the sacrifice of alliance The young Prince overjoy'd at such an occasion for his seeing other countries and other seas then his own imbarked himself in the sacred vessell and taking with him the miraculous birds by whose flight as by the needle of the Compasse they us'd to be guided to the Inaccessible Island he commanded his mariners to give over their course for the Isle of the Sunne and stand for the coast of Africa The Priests and other Officers fell at his feet to make him alter so strange a resolution but he giving no eare to their remonstrances would be absolutely obeyed His Pilots that had neither knowledge of needle nor art of navigation left themselves to the wind and judging by the Sunne whereabout that part of the world should lie which their Prince call'd Africa were cast by the winde amongst some Islands that were some hundred leagues from their owne where Alcidus found such extreame rude people that without making any stay he sail'd on and came to an anchor on the coast of Morocco Sometime he staid there but troubled with the heate of the climate and the barbarousnesse of the Inhabitants he sail'd into Europe When he came in sight of Spaine he met with atempest which holding him above a moneth betwixt life and death drove him happily at last into England To that Court he came unknown and growing quickly weary left it to travell through the principall Shires At last he came to a place where the Dutchesse of Yorke was confin'd by a Tyrant King with her two daughters but he being slaine the successour married one of them to a principall instrument of hiâ—… greatnesse and left the second faire and young to her owne disposall Alcidus being by chance in companie where she made appeare to the utmost both her sweet demeanor her wit and beautie he became infinitely in love with her and was no lesse beloved of chat Princesse Their sicknesse being reciprocall made them equally have recourse to a remedie Young Alcidus making use of that age'â—… libertie which hath no greater an enemie them wisdome gave the Princesse notice of the wounds she had given him and besought her not to treate as one of the vulgar the Inheritor of one of the fairest Crownes in the world Phelismonda so was your mother call'd was not deafe to his petition she let him know she had pity on what he suffered But said that amorous Princesse I advertise you that the remedie which you seeke for it is not so much in my power but it is farre more in your owne Young Alcidus considering himselfe already as a conquerour forgot nothing which he thought might any way advance his triumph he vowed his constancie and saith inviolable he joyned oathes with promises and presently complain'd of Phelismonda for her deferring the requiring his putting them in execâ—…ion She then laid before him that being borne the daughter of a great King sister to another and by right to pretend to the Crowne of England she desir'd a husband that might re-establish her in the throne and not a lover who might absolutely ruine her Alcidus found nothing rigid in this proposition he protested that his love was pure and innocent that he looked on Phelismonda with no other intent then to honour her with those Crowns were assâ—…'d him and that she might not doubt of it promised to espouse her publikely Phelismonda yeelded after she had so well ended her treatie and fearing left her marriage might be knowne to the King intreated your father to demeane himselfe towards her the most reservedly hee could possibly But that secret could not be long time conceal'd Alcidus's too often visits working a jealousie in the King of Englandâ—… Spies the businesse was discover'd and all that Alcidus and Phelismonds could doe was to â—…don England and put themselves to the mercy of an extreame turbulent sea They were cast on the wilde parts of Scotland and as I had bene the sole confident in your mothers love so was I the sole shecompanion of the miseries she refented A little while after we arriv'd among those people she found her selfe indispos'd the alteration of her countenance her waxing leanish her squeamishnesse her drooping and continuall faintings made me thinke that her indisposition was but an effect of her being with childe I advertis'd Alcidus of it who resolv'd for all that we could say not to hazard his Lady in the case she was hee went not from her farre in five moneths and though he were continually intreated to goe thence he preferred generously his love and faith before any consideration of his estate and would not put to sea againe till Phelismonda could indure the incommodities of a voiage which he would not undertake without her In the meane time the fatall tearme of your birth came on but O sad and mournfull day can I call thee to minde without the losse of that short remainder of life which is left me The unfortunate Phelismonda felt all the throwes which women undergoe in their labours yet could not be brought to bed The remedies we appli'd for her succour did but hasten her end when she perceiv'd her selfe to faile she fell gently on the face of her half dead husband and glewing as it were her mouth to his Preserve at least said she the remembrance of our loves since heaven will have nothing else left thee and with those words she died Alcidus presently tearing his haire and acting the part of a man desperate not onely forsooke the little cotes wherein we had liv'd all the time of your mothers going with childe but instantly imbarked himselfe and fet saile I have alwayes thought that his extreame