which I owe to your Majesty I tell you that these feares are not considerable since they proceede not from a peacefull and reasonable Soule but from a minde full of scorne and sorrow and by consequence loaden with such motions as perplex it Doe better Madam doe not feigne to your selfe these dispâ—…asures which may bee you shall never feele let time worke and Polexander and put off the resolutions you would take till you be oblieged to them eyther by the necessitie of your affaires or the propositions of Polexander Alcidiana wanting power over her selfe to resist Aminthaes Councell made all her feares give place to a compleasancy From that very day if you remember it she sent to visite you and gave you as a token of extraordinary favour the priviledg to enter the Pallace You came thither as if your victory had been to you a cause of mortification and shame you presented your selfe to the Queene with a confusion and a trembling which was noted by all the Court Alcidiana who first perceived it imagined yet without any likeliehood that your anger for being unrecompenced after so great a service was the cause of your alteration and that error recalling all the precedent she grew in choller against you and her selfe What said she unheard of any Fortune then hath made me to be borne a Queene and Nature hath bestowed on me those qualities she hath refused to many other Princesses to the end that becoming slave to a stranger I should have a more lively feeling then others how rude that necessity is which forceth us to leave a Throne and enter into servitude Amintha well judging that Alcidiana had great agitations came neere to you and heartning your astonish'd minde by the actions of thanks which shee gave you in the name of all the kingdome made you by little aâ—…d little to recouer both the use of speech and discourse I recount to you these small incidents since in the estate you then were when they hapned it is not to be beleev'd that you can now remember them Know then that you blush'd at the prayses Amintha had given you and that you spoake of your Combat not only as of an action not to be thought on and by consequence that neyther deserved honour nor recompence but as of an attempt which should rather drawe on you the indignation and vengeance of Alcidiana Amintha seeing things growe to that passe which she had foreseene turned towards the Queene and drawing her out of her musings your Majesty said she may be pleased to free Polexander from the strange error wherewithall he is preoccupated I had thought till now that pride was the only source of all pernicious beliefes but this Prince makes me see that humility produceth some that are not lesse dangerous He perswades himselfe Madam that the Combat he vndertooke for your Majesty may have offended you and that he then began to be faulty when he had so much boldnesse to declare himselfe your Champion Alcidiana quickly imagining what was tâ—…e intent of her discourse was very much pleased with it and glad to have it continued that it might take off those perplexities that troubled him the opinion replyed she that possesseth Polexander is more injurious to me then himselfe for he cannot beleeve that his Combat hath displeased me without conceiting that the audaciousnesse of Syziphus was not â—…o too Streight Amintha cast her Eyes on you as to invite you not to suffer so injust an explication and to make your selfe the Interpreter of your owne thoughts But understanding that you were too much interdicted to undertake that answere shee spoke for you and expressing the dexterity of her wit in so nice a businesse I know Madam said she to the Queene that our actions are no otherwise innocent or criminall but as they are agreeable to those sacred personages whom God hath pleased to appoint to command defend and judge us and that those visible divinities endowed with those lights we enjoy not seeme no lesse to be elevated above us by the greatnesse of their wit then they are by that of their byrth Your Majesty yet may give me leave to suspend a while this verity and to tell you with all the reverence and humility enjoyn'd me that you have given that interpretation to Polexanders words which hee would already have disavowed if the Law of duty and respect had not closed his â—…ps and forbidden him to contradict your opinion It seemes replyed Alcidiana that Polexander understands our language well to have no neede of an interpreter and that if hee were of your opinion he would case you of the paine you take to defend him Amintha that needed not to have any thing twice spoken to make her understand it looked on you and calling you to your owne defence 'T is in your choice said she to contradict me or to make it knowne to the Queene that I have said nothing but what shall be confessed You then began to speake and as I have heard from Amintha spoke in such a fashion that Alcâ—…diana had not beene what she is if shee had not beene fully satisfied with it This conversation ended she reâ—…yred with Amintha and remayning some time without saying any thing to her at last she signified that she was cured of her former feares Amintha confirmed her in an opinion very advantageous for you and spoke of your discretion as of that which was no lesse admirable then your valour I acknowledge said the Queen to her Polexander is a brave man he hath an extreme sweetnesse in his conversation and his modesty denoteth the solidity of his Wit But when I thinke on that which he hath but lately done for me I confesse to you that his sight much troubles me and as long as I see him me thinks I know not what voice whispers in mine eare Doe not boast any more Alcidiana neyther of the greatnesse of thâ—… birth nor of that absolute power which thou beleevest to have over so many people Looke on this Stranger thou owest to him all those things that give thee that advantage and glory I doe my utmost to rid me of an opinion which I well see you condemne But the more that I would perswade my selfe that I owe nothing to Polexander the more doth the happy estate wherein I am and the ruine of mine Enemies make me know that when I shall be to him the most ingratefull in the World yet cannot I be otherwise to him then the more oblieged Amintha that thought it not fit to leave this yong fair Princes in such perplexitis as might much wrong her It wil not be hard for you sayd she to reconcile two enemies that will not yeld in any thing to one another T is fit that those generous thoughts wold preserve you in that independacy where heaven hath put you should raigne as absoluâ—…ely as ever they have done It behooves likewise that you give some roome and place to those
miscâ—…eife he had already committed Assure thy selfe said I Atalida that Nephizus hath not satisfied himselfe thâ—…t â—…e could sufficiently be aveng'd of me only by death or imprisonment he hath without doâ—…bt foâ—…n me traytor as he is to make it beleeâ—…'d that I am a Princesse withoâ—… 〈◊〉 and to make me double miserable she would deprive me of that sole consolation which is left to all unfortunate wretches namely of being pitied by good and mercifull people Nephizus answered Atalida may wel have so wicked a designe But if it be true that there is an eternall Justice which governs the motions of mortall mindes it will not suffer for its owne interest that Iniquity should grow so powerfull Yet Madam since you wil have it so let us imagin that all men following their inclination of doing ill doe already doubt of your virtue and deny you those consolations which your mis-fortune should receive from their charity Have you not in your selfe a Comforter that is a thousand times better then all those which you can expect from the world The quiet minde which the testimony of your conscience gives you should make you heare without any feeling nay with neglect all that calumny it selfe can invent against you These perswasions tooke not away all my feares but I confesse they did the greatest part of them Taking therefore a resolution that might serve for my justification I left the Pallace wherein I had been neere three yeares a prisoner and went to Fez in an equipage answerable to my present condition All the people shewed their love to me by their teares and their feare by their Silence Every where as I passed I met with multitudes of men and women which by their actions made me well understand that my misfortune could not be greater When I came to the Pallace I found there such an universall solitude and consternation that I was faine to looke long time to meet with a man to whom I might speake At last the House-keeper appeared but to all the questions I propos'd him he gave mee no other answer then in shrugging up his shoulders and shewing by his feare that he was forbidden to talke yet must I said I then a loude and will happen what may put an end to this silence and know what Nephizus intends shall become of mee What by prayers urgings and teares at last I got one of Nephizus cheif Officers to tell me where his Master was and the commands he had received from him and so he answered me in sighing that his Master was out of his country and that befoâ—…e he parted he had given an especiall command to his subjects not to acknowledge me any more for their Queen but to entertain me in such a manner that I should be inforced to return to Tunis This was all the Officer told me But since I knew by the wit of Atalida that the true cause of al these last wrongs sprung from a furious passion of Nephizus which he had gotten a year past for one of the King his fathers women I stood not to deliberate on what I had to doe but the thought of Revenge presenting it selfe advised me to hold no more faith with him that had first violated that toward me nor to take into my thought as my Lord that man who had used me as his Enemy but for the interest of my birth and Innocence to pursue even to the death that miscreant who gloryed in the ruine of them both This Councell I followed Yet unwilling to make use of those meanes for that revenge which might be condemned of good men I thought it fit for me to have recourse to the protection of the King my Father and to employ noe other assistance then his for the obtaining a satisfaction from him that had so much wronged me I therefore quickly got to Tunis and throwing my self at the Kings feet besought him not so to have compassion of a daughter whom he had made miserable as to resent the injuries he received from the Prince of Fez in the persons of his children That Prince who before my marriage I had found so jndulgent Debonayr even to an excess losing in such an occasion thatfeeling which nature honour should have given him was inexorable to my prayers and insensible of the affronts I had received from Nephizus I confesse to you that his impassibility was insupportable to me and in the first stirrings of my greif there escaped from me some words that were not so respectfull as became the duty of a daughter and my answeres put Muley-Hassen into such a fury that before all his court he accused me to be the cause of the losse of my husband the disorder of two Royall families and many other offences In conclusion he not only refused me that assistance and protection which I intreated from him but commanded me to depart from Tunis and get back to finde out my Husband regain his favour if I desired that he should acknowledg me for his daughter I see well said I to him that I must onely expect to have from heaven that succour which nature denyes me Sir I will obey your commands since I find my self a stranger in mine owne country and odious even to him that gave me life I abandon without sorrow both my native soyle and my father and betake me to the most dreadfull Deserts of Africae to doe penance for those faults which the guilty throw on my Innocence The same day that I spake thus to Muley I went secretly out of Tunis and without making use of that retreat which my Sister in particular offered me went as farre as Numidia to hearken after my faithful Muley There I understood that he was gone to assist the King of Egypt that he had cut in peices two of the greatest armies that ever the Turks had sent against the Mummelucs I sent divers Messengers to him to let him know the need I had of him but not having the patience to attend their return I crossed a great part of Numidia and without making my selfe known imbarked at the first Port where I found shipping I arrived at Alexandria and from thence going up the Nyle the nearest I could to Cairo some dayes after I came to the Court of Tomombay and found all in a great rejoycing for the great advantages they had gotten over the Turke The name of my Lover was there in such veneration that he was called by the Prince himself the deliverer of Egypt This was truly to me a great comfort in mine adversities to heare him so worthily spoken of whom I loved but it was a redoubling of my greife when they told me that he was gone from the Court without taking his leave of the Prince and not giving notice to his most coÌ„fident friends of the necessity of his departing Deare Muley said I to my selfe this suddain departing gives me a rare proofe of thy obedience The love of mee hath made thee
Assembly who are men of courage to have pity of my mis-fortune and to employ their valour for the deliverance of my Princesse Every one being moved with this preface gave double attention and promising to himselfe to heare something that should be strange made known to Median that they had a great minde to heare him He thereupon after he had discovered the Picture of the Princesse of Telinfin that was painted on his Buckler went on thus There is none in this Assembly who knowes not the greatnesse of the Kingdome of Telensin and who in some way hath not heard that the Kings of it have made themselves redoubtable to their Enemies He which now raigns What said I He which raigns No he raignes not for the fury of his Subjects excited by the Sorceries and predictions of a false Prophet come out of Tefesca hath loaden him with Irons and dispoyld him of his Government The poore Habdulac-Numen so is that Prince called hath one only daughter of whom I dare say nothing for feare I should not speake as I ought This Angell of Light is called Arzila and should not have been put amongst the List of mortall things if the affection which she beares to the least of men had not cut off somewhat from the opinion they had conceived of her Divinity I was that Happy man though an unworthy object for Arzila's affection I received that favour with the respect that I ought and not being able to deserve her by any service I never vaunted of any thing but that I could not merit her I was even on the point to be elevated unto heaven when a Divell gotten loose from hell I meane the false Prophet of whom I have spoken ruined all my hopes and buryed my felicities under the ruines of the Royall Progeny Habat Elmely so was that cruell Tyrants Name covering his ambition and Pride with a falle and pernicious piety entred into Telensin with a great company of his Sectaries and after he had there preach'd his Heresies gain'd the Brutish and inconstant people and made them rise in armes against heir Soveraign I Joyn'd my selfe with those that were loyall and did my best endeavour tBut after divers defeates and being left for dead in the feild of the last Battle Abdulac Vmen was taken prisoner loaden with Irons and thrown into a horrible Dungeon The false Prophet presently took on him the Royall Authority and since that he had acused to be published at the beginning of the War that he was come from Heaven and the great Prophet Mahomet to teach the truth to the Telensiens and by the marriage of himselfe with Arzila beget them Kings that should chase all the Christians out of Africa he commanded that in what place soever that Princesse should be retyr'd they should bring her to him and declar'd that not only he which conceal'd her should be impal'd alive but also that if she came not in within foure dayes Abdulac Vmen should be flead alive in the great place of Telensin At this last newes Arzila who passionately lov'd her Father left the place where she was in safety thought it good in appearance not to dis-allow of the false prophets designe came to him to his Palace only with two Women and casting her at his feet Behold said she the Maiden for whom thou hast testified hitherto so much respect and affection reduc'd to submssions and prayers If the desire to raigne which hath made thee forget the Loyalty thou owest my Father hath not made thee lose the Love thou didst beare the Daughter repent thy selfe for having displeased him and setting a period to his mis-fortune give him cause to acknowledg so great a service I present not my selfe before thee to make use of that absolute power which my birth and thy affection gives me over thy will but I beseech thee as a Subject and submit to all thou shalt ordeine me Provided thou restore to me the King my Father Ought not the false Emely to have beene moved by the prayers and tears of that faire Princesse He was not a jot though he feigned to be so His infamous brutality seeing it self at the point to be satiated made him dissemble his hatred and advis'd him to promise Arzila all that she requested to the end that she might the more willingly sacrifice her self for the safety of her Father He then led her into a place where she could be heard by no body and taking her by the hand said I keep not Abdulac prisoner not have I taken on me the title of a King but to oblige you not to be cruell to me Have pity of one that is unfortunate succour a man desperate pay with some small favour so many yeares services which I have given you though my discretion hath hindered me from making it appeare to you and dispose as you please of the Crown of Telensin I restore it you with your Father and renounce for ever all other glory but that of enjoying you He added many other immodest and lascivious words to those and seeing himselfe sweetly refused began to be moved and told the Chast Arzila that she should not hope to see againe her Father on the throne if she did not grant him what he had so many yeares search'd for The Princesse hiding her just displeasure threw her selfe again at the feet of that abhominable wretch in Lieu of answering him and melting into teares My Lord said she consider what t is you require of me thinke who I am and do notmake me beleeve that thou hast ever lov'd me The Tyrant laugh'd at the Princesse virtue and raising her from the ground you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me invane said he if you havenot a will to fulfill my desire I have a long time observâ—… all the Lawes which Love and respect imposed on me You must now receive mine or we must be equally miserable At those words Arâ—…ila be came red as fire and stepping a pace or two backwards My honour then said she is the only ransome thou desirest for thy Princes liberty I ever beleev'd that thou wert an in famous fellow and a Traytor But expect not that the feare of death nor the hope of reseeing Abdulac in the throne shall ever bring me to lose that which I love more then the Crown or my life The King my Father would disavow me for his Daughter and would be his owne executioner should he know I had reestablish'd him by so sordid so shamefull and execrable a treaty The false Prophet enraged to see himselfe so farre from his purpose caus'd Arzila to be taken away by some of his guard brought her into the Dungeon where her father lay and to affright her more and by other wayes then by threatnings commanded her Fathers Nose to be cut off At which horrible spectacle Arzila tore her haire cast her selfe into her Fathers Armes be-bloodied her face against his and after some lamentations able to make the heart of a common Executioner
his own wonderful acts is bound to beleeve those of His life I feare not to relate to you a Life as miraculous as any of those Heroes of whom your Forefathers and ours have made them their first Gods Some have bin of opinion that Kings receiv'd from Heaven some advantages which were not granted to other men I have known divers Kings who have made me doubt of the verity of that beliefe But having the honor to know you withal Polexander as I do I am forc'd to confesse that as there are Kings who are alwayes children there are others too who are men in their Infancy Without giving then ought to my affection without soothing I dare say that my King is of those last and that he came into the world with those excellent qualities which age Study and experience sell to ordinary men at so deare rates His Soule in her descent from Heaven preserv'd retayn'd al it had receiv'd in the 〈◊〉 of her originall Her descent or fall made her not lose or forget any thing She was câ—…eated full of knowledge and so entred compleat into the habitation appointed for her and in spight of all the fetters and vayles of the body kept still her prime agility and fiâ—…t illuminations But it was very fit and I dare say absolutely necessary that Polexander should be borne with those qualities which are seen but in very few Princes for it would have bin a peice of prodigie if there had come ought that was any way vulgar from Periander the wonder of his age and Axiamira the Admiration and glory of her times The Prince which for good cause I alwayes call incomparable was borne in this Island and with his life receiv'd the Crown of almost all the Canaryes Not that he had his extraction from those barbarous Kings which heretofore raign'd here His derivation is more glorious being descended from two of the greatest houses that ever flourished in Europ The one is that of the Kings of France and the other of the Emperors of Constantinople It is but little lesse then three hundred yeares since the French had for their King a Prince who for the sanctity of his life hath been thought worthy to be ranâ—…d in the number of the Semy-Gods This King had a Brother call'd Charles of Anjou The greatnesse of whose courage and renown of his virtues acquird him the Crowns of the two Sicylyes and Ierusalem From that Prince in a direct line from Father to Son is Polexander descended and if Fortune had not too cruelly exercis'd on that house that horrible fury wherewithall she useth to break Septers and over-tumble Thrones he should be now as his Predecessors have been King of the best part of Italy Greece and Thrace But those of Arragon on the one side and the Paleologues on the other and lastly the Turks have deprivâ—…d him of the inheritanee of his Ancestors and left him nothing but most just causes to be sensible of their common usurpations But alas I know not whether I should wish that Polexander might change the affection he hath to Alcidiana for an inclination to â—…evenge For when I think on the disasters which are fatally linck'd to such an enterprize and reflect on the unfortunate life and Tragicall death of the great Periander I feare that which I have most passionatly desired and requested of Heaven even that the King my Master might never think on those Territories which his Predecessors had lost The famous Amaâ—…ontus Father of Periander seeing that by the remissenesse of the last Paleologue Constantinople fell into the hands of the Turke and besides many times but vainely attempting to make the Easterlings arise in Aâ—…es against their Tyrants had such a detestation to a people so infamous that to lose their memory with the sight of them he forsook Greece desirous to seek out in some other end of the world a place of retirement where he might live unknown But Fortune who soon repented her of the injustice done to so great a Prince brought him into these Seas and in lieu of the most rich Crown of the World which she had taken from him gave him the fairest and most delightfull I meane that after she had long time made him wander on the Ocean she brought him to cast Anchor and land on this Isle the very day whereon the Inhabitants were assembled to chuse them a King He was called to this Little Monarchy by the consent of all and in lesse then three or four yeares made himselfe so much valued amongst those of the neighbor Islands that in emulation of one another they would needs have him for their Commander After the death of that Prince his Son Periander not only succeeded him but to extend the bounds of this little Empire drove the Portugalls out of the Isles they had guarded and without doubt might have gotten the Crown of Spaine it selfe if the desire of recovering his ancient inheritance had not engag'd him in a War with the Turk In his first voyage into the Levant he marryed with a Grecian Princesse call'd Axiamira who by her spirit and virtue made it well appeare that she came from that Heroick blood which had so often triumph'd over the Monarches of Asia He returned hither with that Princesse and within the four or five first yeares of his marriage had on her Polexander Iphidamantus and Cydaria Assoone as he saw himselfe made happy by so fair a posterity he thought on the meanes to make their condition equall to that of his Predecessors and to that end renewing the Treaties wherein the Knights of Rhodes and many other Princes of Christendome would have before time engaged him he undertook a busines which as impossible as it seem'd he had infallibly effected had it not been for the treason or cowardize of his Allyes He got him secretly to Rhodes and not finding matters there as he had been by some made to hope would therefore be himselfe his owne Agent He travell'd alone through all Greece visited all the Princes of the Imperiall house who were banished into the Islands of the Mediterranean passed thence into Syria to cause the Heyres of the house of Antioch to take armes and lastly disguiz'd like a Turke came to Constantinople where he abode neer six moneths and dealt with so many Christians during that time by the mediation of the Patriark that he thought himselfe powerfull inough to drive thence the Turke Thence he returned to Rhodes with that good hope and having wrought his enterprize to it's perfection at least he thought so he departed from that Island with an army which should have been invincible Assoon as he arriv'd he made himselfe Master of those Castles which shut up the mouth of the Hellespont and by that surprise threw so great a terror into Constantinople that Bajazet was on the point to forsake it Periander entred into the Propontis and sâ—…iz'd on the Isles of Marmora and Calomina in spight of
forepassed miseries The King was never in so good health and vigour as he found himselfe after his great toyle The paines he had taken had unknit him and he seem'd to me so much grown that I was compell'd to belye my reason to give credit to my Eyes One Evening our Conductor related he had spoken of us to his Princesse and though the affaires of her Estate extraordinaryly took up her time yet she would see us the next day I besought that we might not be a trouble to him No no Father said he the hardest businesse is past there is nothing remaines for you and your Son but to be alwayes ready for to moâ—…ow infallibly I will bring you to the Duchesse Hereupon I imploy'd one part of the night in instructing Polexander and teaching him how he should behave himselfe towards me that they might take him for my Son The next day I put him in a vesture of cloth of Gold inrich'd with Diamond buttons after the fashion of the Canaries His Buskins were of the same stuffe and fastned before with buttons of Rubies He wore a Cap of cloth of Silver from whence under its Band of great pearle there hung a plume of the fairest Feathers which are brought us from Africa To make an end of decking him and to raise words of his value I put on him a rich Scarfe which the Queen his Mother had wrought herselfe before she was a Widdow and in this habit he was presented to the young Duchesse of Britany That Princesse who was not much elder then He and who for her age was the most discreet and accomplish'd personage I ever saw gave her selfe not respit to hear or consider me At the first sight she was so strooken with the comlinesse and beauty of Polexander that she knâ—… not how to make an expression He presently comming up slowly neer the Chair where she sate kneeld on one knee and kissing her Garment told her in his owne language that he wanted one thing to make him perfectly happy and 't was to be able to speak himselfe to her understanding how much he was her servant The young Princesse after she had commanded his complement to be interpreted replied with so much wit that I instantly wish'd there mâ—…ght issue some great affection from the interview of those two young Princes But it was not so ordain'd by Heaven Al the Ladies of Britany came thronging to see my pretended sonne and Judging of his quality by his richnesse and actions said among 〈◊〉 that I was a Prince who for some important consideration had given over and abandon'd my estate and Country In a very instant all Britany was fil'd with the newes of our arrivall The Beauty and worthinesse of my King was the discourse of all men They said that at the age of twelve yeares he had at the height of a great fight slaine two Portingal with his owne hand and everyone adding wonder to wonder they publish'd all those fables in venred by the Ancients to make of our Isles the abode of the Heroes and men most fortunate Whilst wee lived thus the talke and admiration of so many the marriage of the Dutchess of Britany with the King of France was concluded The Embassadors of that Prince came to conduct her in an equipage proportionable to the greatnesse of their Master and was so brought to the place for her eâ—…powsall to have some-what wherewithall to astonish all the French Court she had with her the Canaryan Prince for so she would have him called If the Brittons admir'd him the French came no short of them and being an extream obliging Nation and great Lovers of Novelties you cannot imagine the kindnesses and humanity Polexander received from them The French King a Prince of two or three and twenty yeares at first sight affected my King and as if Nature by some secrer instinct had told him he was of his blood he entertained him not as a stranger Prince but as his own Brother The Solemnity of his Nuptialls being seconded by the Coronation of his Queen and his entry into the Capitall City of his Realme Polexander had the conveniency to see all those magnificences and to be one himselfe of their principall Ornaments All that while he studyed and observed the manners quaintnesse and tongue of the French and profited so well that in lesse then three yeares he became an absolute French-man At the entrance into his sixteenth yeare the French King made a Progresse to one of his Cities caled Lyons whilst he staied there the Princes and Lords of his Court made generally appeare and break out their Honor Spirit and Dexterity The first Prince of the blood who is now King of France and some others were Actors in some Turnaments and Iusts like those so frequent amongst the Moores There was not a crosse street or eminent place in Lyons wherein you saw not an Arch or Base of stone or mettall which no Knight could passe till he had made tryall of it's adventures The King my Master having learn't from the best Ryders of the World all that Art hath invented to manage a horse well yet found out himselfe a part of it which appear'd so rare and stately that It darkened the repute of all the others I remember well too that to furnish all things fitting for this expence I sold to the Merchanâ—…s of Lyons about a hundred crownes-worth of Iewells-Such persons as were of most Eminence taking notice of those expences and seeing the courage addresse courtesie of Polexander doubted no more of his quality for all believed him to be a Prince But som filly braines began to prattle ' that I was a Sorcerer and how by my inchantments I made things appeare that were not or to make them reall I used the Power of the Devill During these Iusts Diceus whom we had secretly sent to the Canaries return'd with the best newes we could Wish He told us that the Queen was alive and how by the succour she had procured from Spimantus Prince of Scotland and the incomparable Valour of one Alcippus a Canaryan Knight the Portugalls had been beaten at Sea and in the Ilands and constrain'd to abandon the Forts of Palmes Gomera and Teneriffe That all men passionately wished for the Kings returne and to make it the more safe and glorious Alcippus was comming with a Fleet of above a hundred sayles of ships Within a few dayes after Posts came to the French King advertising him that a powerfull naval Army was seen on the coastes of Britany Those Messengers were seconded by others which confirmed it for truth and by their newes put the Court into such an apprehension that they were ready to part from Lyons and run hastily to the succour of Britanny But the Arrivall of Alcippus taking away all cause of feare made the effect of it to cease toâ—… The King and Queen understood from him that he was the Admirall of the Fleet which they fear'd
