he was at Talavera and came back in so short a time But it is no hard matter to know the Truth of this for two of my Officers have assur'd me that they lay last Night where this Prince did and we shall know from them where they met him The King commanded these Officers to be sent for presently and when they were come he asked them in what Place and what Time they met with Alamire One of these Officers made Answer Sir We were coming Yester-day from Ariobisbe whither we were sent we made a Halt in the Evening in a great Wood that is three or four Leagues from the Camp we lighted and lay down to sleep in this Wood I over-heard a Noise that waked me I saw at a distance thorow the Trees this Arabian Prince speaking to a Lady that was Magnificiently Dress'd This Lady after a long Conference left him and came to sit down by another Lady not far from the Place where I lay They spoke loud enough but I could not understand what they said because they spoke a Language that I knew not and which is not the same that the Arabians use They named Alamire divers times and tho their Backs were turn'd so to me that I could not see their Faces yet my thought that she who spake to Alamire wept bitterly After this they went away I heard Waggons and a great Noise of Horses going towards Talavera I awaked my Comrade and pursued our Way We saw Alamire at a distance lying under a Tree as if he had been indisposed his Squire asked me whether they could reach the Camp of the Arabians by Day-light I told them they could not so they came and lodged in the same Village where we lay The King repented him to have examin'd these Officers As soon as they were gone Gonsalvo said You see Sir whether I was in the wrong to believe that Alamire had seen Zayde But can you imagine that it was possible said the King for her to come out of the Town being she is a Prisoner My ill Fate Replyed Gonsalvo never lets me fail of any thing that can prejudice me I gave order at my coming away That Zayde might have the Liberty of going out of the Town to take the Aire as often as she would She expected Alamire in these Woods He had reason to send me word That an Affair of Importance that concerned not the War hinder'd him to make any stay in this Camp He has seen her then Yester-day She wept when he was gone It is true then that Zayde is in Love with Alamire and now I am no longer in doubt Leave me Sir Cast off your Care of a Man that is too much persecuted by ill Fortune to deserve your Esteem I am ashamed to be prized and beloved by you being so Wretched Don Garcias was sensibly touched at the Condition Gonsalvo was in and endeavoured to comfort him by the Assurances he gave him of his Affection and Friendship The next Day word was brought that the Prince of Tharsus his Wounds were very dangerous his Feaver was so violent the ensuing Dayes that there was little hopes of his Recovery Gonsalvo imagin'd that as soon as Zayde should come to know the danger this Prince was in she would send to know how he did He gave order to one of his Servants in whom he confided to go every day to the Castle where Alamire was kept to discover whether any came to try if they could see him He would fain have known like-wise Whether there were any of that Resemblance betwixt them which caused in him so much Curiosity But the Extreamity to which this Prince was reduced hinder'd all Discoveries of that Nature few or none of the Features of his Face being now distinguishable He that was commanded to go to the Castle acquitted himself of his Commission with Industry For he told Gonsalvo That since Alamire had been there none had desired to see him but that certain People whom he knew not came every day to know the state of his Health without telling who sent them Although Gonsalvo doubted no longer of Zaydes Love to Alamire yet every little Circumstance that assured him of it gave him new trouble and disquiet the King came into his Tent as he was agitated with the fresh Affliction he had received and apprehending that so many Displeasures would hazard his Life he forbid all those that came about him to speak to him of Alamire or the Princess Zayde In the mean while the Truce was ended and the two Armies fell to Action Abderame Besieged a little Place where he expected no great Resistance by reason of the Inconsiderableness and Weakness of the Place But it happened that the Prince of Gallicia nearly related to Don Garcias who by chance was carryed to this Place the more commodiously to be cured of some Wounds he had received in the last Battle undertook the Defence of it with more Rashness than Courage At which Abderame was so enraged that as soon as the Town was surrender'd he caus'd his Head to be struck off It was not the first time that the Moors abused their Victories and treated the bravest of the Nobility of Spain with a barbarous unparallel'd Inhumanity Don Garcias was extreamly incensed at the News of the Death of the Prince of Gallicia The Spanish Army was no less they lov'd the Prince and already weary of so many Cruelties for which no publick Satisfaction was made or required they came in Troops to Petition the King that Alamire might be used as the Moors had done the Prince of Gallicia The King consented to their Desires because it was dangerous to refuse to please an Army so much incensed He sent word to the King of Cordoua That he would cause the Prince of Tharsus his Head to be cut off so soon as he should be in a better condition of Health and that his Wounds would permit him to be made a Publick Example off without leaving Cause to report that he had only hasten'd his End Gonsalvo by the King's Order was ignorant of what had been transacted touching Alamire Some Dayes after they brought him word that a Gentleman belonging to Don Olmond desired to see him He order'd him to be admitted This Gentleman after having told him That his Master was extreamly troubled that the King's Order did detain him at Bâ—ragel and hinder'd him from coming in Person to ask him how he did gave him several Pacquets Gonsalvo open'd that which was addressed to him and read in it these Words The LETTER of DON OLMOND TO DON GONSALVO IF I were not well assured of the Inclination you have to do great Actions I would not send you the Inclosed and should believe it to no purpose to intreat you in the behalf of your Enemy But I am too well acquainted with your generous Soul to doubt of your kind Entertaining the Request I am desired to make to you However just it may appear to
