and downe the vessell his sword in his hand and striking some and menâ—…ing others gave them at least a just cause of feare and perceiving that this new terrâ—… made them forget their first and that all had recover'd themselves from that extremity whereinto the voice of a poore Mariâ—…er had throwne them Well my companions quoth he that hath hap'ned to you which hath betided the valiant'st Souldiers and you hâ—…ve learnt by a violent but short experience that men how hardy soever are not mastâ—…s of their first apprehensions Certainely it should be a monstrous prodâ—…gy that even â—…hose men who shew'd so much courage to obtaine their liberty should have none whâ—… there is question of conserving it No no it shall never be said that we fell vnder â—…uch a misfortune with the same courage we broke our chaines in peeces and in spitâ—… of all the Moores resistance open'd our prisons we should endure their brunt and reveâ—…e our selves of their barbarousnesse Without all doubt that all mighâ—…y hand which prâ—…ects all just causes will strengthen ours and may be that it is it selfe which brings us â—…r tyrants that we may make them our slaves by a lawfull retribution But whence â—…mes this new terror that I see in your faces Hath the name now of your enemes more power over your soules then had their fetters flames and hangmen I am deceiâ—…d my companions and am an ill interpreter of the caâ—…nge of your countenance Tâ—…a gâ—…nerous anger and an impatient desire of revenge which heats your bloud and â—…ives you these warlike emotions Conserve your brave fury and consider that after we had broke our prisons slaine our guards and got this vessell if we should not now hâ—…ve a full resolution to exterminate these Barbarians which are desperately mad at our escape we shall make our condition farre worse then it was before Hap what may let the worst come yet let us set them a deare rate on our lives and envelloping them in our owne losse make them uncapable of remembring their victory or that without teares they may never call it to memory There was no bloud so frozen which this eloquence heated not no mariner so fainthearted which wished not already to be at handy strokes with the enemy Presently the faire Turke commanded them all to armes and plac'd every one in his station The Pilot receiving what order he was to keepe in a fight so unequall put off from the Island of Iron and to satisfy the generous impatience of his Captaine got before the enemies and into the open Sea and the advantage of the winde The eight vessells which with full sayles came on him dispos'd themselves with so much order for fight as if they had been the weakest They separated and cast themselves into the forme of a halfe moone and advanc'd in such soâ—… that they seem'd to enclose that ship which sailed foremost This vessell alwaies kept â—…e advantage it had of the other seaven and leaving them a pretty way behind made 〈◊〉 Turkes beleeve that she would first begin the fight But they were no sooner within canon shott when those within her strooke sayle and by all fashions us'd at Sea â—…timated to the Turkes that they came not to fight with them but to put themselves under their protection The generous Captaine deliberated not what was the most sure to be done in so dangerous a conjecture straight granted those suppliants the assistance they desired and advancing to shelter them told them in passing that he would defend â—…em against all the world They thanked him by long shouts and confused voices anâ—… got to the backside of the Isle of Fer whiist he ravished that so many rare adventures â—…hould present themselves all at once tooke a head peece and a buckler and turning â—…o his companions Acknowledge quoth he deare consorts in my bonds and liberâ—… that fortune comes fairely to reconcile herselfe to us We thought that to witnesâ—… the continâ—…ance of her hatred she would have enforc'd us to a necessity of our defeâ—…ce and behold to make her love appeare she invites us to the protection of others Let each of us receive as he ought her first favours and since she is usually in love wiâ—… great darings shew in this occasion that it is with justice she should now affect us This said he put his hand to his sword and commanded his gunners not to shoot till â—…s enemies had first discharg'd But the strangers in stead of falling all at once on his vâ—…ell opened on the right and left and let them see that they had no other intent theâ—… to follow their prey that was escap'd them The faire Turke was not satisfied with this declaration He causâ—…d his ship to be steered foreward as he ment to stop the way to â—…at of his enemies which was the foremost and greatest Before he came close he saâ—… appeare on the â—…oope a man arm'd at all poins who by his action seem'd to be no orâ—…nary person Assoone as he thought the Turke might heare him I have respected the said he thinking thee one of the Subjects of Alcidiana but thy habit shewes that I â—…s deceivâ—…d what art thou then that being so weake dar'st undertake the defence of ohers and do'st it without knowing whether thou mai'st doe it with justice or no Th voice of the afflicted which cries and askes succour answered the Turke against the violence of their persecutors is alwaies accompanied with Justice But whence i it quoth he that knowing Justice so well thou do'st practise it no better and wilt 〈◊〉 on the weake the tyranny which thy force adviseth I impute thy injuries to tâ—… gâ—…nerosity replied the other and should be glad if I had time to know who thou art that shâ—…l be at an other time quoth he in the meane while stay me no longer if thâ—… intend'â—…t not to expose thy selfe to those violences wherewith thou reprochest me Thâ—…â—…ire 〈◊〉 touched with those threatnings and enflam'd with that fire which honor â—…ndles in young courages No no said he I cannot forsake the miserable whom â—…aven hath given me in protection since henceforward I am answerable to it for their â—…erties and lives And think not that I will leave thee till I see thee leave to pursue theâ—… For the rest learne that audacious threatnings never affâ—…ight those who know â—…ll how to chastice the authors Thy resolution is faire replied the other but if thy actâ—…ons be answerable to the greatnesse of thy words use no other arme then thine owne in this glorious correction and command thy companions to be only the spectators of oâ—…r combate I assure thee that all those which are with me shall exactly obey the order I shall prescribe them The young Turke in lieu of answering him turn'd to his followers and to oblige them to lay downe their armes my companions said he you have heard the enemies proposition if you love me accept it and permitt me to
his feet which made shew of an extreme sorrow and seemed to solicit him that was half laid to think of his safety as soon as they saw the Pirate they made signes to him to draw neere and getting him to kneel as they did made him to kisse the skirt of their Masters robe This ceremony done the eldest of the strangers asked the souldier who he was and who commanded the ship that fell upon theirs The Turk answered to all his demands and loth to keep Bajezet longer from the sight of those rarities went out to carry him the newes Bajazet came presently down into this rich chamber and civilly drew neer to him that seemed to be the Master of it The stranger went not out of his deep musing by his approaching so neer him but on the contrary with a downcast look and still laid intimated that he was sensible of nothing but of his secret sorrow one of those two at his feet arose and making a reverence to Bajazet with a grace that savoured nothing of the Barbarian Sir said he in Arabick he whom you see here almost dead with sorrow is called Zelmatida and hath for his father the great Inca Guina Capa son of the Sun comforter of the miserable and Monarch of the Fountains of gold but all this greatnesse hath not been able to avert the misfortunes which have brought my Lord the Inca into a contempt of his life and the hatred of himself Bajazet pitied the fate of Zelmatida and more in consideration of that then of his great titles and magnificence he came to him and used some complements in Arabick Zelmatida hearing the Pirate speak and I king the man broke off his silence and made him understand by five or six words that he was not aâ—…le to recompence his courtesies Bajazet admired the greatnesse of courage that this Prince made shew of in his captivity and judging of his wisdome by the little he had said protested that he had never seen man who under the load of his great 〈◊〉 preserved a minde in more tranquility nor was lâ—…sse diveâ—…ed by the favours he received of those from whom he was to expect nothing but rigour and violence This admiration obliging him to the continuance of his discourse he â—…old Zelmatida that his condition was not changed in effect though it were in appearance and that his good aspâ—… and vertue were so favourable pastports that there was not a nation in the world 〈◊〉 barbarous soever that had inhumanity enough to violate them The Prince all â—…uried as he was in his melancholy yet answered Bajazet in such sorâ—… that he gave hâ—…m new desires to serve him The Rover yet left him as soon as he could do it with civility and found out Iphidamantus Coming to him My deare friend said he I professâ—… I am iâ—…finitly obliged to Fortune although shee is the cause that I have lost the onely thing that could make me happy to her I owe your amity and see yet she hath now put into my power a Prince who hath more amazed me by the greatnesse of his soule then that of his birth Herewith he related to him all he had seen and 〈◊〉 him to deâ—…cend into the Princes Cabin I must said he have the contentâ—…ent to bring â—…gether two men who best of any know how to joyn those things whicâ—… from all timâ—…s have been incompatible I mean youth and wisdome a great courage and a 〈◊〉 moderation Iphidamatus blushed at these pâ—…ises and not willing to make him a reply besought Bajazet that he would bring him to the sight of a person of that excellency They both went into his Cabin and assoone as they came in Iphidamantus drawing to him by his extraordinary beauty the eyes of Zelmatida overcame his long sadnesse He rose to salute him and shewing him to his companions twice or thrice pronounced the word of Isatida These compliments were interrupted by the noise of the Pirates and report of the Canon and Bajazet doubting what it might be made Zelmatida to understand the cause of his voyage and intreating him to rest himselfe went with Iphidamantus whether he was called by the necessity of his command He was no sooner aboord his owne vessell then he saw whiten the sailes of the Spanish fleet and that his owne had put themselves in order for fight He changed a little in the disposing of the vessells He put some in the vanguard which were in the battell and going from one to another encouraged the old Pirates by the glory of their past actions and the young by the emulation they should have to equall their companions and all by the assurance of victory and the greatnesse of the booty We goe not to expose our lives for some proud and brutish Master who lookes on with an insensibility the losse of those who by their hazard and travell secure his idlenesse and with their bloud maintaine his tyranny If we have the day we shall not share the profit with any but our selves and the fruits of our fighting shall not be devoured by those that tooke no paines in their gathering Let this pleasant thought run still in your minds and to stirre you up to do bravely say often to your selves that your sufferings incomodities and wounds shall have a fairer recompence then that which is justly reserved for Cowards who for a small pay prostitute their courages and lives This said he put himselfe in the front of his fleet and lead them to the combate The Spaniards on the other side discovering this powerfull obstacle unexpectedly were long before they could resolve what to doe At last seeing their enemies drawe neere they thought they must with iron defend that gold which they by iron had got together They soone cast themselves in batalia and that valour which is naturall to them being enflamed by the extremity to which it was reduced made them performe such actions as could not be compared but with themselves At first they stood as ready for defence and unwilling to mingle unlesse they were inforced fought with their Canon Bajazet perceiving their intention commanded that with full speed they should fall on them The Captaines quickly obeyed and presently sunck three or foure little ships Bajazet and Iphidamantus went to back them and after a furious fight Roland Ximenes was slaine by the one and Torrez by the other The Admirall Francis Bovadilla was taken prisoner but he died the same day of the woundes he received in the fight The combate lasted till night by whose favour six Spanish ships got away the rest were eiâ—…her sunck or taken and every where this cruell and brutish broode of Pirates which have no consideration when they see their prey dealt alike with those that begged their lives and those that begged them not The heate of the combate so long time disputed was no sooner cold but Bajazet remembred Zelmatida He found him in hâ—…s ship in the same state he left
concealing from him part of what I knew intreated him that for his owne quiet and the content of his Subjects he would cause the Princesse to be nursed in some safe place and to put so many guards about her that it might not be in the power of any of his Subjects much lesse of any stranger to see her The King would know particulerly what I gave him this coucell but beseeching him to cause Xaira to be brought before I passed further he commanded five or six of his principall Officers to goe fetch her from the Queen As they who were thus commanded were about to obey him they heard a great noise and at the same time saw the Queen enter into Quasmez chamber all undressed and so transported from her selfe that had she not hapned on the Kings bed she had fallen in a swound on the planching Quasmez astonied as well by the Queens swounding as by the councell I late gave him knew not whether I would conceale from him the death of his wife in shewing the feare I was in for that of his Daughter And in this doubt he bewayled his wife as if she had been dead and looking on me now and then with his eyes full of teares I feare said he my Father lest the gods be incensed against me to see that I have neglected them to bestow all my cares and affection upon a creature I had noâ—… leasure to answer him for five or six women all bloudy with dishevelled haires rushed at the same time into his chamber and casting themselves about his bed even terrified us to see them teare their faces and beate their heads against the floore This tragicall beginning was ended by yet more bloudy actions Foure men with stating eyes and foaming mouthes presented themselves to Quasmez and speaking all at once Since said they to him we have not been vigilant enough to preserve our happinesse we will not be cowardly enough to out live it And in so saying they turned the pointes of the arrowes they bore in their hands upon themselves and sticking them with violence into their throates so amazed us with their desperation that they tooke from us the meanes to succour them They fell all foure dead at my feet and confirmed me in the opinion I had of the losse of the Princesse The King transported with griefe and choler threw himselfe out of his bed and went into another Chamber to give time to his guards to take away the bodies of those desperate men and to stay the madnesse of the women that would follow their example For my part I staied by the Queen and seeing her recovered gave her by my discourse some kind of consolation I told her that she must force her selfe from this sorrow and not be the cause of the losse of the Father after that of the Daughter The love which she had still borne to Quasmâ—…z was sufficient to overcome all her other affections and to suspend for a while the thought of the rape of Xaira After I saw her so well recollected I intreated her to walke to her husband and to endeavour by her perswasions to make him constantly to endure and suffer the losse of the little Princesse She punctually observed all that I desiâ—…ed her and so winningly gave Quasmez this bitter potion that he tooke it with a great deale of patience I saw then that it was time to apply the plaister I had provided for that wound and I therefore told them that the will of the gods was that their Daughter should be nursed up by their greatest enemy That the designe the Miscreant had to wrong them should result cleane contrary to his intention That they should not engage nor trouble themselves to make any pursuite after those that had stolen her thence since nothing but ill would come of it But said I if in this disaster as well as in the rest of your life you will conforme your selfe to the will of the gods without a murmure patiently undergoe what they have thought fit to be done I promise you from them that one day you shall see your Daughter in that great fortune you reserve for her There is by a prodigious accident a childe to be borne from whose valour you must expect not alone the deliverance of Xaira but withall the enlarging and establishing of your Throne If the presence of a thing that should be so deare to you can sweeten the bitternesse of your losse I know by what meanes you may obtaine it Till then I speake so loude that all might understand me but at that word comming more neere to them I told them in their eare that they should presently cause to march to the City of Quito three or foure thousand of his most hardy and affectionate Subjects and after that I acquainted them with that which I had been taught from the mouth of the gods They were pleased to be advised by me and to follow my counsell and execute this enterprise made so good an election that those whom they sent to Quito found you as I foretold and tooke you thence so fortunately that without any perill they delivered you into the hands of Quasmez This Prince would willingly have kept his losse from the knowledge of his Subjects but being instantly spread abroad and knowne even to the furthest parâ—…s of his Kingdome he thought it was not fit to leave his people in this dispaire He published therefore through all his Provinces that which I had foretold of Xaira and to assure them discovered to them somewhat of his designe on you This newes was the cause that all those who saw you in the hands of the Souldiers that brought you doubted no more of the truth of my predictions and consequently though you were but an infant gave you all the honours they conceived they ought to their deliverer That which remaines for you now to know is not what you should doe for you understand that already by what I have told you but the place where your valour must be seen and the meanes whereby you may come off with renowne Know then that you must goe as far as to the foote of a great Mountaine called Popocampecho You may easily know it by the flames it sends forth day and night There shall you find against whom to exercise your courage Tread under foot all difficulties and when you shall have overcome your enemies march on till you come before a City that gives name to the great Kingdome of Mexico T will be in that place that you shall need to use all your strength but if you doe not betray your selfe I assure you that you shall come off victor from the combate which you must there undergoe Yet among so many good fortunes I see a disastrous accident may betide you but I dare not make it knowne to you so openly as is fitting for feaâ—… lest in striving to make you avoyde it I my selfe throw you headlong into it If you
