Almanzor expects the execution Be then sensible of his supplications of his teares and bloud Polexander ended not the fluxe of his teares with the period of this sad story but turning to Iphidamantus who was no lesse afflicted then himselfe and wooing him to teares and sorrow Let us bewaile my deare brother said he Let us weepe for the losse of Almanzor and since t is not in our power to restore him his life let us deerely preserve that which remaines of him And in thus saying he tooke the Princes heart and fixing his eyes on it As cold as thou art said he poore heart thou yet retaynest thy first fire and shewest by thy rich prison that thou wilt still weare the glorious setters of Alcidians be confident that if I become fortunate thou shalt have a share of me that thy vowes shall be accomplished and that faire Princesse shall know how farre both living and dead thou hast religiously adored her Polexander finished this promise just as his trustfull Diceus for so they called him of his domestiques whom he best loved entered his Cabin and the excesse of his zeale and joy not permitting him to observe all the duties befitting his condition he stept nimbly to his Master and Sir said he I am certainely blinde or just now I have discovered the vessell of Alcidiana Polexander lost no time in asking him questions but comming out of his Cabin got on the upper deck and by that propriety which seemes to be fastened to the eyes of all lovers cast his sight presently on the vessell of Alcidiana He knew her and seeing her take a course contrary to his tack about tack about cryd he to his Pilots and at this time let every one testifie how much he affects me His command and the execution of it was one same thing But the winde that complyed not so well with him as they changed not but was the cause why his great ship made but slow way after that belonging to Alcidiana He was all the rest of the day in wrestling against a North-East winde and raging for being so neere his happinesse and not obtaining it The night changed the winde and gave it him so favourable that he doubted not the taking of Linceus though the darkenesse tooke from him the sight of his vessell He might easily have overcome this difficulty if a greater and more powerfull had not yet once more envyed his good fortune in the very instant when he thought himselfe most assured For at breake of day instead of the vessell of Alcidiana he saw a great fleet of Turkish Gallies and Affrican ships After he had mused a while he called his brother and concealing his resolution from him we must said he seperate and by divers courses try to make our way through so many enemies Iphidamantus approved of his councell because his friends and himselfe had mutually bound themselves not to leave one another till they were in a place of safety Getting then aboard his owne ship he found all those there in an equall astonishment His presence heartened them and the speech he used to them wrought upon their wavering minds the same advantage he got by his first Oration Hereupon they armed themselves and despising danger in confidence of the valiant Iphidamantus resolved themselves to what sad disaster soever fortune should prepare for them The Mariners perceiving that the vessell of Polexander plyde to the South-west took a contrary way and taking downe the Christian colours which they carryed put the halfe Moone in the place to try if in this occasion a little cunning might not be more advantagious then power The successe of their enterprise was conformable to their conceived hope They were taken for Turkes and as such were neither fought withall nor staied but without any hinderance sailed through the fleet When they were in the Van they saw another Army composed of many great Gallions and of all kind of vessells aswell with oares as sailes over which waved the Standdards of Castile and Portugall Iphia mantus râ—…vished with this encounter t is now said he to his companions that we have no more cause of feare See the accomplishment of our ordinary prophesies and the Army which we saw though far off from the place where we were prisoners hath without doubt broaken our chaines and finished our slavery Yet let us not be reproched to have seene the enemy so neere without fighting shew them that we know how to make a retreate but not how to fly Whilst he spake thus his ship got farther off the vanguard of the Turkes and to tell them that he was none set up the Crosse upon his vessell and with his owne hands in sight of the enemy threw the halfe moone overboord and commanded to salute them with all his Artillery The Turkes no sooner knew the trick that had deceived them but they gave them from their fleet above two hundred Canon shot Foure Galliots by the command of the Generall were sent out to seise on that Christian Vessell but all the industry of the Turkes was but to their owne confusion for Iphidamantus retired fighting behind the vanguard of the Christian fleet Presently as it he had attended but that signall they put themselves in Batalia The Turke made his cressant without stirring from the place he had chosen and both the one and the other receiving command to fall on began the fight in a marvelous good order The wind as messenger of that absolute power which almost continually causeth
bindrance why every day some murther is not committed or some treason contrived You shall by and by see at the entry of the Fortresse a great many heads not only of meane Souldiers but of such as have been in the place that now I am of whom the justice or to say more properly the mistrust of these Pirates hath made most bloudy and dreadfull examples Whilst Bajazet thus entertained his prisoner those whom he had sent to Barbaroussa returned with the leave they went for Assoone as he had it he went on and comming to the Lake with Iphidamantus went into a boate which came thither to waft them Iphidamantus was staid by Barbaroussa at his landing and could not be received into the Fortresse till Bajazet had bound himselfe on his life to be answerable for him When Iphidamantus was in the midst of the place he marked the inside and admired the incredible strength that Art had joyned to Nature Bajazet undertaking him You have good cause said he to view well this place for t is such a one as you may well call it the Master-peece of all the Invention and power of man These channels full of water which turning one within another represent a sleeping Serpent are great proofesof the industry and paynes of those that first contrived them The Lake by which wee came hither is onely filled with the water which by little and little comes from those channels and what I finde most strange in this worke is that by secret conduits and pipes hidden under ground these Pirates can let flow all these waters over what part soever of the Island they please and when any necessity requires it I will shew you when you please the place where by this devise all the campe of the King of Morocco was drowned when that Prince thought to have brought the Inhabitants of this Island to the utmost extremity Bajazet ending his discourse to Iphidamantus and receiving the Rovers which came to tender their duties to him ascended to his stately Palace He made an honour to it himselfe and lead his faire Prisoner to the lodgings he had provided for him How will my Readers neglect those famous cabinets and proud chambers where the curiosity and luxury of our Age have so high and costfully laid open their charmes after they have seene the description which I am obliged to make of Iphidamantus lodgings This Prince first came into a chamber hung with tapistry of a cloth of silver on a ground of gold the best wrought and richest that ever the Portugals have brought from Persia or China the rest of the furniture was of the same stuffe on this tapistry there were divers Armes of gold and christall and betweene them pictures some in tablets of chrystall of the rock with gold others of rubies of Emeraulds and glasses whose borders covered with Diamonds tooke away the light and lustre of their cleerenesse and were at once both the pleasure and the paine of the eye that beheld them The roofe and the floore of this chamber had their different beauties but let the ingenuous Reader supply what I cannot expresse and imagine what Iphidamantus had over his when his feet trod on that which Kings weare on their heads There was no bed in this chamber Bajazet through this brought him into another which having nothing of the other was more magnificent and delightfull The floore and the wals were covered with a worke-made in compartments of Ebony and Ivory heightned with streakes of gold and silver and enriched with Moresk-worke and devices cut on curious stones Above the wainescot there were a great number of vessels of Jasper Chrystall Agate Amber and Emeraulds and of perfume boxes of gold which made the pleasures of smelling envy those of the sight From the foote of these vessels sprung a vine of gold which ran over a frame of silver the leaves were of gold enammelled with greene and the bunches to represent a white grape were composed of pearels of different greatnesse and severall beauty The leaves of the windowes were of the wood of Cedar and Roses and the panes were of Chrystall The seeling was of a hollow mirror made of many Venice glasses so industriously joyned together that by a miracle in perspective you would have thought your selfe to be under a vault of an extreame highnesse On one side of the chamber there was a bedsted of silver with Persian coverings the Cushions were of blew velvet embroydered with pearles the Tables and chaires all alike and the foote-clothes sutable to the bed and seates Bajazet left Iphidamantus with his Chyrurgeons and eight or ten Moorish slaves who had all carquenets of silver about their necks and legs but before he left him he fell into this false Civility which every Gentleman condemnes and every well-bred man practiseth He desired his pardon for the incommodity he was to receive by so ill a lodging Iphidamantus made no reply to his Compliment but made him perceive his admiration of the others prodigious riches Two or three howres after Bajazet came to him againe and after some discourse Iphidamantus besought him to relate by what conquest he had got together so great treasures in comparison of which those of the greatest Kings were not considerable You see by that answered Bajazet smiling that the life of a Pirate is not altogether unworthy an honest man since it doth equalize him with Kings But you wonder at small things When you have seene the publique magazins and knowne the riches of particulars you will be enforced to beleeve that if we had as much ambition as treasure wee were capable to conquer the whole world Another time I will tell you how we came by this wealth For the present think on your rest and the end of your cure This discourse was seconded by many others and those ended Bajazet tooke his leave of Iphidamantus and withdrew himselfe The two or three first dayes the Pirates much troubled with their ill fortune abode in a tranquillity not usuall to them But assoone as the hopes of that which might after betide them had made them forget the past disaster they drowned their losses in wine and to make up their late abstinence redoubled their feasts and debauches Bajazet who was naturally an enemy to these riots that he might not be a spectator was almost continually with Iphidamantus One day as they were talking of the adventures of Polexander a Pirate called Achaim came and presented to him a man who for his face and habit was taken for a Spaniard After Bajazet had seen him Achaim intimated that when the tempest had seperated the rest of his fleet and driven them as far as the Isle of Capevert he met with this Spaniard He will tell you who he is said the Pirate and of the new world which a certaine Genuois hath lately discovered for the Kings of Spain Bajazet very humanely entertained this Spaniard and promising to send him to his Country
justice of your quarrell and the good fortune of your armes I promise to bring you Sodomond and his complices dead or alive and by exemplary chasticements pluck for ever out of the mindes of the other Caciques the seeds of revolting Quasmez weighing what my Lord the Inca might doe by that which he had already performed gave consent to so just a petition and giving him an Army of an hundred thousand men conjured him to assay all the waies of sweetnesse and agreement before he came to a battle You will wonder certainely at this that in so little time Quasmez could bring a hundred thousand men into the field and this wonder may arise from your judging of the customes of our world by that of yours But I know so much of your manner of living to tell you that t is otherwise there Amongst you there are none goe to the warres but gentlemen and beggers the first to get honour and the last to rob and ransack the rest which are commonly the richest stay at home and contribute but very little to the charge of warre attending the successe with as much quiet as indifferency We have more laudable and generous customes We are all borne Souldiers and upon the least occasion are found ready to march There are none left in the Townes and Villages but women and children Old men and young rich and poore take armes and because they are made equall by their valour they goe all with a like affection where their Prince and party calls them I make no doubt but this declaration hath ceased your astonishment but I am sure that the rest of my discouse will give you another that shall be far greater as it shall be more just Prepare your selves for it presently and by the miracles that I shall relate to you judge to what a point of greatnesse Zelmatida had raised â—…imselfe if love jealous of his reputation and fortune enemy of his extraordinary virtues had not chained his arme and taken a way his desire of glory with that of his life The Inca having mustered his Troupes and put some order amongst so great a number of combatants marcht directly to the Province of Cenusia Sodomond came to meet him and offered him battell with his owne forces and those of all the other rebells Zelmatida to obey Quasmez would not accept of it but on the contrary sent new Embassadors to Sodomond to propose to him most advantagious conditions of peace But when he saw that neither his offers nor threatnings touched the Barbarian he resolved to fight and let fly his bloudy colours He went streight through all his Army and accommodating his speech to the nature of his Soldiers filled them with valour and indignation Presently Sodomond whose pride had taken from him the knowledge of his strength and courage belâ—…eved that he might fight with Zelmatida and with this opinion came and defied him Zelmatida was ravished with this challenge and accepting it made himself ready to make Sodomond repent him of his rashnesse At the first blow â—…e gave him a wound in his right arme and with his second strook him to the earth He might have killed him had he listed but thinking that revenge unworthy his courage he left him to the mercy of his Souldiers who tore him in peeces The end of this combate was the beginning of the battell Twenty rebellious Caciques had formed with their men twenty batalions and had disposed of them so that they had but one front One of these Caciques a very experimented Captaine had so ordered his Troupes that they might not be defeated but one after another or rather to give time to a routed batalion to fly without being pursued and after they had new ranked themselves behinde the rest to frame a new batalion Macaraib so was this Captaine called came in the head of the first batalion and was the first too that Zelmatida sacrificed to the just choler of Quasmez His Souldiers made some resistance but being entred into and broaken some of them were slaine and the rest to reunite themselves got behinde the last batalion The second conducted by Abrayba the third by Terracequy Cacique of the Isle of Pearles the fourth by Torrucia and the fifth by Procorosa scarce stood at all before Zelmatida He tooke these five Caciques alive and causing them to be chained sent them into his Campe Tamanama lead the sixth batalion It was a Prince in the flowre of his age very faire and valiant who caried on the crest of his headpeece a handfull of haire which the Princesse Coriza had given him for a token of her affection He came up to Zelmatida with a warlike pace and love raising his courage he promised to himselfe to cut off the head of Zelmatida and to present it to his Mistris Zelmatida that was almost of the same age was moved with his sweet countenance and manhood and desiring to make him his friend resolved to save his life He fought with him then but in such a manner that he gave those who stood spectators of the combate good cause to thinke that he had no great desire to overcome him Tumanama perceiving that all his power was too weake to atchieve his generous intention and how Zelmatida would not make use of the advantage he had over him retired five or six paces and setting the point of his Javelin in the earth Brave warriour said he to the Inca deprive me not of the honour that many a combate hath given me and imprint not on the front of a Prince who would be thy friend the shame of being vanquished I know that being inwrapt in the rebellion of my brothers I should be so too in their punishments But doe for the love of the faire Coriza that which thou wilt not for mine and know that the remorse of violating my faith is a greater punishment then that wherewithall thy Armies threaten me Zelmatida taking this young Prince by the hand I accept thy friendship said he upon the same conditions thou presentest it me Live then victorious not of thy enemies which is but a common glory but of thy selfe which is the greatest of all victories and since thy conscience will not suffer thee of a party whereinto some discontent hath lead thee take that then which she proposeth thee and give thy companions an example how they should acknowledge their faults Tumanamafelt himselfe so redevalbe to Zelmatida's courtesie that turning his armes against his Allies he joyned his batalion to the Troupes of Quasmez and ran furiously to set on Bononiama chiefe of the seventh batalion I should be too tedious should I relate to you the defeate of the other Caciques You may know that of thirteen remaining five were flaine by Zelmatida two by Tumama and the rest taken prisoners More then threescore thousand were killed and with the losse of their lives paid for the extravagancies of their Masters Quasmez lost there twelve or fifteen thousand men but by the
victory he obtained brought into the number of his slaves many Princes which before by meanes of a small and inconsiderable tribute were absolute Lords of their estates Of those Zelmatida brought him twelve prisoners with thirty thousand of their Subjects and gave him a particular accompt of what he had done Two daies after his arrivaâ—…l being alone with him My Lord said he the Gods present you a faire occasion to imitate their clemency and to a way to attaine to that supreame dignity whereto their good deeds have raised them You have in your prisons Princes whom you may retaine as slaves or put them to death without injustice for humane Lawes would that Malefactors should be punished But if you give them their lives and forget their faults shall you not doe an act more glorious for your selfe and so much the more just the neerer it resembles that mercifull goodnesse wherewith the Gods support us and pardon our offences Beleeve me send back these wretches to their owne homes to doe pennance for the fault they have committed against their faith as well as against your Majesty And to leave them an eternall sorrow for it free them from the servitude of tribute which they were wont to pay to your Crowne Quasmez was so exceedingly movedwith the extreame noblenesse and wisdome of Zelmatida that the very next day he called before him all the Caciques and mounted on a Theater with Zelmatida commanded a Herauld to proclaime the deliverance of the prisoners The Herauld after silence made spake thus Quasmez Soveraigne Monarque of the Lands between the two Seas of the Mines of Emeralds and of gold and of the fishing for pearles after that by the victories of his Son he hath made slaves all the Caciques which were before but tributary to him declares that he gives them all their liberty which justly they had lost and discharges them and their successors from all the tributes to which their Provinces were engaged Thinke with your selves what the joy was as well of the Princes as their people after this Proclamation They all fell on their knees to signifie their resentment of this grace and when they were risen againe engaged themselves to pay double the tribute that Quasmez had taken from them Eight daies together they celebrated a feast for this peace so glorious to the Conquerors and so profitable to the conquered and the Caciques being all returned to their severall homes filled their Provinces with the praises of their deliverers Quasmez this while tormented with an unknowne griefe languished in the midst of his triumphes and the more cause of content he found in the person of my Lord the Inca the more still his displeasures and disquiets increased At last the Gods touched with the humility and the zeale which accompanied the prayers of that religious Prince heard him then when he began to leave off all hoping One day while he was talking with Zelmatida there came one to advertise him that the great Prophet Tisnatidez whom he tought so many yeares dead was newly arrived and desired his permission to see him Quasmez no sooner heard this newes then he commanded that he should be brought The while lifting his eyes and his hands to Heaven Great Gods cried he I confesse I have of late murmured and distrusted your providence I have offended but you know that never crime was more remissible then mine since I committed it not in doubting of your all-sufficiency but in thinking my selfe unworthy of your protection The King was not a little troubled to see Quasmez in such extraordinary transports without his knowing the cause but he was not in it so long He saw enter into the place where he was a man of the age of fourescore yeares white as a Swan leane as a Skeliton clad with the skin of a wild Beast and girt with a great chaine of gold This old man regarding the King with eyes that shewed an inward joy and without saying ought to him addressed himselfe to Quasmez and speke thus I know great Prince how many times you have beleeved me a lyer or to say better how often you have not beleeved your selfe enough happy to hope for that good successe that our Gods have promised you by my mouth But the long time that you have passed without seeing me since the losse of the innocent and unhappy Xaira hath caused you to thinke nothing which I had not foreseen and for which you may well be pardoned And our Gods have not so much remarked what you spake through the diffidence you had of your selfe but that they tooke notice through your frailty of the greatnesse of your zeale and the opinion you had of their all-powerfullnesse For this they promise you this day the accomplishment of all your desires and they advertise you not to feare to expose this young Prince to the hazards of a most difficult enterprise By him the prison of the infortunate Xaira shall be burst open the hopes of your enemies deceived and your Realme more flourishing then ever At this word turning him to the Inca goe said he whether the goodnesse of the King invites you who hath been to you in lieu of a Father The enterprise to which you are destinated is perillous but it is one of those that is preserved for such as have your courage and fate When the Prophet saw that Zelmatida gazed on him with amazement no no added he you are not the Son of Quasmez but by adoption and love and though he hath bred you as his owne childe yet t is another that was the Author of your life Doe not aske me who he is he only knowes it to whom nothing is hidden and who taught me the time and the place where the guard of this King should finde you Content your selfe that your birth is illustrious and that another day leaving the name of Zelmatida which Quasmez hath given you for another which shall not be lesse famous you shall attaine the Throne of an Empire which shall be as great as the Earth if it were not ordayn'd in Heaven that it must soone fall into the hands of a Nation which is yet unknown to us But before this misfortune befall you shall fill both the one and the other World with the same of your great actions and shall restore to the virtuous Monarch that hath bred you that incomparable treasure which his enemies have as vainly as perfidiously forc'd and stoln from him Whilest this old Prophet spake thus Quazmez wept at once both for hope and feaâ—…e The love he bore to his owne blood strove with that he bore to the King and no sooner had he put himselfe in case to thanke his gods that they had heard his prayers but that he afflicted himselfe for their being heard He fear'd all the perills by Sea and Land and some times even wished he could forget the thralldome of his daughter that he might not be constrained to expose my deare Master to such
concealing from him part of what I knew intreated him that for his owne quiet and the content of his Subjects he would cause the Princesse to be nursed in some safe place and to put so many guards about her that it might not be in the power of any of his Subjects much lesse of any stranger to see her The King would know particulerly what I gave him this coucell but beseeching him to cause Xaira to be brought before I passed further he commanded five or six of his principall Officers to goe fetch her from the Queen As they who were thus commanded were about to obey him they heard a great noise and at the same time saw the Queen enter into Quasmez chamber all undressed and so transported from her selfe that had she not hapned on the Kings bed she had fallen in a swound on the planching Quasmez astonied as well by the Queens swounding as by the councell I late gave him knew not whether I would conceale from him the death of his wife in shewing the feare I was in for that of his Daughter And in this doubt he bewayled his wife as if she had been dead and looking on me now and then with his eyes full of teares I feare said he my Father lest the gods be incensed against me to see that I have neglected them to bestow all my cares and affection upon a creature I had noâ—… leasure to answer him for five or six women all bloudy with dishevelled haires rushed at the same time into his chamber and casting themselves about his bed even terrified us to see them teare their faces and beate their heads against the floore This tragicall beginning was ended by yet more bloudy actions Foure men with stating eyes and foaming mouthes presented themselves to Quasmez and speaking all at once Since said they to him we have not been vigilant enough to preserve our happinesse we will not be cowardly enough to out live it And in so saying they turned the pointes of the arrowes they bore in their hands upon themselves and sticking them with violence into their throates so amazed us with their desperation that they tooke from us the meanes to succour them They fell all foure dead at my feet and confirmed me in the opinion I had of the losse of the Princesse The King transported with griefe and choler threw himselfe out of his bed and went into another Chamber to give time to his guards to take away the bodies of those desperate men and to stay the madnesse of the women that would follow their example For my part I staied by the Queen and seeing her recovered gave her by my discourse some kind of consolation I told her that she must force her selfe from this sorrow and not be the cause of the losse of the Father after that of the Daughter The love which she had still borne to Quasmâ—…z was sufficient to overcome all her other affections and to suspend for a while the thought of the rape of Xaira After I saw her so well recollected I intreated her to walke to her husband and to endeavour by her perswasions to make him constantly to endure and suffer the losse of the little Princesse She punctually observed all that I desiâ—…ed her and so winningly gave Quasmez this bitter potion that he tooke it with a great deale of patience I saw then that it was time to apply the plaister I had provided for that wound and I therefore told them that the will of the gods was that their Daughter should be nursed up by their greatest enemy That the designe the Miscreant had to wrong them should result cleane contrary to his intention That they should not engage nor trouble themselves to make any pursuite after those that had stolen her thence since nothing but ill would come of it But said I if in this disaster as well as in the rest of your life you will conforme your selfe to the will of the gods without a murmure patiently undergoe what they have thought fit to be done I promise you from them that one day you shall see your Daughter in that great fortune you reserve for her There is by a prodigious accident a childe to be borne from whose valour you must expect not alone the deliverance of Xaira but withall the enlarging and establishing of your Throne If the presence of a thing that should be so deare to you can sweeten the bitternesse of your losse I know by what meanes you may obtaine it Till then I speake so loude that all might understand me but at that word comming more neere to them I told them in their eare that they should presently cause to march to the City of Quito three or foure thousand of his most hardy and affectionate Subjects and after that I acquainted them with that which I had been taught from the mouth of the gods They were pleased to be advised by me and to follow my counsell and execute this enterprise made so good an election that those whom they sent to Quito found you as I foretold and tooke you thence so fortunately that without any perill they delivered you into the hands of Quasmez This Prince would willingly have kept his losse from the knowledge of his Subjects but being instantly spread abroad and knowne even to the furthest parâ—…s of his Kingdome he thought it was not fit to leave his people in this dispaire He published therefore through all his Provinces that which I had foretold of Xaira and to assure them discovered to them somewhat of his designe on you This newes was the cause that all those who saw you in the hands of the Souldiers that brought you doubted no more of the truth of my predictions and consequently though you were but an infant gave you all the honours they conceived they ought to their deliverer That which remaines for you now to know is not what you should doe for you understand that already by what I have told you but the place where your valour must be seen and the meanes whereby you may come off with renowne Know then that you must goe as far as to the foote of a great Mountaine called Popocampecho You may easily know it by the flames it sends forth day and night There shall you find against whom to exercise your courage Tread under foot all difficulties and when you shall have overcome your enemies march on till you come before a City that gives name to the great Kingdome of Mexico T will be in that place that you shall need to use all your strength but if you doe not betray your selfe I assure you that you shall come off victor from the combate which you must there undergoe Yet among so many good fortunes I see a disastrous accident may betide you but I dare not make it knowne to you so openly as is fitting for feaâ—… lest in striving to make you avoyde it I my selfe throw you headlong into it If you
understanding from himselfe a part of those adventures had befaln him and the persecutions wherewith fortune had crossed his virtue Her sisters and her selfe would willingly know the rest and that they intreated him to give them that contentment and not condemne for too much boldnesse a curiosity which grew only from the esteeme they had of him My deare Master from thence taking occasion to begin a discourse that might serve for his Love I have said he too much proofe of the Justice or rather of the hatred of the gods to beleeve that there hath ever any thing happened in my life may be worthy your esteeme or curiosity 'T is for you and those incomparable beauties about you that those powers reserve all that can be call'd glory value and admiration Men are for no other end in the world but that you might have slaves and that the Altars which you have merited may be perpetually laden with offrings and sacrifices O how happy may they esteeme themselves who have purity enough to be offered in so famous an oblation I but who dares vaunt of so much purity Izatida foreseeing what would ensue on this discourse broake it off and reviving the first You may have liberty of speech said she to Zelmatida but you cannot deprive us of that opinion which the publique voice hath given us of your valour and we know well I speake for my sisters and my selfe how to distinguish your humility from that which fame hath made us to admire in you before your arrivall What could report speake in my behalfe reply'd Zelmatida who being bâ—…t one most miserable whom fortune left to wander through the world to make her power to be feared am brought to that cruell necessity to end my dayes without a name without any rest or hope Izatida who questionlesse knew what he intended reply'd I have never heard that a man of spirit would so absolutely give himselfe into the hands of fortune but that he would reserve a meanes to be reveng'd when he found that he had her in his power You have hitherto done such things that they are so many witnesses whereby that enemy hath made you acquire more glory then shee hath been cause of the losse of your repose and by consequence hath given you more then ever she tooke from you Quit then that ill opinion which you have of your fortune and your selfe and assure your selfe thâ—…t there are not many felicities which your virtues may not with reason pretend to This discourse had longer continued if Izatida's sisters had not interrupted her and by their jealousies as it were ravished from Zelmatida the occasion to make himselfe knowne to be no lesse winning in his conversation then he was redoubtfull in his combats This while the Queene had perfected her dispatches and then returned where she left her daughters with Zelmatida and from thence going into her bed-chamber gave her new Guest the good-night As soone as he was gone forth ten or twelve Officers came and accompanied him to the lodgings provided for him He was brought into a chamber so faire and richly furnished that if he had not too well remembred the losse Izatida had made him 〈◊〉 he might there have refreshd and unwearied himselfe of all his former travells But his affections hindred him from enjoying that rest which his valour made him finde in the very midst of his Enemies Sometimes he entertaind himselfe with Izatidaes sweete eyes sometimes with the whitenesse of her complexion then with the beauty of her stature and after with the colour of her hayre But when he passed from the allurements of her body to those of her minde he was no more capeable to feare the disasters wherewithall Quasmez high-Priest had threatned him Prophet said he so lowd that he was heard by his followers give me leave to accuse you of injustice in your councells Why would you have me to defend my selfe when I see no enemie to assaile me if you give not that name to the sole Author of my lives felicity Certainely you little knew the power of Isatida's eyes when you thought me able enough to resist them But what said I No no you had a perfect konwledge of it and well foresaw my captivity when you foretold me that I should be victorious in this last combate if I were alwaies my selfe You were not ignorant that that would be impossible for me since to behold this wonder and to be master of himselfe was to trenche upon the wisdome of the very gods and to act something beyond their miracles In the like discourse he passed the rest of the night and without comforting himselfe with any of those hopes wherewithall Lovers are accustomed to flatter themselves made no other resolution then to force Xaira from her prison and himselfe to abide eternally in that of Isatida In this thought he called his servants Those that they had given to serve him dressed him whilst he entertained himselfe only with his passion He was in this melancholy till the Queen was up and when he knew that she was ready to goe to the Temple he came forth to accompany her Hismalita obliged him to spend most of the day with her and the houre being come at what time she was used to walke she brought him into those faire Meadowes where he saw her the first time and her Daughters were with them Isatida who that day had begun to borrow something of art to make her more lovely appeared to the Kings eyes as if beauty it selfe seated in her Throne imperiously commanded him neither to doe nor thinke any thing but for her As soone as those who carried the Queene and the Princesses had set them downe Zelmatida was engaged to be with Hismalita and constrained not to discourse with Isatida but with his eyes and thought The Queene intertained him a long time with the state of her affaires and the secret factions that the jealousie of divers Caciques and the arrivall of some unknowne men had hatched among her Subjects The nothing-to-thepurpose speeches wherewith Zelmatida interrupted the Queenes discourse and the councells out of all likelihood which he would have her accept as the safest made him so unlike himselfe that Hismalita had small cause to take him for that famous Heire of Quasmez who had made himselfe dreadfull to all the Potentates of our world And to say truth who would ever have thought that this great Prince who till then had never any passion but for fame who had so absolutely renounced all the pleasures of youth and sence and who by the strength and solidity of his deliberations had astonished the ancientest Councellors of the State of Quasmez had been capable of such an alteration Yet he was so and added so many extravagancies to those which had already weariedH ismalita that she diverted her speech to some others that were neere her to have no more on her hands a man that was such ill company This disgrace was to