Person is so pleasing to me that if I am design'd for a Man that resembles him what should make me Happy is like to make my Life uncomfortable My Inclination is deceived with this Resemblance and hurries me to him to whom I ought not to belong and perhaps prepossesses me so strangely that I shall not be able to Love him whom the Destinies have ordained I should Love There is no other Remedy continued Zayde but to leave a Place where I run such hazard and where Decency it self forbids we should continue any longer It is not in our Power answered Felime to leave it We are in a strange Country even where our Language is not understood We must stay for the Ships But take notice that what soever Care you seem to take to leave Theodorick you will not easily be able to blot out the Impression he has made upon your Heart I perceive in you the same things I felt when I began to love Alamire and would to the Gods I could see in him what you cannot but see in Theodorick You are mistaken said she if you think that Theodorick has any Inclination for me he has doubtless for some other Person And the Sadness I perceive him in proceeds from a Passion of which I am not the Cause I have at least this Consolation in my Misfortune that the Impossibility of expressing my Thoughts to him will hinder me from the Weakness of declaring to him that I love him A few Dayes after this Conversation Zayde saw Theodorick at a distance looking with great Attention upon some thing which he held betwixt both his Hands Her Jealousie made her fancy that it was a Picture She resolves to find out the Truth and steals towards him as softly as she could but she could not do it so gently but that he heard her He turned his Head and hid what he had in his Hands so that she could see nothing but the Lustre of some Diamonds She no longer doubted but that it was a Picture-Case as she had imagined the Assurance she believed she had of it struck her with such a Grief that she could not hide her Sadness nor look upon Theodorick And she felt such anguish of mind to be so passionately smitten with a Man whom she believed in Love with another Theodorick by chance let fall what he hid she saw it was a Knot of Diamonds which held to a Bracelet of her Hair which she had lost some Dayes before The Joy she was in that she had been mistaken would not let her shew any Anger She snatch'd up her Bracelet and return'd the Diamonds to Theodorick who presently threw them into the Sea to let her see how much he despised them when they were separated from her Hair This Action convinced Zayde of the Love and Magnificence of that Spaniard and did no small Feats in her Heart After this he gave her to understand by the help of a Picture where he made the Painter to draw a Beautiful Lady weeping over a Dead Man that the Severity she shewed him proceeded from the Tyes she had for that Man whom she lamented It was no small Grief to Zayde to find that Theodorick believed that she loved another She was now no longer in doubt of his Love for her and she loved him with so much Tenderness that she no longer endeavoured to smother it The time in which she was to depart drew on and not being able to resolve upon her Departure without letting him know that she loved him she told Felime That she was resolved to write to him the Inclination she had in her Heart for him but not to give it him until the very moment she was to Embark He shall not know the Passion I had for him until I am sure I am out of danger of ever seeing him more It will be a great Comfort to me that he shall know that I thought of no other but himself whereas he believed I was wholly taken up with the Remembrance of another Man I shall find a great Pleasure in expounding all my Actions to him and in giveing my self the Freedom of telling him how much I loved him I shall have this Delight without breach of Modesty He knows not who I am He shall never see me more And what matter is' t if he knows that he touched the Heart of that Stranger whose Life he has saved from Shipwrack You have forgot Madam said Felime to her that Theodorick does not understand your Language So that what you will write to him will be of no use to him Ah Madam If he has any kindness for me he will find means to be informed of what I shall have written to him and if he has not I shall be glad that he does not know that I love him And I am resolv'd to leave him with my Letter the Bracelet of my Hair which I so cruelly took from him and which he deserved but too well Zayde began the very next Day to write what she intended to leave to Theodorick He surprized her as she was Writing and she easily found that he was Jealous at it If she had followed the Impulse of her Heart she had then told him That she writ to none but him But her Prudence and the little Knowledge she had of the Quality or Fortune of this Stranger kept her from saying any thing that might be taken for an Engagement and made her conceal what she desired he might know when he should see her no more Some short time before she was to depart Theodorick left her and made her comprehend that he would be back the next Day The Day following she and Felime went to walk upon the Beach not without Impatience to see Theodorick's Return and this Impatience made her more Pensive than usual So that seeing a Boat put in to the Shore instead of being Curious to see those that were in it she walked another way But she was much surprized to hear her self call'd and to distinguish her Father's Voyce She ran to him with great Joy and he was transported to see her again After she had acquainted him how she escaped from Shipwrack he told her in few words That his Ship was driven upon the Coast of France from whence he could not depart till some few Dayes before and that he was come to Tarragone to wait for the Ships that were to sail for Africk That in the mean-time he resolved to Row along the Coast where Alasinthe Felime and she had suffer'd Shipwrack to find if any of them had chanced to escape At the Name of Alasinthe Zayde could not contain her Tears by which Zulema understood the Loss he had received Having bestowed some time upon his Grief he commanded the Young Princesses to go into the Boat to sail along with him to Tarragone Zayde was in great Perplexity how to perswade her Father not to carry her away just then She told him the Obligations she had to those