free them from it went foreight to Isatidaes chamber It was told him that Montezuma had sent for her and that she should be that night with the Queene What a friend had that fatall Messenger beene to Zelmatida if he had given him his death when he brought him this unwelcom newes My deare master had not suffered but one death when since that unfortunate day he is passible of all and passible without seeing any end of them He was not content with an answere to him so fatall but enquired after the causes of that novelty but learning nothing that could give him satisfaction he retyr'd himselfe to his lodging not to take any rest but to increase his vexation by the agitations of his Soule The day following so sad a night was far more sorrowfull My deare Master could not see the King nor the Queen and that which afflicted him more he could not possibly either know where the princesse Isatida was nor to see any of her attendants It was late night when Galtazis came to him from Hismalita and signified that her religion and certaine vowes which she and her daughters had made during the imprisonment of Montezuma oblieged them to a long retyrement and she therefore besought him that he would not thinke it strange and would not beleeve that without very great and lawfull causes they would deprive themselves of the contentment of seeing him But added Galtazis I am to informe you or some things more true and more important too then these Retyre to your owne lodgings and doe me the honour to expect me there In the meane time recall that vigour and great courage by which we have knowne Gyants to be so easily over com With those helps you must encounter such as are more redoubtable then those that you have vanquish'â—… Galtazis in leaving him gave a paper into his hands and prayed him by way of diversion that he would take the paines to reade it Zelmatida retyred and commanding all to leave him alone and willing to see what the dwarfe had given him He unfolded the paper and read that which followeth Mirzenia unworthy Archiculti of the sacred Ziamacazques and least servant of the gods To Montezuma Image of their Benediction AFter the sacrificing the three hundred Panucien slaves which thy soveraigne valour destinated for the Gods on the day of thy tryumph after the besprinkling their holy Images bathing the feete of their Altars and washing the tyles of their Chappell 's with so much blood as was consecrated to them After the filling the Censers royall with the precious gumme of Copâ—…llii and perfumed the heavenly nosthrills with so sweete an odor I have poured out mine owne blood from all parts of my body and by my purifications have merited the sight of the great Zezcatlipuca whose providence watcheth alwaies over the Empire of Mexico His presence hath rent the vayles that hid from me what was to come hereafter I have seene the shadow of future things more cleere then the beames of the Sun and behold that which they reserve for thee both of good and evill Thy Raigne shall be lesse remarkable by thy conquests then by thy imprisonment and thy life which is to be unfortunate shall be farre lesse so then thy death Thou shalt be despoiled of thy Empire without losing the Title of King and though it be transported into a strange family thou shalt yet have successors of thine owne race I see comming from another world Monsters that fly on the sea and and throw fire every where They shall disgorge on the shoares unknowne men who by their presence alone shall destroy those people that obey thee and thy selfe consenting to their losse shalt suffer one of those men to take thee prisoner in thine owne Pallace and to lead thee in triumph through proud Mexico These great revolutions have their prefixed terme The time is neer Thy calamities approch Thy enemies leave their aboades and already some of those Monsters that are to produce them have beene seene on our coastes The only remedy which I finde for thy ills is that thou get a Virgin Princesse Daughter to a great King whose power thou redoubtest By her intercessions thou shalt avert thy misfortunes confirme thy tottering Throne and make thy Children to raigne many ages after thee But who can give thee knowledge of that royall Virgin and by what good hap without example canst thou ravish her out of the armes of her Father If ever thou possesse that treasure keepe it more carefully then thy life be more jealous of it then of thine Empire hâ—…ve a carâ—… it be not stollen from thee and above all keepe it hidden from that redoubted Stranger who under pretext of offring thee his service and armes will come to steale her from thee This Conqueror of Nations will enter thy Territories as a man unknowne but by his valour he shall soone make himselfe Master of thy Subjects and by her also he shall pluck thee from a shamefull death prepared for thee At that time thou shalt lose the Virgin which thou hast so carefully kept and that losse shall be followed by all those wherewith the gods threaten thee Zelmatida having ended the reading of the scrole would have given it an explication that might not be displeasing to him He therefore justified himselfe in his owne thoughts from all that which might make him to be that stranger which this prediction deciphered and speaking as if some Judge had questioned him My conscience said he my passed actions and my designes absolutely bely this false prophet I neither pretend tâ—… the Crowne of Mexico nor to the life of Montezuma T is true I love Isatida and 〈◊〉 deprive me of the happinesse of seeing her is to force me to strange extreamities As 〈◊〉 was further thus going on Galtazis came in and surprised him in his deepe meditations My Master said the little One to him he was wont to call him so I bring you the cruell explication of the Prophesie I left with you but I bring it you imperfect since I could 〈◊〉 understand but the end of the discourse which on that subject Montezuma had with Hismalita Be assured said she to him that the time is come in which we and our Empire are to fall into the hands of strangers My delivery is a great and a certaine 〈◊〉 of it and the love which all my Subjects beare to the invincible stranger agâ—…eing with the inclination of Isatida makes it so evident that unlesse I will betray my selfe I can no more doubt of it I know that the fatall Virgin is in our custody and that we may shut her up in a place where none shall see her But to whom shall we â—…ust that may hinder her being stolen and forced from us We will not resolve nor you nor my selfe to keepe her during both our lives and those others which we shall chuse as the most faithfull for this important deposit may be t is possible
the remaynder of my life in publishing your miracles and give you worthy actions of praise and thankes by continuall sacrifices This said he arose and turning to the Prisoner see said he your sonne shewing him Zelmatida and speakeing to Zelmatida Behold your father the greate Guina Capa to whom you owe your royall extraction Thinke if you please with how many admirations and transports this knowledge was followed Guina Capa on the suddaine beleved not a thing so incredible but in spite of all reasons that kept him from it he felt in himselfe that he was obliged by the solicitations and tendernesse of nature to acknowledge Zelmatida for his sonne The Prince rejoycing at the life and liberty of the King his father kneeled downe beseeching him the permission to kisse his hands tolde him that he asked the Gods no more since they had granted him that thing which of all else in the world he had most earnestly prayed for Guina Capa holding Zelmatida betweene his armes witnessed how much he loved him and Alisma presently stepped and presented to the hands of that great King the Iavelin he had formerly given him Guina Capa tooke it and withall told him that the Gods who deprived him of one Empire were too just not to bestow on him a greater And with this he tooke Zelmatida and leaning on him went out of his prison by the way that the yong Princesse had made him with the hazard of his life Some of the Amazons knew him and giving him what belonged to his quality deputed foure from among them to carry this strange newes to Telesmana Those runners went thence and with an extreame diligence came to Quito When they had intimated to their Queene that Guina Capa was living they did what they could to make her beleeve it but she would not but rather imagined that t was some Impostor who deluding Alisma by some resemblance he had with Guina Capa made himselfe to be so taken indeede But when he came she was forced to change her opinion and to acknowledg him for the true Guina Capa Whilest she was in tâ—…e excesse of her joy and wonder one of those who passe for Prophets among the Quitonians came before her and desiring audience You see said he great Queene the invincible Guina Capa the credit which I have with the Quitonians and the threats that I have used to them on the part of the gods in case they enterprised any thing against the life of that Prince have compelled them spite of their hearâ—…s to respect him and not to hearken to that barbarous fury which sollicited them to put him to death He himselfe shall beare witnesse to what I say and assure you that excepting the displeasures of his long captivity he hath received no ill treatment from the Quitonians Guina Capa confirmed what the Priest said and related to the Queene all the hazards he had run Telesmana made him a recitall of Zelmatida's adventures and by what meanes she came to knowe him Alisma interrupted this discourse and besought the King his Master to tell him if since his imprisonment he had never seene any of his owne Subjects Only you answered the King and if you can remember it t was I that bid you farewell when you fell into the Caverne which hath so long time beene my Prison I would faine have perswaded my selfe to beleeve it answered the generous old man but the assurance I had that you were not among the living made me reject that phansie as often as it was presented Prais'd for it be the Gods and thou also O â—…atall Javelin said he looking on that which Guina Capa had given him t is by thee alone that so many miracles have beene done and that the greatest Princes of the world after diverse incredible accidents come to knowe each other and regaine the possession of their Thrones The Quitonian Prophet added more matter to Alisma's discouâ—…se and discovering secrets to come there remaines said he yet a misfortune that must shortly afflict these Princes but if it can be quelled the Empire of the Incas shall be more flourishing then ever and the Reigne of Guina Capa become a Reigne full of glory and happinesse Telesmana Guina Capa and Zelmatida receiving in appearance nought of this prediction but that which was advantagious to them abode at Quito many moneths Runners were sent to Cusco and others to the King Quasmez In the meane time the rest of the Quitonians wonne by their Priest came voluntarily and threw them at the feet of Guina Capa and intreated pardon for their revolts The King the most good and mercifull that ever was forgot what was passed and tooke nothing so much into his consideration as the reparation of the ruines of Quito and to make happy the Quitonians Telesmana would not leave that Prince till the Troopes which he had sent for from his Kingdome were arrived All that time passed in playes feasts and other pleasures T is true that two remarkable afflictions interrupted the publique joy The first proceeded from the funerall pompe wherewith Guina Capa conducted the body of the Queene his wife into the stately Temple of Quito and the other arose from the death of the good Alisma That faithfull servant seeing the happy successe of his Masters adventures received thence so violent and extraordinary transports that they might say the excesse of his joy consumed the little strength that remained in his body worne out with the travells of warre and his long imprisonment He fell sick and without any other apparent cause was neere a moneth in losing the functions of life one after another Guina Capa and Zelmatida asisted him as their Father and ran the hazard of following him so great a feeling had they of his losse These causes of sorrow being past over the Father and Son continued their kindnesse they had begun to Telesmana Zematida in the opinion of his Father and Grandmother wanted nothing But his felicity depended not on Crownes I am compelled to leave the continuance of Guina Capa's adventures and the marvells that attended his returne to Cusco to bring again on the stage the violent passion of Zelmatida which I have in a manner buried in the recitall of so many admirable adventures My deare Master had Isatida alwaies in his thought and since he left her never talked with me of any thing but of his hope of reseeing her And for all the delights of Quito and the great hopes to which he was carried by the King his Father he endured incredible tortures He grew desperate for being among those pleasures and called himselfe coward and traytour for having been capable of any delight in the absence of Isatida To expiate that crime He resolved to leave Quito and to throw himselfe into new troubles They would have me said he to me one day go to Cusco and forgetting Isatida prisoner take possession of the Throne of the
submission and respects the liberty to talke with her This happinesse had lasted longer with you if you had had the power to conceale yet your designe and passion But this pleasant commerce broke off by the Petition you made her to be received into the number of her slaves I shall remember as long as I live the speech that the knowing Radiotez made to the Princesse to dispose her to bee gracious unto you He seemed to love you well since his cleere judgement that made him penetrate into things the most hidden being as it were veyled by the excesse of his love made him not perceive your intention but did the utmost of his wit and esoquence to force Alcidiana to put you amongst her flaves There is no condition said hee in Polexander that should obliege your Majesty to deny him the chaynes he requesteth He is young fayre valiant and wise and those were the foure qualities that the late King your father desired in those that should be chosen to enter into your Majesties particular service You will say he is a Prince and a stranger but after the examples of Orantus and Pallantus who are French-men of Don Ferdinand a Spanyard and of the Infant Cleonida Prince of Portugall your Majesty cannot with justice refuse the humble supplication of Polexander under pretext that he is a Prince and a stranger On the contrary these two titles joyned with the considerations that you have to esteeme him ought to be powerfull enough to make you dispence with the force of Lawes if there were any that should forbid you to receive for your slaves Princes and Strangers Thinke with your selfe that all Rebells and Ambitious are not dead with Syzipâ—…s That there may occasions arise wherein your Majesty may have neede of personages extreamly faithfull and as farre generous and in whom will you finde more loyaltie and valour then in him that offers himselfe to enter into your service and by consequence not to be able ever to be absent from your person nor bee separated from that which concernes you Alcidiana interrupting Radiotez Father said shee I pretend not to overcome you eyther by virtue of my Eloquence or reasons I know too well your abilities to contest with you but I may gaine by my obstinacy what I cannot by my perswasions I beleeve with you that all things concurre to give Polexander a place amongst my Slaves but at the same time I know not what interiour motion forbids me to receive him Let it suffice that I keepe him in my service by his owne worthinesse It is needlesse that hee should bee engaged eyther by his particular vowes or his publique fetters The good Radiotez had nothing to reply to this answere and was enforced to carry you the news of this misterious refusall I know with what griefe you heard it and the resolutions you tooke thereupon but if you had beene lesse blinded by your passion you might have seene through that apparant disgrace how reall and great the favours were that she gave you cause to hope for This is but to tell you of things without art or dissembling Alcidiana had some particular good will towards you I have already told you that men should not pretend to the glory of her love I repeate it not to anger you but for an advertisement not to promise your selfe any other recompence for your service then the happinesse to have done it for the most deserving Princesse in the world It may be you will aske me how I know that Alcidiana hath no inclination to you and why I conjecture that her troubles melancholy and disquiets which are infallible signes of Love in all other women are not so in that Princesse you may learne it from the writing tables where of I late spoke to you Many moneths passed after you had lost the hope to be one of the Queenes slâ—…ves and the splendour and joy of your justs your Masques and other matches had been passed over by the sadnesse of your thoughts more black then the mourning you have taken When Amintha discovered that Alcidiana had not altogether blotted you out of her memory You remember the strange accident that betided her in the Forrest of White-Hindes Her hunting Chariot was violently drawne a way by the wildnesse of her horses and happily overturned some twenty paces from a precipice whither they were running to cast a way all You found the Queene as dead so violent was her fall and so made her to be carried to the Pallace Amintha had not so ill fortune she was hurt but it had not taken her sences from her By chance as she arose she found a payre of writing tables covered with Diamonds and having never seene them with the Queene did not imagine that they were hers She put them up and carâ—…ied them to the Pallace with her Mistresse After the Princesse was come to her selfe and had assured all about her that she had no hurt Amintha withdrew to her lodging and meditating long time on your complaints on your swounding and the desperatenesse you shewed for the death of Alcidiana she remembred the table-booke which she had found and desirous to see if there were nothing within that might tell her the name of the person that had lost it Shee was informed by the first leafe finding ther a peece of limming representing a Phoenix which is as you know Alcidianaes device But I shall doe better to shew you the very tables then to tell you the secrets contayned in it And in saying so Pallantus drew them out of his pocket and delivering them into the hands of our Heroë tooke a picture of Alcidiana which hee alwaies carried with him and kept his eyes fixed on it whilest Polexander abode consulting with leaves more misterious then those of the antient Sybills The first thing this Lover did after he had received that fatall booke was to kisse the rich covering and to intimate by the respect he bore to the outside of the Temple how great the veneration was wherewithall he came neere to the divinity that was therein worshipped Hee opened the Tables and presently met with the lymming which Pallantus spoke of Hee saw that unparrallelld Bird that owes not his byrth to any but it selfe to dispute beauty with the Sun himselfe and oppose to the beames of that starre the golden fethers where with it was crowned The Word that was added to so fayre a body had an exceeding grace in his owne language See how ours hath wrongd it in the explication My life shall exceede my byrth After that Polexander had well considered this Device and searched over all whither there were not some Cypher or Character from whence he might draw any cause of consolation he turned the leafe and in the three following read the words that follow The Disquiet VVHat could cause the strange alteration I finde in my selfe Can I bee sick or mad without knowing it Within this little while I am ill wheresoever