free them from it went foreight to Isatidaes chamber It was told him that Montezuma had sent for her and that she should be that night with the Queene What a friend had that fatall Messenger beene to Zelmatida if he had given him his death when he brought him this unwelcom newes My deare master had not suffered but one death when since that unfortunate day he is passible of all and passible without seeing any end of them He was not content with an answere to him so fatall but enquired after the causes of that novelty but learning nothing that could give him satisfaction he retyr'd himselfe to his lodging not to take any rest but to increase his vexation by the agitations of his Soule The day following so sad a night was far more sorrowfull My deare Master could not see the King nor the Queen and that which afflicted him more he could not possibly either know where the princesse Isatida was nor to see any of her attendants It was late night when Galtazis came to him from Hismalita and signified that her religion and certaine vowes which she and her daughters had made during the imprisonment of Montezuma oblieged them to a long retyrement and she therefore besought him that he would not thinke it strange and would not beleeve that without very great and lawfull causes they would deprive themselves of the contentment of seeing him But added Galtazis I am to informe you or some things more true and more important too then these Retyre to your owne lodgings and doe me the honour to expect me there In the meane time recall that vigour and great courage by which we have knowne Gyants to be so easily over com With those helps you must encounter such as are more redoubtable then those that you have vanquish'â—… Galtazis in leaving him gave a paper into his hands and prayed him by way of diversion that he would take the paines to reade it Zelmatida retyred and commanding all to leave him alone and willing to see what the dwarfe had given him He unfolded the paper and read that which followeth Mirzenia unworthy Archiculti of the sacred Ziamacazques and least servant of the gods To Montezuma Image of their Benediction AFter the sacrificing the three hundred Panucien slaves which thy soveraigne valour destinated for the Gods on the day of thy tryumph after the besprinkling their holy Images bathing the feete of their Altars and washing the tyles of their Chappell 's with so much blood as was consecrated to them After the filling the Censers royall with the precious gumme of Copâ—…llii and perfumed the heavenly nosthrills with so sweete an odor I have poured out mine owne blood from all parts of my body and by my purifications have merited the sight of the great Zezcatlipuca whose providence watcheth alwaies over the Empire of Mexico His presence hath rent the vayles that hid from me what was to come hereafter I have seene the shadow of future things more cleere then the beames of the Sun and behold that which they reserve for thee both of good and evill Thy Raigne shall be lesse remarkable by thy conquests then by thy imprisonment and thy life which is to be unfortunate shall be farre lesse so then thy death Thou shalt be despoiled of thy Empire without losing the Title of King and though it be transported into a strange family thou shalt yet have successors of thine owne race I see comming from another world Monsters that fly on the sea and and throw fire every where They shall disgorge on the shoares unknowne men who by their presence alone shall destroy those people that obey thee and thy selfe consenting to their losse shalt suffer one of those men to take thee prisoner in thine owne Pallace and to lead thee in triumph through proud Mexico These great revolutions have their prefixed terme The time is neer Thy calamities approch Thy enemies leave their aboades and already some of those Monsters that are to produce them have beene seene on our coastes The only remedy which I finde for thy ills is that thou get a Virgin Princesse Daughter to a great King whose power thou redoubtest By her intercessions thou shalt avert thy misfortunes confirme thy tottering Throne and make thy Children to raigne many ages after thee But who can give thee knowledge of that royall Virgin and by what good hap without example canst thou ravish her out of the armes of her Father If ever thou possesse that treasure keepe it more carefully then thy life be more jealous of it then of thine Empire hâ—…ve a carâ—… it be not stollen from thee and above all keepe it hidden from that redoubted Stranger who under pretext of offring thee his service and armes will come to steale her from thee This Conqueror of Nations will enter thy Territories as a man unknowne but by his valour he shall soone make himselfe Master of thy Subjects and by her also he shall pluck thee from a shamefull death prepared for thee At that time thou shalt lose the Virgin which thou hast so carefully kept and that losse shall be followed by all those wherewith the gods threaten thee Zelmatida having ended the reading of the scrole would have given it an explication that might not be displeasing to him He therefore justified himselfe in his owne thoughts from all that which might make him to be that stranger which this prediction deciphered and speaking as if some Judge had questioned him My conscience said he my passed actions and my designes absolutely bely this false prophet I neither pretend tâ—… the Crowne of Mexico nor to the life of Montezuma T is true I love Isatida and 〈◊〉 deprive me of the happinesse of seeing her is to force me to strange extreamities As 〈◊〉 was further thus going on Galtazis came in and surprised him in his deepe meditations My Master said the little One to him he was wont to call him so I bring you the cruell explication of the Prophesie I left with you but I bring it you imperfect since I could 〈◊〉 understand but the end of the discourse which on that subject Montezuma had with Hismalita Be assured said she to him that the time is come in which we and our Empire are to fall into the hands of strangers My delivery is a great and a certaine 〈◊〉 of it and the love which all my Subjects beare to the invincible stranger agâ—…eing with the inclination of Isatida makes it so evident that unlesse I will betray my selfe I can no more doubt of it I know that the fatall Virgin is in our custody and that we may shut her up in a place where none shall see her But to whom shall we â—…ust that may hinder her being stolen and forced from us We will not resolve nor you nor my selfe to keepe her during both our lives and those others which we shall chuse as the most faithfull for this important deposit may be t is possible
acquainted me why he had been pursued by the inhabitants of Cotosta Hereupon I commanded to weigh Anchor and by the favor of a fresh gale our vessell got from the shore I demanded of Zelmatida whither he desired to goe he answered me that he could wish to get to one of the Ports of the kingdome of Quasmez and told me that if he deceived not himselfe we might come thither iâ—… coasting the firmâ—… land of Mexico I commanded my Pilot to take that course but the winde that most commonly opposeth Navigators drove us farre into the Sea and after a voyage or to say true a tempest of many daies made us luckily enter into an arme of the Sea which like a great channell opens into the Isle of Cuba and makes a safe harbour against all windes we gave thanks to the gods for so wonderfull a deliverance and strove to get to a kinde of foâ—… that we saw at the bottome of the haven Before we could get to it we were discovered by those that were there in guard and we presently saw all the shore ranckâ—…d with Souldiers who with their arrowes strove to keepe us from landing Zelmatidâ—… weary of the Sea and remembring the discourse Galtazis had with him about the imprisonment of Alisma resolved to get a shore and if it were possible to free that 〈◊〉 prisoner The armes which I had given him answering the greatnesse of his courage made him thinke no enterprises difficult He therefore threw himselfe into the water with all those of us that were fighting men in our shippe and by his wondrous valour we got to be Masters of the landing place The Savages were beaten back and forced to shut themselves in their Fort. Zelmatidaâ—… the sâ—…me day assayled it and carried it in lesse then two houres One part of the Garrison was taken the other slayne and their Captaine loaden with chaines brought to Zelmatida where he was retyred Thiâ—… Islander having fixed his eyes long time on my deare Master 't is pitty said he that we have thee not for our Cacique or that we were not borne thy Subjects Zelmatida was much pleased with the boldnesse of his Prisoner and retayning him commanded his companions to prison He asked him divers questions and found that 〈◊〉 answered all with good sence and judgement At last he asked him what he was the other replyed that he was a Mexican borne and noble by his condition Tecuitli an affectionate servant to Montezumâ—… and by his command establishd Guardian and Captaine of that place vnder the direction of the great Cacique of Cuba I have well noted there was something great in the said Zelmatida I doe not demande thee what important cause hath made thee an exile in this Iland the knowledge I have of Montezuma's affaires gives me already all that which thou canst instruct me in Ha sayd the prisoner who ever thou be that hast had the honour to enjoy the glorious light which parts from my visible God how comes it that thou turn'st thy armes against those that are borne the Slaves of his greatnesse Thou shalt knowe the cause another time answered Zelmatida for this present thou must tell me where the Prisoner is whom thou hast kept these many yeares The Mexican made him no reply to that question but throwing out a prodigious cry caught up my Sword and turning it on himselfe had dyed on it but for Zelmatida The Prince taking notice of his great loyalty live sayde he and preserve to Montezuma the faith thou hast sworn him I will have intelligence of what I search by some other way In the meane time thou art free and maist either stay with us or be gon if thou think'st us unworthy of thy company How unfortunate am I cryde the Mexican to have so great an obligation to the Enemies of my king but I will not betray my faith sayde he turning towards my deare Master nor yet abuse thy noblenesse Zelmatida more and more ravisht with the mans brave mind tooke off himselfe the cordes wherewith he was bounde and offring him his hand I will not force thee to love me sayd he but if thou knewst how I have been treated by Montezuma and Hismalita thou wouldst seeke Masters more worthy to be served We must accuse for their faylings sayd he their condition rather then their nature They sinne of custome innocently and to betraye them because they reward not our fidelity is to reproach the Gods that they knowe not how to make a good câ—…oye of those that should be their Lievtenants Zelmatida desirous to try whether he could drawe any thing out of him but sayde he it is no great matter of fidelity to conceale things already known There is the lesse reason to aske any thing of them replyde the Mexican howsoever never hope to get from me that which I am bound to conceale Thou art Master of that which we have so long time and so carefully kept and thou must now bethinke thee what thou wilt doe with it Zelmatida let him goe when he saw there was nothing to be had from him and beleeving for certaine that Alisma was shut up in that Fort intended to deliver him from his long captivity The night hereupon aproaching he caused divers branches of Trees to be lighted which in that Isle serve for torches to begin his search withall He tooke himselfe an exact review of the Fortâ—…esse There was neither Covert Cabine Place nor Corner which he looked not into He had already gone round about the Fort and already feared that all his paines would be to no purpose when he saw arise out of a place under ground a great number of little fires which having stirred a while about in the ayre cast themselves into the forme of a crowne over his head and as if they had beene affâ—…ighted at his sight descended with a noyse and so re-entred the place from whence they came Zelmatida astonished to see so many flying lights turned him towards me and asked me what this prodigie meant Nothing but what 's happy said I but if you will follow my advice command those to be gone that beare the lights and follow those guides that offer you theirs My deare Master tooke my councell and throwing himselfe first into the vault saw all as light there as if it had beene full of torches He sawe nothing in it but those wandring fires which after they had made many rounds fixed themselves at last to the roofe of the Cave Zelmatida this while went from corner to corner to finde some doore and searched so neerely that at last he found one cut out of the Rock This dore opened not inwards nor outwards but moved downewards and was sustayned in the midst by two Tampins of the stone it selfe which kept it equally ballanced He thrust it accordingly and presently all those little fires came off from the roofe and entred by that opening He followed them and finding a little round winding stayre cut out
the remaynder of my life in publishing your miracles and give you worthy actions of praise and thankes by continuall sacrifices This said he arose and turning to the Prisoner see said he your sonne shewing him Zelmatida and speakeing to Zelmatida Behold your father the greate Guina Capa to whom you owe your royall extraction Thinke if you please with how many admirations and transports this knowledge was followed Guina Capa on the suddaine beleved not a thing so incredible but in spite of all reasons that kept him from it he felt in himselfe that he was obliged by the solicitations and tendernesse of nature to acknowledge Zelmatida for his sonne The Prince rejoycing at the life and liberty of the King his father kneeled downe beseeching him the permission to kisse his hands tolde him that he asked the Gods no more since they had granted him that thing which of all else in the world he had most earnestly prayed for Guina Capa holding Zelmatida betweene his armes witnessed how much he loved him and Alisma presently stepped and presented to the hands of that great King the Iavelin he had formerly given him Guina Capa tooke it and withall told him that the Gods who deprived him of one Empire were too just not to bestow on him a greater And with this he tooke Zelmatida and leaning on him went out of his prison by the way that the yong Princesse had made him with the hazard of his life Some of the Amazons knew him and giving him what belonged to his quality deputed foure from among them to carry this strange newes to Telesmana Those runners went thence and with an extreame diligence came to Quito When they had intimated to their Queene that Guina Capa was living they did what they could to make her beleeve it but she would not but rather imagined that t was some Impostor who deluding Alisma by some resemblance he had with Guina Capa made himselfe to be so taken indeede But when he came she was forced to change her opinion and to acknowledg him for the true Guina Capa Whilest she was in tâ—…e excesse of her joy and wonder one of those who passe for Prophets among the Quitonians came before her and desiring audience You see said he great Queene the invincible Guina Capa the credit which I have with the Quitonians and the threats that I have used to them on the part of the gods in case they enterprised any thing against the life of that Prince have compelled them spite of their hearâ—…s to respect him and not to hearken to that barbarous fury which sollicited them to put him to death He himselfe shall beare witnesse to what I say and assure you that excepting the displeasures of his long captivity he hath received no ill treatment from the Quitonians Guina Capa confirmed what the Priest said and related to the Queene all the hazards he had run Telesmana made him a recitall of Zelmatida's adventures and by what meanes she came to knowe him Alisma interrupted this discourse and besought the King his Master to tell him if since his imprisonment he had never seene any of his owne Subjects Only you answered the King and if you can remember it t was I that bid you farewell when you fell into the Caverne which hath so long time beene my Prison I would faine have perswaded my selfe to beleeve it answered the generous old man but the assurance I had that you were not among the living made me reject that phansie as often as it was presented Prais'd for it be the Gods and thou also O â—…atall Javelin said he looking on that which Guina Capa had given him t is by thee alone that so many miracles have beene done and that the greatest Princes of the world after diverse incredible accidents come to knowe each other and regaine the possession of their Thrones The Quitonian Prophet added more matter to Alisma's discouâ—…se and discovering secrets to come there remaines said he yet a misfortune that must shortly afflict these Princes but if it can be quelled the Empire of the Incas shall be more flourishing then ever and the Reigne of Guina Capa become a Reigne full of glory and happinesse Telesmana Guina Capa and Zelmatida receiving in appearance nought of this prediction but that which was advantagious to them abode at Quito many moneths Runners were sent to Cusco and others to the King Quasmez In the meane time the rest of the Quitonians wonne by their Priest came voluntarily and threw them at the feet of Guina Capa and intreated pardon for their revolts The King the most good and mercifull that ever was forgot what was passed and tooke nothing so much into his consideration as the reparation of the ruines of Quito and to make happy the Quitonians Telesmana would not leave that Prince till the Troopes which he had sent for from his Kingdome were arrived All that time passed in playes feasts and other pleasures T is true that two remarkable afflictions interrupted the publique joy The first proceeded from the funerall pompe wherewith Guina Capa conducted the body of the Queene his wife into the stately Temple of Quito and the other arose from the death of the good Alisma That faithfull servant seeing the happy successe of his Masters adventures received thence so violent and extraordinary transports that they might say the excesse of his joy consumed the little strength that remained in his body worne out with the travells of warre and his long imprisonment He fell sick and without any other apparent cause was neere a moneth in losing the functions of life one after another Guina Capa and Zelmatida asisted him as their Father and ran the hazard of following him so great a feeling had they of his losse These causes of sorrow being past over the Father and Son continued their kindnesse they had begun to Telesmana Zematida in the opinion of his Father and Grandmother wanted nothing But his felicity depended not on Crownes I am compelled to leave the continuance of Guina Capa's adventures and the marvells that attended his returne to Cusco to bring again on the stage the violent passion of Zelmatida which I have in a manner buried in the recitall of so many admirable adventures My deare Master had Isatida alwaies in his thought and since he left her never talked with me of any thing but of his hope of reseeing her And for all the delights of Quito and the great hopes to which he was carried by the King his Father he endured incredible tortures He grew desperate for being among those pleasures and called himselfe coward and traytour for having been capable of any delight in the absence of Isatida To expiate that crime He resolved to leave Quito and to throw himselfe into new troubles They would have me said he to me one day go to Cusco and forgetting Isatida prisoner take possession of the Throne of the
which I owe to your Majesty I tell you that these feares are not considerable since they proceede not from a peacefull and reasonable Soule but from a minde full of scorne and sorrow and by consequence loaden with such motions as perplex it Doe better Madam doe not feigne to your selfe these dispâ—…asures which may bee you shall never feele let time worke and Polexander and put off the resolutions you would take till you be oblieged to them eyther by the necessitie of your affaires or the propositions of Polexander Alcidiana wanting power over her selfe to resist Aminthaes Councell made all her feares give place to a compleasancy From that very day if you remember it she sent to visite you and gave you as a token of extraordinary favour the priviledg to enter the Pallace You came thither as if your victory had been to you a cause of mortification and shame you presented your selfe to the Queene with a confusion and a trembling which was noted by all the Court Alcidiana who first perceived it imagined yet without any likeliehood that your anger for being unrecompenced after so great a service was the cause of your alteration and that error recalling all the precedent she grew in choller against you and her selfe What said she unheard of any Fortune then hath made me to be borne a Queene and Nature hath bestowed on me those qualities she hath refused to many other Princesses to the end that becoming slave to a stranger I should have a more lively feeling then others how rude that necessity is which forceth us to leave a Throne and enter into servitude Amintha well judging that Alcidiana had great agitations came neere to you and heartning your astonish'd minde by the actions of thanks which shee gave you in the name of all the kingdome made you by little aâ—…d little to recouer both the use of speech and discourse I recount to you these small incidents since in the estate you then were when they hapned it is not to be beleev'd that you can now remember them Know then that you blush'd at the prayses Amintha had given you and that you spoake of your Combat not only as of an action not to be thought on and by consequence that neyther deserved honour nor recompence but as of an attempt which should rather drawe on you the indignation and vengeance of Alcidiana Amintha seeing things growe to that passe which she had foreseene turned towards the Queene and drawing her out of her musings your Majesty said she may be pleased to free Polexander from the strange error wherewithall he is preoccupated I had thought till now that pride was the only source of all pernicious beliefes but this Prince makes me see that humility produceth some that are not lesse dangerous He perswades himselfe Madam that the Combat he vndertooke for your Majesty may have offended you and that he then began to be faulty when he had so much boldnesse to declare himselfe your Champion Alcidiana quickly imagining what was tâ—…e intent of her discourse was very much pleased with it and glad to have it continued that it might take off those perplexities that troubled him the opinion replyed she that possesseth Polexander is more injurious to me then himselfe for he cannot beleeve that his Combat hath displeased me without conceiting that the audaciousnesse of Syziphus was not â—…o too Streight Amintha cast her Eyes on you as to invite you not to suffer so injust an explication and to make your selfe the Interpreter of your owne thoughts But understanding that you were too much interdicted to undertake that answere shee spoke for you and expressing the dexterity of her wit in so nice a businesse I know Madam said she to the Queene that our actions are no otherwise innocent or criminall but as they are agreeable to those sacred personages whom God hath pleased to appoint to command defend and judge us and that those visible divinities endowed with those lights we enjoy not seeme no lesse to be elevated above us by the greatnesse of their wit then they are by that of their byrth Your Majesty yet may give me leave to suspend a while this verity and to tell you with all the reverence and humility enjoyn'd me that you have given that interpretation to Polexanders words which hee would already have disavowed if the Law of duty and respect had not closed his â—…ps and forbidden him to contradict your opinion It seemes replyed Alcidiana that Polexander understands our language well to have no neede of an interpreter and that if hee were of your opinion he would case you of the paine you take to defend him Amintha that needed not to have any thing twice spoken to make her understand it looked on you and calling you to your owne defence 'T is in your choice said she to contradict me or to make it knowne to the Queene that I have said nothing but what shall be confessed You then began to speake and as I have heard from Amintha spoke in such a fashion that Alcâ—…diana had not beene what she is if shee had not beene fully satisfied with it This conversation ended she reâ—…yred with Amintha and remayning some time without saying any thing to her at last she signified that she was cured of her former feares Amintha confirmed her in an opinion very advantageous for you and spoke of your discretion as of that which was no lesse admirable then your valour I acknowledge said the Queen to her Polexander is a brave man he hath an extreme sweetnesse in his conversation and his modesty denoteth the solidity of his Wit But when I thinke on that which he hath but lately done for me I confesse to you that his sight much troubles me and as long as I see him me thinks I know not what voice whispers in mine eare Doe not boast any more Alcidiana neyther of the greatnesse of thâ—… birth nor of that absolute power which thou beleevest to have over so many people Looke on this Stranger thou owest to him all those things that give thee that advantage and glory I doe my utmost to rid me of an opinion which I well see you condemne But the more that I would perswade my selfe that I owe nothing to Polexander the more doth the happy estate wherein I am and the ruine of mine Enemies make me know that when I shall be to him the most ingratefull in the World yet cannot I be otherwise to him then the more oblieged Amintha that thought it not fit to leave this yong fair Princes in such perplexitis as might much wrong her It wil not be hard for you sayd she to reconcile two enemies that will not yeld in any thing to one another T is fit that those generous thoughts wold preserve you in that independacy where heaven hath put you should raigne as absoluâ—…ely as ever they have done It behooves likewise that you give some roome and place to those
was so much moved with that favour though it was no otherwise then all apparent that he forgot almost all his anger The houre to retire being come he led me to my chamber and by the way made me so many protestations of service that if I had not knowne him well without doubt I had been so silly as to have beleeved him As soone as he left me I got to bed and spent almost all the night in thinking on the good aspect the activenesse and valour of the unknowne Knight Scarce was it day but that I awakened my women and made such a coyle among my servants that it witnessed well the disorder of my minde I handled all my Jewells and not knowing at last whereon to resolve commanded a maid whom I very much trusted to give me what would best beseem me When I was about to coife me not any one of my women was either handsome or quicke enough All that they put on was naught My dressing was sometime too great sometimes too flat and I made my selfe to be new dressed so often that I was not ready when one of the Kings Gentlemen came and told me that the Combatants humbly besought me to repaire to my Scaffold I tooke not time to eat but as one senselesse ranne to the field and was there exceedingly troubled till I saw the brave Knight Nephizus inraged with anger and may be with jealousie came fiercely on his rivall and was received by him with an incredible vigour At every course the Prince of Fez had some advantage but at the last he flew over his horses crupper and lay so long time stretched on the sand that they beleeved he would not make use of the permission that he had requested Yet he arose by the helpe of his overthrower and being remounted on horsebacke insolently called his generous enemy to the combat long time they fought and very suriously and Nephizus questionlesse resolved rather to dye then to yeeld ground and the other desirous to preserve the honour he had gotten behaved him so couragiously that at last the wilfulnesse of the Prince of Fâ—…z being alone and disarmed was compelled to yeeld him selfe As soone as the Judges had declared the Stranger to be the Victor they brought him before me to receive the Prize which he had gotten He besought me to give it him with such a grace and submission that they made an end of losing me Before I gave satisfaction to so just a request said I you ought if you please on your part to fullfill the Law imposed on you 'T is to favourable said he not to obey it But Madam it needed not that such an ordinance should impose a necessity of discovering my selfe The honour you doe me to command it is to me a Law so sweete and powerfull that for what disadvantage soever it may be to me in making my selfe knowne yet I shall not faile to give you that small proofe of the extraordinary zeale I have to your service In ending these civilities he tooke off his helmet and thinking truely that I knew him not See heere said he to me Muley Hassen who hath no other honour nor merrit then to be sprung from the Royall House of Thunis I had heard my Father often speake of that yong Prince and esteemed him as one of the most couragious and accomplished Knights of his time But I being but an Infant when he left Africa to travell through Europe I did not remember I had ever seene him Though my love was gotten to such a height beyonde which there are few others yet I confesse to you that it grew in such a manner in knowing whom I loved that all the persecutions which I have suffered since and all the time that hath passed since I saw my Lover have not beene able to lessen it As soone as I was out of that astonishment which the sight of Muley Hassen had been the cause of I presented him a very great Diamond with three Pearles in fashion of a peare which I had destined for him and desirous to answere his faire speech by some other that might leave in him an opinion he was not unpleasing to me Cousen said I 't is not only as your kinsman that I rejoyce at your victory but as a good Patryot since Strangers that shall know how you have dealt with one of our most remarkeable neighbours will respect our Frontires and have no will to invade a Countrey that may vaunt it selfe to have an invincible Defender Beleeve then that both in the one and the other title I am extreamely glad of your honour and keepe the Present I have made you as an assurance that hence forward I will interest my selfe in all things where you have any share Muley out of his discretion durst not answere me but went to waite on the King who had sent for him by one of his Squires You may imagine whether he were well received Truely he was in such sort that if my poore brother had been returned from that dismall enterprize which cost him his life he could not have beene better welcommed The King who had given him his owne name held him a long time in his armes called him his second Son and the stay of his age and causing him to mount on one of his horses brought him to the Pallace attended as in triumphe He forgot not Nephizus in his ill fortune but shewed him by that little time he was with him and by the little displeasure in his countenance that his affection was an affection of state and that which he shewed to the yong Muly was of blood and nature that is how the first was feigned and the other true Nephizus had time to thinke on his revenge For he kept his chamber neere a moneth In this long solitude having layd the plot of what he was to execute he came after into the Court with so much jollity as if he had borne away the Prize of the Justs and came on to prattle with as much assiduity and passion as if he had beene yet truely in love with me But 't was most vainely that he imployde all his craft and forced countenances for I was not now to be taught I lived now only in Muley Hassen and had no eares nor eyes but for him I saw him every houre of the day sometimes with the King otherwhiles in my chamber then in the gardens afterwards in a hunting and every where with so much satisfaction on one side and the other as well of love as of respect that I may say that five or six moneths that I passed thus seemed to last nothing at all But alas Those things that please are not of longest continuance Nephizus that had an intent to revenge himselfe extraordinarily of me thought he could not doe it but in getting the yong Muley from Court and becomming the absolute Master of my life See how he went on He dispatched to Morocco to oblige the King his
shut thine eyes to all other considerations and thou hast beleeved that thou shouldst gaine farre greater Empires then this if thou could'st preserve me Hoping therefore for no more in Egypt I returned to Tunis and after I had staid there some dayes unknown I re-imbarked me upon the assurance Atalida gave me that I should not heare any newes of Muley but in Fez or Morocco I went to Fez and learning nothing of what I desired â—…passed the Streights to get sooner and more safely to Morocco I came in there so that it had been impossible for the very servants of Nephizus to know me staid there so long as I thought was fitting to heare what was become of my unfaithfull husband and my loyall Friend But for al I could doe my diligences and perquisitions were bootlesse For Nephizus they told me that being desperatly in love with the Princesse Ennoramita his wife and not induring she should be in the custody of the King her Father he had besieg'd him in one of his Fortresses to take her But after the winning the place and not finding her he was neere dead for sorrow and presently put to Sea to follow her Imagine if I were amazed or no at these false tales and what I was to iudge of it Aâ—… last after I had long mused on this Adventure to no purpose I understood by Atalida â—…hat Nephizus was gone to the Canaries with that pretended Ennoramita I had Learn'd from Fame that you were not only King of them but the defendor of the oppressed the Avenger of persecuted virtue and the Exterminator of Monsters and Tyrants And for that reason I resolv'd to take you for the Judg of my cause and to implore your valor for the exemplary chastising of Nephizus perfidies and impostures The Princess of Tunis could goe no further for Atalida in clapping her hands and shewing an extreame astonishment cryed out that the old Eunuch Narcissus was come into the court of the Pallace with a great company of Trumpets and Armed men Ennoramita not able to beleeve the astonished Damsel ran to one of her Chamber windowes which look'd into the Court and knowing Narcissus Permit not if you please said shee to Polexander that any wrong be done to me in a place where you are the Master Feare nothing Madam answered Heroe whosoever dares to think of losing the respect that is due to you shall not doe it unpunished And not only here but wheresoever else you shall please to make use of mine arme I shall hinder as much as in me lieth your enemies from wronging your vertue Scarce had he ended these words but the Captaine of his guard came into Ennoramitas Chamber and told him that a Herald sent with a great trayne from Abdelmelec Prince of Morocco to all the Courts of Vrope Africk requested instantly that he might be permitted to acquit himselfe in the presence of his Majesty of that Commission his Prince had given him Surely said Polexander Abdelmelec hath knowne that I have his buckler We must heare his Herald In the meane time addressing himselfe to the Captaine of his Guard goe and receive said he these strangers and assure them that whatsoever they have to say to me they shall not need to feare any thing more then if they were in Morocco Ennoromitâ—… then speaking I intreat you a favour said she to Polexander what 's that Madam replied the Prince T is said she that I may have some time to speake with Narcissus before his Masters command hath ingaged him to any extravigancy You shall doe what you please answeared Polexander but let his discourse to mee be what it will he shall not want of receiving as good entertainement at my hands as if he had brought me the confirmation of that which Abdelmelec sometime promised me I know that your thoughts are not capable of any imbecillity said the Princess of Tunis but I am sure withall that the minde of Narcissus is not incapable of feare As long as he shall imagine that you know not the cause of his coming he will be reasonable enough to tell us what is become of Nephizus But assoone as he hath declar'd his charge and by consequence shall beleeve he hath offended you he will thinke of nothing after but how to get out of your power and in his apprehension and feare of being chastis'd will not even know where he is Polexander Laughing at the good opinion Ennoramita would worke in him of Narcissus courage commanded he should be brought to him assoone as he should be in case to be seene The Eunuch holding of his nation a certaine proud severity refus'd all that was offer'd him by Polexanders Officers and could never be wonne to see him alone Polexander hearing of these things in the presence of Ennoramita shee intreated him to let Narcissus come to him with all his trayne and told him smiling that before that Ethiopian began his Oration shee would pesent her selfe to him in the quality of a Petitioner and accusing the other of his ill treating her would so force him to put by his gravity Our Heroe approov'd of all that Amatontha desir'd and going into the hall of the Princess lodgings which was already fill'd with his Guard and other Officers there receiv'd the venerable Narcissus Scarce had the Eunuch made his reverences and first complements but Ennoramita appear'd in the Hall with a most desolate and afflicted countenance and casting her selfe at Polexanders feet besought him to give her his protection against many Enemies that did unjustly persecute her I understood my Lord said shee after the Prince had taken her up that there was newly arrived in this place one of the principall Agents of my Tyrants I therefore beseech you by the name you have gotten of the most Just Prince of the world to harken to my complaints and to beleeve that I have gone a hundred and fifty leagues by sea in hope that you will grant me that which my Country my Parents my Friends and my Allyes have refus'd me In saying so shee cast her eyes on Narcissus who instantly knew her and after shee had a while look'd on him See said shee to our Heroe in taking the Eunuch by the hand an inreproachable witnesse of those verities I am to tell you and though he hath been of the number of those that have tormented me yet I have nothing to say to him for I know how farre the duty and faith of a servant bindes him to his Master He belong'd to the Prince of Fez and being answerable and obliged to him for a great Fortune he could not lawfully consider any thing but his Interests I acquit him also from all those miseries he hath made me suffer but yet upon condition that he tell you before me why he forsook me under a false pretext whence 't is for these two yeares and more I have neither heard news of him nor of the King his Master and for what cause