and to heare him speake it seem'd those painted tables where treasures incomparably more pretious then all the Diamonds pearls and other riches which he had lately gotten from the Portingall He had yet one of those portraicts in his hands and made me take notice of al the strokes of the Pensil and beauties of it when a young African Lady very faire and desolate cast her selfe at his feet and besought him by thâ—… honour he had wonne at Morocco rather by that compassion to which his extream Noblenesse obliged him in the behalfe of afflicted persons to take her into his protection and aveng her of the most â—…sereant and wicked man that Africa ever brought forth The young Prince look'd not to be twice intreated neither suffring my Remonstrances nor intreaties return'd with that Lady called Izilia if I be not deceived and to accompany him would have none but Alcippus and Diceus I will neither tel you whither he went or what he did noâ—… how he came back for notwithstanding aâ—… the intreaties I could make to one and the other of those his two faithâ—…l servants I have not been able to get from them any thing but that Polexander most expresly forbad them to speak of that Iourney But whither his adventures were good or bad so it was that he returned so weake and pale after more then five moneths absence that I might easily judg he had been extreamely wounded or extreamely sick I acknowledg now that I abused his goodnesse much in the speech I had with him about that Journey But his Heroick Soule incapable to receive any alteration endur'd my liberty without shew of being mov'd and never oppos'd but his own naturall sweetnesse to the sharpnesse of al my reprehensions I must confesse my deare Master said he I have done amisse and have not taken enough into my consideration the Queen my Mother nor you But you have so often taught me that there is no voice which ought so sweetly to touch the eares of a virtuous Man as that of a miserable creature which reclaimes his assistnce and I made so certaine an experience of that truth when the unfortunat Izilia related to me her afflictions that I could not resist the violence wherewithal her complaints drew me to the place where she had need of my courage But I wrong your instructions to go about to justifie my action I have done that which humanity commanded me 'T is fit now I should do what Nature obligation Regality expect from me Let us go then to my deare Master wipe off if it be possible the â—…eares of the best Mother in the world Let 's goe and acknowledg the cares and â—…ravells she hath taken for us and essay to give â—…o so many people which love us some proofes of our sensibility Assoon as this was sayd he commanded to hoyse sayles and after a long and furious tempest cast Anchor in one of the Ports of this Island But O Heaven what strange alterations found he in his Court How much did he repent the deferrâ—…g his returne 'T was told him at his arrivall the Queen his Mother was more afflicted then ever since some ten or twelve dayes before the Princesse Cydaria had been by a great number of strangers carried away Polexander afflicted as much as possibly the best natur'd man in the world could be came to his Mother witness'd by his unfained griefe an extream sorrow for her affliction besought her to preserve her selfe for his and the Subjects good and promis'd he would never be at rest till he had restor'd to her the Princesse her Daughter You may well beleeve that Good Queen had receiv'd an extreame content in reviewing so worthy an Heyre of the great Periander if the death of that Prince and the rape of her Daughter had not made her incapable of all kind of pleasure On the contrary it was to her a redoubling of her vexation in the estate wherein she was For the presence of so accomplish'd a Son renew'd the losse of a Father that was no lesse so renew'd likewise her ancient sorrowes and reduced her to the incapacity of giving any thing to the returne of the Prince but teares Yet dar'd she not discover to him the true cause of them but by a wisdome worthy her selfe had rather Polexander should suspect it to be for her too much affection to her Daughter then that he should know her extraordinary affliction was from the want of power to avenge the murder of the great Periander The King my Master made the same construction of her teares as She desired and thinking that the losse of Cydaria was the sole cause He by consequence beleev'd he might give her an ample testimony of his love in forgetting his own interests for the safety of his Sister He understood the Prince of Scotland was gone after the Ravishers and that news made him the more impatient till he was shipped The very same day he set sayle and steering again his course towards Africa met with many of his ships which after a long vaine chase were returning to the Canaryes Some of them He sent back to the Queeâ—… his Mother commanding the rest to stand off at Sea yet some twelve or fifteen daies made along to the West with an intent to saile to the Pyrates Island But the next day after that resolution his Vice-Admirall came to him and said that the Prince of Scotland after he had given chase to those that stole away Cydaria at last fetcht them up in sight of the fortresse of Guargetssem and after a furious combat the Ravishers finding themselves the weakest had put fire to their powder and involved in one same flame the vanquish'd and the vanquishers Vnfortunate that I am cri'd Polexander must my return be remembred by the losse of the Daughter and desolation of the Mother Deplorable Polexander hast thou the heart to carry these sad newes to a person whose griefs should be more sensible to thee then thine own No no be not the sad bringer of so Tragicall an accident Present not thy selfe before Axiamira since thou canst not do it without increasing her afflictions Whilst he was thus lamenting I came into his Cabin and seeing Alcippus durst not speak a word to qualifie his passion I made use of the authority which my age and condition gave me Hearkning therefore to him a little while If said I at last I should condemn your complaints I should find fault with the most just sensiblenesse that is in nature When we lose those whom blood or affection makes deare unto us we lose a part of our selves and by cosequence should seeme to be our owne Enemies if we for their losse should make of shew of lamentation But Sir this sorrow must have its rules bounds and must not imitate the griefe of Children who fal'n into the durt content themselves with crying and never strive to get out Besides these reasons and others which concern your
of Africa Polexander had begū to take breath after all these turmoiles whē a new enemy as much to be feared as all the Portugals together ingaged him to exercise once more his valor T was the generous Almanzor Prince of Senega I have told you he found Polexander sleeping neer the sea shoar and how he took away his box Alcidiana's picture 'T was a fatal theft to him He saw himself takē as soone as he had takē for Alcidiana's admirable beauty communicating to her picturs some beame of her light a part of her power stroke those with love that had never seen her flash'd forth flames from a cold piece of copper and a few dead colours As soone as Almanzor had made tryall of that prodigious adventure he coveted nothing no not life but for Alcidiana and turned all his youthfull valour against a Rivall whom he thought to be more graced then himselfe Nor was he tormented with that sole Demon for those of honour and renowne did not lesse afflict him His generous disposition upbraided him with his these and represented to him his poorenesse of spirit which could not sufficiently be condemned for stealing and robbing a man that was a sleepe These two motives with his jealousie and repentance made him leave his owne Territories the very day of his Coronation and forced him to crosse an unknowne sea in quest of Alcidiana and Polexander The last he met withall as I told you and fought with him unknowne But after they were seperated by the tempest he knew it from out Italian Painter which was left in his ship and then he thought of nothing else but of finding him againe As soone as he was in the roade of Teneiffe he sent back the Italian to Polexander and by him a letter so full of excuses for his fault committed and so many testimonies of his repentance that by the accusation and humiliation the King my Master knew the magnanimity of that Prince At the end of his letter he spoake to him of the greatnesse of his love and said his passion had reduced him to that point that he could not without death restore a thing which he himselfe confessed could not be detained without the losse of his honour Polexander sent Alcippus to him with the Italian to assure him of the estimation he held of his courage and intention to intreate from him the honour to enter his Territories and assure him he would contribute to his contentment all that did not oppose the service he owed to Alcidiana Almanzor grew almost desperate to heare all these generosities and made shew of an extreame sensibility of what his Rivall had offered him called himselfe a most unfortunate man to have to contest with so high a virtue and at last told Alcippus he most humbly besought Polexander to give him the happinesse to make an end on Land of that fight which they began at Sea Alcippus set all his wits on worke to alter that Princes resolution but seeing 't was all in vaine I will said he goe and make knowne to my Master the King the true cause of my voyage I beseech you doe so replied Almanzor and after his imbracie would have loaden him with jewells But Alcippus very civilly refusing them got himselfe to be landed and so went to give an account to his Master of what he had done with Almanzor That brave and great King sent him back with new complements to his enemy and till the day of fight treated him as if he had beene Zelmatida or Iphidamantus The Indian Prince smiled at the old Pimantus addresse and intreated him to relate the combate betweene those two illustrious Rivalls The particulars answered the Vice-roy deserve your curiosity Those two Princes met at one instant on the place of combate armed at all points and mounted on two of the best horses in all Africa They threw away their speares after the first course and with their swords beg◅n so furious a comba◅e that I cannot expresse it to you but in saying it was the dreadfull effect of a prodigious cause That fury and rage which yong men call love in arming those two youthfull Princes dispoyled them of all judgement and humanity Thinke after that what they were capable to act They contented not themselves in covering the earth with the bloody pi◅ces of their broaken armour but made rivers of their owne blood and becomming far different and unresembling the men they had beene till then confinde all their former generous ambitions in the fearefull desire of each others destruction At last Polexanders invincible Angell compelled Alma◅zot's to contend no more against his fate and to humble himselfe before a power that mastred his Almanzor covered with blood and woundes fell downe under his horse legs Polexander was as quickly alighted and to him with his sword in his hand you desired said he to be overcome confesse now that you are so That Prince seeing himselfe neere the losse of his life contemning the threats of his enemy cast his thoughts on Alcidiana and addressing himselfe to her made to that Queene a resignation of his life in such tearmes as drew teares from the eyes of his Conquerour What said I his Conquerour No the King my Master in hearing them confessed himselfe vanquished presented his sword to Almanzor begged him his life and avowing that he was only worthy to serve Alcidiana he added yes certainely you deserve that honour and you are too sole vanquisher for our combate having for object nothing but Alcidiana's service he alone may justly be termed victor who hath given the best testimony of his love and constancy Polexander yet went further for seeing Almanzor desperate of life he left him his sword and going away as if afraid strove to make it believed he had had no advantage ore Almanzor That poore Prince would faine have died where he fell but his Servants carried him back into his ship and finding his woundes not mortall omitting nothing to hinder despaire from doing more then the sword of Polexander But all their labour was in vaine for Almanzor would absolutely dye and after a languishing of many moneths perceiving he began to amend he caused himselfe to be carryed into that stately Tombe which is to be seene in one of our Isles and unmercifully turned on himselfe a weapon more cruell then that of his Rivall The King my Master heard not of his death till a long time after by meanes of his forsaking his Realme as soone as his woundes were healed and rebeginning his errant life to lose the sorrow for his victory as also to tempt fortune againe and meet some Angell or some star that might reconduct him to the Inaccessible Island But neither on the waters nor in the skies found he ought but what had conspired his ruine Neverthelesse he returned to the Isle of the Sun and had long conference with some Priests whom he had wone by his gifts From them he got all that
against other enemies Two or three dayes after this last resolution of the King Diceus assured him Alcippus might get on horseback and they all three departed from their Inne and the same day betimes arrived at Copenhagen They lodged neere the Pallace and understood the very next day Phelismond was by the Kings command brought into the City and being absolutely out of danger was seene and visited by every one This newes exceedingly pleased Polexander yet resolved to attend his certaine health before he would make knowne to Phelismond the cause of his voyage and thought it fit withall to restore him his boxe and disclose himselfe that so at his returne he might intimate to him that which lay on his heart One morning therefore taking Alcippus with him he went streight to the Favorites lodging as soone as he came in he noted there was nothing in that man but savoured of the greatnesse of his courage His house was open to all men No person hindred the entrance into his chamber no not of his withdrawing roome T is true he was so generally beloved and the respect the whole Court had alwaies borne him was so strong a guard to him that neither great nor lesse came to disturbe him but upon some very just cause The first to whom Polexander addrest himselfe to know whether that Prince was to be spoken with offred to conduct him into his chamber and Polexander accepting his courtesie followed him He went through great Halls very stately furnished through chambers and anti-chambers far more magnificent wherein he saw none but Phelismonds domesticall servants This sollitude so much ravished him that he could not hold from telling his Conductor the Courtiers of Denmarke were either very negligent or little ambitious since they gave so much ease and quiet to the man who only next the King might make them a fortune You see answered his Guide that our Poâ—…ters have no greate imployment and there is no great crouding in our chambers Yet t is not because our Couriers are not the most diligent and ambitious of all men but the Prince long since told them once for all that he pretended not to be the most unfortunate in all Denmarke because his Master did him the honour to love him more particulaly then others That he engaged himselfe to serve them as often as his credit could adde any thing to their merrit or their Princes will but he would not promise it but on condition they would suffer him to live at liberty Truely replied Polexander I understand dayly there are most eminent virtues in Phelismond though he be of their number with whom they have been thought even till this day to be incompatible The mindâ—…s of the multitude must needes be very bad since some of them have been to wicked as to finde fault with the actions of so great a personage It may be said the guide some one may have cause to complaine of the Prince yet I intreate you to believe they are much in the wrong who make him the cause of their publick miseries He dayly toiles to put a period to them and when he thinkes to be at the point of relieving the people some spirits borne for their ages affliction alter those good designes and inforce him whether he will or no to raise the charges and impositions to deter the intire desolation of the Kingdome But let it suffice I have not in command to justifie his actions nor condemne other mens and see we are at the chamber doore I intreate you then said Polexander to see what the Prince doth and if you thinke it fitting to tell him that the Gentleman to whom he gave a picture boxe is come to restore it to him At that word the Guide smiling left him and presently returning said that Paelismond intreated him to come in At his first step into the chamber divers Gentlemen came and saluted him and all with a great deale of civility led him to the Prince his bed side He raised himselfe halfe to embrace him and received him with so great expressions of joy and sensibility that Polexander had not been worthy to have lived had â—…e not been moved with his courtesie He began his compliments by the boxe he presented him and often besought his pardon for the long unacquitting himselfe of what he owed him Phelismond embracing him againe tooke him from the continuing those civilities and wringing his hand I see well said he that you have no better an opinion of me then of custome men have of such who are in the same degree of fortune with me Every one believes that no man can be a Favourite but he must instantly forget himselfe But if I might have the happinesse of seeing you often I hope you would change your opinion and finde that I left not to be rationall when I came to be a Favourite I aske your pardon for this ill discourse but I am so much afraid to be taken for another that by this declaration I begin my acquaintance and friendship To this Polexander answered with so much freedome and gentlenesse as if he had not beene Polexander or the other Phelismond he felt within him an extraordinary debaâ—…e and his virtue opperating her accustomed effect compelled him to love his Rivall and Alcidiana's enemy At last his passion and that Princesses command got the upper hand Hereupon he resolved his owne ruine or to avenge both and for that cause would be but a little with Phelismond who did all he could possibly to stay him But Polexander came off so gently that without any incivility he had the liberty he wished When he was returned to his lodging he began to muse on his fortune and passing and repassing through his memory all Pâ—…elismonds endowments I am said he to himselfe reduced to two extremities far differing from one another If I put not in execution what Alcidiana commands me I am a coward a traytour and ought to thinke no more on the meanes to finde the Inaccessible Island On the other side hath any man seene an example of brutallity equâ—…ll with mine if I yield not my selfe captivated by all those generous actions wherewithall Pâ—…elismond obligeth me to love him But what of this Alcidiana shall not then have satisfaction Instead of excuting her commands I shall become the censurer of her will and have the impudence to accuse her of injustice when it accords not with my opinion No no she must be obeyed Let those who know not how to love aright reprove my ingratitude Let them convince me of extravagancy and take me either for some inâ—…m us person that cannot indure the lustre of extraordinary virtues or for an execrable fellow who would make himselfe immortall by some signall villany Alcidiana is more to be feared then all these accusers I will act what I ought Phelismond cannot blame me for it and whosoever is truely generous shall at the same instant he deplores the misfortune of so accomplished a
Prince set downe among his first examples of Loyalty the excesse of my blinde obedience After this discourse with himselfe he began to thinke on the meanes of bringing his resolution to a good issue and after a long meditating on it came forth with Alcippus to revisit Phelismond and met with his first Conductor who assured him his Master was impatient till he saw him againe and that all the afternoone he had entertained his visitants with nought but his ingenuity and couâ—…age Polexander answered as he ought and so ascended to Phelismonds Chamber He found him up and was received with a great deale of joy and gentlenesse behaviors raâ—…e in men of that condition Long time the Prince embraced him speaking as he had knowne the secrets of his soule When said he shall I have the happinesse to see you as really my friend as I wish it Polexander who could not betray his conscience nor indiscreetly offend so generous a Prince studied an answere that might satisfie him and yet be no prevarication in what concerned Alcidiana The sole cause replied he which deters me from receiving the honour you doe me is a feare that when I shall be more particularly knowne to you then I am you will be inforced to cut off a great deale from those favours you doe me Phelismond at that word stopping him assure your selfe said he that neither you nor all men breathing can by any action whatsoever take from me my intention and will to be entirely yours But fearing least you may imagine that rather some other consideration then that of your virtue hath obliged me to woe your friendship I asked it you without the knowledge of what you are not what you can doe These courtesies of Phelismond so distracted Polexander that but with a great deale of trouble could he frame an answere to so many noble speeches In the meane time Phelismond who had a designe to gaine him absolutely smiled to see him at a nonplus and thus came on againe Beâ—…ide what may yet must I have what I intreate for Doe you not know that Love hath the priviledge to be resisted by nothing See then what you intend to doe If you be so good a husband of your friendship as you will sell it either it is inestimable or I have that which will buy it Or if you â—…e so liberall as to give it I am ready to be wholly obligeâ—… to you for it Polexander confounded with these new chargâ—…s was even desperate of ever contenting Pâ—…elismond and admiring his generosity sâ—…id to himselfe Alcidiana was unjust in desiring the death of so perfect a Prince At last he overcame the agitations of his minde and resolved not to discover himselfe but to declare to Pâ—…elismond the cause of his journey and by consequence what 't was which hindred him from accepting his friendship See how he came off from so difficult a straite and under what tearmes he hid the truth of his life Since said he to Phelismond you will have me absolutely accept the honour you doe me or give you reason for my refusall I will make use of the liberty you give me and freely tell you I cannot receive your offers how advantagious soever they may be to me nor yet promise you my service till I am disingaged from an affaire wherein your selfe is in some sort interrested Of what nature soever that businesse be replied Phelismond I sweare to you if you please to doe me the favour to trust me I will ever conforme my selfe to what shall be most agreeable to you This protestation full of candor and affection obliged Polexander to trifle the time no longer but thus to goe on with his Declaration I am a French man said he and my birth good enough for satisfaction I have been bred up among the troubles wherein my Countrey hath laboured within these few yeeres and fortune hath been so favourable to me that I have had thence more then I expected But when I adapted me to tast the fruites of my labours she hath raised me a fearefull enemy and would have put him in possession of all that good I promised my selfe Yet when she was in hand to put him the enjoying she found her selfe too weake to performe it That Favourite hath met with more obstacles in that he would deprive me of then the greatnesse of his quallity could imagine He hath seen his hopes as well as mine take their end when they should have had their beginning and when I should have complained of his violence he obliged himselfe to give me satisfaction by waies that were not honourable Pardon me if you please continued Polexander if I name not my Usurper for he is so well knowne in this Court and you have so much cause to affect him as I have been told that I feare for his sake you will forget all your promises to me Believe it not replied Phelismond I heere againe engage my selfe to make good what I have promised Since you are so generous said Polexander I will lay open the summe of all my businesse My enemy unwilling to have our quarrell decided otherwhere then before the King your Master sent that he would meet me heere to give me full satisfaction and that at farthest I should heare of him within a Moneth See Phelismond my fortune the cause of my voyage and wherefore I dare not believe you can love me You may perceive by this that I am come into Denmarke to fight by the Kings permission and to petition him that in his presence I may force satisfaction for an injury which will not suffer me to live without its resentment After this last overture if you have yet remaining disposition to oblige me suffer me not to have made an idle journey My Adversary is not now in case to make a joynt petition with me to the King but he is a person so noble that he would not for any thing faile of his word If I therefore dare to hope ought from your goodnesse or rather if my fantasticall designe hath made no change in your opinion I conjure you once more by that virtue which is so habituall to you to free me from my continuall molestation and to imploy a part of that power you have with the King in getting me his permission for a combate Phelismond observing in all Polexanders discourse the mildnesse and well temperature of his speech answered him thus I will make you see how much I value this your greatnesse of courage which no lesse apeares in your resentment then in all the rest of your actions I therefore promise to serve you at what hazard soever and either to lose all my reputation or give you that content which you hope for by your combate But if you please it shall be on condition that you finding nothing in this which may hinder your being my friend you will grant me that which I have often sued for When Polexander saw his businesse goe on