Nephizus hath unworthily repudiated me The Old Narcissus hearing these last words of Ennoramita lifted his hands to his eies to cope thence his teares and having often sighed My Lord said he to Polexander casting himself at his feet I should be unworthy that Name of a faithfull Servant which this Princesse vouchsaf'd to give me if even in that trouble and astonishment which her presence causeth in me I did not preserve enough of Judgement to give to her Innocence that testimony she expects from my mouth True Sir this Princesse deserves to be protected since she is unjustly prosecuted But J am deceiv'd in saying so She hath no more need of protection for shee hath not any persecuter Narcissus in saying so renew'd his teares and was a long time ere he could dry them Ennoramita moved with the sorrow of that Man who had alwayes mildly treated her besought Polexander to retire into his Closset that Narcissus might tell him in private those things that were not fit to be published The Eunuch joyn'd his intreaties to those of the Princesse and Polexander arising led her into his chamber Narcissus follow'd them and every one retâ—…ring to leave them at liberty The good old man moistning againe his leâ—…n cheekes with a long current of tears on this manner began the History of Nephizus Secrets That eternall Justice which is not allwaies fear'd because it is not allwayes busied in the punishing of wicked men hath at last made the poor Prince of Fez to feele that it chastiseth with a great severity when it long time defers his punishments That power made him fall into the pit which himselfe had digged and to make it selfe re-doubtableto those Princes that live hath suffered one of the greatest Princes of Affrica to dye so miserably that even to this houre we can know no other thing of him but that he is dead What doe you tell me cride Perselida What Narcissus is the Prince of Fez dead He is dead Madam reply'd the Eunuch weeping and all that I can say of his unhappy end is that he hath served for food to the Monsters of the Ocean Ennoramita made it well appeare on this occasion that a generous Soule is out of her Element when she is constraind either to resent her of the injuries or to deny her compassion to those which are fallen though justly into any mis-fortune No sooner was the Princesse assured of the death of her greatest enemy but she lost the memory both of all the wrong she had received and the protestations she had made to be avenged for them She remain'd a while recollected in her selfe and casting downe her eyes would have hid the teares that a true greife drew from her At last she declared her selfe and after divers sighes I confesse said she with a marvelous moderation that I cannot chuse but bewayle the unfortunate death of that young Prince J forgive him with all my heart the wrong he hath done me and beseech the dreadfull Majesty before whom he is to give an account of the actions of his life not to deale with him according to the rigor of his Justice Polexander admir'd this excesse of goodnesse and praysing so fair a change intreated Perselida to be pleas'd that he might be cleard of a thing he had heard in Bajazets Jsland The Princesse replyde that he might doe all that he thought fit Thereupon Polexander tooke the old Eunuch by the hand and intreated him to tell why Nephizus had forsaken his country and his wife and whither it were on the Mediterranean Sea or the maine Ocean that they thought he had suffered shipwrack I can satisfy your curiosity replyde Narcissus and in doing so shall acquit my selfe of that whereto my Soveraigne Lady lately engaged me Ennoramita having bestow'd farre more then she owed to the memory of her marriage set her neer to Polexander and Narcissus related to them what they desired to know in these termes About a yeere before I left you in the Pallace of the Desert sayde he addressing him to the Princesse of Tunis my Lord the King waâ—… solicited by Abdelmelec to renew their ancient intelligence and by a necessary warre to free their country and even their Father from the slavery wherein five or six Tyrants made them to languish Nephizus who was but too facile to be carried to any mischiefe met with his brother and by a parricidiall resolution engag'd himselfe to put the kinde and meeke Hely from his Throne and make him renounce by force that authority which he kept too long This Attempter had the successe he deserved for Nephizus forces were discomfited and himselfe taken prisoner But the too indulgent Hely unwilling to consent either to the death or imprisonment of his rebellious Sonne satisfied himselfe with keeping him under guard some few dayes after which never remembring what had passed he shewed him more love and more confidence then before and utterly to undoe him the too facile and weak Hely shewed him I dare not say indiscreetly a young wonder of whom as old as he was he was become passionately amorons I would tell you the story of that fatall beauty because t is most strange but it serving nothing to my purpose I will content my selfe with the relating to you that she arrived on the coasts of Morrocco in the midst of the flames of a burning ship as presaging the fires and flames that she was to kindle in that country Nephizus had noe sooner seen that stranger but he not only trod under foot the respect he was bound to carry to the passion of his father but he forgot that which he lawfully ought to love and what he had other times affected The desire to enjoy this stranger wholy possessing him and making him to lose all reason he thought that by cunning and glosing it might be easie for him to come to the End of his pretentions and being young and faire should without much difficulty get this marvell out of the hands of the good old man his Father But after he had imployed in it all his wits and all his confidents he found himselfe farre short of his reckoning For having to doe with an old Man jealous suspectfull and sensuall and by consequence that was igno rant in nothing that was to be practisd to win a woman his wyles were soone discovered and he to save his life constrained to fly At that time he writ to mee by one of his Mutes that I should shut you up more strictly then before and in saying thus he bow'd his head to Ennoramita's foot that I should not suffer you to be seene by any body and on the penalty of my life I should not suffer any person whatsoever to come neere the Advenues of your prison He writ me not the cause of that rigorous command but I discovered it since Abdelmelec took me into his service I will tel it you because it serves for the cleering of many things which may have come
condition you ought to take into consideration the Queen your Mother you ought to give her the Example of comforting her selfe and by your constancy facilitate the meanes of supporting her mis-fortunes All things sort well with you to go render her this necessary proofe of your good disposition She now bewayls your absence as well as your Sisters Go and ease her of one part of her feares and disquiet and since 't is impossible for you to give her all she desires give her yet at least all which she desires with reason I know t is vexatious and irksome to you to signifie to her the death of your Sister But it is not of necessity that you should your selfe bring her that unwelcome and heavy newes Besides Axiamira's virtue is no common virtue She is of proofe against the greatest Accidents and Fortune who hath often violently justled her hath not been able to stirr her At that word Polexander interrupting me Governour said he I yeeld to so many reasons and will not be â—…pbrayded that for being too nice I forsook one sick who might have receiv'd comfort by my care and diligence Presently the Pilot had command to returne to the Canaryes and as if the wind had been govern'd by that Prince it shifted in a moment from East to West and so fresh a gale that the second day we discry'd the prodigious Mountaine of the Isle of Teneriffe There we met with an obstacle which was as the presage of those hind'rances where withall Fortune went about to oppose the prosperities of Polexander Four-Pyrateâ—…hips which domineer'd in those Seas discharg'd all at once on our two Vessells and not thinking to meet with any great resistance came close up to us without any more My generous Master finding in this occasion wherewithall to exercise his great courage made it appeare to the Rovers they had been very ill advised He so affrighted them by the terror of his blowes but particularly by the death of their Captaine that they gave over the fight and contented themselves with the losses they had sustained Polexander was more hard to be pleas'd and would not overcome by halfes He hotly pursued the Run-awayes sunck two of their ships and but for the ill weather which seem'd to envy his victory it had not been unperfected But of this I intended not to accuse Fortune if by a pernicious sequell that Jealous-one had not made it appeare she had a designe not to save the Prince's Enemies but to ruine the Prince himselfe To bring it to passe she arm'd the Sea and the Winds and commanded them to wage Warr with him and after she had held him many dayes and nights without hope of safety cast him into a Port wherein he made a more dangerous shipwrack then if his Vessell had been split upon some Rock His ship then open and leaking in many places and unfurnished in her principall parts hazardously entred the mouth of a little River which our Pilots knew not and not finding water enough insensibly ran in on the owze The generous Polexander presently came to assist Alcippus Diceus and my selfe that could no more and assuring us we were out of all danger said that if we had yet but a little courage we might instantly enjoy our good fortune Get out my friends let 's get out of this sad abode and let 's see whether the Land will be more kind to us then the water and whilst our Mariners resume their Spirits let us take the benefit of that rest which an extream pleasant shore presents us Alcippus overcame his sicknesse to follow Polexander went a land with him Diceus follow'd presently after and I who had rather dye then be from my Prince caus'd my selfe to be carryed on shore by foure of our slaves The ayre of the Land streightwayes dissipating a part of our sicknesse we found our selves comforted and â—…as'd in lesse then nothing Polexander and Alcippus climb'd to the top of a Rock not farre from us to see whether we were arriv'd in a place that was inhabited But seeing neither men nor houses and the night too approaching they return'd where they had left me and told me we must set up Tents on the shore to passe the comming night better then we had done the eight or ten precedent Diceus receiving this order from me went back into the ship and commanded the Officers of the Kings Cabin to go set up the Kings pavillion in the most commodious place they could find All which was don with so much diligence that in lesse then an houre we found our selves very well lodg'd When every one had eaten we set Sentinells on the parts that lead to us for feare of being surpris'd and gave them expresse order not to disperse themselves for what cause soever This done we went to Bed Scarce had the Sun begun to whiten the top of the Rock at whose feet we had pitch'd our Tent when Polexander call'd Alcippus and my selfe and told â—…s we slept as profoundly as if we were in a friends Country We streight clad us and that while the Prince went to relieve the Sentinells and put some little Court of Guard about his Tents to make some little resistance in case we were set on and forbad us on paine of death to observe him as a King before any person whatsoever that should hap to come neer him This being thus ordered he commanded his horses to be landed but they had been so Sea-beaten they could hardly uphold themselves Yet there was a Barbary white as Snow which Polexander had bought to combate with Abdelmelec that took heart assoone as he was landed and refreshing himselfe on the Grasse seem'd by his neighing to assure the King his Master that he might make use of him The Prince after he had taken a little repast amongst all his followers took horse and Alcippus and Diceus following him a foot travers'd a plaine which stretch'd it selfe along by the River and grew broader in other Lands as farr off as the eye could extend After he had ridden three or four miles he descended by a pleasant slope hanging of a hill into so delight some valleys were it for the little Brookes which divided them for the Fountaines which slid from the top of the little hills for the meadow coverd with a thousand severall kindes of flowers or for the little woods which invirond them so that oftentimes considering them I have said to my selfe that the ancient Grecians had good cause to chuse the abode of their Heroes Soules in the Islands of the Atlantick Sea If Polexander were ravished at so faire a Scite he was farre more in meeting with those that inhabited it They were Shepheards so handsome and Shepheardesses so fayre and neatly clad that in seeing them Polexander thought on the Knights and Ladies of the French Court beleeved he saw them represent act some Pastoral in their rurall habits The first he met withall not a jot wondred to
it the first evening he perceiv'd the cunning for he mark'd how the birds obeying to Linceus voice suddenly stopp'd their flight and incontinently after soaring very high they made an impetuous stoop on the ship He imagin'd by their returne that the art of man and not the power of a God had made them capable of a subjection which went for a miracle and had some of the generousnesse of those famous birds which forget their nature and libertie for the pleasure of men or from the docilitie of those which are the ordinarie postes from Alexandria or Cairo and from Aleppo to Tripoly in Syria Being confirm'd in this opinion by the going off and returning of those birds he admir'd the cunning and wit of the Inhabitants of the Inaccessible Island and no more doubted of what he had so often heard spoken that Common-wealth's being compos'd of a small number of able and an infinite multitude of impertinent men the wiser sort as lesse powerfull had been constrain'd to have recourse to miracles and to imploy strengths more redoubtable then their owne to keep in obedience such as being naturally the stronger were in all likelihood to become their masters These meditations tooke up for foure dayes Dicens thoughts the fifth at sun-set he came to the King his master and told him that he heard from Linceus they were the next day to discover the Inaccessible Island and if the wind did not faile then at even they should land about two or three houres within night Our Heroe receiving this newes with as much feare as hope Courage said he to his servant we are now on the point of deciding the great difference that is betwixt us and Fortune we can no more recoile but must either now have the victorie yeelded us or she absolutely take it to her selfe He began not this speech to make an end of it straight but as he was about to continue it he that stood as sentinell in the top of the mast put all the ship in confusion by his fearfull out-cryes he call'd to the Mariners to take care of the ship and to eschew two great fires which being in their course seem'd to beare up right upon them At this newes every one awoke and Polexander amongst the rest coming out of his cabin went up on the poup and was one of the first which descry'd that wonderfull blazing presently he thought it could not proceed from any other cause then the setting some ships on fire and beleev'd it so much the more certainly because a little while after he saw the fire divide it selfe in two and assoone joyne againe His generous soule fâ—…ll of compassion made him thinke on the safetie of those wretches which were like to be burnt in the midst of the waters and to effectuate that charitable thought he besought Alcidiana's Embassadors not to be pitilesse and cruell spectators in an occasion where they might make knowne their goodnesse and courage Linceus was call'd to give his opinion he would gladly have afforded that which he ought to those of his own condition but knowing whereto his charge oblig'd him Humane consideration said he demands one thing and Alcidiana's service requires another If I were Master of this ship I would hazard her rather then see poore miserable wretches perish before me whose cryes even coming to our eares seeme to implore our assistance but I have command to bring backe againe this ship into the Port of Eliza and have none to goe succour these which are in this disaster 'T is true said Polexander approving what Linceus had said 't is not fit to hazard so many persons of qualitie as are in this vessell to satisfie a zeale which as just as it is yet may possibly not be reasonable let 's doe better some eight or ten of us may get into the shallop and rowing neere the burning ships may at least testifie that we are not insensible of other mens calamities This proposition was presently approv'd of and almost assoon put in execution Polexander was not satisfi'd with the good counsell he gave but he would have his share in the danger which accompanied it and though Alcidiana's Embassadors did their utmost to divert him they could get nothing but the satisfaction of following him they therefore put themselves all into one barque and commanding their sailers to get the wind they drew neer the burning vessels and saw two which like furnaces halfe quench'd threw out no fire but what was wrapt up in a thick smoake On all sides they might heare fearfull groanes and clamours and when Polexander had commanded the Mariners to betake them to their oares he thought he heard others which strucke the sea very neere him he made them row towards the noise and presently descry'd a little shallops in which there were onely two women the one laid all along seem'd rather dead then alive and the other strove with oares to get off from the burning vessels but through too much feare and too little experience she did cleane contrary to her intention and when Polexander staid her shallop she was falling againe into those flames from which she had escap'd When she saw her boat stopp'd she cry'd out taking our Heroe for another at first he spoke not to her to the end he might know by what she would say to whom he was to addresse himselfe instantly hee heard the woman make use of a language particular to the Kingdome of Thombut and Galatia and the understanding it gave some I know not what emotion which amaz'd him But he was farre more when she who lay as dead opened her mouth and after many long and frequent sighes in these termes made knowne her lamentable fortune Thou hast O too amiable and cruell stranger pluck'd me out of the executioners hands Thou hast led me from slaverie to a throne and when I had lost all hope of Government plac'd more then one Crowne on my head but to what end were all these obligations and benefits except to make me more miserable in denying the chiefest which was thy companie and affection that height of greatnesse whereto thou hadst rais'd me onely made me more capable of a greater down-fall if thy intention was so thou shouldst rest satisfi'd since my obedience hath been made apparent to thee by mine own ruine and precipitating my selfe into such downe-falls as thou hadst digg'd for me have witnessed to the world that when there was question of giving thee contentment there was nothing too hard for me for this the unfortunate Philesia is pleas'd to die and the more contented since she consecrates to thee with her life that first puritie which neither the Prince of Galatia's solicitations nor the violence of pirates have beene of force to deprive her of Those last words struck Polexander almost to the heart for he felt in himselfe that he was the cause of those just lamentations He call'd to mind the love which the Princesse of Thombut had made knowne