resolution is worthy of your vertue answered Polexander and when I heare you speake so generously methinks I heare the magnanimous Benzaida to accuse the ingratefull Nephizus and mildly to reproach him for his inconstancy and violated oathes What a pleasure have you done me said Ennoramita to bring into my Remembrance that poore abused creature Relate to me I beseech you the story of her Lover and why Nephizus made her come to Fez Since he had forsaken her It may be said Polexander that Nephizus never thought on her when he met her at Fez. That meeting was the last Exigent and misery which that incomparable Lady was brought to by her constancy She could not live out of the sight of that disloyall Prince and for many yeares of late hath search'd him every where But t was much to her mishap that she found him for then hearing from his owne mouth how much he contemn'd her she stabd her selfe to be aveng'd on her own person for his disloyalty ingratitude That history Madam is no lesse strange then Tragicall and you cannot better employ the remainder of this day then to heare with compassion the miseries whereof you are the cause though most innocently Ennoramita was astonish'd at those last words of Polexander Yet beleeving he had not spoken them without a cause she besought him to tel her whereof she was guilty You have made one most miserable answered our Heroe and yet are guiltlesse of it After he had made this reply he came neer to a little bed on which the Princess was seated and seating himselfe right against her in this manner began the to-be-lamented adventures of Benzaida When you did me the Honour to intrust me with the secrecies of your life I noted from the beginning of your narration that you were ignorant of the principall part of Nephizus adventures I was divers times tempted to interrupt you and to discover that which oblig'd him to keepe himselfe conceal'd so long time to change so often places and not to appeare in publick but under the name of a stranger But not certainely knowing whether he were dead I thought it was fit to leave you in your error and not give you new causes to think worse of him But now that I can put you out of trouble and make you perfectly know him without any wrong done I will tell you his first legerities and make known those secrets which with a great deale of reason he hath alwaies hid from you Even before your Infancy had triumphed over the heart of that Prince he had subjected it to two personages farre different in humor and condition yet both equally faire and alike abused The first was called Izilia the daughtur of an Arabian Knight very rich and famous for the preserving alone the Province of Temesna in the obedience of the King of Morocco The other was the discreet and generous Benzaida Princess of Granada How said Ennoramita all amaz'd Benzaida Daughter of the unfortunate King of Granada The same said Polexander yet I have oftentimes heard say replied Amatonta that shee was stolne away by a Spanish Captaine before the taking of Granada and since that time none knew what was become of her The King her father answered our Heroe without doubt was the cause of that brute to hide from his Subjects the shame of his family but t is most certaine that she dyed at Fez and that the ingratitude of Nephizus was the cause of it If you love me said Ennoramita interrupting him relate to me that strange adventure and without refraining for feare of renewing my anger let me know I beseech you all things as they have hapned Nephizus is sufficiently punish'd by his death though he had not been to me as he was yet were I obliged to pardon the wrong he hath done me forget all my sufferings out of that holy respect which the living should beare to the dead If it be so as I doubt not Madam said Polexander you shall be absolutely satisfied Some few yeares past Abdelmelec who is esteemed one of the Expertest Knights of all Africa and the stoutest Juster amongst the Moores published a Turney to Maintaine against all Knights both Christian and Mahometan that Alcidiana is the fairest Princess of the world I was at that Turnament without any other designe then to be a spectator of that galentry for being without passion I was likewise unprovided of a cause to quarrell with Abdelmelec I wish'd he had not given me more by his last challenge then he did by his first I would then leave him a free possessor of his imaginary prosperities and not goe trouble those fine dreames which his vanity brings on him waking I came to Morocco the second day of the Turney and knew well by divers courses that t is not without reason that the Moors vaunt to have taught the Christians the art of giving a blow with a lance with a good grace and mannage and sit a horse for justs and running with canes In seeing those excellent Knights there kindled a desire in me of trying them and to put in practise those lessons they had given me in France This resolution was not so well taken but that it might have bin very easie to have made me change it But being by chance lodged with some Arabian Knights I heard them speake such extraordinary things of the beauty and vertue of Alcidiana that I had a great minde to see the Picture which I did on the Buckler of Abdelmelec and in many other tables which that Prince had caus'd to be made notwithstanding the Remonstrances of his Marabous and the forbiddings of the Alcoran Assoone as I had seen it I fell straight into that Error which accompanies young men and thought Abdelmelec was not so worthy as my selfe to serve so faire a Princess The very next day I took armes against him and maintain'd that t was to me only for whom the Destinies had reserv'd the honour to serve Alcidiana He accepted of me in the Combat in the Quality of a Rival and I who demean'd my selfe in it with all the violence of a man of Sixteen perpl exed him in such sort that after divers courses he was reduc'd to the necessity of giving me place He was not only oblig'd to it by the lawes he had imposed on himselfe but more that he might renounce the title of Alcidiana's knight he was compel'd to have recourse to the Ax to the Cymiter but had no better fate then with the first and his misfortune was such that I inforc'd him to demand his life of me and yeeld to me that brave title of Alcidiana's Knight And so by a meere Caprichio of Fortune I became master of the feild of the arms of the pictures the Prize appointed for the victor I retir'd with al these advantages ravish'd with the tables which I had so gloriously won return'd to my ships with an intent to get me speedily to the Canaries
another kind of Fate then their Subjects The honour of Servents lies in the hazards to which they expose themselves for the servâ—…ce of their Masters and that of Commanders â—…o preserve themselves for the safety of the servants that are left them Never make me beleeve a thing so dis-apparent answer'd Polexander in choler For if Kings as you your selfe have often told me are the soules of their Subjects should they not then watch operate and continually travell for them And what say you if bodies were not maintained in their being by the operation of their Soules would they not become meere lumps of Earth and dirt Do you think t is otherwise with our Subjects truly no. They must without doubt perish when their Kings like soules sick of a Lethargy unworthily lye sleeping in their palaces and suffer those miserably to perish through their idlenesse whom they should preserve by their 〈◊〉 Le ts on then le ts on my deare governour where our dutie calls us Sir said I your Majesty is neither of age to doe what you would nor your people reduced to the extremity of axecting it from you Kings ought to be alwaies of yeares to defend their people replied the Prince and their condition is such that neither age nor danger ought to hinder them from preserving their Estates You have so often taught me these truthes that I wonder you will read to me now a new Doctrinâ—…i I have never told your Majesty any thing I answered which in my conscience I believed not only to be true but also worthy of your royall Soul and this being so I intended not to ruin by a false dictrine that which I had established by a true one All that I desire now is that your Majesty would turne your thoughts on your selfe and thence carry them through all the histories you have read to the end you your selfe may be Judg of the difference which is now between us The Prince presently apprehending by the quicknesse of his wit what I would say to him answered me that he would not have our controversie to be decided by the examples of former ages Other Princes have done what they pleas'd and I pretend to have the same priviledg and by consequence will goe on without any consideration right to the place where our Enemies are What after this will you oppose me Ah Sir cried I throwing my selfe at his feet and moystning his hands with my teares weigh what your great heart would make you undertake and thinke with your selfe what a disaster it will be if some dismall blow should take you hence in the extremity of your youth My deare Governour replied the Prince coldly this consideration proceedes not from a true affection but it comes from an ill custome which those that are neare to Kings have gotten to flatter them in all things 'T is true that I may dye by this occasion and dying lose a great many yeares which by all likelyhood I have to live but I know from your selfe that none ever dyed before the time Heaven had prescribed him besides I am perswaded that a King never dies too soonâ—… when he dies for the safety of his Subjects Whilst the King my Master and I thus contested the Portingal and our men made on and meeting some two leagues from our Quarters fought with a great losse on both sides The Canaryans made the Portingalls give back and drave them before them into a vally where for want of mistrust they fel into an Ambascado There were they ill handled and after they had lost more then their halfe on the place saw 't was then their turn to fly The Portingalls being all reunited came furiously on the Canaryans and their Cavalry making a horrible massacre of the â—…nawaies drave the rest even to our intrenchments Polexander saw the flight of his Souldiers and was very likely to have thrown himselfe down from the top of a bastion to go stay them Ah my Governor cried he I beseech you do not indure I should lose my Honour and see my men slaine unsuccored I renewed my remonstrances but to no purpose Of necessity we must and did bring him his Armes and consent that he should fall on the Enemy In the meane time I caus d all the remainder of our Souldiers that were in the Towne to sally forth who in spight of the Enemies forced them to retire Our young King with fifty of his Knights fell on the reere of the Portingalls and thrust himselfe so farre in amongst them that I was a long time without knowing what was become of him His presence and actions gave so much heart even to those that had lost it that the Portingalls were hack'd in peices and from the Town even to the Sea Side the high waies were covered with them The King should have returned from this conflict with an extream satisfaction for he had done admirably well and besides he heard on all hands applauding some of joy and some of praise Neverthelesse a secret sadnesse made him droope the head and unwilling to heare the acclamations of the people As I was about to aske him the cause My Governour said he let me once make triall of what you have often told me and whereof Sir said I That the multitude is never govern'd by reason Wee have done nothing but run after a company of people that had as great a desire to fly from us as wee had to overtake them and yet to heare the shouts of the Uulgar sort one would thinke we had gotten some important battle against all the force of Spaine I smil'd at the Princes consideration When presently putting on a more serious countenance besides said he I shal never be satâ—…fied til I see the King of Portingal with his sword in his hand Certainly that King is a very merry man and very Gamesome who whilst himselfe lies as it were buried in all pleasures and delights troubles the repose and peace of his neighbours by such of his subjects as 't is not unlikely he would faine be rid of If I live I will teach him to live quietly or to come and fight himselfe But til that happinesse betide me I am resolv'd to drive the Portingalls from these Islands and to accomplâ—…sh it with the more facility I will over into the Isle of Palmes with the rest of my Troops When he had told me his intentions I was more puzled a great deale then I was before I knew well that my Authority and power were not able to hould in that yong Lion I had therefore recourse to stronger I writ to the Queen his mother who persisted in her teares and solitude and most humbly besought her If she loved the life of the King her sonne she would call him back to her I intimated all the reasons which obliged me to write so and made them so considerable and weighty to her that for a quarter of an houre She violated the vow she had made
terrified and astonish'd by that accident that they utterly lost that eagernesse with which they strove to make themselves Masters of our Vessell In this Intervall we regain'd what we had lost knock'd our Enemies in again to the ship that was left them Polexander no way appear'd daunted in so great a danger but alwayes avoyding me was alwayes amongst his men and still promis'd them the victory Notwithstanding their number was so diminished that we had left us both of Mariners and Souldiers but fifty The Portugalls awakned from their amazement took notice of our weaknesse and about a hundred or sixscore of them flew into our Vessell All the Mariners as well as Souldiers thought now on nothing but how to defend themselves The fight began afresh and not a man of ours was slaine which had not before kill'd at least one of his Enemies Though Polexander was as you may imagine extreamly wearied with so long a toyle yet resisted he couragiously that fatigation and witnessing the greatnesse of his heart ran to assist his people As I followed him and had my Eyes only on him he saw me fall at his feet by two thrusts of pikes which I received at once Ah my Governor is dead cri'd he and in the same instant preventing a Portingall who without doubt came on to dispatch me thrust his sword through the others body He fell dead fast by me but in falling with a Mallet at Armes gave such a blow on the Princes head that he fell with him Though I was sore wounded yet I arose and seeing the King my Master in so ill case I carried him all in a trance into his Cabin and disarmd his head to see whether he had yet any life in him Presently he came to himselfe and streight ask'd me what was become of his Enemies Alas said I what ere is become of them they have their wish and gotten enough by cutting off a Life that was to be so fatall to them I spake it wholly transported with griefe seeing all the Princes haire knotted with blood so that I beleeved he had received so dangerous a blow that it was impossible to save him and so gave him for dead I laid him along on me and carefully search'd his head wherewith he clapt his hand on it and seeing at the drawing it back 't was all bloody I perceive now my good Governor you feare I am much hurt but let it not trouble you for I feele no paine After I had well search'd I saw that he had no wound on his head but that the Axe wherewith he was struck down sliding along his Helmet entred into his shoulder and from the wound it made there came that blood which after he was fall'n ran into his hayre I streight disarm'd him and finding the place where he was wounded I thought the hurt not mortall and so went about to stench the blood which being done I told that Heroe it was fit he should rest a while as he was whilst I went to see in what estate our businesse stood and would send some of his Servants to attend him The generous Prince would have risen but fainting with Weaknesse he grew pale and striving for feare I should perceive how ill he was since said he you think it fitting I will stay here I went presently out of the Cabin and wondring to heare no more noyse got quickly up to know the cause of their silence Truly 't was terribly fearefull and t is possible you never yet heard speak of the like adventure Our Vessell seem'd to me a bloody Scaffold on which had been executed a great number of unfortunate and miserable wretches Of above a hundred and fifty Canaryans and Portugalls which I had left fighting I found not one standing Some were dead others wounded with mortall blowes with sighes and groanes were giving a period to their lamentable Destiny The Portugall Ship too which was grapled with ours at the beginning of the fight had either been forced off â—…y some gust of Wind or unhook'd by some of their own who seeing their Companions so ill handled had thrown themselves into her for their safety After I had been a while as it were out of my self by so dismall a spectacle I re-collected my wits and perceiving by this generall defeate that the King my Master was in some safety I gave thankes to heaven and besought it with all my heart that it would perfect what was begun for the good of Polexander 〈◊〉 view'd all the dead and wounded of our party and found amongst the last a Young Canaryan that serv'd in the Kings Chamber His Name was Diceus and for his age he was an excellent Chirurgion The need I had of him obliged me to see in what plight he was and whither his wounds were deadly I drew him from under many bodies that were faln on him and laying him in a place commodius enough caled him so often so much tows'd him that he opened his Eyes a little I imagined there might be found some Essences about him and therefore rigging in his pockets and finding what I search'd for made him take the half of a little glasse bottle Presently he retook heart and his affection rendring him the memory of his Master he asked without knowing me what was become of the Prince He lives said I thankes be to heaven but Diceus said I he is in such a case that he needs thy assistance See what a true affection can do Scarce had Diceus heard Polexander was living and yet wounded but he arose and knowing me my Lord said he bring me speedily to the King Prithee replied I do thou take the paynes to help me to him for I cannot keep my selfe on foot and feeling a faintnesse Diceus said I the King is in his Cabin Go quickly and help him So that thou savest his life t is no great matter what becomes of the rest With that I fell and lost all perceivance and understanding Diceus fore-seeing that my swoonding would be long left me after he had commodiously seen me laid and went to the King whom he found in a heavy slumber whereof he had no good opinion and therefore awakened him and telling who he was Sir said he all your Enemies are dead It is fit your Majesty should now relish the sweets of so brave a Victory Whilst he spake thus he perceived his wound and having gently searched it was assured that not a Ueyne was cut nor Nerve wronged and by divers actions intimated his exceeding gladnesse for it and besought the King not to feare any ill successe of his hurt I have none replied the King all that troubles me is that I finde a certaine weaknesse that duls me Hereupon Diceus got him to take five or six drops of a Cordiall Potion which so strengthned him that after he had closed and bound up his wound he arose as cherefulll as if he had not been hurt But as he was about to aske for me he
and to heare him speake it seem'd those painted tables where treasures incomparably more pretious then all the Diamonds pearls and other riches which he had lately gotten from the Portingall He had yet one of those portraicts in his hands and made me take notice of al the strokes of the Pensil and beauties of it when a young African Lady very faire and desolate cast her selfe at his feet and besought him by thâ—… honour he had wonne at Morocco rather by that compassion to which his extream Noblenesse obliged him in the behalfe of afflicted persons to take her into his protection and aveng her of the most â—…sereant and wicked man that Africa ever brought forth The young Prince look'd not to be twice intreated neither suffring my Remonstrances nor intreaties return'd with that Lady called Izilia if I be not deceived and to accompany him would have none but Alcippus and Diceus I will neither tel you whither he went or what he did noâ—… how he came back for notwithstanding aâ—… the intreaties I could make to one and the other of those his two faithâ—…l servants I have not been able to get from them any thing but that Polexander most expresly forbad them to speak of that Iourney But whither his adventures were good or bad so it was that he returned so weake and pale after more then five moneths absence that I might easily judg he had been extreamely wounded or extreamely sick I acknowledg now that I abused his goodnesse much in the speech I had with him about that Journey But his Heroick Soule incapable to receive any alteration endur'd my liberty without shew of being mov'd and never oppos'd but his own naturall sweetnesse to the sharpnesse of al my reprehensions I must confesse my deare Master said he I have done amisse and have not taken enough into my consideration the Queen my Mother nor you But you have so often taught me that there is no voice which ought so sweetly to touch the eares of a virtuous Man as that of a miserable creature which reclaimes his assistnce and I made so certaine an experience of that truth when the unfortunat Izilia related to me her afflictions that I could not resist the violence wherewithal her complaints drew me to the place where she had need of my courage But I wrong your instructions to go about to justifie my action I have done that which humanity commanded me 'T is fit now I should do what Nature obligation Regality expect from me Let us go then to my deare Master wipe off if it be possible the â—…eares of the best Mother in the world Let 's goe and acknowledg the cares and â—…ravells she hath taken for us and essay to give â—…o so many people which love us some proofes of our sensibility Assoon as this was sayd he commanded to hoyse sayles and after a long and furious tempest cast Anchor in one of the Ports of this Island But O Heaven what strange alterations found he in his Court How much did he repent the deferrâ—…g his returne 'T was told him at his arrivall the Queen his Mother was more afflicted then ever since some ten or twelve dayes before the Princesse Cydaria had been by a great number of strangers carried away Polexander afflicted as much as possibly the best natur'd man in the world could be came to his Mother witness'd by his unfained griefe an extream sorrow for her affliction besought her to preserve her selfe for his and the Subjects good and promis'd he would never be at rest till he had restor'd to her the Princesse her Daughter You may well beleeve that Good Queen had receiv'd an extreame content in reviewing so worthy an Heyre of the great Periander if the death of that Prince and the rape of her Daughter had not made her incapable of all kind of pleasure On the contrary it was to her a redoubling of her vexation in the estate wherein she was For the presence of so accomplish'd a Son renew'd the losse of a Father that was no lesse so renew'd likewise her ancient sorrowes and reduced her to the incapacity of giving any thing to the returne of the Prince but teares Yet dar'd she not discover to him the true cause of them but by a wisdome worthy her selfe had rather Polexander should suspect it to be for her too much affection to her Daughter then that he should know her extraordinary affliction was from the want of power to avenge the murder of the great Periander The King my Master made the same construction of her teares as She desired and thinking that the losse of Cydaria was the sole cause He by consequence beleev'd he might give her an ample testimony of his love in forgetting his own interests for the safety of his Sister He understood the Prince of Scotland was gone after the Ravishers and that news made him the more impatient till he was shipped The very same day he set sayle and steering again his course towards Africa met with many of his ships which after a long vaine chase were returning to the Canaryes Some of them He sent back to the Queeâ—… his Mother commanding the rest to stand off at Sea yet some twelve or fifteen daies made along to the West with an intent to saile to the Pyrates Island But the next day after that resolution his Vice-Admirall came to him and said that the Prince of Scotland after he had given chase to those that stole away Cydaria at last fetcht them up in sight of the fortresse of Guargetssem and after a furious combat the Ravishers finding themselves the weakest had put fire to their powder and involved in one same flame the vanquish'd and the vanquishers Vnfortunate that I am cri'd Polexander must my return be remembred by the losse of the Daughter and desolation of the Mother Deplorable Polexander hast thou the heart to carry these sad newes to a person whose griefs should be more sensible to thee then thine own No no be not the sad bringer of so Tragicall an accident Present not thy selfe before Axiamira since thou canst not do it without increasing her afflictions Whilst he was thus lamenting I came into his Cabin and seeing Alcippus durst not speak a word to qualifie his passion I made use of the authority which my age and condition gave me Hearkning therefore to him a little while If said I at last I should condemn your complaints I should find fault with the most just sensiblenesse that is in nature When we lose those whom blood or affection makes deare unto us we lose a part of our selves and by cosequence should seeme to be our owne Enemies if we for their losse should make of shew of lamentation But Sir this sorrow must have its rules bounds and must not imitate the griefe of Children who fal'n into the durt content themselves with crying and never strive to get out Besides these reasons and others which concern your
she is faire that she is witty that she is virtuous I shall not have saied enough of her when I have told you that she is beauty it selfe that she is the highest of the created Intelligences and in short should be taken for that extraordinary virtue to which the ancient Philosophers gave the Sirname Heroicall This Princesse to have nothing equalize her on Earth lost the Queene her Mother assoone as she was borne To preserve the memory of his marriage Alcidus out of his owne Name and his Wives composed that of the Young Princesse and called her Alcidiana At that Name Polexander sigh'd but fearing least the old Shepheard might discover the cause he stifled within him more then the halfe of his Sigh The Old Man taking no â—…eed to it thus went on with his discourse Some few dayes after this Princesse birth the Riner Arzilea overflowed his banckes and rising hie even to some old buildings which were called the Tombes of the Prophets cast downe a peece of a wall which inclosed the Vaults where the bodyes of the Prophets had been buried When the River was retir'd into his Channell some body mark'd that ruine and his curiosity leading him into those Caves He saw a great Tombe covered with plates of Gold Presently he published this wonder through the City and the King being advertiz'd of it sent thither a guard A little after thrust on no doubt by some divine inspiration he went himselfe to those Sepulchers made the plates of them to be cleans'd and thereon found very ancient characters by which he understood 't was neere three hundred yeares since the death of those Prophets He had patience to read all that was there written and hapned on a plate separated from the rest to meet with certaine predictions which gave him matter enough to meditate and ponder on There was one whereon it was manifestly spoken of his raigne and of his House I cannot relate to you the proper termes but I will tell you the Substance The Prophesiy spoke of Alcidus Voyage of the short continuance of those two marriages of a Sonne which he was to have by the first which should be one day one of the most valiant Princes of the World and King of a very great Kingdome if he could be taken alive out of the Wombe of his dead Mother It added further how of a second marriage Alcidus should have a Daughter of so much perfection and rarity thar she should be esteem'd the miracle of her age and be passionately desired by many Strange Princes But that it behoved them to have a wonderfull care for the gard of that Princesse because she was threatned by many Accidents and among others to be stolne away and forc'd in her owne Pallace and to be one day the Wife of a Slave sprung from the most barbarous of all the Nations of Affrica To this prophesie there was joyn'd another in which the Prophet seem'd to see that African Slave arrive in 〈◊〉 Kingdome He solicites him for his undertaking the defence thereof against the enterprizes of many Strangers that would have lain it desolate and promiseth the Queen in the name of the Deity that if she could resolve to take that to her Husband the felicities of her Raigne should be farre more great then those of the precedent Governments Hitherto we have seen nothing of all that which the Prophesie presageth us except the death of our two Queenes that of the King who was taken from us at his age of five and forty and if the speech be true the designe which a Prince of this country called Siziphus had on Alcidiana But the late King who naturally was devout euen to superstition gave such credit to these prophesies that he caused the Princesse his daughter to be nursed in a Palace whereto no person could approach and when she was past the brest he chose many young Gentlemen of his Court to be oâ—… her guard Of them he compos'd an order of Knighthood obliged them by an irrevocable oath to dy for the defence of his daughter and appointed them to weare great chayns of gold to the end rhey might shew themselves to be the Slaves of Alcidiana This Company hath almost still subsisted and during the life of the King my Master some French and other Strangers driven by tempests on our coastes by their brave actions obtaind to be put in the number of Alcidianas Slaves Some time and not long after the death of Alcidus the Princesse sequestred her selfe wholly from the conversation of men and besides her publique Court which is composed of the Grandys of her Kingdome and the Officers of the Crowne She constituted a particular one whereinto only Maides and Women are admitted The Queen is never seen of men but when she is obliged to do some publique action be it as a Princesse or a Prelatesse Sometimes to recreate her She betakes her to the country and there enjoyes the pleasure of Hunting The rest of her time She remaines shut up in her palace amongst her Women Thus the Old Shepheard instructed Polexander in all the State secrets he knew and so fully satisfied all his curiositieâ—… that he gave him not place to aske him any one Question Seeing himselfe then so well informed he tooke hold of and went over againe with the Shepheards discourse and to content his passion he began to exaggerate the Majesty of Alcidiana and the happinesse of her subjects and ended his speech with new thankes and new Offers to the Old man and to oblige him to stay yet drew from his little finger a very great Diamond and with a good grace presented it to him The good Old man very civily refused it and told him that when he tooke on the Habit of a Shepheard hee had put off not only the Hope but the desire of riches That he wanted nothing because he could content himselfe with a little and that if he found any one that would disburthen him of a part of the meanes his Ancestors had left him he should walke on to his Grâ—…ve with a merrier heart then he did Polexander admiring so solid a virtue would not atake the paines againe or try new waies to incline it Contrarily he thought it amisse done in putting it to that tryall and imployed all the best words he had to crown it as worthily as it deserved The old Shepherd was a little tempted by the Eares as had he been by his Eyes The Prince his praises put him into a confusion and made him resolve to put somewhat in action that might oblige the Prince not to continue them He therefore arose and making avery low reverence to the Prince humbly besought him he might know whither he could be any further usefull to him you will bee extreamely so alwaies replied the Prince but for the present I intreat you one favour and 't is if your affaires can permit it you will do me the Honor to let me enjoy your company till
