indeed his memory hath been so reverenced that even to this day all his Successors have held it for a glory to carry his name You may observe in his Physiogminy that he vvas a Prince as prudent as the rest of the Table vvill shevv him to be couragious This battell which you see afar off is that which he obtained against the Teggiur of the Town of Prusia but mark a little how the industrious Painter hath so done it as all these figures seem to move and that in this disorder one may know the victorious party he hath done it so too that Othoman is easily discerned there But if this sight be well represented this assault of that Town of Prusia and where he afterwards established the seat of his Empire wil not seem less marvellous unto you This pane of the wall which you see fallen down and which lets you perceive them plainly that defended it is it not admirably well done These other Towns which you behold so distinctly are those of Sinopa in Galatia of Angauri in Phrigia of Sebasta in Capadocia and these which you see further off towards those Rocks are the rest which he gained on Mare major As for this Land-skip set thick with Towns which you see beyond Prusia it is of Natolia that he wholly conquered and this Army which seemeth to march and whereof all the souldiers are laden with booty is the first that ever passed into Europe and that made strange havock under this excellent enemy But without staying to consider the rest let us pass on to this other Table The Pourtrait of Orchan the second Emperor of the TURKS THis Prince was the truly worthy sonne of Othoman continued Ibrahim infortunate nevertheless in this particular that he was forced to be the first who-began to make war on his Brothers and wholly to exclude them from all pretension to the Empire but if he were unhappy in this encounter fortune recompensed him otherwayes his conquests having extended their limits on the one side to the Helespont and on the other to Mare major These Towns which you see neerest hand are those of Nicea and Nicomedia and this Army in disorder where the Painter hath so well represented fear and amazement is that of the Emperor Paleologue which was routed by Orchan neer to Philocratia as you may discern afar off As for this great extent of Countrey and this number of Towns which take up all the rest of the Table it is Misia Lacaonia Caria and Phrigia except the Towns of Gallipolis and Philopoli which you see on the right hand and which were his last conquests for he died soon after But let us behold the next The Pourtrait of Soliman the third Emperor of the Turks IF the life of this Emperor had been longer he would have yet surpassed his Father both in valor and in prudence and we should have seen the Table of his victories filled up more than it is but whereas his reign indured but two years he had no more time than to take Andriâ—ople conquer a great part of Thrace and bring also under his subjection the Towns of Pergamas Edrenuta Zemeniqua and some others as well on this as on the other side of the Helespout which you see here running athwart this Table But this other piece will furnish us with more matter to speak of than this same The Pourtrait of Amurath the fourth Emperor of the Turks TO describe unto you the humor of this Prince before I speak of his Triumphs I must tell you that he had together both force and weakness curtesie and cruelty and agility in his age that he was both terrible and loving that he was insatiable in shedding of blood and that nevertheless he never put any one to death but most justly It was as well by these according contrarieties that he rendred himself admirable to Posterity as by his valor which being seconded by fortune maâ—e him take Pherea the capitall Citie of Macedonia conquer Misia from Dragus and Mount Rhodope from the Pogdan two valiant and mighty Princes and the most part of Armenia from the Greek Emperor Carathin a great Captain conquered for him also the Towns of Cherales Seres Marolia and the renowned Thessalonica which the Painter hath made to be seen more distinctly than those I have already shewed you as being of more importance Doria could not then forbear interrupting Ibrahim for to pray him to let him know whether those millions of armed and fighting men which he saw in this Table were not the picture of all the Battells that were given during the reigns of all the Emperors You have reason my dear Doria answered the Illustrious Bassa to be amazed at the prodigious number of men which this Table doth shew you where the Art of the Painter hath as well eternized his own glory as that of Amurath by representing seven and thirty battells which he won And that which is yet more marvellous therein is that he died triumphing in the last See you not continued Ibrahim this Army discomfited And this great heap of armes in the midst of the place of battail upon the which a dead man appeares holding nevertheless a scymitar still in his hand and upon whom Victory which you may see here represented in the air throws down Crownes it is the body of Victorious Amurath whose death was worthy of envy and whose life would have defaced the glory of all them that preceded him had it not been blemished with cruelty But if the death of Amurath deserved to be envyed that of Bajazet will give you cause of pitty The Pourtrait of Bajazet the fifth Emperor of the TURKS THe nature of this prince cannot be well represented but by the lightning which terrifieth universally which ravageth indifferently passeth in a momant and perisheth in an instant all of them qualities admirably befitting Bajazet surnamed by his subjects Guilderum that is to say the lightning of Heaven But whereas the remembrance of his life strikes me with horror by reason of the unheard-of cruelties which he exercised it shall suffise to tell you that after he had gotten some battailes which you see presented in this Table taken the Town of Eritza and those of Hisipolis Iconium Casura Migdia and Assara from the Caraman and gained also by armes from a Greek named Theodorus the Town of Damacia and that of Delphos which you see here near hand after he had I say sacked all Hungaria Bossina and Croatia defeated the French Burgingnians and Hungarians in that memorable battail of Nicopolis after he had I say filled the whole Universe with terror put all the Provinces where he passed to fire and sword he lost in one onely battel his Empire and his glory serving Tamerlan who had vanquished him all the rest of his daies and at last was constrained for his geting out of misery to make his tomb of his prison by beating out his braines as against the iron barres of the cage wherein
vvith presents vvhich she sent him secretly and so being sure of his assistance vvhen shee should have need of it behold hovv shee proceeded therein She sent to the Muphti who is the man that takes cognizance of all matters of Religion to let him understand that she had an extreme desire to build a Mosque and an Hospitall where all poor Pilgrims might be lodged and fed but before she would undertake it she would fain know whether this would be pleasing to the Prophet The Muphti answers according to her desire and as she knew that he would answer that the thing would be pleasing to the Prophet but absolutely unprofitable for the second life of her soul because she was the Grand Signiors Slave and that whatsoever she had being Solimans and not hers all that she should do in this estate would be to the advantage of the Grand Signior and not of her This answer received she feigns to be exceeding melancholick she deprives her self of all her ordinary delights and when the Grand Signior visits her she lets her self be surprised still in some muse whereat she seems afterwards to be somewhat grieved and to strive to break her self from it At last she playes her part so dextrously as the Grand Signior began to be troubled upon his observing this change of her humour At first he was contented to ask of her what it was that made her so sad but she answering that it was an effect of her temperature it put him into further pain He inquires of the slaves that serve her whether any one hath given her cause to complain they answer that they know of none but how it is true that their Mistress had been for a good while so melancholick as they did not think she could live long in that sort For indeed when Roxelana was alone with them she always seemed exceeding sad to the end that being the first deceived they might the more easily deceive others fore-seeing rightly that Soliman would inquire of them that served her what she ailed But because she would not be always in constraint she shut her self up the most part of the day in her Cabinet and this unaccustomed retirement served yet very much to make it be credited that she had some hidden grief Soliman being advertised then of all these things began to fall into extreme unquietness he conjured Roxelana to acquaint him with the cause of her sadness and not to conceal the secrets of her heart from a Prince who had given his so absolutely to her he told her that if any one had wronged her he would revenge her for it and in conclusion that there was nothing which she might not obtain from him Hereunto she answered that the respect alone which she bore him kept her from obeying him and that she had always rather die than displease him So pressing a discourse failed not to work the effect which she attended from it Soliman was mightily moved with it and beholding her with eyes which shared with her in her grief he swore that he would not part from her till he knew what it was that troubled his felicity She resists yet a while he presses her the more and speaks to her with such earnestness as she thinks it was high time to discover her self She falls then at his feet beseeches him to pardon her and at last frames a discourse filled with artifice whereby she causes him to comprehend that having had a design to imploy the treasures which he had given her for the honor of the Prophet and her own salvation in building of a Mosque and an Hospitall for Pilgrims she had understood that she was incapable thereof because she was his Slave whereas for that purpose one ought to be of a free condition That she confessed unto him how the fear of the second life had so seized upon her soul as she doubted she should not be able to answer the two black Angells and how the thought that she could never be able to do any thing for her salvation troubled her in such sort as it was impossible for her to hope for one hour of tranquillity in all her life Soliman hearing her say thus lifts her up complains for that she hath so long concealed so just a desire from him and in the end assures her that within a short time she should be contented As indeed the next day he sent her a Patent of her Affranchisement vvhich he had caused to be dravvn up in the most authenticall form that is used amongst us and vvithall ordered so much money to be delivered unto her as she vvould demand Behold her then the most contented vvoman that ever vvas seeing so prosperous a beginning of her enterprize She thinks no longer in apparence of any thing but her buildings she communicates her designs to Soliman vvho on his side esteemed himself very happy in having been able to cure the mind of Roxelana of so black a melancholy But vvhen as a little after he vvould have her come and pass the night vvith him at his lodging he vvas much abashed to see her being alone vvith him cast her self at his feet and vvith her eyes full of tears and a voyce interrupted vvith sighs hear her say unto him I knovv full vvell my Lord that thou art the Master of our goods of our bodies and of our lives and that thy vvill ought to be absolute Mistress of ours But my Lord it novv concerns the Ordinances of Heaven the Precepts of our Prophet and the Lavv vvhich vve profess vvhich vvill not permit thee to dispose of me being free Give heed then my Lord to that which I say and draw not the indignation of Heaven upon thy head for a crime whereof I should be the cause For rather than I will resolve to commit this fault I am capable of taking away mine own life so much do I fear lest it should prove unlucky and fatall unto thee As long as I was thy Slave I never resisted thy pleasure knowing that both divine and humane Laws commanded me unto it But now that I am free and that therefore I cannot be thine without transgressing the Law I think that I do as I ought in this my opposing thee Soliman was so surprised with this discourse as he knew not what resolution to take His passion was strong but his respect to matters of Religion was also very great and the tears and prayers of Roxelana fortified it in such sort as he resolved to obey the Law if it proved to be so He sends for the Muphti propounds the question to him and commands him to examine it well But this man who had already been made and instructed by Roxelana tells him that this question was fully resolved that the Soveraign could not possess a free woman without marying her or without committing an horrible crime He reports the passage of the Alcoran to him fortifies it with reasons which he had premeditated and at