griefe was so prevalent as to make him intend his owne losse after that of Phelismonda and for that cause would not trouble himselfe either with mee or any of his Lady's women He was not long gone out of the chamber but I felt you stirre in your mothers wombe whereupon I call'd for a Surgeon that was come to assist us and caus'd him to open one of Phelismonda's sides from whence he tooke you and after his well treating assured me you were likely to live The desire I had to preserve all that was left me of my deare Phelismonda made me suspend the resentment of her losse I sent to informe the wilder people who were somewhat humaniz'd by our conversation of our misfortune some of them brought us women but lately up from childebirth and offered them for your nurses of which I retain'd three and by their help or rather if you will permit me to say so through a true maternall love I overcame the rendernesse and infirmitie of your infancie Neere eighteene moneths staid I in Scotland so much incommodated that I resolv'd to get thence but unwilling to returne into England I was much troubled in thinking of a place where I might put you in safetie Fortune who at that time destin'd you for the Crowne of Denmarke brought a ship
Zelmatida to my great griefe I can make you no answere to that question I know not who I am though some have assured me that I am the sonne of a king The great Quasmez Prince of all those lands which extend themselves from the deserts of Quito to the Mountaine of Popocampecho hath bred me up as his successor Yet within this little while I have understood that he is not my father Aâ—…er that Zelmatida had in few words told him as much as he knew of his owne byrth and that he perceived the old man would know more he continued his story as I have related it to you and declared to him all that which had betided him even to the very houre he delivered the other out of prison Alisma hearing these brave adventures fell on his knees as feeble as he was and lifting his eyes and hands to heaven I give thee thanks said he who ever thou be that presidest in the government of the World Humane understanding certainly hath too little extent to dive into the depths of thy wisâ—…dome or â—…o know the meanes thy justice useth to cause all miscreants to fall into those punishments which they worthily have deserved The good old man after he had ended this deede of Pietie arose with the helpe of Zelmatida and then stood a while silent My deare Master who had an extraordinary care of him made him then take some repast as himselfe did to resist those griefes and disquiets that continually vexed him This little meale ended Alisma would try if he could walke He therefore stood up and leaning on Zelmatida and my selfe found that he sustayned him a great deale better then he thought He made five or sixe turnes to use his feete and finding strength enough to goe wiâ—…hout any helpe he tooke Zelmatida by the hand and intreated him to walke forth My deare Master followed him and fitting his pace to the old mans brought him to take the ayre on a bastion As soone as they came there they sat downe and Alisma then looking on Zelmatida but looking on him with teares in his eyes Alas said he had not the rage of the Barbarians murthered the king my Master and â—…ore cruelly slaine the Queene his wife and the childe she went withall the Empyre of the Incaes doubtlesse had had a Prince of your age succeeding in Guina Capa and with him an aâ—…uted hope to be more flourishing then ever But that you may know in order my countries misfortunes and that compassion and noblenesse bind you to take share in my griefes and by consequence in mine intentions I will tell you some particulars which were never knowne to any but the great Guina Capa and my selfe I am an Inca by byrth and sonne of the valiant Sayri Tupac brother of the victorious Yupanqâ—…y I was the first that with Armes entred the Kingdome of Qâ—…ito when Yupanquy intended to conqâ—…erit I have alwaies commanded his Armies there not only as long as he lived but also when the invinciâ—…le Guina Capa succeeded in his Empire Some other time I will relate to you the different and cruell adventures of that warre let it suffice for the present that you know how Guina Capa after he had brought the Savagâ—…s of Qâ—…ito to sue for peace and had granted it to them he retired to spend some daies in a strong place which he had built to hinder the excursions of his enemies In that place I commanded and after the treaty was come thither with part of my forces The next day after my Princes arivall he intimated that he had deepe secrets to communicate and therefore bringing me to a place where he could not be heard of any he spoke to me in this manner You know Alisma with what affection I have alwaies desired that nothing should passe in all my commands either for the affaires of peace or businesse of war but that you should be privy to it and for my part I know with what affection you have alwaies been industrious for the good of my Crowne These two things that is my love and your fidelity have invited me to cast mine eyes on you as on one who are to be my successor in case the Sun our Father permit not my Children to fill the Tâ—…rone of their prdecessors I know the Queene my wife is with child and that she may be delivered of a Son for which t is possible our visible god hath heard both my vowes and yours But what cause soever I have to rejoyce I misse not some interior motions that seeme to presage the deliverance of my wife shall