on the present and the other of what was passed Yet remained he not long in this kinde of darkenesse His soule opened her eyes as soone as those of his body were unshut He remembred his boxe and his verses and put his hand where he thought to finde them But deceived in what he attempted â—…e arose all startled he searched upon and about him he turned whence he came his eyes are fixed on the sands he tosseth and turneth all the leaves and flints and scratcheth and removeth the least leafe of grasse Then he be thought him of the noise he had heard and said to himselfe that what he had taken for the flight of a Lyon or some other beast was that of the Theefe which had carried away all the remainder of his treasure He would faine have followed but knew not what way to take Yet he ran to the Mountaine and being got very hye whether goe I said he to himselfe what doe I looke after Will these deserts and forrests tell me newes of it Presently he returned to the sea side got into his shalloppe and commanded the Marriners to carry him aboard his ship As soone as he was there he entred his Cabin without speaking to any of us and casting him on his bed Thou couldest doe me no other outrage said he But cruell Fate thou ruinest â—…hine owne power in destroying those Subjects over whom thou exercisest it and in depriving me of that only thing 〈◊〉 desired to preserve thou â—…akest from me all that feare which hath so often made me have recourse to thy protection Alcippus imagining by these words that his Master had received some new displeasure came neere and besought him to make knowne the cause of his affliction O friend said Polexander some one hath stolen from me Alcidiana's picture Doe but reflect on that disaster and oblige me noâ—… to unfold it to thee Alcippus at first thought his Master talked idely but hearing him a midst his sighes to cast forth the word of Theefe of portraict of Alcidiana he thought doubtlesly the Prince had lost his boxe and that the robbery of which he newely spoke was true indeede He told it me and I relating it to Diceus it went quickly through the ship One of our Marriners at the same instant saw a ship comming out of the River of Senega and ignorant whether he spoke true or false or whether he should speake it or no cried out the theefe was running away and 't was fit they should make after him The ship was thereupon made ready for the winde began to rise and the sea men who looke after nothing but confusion and prey agreeing with their companion cried out with him that 't was not fit to suffer the theefe to escape Alcippus hearing these clamours came out of his Masters Cabin and being told the cause of the noise presently ran into Polexander to advertise him of it and by that newes false or true drew him from his deadly melancholy Hereupon he left his Cabin came on the deck and understanding from whence the other ship came Be confident said he that 's the Theefe follow him and if you love me endeavour he may not escape us Wee gave the ship chase three dayes and three nights and comming up to her the fourth engaged her to strike saile and yeeld â—…o our discretion Polexander first boorded her and offring his sword at the Commanders throat told him there was no other way to save his life but by restoring what he had stolne I am ready to obey you said the prisoner but remember if you please that I have but lent my hands and an absolute power hath commanded me to undertake the theft Well well replied Polexander restore it 't is no matter by whom it was commanded or acted so I have restitution and with that urged his prisoner to performe quickly what was required of him The poore man all pale and trembling drew out of his bosome a ring and a letter and presenting the first to Polexander see said he my Kings high prized Seale and then giving him the letter This is that he added which hath cost the death of the writer and had we not beene met withall and interrupted by you was going to be the instrument oâ—… a more execrable Massacre Polexander amazed at these things and full of choller to see himselfe so far from his hopes keepe thy letter and thy ring said he to his prisoner and give me the boxe thou stolest from me The boxe which I have stolen replied the prisoner Ah noble Sir if it be your pleasure that I shall perish doe not search for that pretext I am guilty enough already without the imputation of a crime whereof I am innocent What said Polexander exceedingly angry didst thou not steale it whilst I sleept on the banckes of Senega I perceive now said the prisoner that you take me for another and truely 't is an admirable act of the eternall Providence which continually watcheth for the preservation of Innocents Doe then my Lord doe what that commands you Punish a traytour and assassinate who to satisfie his ambition hath exiled from his breast all sence of honour and pâ—…obity and made himselfe the executioner of a Monsters cruelties who hath but the appearance of a woman Polexander thought then he was certainly mistaken and was at the point of setting the man at liberty but considering that such a freedome might be the cause of some great wickednesse he tooke the ring and letter which till then he had left in the hand of his prisoner and made him come with him into his owne shippe where not knowing what to doe further bid his Pilot steere whither he pleased for all courses were alike to him Whilst Alcippus the Pilot and my selfe were consulting of the speediest way for our quick returne to the Canaries Polexande passed the time with his prisoner and required from him an 〈◊〉 of his former speeches The African knowing he had spoken too much â—…o hide the rest and the feare of death besides having brought him to a repentance of his â—…ormer life he made no scruple of discovering such secrets as he intended no more to make gaine on I am said he a Subject to the King of Senega The gâ—…ddy humours of that Prince have many times throwne me from the top of all prosperity to the botome of all disgrace and then againe raised me to the height of all greatnesse This inconstancy made me feare some blowe that would prove mortall to me at last and to avoid it I thought it best to betray what most concerned him to advance the interests of that famous 〈◊〉 whom he hath set in the place of the virtuous Almanzaira This new Queene is called Zelopa who extreamely politicke knowing that Zabaim was not possibly long to be held in without a great many bonds hath fettered him with such strong ones that she â—…eares noâ—… his flitting from her She hath got him to proclaime
of Africa Polexander had begū to take breath after all these turmoiles whē a new enemy as much to be feared as all the Portugals together ingaged him to exercise once more his valor T was the generous Almanzor Prince of Senega I have told you he found Polexander sleeping neer the sea shoar and how he took away his box Alcidiana's picture 'T was a fatal theft to him He saw himself takē as soone as he had takē for Alcidiana's admirable beauty communicating to her picturs some beame of her light a part of her power stroke those with love that had never seen her flash'd forth flames from a cold piece of copper and a few dead colours As soone as Almanzor had made tryall of that prodigious adventure he coveted nothing no not life but for Alcidiana and turned all his youthfull valour against a Rivall whom he thought to be more graced then himselfe Nor was he tormented with that sole Demon for those of honour and renowne did not lesse afflict him His generous disposition upbraided him with his these and represented to him his poorenesse of spirit which could not sufficiently be condemned for stealing and robbing a man that was a sleepe These two motives with his jealousie and repentance made him leave his owne Territories the very day of his Coronation and forced him to crosse an unknowne sea in quest of Alcidiana and Polexander The last he met withall as I told you and fought with him unknowne But after they were seperated by the tempest he knew it from out Italian Painter which was left in his ship and then he thought of nothing else but of finding him againe As soone as he was in the roade of Teneiffe he sent back the Italian to Polexander and by him a letter so full of excuses for his fault committed and so many testimonies of his repentance that by the accusation and humiliation the King my Master knew the magnanimity of that Prince At the end of his letter he spoake to him of the greatnesse of his love and said his passion had reduced him to that point that he could not without death restore a thing which he himselfe confessed could not be detained without the losse of his honour Polexander sent Alcippus to him with the Italian to assure him of the estimation he held of his courage and intention to intreate from him the honour to enter his Territories and assure him he would contribute to his contentment all that did not oppose the service he owed to Alcidiana Almanzor grew almost desperate to heare all these generosities and made shew of an extreame sensibility of what his Rivall had offered him called himselfe a most unfortunate man to have to contest with so high a virtue and at last told Alcippus he most humbly besought Polexander to give him the happinesse to make an end on Land of that fight which they began at Sea Alcippus set all his wits on worke to alter that Princes resolution but seeing 't was all in vaine I will said he goe and make knowne to my Master the King the true cause of my voyage I beseech you doe so replied Almanzor and after his imbracie would have loaden him with jewells But Alcippus very civilly refusing them got himselfe to be landed and so went to give an account to his Master of what he had done with Almanzor That brave and great King sent him back with new complements to his enemy and till the day of fight treated him as if he had beene Zelmatida or Iphidamantus The Indian Prince smiled at the old Pimantus addresse and intreated him to relate the combate betweene those two illustrious Rivalls The particulars answered the Vice-roy deserve your curiosity Those two Princes met at one instant on the place of combate armed at all points and mounted on two of the best horses in all Africa They threw away their speares after the first course and with their swords beg◅n so furious a comba◅e that I cannot expresse it to you but in saying it was the dreadfull effect of a prodigious cause That fury and rage which yong men call love in arming those two youthfull Princes dispoyled them of all judgement and humanity Thinke after that what they were capable to act They contented not themselves in covering the earth with the bloody pi◅ces of their broaken armour but made rivers of their owne blood and becomming far different and unresembling the men they had beene till then confinde all their former generous ambitions in the fearefull desire of each others destruction At last Polexanders invincible Angell compelled Alma◅zot's to contend no more against his fate and to humble himselfe before a power that mastred his Almanzor covered with blood and woundes fell downe under his horse legs Polexander was as quickly alighted and to him with his sword in his hand you desired said he to be overcome confesse now that you are so That Prince seeing himselfe neere the losse of his life contemning the threats of his enemy cast his thoughts on Alcidiana and addressing himselfe to her made to that Queene a resignation of his life in such tearmes as drew teares from the eyes of his Conquerour What said I his Conquerour No the King my Master in hearing them confessed himselfe vanquished presented his sword to Almanzor begged him his life and avowing that he was only worthy to serve Alcidiana he added yes certainely you deserve that honour and you are too sole vanquisher for our combate having for object nothing but Alcidiana's service he alone may justly be termed victor who hath given the best testimony of his love and constancy Polexander yet went further for seeing Almanzor desperate of life he left him his sword and going away as if afraid strove to make it believed he had had no advantage ore Almanzor That poore Prince would faine have died where he fell but his Servants carried him back into his ship and finding his woundes not mortall omitting nothing to hinder despaire from doing more then the sword of Polexander But all their labour was in vaine for Almanzor would absolutely dye and after a languishing of many moneths perceiving he began to amend he caused himselfe to be carryed into that stately Tombe which is to be seene in one of our Isles and unmercifully turned on himselfe a weapon more cruell then that of his Rivall The King my Master heard not of his death till a long time after by meanes of his forsaking his Realme as soone as his woundes were healed and rebeginning his errant life to lose the sorrow for his victory as also to tempt fortune againe and meet some Angell or some star that might reconduct him to the Inaccessible Island But neither on the waters nor in the skies found he ought but what had conspired his ruine Neverthelesse he returned to the Isle of the Sun and had long conference with some Priests whom he had wone by his gifts From them he got all that
Prince set downe among his first examples of Loyalty the excesse of my blinde obedience After this discourse with himselfe he began to thinke on the meanes of bringing his resolution to a good issue and after a long meditating on it came forth with Alcippus to revisit Phelismond and met with his first Conductor who assured him his Master was impatient till he saw him againe and that all the afternoone he had entertained his visitants with nought but his ingenuity and couâ—…age Polexander answered as he ought and so ascended to Phelismonds Chamber He found him up and was received with a great deale of joy and gentlenesse behaviors raâ—…e in men of that condition Long time the Prince embraced him speaking as he had knowne the secrets of his soule When said he shall I have the happinesse to see you as really my friend as I wish it Polexander who could not betray his conscience nor indiscreetly offend so generous a Prince studied an answere that might satisfie him and yet be no prevarication in what concerned Alcidiana The sole cause replied he which deters me from receiving the honour you doe me is a feare that when I shall be more particularly knowne to you then I am you will be inforced to cut off a great deale from those favours you doe me Phelismond at that word stopping him assure your selfe said he that neither you nor all men breathing can by any action whatsoever take from me my intention and will to be entirely yours But fearing least you may imagine that rather some other consideration then that of your virtue hath obliged me to woe your friendship I asked it you without the knowledge of what you are not what you can doe These courtesies of Phelismond so distracted Polexander that but with a great deale of trouble could he frame an answere to so many noble speeches In the meane time Phelismond who had a designe to gaine him absolutely smiled to see him at a nonplus and thus came on againe Beâ—…ide what may yet must I have what I intreate for Doe you not know that Love hath the priviledge to be resisted by nothing See then what you intend to doe If you be so good a husband of your friendship as you will sell it either it is inestimable or I have that which will buy it Or if you â—…e so liberall as to give it I am ready to be wholly obligeâ—… to you for it Polexander confounded with these new chargâ—…s was even desperate of ever contenting Pâ—…elismond and admiring his generosity sâ—…id to himselfe Alcidiana was unjust in desiring the death of so perfect a Prince At last he overcame the agitations of his minde and resolved not to discover himselfe but to declare to Pâ—…elismond the cause of his journey and by consequence what 't was which hindred him from accepting his friendship See how he came off from so difficult a straite and under what tearmes he hid the truth of his life Since said he to Phelismond you will have me absolutely accept the honour you doe me or give you reason for my refusall I will make use of the liberty you give me and freely tell you I cannot receive your offers how advantagious soever they may be to me nor yet promise you my service till I am disingaged from an affaire wherein your selfe is in some sort interrested Of what nature soever that businesse be replied Phelismond I sweare to you if you please to doe me the favour to trust me I will ever conforme my selfe to what shall be most agreeable to you This protestation full of candor and affection obliged Polexander to trifle the time no longer but thus to goe on with his Declaration I am a French man said he and my birth good enough for satisfaction I have been bred up among the troubles wherein my Countrey hath laboured within these few yeeres and fortune hath been so favourable to me that I have had thence more then I expected But when I adapted me to tast the fruites of my labours she hath raised me a fearefull enemy and would have put him in possession of all that good I promised my selfe Yet when she was in hand to put him the enjoying she found her selfe too weake to performe it That Favourite hath met with more obstacles in that he would deprive me of then the greatnesse of his quallity could imagine He hath seen his hopes as well as mine take their end when they should have had their beginning and when I should have complained of his violence he obliged himselfe to give me satisfaction by waies that were not honourable Pardon me if you please continued Polexander if I name not my Usurper for he is so well knowne in this Court and you have so much cause to affect him as I have been told that I feare for his sake you will forget all your promises to me Believe it not replied Phelismond I heere againe engage my selfe to make good what I have promised Since you are so generous said Polexander I will lay open the summe of all my businesse My enemy unwilling to have our quarrell decided otherwhere then before the King your Master sent that he would meet me heere to give me full satisfaction and that at farthest I should heare of him within a Moneth See Phelismond my fortune the cause of my voyage and wherefore I dare not believe you can love me You may perceive by this that I am come into Denmarke to fight by the Kings permission and to petition him that in his presence I may force satisfaction for an injury which will not suffer me to live without its resentment After this last overture if you have yet remaining disposition to oblige me suffer me not to have made an idle journey My Adversary is not now in case to make a joynt petition with me to the King but he is a person so noble that he would not for any thing faile of his word If I therefore dare to hope ought from your goodnesse or rather if my fantasticall designe hath made no change in your opinion I conjure you once more by that virtue which is so habituall to you to free me from my continuall molestation and to imploy a part of that power you have with the King in getting me his permission for a combate Phelismond observing in all Polexanders discourse the mildnesse and well temperature of his speech answered him thus I will make you see how much I value this your greatnesse of courage which no lesse apeares in your resentment then in all the rest of your actions I therefore promise to serve you at what hazard soever and either to lose all my reputation or give you that content which you hope for by your combate But if you please it shall be on condition that you finding nothing in this which may hinder your being my friend you will grant me that which I have often sued for When Polexander saw his businesse goe on
Take here if you please this sword the cause of your displeasure and assure your selfe that your just griefe shall advise you to nothing which I will not undergoe without a murmure These words surprised the King and cooled his choler Yet his love not permitting him to make use of his judgement you imagine said he that your courage can finde nothing which it cannot overcome but since you have contemned my friendship I will make you see what my power is Polexander could not answere him for he had lost so much blood since he got up that all his strength failing him againe he fell so as the King was faine to prop him or he had run the hazard to have fallen with him He therefore commanded five or six of his guard to take and carry him into the great Tower of the City which was instantly performed whilst he was in his swound The King of Denmarke freed from the object of his choler cast his eyes on his deare Phelismond While he thought of nothing but to have him carried away Alcippus and Diceus rushing out of the croude where they concealed themselves came and fell at his feet and besought his eare What are you said the King We are replied Alcippus servants to that Prince whom you treate not conformably to the Covenant whereby you permitted him the combate But in the name of Heaven Sir hearken to reason how just soever your resentment be and call to minde what you have sworne The keeping of your word ought to be no lesse deare to you then the preserving your Authority But if you thinke you have no cause on this occasion to stick to it reflect on the greatnesse of your prisoner and decree nothing against him till you have well pondered who Polexander is I know what I have to doe answered the King In the meane time I command you to get out of my Court within these foure and twenty houres if you will not run the fortune of a man who within these two dayes was but a meane Gentleman and now forsooth must be taken for one of the prime Pâ—…inces of the world But I sweare to make of him an example and at once give condigne punishment for the imposture and the murder Alas Sir replied Alcippus I beseech you humbly not to suffer your selfe to be transported by your indignation Your Majesty shall pardon me if you please should I say you would lose the respect I owe you The King justly offended at Alcippus indiscreet zeale grew more in rage then ever and commanded him with Diceus to be carryed to prison Both of them thanked him for that favour and uncompelled went whither they would lead them They were shut up in the same Tower where their Master was and presently after they sent him Physitians and Chyrurgions to see his woundes which they found to be great and dangerous But Diceus was not of their opinion and desired he might dresse his Master Those good people that were no more cunning then they should be thought this request was not to be denied and therefore gave way he should looke to him which he did and neglected nothing that might prevent those accidents which cause woundes to become mortall In the meane time the King of Denmarke was much troubled for Phelismond He had commanded six of his Gentlemen to take and carry him and not only went with him to the Pallace but had him laid in his owne bed where he was visited by all the Court Physitions and looked too for all things necessary as Heire to the Crowne Neverthelesse for all they could doe to his hurts they were so dangerous that till day breake all thought them incurable His Master went not to bed that night and swore if Phelismond died he would instantly command Polexanders head to be stroake from his shoulders After 't was day Phelismond grew sensible and as soone as he could open his mouth â—…asked where his King was and what was become of his enemy The King kissed him often and shedding teares for joy to heate him speake my Phelismond said he take heart and aske after nothing but thy cure He for whom thou inquirest is where he wants nothing since I saw by the letter thou writtest to Thamiris thy desire he should be treated as thy selfe Ten or twelve dayes slid away during which time the two Rivalls woundes threw forth part of their fire and cast them into such violent Fevers that their youth was the best preserver of their lives Phelismond now grew to be out of danger as well as Polexander when he called to minde he was not to faile of his word given him That consideration moved him to supplicate the King his Master he would be pleased he might be carried to the place where Polexander was Phelismond replied the King whilst the greatnesse of your woundes made me feare what would become of you I dissembled my resentment and would not thinke of your offending me but now you are out of danger I will tell you my minde and command you as I am your Master and Father to invent no pretext for having any cause to contradict me I have so much affected you Phelismond that in my life time I would have setled the Crowne of Denmarke on your head This extraordinary token of my love should intimate how deare your safety is to me and indeed it is so much that there is nothing which I would not doe to give you all the satisfaction you can desire Yet there is one thing I receive to my selfe and for which I will neither lend lend eare to my affection nor your intreaties 'T is the life of that stranger who without doubt hath bewitched you since you love him even after he hath declared himselfe your enemy and without regarding so many generosities which should perswade him hath done what in him lay to deprive you of your life Phelismond the most noble of men answered so advantagiously for his Rivall that his Master imposed him silence I will hold my peace Sir replied he since your Majesty commands me but I must submiâ—…ly beseech you to believe that my life is inseparably knit with that of the King of the Canaries and had rather dye then be the cause so great a King as you should not fullfill what he hath promised Verily Phelismâ—…nd replied the King t is too much anger me no more and call to minde that my crowne and amity deserve your care of pleasing me Phelismond would no longer exasperate his Master but put off further discourse of that businesse till another time Polexander was this while in prison very well treated and served with as much care as if he had beene even in the Island of Alcidiana Besides Phelismond who was not able to be wearied with shewing his generousnesse towards him sollicited his deliverance but his Master grew obstinate in refusall One day when the Favourite had but two or three woundes yet open he would needs try his last indeavour
and utmost power to see whether his Kings minde might be changed and to that end made to him a long and well laboured Oration desirous to remonstrate by all waies of reason as well of State as of what was seemely and behoofull that he ought very honorably to send home Polexander The King answered according to his custome and Phelismond replied according to his owne so that at last they grew both so hot that they were long time in contestation But when the King saw his reasons were too obstinately disputed and opposed by those of Phelismond he arose all in choler and being unable to containe himselfe any longer Content your selfe said he to him that you have displeased me and never speake to me more of a man who shall feele how heavy that Kings arme is who will not be wronged without a just punishment Phelismond then growing calmer and more humble as his Master waxt hotter Sir said he t is most just you be obeyed and most of all that I receive an infliction for my losse of respect I therefore here vow never to supplicate for ought that may displease you This humility of Phelismonds met with the King so much transported from himselfe that it won nothing of him He walked with hasty strides in the chamber without turning his eyes towards Phelismond and on the suddaine thrusting open a window which looked into the Pallace great garden he leaned there about a quarter of an houre musing and disgesting his choler Longer had he beene there but for the shriecks which on the suddaine were heard behind him He turned his head and saw that Phelismond servants and Chyrurgions were round about his bed and held him for dead He ran thither and found that poore Prince in the most pitifull posture could be imagined He was fallen in a swound or to say better as it were drowned in his own blood His woundes were all open and the bloud which came not out but drop by drop was a certaine signe there was not much more behinde in his veines His body was halfe out of the bed and his armes and head almost touched the floore They judged he had done himselfe that violence because he held yet one of his swathes which because it was knit about his arme fell not with the rest The King yet tooke no heed to it for he was so transported that he could not utter a word When the first astonishment was over he commanded the Chyrurgions to use all their art for Phelismonds safety who poore Prince lay all that day without any signe of life The King in the meane time was extreamely afflicted and asked every one the cause of this new disaster but no body could satisfie him The Chyrurgions and servants told him that comming into the Chamber to dresse Phelismond they found him in that deplorable manner The King began to weigh what might cause this affliction and could attribute it to nothing but his owne generousnesse I will said he then save Phelismond though I never receive satisfaction nor contentment After these words he set himselfe at his beds head and stirred not thence till he heard him sign and thereby gave hope he had some life in him Halfe of the night was spent ere the King retired and yet slept not but sent hourely to know in what estate Phelismond was He was at the extremity the first three daies nor was he much better the foure following and so lay betwixt life and death till the seaventh As soone as he began to speake ought at all the King asked him the cause of his violence on himselfe 'T was the feare of displeasing you said he and if your Majesty think it not fit that I importune you againe t is in vaine for you to endeavour the saving my life He so often repeated the same discourse that he made it appeare he was earnestly resolved to dye or to free Polexander And the King howsoever fearing to lose so incomparable a Successor resolved absolutely to give him that satisfaction without which he saw there was no meanes of curing him He came then in person to visit Polexander and could with much dexterity colour his rashnesse that our Heroë confessed he deserved to be far worse dealt withall then he was The King imbracing and calling him his Sonne said a hundred times that he repâ—…ted of what had passed but that the circumspection of his authority and the ordinary mutining of his Subjects permitted him not to doe otherwise That he was not ignorant how far the promises of Kings should be inviolable and principally when they were made to Princes But that he knew withall that the Law of Nations gave no security nor exempted from any rigour in strange Countries the greatest Princes of the Universe when they came thither concealed and would not be esteemed for what they were This being so said he you will grant with me we are both equally in fault You for not making knowne your quallity and I for being too quick with you After Polexander had heard him speake so judiciously he replied 't was he alone that was in fault and therefore asked his pardon and humbly besought him to believe that had he not been compelled by a necessity more urgent then all kindes of considerations to fight against Phelismond he had not so slightly come to disturbe the Court of so great a King The Prince replied he would not dive into his secrets nor engage him to discover them But said he we trifle too long let us goe visit Phelismond and get him from that passion wherein he lies and render to him that quietnesse he enjoyed at the very time he knew you were a prisoner With this he tooke Polexander by the hand and lead him to the Pallace Alcippus and Diceus went out with him When the King of Denmarke was returned to his Court he retooke Polexander and leading him to Phelismonds bed side see heere said he to him your friend whom I have my selfe been to fetch to you I will not relate to you the apparant alteration Polexanders presence wrought in the incomparable Phelismond He wept for joy and found not words enough to expresse his exportation His Rivall he called the second cause of his life and his honour acknowledged by an excesse of humility that all the honour of the combate was due to him asked his pardon for his ill treating since and assured him his King had been forced by very great reasons to cause him to be staied Whilst Phelismond was thus talking to him the King made divers turnes in the chamber and after he had long mused he came to Phelismond and asked if there were any thing else to be done to content him Phelismond tooke hold of his hands and transported with joy raised himselfe halfe way up in his bed to thanke him Phelismond said the King take heed your joy bring you not into the same case your griefe had reduced you That which is to be done by
strange as the spectacle which astonied him When hee was come so far as the maine mast hee saw a most faire Lady richly clad ty'd to it by the hands and the feet before her were four posts on which were nayled the heads of four men so fresh that it might easily be guess'd they had not been long severed from their bodies The miserable spectatresse on these dreadfull objects pitifully turned her eyes now on one and then on another of them and though Polexander presented himselfe before her shee interrupted not her mournfull exercise The Prince noting her admirable beauty even through her afflictions and teares was extreamly mov'd to see her in so deplorable an estate and imagining because of the neernesse to France shee might understand him if hee spake French told her in that tongue that hee was come to offer her all his utmost ability either for her consolation or revenge The poore distressed Lady made no shew of hearing him but kept still her eyes fixed on the distruncked heads This attention and fixednesse doubled Polexander's astonishment and commanded some of his followers to goe into the Cabines and descend under hatches to see if there were any that might understand him Alcippus and Diceus searched every where and neither finding any one dead or alive returned and assured the King their Master hee should learne nothing of that adventure if hee had it not from the mouth of the bound Lady Hee therefore came againe to her and employing the best words his desire to make her speake could furnish him with besought her to take heart to think of avenging her on the cruelty of her enemies to make use for that revenge of the assistance which heaven had sent her and promise to her selfe from his arme a part of the satisfaction which the resentment of her griefs ought to make him wish for He added many other considerations to these and so pressed the miserable woman that shee cast her eyes on him but in such a manner that a man might say shee saw him not and after shee had often sighed Why said she sadly come you againe to fore-slow the end of my miseries Are you sent by that pernicious enemy who hath brought me to the extremity I am in to the end she may glut her malice in making me die often Madam reply'd Polexander I know not the monster of whom you speake and would your griefe give you leave to heare mee you should know I come not hither for any other cause then to free you from all your torments Your generosity is great reply'd the Lady but it can availe me nothing unlesse you could give back againe the lives of those unfortunate wretches whose heads you see here I wish them their lives because I have been the cause of their deaths and desire it because they would disapprove my most cruell enemy and justifie my innocence before a Prince too credulous and too easie to be deceiv'd Polexander would faine have insensibly drawne her on and engaged her to relate him her fortunes had hee not been hindred by the approach of a tall ship which streight denounc'd warre against him Our Heroë therefore went back into his owne vessell but kept still the desolate Lady 's grapled with his owne and made answer to the enemies signes by others which stay'd the fury of those which would have assaulted him Initantly they sent him one of theirs in a shalop who coming up to them asked who hee was and for what end hee had stay'd the English ship Polexander made reply by Alcippus hee was a French man and an enemy to those that would not joyne with him in the avenging a Lady whom some accursed miscreants had expos'd to the mercy of the sea When the Messenger heard that answer hee reply'd with a great many injuries and after divers threatnings hee return'd towards his companions No sooner was hee got on boord againe but they fell on Polexander and quickly repented them of their rashnesse for our Heroë giving them at two vollyes an hundred Cannon shot brought them to implore his mercy Polexander promising their lives commanded the conquered vessell to come neere and entring her found there so few souldiers that hee was neere to put them to the sword for daring to assayle him but at last his clemency getting the upper hand of his resentment he pardoned all and seeing one of a better aspect and presence then the rest called him aboord his owne ship Hee asked him in particular why hee would not accept of friendship when hee had offer'd it him and what interest hee claimed in the barke that floted before them The other humbly besought that before hee reply'd hee would doe him the honour to make known whether the Lady in the other ship were yet alive our Heroë assured him shee was when hee left her Try then said hee to get to her againe that you may the second time preserve her life for had you not broken the designe for which wee set to sea shee had been by this time at the bottome of the Ocean Goe then goe if you please and finish what you have begun and doe not think in succouring that unfortunate Lady you doe onely an act of Charity for you execute likewise another of Justice You will protect innocence against Calumny and a wretched and disarmed goodnesse against a powerfull and redoubtable villany Polexander unwilling to heare any more of that discourse till hee had freed from danger the persecuted Lady got her bark againe which had but turned and by consequence was not gone farre off As soone as hee had her hee went aboord and his prisoner with him who presently ran to the Lady and making himself knowne Be of good heart Madam said hee your innocence is acknowledged the accusations of your stepmother are found untrue and the Prince your husband is even desperate for not knowing how fortune hath disposed of you The Lady by a modest smile seeming to be pleased with what was spoken lifted her eyes to heaven since she could not her hands and after shee had some time kept them fixedly open sweetly let fall their lids and droop'd her head on her incomparable breast Polexander thinking shee was swounded cut the cords from her armes whilst the Prisoner did the like to those on her legs and whâ—…n shee was unbound laid her all along Diceus presently came in and looking on her told his Master shee was dead The King could hardly beleeve that ill newes but being confirmed by his owne sense hee could not otherwise then bewaile the losse of that innocent Lady and wish from heaven a just punishment on her persecutors which instantly hapned And thus Polexander's mariners descrying an English ship bearing up to them called out they were like to be set on Before our Heroë was disengaged from his pious and charitable endeavour hee saw the English vessell fall fiercely on his His Prisoner infallibly doubting the businesse My Lord said hee to