the certainty of an evil whereof he was already but too well assured He remained then without speaking and shutting up his thoughts in his heart he grew to be the melancholickest man in the world He abandoned the care of affairs and making to himself a prison of his Palace he went no more abroad but now and then to go to the Serraglio and that too very seldom His presence which was wont to charm all Soliman's unquietnesses now begot nothing but grief in him for he saw him so altered his eyes so sunk into his head his face so pale his humor so sâ—d and his spirit so troubled as he could not behold him without extream displeasure but a displeasure which he held to be so much the more just as he knew it to be the cause of that of our illustrious Bassa He sought nevertheless to deceive himself by laboring to be perswaded that peradventure the alteration which he saw in his dear Ibrahim was a malady of the body as well as of the minde wherefore he consulted with a Jewish Physician and an Arabian about him who having some time observed the Bassa without his being aware of it judged the alteration which was seen in him to proceed from some strange cause discerning no marks or signs of a known disease in him His frequent sighs the indifferency which he seemed to have for liâ—e and some interrupted words which he had spoken when as by Soliman's order they went to visit him perswaded them that the melancholy which appeared in him was not an effect of his temper but of some affliction that troubled his mind and which questionless was derived from some violent passion After so right and so well-grounded a debate they told the Grand Signior freely that they could not warrant Ibrahim's life that they were Physicians for the diseases of the body and not for that of the minde that in the estate wherein the Bassa was he was to be his own Physician himself though according to their opinion he was in terms rather of being the cause of his death then of his health that for their parts all they could do with their remedies was to fortifie Nature as much as they could but at length so long and so violent a melancholy would make an end of him and so much the rather for that the Bassa to be rid of them said that he was not sick and consequently had no need of remedies Soliman hearing this discourse was extraordinarily grieved at it but he could easily appâ—ehend the occasion of Ibrahim's melancholy For not seeing any reason that he had to be afflicted but for the absence of the person whom he loved he was assured that love was the cause of his heaviness In this opinion he dismissed his Physicians howbeit he was no sooner alone but accusing himself for the loss of Ibrahim he was almost resolved to go and ask of him what he would have without considering how in this occasion he deprived himself of the onely consolation he had and of the onely person he could love when as the Sultana Queen entred into his chamber according to the priviledg which she had for it As soon as she looked on him she knew that he was somewhat troubled in his mind but whereas she was not able to discern whether it were an effect of choller or of affliction she employed all her address to be cleared therein Soliman had no longer that violent love for her which had so often blinded him yet had she still that Empire over him as he could never refuse her any thing but the grace of Rustan so that in this occasion he almost suffered himself to be vanquished by her He confessed not the whole truth unto her but he told her that Ibrahim's melancholy was the cause of all his sadness and without imparting to her that he was a Christian under the habit of a Turk or of what Country he was he told her further that being fallen passionately in love with a Christian Princess whom he had seen during the voyage which he had made by his order the grief of being deprived of her presence and of the hope of possessing her had brought him even to deaths door Afterwards he declared unto her the sorrow he was in for it and how he would give half his Empire to save Ibrahim My Lord said the Sultana unto him if thou wilt accord me one grâ—ce which I will demand of thee I will oblige my self to restore thy favorite to his wonted joy I swear by Alla replyed Soliman to accord any thing so as Ibrahim may be saved My Lord said she unto him I will ask of thee but till to morrow to engage my self absolutely for the performance of that which I have propounded to thy Highness Although Soliman sâ—vâ— nâ— great likelyhood in that which the Sultana said yet he found some content in not resolving so soon to be deprived of Ibrahim In the mean season Roxelana without losing a minutes time sent Rustan word who lay still concealed in Constantinople to come at the beginning of the night to one of the gates of the Serraglio where he should finde two of her black slaves attending for him and not to fear repairing thither because the Capigibassi that kept the gate was absolutely hers Rustan failed not to be present at this assignation no more then the Slaves to receive him and to bring hiâ—â— in When he was in her chamber she told him that whatsoever she could do it was impossible for her to obtain his grace and that she thought he would never obtain it but by some very extraordinary way that there was one did then present it self which she would propose unto him to the end that if he saw any likelyhood in it she would finish that which she had begun and then she recounted unto him what Soliman had said to her and what she had answered But it appeared that Rustan was better informed of Ibrahim's fortune them she imagined for this man who thought of nothing but his re-establishment had suborned one of the Grand Visiers servants to endevor to finde out whether this illustrious Bassa were the cause that he was not restored This servant suborned by Rustan went often to him to give him account of that which he learned and the very same day that Roxelana had sent for him he had acquainted him that Ibrahim was in love with a Princess of Italy to whom appertained a Town called Monaco that the grief for being absent from her had made him sick and would cause his death if the Grand Signior gave him not liberty to retuâ—n thither to see her that he had heard all this through Ibrahim's chamber door who talked thereof in private to an Italian Slave whom he very much loved and whom he had commâ—â—ded if he dyed for sorrow as he seemed not to doubt to obtain permission of the Grand Signior to go and execute his last Will in carrying a Letter to the
slavery but at length the first of these Vessells being come to the shore and the Ambassador who was seen on the poop being known of the people which were already gathered together in a very great number and they no longer doubting but that these vessells which now they knew brought them back both their brethren and their children such a noise of acclamations arose on the suddain as they all spake without understanding what they said themselves and without being understood of others wives called for their husbands fathers inquired after their children some ran into the City to advertise their friends of it others ran out of it with their whole families they in the Vessells cryed to let them know whether all were well at home at last so great a noise was formed of all these cries and murmures as the Ambassador had much adoe to make his orders be understood He commanded all the Chieftaines to accompany him to the Palace and particularly Alphonso not to be far from him they traversed the City in this sort followed by the popular multitude who ceased not from testifying their joy both by their teares and by their acclamation When they were at the Gate of the Palace the Ambassador advanced three or four steps before his Troop that he might the better surprise that honorable Company At his first appearing they sought to know the success of his voyage in his face but as soon as they perceived all the Commanders of their Vessells the gravest and most moderate amongst them could not chuse but shew signes of their amazement and joy and when this first emotion was appeased the Ambassador having made a low obeisance to the Duke and the like to the whole assembly began to speak in this sort The Oration of Antonio Lomelino to the Duke and Senate of Genoua IF the prosperous success of my voyage had been an effect of my conduct of my care and of my address I should without doubt have had so much modesty as to declare in few words the estate of things for to attend from so honorable an Assembly the praise which a service of such importance would have deserved without giving them to my self and I should also have been so generous as to have been fully satisfied with the onely thought of having been profitable to my Country but whereas I have no part in the glory of this action but contrarily I my self am obliged for my life to the Deliverer of so many illustrious Slaves as I have brought you back and which are all either your kinsmen or your friends it behoves me both that I may not be ingratefull in my particular and that also I may keep you from being so in generall to report fathfully unto you how the matter hath past to the end that by understanding all the circumstances you may the better know how it is the interest of the Republique which makes me speak with so much earnestness You are to understand then my Lords that whereas the Emperor Soliman believed that the Law of Nations had been violated in the person of his Chaoux he thought that he might doe the like in that of your Ambassador so that as soon as I was arrived at Pera and that according to the custom I had demanded audience of his Highness I saw my self constrained to pass by his order from my Vessell into a streight prison without telling me the cause therof in such sort as he that came to obtain the liberty of others saw himself deprived of his own and laden with chaines I was two dayes intreated in this manner with a great deal of rigor and I very well perceived by the countenance of them which guarded me that they believed my head was the onely price of my liberty As I was in this unquietness I saw the Aga of the Janizaries enter who caused me to be told by Dragoman of the grand Signioes whom we call an interpreter that his Highness willing to give me audience had commanded him to conduct me to Constantinople without any ceremony this mutation surprised me so much the more for that I could not imagine the cause of it having been well enough informed that Soliman doth not easily change his resolutions and that repenting is a motion of the soul which is almost unknown to him In the mean time I beheld my fetters broken off without seeing the hand that delivered me and in this uncertainty I attributed that to the inconstancy of Fortune which I owed her not at all But my Lords why should I longer conceal this mighty and generous hand which hath delivered me The impatience which I see in your looks to know the name of our Deliverer invites that also which is in me to tell it you wherefore I must interrupt my order and without going to Constantinople to paint forth unto you the resentment the choler the menaces of the Sultan I say unto you that he unto whom you ow the return of your vessells the lives of your children and the peace of this Republick was not carried to this brave action by a sense of acknowledment it is a man who could have revenged himself instead of serving you without committing an injustice it is a man whom you have exiled because he withstood a violence it is a man whom you have chased avvay because he had been so generous as to save his enemies life it is a man whom you have banished because he shed his blood to take part with the vveaker and vvho by misfortune killed one of your Citizens not only to secure his ovvn person but to assist an undefended man finally my Lords it is by Justiniano that vve are living it is by him that vve breath the air of our Countrey it is by him that vve do not see an Army of an hundred thousand men at your Gates and it is also by his liberty and that of Doria vvho is conjoyned to his fortune that you may pay our ransome as the only price which great Soliman hath set to redeem us It is in preserving this illustrious person that you may preserve the glory of the Senate and it is upon this condition that according to the power which I had for it I have ingaged the Publique Faith for the revocation of a Sentence which you signed with regret and which you accorded rather to the tears of Philippo Spinola whom I see here in this renowned Company than to Soveraign equity It is not because I will condemn in him the apprehensions of Nature but contrarily I purpose to stir them up in his heart by letting him see that if by misfortune Justiniano hath deprived him of one sonne the same Justiniano hath restored him another in bringing him back Alphonsâ— who with tears in his eyes begs of him by my mouth the grace of his Deliverer They which are sensible of outrages ought to be so likewise of benefits especially when injuries have not been done by a premeditated malice and