Take here if you please this sword the cause of your displeasure and assure your selfe that your just griefe shall advise you to nothing which I will not undergoe without a murmure These words surprised the King and cooled his choler Yet his love not permitting him to make use of his judgement you imagine said he that your courage can finde nothing which it cannot overcome but since you have contemned my friendship I will make you see what my power is Polexander could not answere him for he had lost so much blood since he got up that all his strength failing him againe he fell so as the King was faine to prop him or he had run the hazard to have fallen with him He therefore commanded five or six of his guard to take and carry him into the great Tower of the City which was instantly performed whilst he was in his swound The King of Denmarke freed from the object of his choler cast his eyes on his deare Phelismond While he thought of nothing but to have him carried away Alcippus and Diceus rushing out of the croude where they concealed themselves came and fell at his feet and besought his eare What are you said the King We are replied Alcippus servants to that Prince whom you treate not conformably to the Covenant whereby you permitted him the combate But in the name of Heaven Sir hearken to reason how just soever your resentment be and call to minde what you have sworne The keeping of your word ought to be no lesse deare to you then the preserving your Authority But if you thinke you have no cause on this occasion to stick to it reflect on the greatnesse of your prisoner and decree nothing against him till you have well pondered who Polexander is I know what I have to doe answered the King In the meane time I command you to get out of my Court within these foure and twenty houres if you will not run the fortune of a man who within these two dayes was but a meane Gentleman and now forsooth must be taken for one of the prime Pâ—…inces of the world But I sweare to make of him an example and at once give condigne punishment for the imposture and the murder Alas Sir replied Alcippus I beseech you humbly not to suffer your selfe to be transported by your indignation Your Majesty shall pardon me if you please should I say you would lose the respect I owe you The King justly offended at Alcippus indiscreet zeale grew more in rage then ever and commanded him with Diceus to be carryed to prison Both of them thanked him for that favour and uncompelled went whither they would lead them They were shut up in the same Tower where their Master was and presently after they sent him Physitians and Chyrurgions to see his woundes which they found to be great and dangerous But Diceus was not of their opinion and desired he might dresse his Master Those good people that were no more cunning then they should be thought this request was not to be denied and therefore gave way he should looke to him which he did and neglected nothing that might prevent those accidents which cause woundes to become mortall In the meane time the King of Denmarke was much troubled for Phelismond He had commanded six of his Gentlemen to take and carry him and not only went with him to the Pallace but had him laid in his owne bed where he was visited by all the Court Physitions and looked too for all things necessary as Heire to the Crowne Neverthelesse for all they could doe to his hurts they were so dangerous that till day breake all thought them incurable His Master went not to bed that night and swore if Phelismond died he would instantly command Polexanders head to be stroake from his shoulders After 't was day Phelismond grew sensible and as soone as he could open his mouth â—…asked where his King was and what was become of his enemy The King kissed him often and shedding teares for joy to heate him speake my Phelismond said he take heart and aske after nothing but thy cure He for whom thou inquirest is where he wants nothing since I saw by the letter thou writtest to Thamiris thy desire he should be treated as thy selfe Ten or twelve dayes slid away during which time the two Rivalls woundes threw forth part of their fire and cast them into such violent Fevers that their youth was the best preserver of their lives Phelismond now grew to be out of danger as well as Polexander when he called to minde he was not to faile of his word given him That consideration moved him to supplicate the King his Master he would be pleased he might be carried to the place where Polexander was Phelismond replied the King whilst the greatnesse of your woundes made me feare what would become of you I dissembled my resentment and would not thinke of your offending me but now you are out of danger I will tell you my minde and command you as I am your Master and Father to invent no pretext for having any cause to contradict me I have so much affected you Phelismond that in my life time I would have setled the Crowne of Denmarke on your head This extraordinary token of my love should intimate how deare your safety is to me and indeed it is so much that there is nothing which I would not doe to give you all the satisfaction you can desire Yet there is one thing I receive to my selfe and for which I will neither lend lend eare to my affection nor your intreaties 'T is the life of that stranger who without doubt hath bewitched you since you love him even after he hath declared himselfe your enemy and without regarding so many generosities which should perswade him hath done what in him lay to deprive you of your life Phelismond the most noble of men answered so advantagiously for his Rivall that his Master imposed him silence I will hold my peace Sir replied he since your Majesty commands me but I must submiâ—…ly beseech you to believe that my life is inseparably knit with that of the King of the Canaries and had rather dye then be the cause so great a King as you should not fullfill what he hath promised Verily Phelismâ—…nd replied the King t is too much anger me no more and call to minde that my crowne and amity deserve your care of pleasing me Phelismond would no longer exasperate his Master but put off further discourse of that businesse till another time Polexander was this while in prison very well treated and served with as much care as if he had beene even in the Island of Alcidiana Besides Phelismond who was not able to be wearied with shewing his generousnesse towards him sollicited his deliverance but his Master grew obstinate in refusall One day when the Favourite had but two or three woundes yet open he would needs try his last indeavour
and utmost power to see whether his Kings minde might be changed and to that end made to him a long and well laboured Oration desirous to remonstrate by all waies of reason as well of State as of what was seemely and behoofull that he ought very honorably to send home Polexander The King answered according to his custome and Phelismond replied according to his owne so that at last they grew both so hot that they were long time in contestation But when the King saw his reasons were too obstinately disputed and opposed by those of Phelismond he arose all in choler and being unable to containe himselfe any longer Content your selfe said he to him that you have displeased me and never speake to me more of a man who shall feele how heavy that Kings arme is who will not be wronged without a just punishment Phelismond then growing calmer and more humble as his Master waxt hotter Sir said he t is most just you be obeyed and most of all that I receive an infliction for my losse of respect I therefore here vow never to supplicate for ought that may displease you This humility of Phelismonds met with the King so much transported from himselfe that it won nothing of him He walked with hasty strides in the chamber without turning his eyes towards Phelismond and on the suddaine thrusting open a window which looked into the Pallace great garden he leaned there about a quarter of an houre musing and disgesting his choler Longer had he beene there but for the shriecks which on the suddaine were heard behind him He turned his head and saw that Phelismond servants and Chyrurgions were round about his bed and held him for dead He ran thither and found that poore Prince in the most pitifull posture could be imagined He was fallen in a swound or to say better as it were drowned in his own blood His woundes were all open and the bloud which came not out but drop by drop was a certaine signe there was not much more behinde in his veines His body was halfe out of the bed and his armes and head almost touched the floore They judged he had done himselfe that violence because he held yet one of his swathes which because it was knit about his arme fell not with the rest The King yet tooke no heed to it for he was so transported that he could not utter a word When the first astonishment was over he commanded the Chyrurgions to use all their art for Phelismonds safety who poore Prince lay all that day without any signe of life The King in the meane time was extreamely afflicted and asked every one the cause of this new disaster but no body could satisfie him The Chyrurgions and servants told him that comming into the Chamber to dresse Phelismond they found him in that deplorable manner The King began to weigh what might cause this affliction and could attribute it to nothing but his owne generousnesse I will said he then save Phelismond though I never receive satisfaction nor contentment After these words he set himselfe at his beds head and stirred not thence till he heard him sign and thereby gave hope he had some life in him Halfe of the night was spent ere the King retired and yet slept not but sent hourely to know in what estate Phelismond was He was at the extremity the first three daies nor was he much better the foure following and so lay betwixt life and death till the seaventh As soone as he began to speake ought at all the King asked him the cause of his violence on himselfe 'T was the feare of displeasing you said he and if your Majesty think it not fit that I importune you againe t is in vaine for you to endeavour the saving my life He so often repeated the same discourse that he made it appeare he was earnestly resolved to dye or to free Polexander And the King howsoever fearing to lose so incomparable a Successor resolved absolutely to give him that satisfaction without which he saw there was no meanes of curing him He came then in person to visit Polexander and could with much dexterity colour his rashnesse that our Heroë confessed he deserved to be far worse dealt withall then he was The King imbracing and calling him his Sonne said a hundred times that he repâ—…ted of what had passed but that the circumspection of his authority and the ordinary mutining of his Subjects permitted him not to doe otherwise That he was not ignorant how far the promises of Kings should be inviolable and principally when they were made to Princes But that he knew withall that the Law of Nations gave no security nor exempted from any rigour in strange Countries the greatest Princes of the Universe when they came thither concealed and would not be esteemed for what they were This being so said he you will grant with me we are both equally in fault You for not making knowne your quallity and I for being too quick with you After Polexander had heard him speake so judiciously he replied 't was he alone that was in fault and therefore asked his pardon and humbly besought him to believe that had he not been compelled by a necessity more urgent then all kindes of considerations to fight against Phelismond he had not so slightly come to disturbe the Court of so great a King The Prince replied he would not dive into his secrets nor engage him to discover them But said he we trifle too long let us goe visit Phelismond and get him from that passion wherein he lies and render to him that quietnesse he enjoyed at the very time he knew you were a prisoner With this he tooke Polexander by the hand and lead him to the Pallace Alcippus and Diceus went out with him When the King of Denmarke was returned to his Court he retooke Polexander and leading him to Phelismonds bed side see heere said he to him your friend whom I have my selfe been to fetch to you I will not relate to you the apparant alteration Polexanders presence wrought in the incomparable Phelismond He wept for joy and found not words enough to expresse his exportation His Rivall he called the second cause of his life and his honour acknowledged by an excesse of humility that all the honour of the combate was due to him asked his pardon for his ill treating since and assured him his King had been forced by very great reasons to cause him to be staied Whilst Phelismond was thus talking to him the King made divers turnes in the chamber and after he had long mused he came to Phelismond and asked if there were any thing else to be done to content him Phelismond tooke hold of his hands and transported with joy raised himselfe halfe way up in his bed to thanke him Phelismond said the King take heed your joy bring you not into the same case your griefe had reduced you That which is to be done by
her affliction that he might work a remedy if he were powerfull enough to bring it to passe That desolate faire one gave the Prince no answer but with her teares and seem'd to feare something more then the shipwrack which she had escaped Thus passed the first day of Iphidamanta's arrivall the night after made an end of undoing the good Hely and the following dayes brought him to such an extremity that being no longer able to hide his malady made good that ancient verity That Love is a fury in the soules of old men He strove to retrive in the wrinkles of his face and feeblenesse of his body some remainder of beauty and strength He consulted with his glasse to disprove if he could his fifty five yeers which upbraided him with his folly It seem'd to him he was not altogether old and that time had dealt with him far kinder then with others of his age Not content with flattering himselfe thus he sent for Osmin to have a Rivall in his selfe-love and a confident in that he bore the illustrious Shepheardesse But Osmin whose integrity could not be corrupted gave eare to the Kings dotages with much griefe and severely answer'd him Are you well advis'd said he what you doe Have you forgotten that Abdelmelec and Nephisus had not been criminall but for suffering themselves to be transported by a passion which is so delightfull to you And if I dare speake what I thinke I hold them lesse guilty then you Both the one and the other have violated the Lawes imposed on them by nature and engag'd themselves in passions which you cannot approve of This is true but they have this excuse so generally receiv'd that youth and wisdome are incompatible and without a wonder it is impossible to be young and not be amorous Can you Sir justifie your errours by the same reasons Are you young Should not you be wise Hely suffered him not to proceed but interrupting him Osmin said he the greatest part of humane actions are onely condemned for not being well knowne You disallow of my intention because you are ignorant of it you will approve of it assoone as I have disclosed it to you object not to me neither my age nor the judgements which your counsell hath made me give against my sons You know that Abdelmelec is not in exile for loving Alcidiana and that Nephisus is not in prison for being ingaged to the service of the Princesse of Tunis and for your upbraiding me with mine age I am so but not so old by much as were our holy Prophets Mahomet and Hely when they married their last wives Know Osmin know that since my children are so great enemies to my Government and age I ought to seek my preservation and support in some illustrious alliance Heaven more carefull of my good then my selfe hath miraculously sent me the Princesse Iphidamanta to the end that getting Polexander for my ally I may be secured against all mine enemies Osmin perceiving such strange alterations in Hely's minde I confesse repli'd he these reasons would not be very considerable if they were true But how should it be possible for that man to thinke how to defend himselfe from the ambushes of his children who by a pernicious indulgency hath alwayes cherish'd their ill nature and hath himselfe invited them to stab the steele into his brest No no Sir you doe not seeke for the confirming your authority by Polexander's alliance but the satiating your voluptuousnesse in the enjoying his sister This is too much for Osmin quickly repli'd Hely yet I pardon his boldnesse but on condition he give a more favourable interpretation to my intentions and to take away his ill thoughts of me that he shall himselfe be Iphidamanta's Guardian Osmin perceiving his sharpnesse was unprofitable resolv'd to be no more so rigid to so little purpose He took on him the charge of Iphidamanta and sent for his wife to the end the Princesse might be in unsuspected company Assoone as she was come Iphidamanta left her habite of Shepheardesse but put not off her sadnesse Some dayes after Hely returned towards Morocco and before he went out of the Province of Sus sent privately to the Governour of Taradant to set Nephisus at liberty That Prince whom the prison had a little cool'd presented himselfe to his father and for some fifteen dayes gave him so many causes of satisfaction that the King forc'd by his nature and blinded with his passion discover'd to him the intent he had to give him a mother that by a just title should merit the surname of beautifull This declaration wrought a great effect in the spirit of Nephisus but it broke not out till sometime after In the meane while Hely was no sooner entred Morocco with the magnificence of a victorious King but he renounc'd all his glory to transferre it on Iphidamanta and to make knowne to all his Subjects that 't was she who was truly victorious and onely deserv'd the triumph He received her as such in the most stately appartment of the great Palace of Morocco and gave to serve her all the officers and white and blacke Eunuches which were wont to waite on their Queens Nephisus having enjoy'd his curiosity of seeing the Princesse return'd with an extreame desire of often visiting her but Hely taking notice of it became so jealous of him and so furious that he was at the point of ruining Nephisus yet his naturall debonairity withholding him he commanded Osmin to deny all men whatsoever the entrance into Iphidamanta's Palace and himselfe forbad Nephisus This prohibition caus'd fearfull disorders in the meane time Hely in love with Iphidamenta even to folly visited her punctually foure times a day and though he could not o'recome her silence nor stint her sadnesse yet he promised himselfe the fruition of her For her sake he violated all the Lawes of his Religion he re-established the Idolatry which Mahomet had so rigorously forbidden and sent as far as Italy for a Painter excellent enough to draw for him Iphidamanta's picture One day leading that Princesse into a marble Cabinet which is in the midst of the garden of flowers he cast himselfe at her feet and never blushing for Osmin's wife being a witnesse of his extravagancy It said he extreamly troubles me that I am not able to offer to your incomparable vertue but things so base and vile as are my Kingdomes and my life But cast not your eyes if you please on the smalnesse of the offering consider the heart and the humility of the offerer and assure your selfe that if he had in his hands all the Crownes of the world he would lay them at your feet with the same zeale as he doth those of Fez and Morocco Iphidamanta hearkned to this Speech as she was wont to heare some others that is without making shew of any aversion or content These coldnesses yet added new flames to the Prince his former fire the more he was neglected the
nature of the King your father Had you seen him as I did ready to expiate by the effusion of his bloud those faults which Zelopa had made him perpetrate you would be more sensible then you are of his repentance and not deny him the comfort he expecteth in your returne But what doe you here Are you not satisfi'd with the death of Nephisus and may be with that of Abdelmelec Would you have their unfortunate father to be ranged in the number of those sacrifices which Axiamira demands from your amorous anger and that it shall be deadly for all Princes to have had any affection for that happy infortunate one Bajazet deeming by this discourse that Polexander knew all his designes would againe have falne at his feet to have ask'd pardon for the love he bore the Princesse his sister but Polexander who look'd on him as on something more then a King retain'd him in his armes and after often calling him brother If said he your discretion had not so long time contested with your quiet and not given to Iphidamantus and my selfe thoughts unworthy to be related to you we had both contributed all we could and may be more reclaim'd the untractable humour of that Princesse which sometimes under the name of Axiamira then under that of Iphidamantus or againe of Ennoramita set on fire all the Kingdomes of Africa Is not she the cause of this warre too have you not mistaken her brother for her Bajazet waxing pale at that question There is no doubt of it said he my misfortune is as great as ever and I know too well for my peace that Almaid being deceiv'd next the King of Morocco tooke Iphidamantus for Axiamira This discourse had infallibly continued but the Sentinels seeing a great Troupe of horse sallying out of Morocco gates advertis'd the Princes they were to be set on Achomat instantly commanded foure Squadrons of foot to advance which had stood to their armes since the beginning of the combate and placing himselfe in the front of a Troup of Cavalry rid to force the enemy backe againe into the Towne The three Princes got on horsebacke to assist him though he had no need of them and were Spectators of that incomparable valour which had rais'd him to the supreame greatnesse of all the Ottoman Court Assoou as feare and night had shut up the last Enemy within the walls of Morocco Polexander and the three other Princes return'd to the place of their Combate and scorning to intermingle ought of base or cruell with their victory commanded fires and torches to be lighted to see in what case Abdelmelec and the Moorish Knight were Our Heroë found the last sighing for his misfortune and cursing the stars which seem'd to affect the dishonour and ruine of the Princes of Grenada by the same charming humanity he comforted him wherewithall he was wont to suffer himself to be overcome by such as he had vanquish'd and without any importunate soliciting either to tell him his condition or name commanded some Arabians to take him up and carry him into Morocco In the meane while Bajazet who found Abdelmelec dead lamented that the chance of Warre was not able to make him a vanquisher without depriving so valiant a Prince of his life Iphidamantus came just as he was bewailing and seeing his friend all over wounded and drown'd in his blood was almost at the losse of his judgement and life at last reason recollected him and then his sorrow breaking forth Unfortunate Prince said he how fatall have thy fathers errours been to thee And what a dangerous Enemy hast thou had of thy great courage Thou art dead Abdelmelec and I live and avenge not thy death But the same law which seemes to engage imperiously forbids me to undertake it My duty is oppos'd by my duty my friendship by my friendship and my faith by my faith I am Polexanders I am Achomats I owe my selfe to Bajazet I cannot be thine Thou knowest it now deare Abdelmelec and thy soule which reads my heart sees well whether I be so perfidious as to faile of my word I have sworn to thee an amitie not to be terminated but by the one of us thy misfortune hath disingaged my word and â—…y interests ceasing by thy death give me the libertie on thinking on mine owne Farewell then Abdelmelec and since 't is the will of heaven enjoy for ever the glory thy vertues have deserved Achomat and the two other Princes were extreamly sorrowfull for the losse of their Enemie and would not have been so indisconsolate but onely for taking off Iphidamantus discontent Bajazet by the advise of the rest sent the body of Abdelmelec to the King his father and intimated by Hydaspes they had been both deceiv'd and their errours being equally lamentable the griefe of the one should not be lesse then that of the other Hydaspes performed his Commission but whilst the too amorous and inraged Hely bewailed the losse of his pretended Ennoramita more then the death of his son and ruminated in his long watchings all the tragicall events wherewithall the beautie of one same person had laid waste his Estate the foure Printes retir'd into the Campe and without giving themselves any rest after so much travell meditated on the execution of some new designes Polexander that thought on nothing but how to see Alcidiana againe would not cause Bajazet and Iphidamantus to languish any longer nor put off till any other time the contentments he was able to give them But how extreame soever his owne longing was that of the two other Princes was no lesse Iphidamantus came and cast himselfe at his feet and embracing his knees My Lord said hee if without impudence I may dare take the boldnesse of calling you brother and if any one action of my life hath made mee worthy that honour I intreate you even by that or rather by Alcidiana not to leave mee any longer in my offence and infamy Let mee not be guilty even after my repentance nor let Melicerta continue her reproaching my ingratitude when I have given over my being ingratefull Get leave of Achomat repli'd Polexander to goe and free that Princesse and assure your selfe you shall no sooner have that granted but you shall obtaine all the rest too Achomat over-heard what our Heroe spake to his brother and desirous to witnesse to them both that hee remitted all his resentments to their merits and his affection Goe said he to Iphidamantus goe my deare Solyman gather up if it be possible the remainder of my shipwrack and assure your selfe that what you can save of it you preserve that for your selfe After this declaration which not onely included the leave Iphidamantus requested but withall a cleere assurance of enjoying her whom he was to deliver he tooke Achomat's hands and moystning them with his teares My Lord said hee is it possible that you will forget those offences which my mishap hath made me commit
she might have the more time to meditate at pleasure and may be to comprehend the meaning of what I had spoken All things hap'ned as I had fore-thought For the first time that I saw Benzaida againe she darted such looks on me as were answerable to lightning and when I came neere her Goe said she very softly goe bold and rash Man and if you value your life beware lest your extravagancy be known to any whosoever Before I could open my mouth to reply she retir'd and to expresse to you well at this instant what I then felt I must needs say that from the height of heaven she threw me into the depth of hell For a moneth together I assai'd all meanes that were to be imagined for the bringing her to understand the integrity and innocency of my affection but that perseverance was in her thought a new fault and the more I endeavoured to come neere her the more I augmented her desire of flying me After all my patience was quite exhausted and that I knew I was hated for no other cause then the not being a Prince I resolv'd on the most bold and rash designe that ever entred the thought of a Lover I intended to make my selfe King of Granado But well fare thinking that such an Enterprise could have no successe but by great revolutions I thought it was best to begin them by drawing the warre into the Kingdome Presently I sent undeâ—…hand to solicite the King of Spaines Officers and represented to them the facility of making themselves Masters of Granado if so be they would make me of their party To this advice of mine they gave care and I was promis'd no lesse then a Crown if I brought it to passe To witnesse therefore to the Spanyards that I promis'd nothing but what I would make good I went and surpris'd one of their Townes and by that breath engaged Ferdinand to besiege Malago Whil'st I thus laid the foundation of my imaginary Kingdome the Granadians accelerating their owne ruine took armes against one another and during their intestine broyles gave way for the common enemy to fortifie himselfe So well had I provided all things that I had been King of Granado and the possessour of Benzaida if the Moores had persevered in the revolt I had engaged them But Boabdilez after he had subdued his enemies and made himself strongest in Granado compell'd me to follow his fortune that I might not give over my designe Some little time before the young Prince of Fez was come to Granado and obtain'd by his quality that which I could not get by my many and important services and actions of such fame as might have obscur'd the birth of that barbarous Prince Assoone as I came to Court I understood that Benzaida was passionately in love with him but the insolent Prince as a proud Conquerour who mispriseth a victory easily gotten thought he should humble himself too much in contributing but a cold complacency to that Princesse's affection Assoone as I heard that unwelcome newes my love became a furious jealousie and I presently resolv'd with my selfe the death of my Rivall but before I could be in a fit place where I might freely be permitted to challenge him I was commanded by the King to oppose the progresse of the Spanish Army and retaine in obedience those Townes which since the taking of Baza would have yeelded to the conquering party I was in all places of importance and reducing all to their devoyr return'd to Granado to satisfie my Jealousie but the Prince of Fez was gone Hee had repass'd the sea without taking any leave of Boabdilez Benzaida seem'd to me so sad and disconsolate that I doubted no more of her passion For mine owne part I strove to suppresse my griefe and smother my first motions to let her know her fault or at least to entreat some pity for that offence which her beauty had been the first cause of She seem'd extrremly enraged when I durst come neer her and upbraiding me more then ever for my impudence and rashnesse told me boldly that my malipertnes should have been chastised long agone The griefe and vexation to see my selfe so ill treated by the Princesse made me resolve to combine with Spaine for the ruine of my Countrey that I might have the comfort to see a great many Companions in my misery Besides I thought that when Benzaida had lost her Crowne she would give over her pride and stand not so obstinatly in desiring none but Kings for her Lovers I straight sent my Agenâ—…s to Valedolid and my information putting all Spaine in armes Ferdinand and Isabella came and besieg'd the city of Granado But I was not so fortunate as to have the sad contentment to see that Towne in the flame I had lighted to avenge me of its Princesse For at the beginning of the Siege Benzaida stole out of the city in a mans habit with a Moorish Prince called Tyndarache and sail'd into Africa to follow shamefully the perfidious Prince of Fez. Her losse made me take new counsell I renounc'd all my abominable pretentions and abandoning my Countrey went to Morocco to stab if I could in his very throne the Traytor which triumph'd o're all my hopes and travells But I neither found Benzaida nor her Lover there and after I had enquir'd of all such as were likely to tell me newes of him I understood that he was put to sea to follow a faire young Canarian call'd Ennoramita with whom he was passionately fallen in love I imbarck'd me againe in the same vessell that brought me out of Europe into Africa and was about six moneths searching on all sides for that infamous Ravisher of my happinesse But all my diligent inquisition being bootlesse and a tempest shipwracking me on this Isle I was whether I would or no pluck'd out of the sea by two flaves which fish'd by the sea side To this house they brought me and then was I presented to the Chief priest At the very first I made known to him my intent of mischieving my selfe but he instructing one how pernicious my resolution would be to my soul put me clean off from committing homicide on my self Yet was I above three moneths in overcoming my despair Continually I griev'd for Benzaida as ingratefull as she was to me and when I call'd to minde her love to an Infidell I grew so enraged that to hinder off the effects of my fury they were forc'd to put me into the custody of two Priests They told me that if I had so eager and violent a desire to die there was no speedier nor more innocent meanes then to make my selfe the slave of that God whom they adored and attend the lot which should give a period to my life and miseries I was surpris'd with their proposition But a little while after seeing with what bravenesse and jollity one of this Temples slaves came to his death I made a vow to weare the chaines