be deadly to her my selfe and the child If you knew me lesse then you doe I should feare least you might have some ill opinion either of my judgement or courage but I know you will take nothing from the estimation you make of them both though the fearfullnesse that shewes it selfe in my discourse may seeme to perswade you that I am no more my selfe I feare not death Alisma nor need I other witnesse then you I have long since prepared my selfe for whatsoever the gods are pleased I shall suffer Yet since providence is a virtue that makes us no lesse famous then our valour I desire to set my affaires in order and by an establishment which may prâ—…serve my estate and name expect what is to come with that tranquility which cannot be disturbed or altered by any good or sinister fortune In a word Alisma my brother and son I will ordaine you my successor and by a publique Act binde all the Incas and people that obey me to acknowledge you for their Sovereigne But I give you not this Present without the thornes which are inseparable from it I mean that you shall never pardon those people whom I lately subdued if they ever goe about to shake off the yoke they have received or attempt any thing against the oath they have made me Guina Capa made me this speech with a great quiet of minde and putting into my hands the royall Javelin which he carried in all ceremonious actions commanded me to keepe it well T is not without cause said he that I charge you to have care of it for I would have you know that on it depends the fortune of my Son if I have one that of my Wife if she survive me and your owne if you become my successor I did aâ—… that possibly I could to put from this good Princes minde those as me thought vaine imaginations But alas they proved soone after to be too true He was but a little while to recreate himselfe in the place of my command but after he had a hundred times embraced me his eyes full of teares went thence to have the peace proclaimed and get to the City of Quito which he had made choice of for the Queen 's lying in O Peace More bloudy and sad then the war had been O abhominable brutishnesse of a Nation more wilde and inhumane
and Alisma ravished with the beauty of their enemies could not take a resolution to offend them They therefore obayed and presenting to them their weapons obliged my selfe and my companyons to give them ours too This is not enough saide the Principall of that faire Company you must now follow us and yeeld your selves prisoners to the invincible Telesmana Queene of the warlike virgins You shall not be disobeyed answered Alisma For we are both my selfe and my companions so much obliged to Telesmana that we are ready to suffer all that she shall pronounce against us This saide Zelmatida was the first that presented himselfe and consenting to have his hands bound endured Alismaes smiling at it and that I might manacle my selfe Those redoubtable enemies put us in the midst of them and so brought us to their Campe. They understood at their entry that Telesmana expected Embassadors from Quasmez and that she was to receive them with all the magnificence that she seemed to make shew of on the like occasions These news were very pleasing to them and made them resolve to take hold of that occasion and to present us to the Queene whilest she was in the state of doing justice and presently they hastened towards the Pavillions of Telesmana I must confesse to you that in no one of all the kings Courts that I have seene eyther in the one or the other world I have not taken notice of any thing so stately so rich so admirable and in a word so royall as the Guard and the Quarter of that valiant Queene It was almost a league about and twice so long as large compassed with a diâ—…ch filled with water and with a pallisadoe of high stakes There was but one entrance where two thousand Amazons were day and night in guard We entred the second Campe and passed through foure thousand warriers that stood on each side in file even to the Queenes lodging After that she who commanded our Conductors had beene with the Queene to give an accompt of the successe of her journey she returned and brought us into a great Tent which was as the Hall for Telesmanaes guard Thence we went into another that shone exceedingly with gold and diamonds There stood three rancks of Amazons armed with halfe-pike so neate and curiously gilded that they were fitter for a day of triumph then a day of combat We past by those fayre warriers and presently saw the worthy Mistresse of so illustrious Subjects She was environed with a great number of Princesses and other Ladies and seated on a throne of massie gold covered with rubies pearle and diamonds It was ascended to by six degrees of gold and silver and over it hung great plates of gold joyned together all thick set with precious stones and disposed in such a fashion that the Sun casting his beams on it made the Queene to seeme indeede as another Sun Our guards brought us to the foote of the Throne and commanded us to kneele to be examined The countenance and grace of Zelmatida and Alisma though the inequality of their ages made them farre different caused almost a like admiration in all the Assembly The Queene could not refrayne from turning her eyes on them and though she saw them not well yet confest that it was great pitty to destroy such men whose brave aspect gave sufficient testimony of their mindes and the greatnesse of their courage Yet she would be satisfied and therefore commanded Alismaes Guard to