to see her self so carried away had so weakned and oppressed her as she was without pulse without motion and almost without life The resentment which Rustan shewed for it and the care he took to assist her though it was rather the effect of his interest than of his pitty caused the Princesses women to have some comfort amidst their misfortune They laboured all of them together then to make her come to her self again and a little after she assured them by a deep sigh that she would soon be sensible of all her miseries and accordingly within a while she opened her eyes but not being longer able to make any resistance and seeing Rustan by her whom she knew though she had never beheld him but once before and that he had changed his habit she was constrained to have recourse unto her tears Rustan seeing her in this estate fell on his knees before her to ask her pardon for the wrong he did her and to beseech her to beleeve that so sad a beginning would have a most happy end He told her likewise that he was not what she thought him to be that he operated by a more powerfull hand than his own and that if her grief would permit her to give ear unto that which might comfort her she would quickly dry up her tears This Princess striving to answer him said unto him with a low voice that there was no vvay to comfort her but to assure her that she should die without the deprivation of her honour and liberty and without falling into the hands of Deliment Rustan sworâ— unto her then that he knew not that Deliment of whom she spake and protested that far from doing her any violence he would serve her with all respect beseeching her once again to suspend her grief untill she had learnt the cause of her misfortune This cheater spake this with a face wherein compassion and sincerity were so well painted forth as sollicited again by her women she resolved to hear him But he first desired that she would give them order to withdraw a little aside to the end that none but she might understand what he said unto her She made some difficulty to agree thereunto but at length she was forced to obey He recounted to her then how her unhappiness was an effect of her beauty but he did not tell her that Soliman had loved her under the name of Felixana onely he acquainted her that her picture had begot this love and consequently the design which he had executed howbeit he perceived that Axiamira did not beleeve him so that to perswade her the better he shewed her picture to her which she presently knew and calling her women to her to look upon it she put them in mind how the Sophy having caused her to be drawn one day with Felixana by an excellent Painter whom fortune had brought into their country he had commanded many coppies to be made of them which he had given to Merchants for the publishing of her beauty all abroad and that of Felixana whom he infinitely loved Upon this discourse Rustan was no longer troubled to conceive how Axiamira had been taken for Felixana easily imagining that a Merchant who it may be understood not the Persian tongue very well might be deceived in taking the picture of Felixana for that of Axiamira and that of Axiamira for that of Felixana and much the rather for that the Merchant had got those pictures without ever seeing the Princess as we came to know afterwards But to return to this afflicted fair one after that Rustan had acquainted her with the cause of her misfortune he would have inlarged himself upon the magnificences of the Seraglio upon the excellent qualities of Soliman upon the excess of the passion which he was in for her and have perswaded her that her unhappiness would make her happy But this generous Princess not able to endure a discourse so far distant from her sense sayd unto him with a voice much stronger than the weakness wherein she was would seem to permit her do you beleeve then that a person which might have succeeded to the Crown of Persia can resolve to be the slave of Soliman to spend her life in prison and to have for her companions infamous creatures who are for the most part the refuse of Pyrates No no Axiamira came not into the world but to reign and her death shall make it soon appear that she knows not how to obey Fortune hath put me into your hands but mine shall deliver me out of them After this she mused a pretty while very profoundly Rustan not daring to answer her for fear of further incensing her then suddenly speaking again and addressing her self to him Can I hope sayd shee unto him for any sincerity in a man that hath so cruelly betrayed me and can I beleeve that what he hath told me is true for how can it be imagined that Soliman whose reputation is so great and so fair should be capable of causing an innocent Princess to be forcibly carried away for to make her his slave and how can it yet be conceived that this Prince who is sayd to be so amorous of a certain Roxelana and who hath loved her so long could be in a passion for a picture yea in such a passion as hath obliged him to violate the law of Nations to forget naturall equity to outrage a Prince as mighty as himself and to do an act so strange as it is without example in all Ages Tell me then I conjure you said she unto him the true cause of my disaster and hide not from me that which time will clear unto me but too well Rustan seeing her mind a little quieter in all appearance thought he might gain her by gentleness wherefore he assured her with all the artifice that possibly he could use how all that which he had told her was true but how it was true also that the image of the Seraglio which seemed so dreadfull unto her was a meer effect of her grief that all the grace he would demand of her was no other but that she would live untill she had seen Soliman which favour if he might obtain of her he was well assured that the sight of so excellent a Prince would make her change her opinion Yes said she interrupting him I will live if my grief will permit it but I will live only to seek out the means how to revenge the death that I will give my self as soon as my complaints and cryes have made some one to know the outrage which I have received to the end that the report thereof being bruited abroad the Sophy my Father may by learning the cause of my loss take such revenge for it as Heaven doth promise me and which also I beg of it Behold then what I accord to your desires in the mean time if pitty may yet find any place in your soul leave me to weep with my women
this Lover was absolute Master of his Estate and of his own will they resolved to accomplish this Mariage within four dayes to the end that the Marquis who was to return to the Court might be at his sisters wedding Things being in these termes Marsé arrives who was come on purpose to his Mistresses Mother to discover his design unto her As soon as the Marquis saw him enter he descends he goes and imbraces him invites him to his sisters wedding before he acquaints him to whom she is to be maryed seemes to believe that he is not interessed therein talks to him of dancing and joy hoping thereby that Marsé seeing the matter resolved would not explain himself further and peradventure would alter his mind As indeed Marsé hearing this discourse and knowing that his rivall was returned makes no doubt but the Marquis spake the truth onely he doubted in regard of the manner of the Marquis his speech to him whether he had observed that he affected his sister He was mad that he had not declared himself sooner and that he was arrived so late and in this unquietness he knew not whether he should goe in or no to be the spectator of his Rivals tryumph whether he should quarrell with the Marquis though he knew not as yet that he was faulty whether he should depart away without saying any thing unto him or whether he should trouble this wedding with some strange violence in fine he was so confounded as not knowing what to doe in so unpleasing a conjuncture he suffered himself to be conducted along by the Marquis whose adress in this occasion was such as without seeming to perceive any change in his countenance he still continued talking to him of diversion and joy and that too with imbracing and putting him gently on towards his Mothers chamber whereunto as soon as ever they were entred the Marquis presented his brother-in-law to Marsé who saluted him very coldly in the mean time he had leasure to tell his Mother and his sister in two words that to keep Marsé from shewing his hatred and resentment he was not to be left alone with any body After that civilities were rendred on either part the Marquis thought it was fittting that he should entertain the company he began then to quarrell with his sister for that she was the cause of his rejoycing at a thing which was repugnant to his mind but withall he was well assured that this thing should never give him joy again either for her or any other and that this compliance was no doubt the greatest mark he could render her of his love Marsé hearing this discourse demanded of him whether he meant mariage by that which he spake and the Marquis without further delay answered him laughing that it was of that destroyer of love of that Tyrant of libertie of that enemy of pleasure which most commonly disjoynes all that Love hath united which discovers all the defects of the mind and humor to persons that believed they were altogether perfect and that which was worse than all the rest for him which banishes love inconstancie and gallantry from amongst men to introduce into the stead of it jealousie of honor a false constancie and domestick cares So that as you speak replyed Marsé interrupting him you believe it may be that you should much oblige one of your friends if you should mary his Mistress to another If he should tell me answered the Marquis that he would mary her I should not contradict his intent for I am so much an enemie to constraint as I never oppose any thing but otherwise if a worthy man of my friends should appear to me extremely amorous I doe not think I should doe him any great wrong if I should deprive him of the meanes of marying his Mistress in case his passion should disorder him so far as to give him a desire to doe so And in the humor that I am the greatest proof of affection that I can render unto a maid when I become inamoured of her is not to marry her yea and I have met with some unto whom the more favourably to receive my affection and to testifie unto them the respect which I bare them I have declared at the first sight that in becoming their Servant I had no design to become their Master and in assuring them that I was their slave I assured them that I would never be their Tyrant It may be replyed Marsé you have not alwaies spoken so openly that I have not answered the Marquis when I believed that those whom I loved had wit enough not to suspect that I had any such bad intent but howsoever I have never done or said any thing which could make them believe that I had any other aym than to love them to be kindly received of them to be heard with pleasure and to obtain of them all those petty favours which are no part of the Husbands demean and which ought alwaies to remain in the disposition of Ladies therewith to gratifie their Lovers For since there are not men found which amuse themselves in wearing bracelets of their wives hair which demand favours of them which are ravished with kissing onely the tip of their gloves with saying gallantries to them praising their beauties giving them serenades making verses to their glory and telling them that they burn and dye for love of them Is it not strange they should be deprived of all these pleasures and is it not unjust that men which doe not love them should possess them absolutely and that they which adore them should not at leastwise have all those petty things which are not directly opposite to vertue Your maximes are so bad said the Marquis his Sister speaking to her Brother that if you had not alwayes been at Court and that we had alwayes been brought up together I should have some cause to fear that one might imagine you had perswaded me to your opinion I dare not say replyed her Lover that these maximes which you condemn have nothing in them that clashes with reason nor also maintain that they have nothing in them but that which is bad for I have too much love for the Sister and too much respect for the Brother but howsoever I am confident that you will not follow them It is true said Marsé tartly enough that inconstancie is not that wherewith he is to be reproched and I know not whether on the contrary Vertue opposed will not prove to be the onely crime that may be imputed to him The Marquis perceiving that the other was preparing himself to answer and peradventure with bitterness continued to speak of the injustice of men in the discerning of things For said he if the diversity of good books renders a man knowing if diversity of voyages serves him for an agreeable study which illuminates his mind and informs his judgment if the diversity of fair arts is a knowledge that pleases if the diversity of