the verity which the other would have perswaded him Though he saw himself fully satisfi'd yet he persever'd in his doubts and look'd for Polexander in Polexander What said he you live then and are not the Slave born in the depths of Africa for whose valour heaven reserv'd the safety of this Kingdome Yes said our Heroe I live and am a slave come out of Africa But I am not so happy nor so valiant to believe that the safety of a Kingdome such as this is should be reserv'd for me You are repli'd Pallantus both too fortunate and valiant then needs to accomplish so great a businesse but I place not on that the height of your felicity I fix it on this that Providence it self who from all Eternity had destin'd you to the government of this Kingdom hath lead you to it by wayes so faire and ordinarie I suffer not my self to be dazeled by my friends flatteries repli'd Polexander I know mine owne value and what I ought to hope for and if you will give me leave to declare my mind freely I shall tell you dear Pallantus that the highest pretention I have is that my service may at last obtain me from Alcidiana the honour to weare her chains and to watch for her amongst her Slaves This converse had lasted longer but for Diceus coming in Assoon as Polexander saw him he step'd forward and ask'd with a trembling voice if he had had the honour to see the Queen I newly came from her reply'd Diceus and bring such newes as may much amaze you Pallantus thinking Diceus would not speak before him made a semblance to withdraw but our Heroe staying him by the arme You said he shall wrong me if you imagine that that I am distrustfull of your discretion Do you not know that you have undertaken to justifie me to the Queen and how can you do it unlesse you know how she is disposed and what thoughts Diceus hath put in her Tell us said he to his servant what you have done Diceus dissembling his joy Before said he I acquit my self of the command you impos'd on me I thought it fitting to visit Amintha I went to her lodging and met her as she was entring No sooner had she an eye on me but she came forward and feigning to be all in choler What Diceus said she you have been capable of this treason and Polexander could conceale from me a thing wherein I might so effectually serve him Surely you have both done very fairly Now see for some body that may repair the faults you have committed Madam said I if the King my Master have been in an error do not if you please impute it either to the diminution of his affection nor any other cause as culpable Fortune is guilty of all and if you will have me name her Complices I must say all Alcidiana's Subjects No sooner had the King my Master set foot on thâ—… Island but they took him for a certain African Slave foretold of by some prophesie and on that foundation building all that a popular extravagance can produce they won him to take armes and march to the relief of this City The very day he got the Spaniards Fort he was wounded as you have heard and but for my ordinary curiosity he had not known either of your reâ—… hither or whether you were alive or no. I can assure you it for truth because I have seen him many a time lament you for dead and he no sooner knew from Alcippus by what unhappie accident you had been as it were forced out of his armes but falling as it were dead on me Let heaven said he hence forward doe what it pleaseth since Amintha is lost and since with her I lose all the hope of my reseeing Alcidiana I have nothing else to be depriv'd of Amintha was so inly touch'd with these words said Diceus that the teares stood in her eyes A while she stood and could not speake to me At last being recollected Come said she into my Closet and let 's indeavour to recompose such things as Polexander's ill fortune hath disordered Assoon as we were in private Before all things else said Amintha you must relate to me all that your Master hath done I may say since his resurrection I repli'd Madam I recounted to you before Alcidiana how he dyed I will now tell you the manner of his reviving and the brave adventures which have befalne him in his second life After that I related to her your Majesties death and resurrection as I took it and forgot nothing of what had betided you both by Sea and Land I will not tell you how often Amintha wept during my recitall nor how often she made me say over againe the same things that she might make them credible to her When I had done Diceus said she 't is to be confess'd that the generousnesse and constancie of the King thy Master were impossible to be rewarded if heaven had destin'd them a recompence lesse then Alcidiana But note with me how that Eternall Spirit which so wisely presides o're the fates of men hath by secret insensible and unconceivable wayes brought Polexander to that high point of honour and felicity where his virtues are to be crowned Indeed that Providence would not by common meanes worke the conjunction of two such extraordinary personages as Alcidiana and Polexander It hath done well to hide that admirable effect of Justice in thick clouds and to inviron it with seeming invincible difficulties to the end that the one becoming dissipated and the other surmounted that admirable worke of its powerfull hand might amaze all mindes with joy and admiration Or if thou wilt have me say so to the end the Deity making appear what it is by so visible a miracle might deeply reingrave its love and fear in all such hearts from whence it was alike effaced Our Prophets threatned Alcidiana either to be taken away by strangers or to be the wife of a Slave com'd out of the deserts of Africa and denounc'd how without that fatall marriage her estate ran hazard to be lost with her selfe Whil'st all things were preparing here to bring to light the beginning of that Prophesi Heaven laboured in the depth of Africa for the Accomplishment of the rest It sent tempests discover'd rocks and ordained Shipwracks to the end that a great King losing all the signes of Dignity should become effectively a Slave and under that miserable condition wander long time through the deserts of Africa But thou seest not Diceus the mysterie of this inducement Heaven made not Polexander a Slave but to witnesse its decrees are unchangeable and withall to provide for him a way right and open whereby it might be easie for him to arrive to that happie port whither neither his â—…avells his watchings nor industrious searches had ever been able to have brought him All these things have I represented to the Queen and have so well perswaded her to
them enforced the rest to lay down their arms and be subject to his lawer When he had reduced these Savages to peace and obedience he commanded a cessation of all hostility and to win them more easily deprives them not of any of their ancient liberties save of their men-eating and sacrificing them to Idols by little and little he drew them from the woods and made them build houses He gave them Legislators to govern and Priests to instruct them in the worship of the true Gods And desiring to make their servitude not irksome told them that the Prince whom he intended should command them was not a stranger but a Prince borne amongst them and might call himself their countreyman He meant the childe the Queen went withall and to keep his word with them would that the Queen should lie in at Quito The Savages rather more cunning by their misfortunes then won and made more pliable by the Inca's milde treating gave him thanks for his favours but in a little time after they made known by their horrible and bloody actions that they were the same men they had been The Queen daily expected her houre of delivery when these inhumane villains made themselves masters of Quito They streight ran to the Palace slew the guards and meeting with Guina Capa ran him thorow divers times and left him for dead in his chamber They had no more respect either for the sex or beauty of the Queen then for the Majesty of the King but pulling her out of her bed they drew her unworthily and bruitishly by the haire out of the city and exposed her to the rage of two Tigers which accustomed to such sacrifices followed those Barbarians and were adored as their tutelary gods Those beasts which better deserved the name of gods then those barbarous villains did of men stopped by a power truly divine began to crouch and fawn on the Queen and having nothing of their first nature shewed either a feare of or a respect to that body which for a prey was thrown to them Those signes of humanity it I dare say so were not alone the cause of those bruites astonishment for they kept themselves as guards about the Queen and tore in pieces whosoever durst come neer her This while the Princesse who had but life sufficient to bring her childe into the world died as soon as she was delivered the Tigers took it and licked the Infant and by their pitifull howlings seemed to say that they were much afflicted for not being able to succour it In the same instant appeared a great troop of men armed with great targets bows and arrows the Tigers were no way afraid at their sight but letting them come so neer till they had discovered the Queens body they withdrew and ran out of sight among the rocks Those which were in the front of that troop having noted the action of the Tigers began to cry out that their great Prophet was to be believed and ran to take up the body of the Queen they laid her on their targets took up the little Inca and gave him to some women that were in the midst of their troop As soon as the childe was dressed those unknown men turned their backs to Quito and witnessing by their shouts the excesse of their contentment marched alwaâ—…s in batalia to the foot of the mountains which divide the kingdome of Quito from that of the King Quasmez Before I go further be pleased that I let you know the Infant of the generous and deplorable Amazon but what need is there that I should tell you since the illustrious and unfortunate life of my Lord the Inca may make you cleerly see that no other then he could have so tragicall and fair a birth It was Zelmatida who before he was borne gave both love and terror to the most furious animalls and was the object of Prophets the desire of Kings and the hope of nations But I perceive not that I wander and leave the charitable troope which carryed away my young Prince Suffâ—…r me to follow them and according as things happened discover to you those mysteries which I see you would have me to let you understand Those who so opportunely came to save my Lord the Inca were sent thither by the great Quasmez who raigns over the one and the other sea and whose Empire extends it self from the territories of Mexico to those of the Inca's As soon as those men were on the mountaines they chose twelve of the swiftest among them and sent them to their King with the newes of their returning Goe said the Captaine of the Troupe aloud and relate to our Prince what you have seen assure him that his praiers are heard and that we have found the body of the dead Princesse and the newborne Child in the pawes of mercifull Tigers These posts departed and performed their Commission with an extraordinary diligence The others the while marching by little Journeis for feare of endangering the health of my Lord Inca got through the Mountaines and entred into the Country of one of the Ca ciques tributary to Quasmez When they had made a daies Journey or two in that Kingdome they began to publish that the Child which they conducted was he by whom as their gâ—…eat Prophet Tisnatidez made them hope they should recover the treasure they had lost This newes was no sooner knowne among the people but all strove who should doe most honour to Zelmatida In all places where he passed the Inhabitants brought him presents and bowing their faces to the ground seemed to expect their protection from a little Infant that was not able to defend it selfe nor to oppose the least injuries that any would enterprise against him Those which with so much respect carried him after many daies journey in this fashion at last arrived at the Court of Quasmez Assoone as he heard of their arrivall you might see breake from his countenance an unusuall joy but it is unpossible to tell you how much he expressed when his people delivered the Inca into his hands He looked on him he kissed him and embracing him as strictly as he had been his owne Son O cause said he of my future rest though he understood him not I hope one day to see the end of my afflictions since the holy Interpretor of my Gods hath promised me that the returne of my happinesse is to be the masterpeece of your valour The Queen his wife who was present at all these things would not suffer Zelmatida longer in the armes of her husband but tooke it and carried it away and taking all the care that a good mother ought to doe of those she brought into the world kept him neer her to his age of twelve yeares He grew so tall and so strong at that age that Quasmez began to have him taught all the exercises that the children of Kings are accustomed to learne His excellent inclination had soone drawne dry all the
king sawe the Queenes Troupe when hee imagined that they saw him he tooke a javelin and marched up to that Princesse with such a grace and majesty that in the judgement of all those that were with Hismelita they were found to be beyond comparison I have heard by others more particularly then from my deare Master of this interview I will therefore make an essay to relate to you what I understood of it though in so doing I goe beyond the bounds prescrib'd me Though Zelmatida be not now in case to terrifie any you must not therefore conceive him so in that brave day as you see him now before you Those griefes that gnaw him and that despaire which continually kills him had not yet chang'd the first colour of his lookes faded the freshnesse of his colour nor deaded the fire of his eyes To speake him to you in one word he was that body of which you now only see the shadow Adde to those charmes that which fame made march before him to conquer reason before sence could be overcome and with all 〈◊〉 perfections contemplate him before the Queene of Mexico As soone as he had done his obeysance to her he intreated pardon for the insolent traine wherewith he was inforced to come before her and concealing his condition and Countrey made himselfe taken for a kinsman of the last Cacique that Montezuma had brought under his obedience He told her that his duty and ill fortune equally constraining him to leave his Countrey he was come to serve Montezuma and that passing neere to a Mountaine that throwes forth fire he had been set on by theeves and had killed some of them since when at the intreaty of those who conducted him and besides seeing an expresse commandement signed by the hand of the King he had made some stay there to purge the Countrey of those villaines and that after the end of that little warre he would have rebetaken himselfe to his intended journey but that it was not in his power to rid himselfe of the people that came with him That he had been compelled to present himselfe before her in the estate she saw and weighing his being forced he beseeched her humbly to consider him as a prisoner that doth nothing but by the command of another rather then as one indiscreet whose vanity makes him not know himselfe Hismalita replied that for his delivering Mexico from a Monster esteemed indomptable there were not honours nor triumphs beyond his desert That the pesants of whom he complained had done nothing but what was commanded them And that he should expect more glorious assurances of the magnificence and love of Montezuma then the rusticall intertainement of the inhabitants of Popocampecho had made him shew of in witnessing to him their sensibilities of what he had done for them These discourses gave place to others and the Queen after she had dismissed the people that encompassed her to behold this meeting retained no more but Zelmatida and his two followers The Court thus remained freed and had a long time its eyes fixed on my deare Master as on an object worthy of admiration Hismalita had never a Son but she had foure Daughters who though not much resembling were neverthelesse perfectly beautifull Zelmatida gave them almost the same compliment he had given their Mother but he had no sooner cast his eyes on the tallest though she was not the eldest but a second feare almost put him from himselfe and left him no longer to doubt of the cause of his first The accustomed civilities being ended the Queen commanded my deare Master to tell her what the misfortune was that had obliged him to abandon his Countrey and by what miracle he became