ZAYDE A Spanish History Being a Pleasant and Witty NOVEL The Second and Last Part. Originally Written in French By Monsieur SEGRAY Done into English by P. PORTER Esq LONDON Printed by T. M. for William Cademan at the Pope's Head in the Lower-Walk of the New-Exchange in the Strand 1678. ZAYDE A Spanish History A NOVEL THE SECOND PART WHEN Gonsalvo found himself in the Court of Leon the sight of a Place where he had been so Happy renewed in him the Remembrance of his pass'd Fortune and awakened his Hatred against Don Garcia The Regret of having lost Zayde gave place for some Moments to the Impetuosity of his Rage All his Thoughts were fill'd with a Desire to let that Prince know how little he valued all the bad Usage he might receive from him While his Mind was busied about these Thoughts he saw Hermenesilde coming into the Room followed by the Prince of Leon The sight of both these present together in so private a Place and at Midnight did so surprize him that he was not able to conceal it He went back some Steps and his Astonishment did so plainly appear that his Countenance betray'd the variety of Thoughts that crowded into his Imagination In-so-much that Don Garcias breaking Silence told him I am mistaken my dear Gonsalvo if you are not yet ignorant of all the Alterations that happened in this Court Do you doubt my being Lawful Possessor of Hermenesilde I am truly added he and there is nothing wanting to compleat my Happiness but your Consent and your being a Witness of it With that he Embraced him Hermenesilde did the like and both the one and the other pray'd him to forgive them the Misfortunes which they had caused him Sir said Gonsalvo throwing himself at the Prince's Feet I rather ought to beg Pardon of you for those bad Suspicions I had of you though at the same time I must confess I could not have any other of your Courtship to my Sister but I hope you will be pleas'd to grant it to the first Impulse of so extraordinary a Surprize and to the little Appearance I saw of the Favour you have done to my Sister You might expect better things from her Beauty and my Love Replyed Don Garcias I Conjure you to pardon what she has done without your Consent for a Prince whose Heart she knew so well Sir answered Gonsalvo Success has so well justified her Conduct that she has cause to blame me for endeavouring to oppose her Happiness After this Don Garcias told Hermenesilde that being it was late she would perhaps be glad to retire and that he would be glad also to stay some Moments with Gonsalvo alone When they were by themselves he Embraces Gonsalvo with great Demonstrations of Friendship I dare not hope said he you can forget what is passed I only intreat you to remember the Friendship that was betwixt us and to think that if I have been wanting to what I ow'd you it was by the Fascination of a Passion that bereaves a Man of his Reason I am so full of Surprize Sir said Gonsalvo that I can make you no Answer I suspect my own Eyes and cannot believe my self so Happy as to find again that same Goodness which I have heretofore experimented in you But my Lord give me leave to ask you who it is to whom I owe this happy Return You ask too many Questions at once Replyed the Prince yet though I need a longer time to satisfy your Curiosity I will tell you in few Words for I will not put off for the least time what may justify my Proceedings towards you Then he went about to tell him the beginning of his Passion for Hermenesilde and the share Don Ramires had in it But Gonsalvo to save him that Labour told him That he had learnt all that had passed to the Day of his parting from Leon and that he was only ignorant of what had happened since that time The HISTORY of Don Garcia Hermenesilde DOubtless the Information you received of my Weakness in consenting to your Banishment from Court made you go away as you did After your finding out by Nugna Bella's Mistake offending you the Letter she writ to Don Ramires what we with so much Industry endeavoured to keep from your knowledge Don Ramires received the Letter which was directed to you and soon perceived the Mistake for which he was extreamly perplexed I was no less troubled we were equally Guilty too in a different manner But the News of your Departure gave him no small Joy nor was I then sorry for it But when I reflected upon your Condition and that I was the Cause of your Displeasure I was infinitly troubled at it I saw I was much in the wrong to have so studiously conceal'd from you the Passion I had for Hermenesilde My Opinion was then That the Nature of my Inclination for her was not to be blam'd or condemn'd It came into my Thoughts several times to send after you and I had certainly done it if I had been the only Person in Fault But the Interest of Nugna Bella and Don Ramires were invincible Obstacles to your Return I concealed my Thoughts from them and made use of all wayes possible to make me forget you Your Departure made a great Noise and it was variously talked of according to Peoples Inclinations When I found my self loose from the stay of your Counsels and gave my sâ—â—f over to Don Ramires his Advice who thought it his Intrest to see me more Absolute I fell at open Variance with the King who then found he was mistaken in the opinion he had that it was you that put me upon doing those things which had been so displeasing to him our Mis-understandings grew Publick the Queen's Endeavours proved fruitless and Things were come to that pass that all believed I meant in good Earnest to form a Party Nevertheless I believe I should not have taken that Resolution were it not for your Father who by the means of some People that he had placed about your Sister understood the Love I had for her sent me word that if I would Marry her he would Raise me a considerable Army and furnish me with what Mony and strong Places that might be necessary to compel the King my Father to give me a share in the Soveraigne Government You know what Influence my Passions have upon me and what Power Love and Ambition have over my Heart Both the one and the other were answered by the Offers that were made me and my Vertue was too feeble to resist their Temptations being no longer supported by the Strength of your Advice I accepted with Joy his Offers but before I would fully resolve to engage my self I desired to know who were to be of the Party I intended to Head I was told there were many Persons of great Quality amongst others the Fathers of Nugna Bella one of the Counts of Castile I found also