staine you have thrown on the house of your King We dare die said those unfortunate illustrious Gentlemen but we protest to you for the discharge of our consciences that if the intention be not a crime worthy of death we shall die innocents The most condemnable Prince having lost all humanity with his reason and being truly possest with the Devill of blood and fury which serv'd for a soule to his mother hastily resolv'd the death of those young Lords and brutishly had them ponyarded by foure Irish men After this execution done he would have gone to the innocent Eolinda's chamber either to have cut her throat or done her some other bloody indignity but as he was in a place of the staires whence you might see Eolinda's chamber doore he heard somebody call him by his name and forbad him to goe further He cast up his eyes and saw in the doore of that chamber a young English Gentleman of his houshold who with his sword and pistoll in hand threatned him to throw by all respect if he came any neerer The Prince ask'd him the cause of his extravagancy Aske me rather repli'd the generous Englishman the cause of my just resentment and I will tell thee blind and enraged Prince that I am here to protect as farre as my life can the innocent Eolinda against the persecutions of thy wicked mother The Prince threatned to have him punished according to his desert and commanded two of his murderers to seize on him A great Irish villain stept forth with a partisan in his hand but when he came within a few paces of Eolinda's generous defender two pistoll bullets stopt his journey and roul'd him to the bottome of the staires His fellow beleeving that the brave Englishman had no more fiery weapons furiously came up towards him with an intent to strike him through with his halberd but he had not time to perform that brave thrust for he received a like chastisement with his companion for the like offence committed They perceiv'd then the valiant English man had forgotten nothing of what was necessary for his long defence Indeed he had yet three pistolls charged and was so advantageously placed by reason of the thicknesse of the wall that he could not be set on but before The Prince would have obliged the two other Irish men to revenge the death of their companions but they would doe nothing unlesse they had peeces They therefore brought them two long fowling peeces and the villaines discharg'd them both on Eolinda's courageous martyr O heaven quoth hee feeling himselfe shot in so many places receive my soul and my life which I have freely expos'd for the defence of vertue and with those words fell downe dead yet for all that remained vanquisher For the unhappy Prince having had leisure to bethink him of the execrable murder he would have committed or else with-held by the last words of the heroicall English man return'd from whence hee came and told his cruell mother he would never kill one whom he had so much affected The damnable hagge after she had some time grumbled told him he worthily deserv'd his dishonour since he took pleasure in preserving the cause of it The Prince offended with this reply entred the great hall of his Palace and the first that came before him was the execrable Lycambus who very likely came to demand the reward for his treason And art thou there then thou infamous and perfidious slave by whose assistance I have lost mine honour and comfort The miserable Scot cast himself at his feet and the Prince taking him by his long haire dragg'd him about a great while and then with a brōad sword that he had stroke his head from his shoulders The traytor to save his life would have accused the old Dutchesse but before he could speak a word there was neither speech nor life in him The Prince then called for Pantaira but she was so close hidden that it was impossible to meet with her His mother seeing him in such a fury ask'd him if he could not distinguish between the guilty and the innocent You should discharge your choler said she on that lascivious French woman and not on those wretches who durst not disobey her Never doubt it said he Eolinda shall have her punishment with the rest but it shall be so that no one whosoever of mine shall besmeare their hands in the blood of that miserable woman Presently his wit furnishing him with a new kind of punishment he commanded that barque to be made ready wherein you saw the innocent Eolinda die and cutting off the two Earles heads and that of the charitable English man made them to be nayl'd with the other of Lycambus in that manner as you saw them Then went he into Eolinda's chamber and though she fell into a swound at his entrance yet he caus'd her to be carried into the vessell and set her in the same posture you found her That done he commanded all his followers out of the barque the sayles being all hoys'd and tow'd her into the open sea by two shalops and then abandon'd her to the mercy of the winds See a great many tragicall events yet am I not at the end of all for scarce was the Prince got up againe into his chamber when Pantaira it may be repenting she had been the cause of so many murders came to him and beseeching him to heare her confess'd that neither Lycambus nor her self had done any thing but by the command of his mother Protested boldly that Eolinda never knew ought of their practices nor done any thing misbeseeming the vertue and honour of a most chast Lady That shee had never seen but in publick any of the two Earles and that the letters which were found in her cabinet had been conveigh'd thither without her knowledge and that she had never seen them She had told more but that the old Dutchesse flew on her and in the fury she was would have strangled her if she had not been taken out of her hands The Prince in the meane while filled with horrour at what he had heard reflecting presently into himself What hast thou done cri'd he unnaturall mother I now doubt no more Eolinda is innocent and with those words fell into a swound and had not I borne a part of his fall he had infallibly broken his head against the floore of his chamber We laid him on his bed and whilst his faithfull servants bewail'd his misfortunes and strove to recover him from his fainting his wicked mother caus'd Pantaira to be strangled and sent to make ready a ship of warre which lay in the rode with a secret order to her most Confidents to make after Eolinda and to throw her into the sea All this could not be done presently In the meane time the Prince recover'd his spirits and spying me at the head of his bed Altoph said he if my faults have not taken from thee that amity thou hast
death and though the Serpent had enfolded his armes and legs he made him feele the weight of his blowes but his resistance was all in vaine for he was torne in pieces for all his Armes and devour'd by the Monster This strange accident fill'd all the towne of Benin with desolation and feare Almanzor was with Andromeda when the newes came of Bellerophon's death He had ever dearely lov'd that Knight being as his companion in all his exercises You may imagine whether he were mov'd at his losse Truly he was so much that it drew teares from him But his love not being satisfied with these demonstrations made him resolve on others more worthy his valour and the memory of Bellerophon He therefore prepar'd him to avenge his death and his high Spirit carying him to great undertakings he would by so faire an occasion give a beginning to the miracles of his life The generous Prince would willingly have communicated his designe to me but imagining I would not approve of it he conceal'd it from me and one day secretly withdrawing himselfe unknowne to any man he went to finde out that dreadfull Serpent even among the Palme trees and to fight with him took only his sword his bow and his arrowes You wil hardly give credit to what I must relate though there is nothing more true Almanzor went alone into the wood of the Sun approacht the Serpent with an heroicall confidence look'd on his hugenesse and deformity without astonishment and by his noise calling him to the combat by some arrowes he let flye towards his den would give him time to defend himselfe The Monster animating him by beating the earth with his tayle rays'd his crown'd head and throwing at once venome and fire from his eyes made the Cedars and Palmes to tremble againe Almanzor stood firme and with himselfe consulted how he might best encounter that monstrous adversary Straight he nock'd an arrow and lifting his eyes to heaven I doe what I can said he doe thou the rest and let thy powerfull hand conduct the shaft which mine lets goe at hazard He was heard That arrow was so well guided that it pierced the Monsters tongue and there stuck fast The next was more fortunately addressed It strooke out the other eye and with the meanes of bringing himselfe on tooke that away of his defence Almanzor mark'd what he had done and doubting no longer of his victory shun'd the grapling of the blinded Serpent After he had long time fought with the trees and his rage turning on himselfe had extreamely weakened him by his owne blowes he lay extended on the earth and discovered a part of his white and yellow panch Almanzor perceiving so fit a marke for his arrowes shot him through and left not till he laid him dead When he was secure of his victory he went out of the wood and after his thanks to heaven and vow to hang his bow and arrowes with the Serpents skin he return'd to the City and told all those he met there was no more to be feared for the Serpent was dead Whilst the better hearted went to see whether Almanzor spake truth he came to the Palace and there found every body much troubled about him He presented himselfe to Abrinzias and falling at his feet Sir said he I humbly beseech your Majesty to pardon the fault I have commited I come from the fountaine of the Sun and the Serpent is dead Imagine Polexander how Abrinzias was affrighted though he saw Almanzor unhurt He enquir'd who had advis'd him to fight with the Serpent and who went with him to that Enterprise Bellerophon's death replied he sighing drew me to revenge it I could not live and suffer the murtherer of my friend to survive him Heaven hath favoured me so much as to acquit the debt I owed him Abrinzias lifted up his eyes with admiration and joy and to satisfie his curiosity asked Almanzor how all things had hapned He related it to him as I have to you but it was with so much modesty that Abrinzias foreseeing then what Almanzor hath done since My Son said he imbracing him search out new Kingdomes and Provinces worthy thy valour This little corner of Africa deserves not to containe thee With that he brought him to the Queene and recounting so heroicall an action oblig'd her to shed at once both teares of joy and sorrow the one for her love to Almanzor and the other for that of her owne Son The excesse of Abrinzia's contentment made him not forget what he owed to his people He sent his Heraulds through the towne not onely to publish the Serpents death which had so much annoy'd them but to make knowne to all the Author of their deliverance and the publique happinesse and after that went out of the towne waited on by all the Court and most of the people and so came where the Serpent lay slaine The multitude not forgetting their old use appear'd very hardy where there was no danger and running on the dead Monster cut him in pieces and by that meanes made Almanzor but imperfectly performe the vow he had made But whilst the people made themselves sport with their dead Enemy and vented all their fury on his skin Almanzor bewail'd the death of Bellerophon and in a generous piety gathered up his bones and broken armes scattered through the wood and giving both the one and the other to his particular friends follow'd them himself to a place fit to preserve the reliques memory of that valiant Knight The good Abrinzias was much mov'd to see so many verall vertues breake forth of thaâ—… young Prince and had esteem'd himselfe the happiest of Kings but that the defects oâ—… his owne Son and his vicious inclinations cut from him the best part of his happinesse But heaven who would recompence in the person of Almanzor the injury it had done him in that of Perseus gave him every day new causes to blesse the arrivall of my Prince and to forget the imperfections of the legitimate through the admirable qualities of the adopted But while Almanzor liv'd the joy of the people of Benin the admiâ—…ation of the rest of Africa the envy of all generous Princes and that the greatest Potentates sent Ambassadors to Abrinzias to rejoyce with him for Almanzor's honour and the delivery of his Countrey the ambition of Spaine an enemy to all mens quiet which runs through Sea and land to drive thence both peace and liberty came unfortunately to disturbe the delights of the best King in the world Vasquez de Gama Generall of the Portugall Fleet returning from Calecut was by a storme driven into the River of Benin In lieu of leaving to the Inhabitants that peace he found there he landed out of his ships men more cruell then the Serpent which Almanzor had slaine That young Prince hearing of the Portugals iâ—…rode ran to oppose them and by his exploits then made appeare yet farre more then by his first combat that
he was borne for the ruine and extirpation of Monsters I in that adventure followed him but was so unfortunate as to be taken by the Portugals and carried prisoner into Gama's ship I offred him gold and pearles for my ransome and even told him I was Abrinzia's brother and omitted nothing of what might make him capable of a resolution to set me at liberty But the losse of his best Souldiers and the dishonor to be beaten back againe to shipping by Almanzor working him to a revenge made him inexorable The night after his defeate he weigh'd Anchor and unmov'd by my teares and supplications carried me into Spaine and presented me to the King his Master for Abrinzia's brother Those three yeares I passed in that servitude hindred me from being a spectator of Almanzor's great adventures But heaven infallibly permitted it for some good and if I deceive not my selfe to the end my Prince living unknowne to himselfe as well as to his Enemies might retard their ruine without taking paines for his owne Know then after he had repuls'd the Portugals and seene their ships farre from the coasts of Benin he muster'd his men but finding me wanting he was so afflicted and witnessed such resentments as I shall never recompence by any service or the losse of my life A hundred times exclaim'd he on his fortune cast his armes away and running where the slaughter had beene greatest searched all the dead to see whether I were of their number But not finding me he ran to the Sea and his griefe transporting him Theeves and villaines cried he to the Portugals give me back Almaid and if your avarice cannot be satisfied by an ordinary ransome I engage my selfe to conquer for you all the golden countrey for the liberty of my second father But in uneffectuall petitions I lose that time which I should imploy for Almaids redemption Therewithall he sent a servant of his to Abrinzias to advertise him of my losse and to beseech him humbly he would be pleased to command the Royall vessell to be made ready and arm'd to pursue those who had carried me away prisoner That ship was carefully kept in the River of Benin and as a thing consecrated to their Deity was not us'd but to saile some dayes in the yeare to carry those offerings which the Crowne of Benin owed to the great Temple of Congo Almanzor went to the Captaine of that ship and perswading him that the succouring of the miserable and giving liberty to those which had lost it was a pleasing Offering to heaven obliged him to arme his vessell and keepe it ready to weigh Anchor assoone as the Kings permission came to him The very same day leave came and though Abrinzias writ to Almanzor not to hazard himselfe in that voyage yet he imbark'd himselfe and followed the Portugals His ship being not so good a sayler nor so well governed as those he chased could never fetch them up But on the contrary in the first tempest being forsaken by the Pilot he was eight or ten dayes at the mercy of the Sea and at last ran on a bank on a coast farre distant from that of Benin Almanzor saved himselfe in a little boate that was in the ship and armed with his usuall armour landed on that unknowne shore No sooner was he on land but he saw himselfe environed with many armed men who infallibly taking him for another cast themselves at his feet and shew'd by their clapping of hands and their shouts they were exceedingly delighted The most apparent of the Troupe standing a while as ravish'd with admiration or joy Welcome said he O most happily return'd is this worthy Prince which was borne for the safety of Nations for the destruction of Tyrants and the protection of the afflicted O my deare Country dry thy teares revive thy hopes acknowledge thy happinesse behold thy tutesar Angel and come meet this powerfull defender who is going to pluck thy Princes out of Captivity and breake the chaines of their servitude Almanzor was much surpris'd with this mans acclamations and to know the cause of it would not take him out of that error On the contrary he entreated him to relate what had hapned who were the enemies he was to fight with and what was become of those should defend them Great Prince replied the man I should be too tedious if I recounted to you all the miseries that have betided us since your absence Know that the untameable King of Tombut the furious tyrant of Temian and the hardy Prince of Agadez renewing the wars they had other times begun out of meere ambition and yet under pretext of avenging our first Queene came thundring on this Kingdome with a powerfull Army and to make the people revolt publish'd all about that the King by the advice of the Queen now reigning had caus'd his first wife to be poysoned and poniarded his Son My King who without flattery hath all the qualities of a great Prince did what he could to repell force by force but seeing himselfe forsaken by most of his Subjects he was constrain'd to shut himselfe up in a strong place he hath on the River of Senega and to expect there the aide was coming to him from Melley and Guinea That succour was vainely look'd for for the Kings fault which grew not out of mens memories and his second marriage which was contracted by a murther and a sacriledge were the reasons why no body would take Armes for our defence The King seeing himselfe out of hope to be relieved resolved to dye like a man of valour He made a salley on his enemies but after he had lost many of his people and received divers great wounds he was taken and ignominiously led before the King of Tombut Zelopa so is our Queen called advertis'd of that mischance did not what another wife would have done She had no recourse to teares and cryes but got out of her Palace with a manlike heart and taking the place of the King her husband made a speech to the people and souldiers and wonne them to a defence even till death The Enemy in the meane time sent her a Herauld and word that if within eight dayes she resolv'd not to render her selfe to their discretion they would cut off the Kings head Those eight dayes expire to morrow Judge my Lord if hitherto we have not had great cause of affliction and seeing you return'd whether we have not more reason to rejoyce The man thus ending his discourse besought Almanzor to take some course instantly for the safty of his father and mother Almanzor somewhat troubled with the novelty of this adventure knew not what to resolve but his innate generosity dissipating all those cloudy made him see how honourable this occasion might be to him and the interest he had not to disbeguile those who tooke him for what he was not He resolv'd therefore to assist the imprisoned King and the afflicted Lady and intimating so
with all the freenesse and bounty we could hope from him and for mine owne particular I was with him in that esteem as had not the remembrance of the King my master and the love I bore him continually crossed my repose I had met wherewithall to lose the memory of my countrey and blesse the houre of my banishment You have seene that Prince His two Sons have felt the weight of your armes and all that Court amaz'd at your valour have expos'd to you all that it had of most magnificent This being so I might justly be accused of the imperfection incident to those of my age if I should make you a description of it I must therefore go on and tell you that after I had beene two or three months with Hely so was the good King of Moroccoes name I got so farre into him that there passed nothing in the State nor in his royall house wherein he tooke not my advise The second year of my service with him began those bloudy tragedies which ambition and love exhibited to his two Sons and I presently foresaw the unhappy Catastrophes I presently gave that Prince such counsell as had sav'd him his Crowne and life had he not lesse lov'd them both then he did two the most ingratefull and vicious children of the world Nephisus so was the youngest called being retir'd from the Court with a resolution to have by fire and sword what was due to him by birthright made himselfe Master of Guargetsem which is seated on a point of the Mount Atlas and thrusting farre into the Ocean shelters the mouth of the River of Sus from all the North winds The Portugals who had not cherished the divisions of the Kings house but for their own gaine offered Nephisus both men and Armes and put into the Fortresse all things necessary to defend it against the whole force of Morocco The good Prince Hely earnestly put on by his Priests remonstrances and the counsell which I thought my selfe bound to give him departed from the City of Morocco and with a potent Army falling into the countrey of Sus beleaguer'd Guargetsem But when he thought on Nephisus whom he dearely lov'd he let fall his armes and shewing himselfe to be too good a father would not have his Army oppose themselves against the fury â—…f that unnaturall Son Presently he sent such as had beene beforetime most pleasing to him to intreat him to acknowledge his fault to breake off instantly with the enemies of his greatnesse and religion and not to give over for a prey a Country which should be so much the more deare to him because it was to be a part of his Dominions But Nephisus insensible of that excesse of goodnesse attributed his fathers extreame love to him to a weakenesse of spirit and want of courage and like some beasts that grow more furious when they are claw'd and strok'd he became very ragefull because he was no more powerfully set on Every day he made sallies and bragg'd among his confederates that the Corps of the King his father should shortly serve him for a step to the throne But see an example of that to be dreaded Justice which never lets passe unpunished so prodigious crimes as those of Nephisus At one of his Sallies the Governour of Taradant a bold and trusty Knight as ever was in Mauritania met bustled overthrew him and tooke him prisoner The good Hely no sooner heard these newes but he came out of his tent ran to meet his Son and finding him in the midst of an armed troupe embrac'd him wept on him called him his best beloved and his heire and intreated him to pardon the Governour of Taradant for his daring to lay hands on him Nephisus intimated his distraction and stomach by his silence and though a Prisoner threatned those who hindred him from executing his pernicious resolutions But the respect they bore to the father made them patiently indure the insolencies of the Son I was one of those that stood stiffely for his detention and by a just boldnesse withdrawing Hely from his fatall debonarity made him know that he was father of his people before he was so of his Son and by consequence that he could not be indulgent to the crimes of the one without becomming culpable of the miseries of the other Hely who was not lesse judicious then facile confessed with a great deale of mildnesse that my remonstrances were just and my counsell wholesome but said he what shall become of my Son 'T is better that I perish in the age I am then you should be bound to deprive my Estate by the death of Nephisus of those felicities it attended from his government The Kings principall Officers would have gladly pleased but not lost him but foreseeing that Nephisus liberty would be the death of Hely they were strongly resolved against his clemency and told him that if he would not doe his Subjects justice his Chieftaines were resolv'd to forsake him To this he answered nothing unIesse it were they should remember he was a father and his silence passing amongst us for a secret consent Nephisus was remitted into his hands who had taken him Whilst he conducted him to Taradant he assail'd Guargessem and the Commander's captivity taking away the Souldiers hearts the place was rendred within a moneth of it's beleaguring The Portugals failing in their plot retir'd and Hely presently entred the fortresse At first he was insensible of his good fortune but the continuall representing to him the unnaturalnesse of his Son and denoting the defects he fell into against his owne estate through his too much clemency he grew sensible of his errour and gave those men thankes who maugre his countermands had appli'd a remedy to it We were both one evening discoursing of those occurrences when on the sudden a surious winde mingled with lightning and thunder drew the good Hely to his chamber window either to divert his sad cogitations or rather to intertaine them with so fearfull and dismall an object Whilst he stood as it were buried in his musings I descri'd a far off at Sea two great fires which sometimes approached and then againe went off from one another At the noyse I made in seeing them the King came out of his meditation and perceiving the cause of my astonishment stood very heedfull to see what would become of those fires The winde which blew from the West Easterly made them make a great deale of way in a small time and brought them so neer us that we distinctly saw they were two ships which may be had fir'd one another because they could not otherwise get a victory Hely who was of the most sensible and humane nature I ever yet knew presently shar'd in the calamity of those that were confin'd to those burning vessels and though he deem'd them Portugals and by consequence his Enemies yet he shew'd his desire to relieve them He sent divers of his guard to take all the
her affliction that he might work a remedy if he were powerfull enough to bring it to passe That desolate faire one gave the Prince no answer but with her teares and seem'd to feare something more then the shipwrack which she had escaped Thus passed the first day of Iphidamanta's arrivall the night after made an end of undoing the good Hely and the following dayes brought him to such an extremity that being no longer able to hide his malady made good that ancient verity That Love is a fury in the soules of old men He strove to retrive in the wrinkles of his face and feeblenesse of his body some remainder of beauty and strength He consulted with his glasse to disprove if he could his fifty five yeers which upbraided him with his folly It seem'd to him he was not altogether old and that time had dealt with him far kinder then with others of his age Not content with flattering himselfe thus he sent for Osmin to have a Rivall in his selfe-love and a confident in that he bore the illustrious Shepheardesse But Osmin whose integrity could not be corrupted gave eare to the Kings dotages with much griefe and severely answer'd him Are you well advis'd said he what you doe Have you forgotten that Abdelmelec and Nephisus had not been criminall but for suffering themselves to be transported by a passion which is so delightfull to you And if I dare speake what I thinke I hold them lesse guilty then you Both the one and the other have violated the Lawes imposed on them by nature and engag'd themselves in passions which you cannot approve of This is true but they have this excuse so generally receiv'd that youth and wisdome are incompatible and without a wonder it is impossible to be young and not be amorous Can you Sir justifie your errours by the same reasons Are you young Should not you be wise Hely suffered him not to proceed but interrupting him Osmin said he the greatest part of humane actions are onely condemned for not being well knowne You disallow of my intention because you are ignorant of it you will approve of it assoone as I have disclosed it to you object not to me neither my age nor the judgements which your counsell hath made me give against my sons You know that Abdelmelec is not in exile for loving Alcidiana and that Nephisus is not in prison for being ingaged to the service of the Princesse of Tunis and for your upbraiding me with mine age I am so but not so old by much as were our holy Prophets Mahomet and Hely when they married their last wives Know Osmin know that since my children are so great enemies to my Government and age I ought to seek my preservation and support in some illustrious alliance Heaven more carefull of my good then my selfe hath miraculously sent me the Princesse Iphidamanta to the end that getting Polexander for my ally I may be secured against all mine enemies Osmin perceiving such strange alterations in Hely's minde I confesse repli'd he these reasons would not be very considerable if they were true But how should it be possible for that man to thinke how to defend himselfe from the ambushes of his children who by a pernicious indulgency hath alwayes cherish'd their ill nature and hath himselfe invited them to stab the steele into his brest No no Sir you doe not seeke for the confirming your authority by Polexander's alliance but the satiating your voluptuousnesse in the enjoying his sister This is too much for Osmin quickly repli'd Hely yet I pardon his boldnesse but on condition he give a more favourable interpretation to my intentions and to take away his ill thoughts of me that he shall himselfe be Iphidamanta's Guardian Osmin perceiving his sharpnesse was unprofitable resolv'd to be no more so rigid to so little purpose He took on him the charge of Iphidamanta and sent for his wife to the end the Princesse might be in unsuspected company Assoone as she was come Iphidamanta left her habite of Shepheardesse but put not off her sadnesse Some dayes after Hely returned towards Morocco and before he went out of the Province of Sus sent privately to the Governour of Taradant to set Nephisus at liberty That Prince whom the prison had a little cool'd presented himselfe to his father and for some fifteen dayes gave him so many causes of satisfaction that the King forc'd by his nature and blinded with his passion discover'd to him the intent he had to give him a mother that by a just title should merit the surname of beautifull This declaration wrought a great effect in the spirit of Nephisus but it broke not out till sometime after In the meane while Hely was no sooner entred Morocco with the magnificence of a victorious King but he renounc'd all his glory to transferre it on Iphidamanta and to make knowne to all his Subjects that 't was she who was truly victorious and onely deserv'd the triumph He received her as such in the most stately appartment of the great Palace of Morocco and gave to serve her all the officers and white and blacke Eunuches which were wont to waite on their Queens Nephisus having enjoy'd his curiosity of seeing the Princesse return'd with an extreame desire of often visiting her but Hely taking notice of it became so jealous of him and so furious that he was at the point of ruining Nephisus yet his naturall debonairity withholding him he commanded Osmin to deny all men whatsoever the entrance into Iphidamanta's Palace and himselfe forbad Nephisus This prohibition caus'd fearfull disorders in the meane time Hely in love with Iphidamenta even to folly visited her punctually foure times a day and though he could not o'recome her silence nor stint her sadnesse yet he promised himselfe the fruition of her For her sake he violated all the Lawes of his Religion he re-established the Idolatry which Mahomet had so rigorously forbidden and sent as far as Italy for a Painter excellent enough to draw for him Iphidamanta's picture One day leading that Princesse into a marble Cabinet which is in the midst of the garden of flowers he cast himselfe at her feet and never blushing for Osmin's wife being a witnesse of his extravagancy It said he extreamly troubles me that I am not able to offer to your incomparable vertue but things so base and vile as are my Kingdomes and my life But cast not your eyes if you please on the smalnesse of the offering consider the heart and the humility of the offerer and assure your selfe that if he had in his hands all the Crownes of the world he would lay them at your feet with the same zeale as he doth those of Fez and Morocco Iphidamanta hearkned to this Speech as she was wont to heare some others that is without making shew of any aversion or content These coldnesses yet added new flames to the Prince his former fire the more he was neglected the
them open and noted when they were come in that there was as much people stirring in the streetes as it had been mid-day Some stood in one place as amated with griefe others walked along in a slow pace as expressing the excesse of their sadnesse and all by their sighes and lamentations said there had some mournefull and dismall chance betided in their City Almanzaira having cross'd many streets and finding her selfe weary yet lesse of her way then of her feare set her downe on the staire of a Pyramis which was in the midst of a crosse-way and besought Polexander to send some one so farre as into the Palace Court to learne the newes Almaid would needs goe himselfe and according to his manner that is very wisely and promptly did what the Queen desir'd and returned to her Madam said he I doe not thinke you can credit what I have to tell you for mine owne I confesse I do not yet have I not this newes from two or three but from above a hundred Citizens and even the Courtiers confirm'd it to me Almanzaira trembling intreated him to put her out of her paine and tell her what those incredible things were Since 't is your pleasure repli'd Almaid I will satisfie your Majesties command Know then that the King seeing Zelopa dead carried her body into one of the garden Pavillions and there abode many dayes not to be gotten away either by the remonstrances of his chief Officers or the stench of that carion The high Prelates and Priests of Mahomet the Muhazzimins which vaunt the commanding of Spirits and the Interpreters of the Law of Eshari being advertised of this prodigy assembled in their Temples there made their publike prayers and then came to the Palace to try by their exorcismes to vanquish the power of the Devills In came they to the King and the noysomnesse proceeding from Zelopa's corps assoone drove them out againe The Calif Sensul Maharif who passeth for a Saint in his Religion spight of all the stench entred the chamber and found the King glew'd on the mouth of that miserable carion Transported with a just fury and a more ardent zeale he tooke Zelopa by one arme with an intent to plucke her off the bed where she lay Zabaim rose up in choler and rudely thrust off the Calif who persevering in his charity told the King the horrible estate of his soule and drew againe Zelopa's corps with an intent to throw it out at window The King oppos'd him the second time with fearfull threatnings but the holy man would not give over yet having not strength enough to resist Zabaim he fell and in falling pluck'd with him a Ring that was upon one of the Sorceresse fingers Attend to Madam if you please a thing which is not credible Assoone as the Ring was from any touch of the body the King made a wonderfull outcry and fell into so long a swoune that they had time to carry him into his chamber and to cause that carion to be dragg'd to the common Laystall of the town All the rest of that day they held him for dead so was he watch'd all the night following and all the Priests abiding in prayers about him deplor'd his mishap and implor'd the assistance of heaven and Mahomet At breake of day Zabaim recover'd and casting himselfe out of his bed as one furious began to run about the chamber tore all he had on and cry'd he was all on fire The Muhazzimins made their conjurations staid him and taming his fury by vertue of their charmes declar'd aloud that the Spirit which tormented the Prince was of the first Order In the meane while the Gentlemen of the Kings chamber got him againe into his bed and by direction from the Priests took off a little golden boxe which hung about his necke In taking of which away all the force of characters and command the Spirits had over Zabaim ended He knew and wondred at himselfe remembred all he had done since your banishment lamented yours and your sonnes death and melting into teares at the remembrance of his faults Zelopa miserable Zelopa cry'd he into what fearfull offences hast thou hurried my unhappy Spirit His Priests comforted him as well as they could but he growing desperate cry'd out 'T is resolved on there is no pardon for me for that pity which you say is infinite should be more unjust if by an eternall chastisement it did not avenge the innocent bloud I have shed His Priests hearing that blasphemy forbad him to speake by the power which Mahomet had given them and moystning his hands with their tears Sonne said they with a great deale of affection acknowledge by your despaire the malice of that enemy to whom you have given your selfe over After he had cast you downe the precipice he would keep you from rising againe The blasphemies you utter are his artifices he useth to hold you for ever under his tyranny He hath not left you but outwardly he governes yet within and heaven suffers it to chastise you for your long obduratenesse The Priests have not since that time given over to exhort him thus and otherwise I have heard that in shew Zabaim beleeves them and followes their admonitions but in effect every one holds that he persevers in his despaire and if he be not carefully look'd after will quickly follow his wives and childrens destiny Almanzaira sighing to heare these strange accidents Have not you said she learnt what the cause is of these peoples going up and downe That 's it I have yet to tell you Madam repli'd Almaid Zabaim resolving to give you your last rites and to witnesse publikely his resentment for so great a losse hath given command to all the inhabitants of this City to kindle fires to meet together in all the Temples and to pray for the rest of your soule whilst himselfe and all his Court shall be shut up in the principall Mosquy for the same effect I ask'd why this solemnity was done by night and I was answered Zabaim had sworne never to see the day more nor the Sunne and that indeed the windows of his chamber were alwayes shut and that he would not indure any other light since he came to his senses then that of candles and torches Almanzaira sigh'd againe at this pitifull relation and arising even quell'd with sorrow Let us goe said she to Polexander and free the King of this anguish The Prince confirm'd her in the resolution and got her to walke apace to have the better meanes to enter the Temple before Zabaim came She got in among the croud and Polexander with the rest followed her and rank'd themselves in a place where they might be conceal'd 'T is true the Mosquy was so full of lights that but for the blackes wherewithal it was hung from the high vaults to the feet of the pillars they had infallibly been knowne Assoone as the King came they began their prayers and Almanzaira