able to vanquish Popocampecho He had not power enough over his soule to obey her for he spake with such remarkable diversions and deportments so far unlike those which were expected from him that Hismalita tooke heede of it and all the Court beleeved that he was thus confused because he had not been accustomed to live among that pompe and luster wherewithall great Princes are invironed He intertained the Mother and looked on the Daughter he smiled insteed of answering the Queen when she asked him some serious question and he was heard to sigh in recounting some adventures wherein he had all kind of advantages The end of that day being for my deare Master an unpleasing conversation the Queen commanded him to follow her He came along to her Pallace and for all that could present it selfe for his object he gave not over his musings When he was in the Queens Chamber he impatiently wished that he might entertaine that young Marvell that had so easily overcome him An occasion offered it selfe for Hismalita being engaged to dispatch two posts which the King her husband had sent her retired into her Councell Chamber By her absence Zelmatida abode in the most delectable company he could desire and found a facile meanes to content his new passion The first that began a word to entertaine him was she who in so little a space of time had caused so great a change in him She had a far better wit then her sisters and her conversation was so sweet that it is to be beleeved that had she had lesse beauty then she was endowed with the charmes of her minde were strong ynough to winne and arrest eternally whatsoever he were that deserved the quality of an honest man Her high humour had till then kept her in such a contempt of our sex that she beleeved not men were worth the paines to be overcome And though she were in a Court which from all times had been the seate of pleasure of love and all galantry she yet lived with an incredible severity and reserving all her light to her selfe she did not only laugh at the curiosity of those of her age but insteed of borrowing from Art strange attires and ornaments she would not endure that nature should freely serve her selfe of the greater part of her owne Living in this manner it required the same spirit and the same knowledge that my Lord the Inca possest to have the same passion He made it appeare from that evening that his Love was of that nature which instantly deprives men of all judgement For Izatida so was the Princesse called asking him some question he found himselfe speechlesse when he would have given her an answere Shee noted in his face I know not what of a man transported with joy and who the more makes knowne his irregular passions by his unprofitable strivings to conceale them And although Zelmatida would never be wonne to beleeve that this young Princesse loved him yet a thousand proofes too visible have made me ever thinke otherwise and I am certaine that the residue of my relation will make you of my opinion This Princesse then unwilling that the losse of a person whom she already esteemed as one of hers should be knowne told him that
Bajazets chamber and telling him that they had unshipped and stowed all the riches they found in the Spanish shippes in their Magazines presented him an Inventory of them After he had seene it he lock'd it up and told the Rovers that when they had given the dead the honour they merited in their lives by their brave actions he would cause the store-houses to be opened to distribute and partake with the living that which their valour had given them The most aged of the Pirats having praysed the justice of Bajazet told him that all things necessary for the funerals of their companions were ready and they only waited his command to beginne the Ceremonies Bajazet would willingly have put it off till the morrow but loath to displease he dismissed them with an assurance that within an houre he would come forth of the Cittadell The end of the second Booke The first Part of POLEXANDER The third Booke THE generous Bajazet witnessing to the three Princes the sorrow he had to leave them and to lose the continuance of the marvelous adventures which Garruca so well related went to put on his funerall habit in which he was wont to appeare at the funeralls of the Pyrats The houre being come wherein this pompe was to begin you might have heard resound the noyse of Trumpets and Timbrells throughout all the Island Bajazet then caused himselfe to be armed and comming out of the Fort went to joyne with the other Captaines and Officers as well by Land as Sea One amongst them read to him a List of all the dead Captaines and in few words made as it were an abridgement of the life of every one and besought him in the name of the Pyrats to assist at the funeralls of so many valiant and happy Mussulmen Bajazet in generall thank'd all the assistants for the honour done him spoke of the dead in advantageous termes and after repetition of the principall points of their lives encouraged evr'y one to contemn all dangers when the good of the common cause came in question Bajazet finish'd his Oration just when the three Princes came to him and concealing the true cause of their arrivall beseeched him to bee pleased that they with him might give what they beleeved was due to the memory of so many valiant men We shall not my companions and my selfe answered Bajazet those alone that rescent the honour that you will doe us but the Soules of those that we are now interring will rejoyce at it and if you please to add your suffrages to your presence we doubt not but they will worthily satisfie the interrogation of the two Angells and be delivered from the torment of the grave Polexander understanding not well the meaning of these words beleev'd that they were some mysterious words in the Religion of Mahomet and resolv'd to remember them to have their interpretation at the first conveniency This while Bajazet put himselfe in the front of the pyrates and so came to the place where lay the bodies that were to be buried All things being ready at the comming of Bajazet every one began to march in his ranke The Captaines chosen to carry the corps tooke their places whilest their Talismans and their Dervises put themselves in the order they were to keepe in their marching These Mahometish Monkes carried in their hands lighted tapers and sung with a sad note these words Ialihae hillala Mehemet ressullaha tungari bicberemberac whereby they would say That God is God that there is no other God but he and that Mahomet is his sole Councellor and only Prophet At those words others answered them in a different tone and pronounced these words Alla rhahumane ashamubula alla illa alla huma alla By this prayer which they make for that dead they say that God is mercifull that he will have pitty on the deceased that there is no other God but God After these Priests went divers Souldiers armed after their fashion they carried Launces in their hands on whose ends were the Turbants of the dead with horse tayles Next came those that carried the bodies of their companions in bieres made like square chests and covered with great clothes made of cotten very white The manner of the Mahometans is to carry their dead to be buried the head foreward and so were these and there was to be seene on the fore-end of their bieres other turbants covered with feathers and compassed with lighted candles Bajazet all alone followed those bodies and some thirty paces behinde him marched all those that had command under his charge The Companies of the dead Captaines followed but in an other order then they had kept till that time Every Souldier carried his armes reversed and witnessed as much greife as if he had been the neerest kinsman or the most affectionate of the departed There was one Souldier of every Company who trained an Ensigne on the ground and behinde him came fifteen or twenty Souldiers who bore shattered lances broken oares and colours of white taffata whereon there were red crosses At last some Moores led in their hands very brave horses which had their saddles turned the upside downe on their backs All this Troupe marened very slowly and in great silence whilst the Dervises continued the forsaid prayers Their place of buryalls was chosen in a little wood which was some five hundred paces from the Fortresse As soone as the Priests were come thither they rancked themselves about the graves and ended their prayers The Captaines the while set the bieres on tables right against the pits They tooke off the clothes and boords where with they were covered and then every one might see the dead wounde up in such sort that they had the face and the feet out of the wynding sheet The Priests tooke the little peeces of paper that were on the stomacks of the deceased and after they had made a composition of Saffron and water of Orenge flower wrote certaine words which the Moores believe to be powerful and mysterious in their Religion These words being writ the Dervices hung the scrols with black silke about the neckes of the dead and said a long prayer by which they asked from God and Mahomet that the soules of the defunct might be delivered from the punishment of the Angels And therewith the Dervises set the bieres on the ground and with clothes of cotten let them downe into the graves seven or eight foote deepe They threw in some habillements and some of the colours which they bore to the interment as a marke that the dead had gained them Afterwards they covered the graves with many great planckes that had been prepared of purpose and raised on them with turfes and stones Tombes of some six foot long and foure hie and three in largenesse During this businesse the Priests gave not over their prayers to obtaine of God that those dead might answer pertinently when they should be examined by the two black Angels This ceremony ended
extreame glory to you to have enforced that divine Queene to have recourse to extraordinary meanes to disdeceive her people and make them knowe that she lov'd you not Make a long and a serious reflection on a matter of so great weight and you shall be forced to confesse after you have well thought on it that the hatred Alcidiana shewes towards you is farre more obliegeing then the indifferency which shee hath for alâ—… men else But that I may make you more capeable of these Mysteries I will relate to you some of them and drawe as I might say the veyle from before those secrets which have never been discovered Whilest the faire slave talked thus Polexander was walked on to the Sea shore and staying there the better to heare him wonne him to begin the recitall of those wonders which promised him so much comfort and repose Pallantus not perceiving that the affection he bore to Polexander was incompatible with the fidelity he owed his Princesse began in this manner a relation not lesse glorious for that divine Queene then advantageous for out Hercë The History of Alcidianaes divers Humors AFter that the impudent Siziphus had by your valour receiv'd the chastisement that his Rebellion and pride ought to have expected Alcidiana testifyed publiquely â—…hat the service you had done her was such as Kings could not worthily acknowledge 〈◊〉 least then in giving up their crownes with themselves But in particular she found 〈◊〉 â—…lte offended with your good fortune and courage and the greatnesse of the obligation â—…ut her into choller against him that â—…ad oblieged her After shee had long time â—…used and a great while given eate to these proud motions â—…he called to her the disâ—…eete Amintha and being shut with her into her Closet Doe not you beleeve said â—…he that the rash Syziphus had intelligence with the man that overcame him and thaâ—…â—…e had not taken armes against us but to cause that stranger to merit the glory to haâ—…e sav'd us To what may not Polexander pretend since that if We reigne over our selfe and subjects we owe that double Empire to his courage But what said I Amintha No no we reign no more Polexander is the person alone which hath right to govern in this Island Fortune hath put us into his discretion and the liberty wee so much brag of is not ours since we owe it to his victory Deplorable Alcidiana give over this imperious minde and these insolent contempts with which thou hast hitherto regarded all men It behooves thee to learne to honor them and after thou hast disdain'd so many Kings to accustome thy selfe to respect a stranger and acknowledge him to be thy deliverer Polexander could not endure that Pallantus should continue his discourse but interrupting him made shew how much the reproaches of Alcidiana were mortall to him Truly said he Pallantus thou hast not deceiv'd my expectation though thy words seemed to promise me great cause of hope and consolation I have ever yet beleeved that the divine wit of Alcidiana was not capable of being deceived It hath presently noted the falsity of such things as some flatterers have published of me and discovering in the bottome of my Soule an extraordinary pride and a prodigious ambition it hath well beene perceived that all my actions were criminall and that I wore not the maske of virtue but to make way for my crimes with the more cunning and impunity Pallantus thinking Polexander had too fayre a Subject to talke for himselfe to be silent interrupted him as tother had done and having most humbly intreated him for his attention Doe not hope said he that I will goe on a jot further if you doe not promise to hearken to what I shall tell you with that constancy that generous men attend even when they are innocent the judgement of a Judge that pronounceth the Sentence of death Polexander knowing that he had suffered himselfe too easily to be led away by his passion intreated Pallantus to pardon him that heate and swore to him even by Alcidiana that he would not violate any more the silence prescribed him Pallantus would not doubt of an oath which hee beleeved inviolable for Polexander continued in this manner the recitall of Alcidianaes opinions As soone as the Queene had ended reproaching her selfe she addressed her speech to Amintha and desirous to obliege her to an answere What shall we doe said she betweene two extremities to us equally dangerous If we have not an extreame resentment of the Combat wherein Polexander engaged himselfe for our conservation wee shall live esteemed the most unworthy Princesse that ever yet with ingratitude hath payed the Services that have beene done her And if those of this stranger be confessed as our importance obliegeth us we not only uncloathe our selves of all that Nature hath given us of high and great but bring our selves to the infamous necessity of living and dying slaves Amintha who hath alwaiâ—…s testifyed how much your virtue wrought her to love what imported you answered the Queene that how great soever the dangers were they were never such as cowardly mindes imagined them That the two extremities which her Majesty spoake of were equally to bee feared but that 't was easie to avoide them That betweene those two vices there was a virtue that by a stable firmity neyther lean'd to the one nor to the other and which by a just domination raigned imperiously over them both That she should take hold of that virtue and not looke on her selfe as ingratefull or as a slave but as a powerfull Queene that being serv'd by a person infinitely belowe her selfe could not imagine in him eyther so much pride to demande excessive recompences nor so much weakenesse to complayne though he should not receive eyther great or little Alcidiana finding not in Aminthaes answere the satisfaction she looked for If said she all things were in that order which heaven prescribed them I could make use of those expedients you propose But if I abide in that mediocrity what will not a people say which blames all that crosses their fancy and who weighing all rewards and labours in a false ballance neither beleeve the one nor the other equitable if they be not conformable to what they have prejudged Yet let us imagine that my Subjects will be more discreete and judicious then those of other kingdomes and let us beleeve that they will even approve the resolutions I have taken to acquit me of that which Iowe to Polexander Doe you thinke that Polexander dazelled with the victory he hath newly gotten over his Enemy â—…nd possessed by that unmeasurable ambition which youth and valour inspire in all great Spirits can give any bounds to his preâ—…mions What presents or promises soever we make him hee will value them infeâ—…iour to his deservings Amintha here with spoke and desirous to cut up by that roote the Queenes perturbations Madam said she be pleased that without losse of the respect