perceiving that his mother did eat nothing he besought her not to afflict her self so much and that she would eat something for the love of him Saying so he presented her with some of those impoysoned fruits which were prepared for him he little dreaming of any such thing The poor afflicted Mother thinking it a crime to refuse her sonne takes the fruit which he presents her with and to content him eats it vvith her eyes all bathed in tears But the infortunate Mustapha knevv not that he gave death to her vvho had given him life and that this crime vvhich he committed so innocently should be one day severely punished in his person though he vvere never accused for it Having been in this occasion like those innocent offerings upon whom in times past amongst certain Nations the crimes of all the people were charged The poyson which Roxelana had caused to be prepared was slow to the end it should make no noise and that when Mustapha should be out of the Seraglio and Soliman should be told that he was sick she might make him beleeve that change of air had caused this malady But destiny would not have the matter go so for in fine not to prolong this discourse any further Mustapha went out of the Seraglio in good health with no little grief to Roxelana vvho had been advertised that he had not eaten of the impoisoned fruit As for the mother that never troubled her for though she fell sick the very same day and dyed a moneth after no body beleeved there was any thing extraordinary in her death because Roxelana had caused it to be bruited how the sorrow for Mustaphaes cloignment was the cause of it and how since that day she had never been well as indeed she lyed not and this was so generally beleeved as the sick Sultana her self sayd so much to them that came to visit her she never suspecting any wickedness Behold Madam Roxelanaes first persecution of the Prince Mustapha Indeed it is true that he was not sensible of it for he never knew any thing of that which I have told you Now you must not imagine that this violent desire which she hath alwayes had to destroy Mustapha whereby her children may reign is a sense of affection for them she hath not so legitimate a design and the only thought which she hath is to remain the mother of an Emperor after the death of Soliman because she knows very well that this quality gives alwaies a great credit to those which possess it and brings them into veneration amongst us I should never have done if I would relate all her wickednesses unto you But at length Mustapha in spight of all her artifices lived was brought up with great care maryed an excellent Princess of the bloud of the antient Kings of Capadocia whom he loved passionately and proved as you know as excellent a Prince as ever was And the hate which she bore him could not keep the Prince Gianger from having as much good will for him as she had aversion But to strengthen her self still the more as soon as her daughter had attained the age of thirteen yeares she got Soliman to mary her to the traitor Rustan who for all that hath not forborn often betraying her self for he seekes his own greatness and not hers Behold Madam what the first wickednesses of Roxelana have been for as for the rest you know them but too well And it may suffice that I have onely shewed you her inclination This woman never incountred person that opposed her violences but the grand Visier Ibraehim who ever since he hath been amongst us hath had so much power with Soliman as she could never he being the most vertuous of men make any of her wicked devices succeed either against him against Mustapha or Gianger for he loved them both dearly untill such time as for our ill fortune he went away some six monthes agoe upon a secret expedition whereof all the world talks diversly for seeing the mischiefes which have arrived by his absence it is feared lest she hath caused him to be murthered by the way It being very certain that if he had been here the rage which she had long shut up in her heart had not broken out so deadly as it hath done Alas said Axiamira interrupting her how much hath he whom you speak of been wished for in vain of the Prince Gianger And how often hath he spoken to me of him with a world of praise But mother continued she you have recounted so many things unto me as Soliman me thinks should be above an hundred yeares of age and yet he seemed not so old unto me on that unhappy day wherein I saw him It is answered Halima because I having enchained two Histories in one and begun to speak of Soliman at the age seaventeen yeares your mind by the length of my narration and the number of things which I recounted hath thought that which you say But if you please I will let you see the contrary Soliman was seaventeen yeares old when Bajazet put the supposition of the Slave upon him at the end of sixteen yeares when Roxelana was presented unto him he was thirty and three she fifteen and Mustapha seaven So that if you are ignorant of all these things you will find that Roxelana is not above seaven and thirty yeares of age Mustapha was nine and twenty Gianger eighteen and Soliman is fifty and four though he seem not to be more than forty And that which is strange in this Prince is that he is at this present of a more amorous humor than he was in his younger yeares I shall not have much ado answered Felixana who had not spoken yet to believe that which you say and I know but too well by mine own experience that there are men in whom age doth rather stir up passions than appease them With such like discources Halima indeavoured to divert the Princesses melancholy but remembring that she had not eaten any thing of all that day she went to give order for the serving up of dinner On the other side Ibrahim who had not forgot the design which he had and the request of Ulama after he had spent part of the morning at the Divano which was held that day and the rest of it with the Grand Signior without speaking of any other thing than the war of Persia he returned to his Palace there to take along with him the Slave which Ulama had sent to him that he might carry him to the Castle of the seaven Towers whither he went with an intention to ease the miseries of others since fortune would not let him find a remedy for his own The end of the fifth Book IBRAHIM OR THE ILLUSTRIOUS BASSA The Third Part. The First Book WHen as Ibrahim arrived at the Castle of the seven Towers where Axiamira and Felixana were prisoners he commanded the gate to be opened to him as they used
with a great deal of admiration I do not marvel said he unto Ibrahim that love hath been stronger in thee then friendship and that the sight of so rare a creature hath been dearer to thee then all my favors But it is not requisite that so many persons should be spectators of thy felicity and it will be enough if thou suffer me to be partaker of it with thee Saying so he commanded the Aga of the Janizaries to cause all that had been brought thither to be carryed into Ibrahim's Palace and to send every one away but onely those which were to serve the Princess In the mean time Emilia who came in the Charet that followed the Canopy under the which Isabella had been placed lighted out of it and repaired to her the Slaves that were destined to wait on her in her chamber followed her also and in that order the Grand Signior marching foremost and leaving Ibrahim to lead Isabella they went up the stairs entred into his chamber and passed into his Cabinet where they were no sooner arrived but the Sultan beginning to speak acquainted the Bassa how having seen that his melancholy was invincible and knowing that the absence of Isabella was the cause thereof he had desired to make it cease without parting with him That besides to the end there might be nothing wanting to his felicity he had not caused her to be thus brought away without considering the sequel of it and that the Princess might live contentedly in his Empire where she should always have as much power as he That for so much as regarded her Religion she might not only be a Christian in her heart as he was but even in the sight of all the people That there were examples of the same in the Othoman family that Mahomet the second was the son of the Dâ—spot of Servia's daughter whom Amurath had marryed both out of love and interest That the same Mahomet had marryed the sister of the Emperor of Constantinople to Zogan Beglierbey of the lower Macedonia with permission for her to have the exercise of her Religion as freely as if she had been amongst the Christians That these examples sufficed to keâ—p the people from accusing him of introducing a Novelty but in case they should dare to murmur at it he knew well enough how to make himself be obeyed To all these particulars Ibrahim had nothing to say but to thank Soliman for although upon a second thought the joy to see Isabella again was crost with some unquietness yet he found no occasion to complain The Princess on her side coming thus to learn that it was not Ibrahim which had caused her to be brought away was much comforted therewith being very glad to see that his own interest had not carryed him to expose her to such a violence In the mean time Soliman continued beholding Isabella with a world of admiration for albeit the grief she had been in had a little altered her yet the joy to see Ibrahim and the agitation of her spirits had brought a carnation into her cheeks which covered all the marks of her melancholy and which rendred her as fair as ever she had been The Grand Signior being surprized with too much attention in considering this Princess desired at least-wise that the Bassa might not interpret it amiss so that to conceal it in some sort it must be acknowledged said he unto him that thou hadst reason to assure me that the pictures which thou hast placed in thy chamber resembled this Princess but very imperfectly for the more I seek for the ayr and features of those pictures in her face the less comparison do I finde in them Hitherto the Princess had not answered to Soliman's discourses save with obeysances and submissions but hearing her self so highly praised she fell a speaking and humbly besought the Grand Signior he would be pleased to justifie the love which Ibrahim bare her by some other way then by that of her beauty She told him that if he had not stronger chains then that he would be blame-worthy for preferring her before his Highness but without considering either her merit or her beauty he was to think that the affection which he carryed to her was one of the inevitable effects of sympathy or sate That she requested him to beleeve how Ibrahim had done nothing but what he could not chuse but do that he knew without doubt as well as she that the glory to serve so great a Prince was to be preferred before all things but his knowledg being the least of that which governed his will he had abandoned Reasons party to follow that of love Soliman ravished with the wit of this Princess desired her to pardon him for her forcible bringing away and to remember that he had not undertaken it but to save Ibrahim's life So fair a cause answered the Princess could not produce a bad effect and whatsoever can save Ibrahim can never wrong Isabella With such like discourses the Sultan and these two illustrious Lovers entertained themselves very pleasingly but dinner time approaching the Grand Signior told the Bassa that having purposed to bestow the Sultania Asteria upon him for a wife and his love not permitting that he should be so happy as to have the most excellent man upon the Earth in his allyance he would at least-wise bring him Isabella with the same pomp and with the same ceremony as if she had been his daughter indeed After so obliging a discourse he retired leaving Isabella extreamly satisfied both of his wit his courtesie and generosity The Fourth Book AFter the Grand Visier had waited upon the Sultan forth he returned to Isabella with so much transport and joy as he had never felt the like before the liberty to be able to speak to her without other witnesses then Emilia was so sweet unto him that neither the remembrance of what was past the care of the present the fear of the future nor even the weakness which his melancholy had brought upon him was sensible either to his body or his minde I would undertake more exactly to describe the apprehensions of these two illustrious persons were I not perswaded that one had need to have made tryal of the like misadventures and the like pleasures before one could worthily acquit himself thereof After the first transports which unexpected joys do cause in a soul and which for the most part do somewhat disorder Reason Ibrahim and Isabella coming to consider the estate wherein they were found that Fortune had but gilded over their Irons yet was it some consolation to them that they might wear them together I would not follow you to Constantinople said Isabella to Ibrahim without being your wife nor would I likewise that love should have carryed you to make me be forcibly brought away but since without your or my being guilty thereof Fortune hath conducted me hither I have courage enough to endure this noble captivity with you until we
any thing of all that happened unto her She imparted to him that Octavio's house being neer to hers she had no sooneâ— opened her eyes but she was acquainted with him and that he had no sooner beheld her in his tendrest infoncy but he was pleased with her That their Fathers being friends they had a thousand times seen one another in that innocent age wherein decency did not require one yet to live with so great a restraint and that then without knowing what it was to love they sorbore not carrying affection to each other She told him further that in this age wherein feigning and dissimulation have no part and wherein the inclinations of the Soul appear such as they are so great a correspondence was seen betwixt Octavio's and hers as no difference could be found therein But said she to Alphonso sighing neither he nor I knew that this sympathy which so straitly united our hearts and mindes should disunite us eternally that this springing love shâ—uld one day be the cause of his death and cost me so many tears and without dreaming of any such thing the pleasure alone of seeing one another and talking together took up all our Souls We knew not as yet for all that added she what those thoughts were which we had one for the other neither did we perceive them till decency would not permit us to see one another so often The privation of a good makes us know the greatness of it and the design which we had to conceal our affection began to make me suspect thâ—â— there was something in it more then good-will I did then all that I could to disengage my minde from a passion which I had always heard to be very dangerous but whereas it was more ancient in me then Reason Reason was not strong enough to chase it out of my Soul but contrarily it was she which engaged me further in it and that speaking to me of Octavio drew the picture of the worthiest man that ever was She told him moreover that which she felt in her heart when as by any reason of honor or business he was constrained to be absent from Genoua the small delight she took in Assemblies when he was not there and how much she enforced her self to seem merry during his absence She acquainted him also how exact Octavio was in following her pleasure in all things what care he used to take from her all occasion of suspecting his fidelity and with what