with the opinion that he had a great share in the care she took to learn it at least the sight of Zayde and the hope he had not to be hated by her made Gonsalvo feel all the pleasure that a Lover that is not assured of the affections of his Mistress can be sensible of The return of Don Olmond from the Castle whether he had sent him to place some of his Troops interrupted his thoughts as he found him in the same place with Zayde he thought he might inform himself of that fair Princesses Birth and Adventures but he apprehended that he might be in Love with her and his fear of finding a Rival in the Man he believed his Friend retarded for a long time his Curiosity but could not forbear at last asking Don Olmond by what Accident he was brought to Talevera After he had learnt that he was taken Prisoner going to look after him at Tarragon he spoke to him of Zulema first the better to bring on the discourse of Zayde You must know said Don Olmond that he is Nephew to the Caliph Osman and that he should have been in the place of Carmadan that reigns at this day if he had been as fortunate as his Merit deserves he holds yet a considerable rank among the Arabians He came into Spain to be General of the King of Cordoua's Army where he has lived with so much Honour and Grandeur that I was surprised at it At my Arrival here I found a very agreeable Court Belleny the Wife of Prince Osmin Zulema's Brother was then here this Princess was no less respected for her Virtue than her high Birth She had with her the Princess Felime her Daughter whose Wit and Beauty are full of Charms though there appears in both something of Languishing and Melancholly You have seen the incomparable Beauty of Zayde and you may judge how great my Astonishment was to find at Talevera so many Persons worthy of Admiration It is true replyed Gonsalvo that Zayde is the most accomplish'd Beauty I ever saw and I question not but she has a great number of Admirers here Alamire Prince of Tharsus is passionately in Love with her answered Don Olmond he began to be in Love with her in Cyprus and came along with her from thence Zulema suffer'd Shipwrack upon the Coast of Catalonia he is come since that into Spain and Alamire came to Talevera to find out Zayde These words of Don Olmond struck Don Gonsalvo to the heart they confirm'd him in all his Suspicions and he found in an instant that all his Imaginations were true the hopes of being deceived with which he had so often flatter'd himself quite left him and the Joy which he received in his last Conversation with Zayde served only to augment his grief He was no longer in doubt but that those Tears which she shed at Alphonso's were for Alamire that it was him he was like and that it was he that carryed her away from the Coast of Catalonia These thoughts gave so much disquiet to his mind that Don Olmond believed he was Sick and gave him to know that he was much concern'd thereat Gonsalvo concealed the cause of his Affliction and was ashamed to own that he was in Love after what he had already suffer'd by it he told him he should be well again in a little while and ask'd him if he had ever seen Alamire whether he was worthy of Zayde or whether she Loved him I never saw him replyed Don Olmond for he was gone to joyn with Abderam before I was brought to this Town his Reputation is great but I know not whether Zayde Loves him or not but I believe it is not easie for her to despise the Application of a Prince so deserving as he is given out to be and he appears so assiduous about her that it is hard to say that he should be altogether neglected by her the Princess Pelime with whom I have contracted a sincere Friendship in spight of the reservedness in which the People of her Country and Quality live has often spoke to me of Alamire and to judge of him by what she says there cannot be a more accomplish'd Person or a more passionate Lover than he is If Don Gonsalvo had followed the impulse of his thoughts he had ask'd many more questions of Don Olmond but he was with-held by the fear he had of discovering to him what he studied to conceal he only asked him what became of Felime Don Olmond told him that she was gone after the Princess her Mother to Oropese where Osmin commanded a Body of an Army After this Gonsalvo withdrew pretending to take some rest but in reality to be at Liberty to Afflict himself and to reflect upon the stubbornness of his invincible Misfortunes Why did not I know that Zayde was in Love with Alamire before I found her again If I had been assured of that when I lost her I should have been less afflicted for her absence I should not be so joyful for having found her nor should I endure now the cruelty of losing all the hopes she came from giving me What kind of Destiny is mine that even the sweetness of Zayde must create me nothing but Misfortune Why should she seem to Countenance my Love if she approves Alamires passion Or what means that wish of hers that I might be the man I resemble These kind of reflections augmented his Grief and the next day which he ought to have wished for with impatience and which ought to be to him so grateful since he was sure to see Zayde and to speak to her seemed to him the most frightful of all his Life for he fancyed that in seeing her he could hope for no other thing but the Confirmation of all his Disasters About Mid-night the Messenger whom he had sent to the King to acquaint him with the taking of the Town came back with Orders for Gonsalvo to March away at that very instant with all his Cavalry to joyne the Army Don Garcias knew that the Moors expected a considerable Recruit and as soon as he knew that Gonsalvo had taken Talevera he thought it expedient by the benefit of this Victory togeather all his Forces and to fall upon the Enemy before they were re-inforced by their new Succours Though Gonsalvo saw the difficulty of executing his Majesties Orders by the trouble he should find to make his Souldiers March being scarce refreshed after the Fatigue of the precedent Night yet the ardent Desire he had to be at the Battle made him use so much Diligence that he put his Men in a very short time in a readiness to March and he did himself the cruel Violence of parting with Zayde without taking his leave of her He ordered Zulema to be brought into the same Castle where the Princess was and commanded him that was Governour of it to acquaint her with the Reasons that obliged him to leave Talavera in such hast At Break of