bid him stand up The generous olde Man arose and all bound as he was after five or six steps came and kneeld at the feet of the Princesse When he had cast up his eyes and that Telesmana had looked on that warlike aspect which his gray hayres made venerable she shewed a great deale of greife that she must be constrayned to condemn that man to death against her owne naturall sweetnesse Notwithstanding it behooved her to goe against her owne inclynation and to resolve it Yet before she would give the sentence of death she tolde him that if his courage did not bely his countenance he should shewe it on this occasion and patiently undergoe the disaster whereinto he and his companions were then fallen For know said she that by an irrevocable Decree made by me above sixteen yeares since I have condemned all men that should fall into my hands to be burn'd alive The respect due to my sex which that of yours hath violated in mine owne person and my childrens compells me to avenge my selfe on men with more rigour then any doth ordinarily inflict on his enemies But let them for all accuse their owne inhumanity that was the first cause of it Yes cruell and inhumane as you are yes Monsters that make Nature to blush for producing you you have been so barbarous as neither to have mercy on a woman whom the gods caused to be borne the fairest and wisest Princesse of the world nor on her infant yet a part of her selfe doe not wonder then if after so many and so great wrongs I betake me to a just vengeance and make no difficulty of massacring the innocent for feare of letting escape any one that is guilty Now you know my resolution and your owne destiny tell me who you are and what sad fortune hath cast you into the hands of my women Alisma not â—…ffecting that insensibility which makes all things indifferent and yet free from that â—…eare which brings a change of colour in the face and a stammering in the speech answered the Queene thus If my companions and my selfe had beene lesse accustomed then we are to the outrages of fortune we would complaine now of this her new plotted treason But being dayly at warres with her we will try to get the victory by our constancy and never more finde fault with her betrayings Yet we must confesse that this last treachery is horrible for we beleeved her not false enough to corrupt our best friends and to provide Goales and tortures for us where we came to seeke for repose and protection Yes great Queene we came into this Kingdome to finde a Sanctuary against fortune and have heere some helpes against our enemies I name not these considerations to wooe your pity nor doe we love life so well to preserve it by wiles You have commanded me to say who I am I will obey you and by that obedience make you confesse that fortune is yet a more cruell enemy then I have spoake her I he City of Cusco claimes my birth I am honored by being descended from the race of the Sun and to be Grandchilde to the coelestiall Mango Capa If since the death of the great Guina Capa you have beene pleased to heare related the misfortunes that followed the losse of that Prince and your incomparable Daughter I doubt not but you have heard of the name of Alisma The Queene much moved at that name how said she are you that Alisma who called your selfe the Avenger of
from Morocco with Iphidamanta Osmin his wife and their domesticks and in all haste came to the Fortresse of Guargetsem There as if he had been in the highest peace that could be or had abjured all things but his love he even forbad Osmin from speaking to him in any manner about businesse nor to trouble his repose with the fortune of an Estate which he abandon'd to the ambition of Sonnes Osmin affrighted with this command was neither sufficiently coward nor traytor to obey him He secretly sent for the Governour of Taradant and besought him by the excellency of his vertue and by his valour so often approv'd to have pity on the Kings weaknesse and his countreys desolation That Governour promis'd Osmin all that a man of honour should in such an occasion but whilst he was in preparation the two detestable Princes made themselves masters of the best townes and found every where so little resistance that they were at the gates of Guargetsem before the Governour of Taradant had time to assemble his friends or his troups Hely who passed his time altogether in idolatrizing Iphidamanta and in promising her such Crowns as he had lost was much astonished when the roaring of Cannons and the clamours of Souldiers told him aloud what his most affectionate servants durst not whisper to him Presently he ran to Iphidamanta and casting himselfe at her feet Would to heaven faire Princesse said he that I might by my death free you from the danger wherewithall you are threatned by my cruell and unnaturall Sonnes You should see me run to it with joy and voluntarily yeeld up what remaines of my life for the ransome of your honour and liberty But their abominable ambition will be no more glutted by my death then it is by my Crownes 'T is your honour they aime at and the accursed Nephisus will not thinke himselfe fully clear'd of those execrable vowes he hath made if at once he commit not two of the greatest murthers can be imagined I meane if after his attempting on my life he doe not the like on your honour Iphidamanta according to her custome dissolv'd in tears whilst Hely spoke to her but at last urg'd by a just indigdation It behov'd you then to have had more care of my liberty repli'd she when it was in your power So would