discretion he still demeaned himself towards her all the time of his serving her But said Alphonso interrupting her had you never any of those petty disorders which augment love rather then diminish it No no answered Leonida Octavio never gave me cause to complain besides our affection had no need of that artifice to render it the stronger since it is certain that never any person loved more perfectly then we Alphonso would fain have assured Leonida that he loved her yet better then Octavio had loved her but his minde was so unquiet as he could scarce speak And then again Leonida gave him not leasure to do it for she was so attentive in exactly relating all that had past betwixt Octavio and her as she never took heed of all the several changes which her discourse made in his face She continued then telling him that after an indifferent long love Octavio having obtained permission of her to demand her of her parents believed that his happiness was so sure as he had no doubt at all of it for whereas his Father and hers had always lived as good friends together and their fortunes were equal he could foresee no impediment in it But he knew not said Leonida then looking on Alphonso that a passion less noble then that which raigned in his heart opposed his and that avarice which is far more powerful in the mindes of old men then love is in that of young folks should destroy his and my hopes and should finish our love by his death for to settle a grief in my soul which I shall conserve there eternally In sequel hereof Leonida likewise declared to Alphonso that one named Livio of the Family of the Frigozes a man very rich in the goods of fortune but very poor in those of the minde being touched with her beauty without any thought of discovering his affection to her or gaining her favor went the very same day that he fell in love with her and demanded her of her Father prescribing him no other conditions then that of giving him his daughter and that this old man who knew Livio's wealth being more mightily touched with the love of riches then Livio was with the beauty of Leonida had promised him to bestowed her on him and had engaged his word to him in such sort as nothing was able to make him break it So that Octavio arriving an hour after that Livio was gone and making his proposition he was wonderfully surprized to learn from Leonida's Father that he had promised his daughtar and that it would be in vain for him to hope he might make him change his resolution Octavio could not apprehend that Leonida could be promised to any one and she not know of it and on the other side said Leonida to Alphonso my fidelity was so well known to him as he durst not doubt of it In so deplorable an estate continued she he left my Father and came and found me out at an Aunts of mine who favored our affection and where I had appointed him to come and acquaint me with the answer he should receive But O Heaven I cryed she I did not foresee that this sentence should be that of Octavio's death and of the loss of all the felicity that I attended from it He came then but with so much melancholy in his face as at first I made no doubt but that he had some fatal news to impart unto me When as he had obtained permission of his grief to speak to me and that he had acquainted me that not onely I should not be his but that I was already anothers my affliction was so strong that albeit Octavio's was exceeding great yet was it for him notwithstanding to comfort me He told me that our misfortune it may be was not without remedy and that if I had as much stedfastness as he had love I should vanquish my Fathers rigor Alass said I unto him sighing I will not bewail the tears which I shall shed if they may move his cruelty but if they prove unprofitable to me continued she what arms shall I make use of Of those of your constancy said the infortunate Octavio to me Alass cryed Leonida in making this relation to Alphonso how often have I repented me for not believing him I and rather chusing to obey my Father then to be faithful to my Lover After this transport of affection she recounted unto him all the resistances she had made against her Parents pleasure her grief and despair
in your own dispose as in mine wherefore then if you have not deceived me do you not obey me When as I promised you that which you say replyed Alphonso I hoped that I might if not raign in your heart at leastwise not be surmounted there by any body Leonida perceiving then that jealousie was the disease that tormented him and knowing that she had given him no reasonable occasion for it fell a smiling and reaching him her hand with that gallantry which is so natural unto her Affict not your self said this amiable creature nor fear that I will be displeased to understand that you are jealous I know said she unto him still smiling that we fear to lose the good which is extream dear to us that jealousie is an undoubted sign of a strong passion and of the merit of the person whom one loves because if she were not amiable she would have no Lovers and consequently she would give no cause of jealousie And I am the less offended continued she to see you touched with this passion in regard it is easie for me to help you For to speak more seriously to you added Leonida you have no Rivals which can keep me from giving you the pleasure when you will to hear me termed by them cruel inhumane rigorous and inexorable In fine said she unto him you have a malady whereof you shall no sooner have acquainted me with the cause but you shall be cured of it I do not think answered Alphonso with as much anguish as Leonida had gallantry that it is as easie for you to restore tranquâ—llity unto my Soul as it was easie for you to deprive me of it for continued he I have no Rivals whom you can ill intreat and yet I am the most jealous that ever was I do not understand you said Leonida to him with more coldness then before and if you do not explain your self better I shall beleeve that either you have lost your Reason or that with a premeditated design you purpose to break off with me But take heed Alphonso of leaving me long in this suspicion for fear lest whereas I am proud and disdainful I do not prevent you and it be too late for you then to have recourse to my goodness Alphonso surprized both with Leonida's discourse and the manner wherewith she spake resolved at length freely to tell her the cause of his grief I know very well said he unto her that I am going to speak in vain for my self and indeed it is rather out of despair then Reason that I am carried to obey you Know then continued he that I am jealous and that I shall be so eternally since the Rival that surmounts me in your heart can never dye for to conceal the truth from you no longer the blessed Octavio is the object of my jealousie The tears which you shed for his memory are the cause of those which I shall pour forth all my life time the sighs which you fetch for him shall always make me sigh and his past felicity shall beget the misery of all the rest of my days You have loved him so much continued he and you love him so much still that I can find no place in your Soul He much raign there alone for indeed you do not suffer me there but only to conserve the memory of him the better Ah cruel man cryed Leonida hearing him speak in this sort is it possible that you have the inhumanity to open the Tomb of Octavio to persecute me and in stead of weeping with me or at leastwise of bemoaning and comforting me you are so audacious as to give me marks of your hatred to a person whom I have so much loved and whose memory is still so dear unto me and yet in grateful as you are said she to him you owe the affection which I bear you to that little resemblance you have with Octavio but as this infortunate creature hath been the cause of it so shall he likewise give an end to it for in regard of that which you have said to me I ordain you never to speak to me and never to see me more Why do not you shut your self up then in Octavio's Tomb answered Alphonso since you can love none but him Reply no further to me inhumane that you are said she to him and take from my sight the persecutor of Leonida and the enemy of Octavio Alphonso seeing Leonida in such choller and not able to give her a good reason either for the maintaining of his error or for the obtaining of his pardon went away more jealous then before Alas said he to himself how sensible she is on that side I what a powerful mark of her love is her choller if she had loved me she would have used me after another manner she would have taken pity of my weakness she would have given me some new proof of her affection but she could not disguise her heart all her thoughts have been for Octavio and all her words have been against me In this opinion Alphonso got him home with an intent to obey Leonida exactly and never to see her again As indeed he came no more at her and that be might avoyd meeting with her any where he feigned himself sick Leonida seeing to what a madness this ill-grounded jealousie carried him desired at leastwise to conceal it from the eyes of the world and to that effect she advanced a voyage which she was to make to Albengua where as you know she hath some means and affairs She departed then from Genoua so incensed against Alphonso that she could not so much as resolve to do him the favor to complain of him by a Letter Her departure did not cure Alphonso of his frensie but contrarily it augmented it for he beleeved that Leonida did not abandon Genoua but to bewail Octavio with the more liberty This thought for all that was not the most powerful in his heart the impossibility of seeing Leonida redoubled his desire of it and love being stronger still then jealousie he purposed an hundred times to go to Albengua to cast himself at Leonida's feet to crave her pardon and to obtain an oblivion of his fault of her But no sooner did the Phantom of Octavio present it self to his imagination no sooner did he call the tears and sighs of Leonida to remembrance but he re-entred into his former furies He made an hundred impossible wishes which destroyed one another and led a very irksom and melancholick life During that time he wrote divers Letters to Leonida according to the divers thoughts wherein he was but when as she perceived so great an inequality in his mind and such marks of an unsetled Reason she returned no answer thereunto and although she loved Alphonso so much as to be extreamly grieved to lose him yet could she not imagine how she might cure him of this fantasie so that finding no expedient for it and being very much incensed against
first time she could speak with Alphonso in private his melancholy still increasing she demanded of him whether he were resolved to live long in that manner Truly no answered he for I do not doubt but from the misery which I feel death will come shortly and deliver me Is it not possible said she that Alphonso should make use of his Reason in this encounter I perceive very well answered he that you have some pity of the hurt you have done me but know that it is not that which I desire in the estate wherein Octavio is I could endure that you should have compassion for him provided you would have affection for me but I could not endure that you should have love for him have nothing but pity for Alphonso What change said she unto him is there come to me since the time that you were contented with my affection have I loved Octavio more or have I loved you lest then I did in no wise at all I swear unto you Wherfore then since I am not changed for you are you changed for me If I had known my unhappiness sooner replyed he I should have been less unhappy it being certain that I should not have engaged my self so straitly in the love of a person that could never love so much as she had loved It is true said she unto him that I have loved Octavio as much as I was able to love in the age wherein I was and it is true also that his memory is dear and precious unto me but who hath told you that I have not the same thoughts for you I know it from your own mouth replyed he for in having assured me that you loved me less then he you have let me understand that you have done that for his consideration which you have never done for mine You loved him as soon as ever you opened your eyes said Alphonso unto her he was agreeable unto you as soon as ever you knew him and your Reason hath told you since that you would have done out of choyce what you had done out of inclination he hath had the happiness to please you always without ever giving you cause to be displeased you have sighed for him in divers occasions you have many times bewailed his absence as much as I could pretend to be lamented by you if I had lost my life in your service and for my last unhappiness he dyed in speaking to you of love It may be if he had lived longer you would have repented the tears which now you shed for him but as the case stands there is a shadow of Octavio remaining which is in stead of his person to you that possesses your soul and will not suffer you to have such thoughts for another How unjust you are said Leonida unto him to speak to me thus howsoever since I am resolved to try whether I can draw your minde out of that disorder whereunto this strange jealousie hath carryed it promise me that if by my discourse I can let you see that you have received more testimonies of my affection then I have given to the infortunte Octavio you will then repent you of your error restore tranquillity to your soul and leave mine in rest Alphonso after he had withstood it a while in saying that she propounded an impossible thing to him and by consequence he was not to answer unto it resolved for all