to it self as to let him think that another had kindled it Alamire attributed my Perplexity to my trouble of seeing him perswaded that I was in Love I see Madam said he that you are unwilling I should be your Confident but your Concern is unjust Can any Man have more Respect for you than my self or more Interest to please you than I You have an absolute Power over that Princess of whom depends my Destiny Tell me then Madam Who he is of whom you complain and if I have half as much Power with him as you have over her I Adore you shall quickly see if I do not make him know his Happiness and render him worthy of your Goodness for him Alamire's Words increased my trouble and agitation of Mind He urged me again to tell him who he should be of whom I complain'd But all the Reasons that made him desire to know him render'd him in my Thoughts unworthy to be informed At last Zayde judging the Perplexity I was in came to interrupt us before I could have the Power to utter one word to Alamire I went away without so much as looking upon him My Body was not able to bear the Agitation of my Mind I fell sick that very Night and continued so a long time Among the Number of Men of Quality that were then in Cyprus it were hard if some did not concern themselves in the Preservation of my Life I was told of their Care to be informed of the state of my Health I made Reflections how littled I was touched with their Kindness And when I consider'd that if Alamire had known my Inclination for him parhaps it might make as little impression upon him as the Passion of those that loved me made upon me I thought my self happy that he was ignorant of my Love for Him But I must confess this Happiness was only pleasing to my Reason and no way grateful to my Heart When I began to Recover I put off as long as I could all occasions of seeing Alamire and when I came to be seen by him I took notice that he observed me with great Care to find out by my Actions who it was of whom I complain'd the more I found him diligent in prying into my Deportment the worse I handled all those that shewed any inclination for me though there were many of whose Merit and Quallitys I needed not be ashamed yet there was none of them that did not blemish my Honour For I could not indure he should think that I lov'd without being belov'd Reciprocally and this very Thought made me Fancy that I seem'd to him to be less Worthy of him therefore The Emperors Troops plyed Famagosta so warmly that the Arabians thought it their best way to desert it Zulema and Osmin resolv'd to embark us with the Princess Alasinthe and Belleny Alamire also resolves to leave Cyprus to follow Zayde and quit a place where his Valour could be no longer useful He had still a great Curiosity to find out who it was that I complained of When we were ready to part and saw that my Sadness did not increase How said he Can you leave Cyprus without shewing new Marks of Affliction It is impossible Madam but you most sensibly feel this Departure Do me the Favor to let me know Who it is that you are concerned for There is not a Man in all this place but I can prevail with to go into Africk and you shall have the Pleasure to see him there without his least Suspition that you desir'd any such thing I have no mind said I to trouble my self to dispossess you of an Opinion which you conceived upon appearances that seem'd to be true Nevertheless I must tell you that those appearences are false I leave none in Famagosta For whom I have any extraordinary Concern And yet it is not for any Change my Heart has made I understand you Madam the Man that had the good Luck to please you is not here I looked for him in vain amongst the Number of your Adorers and I believe he was gon from Cyprus before I had the Honor to see you It is neither before you saw me nor since your coming hither that any has been so happy as to please me said I to him very abruptly and I pray you not to speak to me any more of a thing that displeases me so much Alamire seeing that I was Angry would say no more to me and assured me he would never trouble me any more upon this Subject I was glad to end a Conversation in which I was always in danger of discovering what I so earnestly desired to conceal In fine we went abroad and our Voyage was at first so pleasant that we had no reason to fear such an unfortunate Ship-Wrack as we suffer'd upon the Coast of Spain as I shall inform you Anon Felime was going to continue her Relation when a servant came to tell her that her Mother grew worse Though I had many other things to tell you said she to Don Olmond as she was going to leave him I have told you enough to let you know that my Life depends upon that of Alamire and likewise to engage you to keep your Word with me Madam I will most exactly perform my Promise But I pray you to remember also that you must inform me of the rest of your Adventures The next Day he went to the King who no sooner perceived him but he presently would have Gonsalvo put out of the impatience and the disquiet which appeared in his Countenance Therefore leading them both into his Closet and commanding Don Olmond to tell him whether he had seen Felime or learnt from her what interest she took in the Preservation of Alamire Don Olmond without seeming to Dive into the Reasons Why the King should be so curious to know the Adventures of that Prince he gave an exact Account of all that he had learnt from Felime of her Passion for Alamire of Alamires for Zayde and of all that happen'd to them until their departure from Cyprus Having made an end he judged that the King and Gonsalvo could not be so free in their Discourse as they would be if he were not there and to leave them at Liberty he said for excuse that he was Oblig'd to return to Orepese So soon as he was gon the King looking upon his Favorite with an Ayre that shew'd the kindness he had for him said to him Do you yet believe that Alamire is beloved of Zayde Do you believe it was she that made Felime Write Do not you see how ill your Apprehentions are grounded No Sir replied gravely Don Gonsalvo all that Don Olmond has said cannot perswade me yet but that I have cause to fear Perhaps Zayde was not at first in Love with Alamire or that she concealed it from Felime seeing the Passion she had for that Prince but whom do you believe she lamented when she was Shipwrack'd upon the Coast of