If it be possible said he to him keepe these men from killing one another I am the sad cause of their quarrell Some of them would have my life the others are resolv'd to dye rather then consent to the fury of their companions Polexander not desirous to informe himselfe any further of the cause of that combate thrust among them with Alcippus Diceus and his other domestîcks yet could not doe it so well but eight or ten fell before he could part them of which number two were of those that stood in defence of the venerable old man and the rest were of his enemies The five or six which remain'd of the worser side laid downe their armes cast themselves at his feet whom they would lately have murdred and expressing to him an extraordinary griefe for their attempt Command said they to him O thou our visible Deity that we be aswell chastis'd as our companions since we are as guilty Have no pity on us and though your goodnesse hath alwayes gloried in pardoning the most enormous offences at last let such miscreants as we feele that you can punish them The aged man in stead of following those wretches counsell cast himselfe on their necks weeping and assuring them he already thought no more of their fault To pronounce you guilty said he is to accuse my selfe I commanded you to obey the ingratefull Perseus and not to witnesse your loyalty towards me but in being faithfull to him Polexander at that name of Perseus remembred what Almaid had related and conjecturing the old man might be Abrinzias Shall I beleeve said he that the unnaturall Perseus would attempt against the life of his father as he did against that of Almanzor Ah! replied the old man whoever you be that know too well the misfortunes of our family do not oblige me to tell you I am the unfortunate father of a child so ill borne But if you desire I should confesse it be pleased likewise that I make an end of accusing my selfe and relate to you all the miseries have betided me since Almanzor left me to follow a person which he cannot meet with whilst he is out of Benin Polexander surpris'd at this discourse would have demanded many things at once from the venerable Abrinzias but some just considerations sotting his inquisitivenesse he intreated that Prince to leave the desolate Island and refresh himselfe in his ship Abrinzias consented but before he went aboard he reconcil'd the vanquish'd with the vanquishers and intreated both parts to abolish for ever the memory of an act black enough to make their nation execrable to all others Every one promising to observe his prohibition Abrinzias and Polexander left the desert Island and our Heroe giving him the honours of his ship welcom'd the good King with all the Ceremonies a Subject could yeeld his Soveraigne Abrinzias being well refresh'd and desirous to pay his Host for so kinde an entertainement I cannot chuse said he but make to you a generall confession of my faults and though I doubt you know a part of them I will neverthelesse tell you all since I am sure that those who spoake to you of me have stroven to conceale such things as might blemish my reputation I will therefore begin by the greatest of my crimes which were indulgency fond love and voluntary blindnesse They have hindered me from knowing the defects of miserable Perseus or at least from correcting them I alwayes looked on him with dazeld eyes and tooke him for such as my irregular affection made me imagine him His insolency seem'd to me greatnesse of courage and contempt of meane things his impiety strength of wit his pride majesty in briefe his vices appeared to me vertues and I was so witlesse that in stead of reproving I flattered him in his most wicked customes The eternall Justice let me alone a long time in my errors suffered me not to know the malice of that serpent I fostered in my bosome but by the mortall stings it gave me I hop'd the example and conversation of great Almanzor would have quell'd the pernicious inclinations of Perseus but he grew to hate what he could not imitate and confirming himselfe in all vice in despite of vertue had an intent alas must I speake it to murther Almanzor Polexander interrupting to oblige him Leave said he that action out of the number of such things as have betided and do not imbrue your memory with the recitall of that assassinate I know all that passed and how Almanzor would not you should ever know of it 'T is true pitifull stranger replied Abrinzias and I had beene all my life time without the hearing of such a prodigy if a second reviving the former had not brought it to my knowledge Two months after Almanzors departure the miserable Perseus by the search and dexterity of his accursed spyes discovered Iphidamanta in the most retired part of the Temple where with the consent of Andromeda and my selfe she had withdrawne and shut her selfe up How my Lord said Polexander did not the Pirates take her away the same night when they forc'd your palace Abrinzias beginning againe with a tone farre different from his former speaking I have said he unawares told too much but hâ—…ven hath suffered it for some cause I know not and therefore I will not feare to disclose to you a secret which is hid from all save Andromeda Iphidamanta and my selfe Some few dayes before the Pirates came to disturbe the profound tranquillity of my Country Iphidamanta whom we may call the accomplish'd and perfect image of vertue made my wife perceive that she had receiv'd some sensible displeasure Andromeda tooke her apart and conjuring her by the extraordinary affection she bore not to conceale the cause of her griefe Madam said she were not your goodnesse infinite and did it not seeme to invite me to the boldnesse I take of troubling you with the accidents of my sad fortune I should me thinks have had power enough o're my selfe to undergoe them without making them knowne But since you have alwayes permitted me to complaine and that even on persons which are most deare to you I will not feare to intreat your protection against the pursuites of Almanzor Osmin and his Lady who till now have given me so great proofes of their amity and who many a time have hazarded their lives for the safeguard of mine honour have beene won by Almanzors allurements and they give him such freedome as begins to be insupportable to me You will may be wonder Madam that being reduc'd to the unfortunate estate I am in and who may rather be taken for some bold deceiver then for a Princesse I should finde fault with the actions of the Prince your Son But I erre in having so ill an opinion of so eminent a vertue as yours No Madam you will not mislike my disapproving of your Sons inticing discourses nor that I tell you his respects and civilities make me suspect him
example he himself went on foote from his Palace to the great Temple of Benin Perseus was betwixt him and Polexander and drew on him the benedictions even of those who not long before with just cause had ardently besought heaven for the punishment of his offences Andromeda and Cydaria came after the three Princes and were followed by all the Court and people These actions of piety being ended they proceeded to their rejoycings The City and Court of Benin were two Theaters where many dayes together was presented all that a hearty joy was able to be made invented by men endowed with the greatest happinesse Their joyes were increased by the newes Abrinzias receiv'd from Zabaim and but for Polexander and Cydaria's departure they had farre longer continued Osmin and his Lady imbark'd with their deere daughter and though they promis'd to themselves farre lesse then they should have expected from Polexanders noblenesse yet they were confident that after so many troubles and agitations their old age would at last finde a safe harbour Our Heroe in that voyage found that fortune is not lesse inconstant in her hatred then in her love He sail'd along all the coast of Guinea with as favourable a gale as he could wish and assoone as he needed it the winde which was Easterly changed and became South Whilst he went off from the Continent to get to the Isles of Cape Verd he entertain'd himselfe sometimes with Cydaria sometimes with Osmin and then with the Castilian Gartias But these diversions were not prevalent enough to master his longings Alcippus who knew his melancholy besought him to remember the promises which so many eminent and extraordinary men had made him and to beleeve that at last Alcidiana's Isle would be no longer Inaccessible to him I will no more flatter my selfe with these vaine hopes replied Polexander All thy false Prophets my friend have in their predictions consulted with no other heavens or Stars then our two desires In this only they have beene good Divines they have foreseene that to please me they must necessarily deceive me They have done 't and simple as I am I have contributed as much as they to that delusion Thou seest too Alcippus what is come of it I am brought to that passe as not to dare even to attempt such things as seeme not to me absolutely impossible Sir said Osmin whilst you give way to such a timerous and distrustfull passion as love is you shall be perpetually assaulted with new troubles and new feares I have seene Almanzor in his fits I have mark'd how he tormented himselfe even then when he had cause to thinke him very happy and by that great example I have knowne that Lovers are a particular kinde of men which are condemn'd to deceive themselves eternally Adde to it said Polexander and to passe their whole lives in effective paines and imaginary pleasures This discourse had continued longer but Osmins Lady came to them much troubled and said in an affrighted manner that Cydaria was extreamely sick Polexander ran to the Princesse Cabin and found her not much better then Osmins wife related She had neither pulse nor heate and her eyes halfe turn'd in her head witness'd how much nature was oppressed She was almost five or sixe howres in these imperfect convulsions and but for Dicens remedies she had not may be gotten out of them He imployd all his skill for her comfort but all he did could not take away the disease When she had recover'd her senses and overcome the malignity of such vapours as infected the heart she fell into a violent fever After three dayes Diceus judged by the redoublings it would be very dangerous and long and besought the King his Master to avoid the danger wherein the Princesse his Sister was to land on the first Isle he should discover Polexander oppos'd not so good an advise He was too good a brother not to lay by all his own occasions for the preservation of his Sister He made his will knowne to the Pilot and the next day he cast anchor in a roade of an Isle which some Geographers put amongst the Hesperides Presently he sent some of his Officers ashoare with all was needfull to lodge and himselfe landing set up his pavilions in a very commodious place That done he went for Cydaria and causing her to be very gently brought on shore carried her into the Tent he had provided for her For seven or eight dayes he stirr'd not farre from the sick Lady But seeing her fever begin to yeeld to Diceus experience he walk'd into the Island with Alcippus Osmin and Gartias One part of it he discover'd and finding no other Inhabitants there but wilde beasts to passe away the time he began to make warre with them Almost every day he came to a wood which was not above three short miles from his tents and under pretext of hunting got away apart to meditate more at liberty Now one day straying too farre in the wood he was faine to passe there all the night After he had long ruminated on his misfortunes he lay downe and slept at the foot of a tree but startlingly awaking he thought that he heard some one bewailing to which lending an eare he heard these words Weary thy selfe at last with so much unprofitable sorrow and leave all sighes and teares to those which are unhappy but not desperate like thy selfe If thou couldest one day finde some remedy for the malady whereof thou so much languishest I would advise thee to endure longer and enterprise nothing against thy life But since the gods and men are incapable of comforting thee breake through this hard straite and at last give over the being an uselesse Spectator of thy Princesse miseries What sayest thou cowardly and disloyall Enemy to thy duty Wouldst thou to free thy selfe from the paines thou indurest abandon a personage which should be more deare to thee then thy selfe Live then since thou canst not dye without being perfidious but live as an offender should who onely knowing his offence is also alone both his owne Judge and hangman and boldly executes on himselfe the punishment to which he is by his owne conscience condemned The man had no sooner ended his lamenting but he arose and made thence so fast that Polexander could not stay him He therefore ran after and often call'd to get him tarry But all his hallowing and calling was as bootelesse as his footing At last wearied with so long and vaine a walke he lay downe againe under a tree till 't was day O how to his content did he imploy that time He thought continually on faire Alcidiana He blest his labours since they proceeded from so noble a cause He wish'd he might yet endure more and pondering every foote the sentence of death she had pronounc'd against him By what action illustrious enough said he faire Alcidiana can I merit the punishment wherewithall your goodnesse rather then your Justice will recompence my
most humble servitude Why am I not permitted to finde a way to attaine to that supreame happinesse But miserable vagabond that I am I may well wish and make knowne my longings but I shall never obtaine the favour of dying before her faire eyes By this time 't was day yet was it not able to bring Polexander out of his meditations Alcippus after his searching for him all night by chance found him and disturbed his cogitations Presently he arose and returned to his tents where he found a great amendment in his Sister and to divert her recounted the adventure he had met withall Cydaria tooke pleasure in it and wish'd him to send five or sixe men into that wood to discover the aboade of that unfortunate man which had such brave thoughts Polexander having spent almost all the day with her withdrew and accompanied with Alcippus and Gartias return'd to the wood with an intent to lye there once more rather then not satisfie his curiosity He came to the same place at least he thought so where he had heard him he sought after and passing through many pathes at last met with an alley so covered that in the greatest heate of day there was coolenesse enough not to be incommodated under so burning a climate When he came to the end of it he saw the Sea and perceived two women which with a slow pace were walking on the sands He would have gone to them but assoone as he was discover'd one of them began to cry out as loud as she could and drawing her Companion after her made her run whether she would or no. Polexander seeing it stopp'd short Presently there appear'd at the end of the alley a man who going right to the women and understanding from them the cause of their flight straight left them and came towards our Heroe with his sword drawne who put himselfe in a posture to receive him But assoone as he was neere enough to be knowne he gave a great shout and running to him with open armes shew'd an extraordinary contentment in meeting him The other instantly cast downe his sword and imbracing our Heroe with a gentilenesse and meekenesse shewing his admirable temper Doe you said he yet know an unfortunate man who had beene more so then he is but for your exceeding pity Polexander imbracing him againe By what chance said he doe I meet you in a place so farre distant from that where I thought you When I left you replied the other my intent was to get to this Island where I found the party I sought but to the end you may know my complaints have beene alwayes just come and see how extraordinary their cause is With that he tooke up his sword and led Polexander to the place where the two women were retired When he came neere them he addressed his speech to the youngest and before Polexander saluted her Madam said he here is that Prince without whose help I had never had the happinesse of seeing you againe This is he of whom I have so often spoken to you and whose misfortunes are able in their repetition to put off a while the feeling of your owne At those words the Lady lifted up her eyes and Polexander noted that though they were very faire yet she was blinde He made no shew of remarking it but admir'd her wit and judgement by the Speech she made him At least he who was her Interpreter spake in her name so excellently to our Heroe that he was ravish'd at it and witness'd it aloud by the answer he made her and intreated his friend to interpret This intertainement having lasted above a quarter of an howre the faire blinde Lady stood a while silent and thinking it time to retire tooke leave of the two friends and left them in an equall admiration of her vertue and almost a like sorrow for her misfortune Polexanders griefe was on the point of breaking out but seeing the plenty of teares which fell from his friends eyes he suppressed his owne compassion that he might not increase the others sorrow and be inhumane by being desirous to appeare sensible You should said he accustome your selfe to your misery and thinke for your consolation that it is farre lesse then you imagine it since you have recovered the best part of what you thought was all lost I should be ingratefull replied Zelmatida both towards the gods and Izatida too if I did not confesse I am infinitely bounden to them and that they have extended their excessive bounty in that which concernes my owne person Nor is it mine owne mishap I bewaile 'T is Izatida's misery that drawes these teares from mine eyes and forbids me the sensibility of that contentment which is given me by the happinesse of seeing her againe No no Izatida I shall never be happy whilst thou art not so and the pleasure of being neere thee will never have power enough over me to divert those sorrowes which thy blindnesse hath cast upon me How doe I abhorre thee thou accursed aboade which hast for ever clouded with darknesse the onely light of my soule Those last words touching Polexander in a particular manner O heaven cried he where is my minde and what is become of my memory With that he left Zelmatida and running to Gartias was a while talking with him which done he return'd to Zelmatida and shewing by his countenance he brought him good newes I have call'd to minde one thing said he which may if the heavens will so favour you make a great alteration in your fortune But not to give you any hopes which proving false may make you more afflicted then you are goe to Izatida and intreate her she will make triall of a remedy which comes from that very place where she lost her sight How Polexander replied Zelmatida that cannot bee a remedy coming from so venimous a place 't is rather some new poyson which doubtlesse will cause me to lose the remainder of Izatida I do not condemne your feare said Polexander but I will accuse you for not contributing all that you can for your owne comfort if you doe not hazard on my word a remedy which can do Izatida no other wrong then to leave her as she is Zelmatida loath to contradict Polexander for feare of fayling Izatida and huâ—…ing himselfe went to the Princesse and besought her by the greatnesse of her courage and excesse of her patience to try a remedy which Polexander had propos'd to him for infallible You both deserve said she that I should give you that vaine contentment Yes Zelmatida you shall have your request Give your remedy to my Governesse and I promise you this night we will make experiment of it Zelmatida hereupon return'd to Polexander and he had scarce told him that Izatida had yeelded to his petition but Gartias came to them with a violl of very cleare water He had beene at Polexanders ship to make the receipt and omitted nothing of what he had
from the Kings his allies hath even cast anchor in the very River of Tensif and after many skirmishes wherein Bajazet's valour hath disheartned the most daring Africans Abdelmelec and Hely have beene compell'd to shut themselves up in Morocco The Rovers have there besieged them and but for that miraculous arrivall of a Knight which will not at all be knowne what he is the Siege had been ended above a moneth since by the sacke of the City On the other side there is arriv'd to Bajazet a great aide from Constantinople This may seeme very strange to you but 't will be farre more when you know the cause of it The Basha Herzecogli son-in-law to the Grand Signior hath gotten leave of him to come with a great navall Army to avenge himselfe of another Basha called Solyman who hath stolne from him two twinne daughters and who to keep them to himselfe hath left the grand Signior's service put him into the protection of the King of Morocco This Basha Herzecogli which is esteem'd the valiant'st man in the Ottoman Empire animated with the griefe of the losse of his daughters and with a desire of revenge so presseth on Morocco that if it be not already taken 't is infallibly on the point of being so This Priest very likely would have added more newes to this but he noted so great a trouble in the countenances of Melicerta and Cydaria that he thought it not fit to proceed Polexander who well knew the cause of the Princesses agitation arose to leave them at their liberty and tooke with him all such as might hinder their freedome He was no sooner gone out but said Melicerta to Cydaria all pale and trembling My deare Sister is there in the world a more unfortunate creature then I I have forsaken the tombe wherein I had buried my selfe alive as the most dolefull place could be chosen and I see that by the incomprehensible cruelty of my destiny this Palace wherein I began to taste some comfort is in an instant turn'd into a hell where all my paines and torments are renewed and augmented What have I heard What must become of me Soliman is shut up in Morocco and my father alas most ignorant of the truth besiegeth him and seeks to be avenged of a crime whereof to my infinite griefe Iphidamantus is too innocent Cydaria was not lesse perplex'd then Melicerta but her discretion being farre more scrupulous she held her peace or if she spoake 't was to her selfe What said she doth Almanzor then with so much fervency prosecute the liberty of a Slave Be perswaded who list that he doth it out of meere noblenesse Cydaria will never be so simple nor so much overreacht as to beleeve it Finish Almanzor finish boldly what thou hast begun Burne and consume thy selfe for an unfortunate Slave since all kinds of objects are able to please thy ficklenesse That Axiamira whom thou sometime lovedst will never disturbe thy designes no more then she will ever heare spoaken againe of thine affection Polexander as Cydaria thus ended her upbraidings came in aloâ—…e He went right to Melicerta and knowing what need she had of comfort Madam said he if I should condemne your being thus perplex'd I should be ignorant of that which is most just and most powerfull in nature Your affrights and feares are extreame that is they are effects proportionable to their causes Yet despaire not This is without doubt the Crisis the alteration of your disease And if so be Morocco can yet hold out a few dayes I hope to put a happy end to such adventures as seeme to promise themselves but a tragicall period We must lose no time Resolve your selfe therefore to go to Morocco with Cydaria and be pleas'd to let me be both your Guide and Counsellor Melicerta thought it no hard proposition but Cydaria directly oppos'd it and in her conceal'd anger gave the fairest reasons that could be to disswade the voyage Polexander knew well his Sisters sicknesse but would not let her perceive it for feare of adding to her affliction he contented himselfe with answering to her reasons and so plainely to remove all the difficulties she had framed that at last overcome by her selfe as well as by the perswasions of others she yeelded to the Journey on condition yet that she should not be seene of any Melicerta entreated Polexander the same and obtaining it went to prepare for their departing Our Heroe who extreamely long'd to be free from others businesse that he might follow his owne imbark'd the next day and taking with him the Embassadours of Zahara gave charge to his Pilot to make to the mouth of the River Abernia At Sunset he came thither and making his arrivall knowne the next morning by breake of day all the two sides of the River were covered with horse and foote Never did a captivated Nation welcome their Deliverer with so many demonstrations of love and joy as the Inhabitants of Zahara did Polexander Men women and children made the ayre resound againe with their shouts and ran into the water as farre as they could to come the soonest neerer the King When he was ready to shew himselfe he went into a Shallop and taking none with him but Osmin and the Embassadors landed amongst all the people The infinite multitude following him from the River cast themselves flat on the earth and renewing their shoutes and applauses seem'd they were at the height of their happinesse In the meane time Polexander causing a little Theater to be raised of turfes whereon he and Osmin onely mounting he commanded the people to stand up Assoone as they had inviron'd the place where he stood and had impos'd them silence Polexander advanc'd and spoke thus I come my friends to give you thankes for the benefit you have done me and to offer you for it mine arme my counsell and my life I accept of you on such conditions as shall please you best and sweare to you by that Power which we adore that nothing shall unlinke me from you But in as much as fortune compells me whether I will or no to wander from one Countrey to another and will not permit me neither to stay long with you I have chosen a Lieutenant to governe you in my absence His vertue is so well knowne to you and his bloud which hath beene alwayes held holy and venerable amongst you should make him so deare to you that infallibly you will approve of my choice and I doubt not but you would have chosen him for your King had you not thought him in his grave 'T is Osmin my friends 't is that legitimate heire of the great Abuchar Ischias the Founder of your Monarchy 't is that Prince I say who preferring your safety before his owne and your ease and solace before the favours of the Tyrant that would have ruin'd you voluntarily banish'd himselfe from his home that he might not be a confederate in those mischiefs which he could
nature of the King your father Had you seen him as I did ready to expiate by the effusion of his bloud those faults which Zelopa had made him perpetrate you would be more sensible then you are of his repentance and not deny him the comfort he expecteth in your returne But what doe you here Are you not satisfi'd with the death of Nephisus and may be with that of Abdelmelec Would you have their unfortunate father to be ranged in the number of those sacrifices which Axiamira demands from your amorous anger and that it shall be deadly for all Princes to have had any affection for that happy infortunate one Bajazet deeming by this discourse that Polexander knew all his designes would againe have falne at his feet to have ask'd pardon for the love he bore the Princesse his sister but Polexander who look'd on him as on something more then a King retain'd him in his armes and after often calling him brother If said he your discretion had not so long time contested with your quiet and not given to Iphidamantus and my selfe thoughts unworthy to be related to you we had both contributed all we could and may be more reclaim'd the untractable humour of that Princesse which sometimes under the name of Axiamira then under that of Iphidamantus or againe of Ennoramita set on fire all the Kingdomes of Africa Is not she the cause of this warre too have you not mistaken her brother for her Bajazet waxing pale at that question There is no doubt of it said he my misfortune is as great as ever and I know too well for my peace that Almaid being deceiv'd next the King of Morocco tooke Iphidamantus for Axiamira This discourse had infallibly continued but the Sentinels seeing a great Troupe of horse sallying out of Morocco gates advertis'd the Princes they were to be set on Achomat instantly commanded foure Squadrons of foot to advance which had stood to their armes since the beginning of the combate and placing himselfe in the front of a Troup of Cavalry rid to force the enemy backe againe into the Towne The three Princes got on horsebacke to assist him though he had no need of them and were Spectators of that incomparable valour which had rais'd him to the supreame greatnesse of all the Ottoman Court Assoou as feare and night had shut up the last Enemy within the walls of Morocco Polexander and the three other Princes return'd to the place of their Combate and scorning to intermingle ought of base or cruell with their victory commanded fires and torches to be lighted to see in what case Abdelmelec and the Moorish Knight were Our Heroë found the last sighing for his misfortune and cursing the stars which seem'd to affect the dishonour and ruine of the Princes of Grenada by the same charming humanity he comforted him wherewithall he was wont to suffer himself to be overcome by such as he had vanquish'd and without any importunate soliciting either to tell him his condition or name commanded some Arabians to take him up and carry him into Morocco In the meane while Bajazet who found Abdelmelec dead lamented that the chance of Warre was not able to make him a vanquisher without depriving so valiant a Prince of his life Iphidamantus came just as he was bewailing and seeing his friend all over wounded and drown'd in his blood was almost at the losse of his judgement and life at last reason recollected him and then his sorrow breaking forth Unfortunate Prince said he how fatall have thy fathers errours been to thee And what a dangerous Enemy hast thou had of thy great courage Thou art dead Abdelmelec and I live and avenge not thy death But the same law which seemes to engage imperiously forbids me to undertake it My duty is oppos'd by my duty my friendship by my friendship and my faith by my faith I am Polexanders I am Achomats I owe my selfe to Bajazet I cannot be thine Thou knowest it now deare Abdelmelec and thy soule which reads my heart sees well whether I be so perfidious as to faile of my word I have sworn to thee an amitie not to be terminated but by the one of us thy misfortune hath disingaged my word and â—…y interests ceasing by thy death give me the libertie on thinking on mine owne Farewell then Abdelmelec and since 't is the will of heaven enjoy for ever the glory thy vertues have deserved Achomat and the two other Princes were extreamly sorrowfull for the losse of their Enemie and would not have been so indisconsolate but onely for taking off Iphidamantus discontent Bajazet by the advise of the rest sent the body of Abdelmelec to the King his father and intimated by Hydaspes they had been both deceiv'd and their errours being equally lamentable the griefe of the one should not be lesse then that of the other Hydaspes performed his Commission but whilst the too amorous and inraged Hely bewailed the losse of his pretended Ennoramita more then the death of his son and ruminated in his long watchings all the tragicall events wherewithall the beautie of one same person had laid waste his Estate the foure Printes retir'd into the Campe and without giving themselves any rest after so much travell meditated on the execution of some new designes Polexander that thought on nothing but how to see Alcidiana againe would not cause Bajazet and Iphidamantus to languish any longer nor put off till any other time the contentments he was able to give them But how extreame soever his owne longing was that of the two other Princes was no lesse Iphidamantus came and cast himselfe at his feet and embracing his knees My Lord said hee if without impudence I may dare take the boldnesse of calling you brother and if any one action of my life hath made mee worthy that honour I intreate you even by that or rather by Alcidiana not to leave mee any longer in my offence and infamy Let mee not be guilty even after my repentance nor let Melicerta continue her reproaching my ingratitude when I have given over my being ingratefull Get leave of Achomat repli'd Polexander to goe and free that Princesse and assure your selfe you shall no sooner have that granted but you shall obtaine all the rest too Achomat over-heard what our Heroe spake to his brother and desirous to witnesse to them both that hee remitted all his resentments to their merits and his affection Goe said he to Iphidamantus goe my deare Solyman gather up if it be possible the remainder of my shipwrack and assure your selfe that what you can save of it you preserve that for your selfe After this declaration which not onely included the leave Iphidamantus requested but withall a cleere assurance of enjoying her whom he was to deliver he tooke Achomat's hands and moystning them with his teares My Lord said hee is it possible that you will forget those offences which my mishap hath made me commit
not believe that in giving way to so powerfull an Enemy she lessens her reputation 'T is true your severities are overcome and abandoning a place they had so couragiously maintain'd they would exhibit to your thought your being accus'd of weakenesse or cunning But let not your faire soule feare these calumnies You yeeld way when it is both just and glorious not to defend your selfe I could not refraine from this exclamation seeing what transports and anxieties the newes of Bajazets despaire wrought in the faire and discreet Cydaria Certainely her vertue strove incredibly to hide her resentments and not let her selfe be overcome by this unlooked for accident but the weaker part of her soule suppressed the stronger and wisdome was enforc'd to give place to love Polexander who seem'd to be ordain'd by heaven to be the comforter of all afflicted and the Lovers Mediator betwixt Love and Fortune understanding his Ship was come up to Zabaim's left Cydaria with Melicerta Achomat and Iphidamantus and went alone to prepare Bajazet for the receiving that happinesse he came to present him When Zabaim and Almanzaira knew him they were so much overjoyed that they seem'd to have no more thought of the danger wherein their owne sonne yet lay O my deare deliverer cry'd Almanzaira turne your eyes on a miserable mother which hath no life but in the life of her sonne and now perfect that which you began in the Isle whereinto Fortune had exiled me Heaven promised me at that very instant you arriv'd there that the period of my miseries should be the work of your courage and extreame charity Perfect a promise which should be infallible and since you have preserv'd the mother in her selfe save her againe in her sonne Madam reply'd Polexander the spectacle here is such a wonder to me that I can scarce beleeve what mine eyes and eares informe me surely the ill Angell Enemy to the greatnesse of your race hath driven Bajazet to a resolution which in all likelihood was not to be expected either from the vigour of his spirit or from the power of fortune her selfe 'T is not past five or six houres since he came off victorious from a Combate whereto he had beene challeng'd by the Prince of Morocco and Achomat Iphidamantus and my selfe were preparing our selves to see him triumph over his enemies and the Town he hath besieg'd when Hamet brought us newes of his despaire If Madam I divine right I know the cause and can by consequence promise your Majesty to give an end to it I do not doubt it repli'd Almanzaira and how great soever our afflictions are I hold them not past remedy if you undertake the cure A fairer hand then mine said Polexander must be imployed in so great a restauration let it suffice that I know where 't is to be had and you have nought to doe but to render the patient capable of receiving what shall be prescribed for the assuring of his recovery 'T was thought Bajazet heard these last words because he presently opened his eyes and made plainly appeare he had absolutely forgotten all he had done since his parting from Polexander He arose and knowing the Prince among so many strange faces You see said he how fortune continues the signs of her hatred Abdelmelec is dead Morocco is brought to the extremity I have forced out of her Kings hands that which made me proclaime warre against him and yet am I more miserable then I was before my victories the happinesses I desire not come head-long tumbling in at my pleasure and that which I wish for runs from me in what part of sea or land soever I follow it Put out of your minde repli'd Polexander a beliefe which may be was true in times past but is not now you shall finde at Morocco what you seek there Hely who deserves not the fruition of Axiamira could have only her picture but Almanzor whose vertue can never be worthily enough recompenc'd shall when he please possesse Axiamira her selfe Bajazet scarce giving Polexander leave to end what he had begunne and besides not taking notice of one of them that were about him imbrac'd our Heroë and calling him often his Lord and Deliverer Doe not said he deferre the execution of your promise the happinesse you propose to me is so great that you must give me leave to doubt of it till mine owne eyes assure me I refuse not the condition answered Polexadder but what will the King your Father say or the Queen your Mother thinke if you goe hence without rendring them that to which nature and their goodnesse bindes you Bajazet started at those words and looking about him he not onely knew Zabaim for he had often seen him but beleeving who Almanzaira was both by Almaids relation and instinct of bloud he cast himselfe at their feet and besought them to pardon his present and forepass'd extravagances 'T is I my sonne said Zabaim that should aske to be forgiven for mine and intreate you by my repentance which is the onely thing can winne you to a forgetfulnesse of my faults to blot out of your memory all that I have made you suffer since the day of your birth And I my sonne said Almanzaira casting her selfe on Bajazets necke beseech you to lay all the accidents of your life on the secrets of that Providence which cannot possibly faile and to beleeve that no finister thing hath betided you but for your better availe Bajazet had many good things to say but the imperious object of that beauty he wished for not permitting him to have a thought for any other then her selfe made him contract them into submissions and excuses Almanzaira who was incomparable in all her endowments desirous to conferre a part of her contentment on her sons passion intreated Polexander to acquit him of his promise and not deferre a pleasure which might be the ruine of many others Bajazet shall be satisfi'd reply'd our Heroë and his satisfaction shall be the more perfect in that for the receiving it he shall not lose the pleasure he takes in the sight of the King his father and your selfe What must I doe to be so happy cried Bajazet with the impatiency of a man truly passionate nothing said Polexander but to goe from this ship into mine Zabaim who had at least gotten this advantage over his extreame amorous inclination to be the most civill of all men said That though Almanzor should once againe be jealous of him he would be the first to see his ancient Mistresse Presently there were plankes laid between the two ships and not onely Zabaim but Almanzaira whom Polexander led and the timorous Bajazet went aboard our Heroe's ship Achomat and Iphidamantus came to welcome them and their complements ended brought them into the cabin where Melicerta and Cydaria were Almanzaira who went in first first saluted the two Princesses and Polexander presenting his sister to her See here madam said he the cause of all your sons