that to hear her and promised her that if she kept her word with him he would crave pardon to his fault and would live better for the future After they had made this agreement tell me Alphonso said she unto him if I can make it appear to you that since the day wherein I permitted you to serve me you never have had occasion to complain of me and if I can shew you that the unhappy Octavio if he were living might with justice accuse me of little affection would you not have reason then to be contented That will not be enough answered Alphonso for it may be that you have never given me just cause to complain and that you have given Octavio occasion so to do and yet for all that I cannot be happy But that which I desire is you would let me know that you have not done any thing for Octavio which you would not have done for me and that I think will not be easie for you to perform I will peradventure shew you yet more replyed Leonida and to begin to cure you is it not true Alphonso that the original of the affection which I bear to you is far more advantageous to you then that which I have born Octavio when I began to wish him well continued she I was in an age wherein perchance that which I then called love was none wherein I counted for great services petty things which now I should not regard and wherein I acted without knowledg and without judgment I said Alphonso interrupting her but not without inclination which is that which renders affections the stronger and more durable I agree with you therein said she unto him but howsoever I had this inclination in an age wherein at first my reason did not combat with it for I had none at that time That is the cause said Alphonso why it is so will setled in your soul And that is the cause replyed Leonida why I do not know whether it were any whit strong since I did not make resistance against it But as for you Alphonso when as you began to please me and that my inclination carryed me to like of your services I was in an age wherein my Reason was in a condition to oppose it self against it as indeed it did resist it as much as it could You had to vanquish in my heart not onely that wisdom and that modesty which permits not a woman to engage her self lightly in affection to a man but had also the memory of Octavio to surmount in forcing me if one may say so to commit a greater infidelity against him then when as I abandoned him to obey my Father seeing it is certain that I marryed Livio without loving him and that I could not keep the promise which I had made to my self never to love any thing more after the death of Octavio This discourse is very subtil replyed Alphonso but have you not told me that you did not love me but because I resembled Octavio I have indeed told you answered she that by this resemblance you comforted me for the loss of Octavio but not that this conformity which you have with him was the onely cause of the good-will which I bear you And certes to speak truly since I must retract what I have said with shame if there had been no other then this reason and that my inclination your services and your merit had not constrained me I should rather have avoyded the sight of you then sought it It was not yeâ— so long since I lost Octavio that I
robbed him of two slaves and if he can complain of any one it must doubtless be of me Your accusing of your self in this sort said Osman then is to put me in remembrance of the obligations wherein I stand engaged to you and it is to say to me also Do not abandon me Do not you abandon me answered she but suffer me to abandon you I cannot replyed Osman Bot could you indeed sayd Alibech to him see a dagger in my fathers hand to stab the heart of yours For my part continued she I would rather dye Let us die then said Osman to her for I tell you once again that it is as equally impossible for me to resolve to lose my father as to abandon you In pursuance of this discourse Alibech did yet what she could to obtain her husbands permission that she might go to her father She joyned tears to her prayers and albeit that which she desired would destroy her felicity bereave her of her liberty expose her to the fury of her father and deprive her of her husband yet was she so generous as to omit nothing of whatsoever she thought was capable of perswading him not to refuse her that she demanded But seeing at last that she entreated in vain and that Osman unable to resolve on any thing yet seemed to be resolved not to render her she purposed to make use of a kinsman of the Bassa of the sea whom she had won after the first time that Arsalons Messenger came thither And that she might talk with him at liberty and without suspition I see very well sayd she to Osman that the tears which I shed to move your heart do but harden it the more and that as long as you see me you can resolve of nothing wherefore suffer me to withdraw my self and remember sayd she unto him that the life of your father is in question After this she retired into the Captains cabbin whither having sent for the Bassa of the Seas kinsman who she knew was very much affected and greatly obliged to him as holding his fortune of him When he was come and that she could speak to him without witnesses she summoned him to the performance of the promise he had made her two dayes before to do any thing for the deliverance of the Bassa of the sea when she should furnish him with means for it For rightly foreseeing that Osman would never resolve to remit her into the hands of Arsalon though he was very generous and that he loved his father exceedingly this courageous woman had forecast a way how to beguile him After then that she had asked of him who was to serve her in her design whether he was resolved for it or no and that she had told him how all that she would have of him was that he would give her the opportunity the night following to go to Arsalon in the vessel which he commanded This man albeit very much obliged to the Bassa of the Sea was notwithstanding somewhat unwilling to consent thereunto But Alibech adding art to her entreaties undertook to perswade that to him which she did not beleeve her self She told him that her father would let himself be moved with her tears that without doubt this generous action would touch him and that so without exposing her to any great danger she should deliver the Bassa of the Sea This man then suffering himself to be carried to what she pleased promised her not to go aboard his vessel till it was very late and that the night was far spent to the end that stealing away he might get her into the skiff that was to carry him thither which without doubt might be easily enough done it being credible that in the agitation wherein the mind of Osman was he would not take much heed to things The execution of this enterprise proved yet more facile than Alibech had imagined it as you shall understand by and by Osman not knowing what to do in so cross an incounter after that Alibech vvas withdravvn fell into a deep muse and began to cast in his mind what he might doe He no sooner formed one thought but it vvas destroyed by another his imagination propounded nothing unto him vvhich his judgement could approve of the motions of nature combated those of love and without vanquishing one another Osman was not surmounted but by his own grief He saw in every thing cause of dispair and whereas he had a noble and generous Soul being unable to take any resolution which was not criminall he remained alwaies irresolute But at last after he had a long time debated with himself after that love and nature had made him think of all that they could inspire in a like incounter after that he had sought for an hundred unprofitable meanes how to deliver his father without losing his wife no no said he to himselfe I cannot lose Alibech but I must lose my self too Let us resolve upon it then and make the Bassa our Father see that we doe for him all that we can He hath given me life I am ready to render it to him again and I cannot think that Heaven would approve of the delivering of an innocent to the crueltie of Arsalon neither doe I think too added he but his revenge would be more satisfied with having me in his hands than with having Alibech And albeit he hath not demanded me aswell as she it was doubtless because he beleeved that I would render him my wife rather than render him my self But alas cryed he how was he ill informed of my thoughts As for my Father said he I may not beleeve that he can complain of me since I indanger my self for the love of him And as for Arsalon he will in my person find an object worthy of his wrath it is I that stole away his daughter from him it is I that was the cause of the flight of that generous Slave from whom hee expected so many things in fine I alone am culpable and if there be any justice in his cruelty I alone too shall be punished He shall deliver my Father or at leastwise I shall wear yrons with him and if rage carries him to take away my life I shall howsoever have the satisfaction to dye without having abandoned either my Father or my wife I owe my life to my Father and I shall render it to him again in losing it for his sake I owe my liberty to the generous Alibech and charing my self with the same chaines which are prepared for her I shall have done for her all that the unhappiness of my destiny permits me to do Let us goe then added he let us goe to Arsalon since it is as equally impossible for me to abandon my Father as to lose Alibech This designe being strongly imprinted in his heart hee drew the Persian aside and told him softly that as soon as night was come hee should have satisfaction of him and assured him besides
and falling dovvn upon her brothers body she ceased to be ambitious in ceasing to live These conspirators being entred into the Palace and having learned from some of the Princess vvomen the cause of Ismaels death and likevvise that of Perca they redoubled their cryes and testified asmuch joy as if all their enemies had been defeated In the mean time the wisest and the most considerable of Sultania had begun to oppose the people although they loved not Perca but comming to understand the success of the business they held it not fit to incense them but rather in so strange an accident to make use of their zeal in favor of Mahamed and Axiamira After then that they had let them know how there was no further need of taking up armes since the object of their hate was no longer in an estate to hurt them after that for the calming of their fury they had removed the bodies of Ismael and Perca out of the way and after that they had promised speedily to settle a peace for them and call home their exiled Princes every one retyred to his own house and the Councell being set it was advised that it was no time any longer to defer the propounding of a peace because if the newes of this strange accident should be spread over the Provinces it might furnish them with a pretext to revolt and work the utter subversion of this Empire and that in fine it was better to yeeld something unto the enemy than to put in hazard the losing of all After this they chose the most understanding amongst them to bee sent as Deputies to Ibrahim with an absolute power to treat of all things The grand Visior as I have said having received them in the presence of Vlama and they having acquainted him with this horrible adventure he that spake for all the rest added further that knowing his generosity they came to propound a peace unto him upon reasonable conditions and to demand Prince Mahamed the Princess Axiamira and Vlama of him for the restoring of them to the ranck which they ought to hold That if so be Soliman was their protector hee was to testifie it in this occasion that to draw an unjust advantage from these illustrious persons being in his power would bee the violating of the Law of Nations and naturall equity since they were there as those that fled to him for refuge and not as prisoners but to be contented with the glory of vanquishing and restoring of those to the Sophies Throne which might lawfully pretend unto it was to do a brave and famous action that there were more examples found of such as had conquered Empires than of such as had rendred up Kingdoms and that there were more which knew how to vanquish their Enemies than surmount their own ambition After that this man had said all that he believed was capable to advance the business which he propounded Ibrahim answered him that being thoroughly informed of all the Sultans intentions and having power to resolve on any thing without receiving new directions he could assure them that they should have cause to commend him that his grief was he could not keep Mahamed and Axiamira from receiving this peace with tears since they had so lamentable an occasion for it but whereas this affair directly concerned them they were to treat with them about it that in the mean time he held it requisite that one of them should return to Sultania to assure the people that ere long they should see their lawfull Princes again and that the rest should go to Bitilisa to do their duty to Mahamed and Axiamira that to comfort them for the grief which so dolefull an accident would bring them Ulama should take the pains both to conduct them thither and also to accompany the Prince Princess and Felixana back when they returned Ulama perceiving that Ibrahim in turning himself towards him seemed to demand his consent for that which he had spoken assured him that he was very ready to do it And whereas he was generous I doubt not said he but the Prince and Axiamira will be sensibly touched with this loss since I that am not obliged thereunto by so strict bonds and that have seen my self