Spain but Alamire whom she believed Dead Whom can I resemble but that Prince Felime spoke only of him in her Relation Zayde has deceived her my Lord or else she has owned to her the inclination she had for him But since there being at Alphonso's House all that I have heard does not destroy the Opinion I had and I fear much that what remaines yet untold will rather confirm than destroy them It was so late when Gonsalvo left the King that he should have thought of nothing else but of taking his Rest But his disquiet of Mind would not give him leave to take any Felimes Relation augmented his Curiosity and left him still in that cruel uncertainty in which he had been so long In the Morning one of the Officers of the Army that came back from Oropese brought him a Note from Don Olmond wherein he Read these Words Don Olmonds Letter to GONSALVO FElime has kept her Word with me and told me the rest of her Adventures The Love she bears to Alamire is the only Cause of her Concern for his Life Zayde has no Interest in it and if any Man should have hard Thoughts of Zayde it is not of Alamire he must be Jealous This Note put Gonsalvo into a new trouble and made him think that he was only deceaved in believing that Alamire was the Man she loved But that he could not be deceived in his belief that Zayde was in Love The Letter he saw her Write at Alphonso's House what he had heard her say at Tortosa of a first inclination and the Note he Received from Don Olmond would not let him doubt of it He thought he must be still unhappy since Zaydes Heart was firmly concerned Nevertheless without knowing why he felt some ease by the assurance he had that her Passion was not for the Prince of Tharsus In the mean while the Mores made Overtures of Peace which were so advantagious that it was not thought Prudence to reject them Plenipotentiaries were named on both sides to Regulate Differences and a new Cessation was agreed upon Gonsalvo was Privy to all the Transactions Yet as busied as he was by the importance of those Affairs which the King intrusted him with he was much more impatient to know who this Rival should be of whom he never heard before He expected Don Olmond with so much impatience that he could take no Rest At last he beseeched the King either to send for him to the Camp or to give him leave to go to Orepese Don Garcias who whas as curious to hear the sequel of Zaydes Adventures resolv'd to be by at Don Olmonds telling them he sent for him with all speed When Gonsalvo saw him coming and looking upon him as the Man that was to relate to him the true Sentiments of Zayde he was almost ready to stop his mouth he so much feared to hear the truth of his misfortune though at the same time he earnestly wished to know it Don Olmond with his accustomed discretion without seeming to perceive Gonsalvos trouble begun to tell what he had received from Felime in their last Conversation The King having Commanded him to speak The Sequel of the History of FELIME and ZAYDE THe Princes Zulema and Osmin left Cyprus with an intention to pass into Africk and to land at Tunis Alamire went along with them and their Voyage was Prosperous enough untill a contrary Wind drove them towards Alexandria When Zulema saw himself so near that Place he had a mind to go a Shore to visit Albumazar the most famous Astrologer of all Africk his old Acquaintance The Princesses who were not used to the Hardships of the Sea were glad to go a Shore to rest themselves and the Winds continued in a contrary Point so that they could not put to Sea again so soon as they expected One Day as Zulema was shewing to Albumazar divers Rarities which he had brought from his Travails Zayde espyed in a Box which he open'd the Picture of a Young Man of an extraordinary Beauty and a most agreeable Physiognomy the Dress that was like to that which is used by the Princes of Arabia made her imagine that it might be the Picture of one of the Caliph's Sons She asked her Father Whether it was not so as she thought He told her He knew not for whom that Picture was drawn that he bought it of a Soldier and kept it for the Excellency of the Work Zayde seemed taken with the Beauty of that Picture Albumazar took notice of her Attention in considering it He joked with her about it and told her That he perceived that a Man that should resemble this Picture might hope to please her The Grecians have naturally a great opinion of Astrology and young People are very curious to know what is to come so Zayde pressed this famous Astrologer to tell her something of her Destiny But he still excused himself He passed all that little time which he could spare from his Studies in Zulema's Company and seemed to avoid all occasions of shewing his extraordinary Skill At last one Day finding him in her Father's Chamber she urged him more than ever to consult the Stars about her Fortune I need not consult the Stars for that said he Madam for I can assure you that you are Destin'd for the Man whose Picture Zulema shewed you Very few Princes in Africk are equal to him You shall be Happy if you Marry him Have a care you do not Engage your Affection to any other Zayde received this Answer as a kind of Rallery for her too much Attention in viewing the Picture But Zulema told her with all the Authority of a Father That she must no wayes doubt of the Truth of this Prediction That he gave so full a Credit to it himself that he should never consent she should Marry any other but the Man for whom this Picture was drawn Zayde and Felime could not believe that Zulema spoke what he truly thought but when he declared that he had no Intention now that the Princess his Daughter should marry the Prince of Tharsus They no wayes doubted of the Truth of what Albumazar had said Felime was not a little transported with Joy when she knew that Zayde was no longer destin'd for Alamire She fancied a great pleasure to tell him of it She flatter'd her self with the hope that he would return to her when he should have no further expectation that Zayde would be his She begg'd leave of this fair Princess to acquaint Alamire with Albumazars Prediction and Zulema's intention this leave was soon granted Zayde easily consented to all that might Cure the Prince of Tharsus of the Passion he had for her Felime found an occasion to speak to the Prince and without making any shew of the Pleasure she took in telling it to him she advised him to break off with Zayde since she was design'd for another and that Zulema was no longer favorable to him she moreover