not onely strengthned mee in strengthning it selfe but serv'd for a speciall remedie to all my languishments The Court seeing me suddenly got from death to life knew not to what to attribute either the cause of my sicknesse or that of my health Even Amintha was deceiv'd in it and admiring so sudden a recovery perswaded her selfe that my maladie was no other then the melancholy vapours of the spleen A little while after my full amendment Arziland King of the Isle of Madera being by a tempest cast on our coast came to the Court and having seen the Queen began to be so foolishly amorous that he threatned to put all her Island to fire and sword if she declared not her acceptance of his love I thought then that I could not better imploy my life then in freeing the Queen from that Monster and that the service I might render her in that occasion would be of a greater importance then the former I had done her in the attempt of Siziphus I sent therefore to defie the Giant but thinking for certaine that I should be flaine in the combate I resolv'd to provide my selfe a faire funerall and to make knowne at least in dying the love I had conceal'd all my life time I put on a gilded armour which by the rayes upon it did not ill represent the Sun My Helmet cast forth beames too and I had for my crest the Phenix which Alcidiana took for the bodie of her Embleme Upon my buckler which was as shining as mine armour I had caus'd an Eagle to be painted in the region where the thunder is ingendred Yet in spight of all lightning and thunder claps hee flew thorow it and fixedly gaz'd on the Sun For the word to this Device there was this which spake my thoughts plaine enough I HOPE TOO MUCH TO FEARE Cover'd with these armes I went and met with Arziland and was so fortunate that after a combate of eight or ten houres I cut off the Giants right hand When he saw himselfe without armes and unable for defence hee confess'd hee was overcome and loathing to survive his shame would have kill'd himselfe But Alcidiana who preserv'd him to serve for a redoubtable example to all such rash ones as hee caus'd him to be put in strong hold and commanded that speciall care should be had of his life In the meane time I who had received divers great wounds fell as I had been dead in the place of combate and if the Queen had not shew'd that my life was so extremely deare unto her without doubt the day of my victorie had been the day of my death My wounds were so great that I kept my bed almost six moneths and was foure or five more ere I went out of my chamber Alcidiana the third time took the paines to come and visit me and gave me such signes of favour that my love in its greatest extravagancies could never promise to it selfe Arziland the while being gotten into case sufficient to be able to suffer the punishment whereto the Queens justice had condemn'd him was taken out of prison and lead to the place where he was to lose his life Though in the Inaccessible Island wee adore but one God yet there are Temples in severall places which from all antiquitie are dedicated to particular Deities In one there is worshipped a God which they term the God of Revenge The Annalls of our Kingdome tell us that that Temple was built by a Queen who having been long time earnestly sued to by a man unworthy her bed and after the receiving a great many wrongs and outrages from him at last took him in a day of battell When the barbarous man saw himselfe in the power of a personage whom he had so ill treated he never crav'd her pardon but besought her that she would not delay too long the time of his punishment That Princesse hearing from her Priests that their God had reserv'd vengeance to himselfe built to him a Temple during the imprisonment of her enemy under the name of the God of Revenge and causing the prisoner to be brought thither commanded he should be sacrific'd on the altar of that Deitie as a victime which was reserv'd for him Arziland who had committed the same fault receiv'd the same punishment For Alcidiana thought she could not doe better then to imitate the example of her Ancestor And to give the more terrour to such Princes as loved her she sent to proclaime in a thousand places a Declaration by which shee held for irreconcilable enemies all those that had the boldnesse to take on them the name of her lovers After Arziland had receiv'd his punishment and a Herald of the Queens sent into Europe she betook her selfe to her former manner of living and shutting her selfe up in her palace there relish'd againe her wonted innocent contentments I the while who knew very well the offence I had commiâ—…ted in discovering my love was tortured with a perpetuall remorse and not possibly imagining that after so visible signes of my passion Alcidiana should be still ignorant of it I drew out my malady to a longer date and could not put on any resolution to suffer my selfe to be cured But the tokens of goodnesse which I almost daily receiv'd from that Princesse the titles of honour which she added to those I had already and the excessive presents she sent not onely to my mother but to all those of my bloud made me beleeve at first that she understood nought of my designe but since that my vanitie and good fortune so dazled mee that I perswaded my selfe Alcidiana knew of my love and that shee was glad to see the continuance of it On this opinion which hath been the cause of all my miseries I hastened my cure and repair'd againe to the Palace with all diligence The Queen her selfe welcom'd me with such extraordinary demonstrations of favour that I grew confirm'd in that foolish beliefe which my vanitie had wrought in me So my last errours waxing worse then my first and particularly that of not being hated by the Queen working in me such thoughts as you may imagine I grew so insolent that there scarce pass'd an houre in the day wherein I did not violate some one of the lawes of the private Court and gloried in the neglect of that respect which I owed to the most generous Mistresse in the world I came into her privie chamber before shee was clad There I was when they dress'd her head and oftentimes taking out of her womens hands such things as shee used for that attire I was so indiscreet as to offer to doe their office The Queen wink'd at all these impertinencies and when I told some tales which truly were faulty enough to have made me been banish'd for ever from her presence she drown'd all in the greatnesse of my service and that shee might not be ingaged to reprove mee feign'd shee heard nothing Sometime her Lady of Honour
knowledge of his Masters and confirmed the old Prince in all the hopes he conceived of him There was no game of strength addresse or disposition wherein he carried not a way the Guirlands that Quasmez ordained for the Victor Though this good King saw him endowed with all the quallities he had often wished him yet lived he not with that quiet of mind which should be given him by so excellent a breeding The more he saw the King grow the more was his melancholy and disquiets redoubled His shewed discontents when there was no cause and without cleering to my deare Master when he requested him what subject he had for it he consumed himselfe in uselesse sorows in lieu of staying the time prescribed for the accomplishing the prophecies The King was in his fifteenth yeare when five or six hundred Mexicans leaving the Forts they had built on the Mountaines which cut that space of Land which is between our two Seas came far on into the Kingdome of Quasmez Their incursion was no sooner knowne to the Inca then he petitioned the King his Father to permit him to goe against those ancient enemies and learne them to be contented with their usurped Territories Quasmez made no great difficulty of it but gave him foure thousand of his best Souldiers to accompany him in this expedition Be pleased to imagine the content the young Prince received to have the meanes to give them a triall of his courage and to know by his apprentisage what he might after expect from himselfe He departed then with the foure thousand of Quasmez men that he might not discontent him But when he knew the small company of his enemies his generousnesse would not suffer him to take them at advantage He marched right to them with all his troopes and assoone as he came to a certaine place from whence they discovered a great extention of Land he perceived that the Mexicans began to entrench themselves in a little valley He sent to them one of his followers to intimate that he would not fight with them because he was the stronger though the History of former warres had tught him that they had not made use of that moderation The Prince of whom I speake said the Souldier will never follow your ill example nor shall your cruelty oblige him to an action destitute of mercy Assure your selves then that he intends to fight with you not to murther you Besides he hath a better opinion of you then of his neighbours and beleeves you are valiant men since you have not feared under the conduct of your King to spread your selves so far from the ancient bounds of Mexico and to run so many hazards to subject to his Scepter the Provinces of so many Caciques The thought of this hath obliged him to deale nobly with you and therefore intreates you to signifie to him what number you are that he may send back part of his forces and so comming to an equall combate you may know by your defeate or victory if with justice or no you are got to be Masters of so many Nations The Mexicans received this defiance as a cause to increase their reputation and their Captaine who was a young Prince and Cousen to Montesuma finding therein where withall to satisfie his vanity sent the King word that he was ready to meet him halfe way on condition that he would stand to the tearmes of his defiance That they were but five hundred in all yet they would not refuse the combate if they were to encounter but with two thousand It seemed as if fire had flowne out of the eyes of the King when he received this answer Our of the foure thousand he had he chose five hundred whose service he intended to make use of in that expedition and gave them by his words and his example more courage then they had either from nature or the exercise of armes He commanded the rest to retire and that they should not come to the skirmish till they saw their companions either dead or prisoners Being thus severed Zelmatida commanded his five hundred Souldiers to march and the Maxicans quitting their entrenchment came to meet the King with all the resolution that Souldiers could witnes These two troopes did not confusedly fall on pel mel mingling themselves but fought a long time by little squadrons and assoone as the haile of arrowes was passed every one betooke him to his dart and halfe pike The King making his way where ever he came slew five or six Mexicans before he came to their Captaine When he met him he thought of nothing but how to vanquish him and though he found an extreame resistance yet he taught him that there was no proportion either betwixt their valour or strength He hurt him with seven or eight thrust of his Javelin without receiving any wound but one on his left arme and at the last blow overthrew him at his feet and without difficulty disarmed him The Mexicans seeing their Captaine fall betooke them streight to their heeles and of some two hundred that remained there were not twenty that put themselves in case to die like men of courage The Souldiers of my Lord the Inca moved by his example gave the rest of the enemies their lives They made haste yet after those that â—…ed and overtaking them bound them two and two together On the word of the Commander of those prisoners the King with his owne hands tooke off the cordes he was bound with and perceiving him to lose much bloud stopt it presently by the virtue of certaine words which are well knowne to all the Souldiers of our Countries This remedy yet not having the same power to hinder weaknesse and fainting as to stanch bloud the Mexican Prince could no longer sustaine himselfe on his feet The King caused him to lie downe on the earth and leaving a guard with him went onward to rejoyce with those of his who only stood spectators of the fight They witnessed by their shouts and the arrowes they shot into the aire the joy they had for this victory and came in a good order to meet the Victor When they came together it was he that could first kisse his hand and shew most his affection and wonder The King told them in few words how the businesse had passed and after he had praysed the valour of his enemies commanded some of his followers to carry by turnes the Prince of Mexico He had no sooner setled things in those partes but he dispatched to Quasmez the swiftest of his Souldiers to carry him newes of the good successe of his Army Whilst this post went to Quasmez the King disposed of his troopes in such a sort that you might see something which I know not both of warre and triumph He seperated them into foure batalions made two of them to march before him and two after and in the midst put the Mexicans that they might be conducted by those that made them prisoners Their
therefore look'd on him and knowing him what said he shall Zelmatida be so unfortunate that his deare Tumanama will not know him These words brought Tumanama back againe from the deepe meditation wherein he was in undoing his Mistesses chaines and made him turne his eyes on Zelmatida After he had earnestly looked on him he knew him though the lightsomnes of the place was not sufficient to make them well knowe their countenances and rising to embrace him O my deliverer said he hath the providence of the gods brought you into these Deserts to save my life a second time and to preserve to the faire Coriza this unworthy cause of her afflictions as well as of her love Zelmatida embrac'd him often times before he made answere and hiding from him the truth of his voyage told him that the service of the King his father oblieged him to goe to the Court of the King of Mexico unknowne he came thither by chance where five men would have murthered him whom he had kill'd But tell me said he by what strange accident the Princesse Coriza came to be in that estate I found her and why you have flayne a man who seem'd to take on him her defence That story is long reply'd Tumanama yet I will not forbeare to relate it as succinctly as I can But first bee pleased that I unloade my faire Princesse of those chaines with which the perfidious Maranita hath shewed her more his bruitishnesse then his affection When he had said thus he kneeled down and was in that posture till he had broken all the faire Coriza's bonds This done he presented Zelmatida to the Princesse and adressing his discourse to her See said he Coriza the generous Prince that for your sake forgetting my revolts and insolencies would not only give me my life and preserve my honour but withall disdain'd not to receive me into the number of his frends You see what he hath done for your deliverance give me leave to relate to him by what mishap you came to have neede of his courage and that I may justifie my selfe for the death of the traytor that fought for you Coriza here began to speake and told Zelmatida that the perplexities wherein she was gave her not the liberty to satisfie the obligations in which she was bound to him as well for her owne conservation as for her lovers but said she untill a better fortune give mee abler meanes to acknowledge your favours accept the recytall of my mishappes for a beginning of my payment Here Tumanama began and making use of the permission that Coriza gave him I was at the point said he to Zelmatida to receive not the recompance of my services for they are not considerable but the greatest proofes of the goodnesse of Coriza when as Maranita whom I had bred up as my brother and made partaker of all my secrecies as the best of my friends resolv'd himselfe on a treason so bruitish that it is not possible love should be the cause of it I had sent him to accompany the Princesse and to receive her out of my commands but he most perfidious having long before combyn'd with some others like himselfe for the taking away of Coriza surprized her one night and carried her away from the midst of her guards and chayning her as you saw brought her into this place with an intent to goe further even to the Court of Montezuma to finde there a Sanctuary for her perfidy The news of this attempt being brought me imagine if possible you can the complaints I made the blasphemies I threw out against the providence of our gods and the horrible actions my despaire made me resolve on I flew after the ravisher of my blisse without the knowledge or my advertizing of any of my subjects and fearing no danger but that which threatned Coriza I ran through the Woods and Mountaines and got into the countrey of my greatest enemy I was so happy in my search that yesterday at Sun-set I descry'd Maranita's troupe That object transporting me with 〈◊〉 I neither considered the number of my enemies nor the inequality of the combat I was about but desperately fell in among the traytors to have atleast the contentment to die in the sight of my Coriza Maranita eyther not induring to see mee or persecuted with the remorse of his Conscience made ten or twelve of his associats to turne on me and kept forth his way whilest I strove to rid me of those that would stop me I spent all the rest of the day to bring them in case that they should no more contest with me for my passage and party of the night to follow the ravisher You saw how I found him and you must now informe me who were those that fought with him and what oblieged you to fight in his defence Therewith Coriza spake Zelmatida said shee to her lover cannot satisfie your demand I alone knowe the true cause of that combat not only because it was done in my presence but that by my endeavâ—…ur it was undertaken You shall know that among those whose service Maranita made use of for my rape there were two who not being able to see mee without loving me at least they strove to perswade me so gave me their fayths that they would free mee from the hands of that Traytor But they asked me for my ransome that which I could not grant them I feyn'd yet to consent and did so dexâ—…rously keepe them in their resolution that seeing my selfe at the point to lose that person which of all in the world is most deare to mee and incomparably more precious then my life I would try this last remedy and by all meanes â—…ee mee from the tyranny of Maranita I call'd then for my two lovers and having conjur'd them to leave me no longer at the mercy of our common enemie I perswaded them so effectually that presently under some ill pretext they quarelled and fell on him Truly on this occasion he shewed a great deale of courage Two of his enemies he slew and though his owne had not come to helpe him I beleeve hee had beene able enough to have dispatch'd all the rest Amongst the five bodies you see lying there on my right hand are my unfortunate lovers This while those that remayned of the conspiracy desirous to revenge their deaths let drive at Maranita but being stoutly repuls'd they were constrayned to take them to their heeles Maranita transported with fury followed them with those of his owne party and was an houre before I saw him againe For my self I was not in a little trouble for I saw an occasion present it selfe to get me away and when I would have put it in execution I knew that by reason of the chaines on my heeles I was not possibly able to goe I threw my selfe then on the ground againe and calling oftentimes Tumanama to helpe me I would needes try whether my fetters were not strong enough to
him very favourable for by that he had sooner the liberty to speake to Isatida and to continu e the discourse which he had begun the day before He drew neere her and unheard of any body tooke so fitly an occasion to make her know his sufferings that in lieu of those ordinary neglects which are most commonly the first answers of those that are spoken to in the dialect of love he received from Isatida only words of civility All the rest of the day passed in the like entertaines and if I may speake it before that my deare Master left that amyable Princesse he had cause to beleeve that her discretion much pleased him The night comming on the Queene returned with all her Court but more satisfied with Zelmatida's valour then his wit On the other side the Prince not being able to repent the overture of his affection to Isatida was willing to let some daies slip away to give time to that Princesse to accustome her selfe to his passion In the meane while the continuall converse he had with her made him discover so many new inticements that he had been indeed morâ—… insensible then judicious if he had preferred the hopes of an Empire before those of the enjoying Isatida Besides he saw himselfe received with so much sweetnesse and his discourse listned to with so many signes of satisfaction that had he been lesse scrupulous then he was he had been aâ—…ured of the Pincesses good affection But his discretion and love forbad him to hope for so great a happinesse yet finding her one day in a place where with freedome he might use his language he let his passion so much transport him that he made her a more ample and expresse declaration then any of his former and that shee might not condemn him of boldnesse or daring assured her that he was the sonne of a King This audacious proposition was in all likelyhood to have a contrary successe then it had but the Prince his infinite love and the purity of his intention deserv'd not a lesse favourable treatment Isatida blush'd at the freenesse of my deare Master and rested some while silent but comming at last from her bashfullnesse I shall be glad said she to see whether you be capeable of that perfection whereof you vaunt your selfe I accept of your service and promise you to put your patience to the test See how Isatida express'd her affection to my Lord the Inca but said she t is possible that you are ignorant how rigorous the conditions are by which I give you leave to serve me It behooves you to have an asseduitie without example that your respects goe even to Idolatry and that Death it selfe be not powerfull enough to breake your silence And more take it for most certaynâ—… that you lose me for ever if ever your love comes not only to the knowledge of the Queene my Mother but to any person else whatsoever though it were to wrong both the one and the other of these two lovers to attribute this effect to causes lesse illustrious then their virtues yet I have often thought that the overture which Zelmatida made of his byrth to the Princesse was not one of the least weapons that love made use of to subdue this imperious valour Things being on these termes the King bethought him of Quasmez and at the same instant resolved to imploy Isatida for the delivery of Xaira One day therefore finding an occasion to speake to her without any over-hearing he entertain'd her long time with the obligations he stood engaged to her gave her new assurances of his inviolable fidelity and making as I may say his heart to come on his lippes constrayned Isatida to confesse in her selfe that it was impossible not to suffer her selfe to be overcome by the perswasions of a Lover so discreete and passionate When Zelmatida sawe her so well prepared If I may be permitted said he to forget my selfe for a little time and glorying in my good fortune aspire higher then I ought be pleased faire Isatida that I desire from you a new favour to assure me that you have not repented of those which you have already bestowed on me Isatida stopping him as he was going on with this discourse told him that those words which he imployed to prepare her to accept his petition were so many injuries done to her friendshippe That she conjured him to beleeve that there was nothing whilest he was as sage and respectfull as hitherto hee had beene which he might not without vanity promise himselfe from a person who made a particular profession to be just That he should not therefore feare to make known what he desired from her and that he should assure himselfe that his request should bee absolutely unjust or else be granted him Zelmatida unwilling to shewe of too much boldnesse or too much feare lest any of them might seeme too much affected and by consequence vitious thought that he might adventure He besought therefore with his usuall grace a favorable audience from Isatida and obtayning it told her in few words his engagements to the King Quasmez made knowne the principall accidents of his infancy the revelation of the high-Priest the rapt of the Princesse Xaâ—…ra and intreated her not to take it amisse that next the honour of her favours hee wishâ—…d for nothing in the World so much as the occasions to serve that good King who had â—…ver beene to him instead of a Father These words were followed by many other â—…hat seemed to conclude how it was in the power of Isatida to set Xaira at liberty The Princesse hearkened very attentively to the beginning of his speech but seeing the ferventnesse where with he pressed her to deliver a person unknowne to her She interruâ—…ted him and assured that his high-Priest had ill divin'd and that there was nevâ—…r any Xâ—…ira nor mayde stolne away in the Court of Hismalita 'T is not that I would put you out of hope I have a Governesse who hath beene in the Court these fifty yeares and shee loves me with so blinded a passion that she will tell me whatsoere I would know of heâ—… though in the revealing it should hazard her life Set your minde then at rest and â—…xpect from my diligence all that you can expect for the â—…leering of your imployment Zelmatida had set his knee to the ground to thanke Isatida and began his actions of gratitude when by the comming of one of Hismalita's Eâ—…nuques he was interrupted For she naturally â—…ealous cruell and suspitious would not suffer my deare Master since she perceived he affected it but with much a doe the conversation of Isatida Yet she made him no shew of her ill humor but caused him to be continually watched by her trusty spies and as soone as she knew him to be with the Princesse she still found some pretext to take him off Garruca could not goe on with this discourse for divers of the Pyrats entring into
Fortune came to assist Love and by a pranke of her wonted inequalitie would doe service to virtue deride the cruell policy of Hismalita confound all the providence of her Councellors and Divines and contribute her assistance to the accomplishing of things that had beene so often promised to my deare Master She corrupted if I must use that word those whom the Queene most trusted that so Zelmatida might be in safety and discover all the designes that they set on foote to destroy him Many of Hismalitaes domestiques wonne with the sweetnesse the courtesie and the liberality of this Prince advertis'd him of what was deliberated in their Mistresse cabinet and beleev'd that to be trusty to her was to be unfaithfull and traytors to their gods and themselves Amongst others Galtazis who in the body of an Infant had the wit of a man and as very a dwarfe as he was might bee called not the defect out a miracle of Nature was the first that gave Zelmatida intelligence of the bloody resolutions that Hismalitaes feare made her take against him This little one had beene given to Isatida when Montezuma conquer'd the Estates of the Cacique of Zampoallan and presently grew so passionately amorous of the Princesse that he every day blessed his misfortune and captivity since through it he had attayned to the glory to be the slave of so faire a Mistresse Hismalita that almost in all things shewed a jealousie of her daughter had taken him from her and imagined that by her savours and caresses she might so gaine him that he might serve her for a Spie But this generous little courage abhorring all basenesse and treachery continued constant to what he had promis'd Isatida and had it not beene by the expresse commandment she gave him to feigne and make a shew of extreame love to Hismalita he would rather have died then done things so contrary to his thoughts When Zelmatida came to Mexico Hismalita lov'd nothing more then this dwarfe and beleev'd him so much hers that she feard not to discover to him what she had of most secrecy But hee that knew well on what conditions he gave himselfe to that Queene judiciously advertised his true Mistrisse of all that most imported her and by his good Councell made her to take hold of such occasions to please Hismalita that the jealous Mother was constrayned in despite of her selfe to confesse that Isatida alone gave her more delight and consolation then all the rest of her daughters Now this little-one in all things following the inclinations of Isatida very often without knowing them had scarce seene my Lord the Inca but he lov'd him and so extraordinarily that he thought him only worthy to serve his faire Mistresse Zelmatida for his part was extreamly pleased in the conversation of this little-one and seeing how judicious and faithfull he was feared not to let him know his affection Galtazis seeing things happen to his wish interessed himselfe in this Love and contributed thereto not much lesse then Zelmatida himselfe And now knowing from Hismalita what feare the presence of this stranger threw on her and learning some of those predictions on which all those jealousies were founded he as soone gave my deare Master notice of it and concealed not from him that in the end the Queene infallibly resolved to have him murthered The dwarfe intimating thus much advised him to absent himselfe for a while and by a necessary flight avoide those cruelties that accompanied the jealousies of Hismalita But Zelmatida embracing Galtazis and laughing at his feares and councells My friend said he since by a Lawe imposed on nature all things must have an end O how happy am I to have met with so faire an occasion to perish in I shall not die of a vulgar death but shall have this advantage over all other men that my death shall beget an envy in all those that can lay a claime to any generositie Galtazis knowing the great spirit of Zelmatida I confesse said he that you are worthy to seâ—… my faire Mistresse Goe on invincible Prince and feare not but the gods will turn away those disasters that threaten you This little-one after he had thus confirmed my deare Master in his resolution left him and went certainly to make it known to Isatida The Inca having now thanked the Sunne to whom he had a particular devotion though he knew not yet that he was the Author of his Race bethought how to gaine Hismalita by some eminent service for feare to lose Isatida Yet among these different cares he forgot not to bethink himselfe that Quasmez asked his daughter from him and accused him for not being enough gratefull to him He therefore sought out Isatida with an intent to speake to her yet once more for Xaira but the Princesse â—…ut him off the displeasure of petitioning twice for one thing For as soone as she could with freedome speake to him I am to give you an account said she of the matter you intrusted me withall I have enquired after the Princesse which you seeke with so much passion and perceiving that my Governesse made some difficulty to speake to me I did often times by embraces woe her to tell me if she had heard any thing spoken of Xaira Whilest I sollicited her with so much earnestnesse she used such actions as made me beleeve she went about to discover some great secrets to me for on the suddaine she changed countenance and so great a trembling seized her that she was a long time before she could answere me At last she recollected her selfe and swore to me that she had never seene the Princesse Xâ—…ira But as if she beleeved that her oathes were not sufficient to make me credit it she accompanied them with so many sighes and teares and other signes of affliction that but for you I should have repented the asking her the question Yet Zelmatida let not this make you despaire you are assured even by the mouth of a Prophet that Xaira is living you are expresly come into this country to free her from prison you are he who infallibly must give her liberty let time then agitate and the superiour causes and thinke not that the wills of the gods eyther advance themselves or recoyle as it pleaseth the fantasticallnesse of our vowes The king perswaded by Isatidaes reasons admired the power of her wit and became daily so idolatrous of it that it is not a small signe of his excellent nature that in so generall forgetfulnesse of himselfe he constantly remembred how much he was oblieged to Quasmez Some fewe dayes after this conversation which had caused Hismalita to lose the rest of her complying or rather of her dissimulation she received two generall intelligences equally sad and deplorable which made her betake her selfe to other thoughts then how to be avenged of my deare Master The posts that came in hourely reported news that Montezumas was eyther killed or at least taken prisoner in the