to and persecuted and as much cause to complaine against heaven and aske Justice thence for the violence I was like to suffer either it or the sea tooke compassion of my teares which animated against my ridiculous lover dash'd his vessell in pieces on this Island I sav'd my selfe unawares upon some great fardles of corke which my feare made me lay hold on He was taken up by fishermen which casually met with him among the rockes where we were shipwrack'd All the rest were drowned I was presented to Tisiphone the same day we were cast away and the morrow after the Spaniard was led by the fishermen who had sav'd him to the worthy husband of that excellent Princesse When shee heard of the danger I had escaped she seem'd to have some feeling of it but when shee understood I had beene stolne away and would never give consent to my ravishers desires What said she cleane out of her selfe you doe not love then Is it possible I repli'd for any to love a thiefe and a traitor You speake not enough quoth the Queene you must goe further and say It is not possible to love any man whatsoever My fathers tyrannie hath inforc'd me to marrie the greatest enemie I have in the world I speake it aloud for I would have him know that my hatred increaseth daily and if I meet not at last with some one of my subjects courageous enough to restore mee the libertie I am depriv'd of I in my just indignation will finde strength enough to regaine it my self Imagine whether I were terrified or no at the horrour of this first speech But not knowing to what intent she had made it I repli'd that the hatred women might beare to men could not without blame goe so farre as to their husbands 'T is to them said the Queene it should be most of all for besides their being the tyrants over our liberties they are to us continuall executioners which whether they flatter or abuse us keep us night and day in torture and are never taken by them from one but to make us suffer a many others At this second speech I was without an answer and thinking my selfe not bound to contradict her I intimated by my silence that I condemn'd her not The first day I saw not the happy husband of that good Lady but the next I had the pleasure of it 't was a Prince who truely was worthy the love his wife bore him he was of a very ill looke and a farre worse humour he came to the Queen with a brutish fullennesse and presented her my ravisher with a certaine barbarous authoritie which not to lie was capable enough to make me partly of Tisiphone's opinion Assoone as the Spaniard saw me he gave an out-cry of admiration and casting himselfe at the Queenes feet Madam said he if your Majestie will have the honour to surmount that which o'recomes Kings you have need of no other thing then to restore to mee a treasure which I thought had beene buried in the bottome of the Ocean Fortune thought I had lost all that I could but if you render me that Lady pointing to me I make knowne that your Majestie will have inrich'd me with more then that blinde goddesse hath depriv'd me of Tisiphone presently imagining the Spaniard might be very usefull for her abominable designes resolv'd to winne him and to begin that divelish trafficke This stranger is mine said she but if you be so venturous a merchant to buy her at my price you shall have the first offer The Spaniard answered that if I were to be purchased by any action of valour he would ingage himselfe to imploy his arme and sword both against heaven and earth to redeeme me By that promise their conversation ended but as if I had been borne the object of all extravagancies Thersites so was Tisiphone's husband called fell in love with me and thinking to witnesse extreamely well to me the greatnesse of his love he spoke of it to every body and took for his private confidents such as were accustomed to serve him in his other passions Tisiphone knew it assoone as I and though she was neither capable of love or jealousie yet was she of rage and vengeance That made her precipitate her execrable intentions she plotted with the Spaniard and neither disclosing to me nor any of her women her secret practises so manag'd them that Thersites 〈◊〉 found dead in his bed and none could discover the instruments of the fact Tisiphonâ—… a few dayes after sent his corps to Astramadan his cruell brother and withall proclaim'd warre against him The Isle whereof he is Lord is not distant from this above a dayes saile thither went the Spaniard with a fleete and had so good fortune by his armes that but for the incomparable valour of Astramadan who came from afar off to the aide of his territorie he had beene absolute master of But that hardy Tyrant some three moneths since forc'd him from his Island and I make no doubt but to avenge himselfe he had been already here if hee could have gotten sufficient ships of war Newes hath come to Tisiphone of his sending into Europe for vessells and that assoone as they are arriv'd he will imbarke his troupes to assaile her she every day expects that enemie and hath therefore set so many guards about her palace But leave we Astramadan and be pleased I goe on with the historie of Tisiphone The death of her husband did but augment her aversion to all men shee forbad on paine of death as well her subjects as strangers to come within three leagues of her palace and to have alwayes before her eyes such objects as might confirme her in her hatred and serve as instruments of her horrible cruelties she sent into Africa for the most deformed and barbarous that could be found amongst the Negros when they came she commanded and made them cut the throats of all such as were of any eminent condition in her Court and taking out of prison those whom her husband had cast there gave them the title of Knights and the places of greatest command and trust That done the Moores were chain'd and rank'd about the castle to defend the accesses to it the Spaniard was preserv'd not out of consideration of the services hee had done the Queene nor that she thought her selfe bound to keep her word with him but because she feared the arrivall of Astramadan or rather that shee reserv'd him for the riddance of that tyrant in the same manner as she had freed her selfe from her husband Now since the Spaniard is dead you are the man she will imploy in so notable an execution if you will hearken to her or rather if the affection wherewithall you have miraculously stung her be not as miraculous to reforme the defects of so depraved a nature After Amintha had related thus much she stood a while looking on Polexander and seeing he spoke not thus went on
if I may say so from putting himselfe alone into the hands of a great many enemies Astramadan answered not Diceus a word but taking Polexander's challenge he read it with a looke that well witnessed his choler and after made the messenger this answer Returne to your master and tell him I will make him know that he beleeves nought of Astramadan but what is true the cause he gives me to be his enemie shall not hinder me from allowing him that entertainment his vertue deserves To morrow I will attend him in the place I have prepared for the giving that satisfaction he desires The onely thing I have to complaine of him is the facilitie wherewithall he hath beene ingaged to defend such crimes as cannot be expiated but by everlasting punishments Diceus returned with that answer and watch'd all night to put in order his masters equipage At day-breake that Prince awoke after many â—…bers interrupted with dreams and strange visions and called for such armes as sufficiently witnessed the sad condition of his fortune They were of an ashy colour and there seene in many places sparkles which sparting from under the ashes seem'd to intimate that they nourished a fire which had no other aliment Hic shield was of temper'd steele which perfectly represented that blackish colour which is seen in an extreame deep water In the midst was painted a Granado casting out fire on all parts and these words graven round about it Nothing can quench it His horse's harnesse was of ash-colour'd velvet one half of his plume was of the same hue and the other like fire Thus he came into the haven and assoone as his horse was landed he mounted and rid to the place for combate He was but a while there when Astramadan came That Prince clad in armour as polish'd as the best crystall glasse made the sun-beames so extreamely reflect that those which were about him scarce durst hold open their eyes At the sound of the trumpets the two combatants parted from one another but their meeting againe was farre otherwise for Polexander received onely a fleight touch but his enemie was incountered with so much vigour that he was faine to catch hold on his horses mane or else he had been born over his horses crupper Our Heroe wondered to meete with so little addresse and strength in a personage which had been esteem'd almost invincible but the sequell of the combate made him beleeve that Astramadan had put one of his Knights in his place On that thought he scorn'd to prosecute his victorie and though the other came up to him very resolutely he would not almost take the paines to fight yet at last to put himselfe out of trouble and to learne whereto tended so little advantageous a superâ—…rie bore his sword to the face of that weake enemie and of two good eyes making but one not worth a straw tumbled him dead betweene his horses feet Presently hee cast his eyes towards a place fill'd full with people as if they had been there either as witnesses of the death or cunning of Astramadan but in the same time a new Knight entered the lists and calling to our Heroe to take heed to himselfe threw away his sword and came on him with his battle-axe Polexander thought then that Astramadan had neither resolv'd to keep his word with him nor by the halfe to make him sensible of his perfidiousnesse yet could hee not conceive what his reason was to assaile him but with a single man at a time but wanting time to ruminate on so giddy an infidelitie he went to incounter that second enemie and in lesse then nothing made him keepe companie with him that had begun the combate After that second came forth a third then another after a fifth and to him two more who incomparably more valiant then their companions held Polexander play above two houres and press'd him so neere that if that Demon of valour had not been produc'd to surmount all others wee must surely beleeve that Astramadan had carried away the victorie without fighting But when the tyrant saw his seventh champion laid along he came into the lists and commanding new lances to be brought Polexander came to him on the gallop Knight said he at their meeting I alwayes thought that a great Prince should never undertake any thing unworthy his courage and honour I have therefore alwayes us'd to make triall by some of my Knights of those with whom I was to incounter Both the Princes of Morocco have passed this law the Prince of Zanhara surnamed the Invincible hath voluntarily submitted to it and many others whom I will not name have return'd hence with dishonour for not observing so reasonable a custome Of all those Princes two onely have been thought worthy to be chastis'd by my arme thou art the third and I confesse thy valour makes me jealous and I beleeve that when I have overcome thee it will not be the least act of my life Polexander who found this manner of fighting very handsome could not chuse but smile at it but his disquiets quickly put him out of that humour If said he to Astramadan the Knights of other Countreys had the invention to put their enemies to the like triall whereto thou puttest thine there would many a one have falne in combating which might else have gone away victorious When I shall travell repli'd Astramadan into strange countreys to defie such Princes as command there I will make no difficulty to accommodate my self to their customes Nor doe I said Polexander make any scruple in putting thine in practise but 't is fit I should know them before I be obliged to their observance neverthelesse let us make an end of that which thy Knights have begun and let not the inequality which is now betweene us be the cause of thy ingaging mee to new trialls With that Polexander turn'd from him and went to chuse the strongest he could finde amongst a great many lances Astramadan tooke an extraordinary great one and came against his enemie with an incredible furie Polexander recollected all his strength and carried with a just desire of vengeance ran against his enemie with all the swiftnesse his horse had left him The lances flew into shivers Astramadan's pierc'd his adversaries shield But our Heroe ran through both his enemies shield and cuirats and gave him a great wound on the left side from whence the tyrant lost a great deale of bloud but his rage being farre more then his paine he drew his sword and with it charg'd Polexander with such horrible blowes that at first all he could doe was either to ward or avoid them At last he reveng'd himselfe and made his Antagonist feele he could as vigorously make use of his sword as of his lance Hee made his cuirates fly in a thousand pieces and with a back-blow which is not almost imaginable he not onely parted his helmet but cleft his head in two The tyrant's death ended not the
of his impatiencies and the three dayes insuing making the Danes as much out of hope as our Heroe they resolv'd to returne and lose no more time in so vain a search They were even already resolv'd and fitted to take leave of Polexander when those that were in the scuttle of the ships mast cri'd out that they saw land and cast the Prince againe into the same vexations he had at the discoverie of Tisiphone's Island He ran with Phelismond's Confident to the highest part of the decks and perceiving farre off in the sea somewhat that was cloudie neither the Dane nor Diceus could possibly get him to turne his eyes from it at last he certainely perceiv'd it to be an Island but in the very time that his affection would have had him beleeve it to be that of Alcidiana his memorie and judgement represented the pleasure he tooke in suffering himselfe to be deceived neverthelesse he could not put off so pleasing a defect and belie his conception till his eyes inforc'd him to acknowledge his errour Assoon as he came to an anchor in a roade of the Isle he caus'd himselfe to be landed with the Dane and finding there no other then cedars and date-trees or some more of the like kinde he returned to his ship more discontented then he was before yet the same griefe which drew him from the Island made him presently returne againe He intreated Phelismond's Embassadour to pardon his extravagancies and pitie his sad fortune the Dane who was not so insensible but that he knew the effects of love followed our Heroe and to divert him related the extreame discontent Phelismond was throwne in when he saw himselfe ingag'd by the ill successe of his combate to renounce all his love to Alcidiana Polexander the while walked on a great pace and staid not till he came to a brooke in the midst of a wood which stopp'd his way by the cleare streame he lay downe and began to marke its course so wistly that he forgat for it not onely the Dane but his fortune and himselfe his melancholy which found its element in that moist and obscure abode brought on him so sad but so pleasing thoughts that had he remained long in that case he might have vaunted how in the extremitie of all his sufferings and displeasures he had been intertained with incomparable delights and consolations From these musings he was diverted by the Dane who thinking to oblige him intreated his returne to the ship and not to stay longer in a place which did but increase his afflictions Polexander hearkned to him and as he went back he spi'd along by the river a little path so beaten that it was easily guessed to be often trodden a great desire tooke him to finde whither that way tended and without any cause to be given for that curiositie so firmely stucke to it that he intreated the Dane to give him time for it's satisfaction Scarce had he gone fiftie or threescore paces but the path was lost amongst a great many great palme-trees and as he was going on to finde it againe he heard a kinde of hissing like to that of a Snake The Dane fearing to meet with one of those prodigious Dragons which he had seen pictur'd in maps of Africa began to intreat our Heroe againe to returne to his ship But he who would have beene glad to have met with some monster able to devoute him flew in amongst the palme-trees and casting his eyes on all sides to discover whence that noise should come in lien of a serpent he spi'd at the foot of a palme an old woman asleep who being uneasily laid made that kinde of hissing through the difficultie of her breathing When he came within ten paces of her she awoke and had no sooner opened her eyes but being afrighted with the sight of men so neer she flung up in shreeking out and fled in among the palme-trees Let 's follow her said Polexander to the Dane and make knowne that we are no hobgoblins With that he went on and when he was got farre among the trees he saw one of a greater bulke by much then all the rest which afarre off seem'd as it had been open toward it he went and coming neere perceiv'd that indeed there was a cleft large enough for a man to enter into the truncke Listingly he put himselfe partly into the tree and heard a harmonie like to that of a Lute admirably well finger'd he call'd the Dane and letting him heare a very sad Almain Surely said he the partie that inhabits the bodie of this tree is not so savage as the abiding seemes to perswade us This he spoke aloud that the person who plai'd on the Lute might heare him and come forth and it succeeded as he intended A Lady of eighteene or twentie yeares faire as much as a person extreamely afflicted could be came out of the hollow palm-tree and looking on our Heroe the Dane spoke not to them but with her teares and languishing regards The Dane conceiv'd presently that he had before time seen that Ladie and to cleare it in his own language offered her all that he could for her consolation That faire discontented Ladie had not time to heare the end of his speech but lifting her eyes and hands to heaven and asking her selfe oftentimes whether she had well understood the proffers of the Dane O heaven cri'd she he is my countrey-man I am so indeed repli'd the Dane and can now glorie of making a voiage farre more happie then I could promise my selfe Phelismond may have cause enough to envie my fortune when he understands that the jewell he hath so long sought after by sea and land is as it were of her owne accord come and rendred her selfe into my hands Ah flatterer said the Lady weeping strive not by thy pleasants untruths to sweeten the bitternesse of my destinie Thou knowest what he is doe not set any false glosse on him nor augment my shame and sorrow in making me call to minde the man who yet never thought me so much as worthie of his friendship The Dane desirous absolutely to quiet the minde of that Ladie If Phelismond said he have been so farre insensible as to behold so many allurements and not be mov'd with them 't was Madam because that part which we call the originall of life and sense was not then at his disposall Alcidiana had depriv'd him both of his heart and eyes but now since she hath restor'd them he resents the power of your beautie and admires even your least perfections if I may be permitted to say more and lesse of things which are all alike excellent In a word Madam Phelismond laments and wisheth for you nay all the favours of the King your father will be but so many torments to him till he have obtain'd from you a pardon for his fore-passed faults and see you seated in the Throne of your predecessours Helismena for 't was she could not
laid waste my deare Countrey But what remembrest thou perfidious and abominable Menocenarez Impose thy sorrowes an eternall silence and involve if it be possible in that darknesse which shall never have end those horrible treasons by which thy unbridled passion deliver'd thy King and Countrey into the hands of the Usurpers With that the Slave was silent and not able to suppresse his teares cover'd his face with his hand that he might weep at more liberty Polexander desirous to take him out of that agony I said he have knowne your name in the city of Fez. I have heard Benzaida utter against you all that the anger of a wronged Lady could make her invent yet rather pity then hate her For if her love have brought you into this servitude that which shee bare to the ingratefull Prince of Morocco made her turne on her selfe the point of that ponyard which shee had provided to avenge her selfe on that Infidell 'T was that traytor said the Slave who after he had strook the steele into the heart of Benzaida for he was the cause continually whetted that knife which is prepared to cut my throat But since you know the generall misfortunes of my Countrey I will relate the principall causes and tell you that Ferdinand and Isabella are beholding to my treason more then to their owne power for the conquest of the kingdome of Granado The unfortunate King under whose government that brave Province was lost was one of those timerous Princes who are so far from any intention of extending the limits of their kingdomes by forcible incroaching on their neighbours Territories that they scarce have courage to oppose the enterprises of their owne enemies Two yeares before the truce was broken betwixt the Spanyards and the Moores my ill fate made me cast mine eyes upon Benzaida I saw her faire for she was then in the prime of her age and may well say that in the very instant I began to die of a death which is not yet ended When I lost my liberty I lost my reason and not considering that I was but onely on ordinary knight my ambitious thoughts made me beleeve that my Nation owéd not the Empire and States it possessed to men of a royall extraction but to great invincible and persevering courages such as were Masters of the fortunes of Monarches themselves I therefore sought out the most fit meanes to get me the favour of Benzaida and knowing her to be of an exceeding high spirit and particularly esteemed men of valour I betook me to the Warres I dare say and so will my greatest enemies too that for eighteen moneths together I was plac'd as an inexpugnable Fort on the Frontiers of Granado against the invasions of Ferdinand My name was spread throughout all Spayne The Court of Granado was fill'd with it and the King my Master seeing himselfe secure under mine arme omitted nothing that might oblige me to the continuance of a service that was so advantageous unto him The affaires of Castile recalling Ferdinand and Isabella into their owne Territories our frontiers were left in peace I then returned to Granado and the honours I received there rather beseem'd a King that triumphes then a Subject whose services had made him usefull I was not only admitted to the Princes particular pleasures but to his Counsels and I dare say that if my my love to Benzaida had not troubled my senses and taken away courage I had put the Granadians in an estate of regaining on the Spanyards all those Kingdomes which they have lost within six hundred yeares But that furious passion possessing all the functions of my soule I was not able to reflect on any thing My thoughrs my designes and my wishes had onely the enjoying of Benzaida for their object I betray'd the publique affaires to adjust and fit them to my private contentment and subverted the Counsells of the Sages by the authority which my pass'd-actions had gain'd me In the meane while I burnt in secret and durst not make known to Benzaida that she had kindled the fire But at last the violence of my disease forcing me to forget all consideration I imagined that I should not be more unhappy then so many others who had ventur'd on the like boldnesse One day therefore as Benzaida walk'd in the Palace Garden only accompanied with her maides of honour I met her as it were by chance and feigning to be much surpris'd at the encounter made a low reverence and retired She smil'd at my astonishment and calling me What said she if I were a Castillian you cannot witnesse a greater mislike of me I repli'd even trembling Madam you may please to pardon me if I say your Highnesse doth your self a great deale of wrong by so unjust a comparison I have indeed an extreame aversion to the enemies of your state but their presence shall never amaze me For you Madam whom I am not to look upon but with respect I confesse that as often as I have the honour to see you my soule is full of dread and astonishment but of such a religious astonishment and devoute feare as our Alphaquies command us to feele when we approach things divine and holy Your words repli'd Benzaida more surprise me then my encounter did you I never thought that a man train'd up in warre and who all his life time breath'd nought but blood and battles was capable of so much and so high a jeering I answered that brutishnesse whereof your Highnesse accuseth me under such words as may seeme obliging is not that which hath hitherto made me delight in the acts of warre A fairer cause compell'd me to so noble effects and did I not feare to violate the lawes prescrib'd me by my subjection I would bring your Highnesse to confesse that till now I have not been happy enough to be well known of her I will never said Benzaida take you for my Interpreter since you come no clearer off in your explications I would have onely said that I thought it very strange how a man accustom'd to the serious discourse of warre could be so skill'd in those effeminate termes wherewithall both delicacy and idlenesse have compass'd the Courtiers language Your Highnesse then said I must hate that which is most to be beloved amongst us if you condemne a language which Love himself hath invented to render all things faire and eminent the testimony they deserve from all mens acknowledgements This language repli'd Benzaida is as ridiculous as its Author and though Spaine had nothing strong enough to make you give up your armes yet I will undertake to have the better when you dare defend so bad a cause You have already carried away one part of the victory I repli'd but since I am sure of the other be pleas'd Madam that I leave your Highnesse lest I may be engaged either to ore'come you or to waive all verity and my self With that I made her a low Reverence and went away that
she might have the more time to meditate at pleasure and may be to comprehend the meaning of what I had spoken All things hap'ned as I had fore-thought For the first time that I saw Benzaida againe she darted such looks on me as were answerable to lightning and when I came neere her Goe said she very softly goe bold and rash Man and if you value your life beware lest your extravagancy be known to any whosoever Before I could open my mouth to reply she retir'd and to expresse to you well at this instant what I then felt I must needs say that from the height of heaven she threw me into the depth of hell For a moneth together I assai'd all meanes that were to be imagined for the bringing her to understand the integrity and innocency of my affection but that perseverance was in her thought a new fault and the more I endeavoured to come neere her the more I augmented her desire of flying me After all my patience was quite exhausted and that I knew I was hated for no other cause then the not being a Prince I resolv'd on the most bold and rash designe that ever entred the thought of a Lover I intended to make my selfe King of Granado But well fare thinking that such an Enterprise could have no successe but by great revolutions I thought it was best to begin them by drawing the warre into the Kingdome Presently I sent undeâ—…hand to solicite the King of Spaines Officers and represented to them the facility of making themselves Masters of Granado if so be they would make me of their party To this advice of mine they gave care and I was promis'd no lesse then a Crown if I brought it to passe To witnesse therefore to the Spanyards that I promis'd nothing but what I would make good I went and surpris'd one of their Townes and by that breath engaged Ferdinand to besiege Malago Whil'st I thus laid the foundation of my imaginary Kingdome the Granadians accelerating their owne ruine took armes against one another and during their intestine broyles gave way for the common enemy to fortifie himselfe So well had I provided all things that I had been King of Granado and the possessour of Benzaida if the Moores had persevered in the revolt I had engaged them But Boabdilez after he had subdued his enemies and made himself strongest in Granado compell'd me to follow his fortune that I might not give over my designe Some little time before the young Prince of Fez was come to Granado and obtain'd by his quality that which I could not get by my many and important services and actions of such fame as might have obscur'd the birth of that barbarous Prince Assoone as I came to Court I understood that Benzaida was passionately in love with him but the insolent Prince as a proud Conquerour who mispriseth a victory easily gotten thought he should humble himself too much in contributing but a cold complacency to that Princesse's affection Assoone as I heard that unwelcome newes my love became a furious jealousie and I presently resolv'd with my selfe the death of my Rivall but before I could be in a fit place where I might freely be permitted to challenge him I was commanded by the King to oppose the progresse of the Spanish Army and retaine in obedience those Townes which since the taking of Baza would have yeelded to the conquering party I was in all places of importance and reducing all to their devoyr return'd to Granado to satisfie my Jealousie but the Prince of Fez was gone Hee had repass'd the sea without taking any leave of Boabdilez Benzaida seem'd to me so sad and disconsolate that I doubted no more of her passion For mine owne part I strove to suppresse my griefe and smother my first motions to let her know her fault or at least to entreat some pity for that offence which her beauty had been the first cause of She seem'd extrremly enraged when I durst come neer her and upbraiding me more then ever for my impudence and rashnesse told me boldly that my malipertnes should have been chastised long agone The griefe and vexation to see my selfe so ill treated by the Princesse made me resolve to combine with Spaine for the ruine of my Countrey that I might have the comfort to see a great many Companions in my misery Besides I thought that when Benzaida had lost her Crowne she would give over her pride and stand not so obstinatly in desiring none but Kings for her Lovers I straight sent my Agenâ—…s to Valedolid and my information putting all Spaine in armes Ferdinand and Isabella came and besieg'd the city of Granado But I was not so fortunate as to have the sad contentment to see that Towne in the flame I had lighted to avenge me of its Princesse For at the beginning of the Siege Benzaida stole out of the city in a mans habit with a Moorish Prince called Tyndarache and sail'd into Africa to follow shamefully the perfidious Prince of Fez. Her losse made me take new counsell I renounc'd all my abominable pretentions and abandoning my Countrey went to Morocco to stab if I could in his very throne the Traytor which triumph'd o're all my hopes and travells But I neither found Benzaida nor her Lover there and after I had enquir'd of all such as were likely to tell me newes of him I understood that he was put to sea to follow a faire young Canarian call'd Ennoramita with whom he was passionately fallen in love I imbarck'd me againe in the same vessell that brought me out of Europe into Africa and was about six moneths searching on all sides for that infamous Ravisher of my happinesse But all my diligent inquisition being bootlesse and a tempest shipwracking me on this Isle I was whether I would or no pluck'd out of the sea by two flaves which fish'd by the sea side To this house they brought me and then was I presented to the Chief priest At the very first I made known to him my intent of mischieving my selfe but he instructing one how pernicious my resolution would be to my soul put me clean off from committing homicide on my self Yet was I above three moneths in overcoming my despair Continually I griev'd for Benzaida as ingratefull as she was to me and when I call'd to minde her love to an Infidell I grew so enraged that to hinder off the effects of my fury they were forc'd to put me into the custody of two Priests They told me that if I had so eager and violent a desire to die there was no speedier nor more innocent meanes then to make my selfe the slave of that God whom they adored and attend the lot which should give a period to my life and miseries I was surpris'd with their proposition But a little while after seeing with what bravenesse and jollity one of this Temples slaves came to his death I made a vow to weare the chaines