the object of the hatred and persecution of those whom I bewail cannot choose but be grieved at the accident which is befallen them After that Ulama had given sufficient proof of his generosity by his sorrow and that Ibrahim had commended him for so noble a resentment he gave him commission to take care of the Deputies of Sultania till the next day when he thought it fit they should depart for to go and fetch Mahamed which accordingly was executed Ulama parted with those that were to accompany him carrying Letters from Ibrahtm to the Princess one of the Deputies went to Sultania and the Grand Visier remained with a joy that cannot be exprest for whereas he was perswaded that the beginning of his felicity depended on the happy end of this war seeing the favourable means which fortune presented him with to terminate it speedily and with glory he could not render thanks enough to heaven for so advantagious a success And whereas he knew that the people generally desired peace he was assured that the treaty of it would be agreeable to every body not knowing that Soliman had any other interest in this war than that of the glory of his Arms. In this thought it might be said that never any Lover absent from his Mistress was so happy as he whilst he entertained himself with so sweet a hope In the mean time Ulama arrived at Bitilisa presented the Deputies to Prince Mahamed and the Princess Axiamira and delivering Ibrahim's letter to her and acquainting them with the loss they had sustained they being generous instantly forgot all the persecutions they had suffered and no longer remembred ought but that Tachmas was their father Ismael was their brother and Perca their sister in the thought whereof they were extremely afflicted with their loss But at length Ulama having imparted to them the generous designs of Ibrahim and how necessary their presence was to their people for their consolation against so many miseries as they had indured they set forth on their way As for Ulama the sight of his dear Felixana comforted him for the loss of his enemies and the Princes and Princesses sorrow was to both of them their greatest displeasure In the end after they had travelled with as much speed as the accommodation of Axiamira would permit they arrived at Ibrahims Camp who understanding that they were at hand went to receive them with three thousand of his own quarter and to testifie the more respect unto them he appeared that day in mourning and said so many generous and obliging things unto them as they were constrained to acknowledge that if fortune had done him right he should have been King of all the world When as Ibrahim had conducted them
doth not live it will appear to thee by the same reason that during the said time Ibrahim may dye without breaking of thy Highness word The Sultan hearing him speak thus beleeved that this man knew not very well what he would say but the other nothing daunted and speaking to him with as much confidence as if he had been inspired from Heaven My Lord said he unto him it is a matter whereof no body is ignorant that Sleep is called the brother of Death by all Nations and in all Languages and truly it is not without cause that he is termed so it being certain that a man which is asleep cannot with reason be said to be living since we see that he is deprived of all the functions of a reasonable life which alone is the life of man I confess indeed how in that estate he still enjoys the life of plants but not that of man which consists not but in the use of Reason whereof he is wholly bereft in that estate Sleep equals Kings and Shepherds as well as Death the stupid and the witty the happy and the unhappy good men and bad and there is no difference seen between them but that sleep is a short death and death an eternal sleep Wherefore it being evident that a man asleep cannot to speak reasonably be said to be living I conclude from thence that thy Highness without breaking thy word may take away Ibrahim's life when as sleep hath throughly benummed thy sense and Reason Roxelana failed not to approve of this advice and maintained that he had spoken judiciously But for Soliman he yielded not with so much facility he made many objections to the Muphti whereunto he still answered with as much cunning as wickedness Thus although this Prince had a very piercing wit in all other things yet the desire which he had to make away Ibrahim perswaded him that the Muphti had Reason and that he might put the grand Visier to death when he was aslâ—ep For this wicked man said to him thy Highness hath not absolutely promised him not to put him to death but only that he should not dye a violent death as long as Soliman lives and Soliman shall not live when as the Bassa shall dye This design being concluded it was resolved that they should tarry till night was come for the executing of it For whereas sleep is not a voluntary act they thought it requisite to attend till the time of sleep was come In the mean season Ibrahim had been brought back to the place which served him for a prison not knowing whether grace would be shewed him or whether his execution was but deferred This incertainty was almost as displeasing as the assurance of an approaching death had been grievous to him yet did he not ask any thing that regarded himself directly but only enquired after Isabella who on her part was not without a world of grief She had understood that Ibrahim had been lead to a place where oftentimes the grand Visiers had been deprived of their lives and that made her to be as much afflicted as if she had already seen him breathe out his last It may be said she that now whil'st I am speaking Justiniano is defending himself against his Executioners it may be he is yielding up his last breath and is thinking of me once for all Ah! if it be so cryed she I beseech Heaven at leastwise to spare me the affliction that I may not hear of his loss and by my death to keep me from the grief of lamenting his Howbeit I fear said she that my prayers will not be heard and that Soliman's cruelty will let me live to persecute me But let him arm his Executioners let him invent torments I will complain no more after this sorrow he that shall acquaint me with the loss of Justiniaeno shall render me insensible to all others Alas what say I added she it seems in hearing me speak that I will conserve my life after he shall be deprived of his no no Isabella will not survive Justiniano and that which the rage of Soliman will not do grief alone shall execute Let this unjust Prince do what he will I hope that I shall get out of his power by getting out of my life Heaven is interessed in the prayer which I make unto it I beg this grace of it to preserve mine innocence and if my despair be a fault I hope it will pardon it in regard of the greatness of my misfortune of the purity of my affection and of mine own weakness In this deplorable estate Isabella having understood that Ibrahim had been brought back to his quarter hope began again to find some place in her Soul and she beleeved that Soliman having desired to see him had peradventure been moved to compassion Sophronia Hipolita Leonida Emilia and the rest of their Troop which were in another place had the same hope hearing what had past But the matter went otherwise for as soon as night was come Rustan who wholly governed this deadly ceremony went himself a second time to fetch Ibrahim by the Grand Signior's Command He led him then into the same Hall where formerly he had been and having left him in the company of four mutes which were to strangle him as soon as Soliman was asleep he returned to this Prince who had at that time no greater a longing then to make away Ibrahim As for him although he did not fear death and was exceeding peaceable yet had his Soul great agitations Ah said he to himself I shall never see Isabella more I and I shall not only be deprived of her sight but I shall abandon her to the violence of a Prince who I beleeved had been her Protector and who it may be provoked by her vertue will take away her life as well as mine for since Soliman can consent to my death he may well sign hers Alas continued he to what an estate am I reduced If I wish that she should live I make wishes against her glory I consent to the exposing of her to the rigor of a violent and amorous Prince I cannot wish her her life without doing her wrong and then again not only I cannot desire her death but I cannot so much as think of it without a despair that is not to be parelled If this Prince who is my Rival could be her husband I would make vows against my self and I love Isabella so much as to be willing to save her life with the loss of all my felicity But as the case stands she cannot be his not only without infidelity not only without infamy but with an horrible crime Alas added he if it were not so my loss should not be without comfort loving me as she doth she would live without pleasure but also without shame She would bewail my death without other interest then that of conserving my memory and fear having no place in her heart the grief alone of having
speak not of your death if you will not have me dye in despair Let us go Madam let us go rather to beg your liberty of Soliman and obtain of him that the loss of my life may be the price of it I will not have it without you answered she wherefore persist not in wishing to save me In the mean time they arrived at Soliman's Chamber whom they found still leaning on a Table and in a posture that they could not see his face As soon as they were there Ibrahim and Isabella cast themselves at his feet My Lord said the Princess if I may obtain the grace of thee that I may dye with Justiniano I will not complain of thy Highness but contrarily I will praise thy justice I am guilty my Lord and of an horrible crime against thee I have made thee despise the friendship which thou barest to Justiniano I have made thee abandon Reason I have put a stain on thy life I have blemished thy glory I have troubled thy rest and I have constrained the greatest Prince of the Earth to oppose all his inclinations which carry him to vertue for to follow an unjust passion Thou plainly seest my Lord that wrath ought to have a more just foundation in thy soul then this Love which afflicts thee and persecutes me Change thy passion in my favor but in such sort that as I have been the object of thy love so I may be likewise of thy hate Think of revenging thy self on the true cause of thy unquietness think of destroying and not of gaining me the last is impossible and the other is very easie for thee It is not because if my tears could move thee I can yet assure thee that hate should have a place in my soul For know my Lord that even Justiniano from whom thou wilt take away both his honor his life and my person which is as dear to him as both the other yet cannot hate thee I have seen it in his eyes I have known it by his discourse he complains of fortune he accuses that which thy Highness calls beauty in me he names that weakness which another would name injustice in fine my Lord being ready to dye innocently by thy directions and command yet am I well assured that he will dye without hatred and that even in dying he will make vows to obtain of Heaven an advantageous change for thee Judg after this whether thou oughtest to refuse me the grace that I may dye and that he may be saved since I am guilty and he is innocent My Lord said Justiniano interrupting her harken not to the vertuous Isabella but to admire the greatness of her courage and suffer not thy self to be perswaded to that which she desires of thee I will not stand to examine whether I am culpable or whether I am not since to be hated of thee is to be so but my Lord I will onely tell thee that if the sentence of my death shall be pronounced by thy mouth I will not murmur at it I confess my weakness to thee my Lord I cannot yet believe but that all that which I have seen since my return is an inchantment and not a truth For how can it be imagined that great Soliman who hath loved me so tenderly and given me so glorious marks thereof can be carryed at this present to such unjust designs That with the same hand wherewith he broke my chains and put the reyns of his Empire into mine he can put about my neck the string which is to strangle me Doth thy Highness no longer remember the thoughts which thou hadst at such time as seeing me ready to enter into the grave rather then displease thee with craving my liberty of thee thou resolvedst to have the incomparable Isabella be brought away by force Was it then my Lord out of a design to ravish her from me to persecute her to blemish thy glory and to take away my life in having unjust thoughts for her Think not my Lord of the services I have done thee but of those which I purposed to do thee yet think not of them my Lord for to pardon me but think of them to save Isabella Restore her to her liberty make not me the cause of her undoing send her back into her Country and after that put me to death here But grant me at leastwise the grace to pronounce my sentence unto me for I confess to thee once more that I doubt whether it be possible that thou shouldst be the same Soliman which hath so dearly loved me It is in vain for you to desire said Isabella that we should be separated that thought is unjust and does wrong to our affection it is a motion whereof I repent me and whereof you ought to repent you Beg then of Soliman that we may dye or that we may live together for provided he will grant us this I will attend his sentence without grief and without unquietness You shall live said Soliman then to her discovering his face which he had all bathed with tears you shall live generous Princess Ibrahim's vertue hath surmounted me Approach said he unto him and if it be so that thou dost not hate me still beliâ—ve for a certain that the good-will which I have born thee is recovering its place in my Soul Repentance which was a motion unknown to me chases the love of Isabella from it therein to re-establish my friendship to Ibrahim I feel it coming my Reason re-assumes its use I see my injustice and my violence with confusion I see the vertue of Isabella and no longer see her beauty she strikes me with admiration and no longer strikes me with love I wish I could imitate her generosity and no longer desire the possession of her In fine said he to Ibrahim know that of all the marks of affection that which thou receivest from me at this present is without doubt the greatest and to give no bounds to it and to make thee see that knowing my fault I will punish it and to keep my self from falling into it a second time I do not onely give thee thy life which I would have unjustly taken from thee but I do also give thee thy liberty as well as that of the incomparable Isabella Oh! my Lord cryed Ibrahim I hear the voyce of Soliman they which spake to me from him have betrayed his true thoughts No continued Ibrahim let us speak no more of this doleful adventure but as of a fable and without thâ—nking of that which is past suffer me onely to give thee thanks for thy clemency As for me added Isabella who eternally remembers benefits and very easily forgets injuries if it be so that great Soliman hath vanquished himself I promise thy Highness to make vows as long as I live for thy glory Doubt not of that which I say replyed Soliman and the better to assure you thereof I permit you said he unto her with a voyce interrupted with