told him how Zulema came to change his Mind and shewed him the Picture which was to deside Zaydes designe Alamire appeared overwhelmed with Grief at the words of Felime and surprised with the Beauty of the Picture she shewed him he remained a good while silent at last lifting up his Eyes with an Ayre which shewed his Grief I believe it Madam said he that Man whose Picture I see is design'd for Zayde his Beauty deserves her But he shall never have her For I will Kill him before he shall be able to pretend to Rob me of Zayde But replied Felime if you undertake to fight with every Man that may be like this Picture You must attack a great number of men before you find out him for whom it was drawn I am not happy enough answer'd Alamire to be in danger of such a mistake This Picture represents so great and so particular a Beauty that very few can be like it But Madam added he this Physiogncmy as agreeable and as pleasing as it appears may hide such unpleasing Humours and a temper of mind so different from what ought to please Zayde that as Beautifull as this pretended Rivall may be perhaps he may not be beloved of her And as favourable and kind as Fortune and Zulema may be to him if he does not Captivate Zaydes inclinations I shall not think my self altogether unhappy I shall be lesse troubled to see her in the possession of a man that she cannot love then to see her in love with a man that she cannot possesse Nevertheless Madam continued he although this Picture has made such an impression in my mind that cannot easily be blotted out I conjure you to leave it with me for some time that I may consider it at leisure and that I may imprint the Idea thereof more strongly in my Memory Felime was so much Concerned to see that what she had said would not abate of Alamire's hopes that she let him carry away the Picture Which he return'd to her some dayes after in spight of the desire he had to hide it for ever from the eyes of Zayde After some stay at Alexandria the winds were favourable for their departure Alanire received Letters from his Father that obliged him to leave Zayde to return to Tharsus But knowing that he should not need to stay long there told Zulema that he should be as soon at Tunis as he Felime was as much afflicted at their Separation as if she had been really beloved by him She was used to all the afflictions which love causes but she had not been yet acquainted with that which absence gives And she felt it so sensibly that she found that it was the pleasure alone of seeing him she loved that gave her strength to support the Misfortune of not being beloved Alamire parted for Tharsus and Zulema and Osmin in different Ships sailed towards Tunis Zayde and Felime would not be parted but staid together in Zulema's Ship After some Dayes Navigation a grievous Storm rose which dispersed the Fleet That Ship in which Zayde was spent her main Mast At which Zulema losing all Hope of Safety in staying in the Ship and knowing that he was not far off the Land resolved to save himself in the long Boat He caused his Wife his Daughter and Felime to go into the Boat and took with him all that he had of Value But as he was going to step into the Boat a Wave broke the Rope that fastened it to the Ship and carryed it with that Violence that it staved in against the Beach Zayde was cast upon the Shore of Catalonia half Dead and Febime who had got hold of a Planck was driven in there too after she had seen the Princess Alasinthe drowned When Zayde was come to her self she was in a maze to find her self among People that she did not know and whose Language she could not understand Two Spaniards that were walking upon the Beach found her in a Trance and caused her to be carryed to their House Some Fisher-men led Felime thither too Zayde was over-joyed to see her but was more afflicted to hear of the Death of the Princess her Mother Having shed many Tears for this Loss she bent her Thoughts how to get out of that Place She made Signes that she desired to go to Tunis where she hoped to find Osmin and Belleny Looking earnestly upon the Youngest of those two Spaniards whose Name was Theodorick she perceived he very much resembled the Picture with which she had been so taken This Resemblance surprized her and made her look upon him with more Attention She went along the Beach to search for a Box in which this Picture was which she believed was put into the Boat when she came off from the Ship She sought in vain and she was extreamly vexed that she could not find what she looked for She perceived for some Dayes that Theodorick had a Passion for her though she could not understand it by his Language yet his Carriage and his Actions made her suspect it Nor was that Suspicion disagreeable to her Some time after she thought her self mistaken She saw him very Melancholly without any Cause from her She saw that he often left her to go alone to Dream and Think In fine She believed he was ingaged in Affection to some other which made him uncasie and troubled in Mind This Imagination gave her a surprizing Disquiet and made her as Melancholly as Theodorick seemed to her Although Felime was taken up with her own Thoughts yet she was too well acquainted with Love not to perceive the Passion which Theodorick had for Zayde and the Inclination Zayde had for Theodorick She hinted it to her divers times and notwithstanding the Reluctancy this fair Princess found in her to own it to her self yet she could not forbear owning it to Felime It is true said she I have an Inclination for Theodorick of which I am not Mistriss But I pray you Felime Is it not of him that Albumazar spoke And was not that Picture think you which we saw drawn for him There is no likelyhood of it answered Felime The Fortune and Country of Theodorick has nothing that can relate to what Albumazar said Consider Madam that having no wayes credited that Prediction you now begin to believe it by imagining that Theodorick may be the Man that is destin'd for you and judge from thence what are your Thoughts for him Hitherto replyed Zayde I did not believe the Words of Albumazar to be a true Prediction But I must confess that since I saw Theodorick they began to make an Impression upon my Fancy I thought it something Extraordinary to have found a Man that resembled that Picture and at the same time to feel an Inclination for him I am surprized when I think of Albumazar's forbidding me to suffer my Heart to receive any Impression He seems to me to have fore-seen the Inclination I have for Theodorick And his