you not have been reduc'd to give me now such vaine testimonies of your feare and weaknesse but take no care for me I know better then you how to prevent the villanies of your Sonnes Hely stood wholly confounded with love and joy at those judicious words and leaving Iphidamanta with Osmin's Lady went to see whereto his enemies had brought him Osmin followed and charging him but with silken words if it be lawfull for me to use the Court tearmes with the irreparable faults his passion had made him commit would have perswaded him to thinke on his safety whilst it was not absolutely desperate Hely stopping at that speech There 's an end of the matter said he I must die Abdelmelec and Nephisus have too constant and assured an impiety to promise me the least good that can be That very day they combin'd to make war with me they resolv'd my death Should I give into their hands all regall authority and on the faith of a solemne Treaty open the gates of this fortresse assure your selfe they would not be satisfied They will have me end my miserable life by the most infamous tortures can be invented by their mercilesse impiety But that which I more feare is they will expose Iphidamanta to such horrours as the sole imagination of them kills me I will therefore prevent all these disasters by a death which shall not be unworthy Iphidamanta nor my selfe With that he walked on and ascended up a bulwarke from whence he might descry all his enemies camp He knew the ill estate of the place he was in and judg'd rightly by the advanced works and demolitions the Cannon made that he had but a short time to live He stood there above two houres as if he had expected some Cannon shot to finish all his disquiets by a faire death But heaven which is alwayes indulgent to humane frailty preserv'd that sacred head and would not by a tragieall end give his unnaturall children cause to glory in their wickednesse nor yet would it absolutely preserve that drowsie and rest-loving Prince for feare he should utterly lose himselfe in his remisnesse and too much insensibility Osmin perceiving Helies intention withdrew him against his will from the bulwarke and trusting in the Governour of Taradants promise assur'd him he should shortly have succour from whence he expected it not Hely laughed at it and as if he had knowne his approaching misfortune staid at the foote of a towre which his enemies battered A great part of it fell in that instant and in such a manner that without the particular providence of heaven Hely and Osmin had beene orewhelm'd with the ruine Osmin was not hurt at all but Hely scap'd not so cheape He was struck downe and wounded in his head and many other parts of his body Some of the garrison Souldiers thinking he had beene slaine drew him from under the rubbish and ruines of the towre and carried him to his chamber Assoone as the trusty Eunuch Atlas saw his Master in so ill plight he ran to Iphidamanta and melting into teares Come said he and see to what point of mishap your beauty hath brought the best Prince of the world Follow me Iphidamanta and try at least by one teare and one word of comfort to witnesse to my Lord the King that you are sensible of his wounds Iphidamanta was astonished at Atlas sad relation and her naturall goodnesse making her forget all other consideration she went with Osmins Lady to the Prince his chamber Assoone as she came neere his bed and that she saw him all bloudy O heaven she cried permittest thou thine owne lively image to be thus disfigured Hely knowing her stretch'd out his hand and raysing himselfe a little faire Princesse said he since my life pleased you not let me know at least that my death is welcome unto you Impute not to heaven nor to the inhumanity of my children the tragicall end of dayes They have both rather with pity then rigour treated me as they have done and death it selfe shews how pitifull she is since it hath prevented the despaire and contempt whereinto your losse would infallibly have carried me Give them thanks rather for being so conformable to your wishes and for delivering you at last from that bondage which hath cost you so many teares Farewell then faire Princesse weepe no more if you desire not to afflict me at mine end Rather by a pleasant countenance signifie to me that you take my death as a favour I will even hasten it if you desire it But whilst I seeke for comfort in my misery I forget the care I should take for your
them open and noted when they were come in that there was as much people stirring in the streetes as it had been mid-day Some stood in one place as amated with griefe others walked along in a slow pace as expressing the excesse of their sadnesse and all by their sighes and lamentations said there had some mournefull and dismall chance betided in their City Almanzaira having cross'd many streets and finding her selfe weary yet lesse of her way then of her feare set her downe on the staire of a Pyramis which was in the midst of a crosse-way and besought Polexander to send some one so farre as into the Palace Court to learne the newes Almaid would needs goe himselfe and according to his manner that is very wisely and promptly did what the Queen desir'd and returned to her Madam said he I doe not thinke you can credit what I have to tell you for mine owne I confesse I do not yet have I not this newes from two or three but from above a hundred Citizens and even the Courtiers confirm'd it to me Almanzaira trembling intreated him to put her out of her paine and tell her what those