that speake to you of Polexanders Combat and that by a just regulating having put all things in the order they ought to observe and keepe you consider the service of this Prince as â—…o many homages which he hath done to your state and merit and not as ayde which the necessity of your affaires hath compelled you to implore from his courage In a word you ought to looke on Polexâ—…nder as a man who allured by the charmes of your virtue and the sound of your fame is come to offer you his sword and his life and not as a Tyrant who hath secretly contrived the rebellion of your people to thrust you into slavery Alcidiana having not power to be so soone capable of Amintha's councell though she thought it extreamly reasonable told her that she needed a great deale of time to be disposed to follow her advice And indeede she was five or six dayes without being able to suffer your presence or resolve for your departure Time at last plucking from her minde all her feares and scruples she came againe to her former mirthsomnesse and causing to shine againe in her eyes that celestiall fire which had been hidden for a time witnessed that her disquietts were at an end and that her Soule had found againe that former peace it injoyed before Syziphus revolt had made it to you so considerable Amintha noted this change but her respect not permitting her to make it appeare she wayted when some word or action of Alcidiana would give her the liberty of speach And she got it in the great Garden of the Pallace For one day the Queene walking there tolde her that after she had well examined her councell she was resolv'd to follow it But sayd she this secret must rest betwixt us two and let us consult together in what manner we shall acquit us of a Debt that ought already have been payde Your Majesty answered Amintha smiling have not to doe with a Creditor that presseth you The glory to have serv'd you is the only payment which he expects for his paines and if your Majesty will beleeve him he will perswade himself as he hath done already that his services merit no acknowledgment Alcidiana turning her to Amintha I know not said she why 〈◊〉 stick â—…o strongly on this thought I finde that there are faâ—…re more â—…her things which in all likelyhood should take up my minde as much as this doth and yet as iâ—… on this alone depended the preservation of my authority and the felicity of my life I forgot all the rest and think my selfe much troubled when the care of my Estate and the remembrance of other services that have been done me divert me from this pleasing meditation I confesse Amintha that in this I am cleane contrary to my selfe and that this change threatens me with some strange mishap But I will prevent it if it may be prevented by any humane pollicy and give end to my unrests in exiling from me the person that is the cause of it aeâ—…l If your Majesty answered Amintha will permit me to leave soothing and give me leave to lay before you how your deliberations undoe one another you may easily free your selfe from that perplexitie which your too nâ—…e opinions bring on you and without forcing your minde to any thing that may â—…exe it may reduce your cogitation only to that of reigning with that tranquility and justice which have made you the admiration of all your Subjects and the desire of all the Princes of the World The difficulty Madam is to worke the greatnesse of your mind to give way that a stranger after he had with successe enough most beneficially done you service should receive some little part of that honour which you would have to be wholly restored to your selfe And to give his valour the recompence which your Majesty beleeves he hath deserved Indeede said Alcidiana there are but those two points in question Now that your discourse hath diverted my thoughts I see nothing more facil nor more reasonable but when I thinke a little on the execution of these things I see so many obstacles and frame to my selfe so many difficulties that my minde cannot so settle on it but that in stead of disintangling them it becomes worse incombred in it selfe Scarce have I well framed an intention to submit me to your judgement but I meete a second thought that opposeth the first My Will strives with my Will my feare curbs my desire and to speake freelie to you I would willingly without ingratitude bee unthankfull to Polexander Amintha who may be would engage the Queene to make a more ample declaration of her intentions Will not your Majesty said she thinke mee too fancy if I take the boldnesse to aske you whence proceeded these strange contrarieties Doe you not feele in your selfe a certaine desire and feare that causeth this ebb and flood in your Will That 's it answered the Queene that I could never yet come to acknowledge These disorders are not begotten by any cause at all at least not by any whereof I am sensible The wise Radiotez who hath so often spoken to mee of the trouâ—…les and passions of the Soule hath taught me nothing that hath any resemblance with my afflictions I have forgot nothing of his Lectures and know very well if I deceive not my selfe in what manner hatred and amitie are bred in us But when I apply that which I know to the affaire with Polexander I finde that as I have no reason to hate him so have I no inclination to love him Polexander not daring to complaine for feare of violating the Law that was so necessarilie enjoyned him sighed alowd when he heard these last resolutions of Alcidiana But the faire slave seemed to take no heede to it and thus continued his discourse After the Queene had ended this declaration she stayed a while gazing on Amintha Amintha on her part looked on the Queene and said nothing and so eyed her that Alcidiana saw well she required a more ample manifestation of her minde But she shewing I know not what pleasing anger Expect no more of me said she I have laid open my heart to you if you be not satisfied you must finde fault with the want of my wit and not of my affection I perceive well that I unfold not my selfe cleere enough But how or by what meanes can my discourse be lesse perturbed then my thoughts Or how can I expresse that in order which I conceive but confusedly See all that I can recollect most neate and intire is That â—…nce my ill fortune hath brought me to be oblieged to Polexander 〈◊〉 passionately desire to be freed of it but that which I wish more earnestly is if it could be brought to passe that I were not at all engaged to him Amintha judging that to urge Alcidiana any more was to cast her againe into her perplexities from whence she was scarce well gotten It will be only
you begot in me the desire to make use of his service and at last to become indebted to him I therefore absolutely command you to worke so that I may owe him nothing or that I may never thinke of it more Amintha perceiving well tâ—…at at the Queen was angry in good earnest It those two things said she which your Majesty proposeth were equally in my power you should presently bee obeyed This Insâ—…lent who hath had the Front to refuse that which by a liberalitie without example you have deigned to offer him should be for ever blotted out of your memory But Madam give me leave to tell you that if youâ—… Majesty will take the paines to labour on your part as I will doe on mine I dare assure you that before night you shall not only be free but even never more remember that there was ever any such man as Polexander in the world Be pleased then to give that into my hands which you gave in charge to Pallantus I shall not be so complaisant as he hath beene I will make Polexander know 't is not in his choyce to refuse that which your Majesty gives him and that you have not called him to your succour as she would have done some Prince her Ally who should have serv'd her for honour only but that you employed him as a mercenary to whom we use to give at the end of his labour the Sallary that Wee thinke he hath deserved This done Madam your Majesty must act the rest Amintha hath often told me that whilest she spoake so much against you the Queene â—…lush'd twice or thrice and was opening her lips as if she would have taken your part But yet she did nothing but sending away Amintha with an eaâ—…ernesse that shewed enough what she would have hidden Performe said she punctually that which you have promised me for you know I use to châ—…stize those that fayle in what they owe me Amintha made a very lowe obeysance and departed with a firme beleefe that Alcidiana had not that perfect indifferency wherewith she had spoken to her some few daies before You know better then I the reasons she used to get you to accept the Principalitie of Syziphus But I know better then you what Alcidianaes thoughts were when she heard you had received it What said she thinking no body heard her it is not then the consideration of my Present that hath made him take it 'T were Aminthaes intreaties that made him like of it but I am overjoyed that my debt is so well acquitted and that I have no more cause of obligation for this stranger Amintha was in the right to make him goe for a Mâ—…rcenary certainly he is so though he counterfeit the Generous and I now know well that hee refused at first the Salary for his paines but only in hope to get more When she had said thus she was silent and after a great sigh but how said shee shall I know that Amintha hath faithfully related to me those words she said to him Is it not to be beleeved that to make him receive my Present she hath told him that t was my will he should give me that tryall of his obedience and that 't was by it alone that he could avoide my indignation Your humilities doubtlessely shee hath said to him are artificiall vanities you would be taken for one unworthy of a Gift whicâ—…â—…n your owne Conscience you thinke unworthy of you You play the modest when indeede you are the most ambitious and t is possible you will not receive aâ—… art â—…cause you thinke you deserve the whole Be a little lesse jealous of your selfe and â—…leeve that how great soever your merit be and of what importance soever the service you have done the Queene the recompence she offers you is infinitely above both the one and the other But I hold you too generous to stick at the estimation of what is offered you If there be any thing great in this gift if there bee any thing that ought to come neere your ambition t is the dignity of the person that sends it you Deliberate no more then on what you have to doe for as t is impiety to refuse what the Gods give us so is it insolency not to receive what is reached to us by the hand of a King Alcidiana would be out of your debt Bee not so overweening to wish that she should bee still beholding in a word be assured that your offence shall not be lesse prodigious then that of Syziphus if you persevere in your refusall Pride hath beene the losse of his Principallity let the same thing make you refuse it howsoever Alcidiana will bee obeyed Dare you have the impudence to gainsay it See the reasons continued the Queene raysing her voice that Amintha hath made use of to winne Polexander to receive my Present and if it be so as I doubt not of it why should I give that to Aminthaes intreaties which is only due but to the merit of my Gift But whence come these disquiets on me What matters it whether my Present or Amintha hath acquitted me One way or other I am so and Polexander is to me too indifferent to desire from him that which I never asked from any one of those whom my benevolences have enriched See what the discourse was which the Queene thought she had by her selfe T is your part now to give it the interpretation it may receive without wresting But what comfort soever it brings you keepe it to your selfe for this time for at the least diversion you throw athwart my memory many things will escape it which might serve you for excellent remedies against those ills that afflict you Two dayes passed after this during which time the Queene lived as if you had beene wholly blotted out of her memory Amintha came to her with her wonted assiduitie and tryed divers waies to get her to speake of you but all in vaine for Alcidiana avoyding those occasions with her incomparable dexterity made this wise confident beleeve that she was resolved to treate you with the same scorne as till then shee had used all other men Whilest these two rare wits did what they could to deceive one another the news of the famous combat betwixt your selfe and the brother of Syziphus came to the Pallace It was told the Queene with such circumstances and to you so honourable that all the hearts of the Court declar'd themselves for you and t was who could finde best words to expresse most the admiration he had of your valour and worthinesse The Queene her selfe was constrayned to breake the vow she had made and to speake once more of you 'T is to be confessed said she alowde that this stranger hath a great deale of good fortune Amintha that would not lose so faire an occasion to know the cause of Alcidianaes long silence Your Majesty said she hath good reason to esteeme Polexander happy since all things happen to
I am If I walke I am presently weary The places I delighted in I cannot now endure Hunting is odious to me conversation troublesome and those well beloved bookes wherein I have met my content and joy can doe nothing towards the appeasing my disease Of what crime can my Conscience accuse me that might drawe on me these too visible and too violent effects of the wrath of heaven But suppose I had committed some one that deserved to be punished must it be by a punishment so cruell and so unknowne O avenging Angell that indifferently executest the commands of thy Master tell me at least what is the torment thou makest me suffer The greatest offenders have in their tortures the comfort to know them as they have the misery to feele them Ixion is not ignorant of his wheele nor Syziphus of his Stone Titius sees the Vulture that teares out his Bowells and Tantalus hath the content to gaze on the fruits and the water that flies from him I alone suffer without the knowledge of what I suffer What helpe should I implore What succour can I expect if it bee impossible to tell my sicknesse or to knowe whether it be the minde or the body that languisheth But whilest I speake my griefes increase They are enemies to discourse and yet permit me not to be silent Polexander sighed often ere he ended reading and asking of himselfe whether hee were cause of these troubles 'T is pride for me to be perswaded so said he and therfore I must beleeve it a folly to punish my selfe for it But whosoever he bee barbarous and traytor which respecteth not Alcidianaes peace he shall finde that I am as cruell as invincible when the businesse is to avenge that Princesse After hee had ended these threats which only Love could justifie he continued his search and passing over two or three blank leaves he met with this that ensues The Dreame INfortunate that I am I have lost my breath and strength I can no more All my strivings are in vaine My intents and resistings are to no purpose Cruell and pleasing Enemy Dragon that hast the face of an Infant faire Monster content thee with my teares and with the blood that thy pawes have drawne out of my breast Give not over to rende it wider What art thou not yet glutted Thou pullest out my heart and thy nayles instead of tearing it covers it over with wounds that burne it Continue not thy fury seeke some other prey Wilt thou have me die more then once and not meete in my Grave the repose that all others finde there Alas I live and thou leavest not to kill mee because thou art not weary of afflicting me What doest thou thou closest up my breast and 't is not my heart that thou leav'st there but a fire that burnes and doth not consume me O Love cryed Polexander in finishing this Dreame how fayre would thy victory be if it were true Alcidiana gives way to thee when she is a sleepe but she tryumphs over thee when she is awake She is a flame when she dreames but in verity shee is nought but ice Miserable Polexander what must thou hope or what must become of tâ—…ee Yet comfort thy selfe 'T is better that faire Princesse should love nothing then love any other then thee Pallantus smiled to himselfe to heare these exclamations and continuing his glorious employment left our lover to his who turning over the last leafe of the Dreame saw this that followeth The awaking VVHat is become of that fierce pleasing dragon which all night tore my heart but what sayd I I am awake and I speak as if I yet talked idlely My imagination is not yet well purg'd of those illusions that have done it so much hurt She makes me carry my hand where I thought I had been wounded I feele if my side be not opened and whether my heart be in his right place I finde no alteration in my selfe and my feares are as false as my griefes Children of darkenesse little Demons by what unperceiveable wayes slippe yee into our fancyes Get ye from my bed Me thinks where ever you go you carry fire and would fayne new-kindle that which my dream blew in my brest But you are vanish'd inflamed Atomes and the day dispelling your lights as it doth the other tapers of night tells me that you are nothing but the effects of my Melancholly Returne no more and you dismall dreames be yee alwaies the representers of what is passed but become not the presagers of what is to come If the Teares and Prayers of Lovers cryed Polexander are as pleasing to you ô yee Dreames as the Poppy Mandragoras and blood of beasts that made you lately so favorable doe not hearken to Alcidiana Her conjurations are powerfull but resist yee their charmes They will else ruine the Empire of Love and overthrowe the Altars which are there consecrated to you But I blaspheme and offend a Divinity greater then you No no let Alcidiana be obeyed and let her be eternally insensible 'T is fit that all men should be miserable rather then to suffer that Alcidiana should bee displeased After he had said thus he went on to turne over the leaves and saw in one page sometimes halfe blotted out 't was long before hee could gather any thing out of it at last he read this fragment er Why doth that name thrust it selfe more often and more pleasingly into my remembrance then so many others that are more deare unto mee Yet 't were nothing if But I recall it when he goes hence and hath he any charme or some harmony that makes him more sweete to the eare then I must confesse others cannot be pronounced with so much pleasure nor remembred with so much facility What say'st thou foole and since this Stranger is so indifferent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let his name be so too How I hate thee fragment said Polexander to himselfe for not being imperfect enough Thou hast two Letters too much and the fayre Alcidiana hath not left them but to intimate that my name is farre more blotted out of her memory then out of this leafe I must not doubt of it but if I should so much flatter my selfe as to imagine it to be some other name then mine which Alcidiana hath written doe I not see by the conclusion of her Sentments that I am the miserable stranger for whom shee is so much indifferent Yet let 's on and see to how many tortures her insensibilitie will condemne us With that hee turned the other leafe and sawe this beginning of a Letter To Amintha HOw angry are the eyes of your Polexander All the while I was in the Temple they were fixed on mine The presence of those dreadfull Mysteries that hold the hearts or at least the eyes of the least devout turn'd to the Altars was not powerfull enough to drawe thither those impious bold ones I complaine to you of it because that Stranger consults more