and as in an act of sorrow every one witness'd his astonishment and feare At last the Soveraigne Priest drew out the ball that was to cleare the doubts of so many terrified mindes and presently they cri'd thrice that the Officers of death should come forth of their darke dungeons Instantly foure doores which were in the foure sides of the bloody Altar opened and foure men came out having their eies banded with black Cypres to shew that with a blinde obedience wee are to goe where we are call'd by the voice of Religion The Arch-Priest deliver'd into their hands the ball which he had taken out of the Urne and presently he and all his Clergy fell with their faces flat on the earth The foure Executioners of Justice which those Slaves call'd divine read the Name that was written on the ball and going behinde the Slaves who by a particular prohibition were enjoyn'd not to turne their heads they seiz'd on that miserable Granadian who the preceding evening as if he had fore-seen his death had before Polexander unburthen'd himselfe of all the sinnes wherewith he was tormented by the remorse of Conscience The Executioners presently blind folded him and making use of no other thing to binde him but the chaines he was wont to weare led him to the Altar Strait they cri'd out that all were to fall flat with their faces to the earth and that done there arose from among the Priests a lamentable voice which filling their minds with horrour Remeâ—…ber it said O powerfull Deity that thou hast not made man to destroy him That being spoken they heard it no more till the pile being kindled another voice but lesse mournfull then the first cri'd out thrice thus Let O mercifull Divinity by thy All-powerfulnesse be enlightned again this life which is newly extinguished for thy glory When this prayer was ended the High-Priest arose and all the Assistants doing the like without any prayer they went about the pile and with no more Ceremony return'd towards the Temple The gates were found shut conformable to the ancient Ceremonies and then the Chief-Prelate turning towards all the Assembly Let every one said he retire and obtaine by his private oraizons what is not to be gotten by the blood of Sacrifices After hee had pronounc'd those words thrice he entred the Temple by a little doore which was then presently opened The Priests departed to their Quarters the slaves to theirs the Embassadours to the High-Priests palace and the Pilgrims to their particular lodgings The Noble Slaves that day eate together in common and after their repast went to walk together in a garden which was appointed for that purpose Polexander took him by the hand who came to visit him with Menscenarez and separating themselves from the rest led him into a long and close alley and witness'd there his grief for the death of their common friend The Slave stopping to answer Polexander I bewaile not said he Menscenarez but I lament my selfe for the losse I have had For him he hath met with what he wished for the end of his torments and the Deity which they worship in this Island making to appeare at need the succour which he promis'd to such as are in misery hath taken home to himselfe our friend from a place where his affliction had infallibly made an end of him by a more dismall blow then that which he lately receiv'd The newes you told him yesterday threw him back into his former designe of dying and the last night calling on Benzaida and bewailing her death I will follow thee ingratefull but amiable Princesse said he from time to time and will let thee know by my death that I knew how to love and by consequence how to die aswell as thee Acknowledge then his death is a particular gratification of the Deity which he hath so faithfully served and that we are more to be lamented then he since we are bound to attend yet may be five or six yeares till the lot free us from our chaines and the remembrance of our misfortunes Polexander admir'd at the slaves understanding and looking on him more cursâ—…usly then he had done saw in his face something of I know not what which made him desirous to know who and from whence hee was Hee therefore ask'd how long and by what accident he came into that Island of the Sun My too much daring said he hurried me hither and that which is to mee the most insupportable of all the torments I indure in my conscience I know I have deserved them I would have gone beyond that which was permitted me My good fortune made me proud and that pride made me forget my self Wretched bird of darknesse that I am I feard not to flutter out of my obscurity but expos'd my weake eies to the beames of a more radiant Sun then is worshipped in this Island In a word I would have committed a Saeriledge and from an adoration permitted gone on to a love that was forbidden me It is now almost three yeares since my impiety was discovered and almost as long time have I undergone the punishment enjoin'd me for it I was at last brought into this Isle and without the hearing my justifications they consecrated me to the service of the Sun Polexander being not to his wish well satisfied intreated the Slave to make known the place of his birth and if he might aske him with modesty to let him understand more cleerly then he had done the cause of his Exile and Captivity It would bee very hard for mee though I indevour'd it reply'd the Slave to refuse any thing you shall request of me Your desires have a certaine charme which compels all mindes and they get with a great deale of violence what they intreat with farre more sweetnesse Let us therefore I beseech you retire to some place where none may interrupt us and I will there amaze you with the recitall of a passion which may serve for an example to all young Spirits which through a ridiculous presumption perswade themselves that all things they affect should be permitted them Polexander putting himself to be guided by the Slave travers'd a great many Alleies and at last came to a place where the murmure of many fountains and the shade of divers Palme trees and Cedars made a retreat fit for the converse of melancholy lovers They sate downe both farre enough from the fountains that they might not be troubled with their noise and Polexander intreating his companion not to deferre the Contentment he had promised him wonne him to beginne his discourse in these termes Certainly they knew well what a passion that is which we call Love when they represented it by an Infant that had his Eies banded They would surely thereby intimate that 't was a two-fold blindenesse since 't is true that Infancy is as it were a blindfolding which hinders the Soules operation with knowledge and permits it not either to consider the end of
carry mee forth and by vertue of some remedies they brought mee againe But I was so sensibly touch'd with it that with sorrow and anguish I fell into a sicknesse wherein my recoverie was so much despair'd of that Alcidiana to comfort my mother who was a sick as I was so noble and good that she took the paines to visit mee and to let mee know that my death would not be an indifferent thing to her I think verely that the power of her sweet eyes triumph'd or'e the violence of my disease For the fever presently left mee but there rested such a feeblenesse that I usually swounded sometimes thrice sometimes foure times in the day In the meane time I pray'd continually that I might not recover of that weaknesse because my amorous swoundings being taken for the reliques of my sicknesse I had the content of seeing the Queen and could swoune before her and yet she not suspect the cause One evening as I meditated in the great garden on the estate I cannot tell whether I may say happy or unhappy of my life on a sudden Alcidiana came into the arbour where I was and being surpriz'd with mine incounter witnessed no lesse anger then if shee had heard all that my reaving had put into my mind What doth this melancholy man here said shee and presently calling for a Lady nam'd Amintha which alwaies attended her See said she Pisander would you not say by his disfigured countenance and his melancholy humour that he is no more already then his shadow Amintha who truly merits to be call'd the example of all courtefie and goodnesse repli'd according to her admirable wit But Madam said she since the wise should make benefit of all things I humbly beseech your Majesty to draw from the losse of Pisander a meanes of preserving your selfe The love of studie and the pleasure he tastes in these meditations hath made him fall into this deep melancholy Beware if you please lest you run the same fortune Your books and your Râ—…aiotez which without intermission take up your thoughts will infallibly throw you into some profound melancholy and at last make you abandon the throne to bury you alive in some one of those Grottes where your Philosopher tells us so often that his Predecessors found out all their Sciences Alcidiana laughing at Amintha's pleasâ—…nt conceit I am said shee no such wise Philosopher to come thither I make profession of a lesse austere doctrine and thou shalt know it my deare Amintha that though I love Philosophy well yet I love Alcidiana better I advise Pisander to doe so too You would be caught repli'd the good Amintha with a great laughter if Pisander followed your counsell You are not so wise as you were wont to be said the Queen who was the best Mistresse that ever was borne The counsell I give to Pisander iâ—… that his Philosophy should be as mirthsome as mine Alas how vainly did that Princesse advise the unfortunate Pisander Hee was not in case to hearken to her for from the beginning of her discourse he was fallen into his usuall fainting Amintha perceiv'd it and ran to help me Presently I recover'd and being a while without abilitie of discerning who was about â—…ce at last I knew that Lady to whom I gave thanks for her assistance and after I had ask't her pardon for the paines shee had taken with mee Shall I said I be ever so unfortunate as to bring nothing but disturbance to such persons whom I have most affection to serve Pisander answered Amintha you should take a little more care for your health then you doe and not suffer your selfe to be thus over-growne with melancholy which will bring you to your grave if you doe not quickly ston the course of it My malady said I is now incurable I have done my utmost to overcome it and from ordinary remedies I have betaken me to extraordinary but both have been alike to me unprofitable Nor indeed doe I expect any else then death and the worst that can beâ—…ide mee is to live I am very sorry repli'd the Lady that I cannot apprehend the cause of that sorrow I note in your discourse but the Queen is gone and I must follow her With that shee went out of the arbour and left me in as much griefe as my sad destiny could make me sensible of What will become of thee Pisander said I then to my selfe Know'st thou not well enough the perill thou ruâ—…'st into to resolve to free thy selfe Seest thou not that all discretion condemnes thy designe that thy flames are criminall that thou wilt be held for a foole if they be discovered and that thy daring is such as far off for being any way glorious to thee it will make thy death and thy memory alike ridiculous Thou art at one extremitie and Alcidiana at the other and these extremes are so farre distant that he who shall undertake to joyne heaven and earth together would not be thought so very a foole then the miserable Pisander if hee perswade himselfe that hee shall be rais'd to Alcidiana or that she will descend to him Let judgement then effect what love cannot Be a victor by flying since thou canst not be so by contesting Desire no more since 't is impossible for thee to obtaine what thou desirest and spend not thy whole life in reavings and dreames which make thee run after phantasmes which thou shalt never attaine to After I had thus discours'd with my selfe and brought mee to be a little capable of reason me thought I saw Love who full of indignation and fury reprov'd me for my disloyaltie and infamous resolutions What said he doest thou so ill acknowledge the favours which thou owest to my bountie and dar'st thou so cowardly betray him who plucking thee out of the centre of the earth hath on his owne wings carried thee as high as heaven To what greater glorie aspirest thou or to what height wouldst thou have mee lift thee if thou be not content to be in heaven But I heare thy murmures and I know thy thoughts Thou tell'st mee thou lovest in vaine that thou shalt never win Alcidiana to the least thought of pitie That thou shalt languish all thy whole life and yet shee shall not so much as know 't is for her and when thou dyest thy death as the death of one of the meanest of her subjects shall not make her bestow a teare on thee Answer mee disloyall Pisander When thou began'st to love this Princesse did thy common sense faile thee so much as to promise thee thou shouldst be belov'd again No no repent thy selfe of thy repentance perfect thy ruine for Alcidiana and remember that the glorious thought which gave thee the boldnesse to adore Alcidiana is of more esteeme then the possession of all that is fairest in the whole world These last counsells made all the former to vanish and my passion flatter'd by these pleasing imaginations taking new root
two houres hence I will conduct you by passages not much frequented to a chamber the key whereof he hath given me and where hee will be as soon as the last prayers are ended In the meane time sleep For my part I will watch for feare you faile in your assignation Ah! friend repli'd Polexander I should have but little curiositie or to say better but a small portion of reason if being on the point of making my happinesse certaine I were able to close mine eyes No no Diceus I will not sleep Tell me therefore once againe all that Alcippus said to thee and omitting the death of the extravagant Tysiphone recount particularly what thou hast heard concerning Amintha Diceus obey'd the command but 't was not so well done but that he left the King his Master doubtfull what was become of that Lady When hee had ended this relation I have said hee to Polexander some advice to give you on which depends all the successe of your labours and inquiries 'T is that you expresly command Alcippus to compresse his affection and keep more then ever that gravitie which he put on with the Priesthood By this meanes he shall secure your life for he may secretly take out the ball whereon your name is written since he keeps the vessell whereinto all the fatall balls are throwne and besides when Alcidiana's Embassadors arrive under the qualitie of Arch-Prelate and Interpreter of the Deitie's will he may invent some specious pretext that may oblige the Embassadors to waft you to the Inaccessible Island But when will that fatall moment betide cri'd Polexander transported with the power of his imagination wherein I may see againe that blessed abode which hath conceal'd and kept it selfe so long away from mine inquisition O fairest Alcidiana be pleas'd to let me taste the happinesse which my hope gives mee of re-visiting you and that losing with my despaire the memorie of my afflictions I may inure my selfe by little and little to those raptures and almost incomprehensible blessednesse which are inseparably annex'd to the condition of such as serve you Polexander would have stuck as ravish'd with these sweet meditations if Diceus had not interrupted them and told him 't was time to goe meet Alcippus Polexander thereupon in all haste clad himselfe follow'd his guide went through the Cloister and unseen of any bodie came to the chamber where he was to meet Alcippus He fail'd not and presently that worthy Favourite casting himselfe at the feet of the King his Master Let Heaven said hee doe now what it will with mee I aske it no more since I have the happinesse of seeing my good Master againe O errour which hast made me shed so many teares I thank thee for so happily deceiving me Polexander taking up Alcippus Remember said he who you are and in what place goe not on in these superfluous testimonies both for your selfe and to me but without losing in needlesse demonstrations of love this time which may be better spent give mee an accompt of all you have done since your departure from the Island of Astramadan and chiefly let me know what is become of Amintha But I feare much that you can relate to mee nothing of her that can be welcome newes for if I call to mind well what you writ in a Cave which is at the point of a rock which they call the Hermits rock you were separated from her by the wrack of your ship What sayes your Majestie repli'd Alcippus and what Demon could bring you to that rock I was brought thither said the King by an adventure the most strange and happy in the world for my ship being sunk I had perish'd but for that rock which to mee was a very favourable haven There I spent two dayes and two nights and read my Epitaph which you had ingraven But put mee out of trouble and tell mee how you were forc'd to forsake Amintha Alcippus beginning his relation at Tysiphone's taking a resolution to follow Polexander to the Isle of Astramadan and having continued it with all that which had passed in that Isle As soon said he as we saw that desperate woman dead Amintha and my selfe return'd to your Vessell and being not able to speak so much had your losse quell'd us that we spent the rest of the day not knowing what to resolve on At last Amintha starting up and speaking suddenly No said shee I will not leave the bodie of Polexander to the mercie of his murderers With that shee went forth and never telling mee what shee intended to doe commanded some of your Mariners to carry her back on shore I went into the Shallop with her but we had not row'd scarce halfe a mile when we saw all the beach cover'd with armed men Our Mariners thereat fell hard to their oares and having told us that there was no reason for us to put our selves into the hands of those barbarous people got back againe to your ship Presently there came out of the haven two Vessels of the enemy and had had we not with all speed gotten into open sea infallibly wee had run the hazzard of losing life or libertie The wind which favour'd us much meeting a ship so good of saile as was yours had quickly made our pursuers lose sight of us Two dayes and two nights we sail'd we knew not whither The third day we discover'd an Island and there our Mariners cast anchor to take some refreshment and from thence to steere right for the Canaries Amintha in all the voyage had no other thought then of your death and from time to time speaking loud enough to be heard Ah! too superstitious Queen said she how lately wilt thou repent thy selfe for preferring false beseemlinesse before loyall affection Well thou art now rid of this cause of thy disquiet but I feare for thy peace lest those disturbances be redoubled when thou comest to understand in what manner thou art delivered from them Thus was she talking when I advertis'd her that we were arriv'd at an unknowne Island You may doe what you please said she For mine owne part I am resolv'd to think on nothing but how I may grieve enough for the losse we have sustain'd Seeing her so constant to her affliction I imagined that if there remain'd in you any knowledge or feeling after death you would accuse mee for the most ingratefull amongst men if I had not a particular care of a person to whom your memorie was so infinitely deare I resolv'd therefore to bring her to the Canaries and put her in possession of all the treasure you had left there that so shee might end her life in the same splendour shee was borne and have no cause to repent her of the affection shee had borne you As soon as our Mariners had provided themselves of all that was necessary they set saile againe and leaving the South behind them bore up full North. From the very first day were we beaten by a
the respect which Ambition and Impiety would have robb'd them of Let us on then said I my brethren and friends and forgetting all of us our owne interests labour for the glory of our great Master That very day I took leave of mine Hermitage and the blessed Ghost of the holy Hermit and imbarquing my selfe in the Vessell of the Sun happily arriv'd in this Island Here was I receiv'd by all the Clergy as some great Saint and install'd with a great deale of ceremony in the dignity of Soveraigne Sacrificator Since I exercis'd this charge I have seen the catalogue of all the Princes and Nations which have used to visit the Temple of the Sun and noting that the Princes of the Inaccessible Island came hither to celebrate the sacrifice of Alliance whereof we have spoken I not onely more lamented then ever your losse but I let my selfe fall into mutterings and speeches injurious to that Providence But it hath out of pitie and infinite wisdome subverted them and rendring me that blisse which I thought utterly lost ingaged me to convert my griefes and lamentations into thanksgivings Alter Alcippus had thus ended his discourse he humbly besought his Master to let him know how he fell into the hands of the King of Gheneoa Diceus said Polexander will at leasure informe you of all that The businesse is now to take order how I must hereafter demeane my selfe in this Island Alcippus having confirm'd him in all that Pisander had related touching the arrivall of Alcidiana's ship and made known the facility of sending to that Princesse for his being inroll'd in the number of her Slaves intreated he would not discover himselfe to any but expect with patience the houre of his good fortune Polexander approving Alcippus advice retir'd to his chamber as privately as he came thence When he was laid instead of sleeping he began to muse on the contentment he was to receive at his up-rising But as if his memorie had been jealous of his satisfaction though it was but imaginary it represented to him Alcidiana's anger farre greater and more mortall then it was and bringing him to meditate on that bloudy Declaration she had publish'd against his life made him conceive that he could not without disobeying her dare to set foot on the Inaccessible Island With that thought crying out as if hee had indeed committed some execrable crime Let me perish said hee since Alcidiana commands it nor let me by any subterfuge dispense with the necessitie of dying since the Lawes of this Temple ingage mee to it Throw in againe Alcippus throw in againe the ball to the vessell of death and doe not betray thy conscience for the sparing of a life which I cannot lose too soone since Alcidiana will not have it last any longer But may be thou wilt say You but little know that Princesses intention Those things which she hath made publick are different from those she retaines in private Her thoughts are not altogether answerable to her words You must interpret Alcidiana by Alcidiana and beleeve that she hath not pronounc'd the sentence of death against you for any other end then that she might have cause to make you sensible of her pitie Amintha and Pallante have said that you cannot doubt of Alcidiana's goodnesse without obliging her to doubt of your fidelity 'T is true Alcippus I have infallible testimonies of that Princesses favour If her Edicts affright me her thoughts re-assure me if I see my death in the one I meet my life in the other Let us therefore cast off all kind of settled will and resting in a generall indifferencie as to our selves goe and heare from the mouth of our Judge whether we must live or die With this resolution Polexander fell asleep and it caus'd it so soundly that the Sun was got far above the Hemisphere before he awak'd Diceus who durst not make any noise was as long in bed too But assoon as hee heard his Master stirre he arose and came and drew his curtaine Friend said the Prince wee doe ill observe the diligence prescrib'd us If our superiours come to know what we are doing and find us yet in bed I doubt we shall receive sharp reprehensions from them Your Majesty may give them leave to talk repli'd Diceus and laugh at the severity of a government under which you are so little while to live Thou sayest true said Polexander smiling Therefore help me up and expose me not to a displeasure which I may avoid Hee was no sooner clad but the usuall cry obliged him to goe to the common Hall There he found the King of Gheneoa's Embassadors which came to take their leave and to aske him in the name of their Master whether hee were fully resolv'd to persevere in the service of the Sunne and Alcidiana After Polexander had imbrac'd them all one after another Relate said he to the King your Master that I am more obliged to him then he can imagine and ere it be long I will send to give him thanks proportionable to the favours I have received The Embassadors tooke their leaves with teares in their eyes and went presently to imbark themselves with all the Pilgrims Assoon as the guards of the Isle saw they were out of sight the chiefe Priest with his Clergie and all the Slaves went to the Temple to make their accustomed prayers for the good successe of the Pilgrims voyage That day Alcippus had a long discourse with Polexander and ingaged Diceus to related to him in particular the adventures which had betided their Master since hee was left for dead in the Island of Astramadan Diceus forgot nothing in his relation but gave Alcippus so many new causes of astonishment that he could not chuse but cry out O great Prince by whose valour we see renewed againe the true age of the ancient Hero's what thanks and Altars doest thou owe to the Power that hath rais'd thee so high above all other Princes For a whole moneth intire Polexander Alcippus and Diceus did nothing every night but entertaine themselves with their adventures and prepare for the happy day whereon Alcidiana's ship was to be descri'd on the coasts of the Island of the Sun The very day they expected her there was a great Vessell by them discover'd which came steering the course from Alcidiana's Island The guards gave notice of it to the chiefe Priest and after the wonted ceremonies done they caus'd the ship to enter the Port. Those who were within her confusedly got to shore and thereby made the guard suspect somewhat Yet their habit of Pilgrims re-assuring them they brought them to the entry to the Temple But by chance one of the Priests being there and judging by their wilde and curst looks that they hid some wicked designe under their devout habit had the curiositie to come neerer and view them better But his prying cost him his life for those disguis'd theeves perceiving they were discover'd inhumanely murdered the
it the first evening he perceiv'd the cunning for he mark'd how the birds obeying to Linceus voice suddenly stopp'd their flight and incontinently after soaring very high they made an impetuous stoop on the ship He imagin'd by their returne that the art of man and not the power of a God had made them capable of a subjection which went for a miracle and had some of the generousnesse of those famous birds which forget their nature and libertie for the pleasure of men or from the docilitie of those which are the ordinarie postes from Alexandria or Cairo and from Aleppo to Tripoly in Syria Being confirm'd in this opinion by the going off and returning of those birds he admir'd the cunning and wit of the Inhabitants of the Inaccessible Island and no more doubted of what he had so often heard spoken that Common-wealth's being compos'd of a small number of able and an infinite multitude of impertinent men the wiser sort as lesse powerfull had been constrain'd to have recourse to miracles and to imploy strengths more redoubtable then their owne to keep in obedience such as being naturally the stronger were in all likelihood to become their masters These meditations tooke up for foure dayes Dicens thoughts the fifth at sun-set he came to the King his master and told him that he heard from Linceus they were the next day to discover the Inaccessible Island and if the wind did not faile then at even they should land about two or three houres within night Our Heroe receiving this newes with as much feare as hope Courage said he to his servant we are now on the point of deciding the great difference that is betwixt us and Fortune we can no more recoile but must either now have the victorie yeelded us or she absolutely take it to her selfe He began not this speech to make an end of it straight but as he was about to continue it he that stood as sentinell in the top of the mast put all the ship in confusion by his fearfull out-cryes he call'd to the Mariners to take care of the ship and to eschew two great fires which being in their course seem'd to beare up right upon them At this newes every one awoke and Polexander amongst the rest coming out of his cabin went up on the poup and was one of the first which descry'd that wonderfull blazing presently he thought it could not proceed from any other cause then the setting some ships on fire and beleev'd it so much the more certainly because a little while after he saw the fire divide it selfe in two and assoone joyne againe His generous soule fâ—…ll of compassion made him thinke on the safetie of those wretches which were like to be burnt in the midst of the waters and to effectuate that charitable thought he besought Alcidiana's Embassadors not to be pitilesse and cruell spectators in an occasion where they might make knowne their goodnesse and courage Linceus was call'd to give his opinion he would gladly have afforded that which he ought to those of his own condition but knowing whereto his charge oblig'd him Humane consideration said he demands one thing and Alcidiana's service requires another If I were Master of this ship I would hazard her rather then see poore miserable wretches perish before me whose cryes even coming to our eares seeme to implore our assistance but I have command to bring backe againe this ship into the Port of Eliza and have none to goe succour these which are in this disaster 'T is true said Polexander approving what Linceus had said 't is not fit to hazard so many persons of qualitie as are in this vessell to satisfie a zeale which as just as it is yet may possibly not be reasonable let 's doe better some eight or ten of us may get into the shallop and rowing neere the burning ships may at least testifie that we are not insensible of other mens calamities This proposition was presently approv'd of and almost assoon put in execution Polexander was not satisfi'd with the good counsell he gave but he would have his share in the danger which accompanied it and though Alcidiana's Embassadors did their utmost to divert him they could get nothing but the satisfaction of following him they therefore put themselves all into one barque and commanding their sailers to get the wind they drew neer the burning vessels and saw two which like furnaces halfe quench'd threw out no fire but what was wrapt up in a thick smoake On all sides they might heare fearfull groanes and clamours and when Polexander had commanded the Mariners to betake them to their oares he thought he heard others which strucke the sea very neere him he made them row towards the noise and presently descry'd a little shallops in which there were onely two women the one laid all along seem'd rather dead then alive and the other strove with oares to get off from the burning vessels but through too much feare and too little experience she did cleane contrary to her intention and when Polexander staid her shallop she was falling againe into those flames from which she had escap'd When she saw her boat stopp'd she cry'd out taking our Heroe for another at first he spoke not to her to the end he might know by what she would say to whom he was to addresse himselfe instantly hee heard the woman make use of a language particular to the Kingdome of Thombut and Galatia and the understanding it gave some I know not what emotion which amaz'd him But he was farre more when she who lay as dead opened her mouth and after many long and frequent sighes in these termes made knowne her lamentable fortune Thou hast O too amiable and cruell stranger pluck'd me out of the executioners hands Thou hast led me from slaverie to a throne and when I had lost all hope of Government plac'd more then one Crowne on my head but to what end were all these obligations and benefits except to make me more miserable in denying the chiefest which was thy companie and affection that height of greatnesse whereto thou hadst rais'd me onely made me more capable of a greater down-fall if thy intention was so thou shouldst rest satisfi'd since my obedience hath been made apparent to thee by mine own ruine and precipitating my selfe into such downe-falls as thou hadst digg'd for me have witnessed to the world that when there was question of giving thee contentment there was nothing too hard for me for this the unfortunate Philesia is pleas'd to die and the more contented since she consecrates to thee with her life that first puritie which neither the Prince of Galatia's solicitations nor the violence of pirates have beene of force to deprive her of Those last words struck Polexander almost to the heart for he felt in himselfe that he was the cause of those just lamentations He call'd to mind the love which the Princesse of Thombut had made knowne
sacred Island to visit the principall Courts of Africa and Europe and to cause that wondrous portraict to be there ador'd which without doubt participates somwhat with the miracles of its originall But a tempest tooke me in that long traverse of sea which is betweene the Island of the Sunne and the kingdome of Senega divers dayes was I in danger to be cast away at last committing my selfe to Fortune I was desirous to see what shee was able to doe ' Shee was not ingratefull for my confidence but brought me happily in to that Island made famous even to the extremities of the earth by the valour of Bajazet that Prince's reputation obliged me to discover to him the treasure I was intrusted withall but he had no sooner seen your Majesties picture then he cry'd out that art was gone beyond all that nature could possibly produce Iblam'd his incredulity and told him that art had been but a most imperfect imitator of nature My exclamation reply'd Bajazet is an effect of my astonishment not of my misbeliefe I make no question but Alcidiana is far fairer then this picture shewes her and if to confirme me in this opinion you had need of another witnesse then your selfe there is a Prince in this Island that would not denie you his testimonie A Prince said I and what Prince Never any but Polexander had the happinesse of seeing Alcidiana May be 't is of him I speak reply'd Bajazet with that Polexander came and imbrac'd me and kissing the chains I wore Thou feest said he O happy Pallantus the deplorable Polexander whom fortune not onely declares unworthy of re-seeing thy divine Princesse but also of bearing the markes of her servitude I answered him in such a fashion that he perceiv'd well hee had offended you and that the punishment of absence was but a part of those to which you had coâ—…demn'd him Hereat not able almost to refraine from teares Tell me said he deare Pallantus the most cruellest of my destinie and let me know what punishment Alcidiana's just anger reserves for my temeritie I thereupon intimated the just causes your Majestie had to make him feele the effects of your choler and after that declaration shewed him the other which you had made against his life with a great deale of respect he read it kiss'd it often and made shew to me of a great deale of joy for his ill fortune because it was your pleasure I would presently have departed but Bajazet having run a hazard of being slaine by one of his pirates I thought my selfe bound before I set saile to see the successe of his wound assoone as I was confident of his life I tooke leave of Polexander and the Princes which accompanied him he left me not till I was imbark'd and when he saw he must needs leave me Know said he my dear Pallantus that my miserie is increased by the hopes which thou hast given me and if ever thy good fortune bring thee backe againe to that blessed place where thy divine Princesse raignes tell her that thou hast left the wretched Polexander on the point of finishing by some new kind of death the incredible torments which his absence inflicts upon him 'T is not that which you promis'd me I reply'd nor doe you expect that I speake of you to our great Queene if you persevere not in the resolution of â—…ffering for her I will doe it then said Polexander since 't is for her glory and husbanding my life in the extremity of my affliction will not put in any hazard but whilst I am forc'd to it by the desire of re-seeing the incomparable Alcidiana After he had thus spoke he imbrac'd me againe and return'd where he was expected in the meane time driven by a favourable gale I sail'd along the coasts of Africa and cast anchor in the port of Morocco The Princes which raign'd there entertained me with all manner of civilitie which the name and picture of your Majestie imperiously exacts from the most barbarous minds From thence I sail'd into Spaine and came to Lisbone to make your portraict admir'd by all the Court of Portugall After I had gotten you a great many adorers there I tooke my course Northerly I saw France England Scotland and upon some newes brought me as I was going out of that great gulf which is commonly called the Scottish sea I sail'd into Denmarke where I saw that famous Phelismond whom your Majesties picture and indignation have rais'd to the highest point of honour At that word Alcidiana interrupting him said coldly I think some body hath heretofore spoken to me of that rash man but never made mention of him without relating to me the advantages which Polexander got on him 'T is true Madam reply'd Pallantus Polexander had the better of him in the combate he undertooke for your quarrell but if that generous Prince may be beleeved 't was not his valour but your Majesties anger which conquered Phelismond And indeed since that time that Prince by a thousand glorious actions hath made knowne to the world that he sprung from the bravest bloud which ever formed Kings It hath been told me said the Queene 't was one of unknowne birth on whom Fortune and the King of Denmark's fantasticall humour were desirous to practice all that they were able to produce 'T is truth Madam answered Pallantus that at first the King of Denmarke divided his authoritie with him and not content to see him the second person in his kingdome even before his death plac'd the Crowne on his head But why deferre I so long time the giving your Majestie a contentment whereof you must be extreamly sensible Be pleas'd Madam to know that Phelismond is your brother Sonne of the great Alcidus your father and of a Princesse who but for her Uncles tyrannie and the usurpation of an English Earle had been seated on the Throne of England At these unexpected and incredible newes Alcidiana stood still and earnestly regarding Pallantus To what end said she tell you me these fables What you say cannot be and put case it is so how are you sure of it I am so certaine of it reply'd Pallantus that if this be not there is nothing true in all the events which carry any thing of extraordinary with them Thereupon he related the loves of Alcidus and Phelismonda their flight into Scotland the death of the wife the affliction of the husband the birth of Phelismond the retreat of Thamiris into Denmark and generally all that we have written touching the adventures of that admirable Favorite and the love of the Danish Princesse Next he recounted how Polexander being driven into a desolate Island there met with that Princesse and learnt from her the cause why she had abandon'd her fathers Kingdome At last said he Helismena hearing of Phelismond's change imbarked her selfe with the Embassadors that Prince had sent towards your Majestie and had the happinesse that after two moneths saile she safely