incredible things were Since 't is your pleasure repli'd Almaid I will satisfie your Majesties command Know then that the King seeing Zelopa dead carried her body into one of the garden Pavillions and there abode many dayes not to be gotten away either by the remonstrances of his chief Officers or the stench of that carion The high Prelates and Priests of Mahomet the Muhazzimins which vaunt the commanding of Spirits and the Interpreters of the Law of Eshari being advertised of this prodigy assembled in their Temples there made their publike prayers and then came to the Palace to try by their exorcismes to vanquish the power of the Devills In came they to the King and the noysomnesse proceeding from Zelopa's corps assoone drove them out againe The Calif Sensul Maharif who passeth for a Saint in his Religion spight of all the stench entred the chamber and found the King glew'd on the mouth of that miserable carion Transported with a just fury and a more ardent zeale he tooke Zelopa by one arme with an intent to plucke her off the bed where she lay Zabaim rose up in choler and rudely thrust off the Calif who persevering in his charity told the King the horrible estate of his soule and drew againe Zelopa's corps with an intent to throw it out at window The King oppos'd him the second time with fearfull threatnings but the holy man would not give over yet having not strength enough to resist Zabaim he fell and in falling pluck'd with him a Ring that was upon one of the Sorceresse fingers Attend to Madam if you please a thing which is not credible Assoone as the Ring was from any touch of the body the King made a wonderfull outcry and fell into so long a swoune that they had time to carry him into his chamber and to cause that carion to be dragg'd to the common Laystall of the town All the rest of that day they held him for dead so was he watch'd all the night following and all the Priests abiding in prayers about him deplor'd his mishap and implor'd the assistance of heaven and Mahomet At breake of day Zabaim recover'd and casting himselfe out of his bed as one furious began to run about the chamber tore all he had on and cry'd he was all on fire The Muhazzimins made their conjurations staid him and taming his fury by vertue of their charmes declar'd aloud that the Spirit which tormented the Prince was of the first Order In the meane while the Gentlemen of the Kings chamber got him againe into his bed and by direction from the Priests took off a little golden boxe which hung about his necke In taking of which away all the force of characters and command the Spirits had over Zabaim ended He knew and wondred at himselfe remembred all he had done since your banishment lamented yours and your sonnes death and melting into teares at the remembrance of his faults Zelopa miserable Zelopa cry'd he into what fearfull offences hast thou hurried my unhappy Spirit His Priests comforted him as well as they could but he growing desperate cry'd out 'T is resolved on there is no pardon for me for that pity which you say is infinite should be more unjust if by an eternall chastisement it did not avenge the innocent bloud I have shed His Priests hearing that blasphemy forbad him to speake by the power which Mahomet had given them and moystning his hands with their tears Sonne said they with a great deale of affection acknowledge by your despaire the malice of that enemy to whom you have given your selfe over After he had cast you downe the precipice he would keep you from rising againe The blasphemies you utter are his artifices he useth to hold you for ever under his tyranny He hath not left you but outwardly he governes yet within and heaven suffers it to chastise you for your long obduratenesse The Priests have not since that time given over to exhort him thus and otherwise I have heard that in shew Zabaim beleeves them and followes their admonitions but in effect every one holds that he persevers in his despaire and if he be not carefully look'd after will quickly follow his wives and childrens destiny Almanzaira sighing to heare these strange accidents Have not you said she learnt what the cause is of these peoples going up and downe That 's it I have yet to tell you Madam repli'd Almaid Zabaim resolving to give you your last rites and to witnesse publikely his resentment for so great a losse hath given command to all the inhabitants of this City to kindle fires to meet together in all the Temples and to pray for the rest of your soule whilst himselfe and all his Court shall be shut up in the principall Mosquy for the same effect I ask'd why this solemnity was done by night and I was answered Zabaim had sworne never to see the day more nor the Sunne and that indeed the windows of his chamber were alwayes shut and that he would not indure any other light since he came to his senses then that of candles and torches Almanzaira sigh'd againe at this pitifull relation and arising even quell'd with sorrow Let us goe said she to Polexander and free the King of this anguish The Prince confirm'd her in the resolution and got her to walke apace to have the better meanes to enter the Temple before Zabaim came She got in among the croud and Polexander with the rest followed her and rank'd themselves in a place where they might be conceal'd 'T is true the Mosquy was so full of lights that but for the blackes wherewithal it was hung from the high vaults to the feet of the pillars they had infallibly been knowne Assoone as the King came they began their prayers and Almanzaira