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
of the Rock would needes see whither it lead He descended it by the light of his flying guides and when he was come farre downe found a square roome and thought he heard one lamenting He turned his eare that way the voice came from and saw at one of the corners of that dungeon a man laid on the Earth which had his two legs put through two silver rings his body gyrt at the middle with a great chayne and his armes bound behinde him This object which could not be seene without horror moved the King to pitty He came neere and looking earnestly on him saw in his countenance somthing that was both Heroick and venerable This constancy increased the Kings compassion and wrought in him a desire to free him from so cruell a Prison He asked him whether his name were not Alisma and whether or no the Rebells of Quito had not sold him to Montezuma At these words the poore captive lifting up his eyes gazed on Zelmatida as on his Releaser who ever you be said he who by your aspect language seem not to be of the number of mine enemies who already knowmy name and fortune beleeve it 't is not without the particular providence of the gods that you have beene brought hither Thy continuall showres of teares hath moved their goodnesse and since I have alwaies beleeved that they were not in heaven but to recompence the good works that were done on Earth they make me this day see that I was not deceived and that I should not die with the griefe of being faithfull to my Master It is above fifteene yeares that I have lived if to die a hundred times in a day be to live under the weight of those chaynes wherewith you see me loaden yet all the extremity of those tortures which my hangmen hourely renew hath not vanquished my patience nor make me discover those secrets wherewith I was intrusted I cannot tell you by what miracle my Soule hath beene able to endure in a body so afflicted as mine since I have had none other foode then a little Maiz and water and some ill fruites which twice a day I am forced to eate by the souldiers of this Garrison But what misfortune would be comparable with mine were it not for the company that these little Cucuyës have afforded me who more pittifull then men come in to me as often as my keepers doe and mingle their living lights with the obscuritie of this Dungeon And you O the only man whom I have seene since I have beene in the power of Montezuma if you feare the gods and take pleasure in well doing tell me by what force or cunning you have beene able to enter this place so strongly fortified and guarded My Father answered the King I fled from the persecution and ambushes of Montezuma when a tempest threw me in the Port. I have beene so fortunate that I presently deleated the Garrison and made my selfe master of the place Most certainly t is the gods who as you told me mov'd with your teares have vouchsafed to avenge you on the inhumanity of the Mexicans and their complices This resolute old man finding I know not what remainder of joy which the length of his afflictions had not been able to consume assured my deare Master that he never despaired but that he hoped yet to make the Rebells of Quito and the ambitious Mexicans to feele what a just indignation could inflict on them Whilest he spoake thus the king handled his chaynes and tryde to undoe them but seeing he could not doe it alone he commanded me to put to my hand and to helpe breake them We did it by the meanes of some instruments we sent for and set the generous Alisma at liberty The long time which the good old mans legs had beene hampered and as it were shortned in his fetters would not permit him to make use of the liberty was given him It was impossible for him not only to walke but well to stand up Zelmatida perceiving his weakenesse held him up on the one side and my selfe on the other wee helped him up the stayres of his prison and carried him to the Mexican Captaines lodging As soone as the violence of his payne was lessened and gotten out of his fainting occasioned by the change of ayre he asked for something to eate Zelmatida gave him of the best he could finde to comfort his heart when his body weakened through fastings watchings and tortures was somewhat strengthened by those sweete and nourishing remedies he fell asleepe and continued all the rest of the night in such a repose as was a very new thing to him Zelmatida lay downe all clad on some coverlets he sent for from the shippe and awaking every foote sometimes to be informed of the old mans health and other whiles to know what was done in the Fort remained till breake of day without giving any intermission to his disquiets He then arose and went with five or fixe souldiers to take a view of all places where there were put Centinels He met the Mexican Captaine who was hasâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…king on a high bastion and ruminating all alone the bitternesse of his preâ—…ed 〈◊〉 He told him that his silence and fidelity had not the successe he promised himâ—… and that he would no more aske him the reasons which oblieged Montezuma to cause thâ—…t place to be so guarded I know answered the Mexican that your curiosity or to say better the justice of heaven hath gone beyond the care and providence of my King Alisma is no more a prisoner and this brave personage who hath beene alwaies an example of that faith which we owe to our Soveraignes knowes by his owâ—… experience that those which continue loyall are never unfortunate At that word Zelmatida interrupting him since said he you have Alismaes virtue hope for his fortune but we will not exercise your patience so long as some have done his You may at this instant enjoy your liberty which he hath not found but after many yeares of impâ—…ment With this he left the Mexican and returned to us where he found the magnanimious old man awake and speaking to him with as much â—…espect as if he had spoke to his father asked him how he had passed the night So well answered Alisma that me thinks I have recovered all my former strength and that I now want nothing to renew the waâ—…e with the traytors who have involved in the same ruine the great Guina Capa and the splendor of the Empyre of the Incaes Whilest he spake thus he had his eyes fixed on Zâ—…matida and found in his face I know not what resemblance that brought on him an universall trembling Zelmatida tooke notice of that agitation and fearing some sicknesse in Alisma intreated to know if he desired any thing that might comfort him My sonne answered the old man the best remedy you can give me is to tell me who you are Father replyed
wound I have given my selfe but it can never take away the scarre I would say that you might well get mee the Letter which Polexander hath received from me but it is not in your power to make it so that he hath not had it I feare not his vanity but his memory and whilest that hath a being yet should I not be freed of my feare though I had that which you might promise me Let him enjoy then that acknowledgment of the services he hath done mee and hence forward let us have no more commerce with him then with Spanyards and other strangers which some tempest or chance hath sometimes throwne on our Coastes You were then by this command as it were buried in the memories of those that loved you But it was only in shew for in effect you lived there in spight of all Inhibitions Alcidiana first violating her Lawes entertayned her selfe with you alone and thinking to remove out of her fancy and Idea that discontented her not but in that it seemed too pleasing to her perceived not that her thoughts and the intention of her thought were directly contraâ—…y At the same as you know the winning Cephalus Prince of the bloâ—…d of Alcidiana and her publique adorer proclaimed a Turney to which your courage and judgement furnished you with that admirable meanes by which it was permitted you to fight with Cephalus without offending Alcidiana You conserv'd â—…o him the honour which your incomparable dexterity or to speake more conformably to your passion and my duty which the weakenesse of Cephalus might have made him lose This new victory brought new disquiets on the Queene and made her knowe that it was in vaine for her to essay to acquit her selfe towards you The very evening that the justs ended she shut her up with Amintha and beginning anew what a moneth of silence had interrupted See us now said she in worse case then before I thought Polexander had beene in my debt and I finde my selfe behinde-hand with him more then I am able to pay him Were I answerable for no more then for my kingdome and liberty I have both to give him satisfaction But since hee hath preserved to me the honour which rash Cephalus had hazarded can I acknowledge that great service but by the thinge it selfe which he hath preserved And if that must be what will become of the wretched Alcidiana Canst thou live deprived of that glory which thy predecessors left thee and which thou maist say without boasting was gotten thee by the practise of all the virtues Amintha seeing the Princesse griefe to be so excessive that it drew teares from her eyes was very much moved at it and forgetting your interests for those of her good Mistresse Your Majesty said she must not any longer suffer a sicknesse which insensibly gets on the heaâ—…t and may become deadly if in time there be not applied to it fire and sword I was the first that neglected it since I thought it not considerable but now I know its greatnesse and foresee what may ensue I am the first that runne for remedies and throwing my selfe at the feete of your Majesty humbly to beseech you to employ all and not to reject the most violent The honour I have to be intrusted with your secrecies forbids mee to have other consideration then of you and I cannot bee silent without sinning against that Soveraigne lawe which commands me to expose my life for the safety of your Majesty The innocent and faire Alcidiana hearing Amintha speake so seriously thought her self ill of some exâ—…reame dangerous sicknesse and feare which commonly accompanies ignorance bringing on her extraordinary troubles and disquiets shee fell on Aminthaes neck wet her face with her teares and conjured her by her friendshippe to give her such advice as might be most safe for her Heale said she a malady of which in some sort you have beene the cause I finde it more troublesome then grievous but you know it better then I and I had rather trust my selfe to your experience then to mine owne feelings Let us therefore be industrious Amintha in a businesse so urgent and not putting off our cure to the succour that may come with time let us try all those meanes that heaven hath put into our power Amintha judging by this discourse that the Queene knew nothing at all of her sicknesse or to speake more truly that she had no other ill but that which was begot by that high and imperious humor in which she was bred saw well that it was not necessary to urge your depart nor to make your stay suspected She therefore insensibly diverted Alcidianaes feares and resolutions and repenting what her affection had made her say against you assured the Princesse that you had not undertaken to combat with Cephalus but with the same intention that he had done the justs that was you had a resolution to make your skill and gallantrie appeare and not to engage the honour of the Princesse And that you expected no other repute then that which is gotten by the like exercises Cephalus said shee had published that you were the fairest Princesse in the World Hee tooke armes to maintaine it against all those that professe to love what is fayre Polexander would rayse the price upon him more then he He therefore maintained against him his armes in his hand that you were yet somewhat more then the other imagined and the successe of the justs hath made it seene that his proposition was true What doe you thinke Madam that you owe him for it Nothing but what the Sunne owes them that call him the Author of life the Father of light and the fayrest of all inannimate Creatures If Polexander had beene suddainly changed into some other and become so vaine to looke for a reward after this last Combat it should be then from the truth which he hath defended and not from you that he was to expect it Set your minde then at rest and driving farre from your fayre Soule those thoughts that disturbe it hold it for an infallibility that your Majesty cannot be beholding to any one since the honour to serve you is so great a recompence to those that doe it that they are payd for all their services even before they have begun them The Queene whose extreme youth could not afford her those experiments that Amintha had gathered by the benefit of more yeeres felt her selfe no lesse peacefull and at rest after the second discourse of her Confident then the first had put her out of order She then rested her minde in its first seate and retayning no other thoughts for you then she had for other Princes was glad to giue you occasion to abide in her Court and by your presence obliege her people to stifle for ever all causes of revolting After that resolution two or three moneths slid away during which time you had often the honour to see the Queene and obtayned by your
Father to send his Embassadors to mine to treate of his marriage with me In the meane while he negotiated so dextrously or rather so detestably with those that governed the will and estate of good Muley that they made him jealous of my Lover and made them resolve to ruine him The weakenesse of my poore Father exceedingly advanced the plots of that traitour For scarce had his Ministers represented to him that for the safety of his estate and the conservation of his Authority 't was fit that the yong Prince were dismissed the Court but that he consented to it as easily as if he had never knowne nor loved him For my selfe that had far lesse passion for the State then for my Lover no sooner heard the newes but I tore my haire scratched my face blasphemed against heaven and violating all that I owed to the best Father in the world accused his Councell and himselfe of treason and tyranny But understanding from whence my affliction had his beginning I turned all my rage on the perfidious Nephizus I told him such things and spoake to him in such a manner as might well have put him from the desire of possessing me if he had not had that desire of obtaining me for no other cause but to make me prodigiously miserable Muley Hassen had received commandment to retire himselfe to the Towne of Mezila which confines with the deserts of Numidia and to depart without seeing the King nor my sister nor my selfe Yet he obeyed not the last of these commands For the same night that he was to be gone deceiving his spies and guarde he came into my closet where I staied for him with my deare Atalida As soone as he came in he cast himselfe rather as dead then alive at my feete and when I went to raise him I fell a side and so on my bed in a swound Atalida had much ádoe to make us come to our selves At last by vertue of some Essences I came from my fainting and seeing Muley stretched as dead I lay downe by him and did whatsoever my griefe and love advised me But what said I No no I did nothing of what they ordained me to doe since I dyed not with griefe for such a separation When he had recoliected his spirits he was ashamed to see himselfe as he was He presently arose and setling him on his knees Madam said he if those that banish me from the Court had considered how far unworthy I am of the honour I receive from your goodnesse I should be the first that would approove their sentence and receive with a benediction a thing which they had done with so much justice But since neither the greatnesse of your merit nor the defects in me have not beene the motives of their condemnation be pleased that I complaine of their viâ—…lence and that seperating the interest of my Lord the King from those of his enemies I say aloud that to deale with me as I am dealt withall is to abuse the regall power O how those jealous and ambitious Officers had obliged me if in putting me from the troubles of the State they had not banished me from you T is the losse of the sight of yourfaire eyes and not my credit that I lament I shall see you no more Ennoramita and in the dreadfull Deserts whereto I am exiled the feare to be blotted out of your memory as a fearefull Monster will continually war with me Let that feare cease with your teares I replyde weeping what ever becomes of Ennoramita she will be alwaies yours O how advantagious are my disgraces said he presently and how happy doe my misfortunes make me since by their meanes I have obtained that which I hoped not to have gotten by the services of all my life Yes Muley said I in interrupting him Ennoramita is thine and beleeve for certaine that she will never be any others Wee parted after reciprocall protestations of constancy and fidelity and whilst my deare Muley got to the Deserts of Numidia the Embassadours of Morocco hastened their Journey and arrived at Thunis They had divers Audiences of the King and his Ministers after the DeclaratioÌ„ that Heley Abdelmelec had sent by which Nephizus was put in possession of the Kingdome of Fez I was sacrificed to the rage of that Monster and to the establishment of the greatnesse of the elder Sister I neglected nothing to deliver me from the miseries prepared for me I would have killed my self but 't was not ni my power I tryed to have fled away but I was hindred I fell sick even to the losse of my sences but time tooke me from the one and the other malady At last my Sister that never forsooke me representing me that which duty birth virtuâ—… and fitnesse required from me I indured to be drawne to Fez. Muley truely postest my minde and heart Yet I assure you I lived with my husband as an honest woman should and unwilling to doe any thing unworthy my spirit I gave to Nephizus the enciâ—…e disposition of my body I looked on him as a Tyrant but as a Tyrant who by a just title had gotten to be the absolute Master both of my life death I obeyed him therefore punctually and did that out of duty which I could not out of love After I was at home with him he askd me most unworthily every day gave me so unreasonable commands that I beleeve he did it not but of purpose to make me disobey him so by consequence to have cause to abuse me But I was so ready and obedient that he was put to his wits to finde a pretext to make me feele his fury I spoke not to any one of the Knights of his Court I was invironed with a circle of black slaves that watched after my shortest treadings I went not out of my chamber and had no diversion but the remembrance of my deare Muley Sometimes my hangman would come where I was with a sole designe to afflict me and then he entertained with slave infamous prostitute and seeing me melt into teares I knew would he say that one day I should bring downe that pride which hath so often abused me and avenge my selfe at pleasure of thy impudence and scorne Weepe wretch weepe not out of anger to see thy selfe subjected to my command but rather out of griefe for rendring thy selfe unworthy of my love One day when he had extraordinarily abused me what then said I enough resolutely obliged thee to charge thy selfe with me The longing I had to be avenged on thine insolence replide he I desired to raigne absolutely over thee that so by a long punishment I might chastice thy disdaines and scoffs Never hope to regaine that which thou hast so brutishly disdained The time is past wherein I was so weake as to suffer my self to be caught by thy so little beauty I am thy deadly enemy expect no other usage from me but that which hatred and
your ill nay you should be happy if you could suffer me to be unhappy Alas doe not impose on me that cruel necessity of obeying you What Muley said I with a note of anger doe you thinke to make your selfe to be thought on by your disobedience I have err'd replyed the Prince presently faling at my feet I disavow all that I have said I obey with a blind obedience and put off so absolutely all that is proper to me that already I feele no more in me any rebellious motion nor will which is not absolutely conformable to yours Command then Madam and prescribe what you please is fit I should doe I would have thee live said I but I would not have thee live altogether â—…nted since I am most unfortunate Leave then this manner of life so sad and obscure and get you farre hence to doe such acts that the report of them may come even into these Deserts My honour and faith forbid me to have more private and particular communications with thee but they cannot countermand my rejoyciâ—…g at thy glorious actions O Virtue without example cryed the poore Muley in Spanish by what prodigie hath the miserable Nephizus been able to resist thy charmes But Madam said he coming nearer to me I make you too long expect the consent I owe to all that you please From this day I will quit this Cave and if Fortune deigne to second my obedience and courage you shall receive that content which you expect from my actions Go then deare Muley said I and doe so that in spight of my fetters and Tyrant I may be yet capable of some happinesse See how wee parted Muley forsooke his retirement and I returned into mine with a resolution not to come forth againe I was there neere six moneths without hearing any thing from the wicked Nephizus Yet I understood by the dexterity of Atalida and knew that that abhominable Prince having corrupted the good nature or rather the vanity of Abdelmelec had made him take armes against the milde Hely and that those 2 unnatural Children forgetting what they owed their too indulgent father were combinde together to striue who first should deprive him of his Scepter with his life I will not trouble you with the recitall of those domestique dissentions Let me rather entertaine you with the extreame fidelity and brave actions of Muley He had not been three monethes from the solicitudes of Atlas when I heard by a Courier which my too-unsensible father had sent to Nephizus that he was set on by Land and Sea and invested on all sides by the forces which the great Turke had sent into Africa That his Estate was as a prey if he were not quickly assisted and expecting from day to day to be besieged in Tunis he intreated his Allyes and all his neighboures to prepare a puissant succour and thinke seriously how to deliver all Africk who would meet her train in that of Tunis This Messenger came to Nephizus at Morocco But he tooke little care to goe to Succour his father in Law that was obstinately busied about the ruin of his owne father This courier was seconded by many others who all instantly pressed for aide but return'd all without obtaining any And when I thought to have heard of the taking of Tunis I understood that it had been miraculously reliev'd by the valour of a Man who with a potent army of Arabians was come out of Numidia I asked his name and was answered that he would never make it knowne But to enhance his actions they told me that he had cut in peices the Turkish Army burned a great many of his ships pursued the Runawayes even to Argier inhartned the inhabetants of Tunis and made knowne to the King my Father that he desired no other rewards for so generous an action then the honour to have done it I caused this Messenger very particularly to be demanded whither they could know nothing concerning that man from some one or other of the Arabians or whether he had not caused his troopes to carry some Device or marke by which he might be knowne The Messenger sent me word that the generous stranger had so exactly caused his Secret to be observed that none of them all had discovered him and that in all the Ensignes of his army there was only seene two Arabian words which signified Love and Obedience Assoone as Atalida had tould me that paticularity doubt no more of it said shee 't is Muley He hath kept promise with me and hath kept it so much the more generously in that forgetting the indignities he receiv'd from my father he would by his deliverance begin those brave actions I advised him to These great newes were not alone the cause that confirmed me in the opinion I had of my Lover Many more as good were brought me in less then four moneths the King my father being never able to know from whence was come to him so powerfull a defender nor who he was writ to me oftentimes that he beleiv'd it was an Angell which his prophet had sent him to reproove the Princes of Fez and Morocco and his other Allyes and throw an infamy on them for their perfidies and ingratiude All this while Nephizus continued his tragâ—…dies But the end of them turning to his owne misery he saw himselfe constrain'd as my old Governour made me beleeve to save himselfe in a vessel and â—…ly from the coasts of Morocco These were the last newes I heard of him For since Narcissus though much urg'd by my prayers and teares would never tel me any thing of the man but that they knew not what was become of him A whole yeare I continued in this incertainty But when I thought on it least I found my selfe in full liberty for my old Eunuch supposing a command which I believe was false told me that he was ingag'd to goe to the King my father in Law I was much surpriz'd at this Iourney yet imagining that he did it not without order I thought it was from Nephizus By little and little the most of my guard followed their Captaine so that in lesse then eight or ten dayes I saw my company reduced only to those servants I had brought with me from Tunis Atalida was the first that told me of so incredible a novelty but to make me beleeve it they were forced as I might say to make me touch it with finger When I was put out of all doubt I stood so astonished at it that after I had been a long while in re-collecting my selfe I cried out as if I had been in some great danger and told Atalida that the liberty they gave me after so extraordinary a fashion threatned me with some mischance far greater then that of my prison Atalida did what she could to put off this imagination But I knew too well the pernicious nature of Nephizus either to beleive him capable of doing good or to repent himsselfe of the
speedy returne Assoone as he was in his lodging he sent for an old Knight that had been his Governour and since by him made Vice-Roy of the Canaries Him he commanded to observe Zelmatida as himself and to do nothing without his ordering His Vice-Roy answered that he would not faile in what he had prescrib'd him and that he would endeavour to behave him in such an observance that he should have no cause to be discontented I intreat you Father said the King to perform it and with that went to the Princess of Tunis who had sent to looke for him whilst he was with Zelmatida He wondred to see her ready so early and wanting time to imploy those obliging termes which comlacency hath made men invent to â—…atter the Sloth of women he set himselfe to finde fault with the incommodity of her Chamber and the illness of the bed whereon she lay I was never better said Amatonta and if the Newes I heard last evening had not hindered my rest I had been yet deepely in my first slumber But not to keepe from you longer the resolution I have taken this night I will tel you that I should think my self guilty of an ingratitude the most base and Signall â—…f I did not destinate all the time and Liberty which heaven hath vouchsafd to give meto the contentment of Muley Hassen I therefore though abruptly take my leave of you and converting into actions of thankes those prayers and intreaties I intended to make you I promise to preserve eternally the memory of your courtesies and that if I ever arrive at any happinesse I will impute it to the felicity of meeting with you since in the same instant I found the end of a part of my misfortunes You should ascribe it to the Iustice of heaven answer'd Polexander for after it had tried your constancy by a great many of crosses and persecutions it was obliged to give that virtue the Crown it had deserved Do not doubt Madam but that you shall find Muley-Hassen againe overcome the insensibility of the King your Father and moving him with the recital of your disgraces you shal find even in Tunis the desired haven wherein your vertue shal rest safe and free from al Tempests Set on-wards then assoone as you can since that your happinesse attends you on the coasts of Africa and if you thinke it fit to honour me in waiting on you thither I promise to my selfe that I shall be a witness of your good fortune Ah Polexander answered Ennoramita I doubt not but that if my felicity depended on you it should be very neere and certaine But when I thinke on the difficulties that yet oppose it it is almost impossible for mee to hope for it T is aboue 2 yeares since Muley hath heard from me and by consequence knows not whether I be alive or dead His affection hath certainely perswaded him that I am dead and imagin to what dispaire that beliefe hath carried him Alas that poore Prince hath done violence to himselfe not to survive me Quite contrary replied Polexander he lives and desires to reveng your death hath certainely made him resolve to seeke after Nephizus even to the end of the world and not to attempt ought against himselfe till he hath found his Enemy But will you say if by chance he heare of his death he will give over to search by consequence to live No such matter Madam he wil without doubt have heard from some one how you are gotten from your prison and may be not knowing now where you are he wanders through the Kingdome of the King your Father to Learne what is become of you My first thoughts said Ennoramita would have me beleeve you but when I advise with my reason it tells me that I doe but take pleasure in deceiving my selfe to flatter me with these vaine hopes Yet happen what may I beleeve what I Desire and promise to my selfe that after I may being so long time unfortunate I shall be as long againe happy Let us then Madam said Polexander ship our selves with that good presage and doubt no more of the successe of our enterprise If you will do me the honour to be advis'd by me I would have you goe to Morocco It is impossible that amongst the great number of Africans which are to meet at Abdelmelec's Turney wee should not meet with some one that knowes Muley-Hassen And who knowes whether that Prince wearied with so many journeys which he hath so unprofitably taken should not come to Movocco to enquire after you from some of the Domesticks of the late Prince of Fez. Perselida Amatonta overcome by reasons so conformable to her wishes consented to goe to Morocco and understanding that the wind was fit for that crossing over would not even give her selfe the time of a repast And Polexander having given command that his great vessell of Warre should follow him with those domesticall servants he could not missebrought the Princesse of Tunis to the haven and shipped himselfe with her The first houres of their imbarquing were imployed in diverse imployments Polexander much perplex'd for his taking a course so opposite to that which should conduct him to his intended happinesse complayn'd as he was wont of the Injustice of Fortune and not without reason reproach'd her that there was not a day wherein she raisd him not up new hindrances and new Enemies Ennoramita on the contrary made vowes to that imaginary Power and to obtaine a happy successe to her designes besought her to conduct Muley-Hassen to Morocco or at least to preserve his life and take out of his minde the distrust of her not being yet among the living She her selfe granted her own request and taking on her the place of fortune assured her selfe that all her misfortunes were ended that Muley-Hassen was alive and that her Father who had so long time forgotten her repented him of his obduracye and sigh'd for her returne This Princess having wearied her Imagination with too much troubling it was inforc'd to make an end of her musings she sent to know what our Heroe did and that Message being an advertisement to the Prince to go see her He came from his Cabinet and to entertaine her with what was most welcome to her I know not sayd he whence the beliefe comes to me but I cannot let it slip out of my fantasie that you shall meet with Muley at Morocco and that your content shall begin in the very same place where your afflictions had their Originall If that bliss betide me replied Amatonta I Will as much blesse Morocco as I have heretofore curs'd it and that to make it suffer some part of those miseries which I have endured unjustly through the cruelty of her Prince the fire of Heaven would consume it to ashes But t is fittest that the memory of what is passed should be blotted out and to bury with Nephizus all causes that have made me hate him Your