preservation Goe and make ready for your departure Get you quickly out of a place which will soone be filled with your greatest enemies Intreat Osmin as I doe with my heart that he forsake you not in the meane while I will beseech Heaven with all the zeale I can that you may be as faithfully beloved and if I dare say so as religiously ador'd by him that must enjoy you as you have alwayes beene by the most unfortunate Hely Iphidamanta had not fail'd answering him but that she was hindred by fearefull cries noise of armour and the affright given her by a great many Souldiers who with their Symeters in their hands confusedly entred the Court of the fortresse Hely seeing her so much amazed and hearing withall the shouts of the victorious Souldiers Flie cried he dying as he was flie faire Princesse and stay not till you are in the pawes of the Lion that will devoure you And thou Osmin said he if thou hast ever lov'd me and if the affection I have borne thee deserves any acknowledgement save the best part of my self and suffer not base feare to make me dye more cruelly then can all the barbarousnesse of my two Sons Osmin hearing himselfe so exceedingly conjur'd not to abandon the Princesse in that extremitie withdrew her from the Kings chamber and running to his lodgings for some of his slaves and what he had of most value descended by a private staire to the foote of the rock and with his little company entred into a Barke which the Governours of Guargetsem alwaies used to keepe there for any urgent necessitie All things favoured their flight The tumult and confusion which alwaies accompanieth the taking of places the calme which could not be fairer the night approaching conspir'd together for those innocents safetie and drew them from the sight and furie of Nephisus Osmin put his hand to the oare and in the night time got to certaine high rocks farre enough from Guarguetsem which might have serv'd them for a safe retreate He was not long there for a Merchant of Madera being driven on the same place tooke him into his ship with his companie and promis'd to waft him into the Isle of Teneriffe or any other of the Canaries Osmin having thus recounted to the Prince Almanzor Iphidamanta's adventures You have understood my Lord said he that the Madera Merchant could not performe what he promis'd us for when we had beene a while under saile a tempest arose and cast us on the coast of Guinea I must confesse said Almanzor then to Osmin you have related to me strange adventures yet is not my curiosity absolutely satisfied You have not told me how Iphidamanta was stolne from the place of her abode who that Tyrant was out of whose hands Spimantus vaunted he had redeem'd her nor by whà t accident the two vessels were fired My Lord replid Osmin I have had the same desire as you and cannot yet get any further satisfaction Onely I will tell you that the Princesse seeing her selfe voyd of all protection but mine threw her at both our feets and besought me and my wife to take her for our daughter to conceale the truth of her birth and in stead of the name of Iphidamant a which was not hers to call her Axiamira There now remaines nothing for me but to petition you for that Princesse sake to let her perceive nothing of what you know and to actuate all that honour and love shall advise you to give a glorious issue to her long wandrings Father said Almanzor imbracing Osmin I will strive to performe what you injoyne me and if it be not that you should have a good opinion of me be assur'd you shall never repent your confidence of my discretion After these promises he dismissed him and remaining alone to give himselfe wholly over to his owne contentment and to be overcome by those transports which the excesse of his good fortune brought on him he tasted the remainder of that day more sweets and resented more ravishing joyes by the strength of his imagination then he will ever meet withall againe either by the knowledge of his parents the conquest of all the Empires of the world or the very possession of Axiamira He himselfe hath confessed to me that which I tell you and having laid before me all the faire chymeraes which in that happy time had passed through his fancy Almaid said he to me what felicity can there be compar'd to mine if by the number of my exploits and by the immutability of my faith I be able to oblige Iphidamanta to the not disdaining my humblest servitude O how capable doe I finde my selfe of the most honourable and difficult enterprises How doth the elevated birth of that Princesse raise my thoughts beyond ordinary conceptions How am I asham'd that I have done no more since I knew the world How powerfull a spurre to honour is the desire of making me worthy Iphidamanta's esteeme And what emulation and disquiet do Polexanders famous acts which are still before mine eyes bring upon me I will follow his steps Almaid I will undertake something great enough to the end I may without impudency make knowne mine affection to Iphidamanta and at least give an honourable pretext to my boldnesse I should trouble you brave Knight did I repeate all the brave words so faire a passion put into the mouth of Almanzor Assoone as Andromeda was come from the place of her retirement that Prince went to visit Axiamira and inventing new humilities to come worthily neere her I wonder much said he that the Deity with whom you have so privately communed these foure dayes could be wonne or resolve to let you goe out of his temple 'T is true replied Axiamira my returne is a just cause of wonder The sanctity of the place whence I come the authority of the Deity which inhabits it and the example of so many religious soules which burne with love should for ever have made me renounce the company of the world But alas my weakenesse hath been stronger then all those powers and I have found my selfe so incapable of so high a perfection that I should thinke I had more ambition then zeale if I durst onely pretend to it You are a very unjust Interpreter said Almanzor pardon me Madam if I speake to you with so little respect You give my words a cleane contrary sense to my intention You accuse your selfe for not being devout enough and I accus'd the god with whom you were so long for not being sensible enough Truely I cannot conceive how that Deity who hath perceptions and penetrations farre beyond those of men and by consequence sees in you those beauties which are conceal'd from us such perfections as we cannot discover and such brightnesse as our too weak and dull eyes cannot perceive hath not reserv'd to himselfe a wonder which of all those that are visible comes neerest to it selfe Give me leave replied the Princesse to aske
HE IS DEAD FOR ALCIDIANA 'T IS A GLORY THAT COMMANDS YOU WHETHER YOU WILL OR NO TO ENVY HIM YOU WOULD HAVE ESTEEM'D HIM MOST HAPPY IF THE PLEASURE OF THAT PRINCESSE SIGHT HAD PRESERV'D THAT BRAVE LIFE HEE HAD BEGUN HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD YOU ESTEEME HIM SINCE THE ONELY FEARE OF NEVER SEEING ALCIDIANA WAS ABLE TO MAKE HIM DYE Whilst our Heroe was making amourous Comments on Almanzors testament Cydaria went to see a little Altar which was in the chiefe front of the Tombe Upon it were foure statues of marble Some lay along and others sate Two represented the Pleasures as well by their youth their mirthsomenesse somewhat alaid with a kinde of sadnesse and their Crownes of roses as by the Instruments of Musick which lay at their feet And the two other by the many Crownes on their armes and the Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels which they carelesly let fall from their hands plainely enough intimated they were Magnificence and Majesty They all foure held a great heart of Albaster and speaking by a Roll of brasse hanging downe from the same hands which held the heart thus seem'd to expresse their thoughts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN LIEV OF THIS HEART NOW IN OUR HANDS WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT OF THE GREAT ALMANZOR HAD HE NOT SCORN'D TO HAVE LIV'D FOR ANY OTHER THEN ALCIDIANA FEW HEARTS HAVE PREFER'D SLAVERY BEFORE COMMAND OR DISCONTENTS BEFORE ALL PLEASURES FEW HEARTS TOO CAN BE COMPAR'D WITH THAT OF SO GENEROUS A PRINCE AND FEW SHOULD WITH JUSTICE EXPECT FROM OUR RESENTMENT THOSE TEARES WHICH SO GREAT A LOSSE SHALL ETERNALLY DRAW FROM OUR EYES 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polexander and Cydaria unwilling to stay longer among so many causes of sadnesse retir'd into the most obscure part of the Sepulcher and not thinking it an offence to implore heaven for a miserable soule besought it with teares to convert its justice into mercy and save him who like a mad-sick man had taken poyson in thinking to take a wholesome potion Their prayers once ended they came out of the Tombe where they found Osmin and Alcippus who by their action made knowne how much they were astonish'd Osmin spake first who shewing his admiration proceeded from somewhat else then Almanzors Sepulcher This Isle said he to Polexander may rather be call'd the Isle of Tombes then the Isle of Fer. I cannot conceive through what urgency so many unfortunate people should be compell'd hither to graspe with death About fifty paces hence you may see if you please to walke thither foure Monuments under which are interr'd so many Spaniards which are called by the Inscriptions the foure Lovers of the Princesse Benzaida A little further we have seene a Sepulchre as meane as this is stately The outside which is painted black and powdred all over with flames and teares made well guess'd what horrour there might be within In the midst is an Inscription which neither Alcippus nor my selfe can understand Cydaria besought her brother to goe see this novelty and getting his consent march'd foremost to satisfie her longing Polexander after he had seene the foure Spaniards Tombes went to the last and presently spied the Characters which neither Osmin nor Alcippus could decipher He thought it not strange for 't was Slavonique ill enough done to puzzle more understanding men then they in the knowledge of languages He turn'd to Cydaria after he had twice or thrice read it over and assuring her she was to heare some very strange thing Do you see said he the letters drawne on that linnen which two Cupids crowned with myrtle and Cypresse hold in so mournefull a posture and looke on with so much griefe that the teares fall from their eyes they tell us that Sepulcher is the Monument of two Sisters The other Inscription which is incompass'd with trophies of love troden under foote by death and cruelty and sowne with golden flames and silver teares is the Epitaph of those two Princesses This is the Explication word for word TO THE ETERNALL MEMORY OF HISTERIA AND MELICERTA'S MISFORTUNES AND TO THE PERPETUALL SHAME OF THE INSENSIBLE SOLIMAN ONe same instant brought us into the light and one and the same Destiny giving us equall inclinations made us alike misfortunate Death hath not sever'd those who by birth and fate were knit in so strong a ligament They are buried in one grave and have done that by Election which Nature had done by Chance Thy curiosity Reader is not may be satisfied with these generall notions See wherewithall to content it Yet if causes exacting teares comply not with thy humour turne thine eyes away from these following lines and give way no more to a desire that shall be so mournefull to thee But for all this thou wilt weep and no admonitions can coole thy charity Well then reade on and marke seriously with what rigour and command both the senses and passions do tyrannize o're all rationall soules The greatnesse of our births raysing us above all the Princesses of the world seem'd to have establish'd us in a felicity which could not be travers'd by the injuries of earth or heaven But O the vanity of humane condition what all the strength of the Universe could not execute weakenesse alone hath done it and Fortune to surprise us made use of that which we neither ought to feare or foresee A Slave hath triumph'd over our liberties and he whose life was at our disposall hath seene us at his feet shamefully begging the continuance of our owne 'T is true the mercilesse Solyman hath seene us implore his clemency and with teares beseech him he would afford us the honour of living his slaves Neither birth beauty nor love no nor vertue it selfe could obtaine any thing from that rock He saw the constant Hysteria dye and was no more capable of pity then he was of love Melicerta surviv'd her Sister but 't was onely to outlive all her hopes She hath beene inforced to intombe her selfe alive within this Sepulcher to finde in death that compassion which she could not meet withall in ingratefull Solyman 'T is enough Passenger we should be as mercilesse as he if we kept thee longer in the affliction of reading this Go then in peace and if it be possible obtaine from heaven that our second life may be more happy then our former After Polexander had read this Epitaph seeing his sister so much mov'd at it was willing to withdraw her from those mournfull places though he depriv'd himselfe of the contentment he receiv'd among the Monuments of so many desperate lovers But Alcippus entering on a sudden with an affrighted countenance ingag'd Polexander to inquire of him the cause of his astonishment 't is so strange said he that the more I call to minde the more I doubt of it mine eyes and eares which assure me of it cannot perswade me and I should beleeve I dream't if the thing were not yet before me And whence come you said Polexander that in so
and heaven permits it to teach us that sooner or later a good action shall have a due recompence In the very place where Polexander's boat arriv'd there lay a ship at anchor which had been but ill handled by the late tempests the masts were broken the rudder torne off and the body open in many places at sight of our Heroe's boat a great many men very fantastically clad came on the hatches and some of them getting into a little skiffe came close to it They no sooner saw Polexander and Diceus stretched out as dead but their commiseration made them resolve either to relieve them if they were alive or if not to bestow the last dues on their corps One lay downe close by our Heroe and lifting up his head did not onely wash his face with the sea-water but holding his mouth close to the Princes perceiv'd he had yet a little breathing If his joy wâ—…e great his charitie was a great deale more for instantly he gave him of a drug whose vertue was so powerfull and speedy that he no sooner almost had it in his mouth but his weak senses regain'd part of their ordinary vigour Diceus had no need of that remedy for his owne strength o'recame his long swouning and as he was talking and about to aske the King his master if he were yet alive he prevented him and speaking without opening his eyes Is it thy voyce I heare Diceus said he weakly tell me and come neerer to thy Polexander who as well as thee is now no more then a shadow wandering for his offences in eternall obscuritie Polexander's voyce so astonish'd the man who so charitably assisisted him that he gave a great exclamation and divers times repeared the name of Polexander When he had done he arose and earnestly gazing on our Heroe began to cry out louder then before and with gestures which shewed the extremitie of his admiration Come said he to his companions and see this is certainly Polexander O what a happy shipwracke have we made since it hath cast us on a place where we meet with him whom we had vainly sought for in all the world else But what said I rather O infortunate incounter since we finde this great Prince in so different a state from that wherein our master the Ynca imagin'd wee should see him Polexander was too weake to reply and Diceus too languishing to understand them well they opened their eyes together but 't was rather to take their leaves of light then to enjoy it and certainly it had been so without the extraordinary assistance of those charitable strangers For five or six dayes together they watch'd the master and his servant and treated them with so much affection that forgetting what they ow'd themselves they thought not of repairing their ship In that while Polexander began to be well strengthen'd and knew who had sav'd his life But 't was not without a great deale of wonder Is it possible said he to one of them that you are Garruca The same repli'd that charitable friend doubt it not and to bring you newes from your deare Zelmatida I have thrice crossed the Ocean Polexander imbrac'd him and rendering many thankes for the travells he had undergone for his sake Zelmatida then said he hath at last carried away the victory o're what he so long contested My Lord repli'd Garruca knowing the generousnesse of your soule and her contempt of the worlds greatnesse I aske not what victorie you meane but Zelmatida is fully victorious and though he be not seated in the throne of the Yncas and the brutish ambition of Atabaliba threatens him with lasting warre and horrible revolutions yet I may well say he is fully a conquerour since the incomparable vertue of Izatida hath worthily recompenc'd the travels of that incomparable Lover If thou desirest I should live said Polexander my deare Garruca if thou wouldst in the midst of my afflictions make me capable of any contentment I intreat thee to relate the end of thy masters miseries Without much trouble quoth Garruca I obey since to expresse a happinesse so long sought for so many years and for which so long and so violent miseries have been indured there needs but two or three words You may therefore be fully satisfi'd when I have said the Ynca my master is the Princesse Xaira's husband Manage a little better my joy said Polexander and doe not thus precipitate my contentment but let me receive by little and little a potion that may free me from the sense of all my afflictions Call to minde the Island where Zelmatida and my self parted and keepe him not twenty or thirty dayes at sea before hee speakes with Izatida Say they came to Quasmes with all necessary circumstances satisfie the desire I have of the parents and daughters knowing each other And lest thou mai'st ancipitate my imagination bring me ere I be aware to that happy day wherein by the losse of Izatida I may see the fatall Xaira borne againe I will said Garruca since 't is your pleasure and command to give you satisfaction repli'd Garruca but first be pleas'd I give you my Kings letters and let you know how the good Quasmes resents so many favours vvherewithall you have eternally oblig'd himselfe his sonne and his daughter With that Garruca went to his cabin by Polexanders leave and return'd with a little boxe made very artificially of foure wonderfull great Emeralds he open'd and presented it to Polexander who tooke out eight or ten little plates of gold which being put one on another shew'd them divers characters which signified this that followes Quasmes the unworthy Image of that Deity he knowes not to Polexander inlightned by the everlasting Sun IF I durst doe it without blasphemy I would call thee great Prince the tutelary Angell of my estates my kingdome and my selfe Thou hast all alike preserv'd us and my old age should have beene more unfortunate then ever if thy goodnesse had not taken pity on my afflictions and thy charitable hands wip'd off teares in drying the source which seem'd to make them eternall My poore Xaira without thy assistance had been more lost to her desolate father then shee was in the very dungeons of Montezuma I confesse I owe thee for her and if I chance to live in my posterity I must withall acknowledge thee to be the cause of my second being I am transported with a sacred rapture as often as my dear Zelmatida unfolds to me the mysteries thou hast reveal'd to him and tels me that our soules shall one day be more resplendent starres then those which make their nightly geers over our heads What can I render to thee O thou deare childe of heaven for such things as inforceth us to respect our gold our pearles and emeralds as the excrements of the unfortunate land we inhabite Nothing certainely since in injoying the knowledge of the true Deity thou hast the sole treasure which all mortalls can wish for 'T is