sighs to go out of my Empire when you please I should also be generous enough to share it with Ibrahim to whom it appertains more justly then to me if I could infuse into the hearts of my subjects the thoughts which are in mine During this discourse Rustan was in a strange unquietness and when as he believed that Soliman had his minde busied and did not think of him he would have slipt out of the Chamber to go and advertise Roxelana of that which was doing But Soliman perceiving it Stay said he unto him infamous wretch and then he commanded him to be turned out of the Serraglio without permitting him to speak to any body and charged him with a great deal of fury never to shew himself more before him After this he sent for the vertuous Achmat and the Sultana Asteria It is by these two persons said he to Ibrahim that I will be counselled to know what way we may take that Justiniano may cease to be Ibrahim without making a noise amongst the people which might prejudice my State For as for my self continued he sighing it is so little a while since my Reason hath recovered its place as I dare not yet rely upon it Ibrahim whom we will call most commonly hereafter Justiniano answered the Grand Signior with as much generosity as joy for wheras he had exceedingly loved this Prince how great soever that was which he felt to see Isabella escaped from so great a danger yet was he not a little glâ—d also to see in Soliman the marks of his ancient vertue again In the mean time after that the Sultan had acquainted the sage Achmat and the generous Asteria with the business in question in such terms as well declared the repentance of his soul and after they had commended the resolution he was in and mightily confirmed him in the design which he had to restore Justiniano and Isabella to their liberty Achmat who never knew of Justiniano's disguising till then counselled since the matter was so far advanced that the people should be made to believe how the Grand Signior had put Ibrahim to death upon some discovery that he had held intelligence with the Emperor Charls and favored the Christians in all things yea and that some letters too should be forged which should be said he had been made to confess by which means the matter would easily be credited because it was true that every one knew how the illustrious Bassa had always protected the Christians He said moreover that if the business was not carryed in that sort it would be impossible to finde out a plausible pretext to keep the people from suspecting some trick in the absence of Ibrahim which might produce dangerous consequences Thâ—s advice being approved of yet because Justiniano and Isabella could not be sent away towards Genoua presently it was thought requisite to have them secretly conveyed to Pera and there to remain concealed with those Greek Priests whom Justiniano had so much favored until such time as a vessel could be made ready for them This farewell could not be taken without shedding of a world of tears Soliman craved pardon of Justiniano and Isabella who after they had anâ—wered him with tenderness and submission and assured him that they would forget what was past desired him he would be pleased to give their friends their liberty which the Sultan having granted them they were sent for and conducted along with them to Pera. The Sultana Asteria and Isabella said to one another all that a most strict friendship could make two generous persons say in such like encounters And the prudent Achmat charging himself with the conduct of Justiniano and his Mistress conveyed them with all their Troop aboard a Barque which carryed them to Pera. Soliman could not for all that see Isabella part without following her with his eyes nor could he see Ibrahim go away without forgetting Isabella it being most certain that never was there a truer repentance then that of this great Prince In the mean time to make it be beleeved that Ibrahim was dead a black Standart was set up before the gate of his Palace Achmat fearing a sedition put all the Janizaries into arms and gave them to understand that Ibrahim was a Traytor that he had gone about to overthrow the Empire and that his death had been absolutely necessary for the preservation of the State He shewed them also certain forged Letters to give the more credit to that which he said But whatsoever he could say no sooner was the black Standart seen before the gate of his Palace but all the people began to murmur There was nothing but weeping and crying all over Constantinople Those Janizaries that had been the best perswaded left not for all that to be exceedingly afflicted for he was so universally beloved as there was not any body which did not lament and commend him Some said that Roxelana without doubt was the cause of this mischief and that she still remembred how he had been the Protector of Prince Mustapha Some cryed out to have at leastwise the body of their Defender given unto them others that his Executioners might be delivered into their hands and all of them together agreed in the belief that Soliman had lost the force of his Empire and the support of his State During this tumult Rustan passing through a street the people who had understood by some that had been in the Serraglio how it was he which had been made use of for this deadly Ceremony and that he had put Ibrahim to death fell upon him with so many imprecations and with such fury as they tore him in a thousand pieces From thence they went to his Pâ—lace to set it on fire but at length the prudent Achmat having appeased this sedition returned to the Serraglio where he found that Heaven had made an end of revenging Justiniano on his enemies For Roxelana having understood that he was not dead and that Rustan had been torn in pieces by the people this fierce and proud spirit was so sensibly touched with spight for that she could not exercise all her whole fury that after she had continued three hours together without speaking a word she dyed for very rage and madness and Justiniano had the satisfaction to know that he was lamented of all the world and that the only persons which could rejoyce at his death had been punished for their injustices In the mean time Achmat by Soliman's Command caused the same Christian Vessel to be made ready which Justiniano had formerly used to get from Constantinople and in one night he sent aboard her all the riches of Ibrahim's Palace and a great deal more which he was constrained to accept of against his inclination The Sultan wrote also with his own hand to the illustrious Bassa and again assured him of his repentance and affection whereunto Justiniano and Isabella answered with a great deal of generosity The death of Roxelana touched
Soliman less then it would have done at any other time For as he could not but remember that she had been the object of his affection so could he not but much more remember that she had been the cause of all his misfortunes and of all his crimes and that she would have carried him to put to death the only man of the world whom most he loved This feigned death of Ibrahim was carried with so much address by the prudent Achmat that every body beleeved it to be so and that is it which hath made Paulus Jovius and all those which have spoken of the raign of Soliman to say that the grand Visier perished in that sort but indeed the matter past as I have delivered it For a Greek Caloyer who had this History from Justiniano's and Isabella's own mouth left a relation thereof which is come even unto us In the mean time three days after the feigned death of Ibrahim the true Justiniano Isabella Sophronia Hipolita Emilia Leonida Horatio Alphonso Doria the French Marquess and a number of Christian Slaves whose liberty Justiniano had obtained imbarqued themselves one night and set sail for Genoua without fear of other enemies then the winds and the Seas but Fortune had made too much tryal of their vertue for to inflict new disasters on them and indeed she was so favorable unto them that never was there a more prosperous Navigation heard of During this Voyage thâ—se illustrious persons had no other entertainment then to talk of the dangers which they had avoyded And whereas Justiniano and Isabella had promised that they would be inseparable in their felicity as they had been in their unhappiness that Horatio and Hipolita had done the like that Sophronia and Doria had sworn never to quit one another and that Alphonso and Leonida following the others example had taken the same resolution it fell out that only the French Marquiss and Emilia remained without matching together yea and that would never match with any For one day as this fair company were talking together in the Captains Cabbin Leonida having demanded of the French Marquiss laughing what end he propounded to â—â—mself in the affection which he bore to Emilia No other answered â—e but that of loâ—ing her as long as my inclination shall carry me thereunto I am of the sâ—me mind replyed Emilia and I could never without aversion behold a man who of my 〈…〉 become my Master or at leastwise mine Equal O cryed the Marquiss how 〈…〉 for this humor for to speak freely and acquaint you with a secret which I have never told to aâ—y body know that the true cause of my inconstancy hath been the fear of marriage I haâ—e always been so afraid of engaging my self therein as to avoyd the occasions of it I have useâ— to change Mistress often But if I can obtain of Emilia that she will not oblige me to be her â—usband I will be eternally her Slave All the company then burst out a laughing and beleeâ—ing that their discourse was nothing but sport every one feâ—l to pressing of Emilia that sâ—e would make him become constant in not marrying him Whereupon the Marquess and she made a Satyre against marriage wherein on either part they said very pleasant things â—nd for a conclusion that which was beleeved to be but jesting proved to be their true thougâ—ts and they took as much care to promise one another that they would never marry as â—e others took to obtain of their Mistresses that as soon as they should come to Genoua theâ— would render their fortunes inseparable as indeed they did The wind having been extâ—eamly favorable to them they arrived in a few days at Monaco where the Princess was receâ—ved of her Subjects with as much astonishment as joy The brute of their return being presenâ—ly got to Genoua the chief of the Senate came thither to visit them These illustrious persons concealed â—o much of their adventures as they thought was not fit to be spoken of and having been intreated by their friends that they would after so many misâ—ortunes celebrate the ceremony â—f their nuptials at Genoua Isabella yielded thereunto with blushing for which effect they parted away the next day and shortly after the Marriages of Justiniano and Isabella of Horatio and Hipolita of Doria and Sophronia and of Alphonso and Leonida were solemnized with all possible magnificences The French Marquiss and Emilia promised anew an inviolable friendship to one another with an oath that neither of them would ever marry and during certain days there were nothing but Balls running at the Ring and publique Feasts After which Justiniano and Isabella being re-entred into the possession of all that belonged unto them they were conducted with a great deal of state to Monaco where they lived with as much satisfaction they had had mishaps Justiniano esteeming himself more happy in the possession of Iâ— lla then if he had reconquered the Empire of his Fathers But by a revolution which â—monly arrives in all things it is come to pass that the Principality of Monaco is return 〈◊〉 â—nto a branch of the House of the Grimaldies which possesseth it at this day under the protection of Spain nothing remaining of Justiniano but the memory of his glorious actions which certainly are great and famous enough to oblige Posterity never to lose the remembrance of THE ILLUSTRIOUS BASSA