to relent besought the King to give her over for the price of his liberty My body said she is yours give it then to that Monster and make use of that power which Nature hath given you and with that she againe imbrac'd her Father and besmear'd her face all over with his blood When she thought that she was frightfull enough by that soyling shee turn'd her to the Tyrant and extending her Armes and hands to him Thou most infamous and lustfull Goate cried she why dost thou not exact presently from this Prince whilst he suffers under thy afflicting torments that which thy lust hath so long wished for Abdulac made his Daughter to be silent by the most pitifull remonstrances that so tragicall an occasion could put into the mouth of a Father But why should I stand so much on the misfortunes of that incomparable payr The good King would never consent to the dishonour of his Daughter and seeing so great constancy in so weak a personage indur'd with a great deale of patience his ignominious and cruell usage The inhumane Elmely grown desperate by the virtue of those two truly-royall minds caus'd Arzila to be put into a Dungeon apart from her Father and so went away after he had assur'd them that there should not passe a day wherein they should not feel how far his choler would extend It is brave Knights five moneths now since these honor'd personages have suffer'd an infinite sort of indignities in these Dungeons wherein they are buried alive Ever since I have been able to carry Armes I have try'd divers wayes to free the Father and Daughter but none hath succeeded and if by your assistance I see me not quickly in case to pluck the Tyrant from that Throne who is no way redoubtable but in words I here make a vow never to review my desolate Country Abdelmelec who was present at this relation perceiving that Sidy-Bu-Median had no more to say fixing his Eyes a while on the portraict of Arzila began to speak thus I see well said he to the unfortunate Knight that you are come hither to make friends and not to engage your selfe in new enmities As for my selfe who alone should have some cause to refuse the succour you come for since you are come with an intent to fight with me yet I make known to you that I give my full resentment to the consideration of Arzila and will imploy for her deliverance and the King her Father all the power that I have in the Kingdomes of Fez and Morocco Above five hundred Knights Christians and Mahometans presently after offered themselves to Sidy and their offers were prosecuted with so many actions of valour that the very yeare of the Turney the false Prophet was burn'd alive in Telensin Abdulac Vmen reestablished in his Throne and the vertuous Arzila married to the constant Sidy-Bu-Median Assoone as he had given Abdelmelec thanks for the assistance he promised he besought him to dispence with his Iusting against him for said he I cannot without an extravagancy contest for valour with that man whose succour I am come to implore After he had made this just excuse to the Prince of Morocco he retyr'd and left the field free to a Portugall Knight the Son of the Governour of Larache who on the faith of Abdelmelec's Chartells fear'd not to forsake the Banks of Zila and to put himselfe into the hands of his Enemies He came to the place appointed for Speech and said boldly that he was a Christian in Religion a Portingall by birth a sworne Enemy to the Moores by duty and inclination and Son of him that had taken from them the towne of Larache But if all these things said he give you cause to look on me with an Eye of of hatred that which I have yet to tell you will oblige you to behold me with that of commiseration and pity Amongst the Slaves which the Law of Armes gave us we met with a Moorish Lady so faire and so accomplish'd that assoon as I saw her I became her Vassal Neither the Antipathy of our Nations nor the contrariety of our Beleifes no not the very contempt which that deare Enemy made of my service have been able to cure me of my passion I daily besought her to be favourable unto me and as daily she rejected my prayers She will not almost either see me or heare me and threatens that if I restore her not quickly to her father she will free her selfe by death from the servitude wherein she is I feare to lose her either one way or other so that I know not how to demean my selfe towards her I would willingly give her her liberty but I feare that she will forsake me assoone as she is free On the other side I doubt least in keeping her she carry her selfe to some desperate action and that apprehension presseth me to send her to her Parents At the same of this Turney I have taken Armes to oblige her and having promis'd to maintaine that she is fairer then all the Ladyes in Africa I am now come to perform my word to her After the Portugall had made this recitall he was led about the Lists and being left with a very good Lance expected when the Trumpets should give him a Signall of the time and order of the Combat Presently after came Abdelmelec out of his Pavilion and being warned to put on came fiercely on the Portingall who made it appeare that he was an excellent Horseman and broke his Lance on the Princes Caske At the second Course he made the Challenger forsake his Saddle but by his owne strength as much as by that of his Enemy he was carried over his Horses Crupper The Officers of the field came and presently took him up and giving him his horse againe took his Buckler and hung it up among many others under the Portraict of Alcidiana The valiant Moore Elgazair tooke the Portugals place That Knight was the belov'd of Ladies and Warriours and though he was very inconstant in his Love and Freindship yet he had the good luck to acquire many Mistresses and many Freinds At the first Turney of Abdelmelec he did Wonders for the proud Moore Abra at that of Nephizus at Fez he maintained that Arais Princesse of the Arabians of the Mountain Farobe was the most charming beauty of either the one or the other Mauritania and now he would make Abdelmelec confesse that Alcidiana was not so faire as the young Elserifa He came to make his Declaration at the accustomed place and made all his Auditors laugh at the grace wherewithall he publish'd the perfections of his new and easie Mistris He desired not though to be esteem'd more constant then he was and for that cause he carried both armes a Device that intimated sufficiently the ficklenesse of his mind His Arms were wavy and wrought with such art that when the Sun darted his beames on them the Colours losing themselves one in another
they soone changed their opinion for presently after they saw come in divers foot-boyes and many horses which among the black that cover'd them made some shew of flames The Captaine of this Brigade was mounted upon a Roane horse with Caparisons of black Velvet imbroider'd with Gold and Silk of the colour of fire The Armes he bare by the industry of the Workman represented a furnace wherein the fire was nourished by a little mizling raine that fell into it His shield was black in many places and the rest bloodied with the long tresse of a Comet This Devise had for motto to it these three Latin words Vt perdat lucet Polemander so was the Knight call'd so deadly inflamed came to the place prescrib'd and easily obtaining the Audience he desired said that he was come out of the Mountaines which separate Spaine from France to give to the faire Infeliciana the last testimony of his love Truely his constancy deserves from us extraordinary prayses For though the object of his passion was during her life full of grace and merit yet we must confesse that there was a miracle in so long a perseverance Infeliciana enjoyed in the highest degree all that which the fairest Ladies either Greek or Spanish had of allurement or fire yet whoever di-sinteress'd should Judge will acknowledge the beauty of that Lady to be nothing in comparison of the wonders of her wit and the sweetnesse of her conversation This magnanimous Knight charm'd with so many divine qualities had neither soul nor life but what he receiv'd from the Eyes or discourse of Infeliciana When he was absent from her he did nothing but languish His melancholy and heavinesse made both the Court and the light odious to him and made the King of Navarre of whom he was passionatly belov'd to take notice of it That Prince by all manner of offers and favours would faine have won him to discover the cause of his disquiet but all in vaine After he had long time mused on it he doubted that the sadnesse of his favorite came from love and himselfe being then extreamely in love with a young Lady call'd Ismenia who wanted no allurements he imagin'd that Polemander kept not his love private for any other thing but because it had originall from her beauty Presently the King grew jealous and so extreamely jealous that to free him of all his suspitions he made use of all the wit and subtlety wherewith his love could furnish him But it was all in vaine that he made use of his great promises his feined compassion and his other artifices The discretion and silence of Polemander triumph'd over all those enemies and confirmd the King in that opinion he had too lightly conceiv'd He secretly look'd on Polemander as his Rivall He forgot what he was to him He threatens him and suffering himselfe to be transported by his former motions deliberated already on the execution of him which but lately he lov'd as his owne person On the other side his fury made him think strange things of Ismenia He accused her for being crafty to desire more then one Lover and but to feine as often as she promised him her affection some dayes passed during which the Prince was able to containe him but the excessive torments which his silence added to those his jealousie made him undergoe compel'd him at last to make known his sufferings and discover to all Navarre the cause of his vexation He brake out in the end even against Polemander and not content to revile him for those things whereof he never thought told him that if he gave not over his love he would make him feele all that which could be expected from the just indignation of an offended Monarch This perfect lover seeing himselfe thrust at tott'ring on all sides would not give place to violence but abiding in his first resolution intended to perish rather then to faile of that secrecy he had promised to Infeliciana Whilst all the Court was troubled at the Melancholy and Châ—…'ler of the King and that the Enemies of POLEXANDER accusd him aloud to be too indiscreet Infeliciana admir'd the generousnesse of her Lover She confesseth that he only is worthy to be beloved and laugh'd at the blindnesse of those cowardly and perfidious minds that have no other light but what they have from Envy and detraction Polemander who well saw how much his discretion made him miserable protested to Infeliciana never to forsake her and rather to lose the Kings favour then to violate his faith or those commands which she had justly impos'd on him He kept his word so truly that the most crafty and curious Courtiers of them all were as well caught as the rest and made no difficulty to beleive that Ismenia was the true cause of Polemander's passion But if their preoccupation had not made them see things far otherwise thenthey were it had been very easie for them to have been dis-beguild when Infeliciana was taken from the Court to be given to a German Prince to whom she had been promis'd by her parents Truly death is not so horrible as the departure of Infeliciana was to Polemander He fail'd but little of being lost to himselfe and had infallibly done injury to his owne person if that beautie's forbiddings and the hope of re-seeing her had not staid his Tragicall resolution In spight of himselfe he therefore gave himselfe life but unwilling to keep it but as an Enemy which he would persecute he did him those ills and went on to such extremities that none would ever beleive it but such as have lov'd so truly as he The day that Infeliciana parted he went out alone from the City and taking on him the habit of a Begger put himselfe in the way she was to pass As farre off as He saw her Chariot he tore his hair gave most fearfull shriekes and beating his head against the trees and stones lay as dead in the midst of the high-way Those that rid before Infeliciana pittied him and taking him for a man afflicted with some strange sicknesse commanded their Servants to remove him those that were chosen to doe that worke of charity were so base that they had almost kild him in Lieu of assisting that poor Lover They did him a many mischiefes in drawing of him and with the extremity of their dragging made him recover his senses Presently he rose up as a man enraged and getting out of the hands of those unpitifull men ran even to Infeliciana's Chariot In her presence he renewed his cries and fury and spake such things that the most barbarous mindes could not hear without releâ—…ting On an instant he cast himself under the Chariot which the Charioteer had stop'd and as he lay there besought them to crush his head in peices under the Wheeles to terminate by so glorious a death a life that was odious unto him in this speech he intermingled the Name of Infeliciana and repeated it so often
his Queene guilty of high treason and to condemn her to a prison unlimitable but by the ends of her life Nay she had woâ—… him to have strangled with his owne hands the Sonne 〈◊〉 had by that unfortunate Princesse but that Almaid a Lord of Senega hindered the murther and plucked the 〈◊〉 from the blinde fury of the Father and the sharpe sighted rage of his step-mother who for a long time knew not what was become of the Childe but her spies were so industrious that at last they discovered he was bred up in King Benin's Court. As soone as she heard it she resolved his death and chusing me for the executioner or at least the prosecutor she put in practice all that she knew might conduce to the perfecting of her damnable designe She forced Zabaim to write to Benin for the delivering his Sonne into my hands and in case he should refuse it forced to denounce war against him You may easily see all this wickednesse proved when you please to read the letter I gave you But in as much as the African Kings never make denuntiation of wars but they send the Ring which is the principall note of their dignity I found a way to steale it from Zabaim Now to tell you after so many villanies that which hath beene the cause of my being now your prisoner know I parted from Senega expressely on a message to King Benin and if that Prince had delivered into my hands the lawfull heire of Senega for certaine blinded as I was with ambition I had executed Zelopa's command and sheathed the sword I weare in the breast of that Innocent Polexander affrighted at so horrible a relation told his prisoner he gave thankes to heaven for his being mistaken and that in his misfortunes he found a great deale of consolation since the divine goodnesse had vouchsafed to make use of his errour for the hindring the death of the Prince of Senega It belongs to me answered the prisoner throwing himself at our Princes feete to give thankes to the fountaine of all mercy for the enlightning my soule with the raies of his love in spight of my obduratnesse I therefore make a vow not to abuse it any more nor ever to returne into my Countrey till it be freed from Zelopa's tyranny You shall doe very well replied Polexander and to quit you from the sorrowing for the losse of your fortunes by this resolution I engage my selfe to restore them to you The Prince infallibly had beene better then his word to him but heaven seeing the holy and rigorous penitence of that sinner was willing to recompence him more liberally then Polexander For it tooke him out of this world the very same day that wee arrived at the Canaries I will not relate to you the sundry fights Polexander had with the Pirates whilst wee strove to bring him back into his Kingdome I will only tell you he was there no more happy then he was at sea At his arrivall he heard of the death of the incomparable Axiamira He bewailed her losse as much as it deserved and after some moneths of mourning from one part of piety â—…ell to another He bestowed all his time in hearing the complaints of his Subjects to reconcile their differences and to free them from all feare of the Spanish forces After all this he deigned to cast his eyes on me declared me his Vice-roy in all his Isles and establishing me in that authority before his departure commanded that in his absence I should be obeyed as himselfe Scarce tooke he any time of repose after so many travells and disquiets Amintha's Confident whom he had brought from the Islands of mad men seeing him still to grieve for the losse of the picture strive said she one day to get the thing it selfe rather then the shadow That thought answered the Prince comes on me a hundred times in a day but I give no eare to it because it proposeth to me a thing impossible T is so indeed replied Elida by ordinary meanes but you must have recourse to such as are not so Alas and what are those asked the Prince I imagine to my selfe one added Elida that seemes to me infallible I prithee tell that me said the King It behooves you then added Elida either under pretext of religion or otherwise to get entrance into the Isle of the Sun and when you are permitted to abide there stay for the comming of Lynceus or some other of Alcidiana's Pilots I intend so much sadly answered Polexander but when I have attempted it what will be the issue for my consolation I make it no difficulty to get into the Isle of the Sun since it is never denied to such as come thither to sacrifice And I may too stay there nay and meete with those that come from Alcidiana's Island but all this is nothing for I am certaine the Queenes Pilots will never receive me into their vessell What ground have you for that feare said Elida to him From some what you have spoaken to me unawarres replied Polexander I thinke I know what you would say answered Elida Yet faile not to doe all that lies in your power and leave the rest to fortune If you gatâ—…er thence no other satisfaction yet you shall at least have thus much that you have not neglected any meanes of making your selfe happy Well I 'le believe you deare Elida said the Prince and indeed followed her advice so absolutely that the very next day he put to Sea and tooke with him that Maiden Alcippus and Diceus and though his Pilot knew not the scituation of the Island of the Sun yet he promised to finde it provided it were not inchanted as that of Alcidiana But the season being extreamely ill and the difficulty which the Pilot thought to orecome greater then he imagined he was above two moneths contesting with his ignorance and the frequent stormes At last he drew neere to that Island and Polexander being where he might discover a far off perceived a vessell which came away from the Isle He made up to her he carefully marked her and finding by assured tokens that she belonged to Alcidiana followed her but in such a manner as he believed he made them not jealous of him Yet Lynceus for t was he perceived the Kings designe and winding up and downe all the rest of the day thrust himselfe into the Haven of the Sun as soone as the obscurity of the night had made him lose sight of the Princes vessell The next morning he sought for her he pursued her he got with all the sailes he could make away from the place where he might have found her in short by often turning and traversing that sea Polexander returned to the place from whence he set saile Heere he spent a part of the winter for all his impatiences At last his strength being by little and little ore come by the weakenesse of his minde he fell sick of a languishing disease
Diamonds with a great deale of civillity Be pleased said he to accept this boxe for a remembrance of our meeting But doe not imagine I am so ignorant of the value of things that I thinke my selfe acquitted of the debt I owe you by the worth of the stones on it if I intreate you to accept it t is for no other consideration but that you may know if you come to the Court the name of the man whom you have obliged I dare not stay longer with you Thamiris command which calls me other where is too just to be obeyed At first Polexander was somewhat nice to take the boxe but perceiving by the Danes speech what a discontent that might have been to him had he refused it and besides conjecturing that token might be advantagious to him in his designe he tooke it and told him that going to the Court he would not faile to bring it him back aga he After this promise many great compliments passed assurd him that if any other then the Lady who had so well assisted him had commanded his carrying thence he would hardly have resolv'd to part with him The Dane besought him not to be troubl'd for him said that whither he went he raÌ„ no hazard Polexander expounded his words in the sence a Lover might give them and for feare of disobliging tooke his leave of him and the Lady and so with Alcippus and Dicâ—…us went streight to horse and recovering the high-way got quickly into a great Village at the end of the wood wherein he had met that bloody adventure Of necessity he was to alight there for Alcippus was so weake that he could ride no further He had him to be brought into the best Inne and commanded Diceus to treate him as himselfe It hapned as fate would that the Hoste was an old Souldier who after his bearing armes many yeares without bettering his fortune had retired himselfe thither and married an old Hostesse very well accommodated Polexander desirous to free the minde of his Hoste from the astonishment he had to see Alcippus in so ill an estate told him how in passing by the neighbouring forrest they had been set on by theeves You are not the first said he who have fallen into their hands There is none that passeth that way but he loseth his life or his money if he be not well accompanied Those are the inconveniences the wars usually leave behinde them and the disorders which happen through the negligence or purloining of such as are appointed the Souldiers pay masters This mans discourse made Polexander believe that he might informe him of what he so much longed to know He therefore in a small time grew to a great familiarity with him and to win him absolutely put himselfe to the trouble of inventing a thousand tales under whose probabillity he was got to be of his ancient acquaintance Some fifteene dayes he was in that Inne for Alcippus cure and one of them being wonderfull desirous to know who he might be whom he had ayded and finding his Hoste in a good humour asked him whether he went not sometimes to the Court He made answere he had beene there but too often and how after his unfortunately living there five and twenty yeeres he was constrained to retire to get his bread and play the begger no longer If so said Polexander there are then but few persons of quallity whose faces you know not 'T were happy for me said he if I knew them lesse then I doe and that their false semblances had not vainely abused my expectation and worne out the prime of my youth Whilst he was talking thus Polexander opened the boxe which the Dane gave him and taking out the picture shewed it to his Host. Scarce had he fully seene it but he cried out and clapping Polexander on the shoulder whence come you said he that you know not this face I come replied Polexander from wandring through most of Europe and am but newly come into Denmarke By chance found I this picture and imagining it belongs to some great Lord I would faine restore it and that bred my curiosity to know him You have good cause to prosecute your intention answered the Hoste for 't is the portraict of one who is likely to enrich you for the least service you can doe him his name is Phelismond our Kings Heire and Favourite or to speake more freely he is indeed the very King of Denmarke At the name of Phelismond Polexander was so supprised that he changed colour and was faine to sit downe to resettle himselfe His Host tooke notice of it and asked whether he were not well He replied t was the remaines of a late sicknesse and so cast himselfe on a bed as well to dismisse the man as to ponder seriously on so wonderfull an accident After a long times musing he rising addressed himselfe to his 〈◊〉 and told him he must participate of his astonishment and know who 't was whom they had 〈◊〉 from among the theeves T is said he Phelismond surely I know by this â—…at reaven delights in the confounding the judgements of men and laughing at 〈◊〉 deliberations will they nill they brings on them all which it had decreed from all eternity I came of purpose into this Kingdome to kill that Phelismond whom for Alcidiana's sake I have prosecuted as the chiefest of mine enemies and yet the first adventure which presented it selfe heere engaged me to hazard mine owne life to preserve his After this miracle I bow my head and see cleerely that heaven cannot suffer our rash thoughts to oppose themselves against the secrets of its providence My passion presented to me Phelismond as one of those happy Monsters whome fortune takes pleasure to raise aloft to shew how far pride and licence to doe any thing dare goe But I know quite contrary that this Prince is adorned with excellent quallities and his courtesie is no lesse winning then his valour is redoubtable without whose approbation there is not a virtue but is a vice nor courage but is unmanlinesse I am no lesse guilty then Phelismond since I have received other Lawes then those thou gavest me Tushe tushe I renouncâ—…e all these unlawfull motions for since thou hast resolved it Phelismond must perish When Polexander had ended Alcippus began and confessed there was something of he knew not what extraordinary good in this adventure neverthelesse said he to his Master I admire nought at all these strange accidents which betide in what you have undertaken You should not be the man you are if things did not befall you otherwise then to other men Well well said Polexander interrupting him t is enough once either Phelismond or I must dye The sentence of our deaths hath been given by the mouth of a Judge from whom it is neither lawfull for him or I to appeale Come let 's see whether he have as much courage against love as we have been witnesses he had