almost inevitable snares to draw us into mischiefe I have liv'd long enough Amintha since if selfe love deceive me not I thinke I have reasonably well imploy'd all the moments of my life But if I may be permitted to speake more I say I have liv'd too long since I have surviv'd Polexander Amintha finding by the excesse of resentment that speech which the same excesse had taken from her Then said shee you are resolv'd to dye That beautie which heaven admires as its Master-piece must even in its birth be the prey of steel and death and that wonderfull wit which hath confounded the wisdome of the Ancient and the subtilty of Philosophers must now turne its weapons on it selfe and meeting with nothing that can vanquish it denounceth a warre against it selfe because it would not be still invincible Come Polexander come and relieve Alcidiana if there yet remaine any thing of thee Imploy that power which men attribute to Soules freed from their bodies in averting a blow whereat Nature it self trembles and if the fear of being anothers then thine puts the steele into thy Princesses hand free the world from the cause of that apprehension Alcidiana smiling at Amintha's exclamations you said she shall be heard for Polexander loves us too well to abandon us in this extremitie The Princesse spoke truth unawares for at the same instant when Amintha invok'd him to the ayde of Alcidiana he was mightily labouring the ruine of her enemies Hee had discovered an ancient Aqueduct under the ditch by which in all likelyhood the water of a fountain in the upper towne was convey'd to the lower But time had ruin'd part of the Vault and buried the knowledge of it under the same earth which cover'd it A Pioneer first discover'd this meanes to get into the towne and secretly gave notice of it to Polexander who presently going to se the Vault made it be search'd and understanding it went through the enemies intrenchments attended patiently till the night were well come on to convey some companies that way and so more easily worke his ends of the Spaniards That which made him the more to hasten it was the arrivall of the Fleet on the Lake on the side of the upper towne They had cast anchor a little before night and ranged themselves along the shore no man knowing whether they were friends or foes The Inhabitants of Eliza who had never seen the like there certainly beleev'd they were Spanish ships and on that belief grounding their absolute ruine hastened as much as in them lay the marriage of Alcidiana with Araxes as the onely refuge they were to flye to in their calamities and the last remedy they could get for them Rhadiotez whom they had not forsaken and from whom at every moment they demanded with threatnings the accomplishment of his promises was compell'd to find out Araxes at the begâ—…ning of the night He related to him at large the particulars of the fatall Prophesie the Mutiny and all the Elizians desires and finally the Queenes last resolution Polexander had not so ill a servant of Diceus nor so little intelligence of that which pass'd at Court but he knew alreadie part of what Rhadiotez had told him Yet he made semblance to know nothing of it and aggravating the incertainty of most predictions condemn'd the Elizians proceedings and above all intreated the Chief-priest to go to the Queene and beseech her in his name that shee would not so farre forget herselfe as to share her Crowne and life with the most unknowne and miserable of men Rhadiotez admir'd the virtue of our feigned Slave and fixing on his last words told him that his moderation and the respect hee bore the Queene merited an infinite applause and if time would give him leave he would goe and fully make it knowne to the Queene and free her from the remaines of aversion and feare But said he the multitude more urgent then time will not admit of this delay They are in armes at the gates of the towne and the Palace and if at the stroke of midnight they see you not in the Temple of wisdome prepare your selfe for the most horrible spectacle that the furie of a desperate multitude is able to bebloudy the Chronicle of their owne times withall or affright all ensuing ages Polexander answering the Prelate that this disaster was to be prevented and for himselfe he was readie to obey dismiss'd him with an assurance that he would march on with the first command he reciv'd from him or the Queene Assoon as Rhadiotez was gone Polexander retir'd with Diceus related to him the state of his affaires and shewing him a timidity which onely love could justifie seem'd no lesse irrationall then the very multitude which he but newly condemned But Diceus o're-throwing all his scruples and nullifying all his difficulties advis'd him to be present in all pompe at the glorious assignation and by a happy deceit terminate for ever his owne misfortunes and the Queenes discontents Thou knowest Diceus repli'd Polexnder through how many tempests and shipwracks I have sought for the haven thou shewest me and would even have bought the sight of it with my bloud and life Thou knowest whether in these twenty dayes that I have been in the Inaccessible Island my desires and actions have tended to any other end then the advancing the happie moment wherein I was to be inlightned by that incomparable starre which hath so long time not vouchsafed to shine on me Yet me thinkes I know not what feare which seems just to me congealeâ—… my bloud slackens my longings disavowes my former wishes and accusing me to my selfe of subtilty and treasons threatens me with some new misfortune if I dare present my selfe before Alcidiana 'T is a suggestion said Diceus which the ill Angell of your quiet throwes into you Reject it boldly and without losing time which should be better imploy'd in unprofitable deliberations prepare your selfe to receive this night the Crowne of your travells and perseverance Polexander vanquished by a perswasion which so pleasingly flattered his inclination resolv'd to obey his servant But before he would leave the lower towne he reinforc'd his guards survey'd thâ—… places he had wonne dispos'd of all things in such sort that hee doubted not but at his returne to put his great designe in execution and left the command of the troups to Alcidiana's Lievtenant Generall The orders given he went to the Fort and shutting himself into his chamber was there clad according to Diceus intention more then his owne A very rich suite he put on with the chaines given him by the King of Ghenoa and was forc'd to weare the long pâ—…ple cloak imbrodered with gold and pearles which hee had presented him from the Priests of the Sun as their Prince and Defender But he had no sooner put it on but his Guard came and told him that above two thousand men were in armes on the Counter-scarfe of the Moate and intimated a
those mad men His noblenesse made him streight alter his command He made againe on those beasts in a humane shape and in spight of all their resistance tooke from them the Maiden whom they had overtaken and staied in the midst of her course He put her in my custody and commanding me to see her a shipboard staied with Alcippus Diceus and ten or twelve others to resist the enemy By little and little he got to the sea and gave command to his Canoneers to shoot among those savages He was no sooner obeyed but the Cannon scattred halfe of them in peeces about the strand and the rest to fly the more nimbly threw away their stones and arrowes and hid themselves in great woods that came downe to the very shoare As soone as the Prince was shipped againe and had well laughed at our pleasant adventure he desired to see the person he had given me in guard I told him not who she was but bringing her he at first sight knew her though she was disfigured with Sunburning travell hunger and the outrages she received from those Barbarians He shewed how joyfull he was for her deliverance alas poore Elida said he by what accident fell'st thou into the hands of these Monsters Is not thy Mistris there Tell me I prithee where I may finde her and what I may doe for her service 'T was Amintha's Maide and had been forced away with her As soone as she saw Polexander she was like to have â—…lne to the ground and being not able to speake but after a long time Ah my Lord said she how doth my good fortune amaze me and how unable am I to tell you what you desire to know Amintha did ever verily believe you would lose your selfe in striving to relieve her and when her Ravisher gave her leave to be alone with me the sole thing would she say of which I am most sensible and chiefest to be thought lamented in my misfortune is that Polexander out of his generousnesse will not faile to engage himselfe in my disaster He will leave our Isle to follow me and never considering that there is no returning when once he hath lost sight of it will bootelesly adde his owne losse to mine If thou lovest me replied Polexander kill me not by these new proofes of Amintha's generous affection Tell me who was her Ravisher and whether he hath carryed her My Lord answered Elida my Mistris is in the hands of a Portugall Pirate who is no lesse mad then those you now came from Ambition and love have deprived him of more then halfe his reason and yet hath enough left to keepe him from being carried to the utmost violence against Amintha A tempest throwing him upon the Isle of these inraged brutes and necessity compelling him to land there he went on shoare and was received in the same manner as you He lost many of his men and was forced to put to sea againe in the height of the tempest The aversion or â—…islike I had to him and the shewes I made him every moment of it put him on to rid me away He therefore by force plucking me out of my Mistris armes barbarously exposed me to the fury of these incensed savages I must needes relate to you the strange accidents which have betâ—…ded me among these fooles Thou shalt doe that another time replied the King but tell me now what is become of Amintha That which I have told you said she may make you imagine I can certifie you nothing of my Mistris Canst thou not at least added Polexander shew me as neere as can be the way the Rover tooke Even this same replied she and if I forget not he is going to meete with other Pirates which have their place of refuge and retreate in an Isle of this sea I know where ' â—…is said the Prince and presently commanded his Pilot to stand for the Islands of Cape Vert. He was obeyed and so happily that within few dayes after wee discovered the continent of Africa to which he was forced against his will by the winde and the currents and staied there longer then he desired for they were so much becalmed right against the flourishing shoares of the Kingdome of Senega that for three dayes together his ship was as setled as it had beene turned into a rock The remembrance of the happinesse he had lost and the vexations that continually followed him fed then extraordinarily on him He disclosed those anxieties impatiences and distasts to which he had never beene knowne to be subject He found fault with all the calme was more insupportable to him then the tempest he would not even see Elida and scarce could Alcippus and I draw him for a few moments out of this melancholy humour There was but one thing that set him at rights and 't was the picture of Alcidiana They talke of meâ—… who being possest by some ill spirits and others distract of their reason by the power of musick have beene freed from those ill Demons and cured of their madnesse and I believe it to be true since I saw Polexander above a hundred times get out of that fury which visibly possest him at the only aspect of Alcidiana's picture and to take on his former wisdome and usuall temper But to the common misfortune of us all that powerfull charme that admirable counterpoyson that Talismon more virtuous then all that are sold at Tunis and Morrocco in a word that picture which is hard to believe was taken out of Polexander's hands During the calme whereof I have told you he being much disquieted and growing weary of his ship made himselfe be rowed ashoare and not desiring any company no not Alcippus there intertained his thoughts neere a Fountaine in the contemplation of the Queenes picture 'T was the last day of the calme he came on shoare and the sight of that â—…aire portraict and his reading of some Arabian verses composed by him for the Princesse brought him into a sleepe and whilst he lay so at rest a yong Prince called Almanzor as long after wee learnt by a fatall fortune was unluckily led to the place where the King my Master lay sleeping From a farre off he perceived his guilt armour and knowing not what it might be his curiosity drew him to approach as softly as he could The King slept still and the other perceiving that famous boxe which Alcidiana had given him staied to looke on the picture within it He admired was strucken and became in love with it Then taking up the paper wherein the Arabian verses were writ and retiring without awakening the King got on his horse and fled away as fast as he could spurre Polexander informed by his Guardian Angell awakened in the very instant that Almanzor was on horseback and heard the noise he made in flying but his understanding and memory being not yet well cleered of those vapours which cause sleepe had not the liberty the one of reasoning
on the present and the other of what was passed Yet remained he not long in this kinde of darkenesse His soule opened her eyes as soone as those of his body were unshut He remembred his boxe and his verses and put his hand where he thought to finde them But deceived in what he attempted â—…e arose all startled he searched upon and about him he turned whence he came his eyes are fixed on the sands he tosseth and turneth all the leaves and flints and scratcheth and removeth the least leafe of grasse Then he be thought him of the noise he had heard and said to himselfe that what he had taken for the flight of a Lyon or some other beast was that of the Theefe which had carried away all the remainder of his treasure He would faine have followed but knew not what way to take Yet he ran to the Mountaine and being got very hye whether goe I said he to himselfe what doe I looke after Will these deserts and forrests tell me newes of it Presently he returned to the sea side got into his shalloppe and commanded the Marriners to carry him aboard his ship As soone as he was there he entred his Cabin without speaking to any of us and casting him on his bed Thou couldest doe me no other outrage said he But cruell Fate thou ruinest â—…hine owne power in destroying those Subjects over whom thou exercisest it and in depriving me of that only thing 〈◊〉 desired to preserve thou â—…akest from me all that feare which hath so often made me have recourse to thy protection Alcippus imagining by these words that his Master had received some new displeasure came neere and besought him to make knowne the cause of his affliction O friend said Polexander some one hath stolen from me Alcidiana's picture Doe but reflect on that disaster and oblige me noâ—… to unfold it to thee Alcippus at first thought his Master talked idely but hearing him a midst his sighes to cast forth the word of Theefe of portraict of Alcidiana he thought doubtlesly the Prince had lost his boxe and that the robbery of which he newely spoke was true indeede He told it me and I relating it to Diceus it went quickly through the ship One of our Marriners at the same instant saw a ship comming out of the River of Senega and ignorant whether he spoke true or false or whether he should speake it or no cried out the theefe was running away and 't was fit they should make after him The ship was thereupon made ready for the winde began to rise and the sea men who looke after nothing but confusion and prey agreeing with their companion cried out with him that 't was not fit to suffer the theefe to escape Alcippus hearing these clamours came out of his Masters Cabin and being told the cause of the noise presently ran into Polexander to advertise him of it and by that newes false or true drew him from his deadly melancholy Hereupon he left his Cabin came on the deck and understanding from whence the other ship came Be confident said he that 's the Theefe follow him and if you love me endeavour he may not escape us Wee gave the ship chase three dayes and three nights and comming up to her the fourth engaged her to strike saile and yeeld â—…o our discretion Polexander first boorded her and offring his sword at the Commanders throat told him there was no other way to save his life but by restoring what he had stolne I am ready to obey you said the prisoner but remember if you please that I have but lent my hands and an absolute power hath commanded me to undertake the theft Well well replied Polexander restore it 't is no matter by whom it was commanded or acted so I have restitution and with that urged his prisoner to performe quickly what was required of him The poore man all pale and trembling drew out of his bosome a ring and a letter and presenting the first to Polexander see said he my Kings high prized Seale and then giving him the letter This is that he added which hath cost the death of the writer and had we not beene met withall and interrupted by you was going to be the instrument oâ—… a more execrable Massacre Polexander amazed at these things and full of choller to see himselfe so far from his hopes keepe thy letter and thy ring said he to his prisoner and give me the boxe thou stolest from me The boxe which I have stolen replied the prisoner Ah noble Sir if it be your pleasure that I shall perish doe not search for that pretext I am guilty enough already without the imputation of a crime whereof I am innocent What said Polexander exceedingly angry didst thou not steale it whilst I sleept on the banckes of Senega I perceive now said the prisoner that you take me for another and truely 't is an admirable act of the eternall Providence which continually watcheth for the preservation of Innocents Doe then my Lord doe what that commands you Punish a traytour and assassinate who to satisfie his ambition hath exiled from his breast all sence of honour and pâ—…obity and made himselfe the executioner of a Monsters cruelties who hath but the appearance of a woman Polexander thought then he was certainly mistaken and was at the point of setting the man at liberty but considering that such a freedome might be the cause of some great wickednesse he tooke the ring and letter which till then he had left in the hand of his prisoner and made him come with him into his owne shippe where not knowing what to doe further bid his Pilot steere whither he pleased for all courses were alike to him Whilst Alcippus the Pilot and my selfe were consulting of the speediest way for our quick returne to the Canaries Polexande passed the time with his prisoner and required from him an 〈◊〉 of his former speeches The African knowing he had spoken too much â—…o hide the rest and the feare of death besides having brought him to a repentance of his â—…ormer life he made no scruple of discovering such secrets as he intended no more to make gaine on I am said he a Subject to the King of Senega The gâ—…ddy humours of that Prince have many times throwne me from the top of all prosperity to the botome of all disgrace and then againe raised me to the height of all greatnesse This inconstancy made me feare some blowe that would prove mortall to me at last and to avoid it I thought it best to betray what most concerned him to advance the interests of that famous 〈◊〉 whom he hath set in the place of the virtuous Almanzaira This new Queene is called Zelopa who extreamely politicke knowing that Zabaim was not possibly long to be held in without a great many bonds hath fettered him with such strong ones that she â—…eares noâ—… his flitting from her She hath got him to proclaime