any thing but dismal and funestuous Objects She suffer'd her self to be Conducted away without pronouncing one Word But when she came into her Chamber the Sight of Zayde embitter'd her Sorrow and gave her Strength to speak Are you now satisfyed Madam said she to her Alamire is Dead I Alamire is Dead continued she as if she were speaking to her self I shall never see him more I have then lost all Hopes of ever being Beloved of him It is no longer in Love's Power to preserve him for me My Eyes shall never meet with his His Presence which sweeten'd all my afflicting Misfortunes is for ever vanish'd from my sight Ah Madam said she to Zayde Is it possible that any Man should please you when Alamire could not How Cruel was your Humanity Why would not you love him He Adored you most Religiously What could there be wanting in him to render him more Amiable But replyed Zayde softly You very well know that I should encrease your Sufferings if I had loved him and that it was the only thing in the World which you apprehended most It is true Madam answered she it is true I was unwilling you should make him so Happy But I would not have had you deprive him of Life Alas Why did I with so much Care conceal from him the Passion I had for him Perhaps it had won upon him happily it might have given him some Diversion from that fatal Love which he had for you What was I afraid of Why should not he know that my Heart Adored him The only Consolation which is left me is that he suspected some-thing of it Well although he had known it it may be he would have dissembled that he loved me and so would have deceived me What if he had continued to deceive me as he begun Those dear Moments wherein he made me believe that he loved me are yet precious to my Memory Is it possible that after suffering so many Evils there should rest still so great for me to endure I hope at least that my Grief will be strong enough to bereave me of Force to support them As she talked thus Gonsalvo came to the Door of her Chamber not thinking she was there to know in what Condition she was in after returning from Alamire's Apartment He with-drew himself suddainly that he might not irritate her grief by his Presence But he could not do it so quickly but that she had a Glimpse of him and this sight of him made her cry out so mournfully that the hardest Hearts could not choose but be moved there-at I beseech you Madam said she to Zayde to give order that Gonsalvo comes not inâ—â— my sight I cannot endure the Sight of a Man from whose Hand Alamire received his Death and who robb'd him of what was dearer to him than his Life The Violence of her Grief took away her Speech and her Senses And her Health being already much impair'd it was easie to perceive that her Life was in danger The King and the Queen being told of her Condition came to see her and sent for all that could give her Ease After five or six Hours lying in a kind of Lethargy the Strength of the Medicines which was given her brought her to her self She knew none of the Standers by but Zayde who fate weeping by her with much sorrow Do not lament my Loss said she so low that she could hardly be over heard I should no longer be worthy of your Friendshp nor could I love a Person that caused the Death of Alamire She could say no more She fell into the same Fainting-Fits again And the next Day about the same Hour that she saw the Prince of Tharsus depart she ended a Life which Love had render'd so Unfortunate The Death of two Persons of so extraordinary Merit was so worthy of Compassion that all the Court of Leon was afflicted there-at Zaydes Grief was inexpressible She loved Felime passionately and the manner of her Death added more Sorrow to her Affliction All Gonsalvo's Prayers and his Cares could not prevail for several Dayes with her to moderate her Grief But her Apprehensions of leaving Spain and losing Gonsalvo gave some Respite to her Tears to afflict her with another sort of Discontent The King returned to Leon And there remain'd so little now of what was to fulfil the intire Accomplishment of the Articles of Peace that in all appearance Zulema was very shortly to re-pass into Africk Yet he was not in a condition to Travail for he was dangerously sick when Felime dyed and the Extreamity he was reduced to was kept from Zayde that she might not be oppressed with so many Afflictions at one and the same time Gonsalvo was full of Mortal Disquiet and studied all wayes by which he might either induce that Prince to consent to his Happiness or perswade Zayde to stay in Spain with the Queen since Reason seemed to dispense with her for not following a Father that appeared in a Resolution to force her to change her Religion Some Dayes after they came to Leon Gonsalvo came one Evening into the Queens Closet where Zayde was but her Eyes were so fixt upon a Picture of Gonsalvo's that she did not see him when he came in It is decreed Madam said he that I must alwayes be jealous of Pictures since I am so even of my own and must envy the Attention you have in looking on them What of your Picture answered Zayde with an extream Surprize Yes Madam of my Picture replyed Gonsalvo I see you can hardly believe it because it is so Handsom but I assure you it was drawn for me Gonsalve said she was there no other Picture drawn for you like this Ah Madam cryed he with that kind of Trouble which uncertain Joyes creates in us May not I believe what you give cause to suspect and what I can scarce dare to tell Yes Madam other Pictures like this you see have been drawn for me But I dare not give my self the Liberty to believe what I perceive you think and what I should have thought long since if I had judged my self worthy of those Predictions which have been told you and if you had not alwayes assured me that the Picture which resembled me was drawn for an African I believed so by the Habit and the Words of Albumazar perswaded me to it You know added she how much I desired that you might be the Man you resembled But what surprizes me is that having wished it so much my Pre-occupation should hinder me from believing it I spoke of it to Felime the first time I saw you at Alphonso's House When I saw you again at Talavera and was informed of your Birth and Quality this very Imagination came into my Mind but looked only upon it as a pure Effect of my Wishes But How hard a matter will it be continued she fetching a deep Sigh to perswade my Father to believe this Truth And how much I