his quality Some time he spent in the Court of the King of Guinea from thence he went to that of Benin and came at last to ours at Congo Almanzor welcom'd him as a potent Prince and his ancient Allie Some few dayes after his arrivall some body spake to him of my beauty and wit and those relators told him those tales lyed the more boldly because they were certaine I was not to be seene and by consequence Zabaim could not convince them of imposture At first that young King heard those praises without shew of any desire to see me nor any great discontent if he had not seene me yet But assoone as he heard how my Father caus'd me be kept in a Palace whereinto none had accesse he seem'd presently troubled and growing in love on heare-say or rather following the error of most young people who affect nothing so much as what is forbidden resolved to see me When he had set that designe on foote all others were suspended and without foreseeing the difficulties of his enterprise therein imbark'd himselfe with all the indiscretion which commonly accompanieth those of his age and quality He might have made knowne his desire and have asked the King my Fathers leave to present his service but he thought it would be no glory to him to take those wayes which should be common to him with Princes of lesse value He therefore concealed his intention from him strove to win some one of my domesticks set his Confidents on worke walk'd at all times neere my lodgings and by a young mans imprudency no day past without talking to Almanzor of his depart and yet staid without any appearance of a just hinderance Some time past before my father had any suspicion of Zabaim but so soone as he had reflected on his discourses he perceiv'd the cunning He therefore set his confidents as spies over him and watched him with such care himselfe as one evening he found him with one of my women Be pleas'd to imagine whether he were offended at it he who was the most severest Prince of the world and the most jealous of his reputation His first thoughts were to kill Zabaim But loath to draw so powerfull enemies on his armes or at least pardoning the Princes youth he thought it best to be freed of him without any noise To that purpose the next morning he writ a note to him in the name of the Prince his Confident and sent him word his designe was discovered the King was advertis'd of it and that if he did not quickly save himselfe he ran the hazard of never seeing his owne Kingdome againe This letter was so nimbly thrust into the Princes bed that he perceiv'd it not though he was present When he was laid he found it and calling for a torch to see what 't was was much amaz'd when he saw his designe thrive no better His courage yet fail'd him not A day or two longer he staid in Court with as good a cheere as before and inventing a specious pretext to colour his departure took leave of the King my Father Almanzor somewhat troubled for thus making him quit his Kingdome sent spyes after him with charge to see what way he tooke At their returne they said for certaine he was gone towards Guinea He thought then that the Princes passion would go no further and that it was rather a Caprichio of youth then a designe well framed Time confirmed him in that opinion and his minde was quite at rest when the King of Benin sent his Ambassadors to him to renew their ancient Alliance and intreat him to be pleas'd that the Princesse his daughter might passe some time in my company Almanzor thinking himselfe much oblieged to the intreaties and civilities of that Prince dispatch'd two of the principall Lords of Congo to restore his complements ratifie the treaty of their Alliance and to offer him aswell as to his daughter all that was in his command Not long after the returne of my fathers Ambassadors arrived Palmira so was the Princesse of Benin called and was receiv'd with all magnificence and the first day lodg'd with two of her Ladies within some of my lodgings Our first interview was accompanied with all that which courtesie makes use of in the like occasion but there was this difference betwixt my complements and those of Palmira that mine were all heart and freedome and hers mix'd with so much feare and humility that I knew not how to behave my selfe to her She had not been with us above fifteen dayes when a strange accident discover'd to me the cause of her submissions and differences The King my Father who punctually visited me twice a day had let slip foure without either seeing or sending to me I wondered at his neglect but I did it more when one evening I saw him come into my chamber dragging after him a man who had his hands bound behind him As farre off as he saw me Almanzaira said he to me with the tone of a voice which witnessed at once both his choler and griefe where is Palmira I answered she was retir'd Let her come to me said he and turning to one of my women commanded that servant to call her Whilst she was gone Almanzor did nothing but walke with hasty strides up and downe my chamber Some times he lifted his eyes and hands to heaven then he stamped on the planching and afterwards stopping short before me O heaven which seest all cryed he and art justâ—… why wouldst thou suffer so horrid a treason But since 't is thy wil that I must punish it posterity shall know my honour hath ever beene more 〈◊〉 to me then my life or my Crowne After that he turn'd him to my Governesses and with an angry brow 'T is you said he unusefull and perfidious women which one way or other are become confederates with mine enemies and you shall receive the deserv'd punishment of your negligence and disloyalty As he ended these threatnings Palmira entred my chamber She neither trembled nor look'd pale and though in her conscience she knew her selfe guilty yet shew'd such a height of courage as is not usuall with maidens Assoone as she saw the Prisoner which my father held she knew him to be her principall Confident and judging by his surprisall her cunning was discovered in lieu of being troubled at it she spake thus to the King my father Think more then once on what thou intend'st to do Thy precipitation may work more mischiefe then my rashnesse hath done Give no eare to it then if thou wilt preserve the name of discreet and give thy selfe patience to heare me I call to witnesse that eternall Providence which reades my heart and beseech it to be never auspicious to me if I hide from thee the truth of 〈◊〉 things as have passed since I have beene with Almanzaira I sweare to thee that neither she nor any of her women ever knew me for other then Palmira Princesse
great apprehensions that both sleeping and waking me thought I still saw that deare Prince in his grave Had I not fear'd his displeasure I had gone to see him in his Army But rather willing to be unfortunate then to undertake ought he might dislike I had recourse to my vowes and prayers and did then nothing but beg from heaven either to take me from the world or preserve to me the friendship of my deare Lord without which my life was a torment to me In lesse then three weeks I sent above twenty Postes into Guinea Those who most truly loved me return'd with that haste I commanded them and brought me the Kings letters I receiv'd them with that transport of joy you may imagine But when I saw not in them those termes of love I had read in the former Alas cried I I have lost my Lords affection Unfortunate that I am some one of my actions or of my words have receiv'd an ill interpretation I confesse deare Zabaim I have erred but how great soever my offence be it merited not so rigorous a punishment since my heart never consented to it My griefe had even carried me to despaire if my women had not used all kinde of reasons to suppresse it Sometimes they accused me for suffering my self to be deceiv'd by vaine imaginations then they put me in minde that time and businesse had changed the Kings amorous thoughts into others more serious These considerations did a while master my sorrow but a little after I rejected them and would receive no more comfort At last after I had well wept written much long expected and made many prayers and sacrifices my deare Lord return'd to me I did not think to see him of eight dayes when he came into my chamber This suddaine welcome surprisall so transported me that going to meet him I lost at once my strength my knowledge and my sight What did not that good King doe seeing the excesse of my love He kissed me a thousand times and wetting my cheekes with his teares stood a while without turning his eyes from me When he saw I came not againe he caused me to be carried and laid on my bed where joyning his mouth to my cheeks Poore Princesse said he aloud that my Nurse might heare him can I be rationall and betray thee as I do With that he held his peace and stirr'd not from my boulster till some remedies had recovered me which by little and little I did and the first thing I took notice of were some teares which were yet on my deare Lords face That sight presently blotting out all displeasing imaginations that remain'd yet behinde and making me believe I had ill conceiv'd them I gently let fall my head on Zabaims cheek and thus bespake him Your Almanzaira then is yet pleasing to you She may yet glory she enjoyes your favour and time hath not depriv'd her of that which love had given her The King could not answer me His Speech was restrained by I know not what hinderance but his silence and teares assured me of his love farre better then his words would have done I besought him to go take a little rest and after so long and painefull a journey not to give himselfe new vexations To these words I added a many more and entreated him so often to looke to his preservation that he arofe from me but in rising said Ah Almanzaira how happy should we be if we might be alwayes together Though that Speech made me feare some new disaster yet I made all other thoughts give place to that of the Kings health and pressed him so hard to go repose himselfe that he gave me that contentment He was not above two houres away when he came again to me where he passed the evening and part of the night In all which time he left not to entertaine me in the same manner he was wont before his voyage Nay me thought he had in his speeches more of tendernesse and of passion then I had noted in those I had from him when his love was most violent I know well these particularities doe but weary you and you may laugh at my simplicity but pardon if you please for this troublesome remembrance a woman who loves nothing in the world but her husband and yet cannot have the contentment to be with him Five or sixe dayes together the King was in his good humour and I already esteemed my selfe the most fortunate Princesse of my time when I found my feares were just my suspitions reasonable and the Kings kinde usage but forced He fell without any apparent cause into so deep a melancholy and was mov'd with so much impatience and disquiets that in all the Court there was none but I who found him supportable My entertainement grew troublesome to him all companies displeas'd and not suffering himselfe to be seene but seldome he abode whole dayes retired in his Cabinet His anxiety went yet further It made him hate his Palace the aboade in townes and the frequency of his Courtiers He retir'd him to a Castle which his Predecessors had built for their pleasure in hunting and seem'd to be delighted with that Sport to have some pretence and meanes to muse and plod at his liberty and wander the woods alone This life made me feele my first griefes and search all the imaginable meanes to know the cause of it and thereto to apply a remedy Before I had recourse to those extraordinary I would try the most speedy and facile I therefore went to the King in his retirement and besought him by his first affection to tell me the cause of his melancholy Deare Almanzaira said he if it be true that thou yet lovest me doe not enquire after my affliction Get thee from me and let me undergoe the punishment I have deserved The feare I had to displease him kept me from pressing him any farther or staying longer with him With mine eyes drown'd in teares I left him and promised in that to shew my obedience as well as in all other things Believe what I am now about to tell you and thereby judge of my Lords noble nature He could not refraine from weeping when I went from him and the griefe he had to see me afflicted made him to teare his haire and oftentimes beg his death from the Deities When I was come back to Senega my first sorrowes renewed and feare representing to me the future more unfortunate then I have found it made me leade a life so retired as if with the Kings favour I had for ever lost the hope of seeing him againe At last I threw my selfe into the armes of the afflicteds Comforter and thence supplicated for sufficient strength to resist so prodigious a calamity Truly that Bounty that would not have a teare of theirs lost who are conformable to its will suffer'd not mine to be fruitlesse but granted all I petitioned for See how it hap'ned You may please to know that
But what thought you would betide when I should know the King lov'd another woman then his wife The corruption of all Ages and the examples of all Princes have taught me that 't were worth wondring at if Zabaim should not take the way of his Equals but have beene contented to enjoy one sole woman I bewaile his weakenesse I deplore his blindnesse I condemne his inconstancy but I wish him no ill at all and were not heaven displeased with his passion I should be the first to serve him as his Agent Go Almaid go and labour for that Princes quiet who loves thee so dearely Leave him no longer in his despaire bring her hither whom he loves and free him from those feares he suffers for my sake I promise thee I will not crosse his contentment nor omit any thing belonging to the endeavour of a wife of honour Were I in your place I would quickly finde some specious pretext whereby without scandall that happy Slave what said I that happy slave that abominable Sorceresse might live with her Lover But why should I soyle my selfe in your ordures All you men are ingenious enough in wickednesse without any need that my too much love to my Lord should make me your Confederate When I had thus spoken to Almaid I was silent to heare what he would answer But he was so ravish'd with my resolution and so astonish'd at my constancy that he could not reply At last he came out of his admiration and falling at my feet Madam said he your wisdome this day saves all Africa and I hope in little time your vertue will be the Kings preservation Since you have taught me with what dexterity this malady is to be treated I sweare to you I will forget nothing of that which may hasten his recovery Thus ended our discourse Presently I writ a letter to the King full of respect and sent back Almaid to him and within short time understood how Almaid had taken the way I had prescribed him Zabaim had a cessation from those cruell tortures his affection inflicted By little and little he became accessible left his country life and recalling about him all those whom his melancholy had estranged made the Court as full and flourishing as ever But not to shut himselfe presently within his Cities nor to give his subjects a new cause of entertaining themselves with his alterations or rather to drive away the time whilst they went to fetch the infamous Zelopa he would needs make a progresse through his Kingdomes Before he began it that journey he came to Senega and entreated me by the love I had alwayes borne him to forget what was passed and to be the same with him I had beene the two first yeares of our mariage I confesse to you I receiv'd his excuses as if they had been true and was as sensible of his kindnesses as if a loyall love had produced them He was so overjoy'd to see my affection nothing lessened that a hundred times in a day he asked my pardon for his extravagancies For my part I doubted not if he had not been forced by some witch-craft but that he would have repented him of his error and beene wonne againe by my care and complying In this good correspondency we began our progresse and so ended it 'T is true that oftentimes he fell into his frensies and was as transported from himselfe by the charmes of that Sorceresse But his disquiets lasted not and the hope he had of reseeing Zelopa joyn'd with the facility he promised himselfe from me made him hide his passion so well that it troubled no body but himselfe We went even to the frontiers of Guinea and Zabaim resting himselfe in a very faire towne intended to stay there till the Spring and resolved to passe that season in all kind of sports and pastimes Three weeks or a month after our arrivall the speech went that the onely daughter of the late King of Guinea was coming to the Court to cast her selfe at the Kings feet and to beseech him for somewhat whereon to subsist after the ruine of her house This newes coming from the Town to the Court at last entred my closet and one day Almaid so well watch'd his time that he spake to me of that supposed Princesse even in the Kings presence I seem'd to believe what he told me Zabaim was overjoyed at it and saw well by my innocency I would contribute as much to the setling of his pleasure as himselfe When Zelopa was within three dayes journey of the Court I advised the King to send to meet her and give her all those honours which appertained to a Lady of her extraction He prais'd my courtship and promis'd to follow my counsell But when he saw I resolv'd to go so farre to entertaine Zelopa as out of the towne and conduct her my selfe to the Palace his joy so much troubled him that had I beene ignorant of his affection that which he did to thank me had beene sufficient to have too much discover'd it to me Some five or sixe houres after Zelopa came to a Castle which is but a quarter of a League from the towne I went thither to her with all the Court and neglected nothing of that which might sarisfie her pride or expectation I found her not more faire then Almaid had describ'd her to me But I saw by her countenance she should be very humorous and cruell My conjectures alas have beene but too true and I feele yet daily the fearefull effects of that ambitious and barbarous minde Let me relate to you my misfortunes in order and you will admire what my desire to please Zabaim made me do in spight of my inclination I kissed that infamous woman I spake to her in her owne language to entertaine her the more civilly I intimated to her the resentment the King and I had of the honour she did us and so was with her as she had beene the greatest Princesse of Africa In a very ill garbe she returned my complements and shewing a brutish pride in her actions as well as words gave a most disadvantageous opinion of her selfe to all those that came with me I endur'd all that fooles extravagancies for his sake that lov'd her and forgetting the birth heaven had given me gave her place and with the most respect I could brought her to the Palace Zabaim whose passion deserv'd pity came out of the towne and under a pretext of hunting would witnesse to the Sorceresse that her absence had nothing at all lessened the power of her charmes But my deare Comforter let us lightly passe over this fatall enterview and be pleased I spare him who is so much the more to be bemoan'd because 't was either by force or frailty that he became guilty of my misfortunes The pernicious Zelopa was receiv'd and lodged in the Palace as if she had beene something more then Zabaims wife She was serv'd with so much order and
eyes the fault I committed against my selfe made me condemne my first inclination I retir'd from the extremity whither my disposition had hurried me and contemplating you as destinated for the sole Alcidiana Amalthea said I to my selfe thou canst not love him without a crime for to enjoy him thou must either betray the Queene or thy vertue Give over then leave that so amiable Polexander to his just Possessor But art thou so silly as to perswade thy selfe that he who so much disquiets thee is so lovely as they would have thee beleeve Ask some who are lesse interessed then a Mistris and her servants and thou wilt finde there is a great disproportion betwixt the true Polexander and Alcidiana's I did what I said I chang'd my opinion and would have let the Queene know it but she prevented me and ask'd what I thought of Polexander That which I thinke of all men said I and I sweare to you Madam by the duty I owe your Majesty that I never enquir'd after him but onely to satisfie my curiosity Alcidiana smil'd at my answer and strictly embracing me Amalthea said she I will fully content that affectation when thou pleasest Thus wee parted For my part I got to my bed But all night long I did nought but call to minde the defects which they usually cast on men to give me just cause to neglect you Not to lye I had almost effected it and my imagination had already halfe cured the wound it had made when Fame contemning Alcidiana's declarations brought you into the Inaccessible Island as a Conquerour over the Kings of Castile and Portugall I look'd on you with excessive joy in a table where you were drawne defending alone the Port of one of your Isles against all the Enemies fleet The Sea was stain'd with their bloud and the shore strew'd with Spaniards which seem'd to have come offer themselves to your sword that they might have the honour to dye by your hand O! how fatall was that sight to me I confesse it to my shame Polexander I felt my selfe burne with so sweet a fire that in spight of all the remonstrances of reason I tooke delight in being consum'd by it My extravagancy which till then had beene conceal'd at that time burst out and made me stop mine â—…ares to all prudent counsell Neither the consideration of Alcidiana nor the care of my reputation nor the feare of heaven could make me alter my resolution I got from the Inaccessible Island and not daring to take leave of Alcidiana put to Sea without other Guide then my blinded passion Heaven could not suffer my unbridlednesse nor consent to my ruine It staid me on the brink of the precipice by a violent fever made an end of another that was far more burning That sicknesse was my health For that great Physitian which never leaves his cures imperfect so strengthened my soule by the weakenesse of my body that he made me capable of that horror we should have for all the ordures of the earth I renounc'd the greatnesse of my birth I tooke leave of the world and to do a long penance for the errours of my youth came and confin'd my selfe within this Isle Almost two yeares have I tried to appease the anger of that incomprehensible Spirit that is no lesse just then mercifull I have bewail'd my loving the Creature more then the Creator I have fasted I have prayed I have wept in briefe I have omitted nothing of all that which might restore me the Innocency which my frailty had rob'd me of My sufferings have beene followed by consolations and though my minde hath beene often tempted by the charmes of your remembrance yet I can say it came off victorious Yes I dare brag now I am certaine of my victory I see the end of my combat such as I desired Heaven opens it selfe to receive me and shewes me that immortall Crowne it hath prepar'd for all those hardy Combatants who know how to tame the rebellion of sense and the disorders of the will Farewell then Polexander admire the vertue of Alcidiana and condemne not the infirmity of Amalthea Polexanâ—…er had his eyes full of teares all the while he read the letter and when he had ended it I did verily beleâ—…ve said he this letter would be to me a Source of new disasters O fortune O Alcidiana O love O death which of you foure wil have so much pity as to put a period to my miseries This sad cogitation having a long time tormented him he call'd to minde the assurances Amalthea had given him by her letter of Alcidiana's favour to him But he had not beene scarce a moment setled on so pleasing a subject when despaire and incredulity depriv'd his thought of all those faire Idea's He return'd againe to those old distrusts of himselfe tooke for lyes Amalthea's verities and rejecting his least hopes as rashnesse worthy thunder made himselfe as miserable as he had cause to think him happy Thus to no purpose he persecuted himselfe when Almanzaira came out of Amalthea's chamber as much afflicted for the death of that Princesse as for her owne misfortunes At the first word Polexander was about to speake to her she interrupted him and shewing him a man who then entred the Court of the Hermitage 't is Almaid cried she and presently ran to meet him and said what was fitting to oblige him to speake freely before Polexander After that declaration Almaid was not fearefull of being knowne therefore addressing him to his Queene Madam said he give heaven the thanks which its justice and pity deserve Your misfortunes are at an end and your enemies power is extinguished I know replied Almanzaira the unfortunate Almanzor hath slaine himselfe 'T is true Madam said Almaid the brave Polexander which seemes to be descended from heaven on earth to free the world of tyranny and exterminate monsters hath deliver'd you from two the most fearefull and cruell that Africa ever bred Polexander in lieu of making himselfe knowne undertooke Almanzors defence and addressing him to Almaid Our passions said he are disorders of the soule and therefore the harder for those by whom they are govern'd to preserve either all their judgement or all their imagination This being so I wonder not your affection transports you so from your selfe as to draw your sword against a woman and pardon not the memory of the dead I am farre from justifying Zelopa since her actions accuse her and being condemned by Almanzaira she is so by the mouth of Justice it selfe 'T is Almanzor I defend not onely for being Zabaims son but because I knew his vertues and that he never consented to the crimes of his mother Besides his valour was so extraordinary that all these Seas have beene the Theater of it and if he had not coveted death he by his acts would have shewd himselfe the worthy son of that great Monarch who is the Author of his life Polexander never vaunted he
liberty I take and do not think I would wrong your present condition because I have saved your life or as your Enemies triumph on your misery I doe no lesse esteeme you tied to this shamefull post then if you were seated in your throne but that which gives me the boldnesse to deliver my thoughts to you is a desire I have you may henceforward live happy and by a true change of life avert the vengeance of heaven which yet groanes over your head Zabaim to these words answered nothing but holding his eyes fixed on the earth confessed by his silence the enormity of his faults Almanzor having wholly unbound him brought him to the three Kings who presently restor'd his royall robe Almanzor put on his Diadem with his owne hands and the peace being presently proclaimed the gates of Senega were set open Those who had beene such deadly foes imbrac'd each other and made appeare by so quick a change that the Subject hath neither hatred nor love but when they are forced to those passions by those who command them Zelopa came downe from the wall from whence she had beheld what was pass'd and came to meet the King The King of Tombut who could not forget his causes of hatred intreated Almanzor not to engage him to see her who thinking his request very just not onely consented he should retire into his campe but accompanying him to his tent intreated his wounds might be search'd He saw them dress'd and being assured they were not dangerous tooke his leave of the King after he had by many vowes renewed the assurance of his friendship He return'd to Zabaim who was in great care for him and reconducting the King to his Palace through the applauses and acclamations of the people besought him to have perpetually in minde the businesse of that day Polexander not able to abide longer in that impatiency Almaid's relation gave him What said he intetrupting him Is this Zabaim of whom you talke the same whose adventures the Queen hath bin pleas'd to make known to me The very same answered Almaid and judge whether Almanzor did not gloriously avenge himself unwittingly on that ingratefull and unnaturall father who would have murther'd him in his cradle Almanzaira could not refraine from teares at those words but pleas'd her selfe in exhaling her griefes by her weeping and sighes Almaid perceiving Polexanders astonishment That which you have heard of Almanzor said he is well but 't is nothing in comparison of what you are to know you shall see this out-cast Sonne give twenty times life to his Father for that one which he would have taken away and not onely re-establish him in all his estates but re-settle in the Throne that Fury who had driven him thence and robb'd his mother of it Polexander had yet more questions to aske but he let them passe for not hindring the contentment he expected from the rest of Almanzors adventures Almaid perceiv'd his intention and thus went on For five or sixe dayes together Zabaim seem'd more sad and afflicted then hee was even in his imprisonment and spoke of nothing but repentance of change of life of recalling those whom hee had unjustly banished and banish those whom hee had more unjustly retained Imagine what thoughts these demeanours might worke in Zelopa and what revolutions she foresaw in her fortune if she did not oppose the rebellion of her slave She did it and so effectually that Zabaim trampling under-foot his word his honour and his proper interest threatned the King of Tombut and his allies and made insolent protestations to wash off with their blouds the staine they had cast on his reputation Whilest he was acting his new extravagances Zelopa was perpetrating new villanies she look'd on Almanzor at once with the eyes of concupiscence and hatred she lov'd him for his person and gracefulnesse but she hated him because she knew 't was his advise and admirable vertue which troubled the harmony of her designes and pluck'd off the muffler she had wound over Zabaims eyes Yet Love preserv'd his Empire and Ambition reduc'd it to its former servitude was compell'd together with hatred and cruelty to submit to their ancient Conquerour Zelopa then reconciles her selfe unwittingly to her mortall enemy she adores him whom shee would before time have strangled with her owne hands and equally sinnes both against heaven and her owne intention But Almanzor who under the name of Perseus had gotten the love of all Senega fled from the monster he was not permitted to destroy and threw himselfe among thornes to avoyd the walking on flowres which hid invulnerable Serpents Whil'st Zelopa was agitated with this new Fury there came divers Postes which made her change or at least suspend her criminall affection They brought Zabaim newes that all Guinea had taken armes that the Kingdome of Melly was ready to denounce warre and the most part of the Commons of Senega leant to Rebellion This Advertisement was slighted for some few dayes but that thunder after it had rumbled awhile broke out and Zabaim saw himselfe reduced to the estate of being King of one onely Towne Almanzor got into the field and sent Couriers to the King of Tombut to intreate him to keep his word that King forgetting Zabaims follies came to assist him for Almanzor's sake and brought with him a mighty Army whereby the Rebelis of Senega were quickly brought backe to subjection Assoone as Zabaim had left his wicked Angell that great courage of his manifested it selfe with which hee had conquered the halfe of Africke His wisdome accompanied his valour and even made the King of Tombut to admire him whithersoever he marched he became victorious and Almanzor farre more affecting fame then spoyle or prey gloriously out-went the steps of his Father in one same day he redeem'd the King of Tombut whom the Rebells had taken prisoner and dis-ingag'd Zabaim who having lost his horse and armes was going to satiate the fury of his rebellious Subjects A few dayes after this glorious action Zabaim was inforc'd to resolve on a battle the revolted were joyn'd and had composed an army able to amate such hearts as had not beene truely couragious But Almanzor representing to Zabaim and the King of Tombut the fortune and honour of their former actions made them contemne the great number of their Enemies The battle was fought and prov'd so bloudy that from both sides there dyed on the place fourescore thousand men That memorable day Almanzor sav'd his fathers life five times and twice the King of Tombuts the better cause at last had the victory and by an entire defeate of the rebellious party corfirm'd that important verity which sayes The Power of Kings is a Power derived from above and that the bonds which binde Subjects to their duties being made by the proper hand of heaven cannot be broken without violating the divine Lawes as well as humane This battle intombing all the Rebels of Senega did the like
that I never aspir'd to your Crowne whence is it then you make to me pardon me if I say so unjust propositions For it seemes you offer me your Crowne but to bridle and chaine in my fury and so take away the cause of my attempting against your life That which I owe you the care you have taken for my breeding and the love you have alway shown me are such strong bonds that they are capable to regulate a nature more ingratefull and ambitious then mine If you please Sir to honour me with your love cast that designe from your fancy or permit me to punish my selfe for being the cause of it and avenge you of a monster that could not glut his appetite bâ—…t by devouring his owne benefactors Abrinzias and Andromeda hearing how Almanzor interpreted their thoughts or rather admiring his incomparable vertue imbrac'd him one after another and told him that the knowledge they had of his good nature and not the feare either of losing or ill treatment from him had made â—…hem resolve to quit the Throne to place him in it with his brother Perseus Perseus repli'd Almanzor hath right to it alone when heaven for his punishment shall deprive him of you At those words Andromeda could not refraine from teares and casting her self on Almanzors neck Why Cry'd she hath not that just heaven permitted Perseus to cal himselfe rightly Almanzors brother These words were follow'd by many others but I omit them as â—…oo tedious and unnecessary for your satisfaction and will onely let you know that this interparlance or some other cause which Almanzor would never discover cast him into so deep a melancholy as he hated himselfe for it and yet could not for his heart suppresse it He forsooke the Court and all company and spent whole dayes either iâ—… the Desarts or on the Sea shore This strange kind of life made the King and Queene of Benin feare some new disaster and their affection perswaded them that his pensivenesse presaged some dangerous sicknesse Hydaspes who almost never forsooke the Prince was the first that tooke notice of his alteration he did what he could to divert him but perceiving ordinary remedies were not powerfull enough to extirpate so extraordinary a distemper he had recourse to more violent Finding therefore one day Almanzor weeping With what Justice said he to him dares a Prince so wise in counsâ—…ll so valiant in execution and so happy in the successe complaine either of heaven of fortune or himselfe What will not your enemies say Almanzor if your discontent comek to their eares Will they not have cause to make the world beleeve that you see with griefe the age of the King your Father that you meditate some plot against Perseus and in briefe that you are tortur'd either by some crimes you have committed or by those you have a desire to perpetrate Almanzor was very sensible of those last words and imagining that some other might have Hydaspes thoughts intended to overcome his melancholy and to seeke in the toyles of war that quiet which he could not meet withall among the delights of peace Almaid here staying as to take breath Polexâ—…nder who had a desire to speake turn'd towards the vertuous Almanzaira and shewing to her into what admiration the adventures and vertues of her Son had drawne him collected in briefe all the points of Almaids relation That done he discours'd much with the Princesse and remonstrated that all the misfortunes of her life had nothing in them so mortall but that she might finde their remedy in the birth of Almanzor That good Mother fail'd not to confirme Polexander's words and confess'd to him that if Zabaim and Almanzor could be preserv'd to her she would account her selfe infinitely obliged to that Goodnesse which had made her the wife and mother of two so great Princes The end of the Second Booke of the third Part. THE THIRD PART OF POLEXANDER The Third Booke ALmaid seeing Almanzaira and Polexander whom he knew not seem'd by their silence to intreat from him the continuance of Almanzors adventures was willing to satisfie their curiosity and thus proceeded Hitherto we have been Spectators if I may say so of Almanzors glorious troubles and triumphs we must now be the same of his Weaknesses Discredit and Servitude He continued in that irksome Melancholy of which I have spoken and as if his ill Genius had in spight of himselfe thrust him on the precipice where he was to be ruin'd he went every morning out of the Palace to passe the most part of the day on the point of a rocke where he had for his prospect but an open desert of waters as vaste as his thoughts Hydaspes almost daily waited on him thither and knowing his Masters malady was a disease which came further then from the in temperance of bloud or of other humours strove to sweeten the bitternesses of that Prince and to prepare him for those accidents wherewith he was threatned by that supernaturall sicknesse One day as they were together on the top of their rocke and had their eyes fix'd on the Coasts of Guinea they saw a far off a ship which with a favourable wind came with full sailes sailing from the West Eastward They thought her at first to be a Portugall Almanzor whom I may call the best Master of the world at that instant thought on me and that remembrance drawing him from his melancholy It may possibly be Almaid said he to Hydaspes who after his long captivity hath found a meanes to returne to us Let us goe downe and see whether my conjecture be true or no with that he arose and shewing a joy beyond appearance Surely said he to Hydaspes this Vessell comes to us and brings great cause of comfort Alas how was that poore Prince deceiv'd if not in all at least in the principall part of his hopes For my selfe his expectation was not frustrated for I was in the ship which he looked on with so much joy but traytor and unfortunate that I am I brought with me bolts and chains under whose weight the courage of that Prince was to lie fainting I will no longer hold from you the successe of that adventure I came and cast anchor where Almanzor was and making my excesse of joy and actions of thankes to which the happy successe of my voyage obliged me to resound againe by many Cannon shot I lanch'd a Shalop and first went downe into her that none before me might kisse that Land which was as deare to me as my native soyle No sooner had I set foot on shore but Almanzor came to me presently knew me cast himselfe on my necke and weeping for joy My Father said he and have I then recovered you againe after so long time of your losse and hath that misericordious Goodnesse from whom I have so often petition'd you granted me even that for which I durst not supplicate You may well beleeve without my telling you that my
Courtiers take notice of my extraordinary favour From that day he demean'd himselfe towards me as if truly I had been his father and added a many more slaves to those he had given us before your departure The more my credit increased the more I suspected him and knowing well it came not out of any respect to you nor from any merit in me I imputed and laid all the cause of it on the love Zabaim bore to Axiamira Nor was it long conceal'd from me The Kings frequent visiting us the excessive presents which hee continually sent my wife and the submissions wherewith he presented himselfe before Axiamira were to me too certaine proofes of his follie and too assured presages of our approaching ruine At last he resolv'd to put off the maske he had long worn and imagining Axiamira lov'd you he thought there was no better way to settle himselfe in her thought then by driving thence the memorie of you To that end he spoke to her of you but in such a way as taxing was subtlely intermix'd with praise contempt with estimation and envie with acknowledgement I will not my Lord relate the particulars of his discourse for Axiamira would never tell it me know onely that after Zabaim had well prais'd you he made an ample declaration of his extreame love Then hee told my daughter that if she would give him some assurance of her affection he would promise her no lesse a recompence then the three Crownes which Zelopa wore on her head Axiamira incens'd at his detestable propositions was ready to breake out but the greatnesse of her heart and that scrupulous vertue whereof she hath alwaies made profession neither permitted her to make shew of her spirit nor to answer Zabaim's words She would avenge it on her self and by teares watchings and other austerities ruinate the innocent cause of that Princes offences He for all that did not give over his enterprise for so comfort lesse a beginning On the contrary the difficultie of it adding to his desires he resolv'd to carrie away that victorie either by force or cunningâ—… 'T was then we began to see the infallibilitie of our destruction When it was permitted us to be alone and all three together could freely disclose the thoughts of our hearts we broke forth into infinite sorrowes and lamentations We invok'd heavens Justice to assist us against the impudicitie of so often and many wayes guiltie a Prince Wee call'd for it's thunder We besought you to be yet once more our deliverer but seeing our selves for saken of gods and men and growing desperate of your returne we fell from plaints and teares into a resolution to die Axiamira shewing her brave spirit in â—…hat extremitie Father said she my constancie hath now beene long in contestation with fortune I feare it may faint and after so high a flight have an ignominious stouping deliver it then from those new enemies which assaile her and if your power extend not so farre I pretend not to engage you on impossibilities Your example makes me but too well know by what way we must generously enfranchise our selves from a place where we cannot live with honour Let us get hence and make Zabaim know we were born free But if all passages are stopt us and we be no more permitted the use of our libertie let us trie our courage Death is alwayes ready to succour such who call on her as they ought It shall be it my deare Protectors it shall be it which in spight of all the tyrants chaines and guards shall put a period to our feares and slaverie When we heard Axiamira speake so generously my wife and my selfe stopped the teares which had so long time distill'd from our eyes and prepar'd our selves by a mutuall constancie to a glorious death Yet before our putting that last resolution in execution I had a mind to attempt some new meanes to save Axiamira I tri'd but in vaine to corrupt some of our slaves I writ to you divers letters which I gave to divers persons whom I thought very trustie I especially hop'd you would come and relieve us but I know wel now that my letters never came to your hands and that Zabaim had them from the traitor who promis'd me to deliver them to you I wonder'd no more why he was so jealous of me nor why he plac'd neer my daughter so many blacke Eunuches who not content to prie into all our actions would even heare out words too At last he tooke away that little libertie was left us Hee himselfe forbad us the going forth from our lodging and told me one day in choler that his love being too much contemn'd would turne into furie To this lamentable estate were we brought when Vice it selfe tooke armes for the defence of Vertue and though it was not its intention imploi'd all that could be of force and furie to make her victorious Zelopa who for six moneths had been sicke as they said of love and despaire understood by some of her confidents that Zabaim had forgotten her and passionately in love with a young maiden which had been sold him by her owne father note my Lord how wicked the vulgar are in their judgement was ready to seat her in Zelopa's place These newes getting her out of the bed wherein she languished made her leave Senega Into Guinea she came more furious then a Lionesse that pursues the hunters which have stolne her whelps She call'd to her succour all those Devills which the publicke voyce gave her altogether for her gods and slaves She sacrific'd to her furie three of her principall Officers for not advertising her presently of our arrivall or rather for not imploying fire and poyson against the father and daughter Zabaim hearing of his wife's frenzies was terrified with her threatnings and cruelties and as an offender escap'd out of prison seeing himselfe ready to fall into the hands of them who are doubly irritated by his flight he growes pale loseth his resolution repents him for breaking his fetters and lookes on those that advis'd him to escape as on so many enemies Axiamira who lately was his sole delight his happinesse his life and somewhat more then even Zelopa with all her Philters and Spirits was become to him a subject of horrour and hatred and if I know not what remainder of dying vertue had not opposs'd it selfe against the outrage of his bewitch'd soule he had doubtlesse himselfe to obtaine remission for his inconstancie cut the throat of Axiamira before Zelopa's eyes In the meane time that Witch like another Furie broke loose from hell came by great journey 's to fill the Court with massacres and impoysonings The blinded Zabaim hearing of her coming resolv'd to goe meet her and by that submission aswell as by his teares to pacifie the furie of his tyrannesse Before he parted he would yet once more see Axiamira and by that view give a secret and new aliment to the fire he
all alive seeing her funeralls perform'd and notwithstanding Mahomets forbidding to receive such honours as are reserv'd for men onely wept as much for joy as griefe and even ravish'd to see how deare her memory was to Zabaim When the prayers were ended Zabaim arose from his place as pale and wan as he had been ready to give up the ghost and made a signe that he would speake Presently there was a great silence and the Prince beginning his speech with teares continued with these words I should rather let you know by the effusion of my bloud then my teares how guilty I am All that former ages have seen of cruelty of barbarisme of inhumanity cannot parallel but the least part of my actions I have violated all manner of Lawes I have by execrable courses blotted out the Character which heaven had imprinted on my brow and the Majesty of Kings which hath been hitherto the love and safety of all Nations is become by being communicated to me the terrour of Innocents and abomination of all men 'T was I my friends 't was I who thrust the sword into the bosome of the incomparable Almanzaira I am the unnaturall father who consented to the death of him to whom I gave life Yes I have depriv'd you of your legitimate Prince I pluck'd him out of his Nurses armes and to glut the ambition of a wicked woman have not trembled to abandon that Innocent to the outrages of fortune Had I alone contributed to his birth as I have to his misery I would esteeme you happy in being delivered from the race of such a monster as I. But alas Almanzaira gave him you and you beleeve as well as my selfe she being the perfect rendezvous of all royall vertues could produce nothing but what was worthy to governe Lament therefore and bewaile that great losse make the Author of your misfortunes feele your just anger Remember how dearly Almanzaira lov'd you and suffer not her executioner to be any longer your master At that word Zabaim was constrained to stop because his weaknesse being neither answerable to the vehemency of his action nor the excesse of his griefe he stood suddenly without voyce or motion This accident causing a great trouble among the people every one arose to help the Prince and the noise increasing with the opinion they had of his death Almanzaira left her place and thrusting her selfe in amongst the prease without any other consideration then to get neere the King made so good shift that she came close to the Kings throne when he came out of his faintnesse Every body seeing him recover'd tooke their places againe and Almanzaira hiding her selfe behinde some of the Guard would attend till her Lord descended to cast her self at his feet He in the meane time all dying and wet with teares What my friends said he have you no resentment Will you let me live since Almanzaira is dead She is not cry'd out the Queene breaking forth from behinde those which hindred her from being seen she is not for heaven would not suffer her to be so soon depriv'd of her Lord. Zabaim affrighted to heare that voyce and to see a woman come creeping on her knees towards him arose from his chaire and presently fell backe againe and there lay long without stirring In the meane while those who were neerest the King look'd on Almanzaira and knew her though she seem'd to them much chang'd and ask'd one another if what they saw were not some new inchantment of Zelopa Whilst Zabaim came out of his insensibility and that all the world press'd and cry'd out to see the Queene Almaid declar'd himselfe and intreated them to make way for him At this new cause of astonishment the multitude redoubled their acclamations throng'd together and seeing Almaid could not passe lifted him up and from hand to hand carried him to the King Art thou descended from heaven deare Almaid said Zabaim to confirme the good newes I heare and dare not beleeve He staid not for an answer but certainly crediting that she before him could be none other then Almanzaira he fell on his knees and taking her by the hands Doe I then said he see you againe deare Almanzaira and have your enemies been lesse cruell to you then I But do you not return to upbraid me of my inhumanity and aske Justice for it from all the World My Lord repli'd the Queen forget if you please the griefes I have throwne on you and let me see that my returne and life is not displeasing to you All the assistants lifted their hands to heaven throng'd about the King and Queen to congratulate so miraculous a re-union and understanding it was an effect of Almaid's fidelity they call'd him aloud the Redeemer of Senega This worthy Favorite to satisfie the King his master and the rest of the company declar'd in few words all that we have knowne before At which recitall their admiration increased and the multitude which takes pleasure in framing to themselves causes of astonishment added miracles and prodigies to Almanzaira's adventures to the end to give new nourishment to their greedinesse of deceiving themselves In the meane time the Priests changed their prayers and requests into giving thankes They praised Heaven for this happy and unexpected successe and sent backe Zabaim with as much comfort and joy as he had of despaire and sorrow when he came into the Temple Almanzaira for all her being re-established in her former fortune and environ'd with such glory as any other but her selfe had been lost in it forgot not Polexander She besought the King he might be look'd after to render him what she ought as the person whom the eternall Providence had made use of to denounce the end of her miseries Polexander straight presented himselfe and doing reverence to the King without making knowne who he was follow'd him to the Palace with Almaid and many others of the chiefe in Court The people on their parts renew'd with their fires the joy they had so long smother'd and running as their manner is from one extreame into another spent the rest of that night in sports in feastings in musicke and other jocundnesse Zabaim spent it more seriously for assoone as he had bid good night to all the Court he shut himselfe in his privy chamber with Almanzaira Polexander and Almaid and accusing himselfe in their presence of all those crimes his love had made him commit ask'd the Queen pardon a thousand times and mov'd her so much by his submissions as she thought so good she was there was no body guilty but her selfe But to divert Zabaim from his sad thoughts My Lord said she the same Goodnesse which hath preserv'd your Almanzaira from the power of all the Devills hath not onely had care of the true Almanzor's life but hath many times sent him you as a tutelar Angell to defend you against your ill-affected Subjects Rebellion and to re-conquer those Countries which divers tyrants had
and her attractive wit are the happinesse of all that know them and I confesse to you though my afflictions have beene extraordinary yet through her company I have not almost beene sensible of them Both my sister and my selfe replied Polexander are infinitely obliged to that extreame goodnesse wherewithall you hindred the sequell of our misfortunes I say ours Madam because those of my sister being farre more mine then mine owne you have made me happy in not permitting her to be disastrous Andromeda replied to these complements Iphidamanta thereto added with a great deale of wit and Polexander who was as well the example of courtesie as valour made the Queene confesse she had never knowne two so perfect and so like Her content yet was cross'd by her longing to see Abrinzias and the tide no sooner began to make the River navigable but she went aboord Polexanders ship with Iphidamanta and all her Ladies and by the favour of a fresh gale came the next day to the King her husband That good King after he had long held her in his embraces My deare wife said he for your seeing me againe after so cruell an exile for your Enemies defeate for your owne Liberty for being unpersecuted againe by Perseus and if it so happen for the finishing the rest of our dayes in peace you must attribute it and give thanks for it to this invincible Knight You should say King said Andromeda I see well you are ignorant of the Author of your happinesse and therefore you seeme to be yet in doubt of the truth of such things as he hath done But your doubts and astonishments will end when you know this is Polexander the Conquerour of so many Nations whom heaven good and mercifull hath as it were miraculously sent to save at once the father the mother the son and their kingdome Abrinzias ravish'd at so rare an adventure in stead of congratulating with Polexander addressed himselfe to the Princesse his Sister and spoake to her all that a wise and gratefull Prince could expresse on so extraordinary an occasion The time for rest separating these Princes and Princesses Polexander withdrew to his lodging and went to Perseus who during his absence had beene kept rather like a sick Prince then a captive Enemy He related to him all that had pass'd and laying before him the excessive goodnesse of Abrinzias and Andromeda assured him of a generall pardon from them and to restore him to their loves assoone as he should make knowne he desired it That black and brutish soule was no way mov'd with these hopes On the contrary he became the more proud and savage and shewing his stupidity by his reply answer'd Polexander that he was not so guilty but that he should be better used then hee was and that the King and Queene did so little affect him as they would bee glad of his death to establish Almanzor in the throne You little know said Polexander either of their inclinations and that 's your misery for your pernicious Counsellours had never wonne you to those facts you have committed if you had not beene absolutely ignorant who they were against whom they perswaded you to turne you Armes Now since you finde to your displeasure how detestable their counsels were I intreat you to hearken to better and to fit you for it I will cure you of that jealousie which your selfe confessed to me hath beene the cause of all your unrulinesse Know that Almanzor is not your brother and the King your father never intended for his sake to deprive you of what is yours by birthright Almanzor is borne King of many kingdomes Guinea Melly Senega and many other Territories watered by the River Niger already acknowledge him for their Lord. Leave then your envy and choler and acknowledging the offences your flatterers have made you perpetrate goe and cast your selfe at the King and Queenes feet and beseech them now you ought no more to wrong them to continue the testimonies of their love and clemency Perseus by this was not wholly converted but at last he made shew he was likely to be so Polexander who was not wont to conquer by halves redoubled his perswasions added consideration to consideration and so lively imprinted in Perseus thought the feare of losing both Crowne and life if he did not reconcile himselfe to his father that he promis'd him to submit to all he would command him Our Heroe to continue and confirme him in that minde lay with him and handled him with that dexterity as I might say he tamed him and by the vertue of his eloquence made a man of a furious beast The next day he would needs see whether Perseus were constant in his good resolution and finding him absolutely setled went to carry Abrinzias and Andromeda the best newes they could ever receive There needed no choise words to perswade them Those who love well are easily wonne to believe such things as are advantageous to what is beloved Polexander seeing in them an intire disposition to resettle him in their favours went to fetch him and instructing him by the way of what he had to do brought him to Abrinzias and Andromeda Presently he fell at their feet and speaking onely by his teares made appeare by their excesse that they were not counterfeit The King and Queene being as unable to speake as he fell on his neck and wept so long that Polexander was compelled to stop that overflowing of naturall love Abrinzias recollected himselfe and addressing him to our Heroe There remain'd said he onely this miracle for you to doe to take you wholly from the condition of men Yes Polexander you are something more and I shall not thinke I blaspheme should I say that heaven seem'd to have given you a nature more approaching its owne then is that of mankinde And to remarke and consider things well who would beleeve without beleeving you a Semi-god that in so little time you have beene able to cure a spirit infected with so many distemperances as they were judg'd incurable so inveterate were they With that he fell againe on his Son and bedewing him againe with his teares Arise my Son said he and let us together give this Prince the thanks he meriteth from our acknowledgement 'T is he truly that should be called thy father I have given thee so ill a birth as I confesse thou hast cause to hate me and Polexander having alter'd thee as he hath done hath given thee one so transcendent that he binds thee to serve him more then thine owne father Andromeda interrupting the King her husband made appeare by her discourse that a mother speakes from the intrails and that their affections are more quick and tender then those of the father This private reconciliation being ended Abrinzias desired the joy for it might be publique He commanded therefore all his Subjects to give thanks to heaven for so many happinesses befalne him in so small time and for the better
not hinder After he had thus spoken hee tooke Osmin by the hand and shewing him to the people Can you said he my friends behold this face which hath been alwayes so pleasing unto you and not witnesse your joy for his returning Lose lose those considerations which detaine you let your contentment ring againe and if you are sorry for not having any thing worthy your acknowledging the incomparable vertue of this Prince cease your just sorrow and know that Polexander accepted not the Crowne of Zahara but to have the honour of replacing it on his head who onely ought to weare it The peoples affections after this Speech were much divided and their mindes so contrary that some who had beene witnesses of Osmin's brave deeds wish'd him the Crowne others which had a blinde love to Polexander could not resolve with themselves to revoke their election After divers conferences and much factiousnesse at last one same motion thrust them on all to cry Let Osmin raigne but let Polexander raigne too the one as Father and the other as Sonne Our Heroë approving the peoples wishes tooke the royall Turbant which the Zaharians had presented him and put it on Osmin's head Osmin who till then had been as 't were out of himselfe not so much for the good fortune was betided him beyond his hope as at the generousnesse wherewithall Polexander had procur'd it came out of his astonishment and without any regard to his new dignity cast himselfe at Polexander's feet You shall raigne said he over a people which by a rare happinesse meet all their wishes and felicity in their affection they love you and 't is Justice not to slight their amity doe not make them alter their former resolutions since they are so advantagious for them and be pleased that joyning my prayers with theirs I lay at your feet a Badge which is too illustrious to be worne on my head With that he tooke off the Turbant which Polexander had plac'd there and would indeed have laid it at his feet had he not hindered and inforc'd him by his perswasions and intreaties to receive an honour which his vertues had so justly merited Osmin overcome by the Princes reasons and acclamations of the people at last consented to be King and was so acknowledged through all the Assembly The Priests and Knights presently conducted him to the great Temple of Albernia and crown'd him according to the ancient customes of the Countrey Polexander had no sooner seen the new King establish'd but he sent notice of it to Cidaria who presently leaving the ship came ashore with Melicerta and Osmin's Lady and overjoy'd at the hapy fortune of a Prince which had been to her so long time in lieu of a father made every place resound with her just and excessive contentment She cast her selfe on Osmin's necke before all that encompassed them and left him not but to give Polexander thankes for those favours wherewithall he had both prevented her Petition and recompenc'd all those paines and travells whereunto the care of her preservation had expos'd that good old Prince and his Lady Two dayes she stai'd with them to make them savour the more the pleasures of Regalitie and had she not been as well as Polexander earnestly solicited to make haste to the Siege of Morocco she had kept them farre longer company The day of their depart arriving there was of necessity that to be giving to love and custome which they exact even from those which condemne it their farewels were accompanied with sighes and teares and though Polexander and Cidaria promised the vertuous Osmin and his generous Lady to be soone backe againe yet they shewed as much griefe for their departure as if they had beene certaine never to see them more Polexander Cidaria and Melicerta went aboard and after five dayes happy navigation descri'd the Pirates Fleet which lay at anchor in the mouth of the River of Tensiff The end of the third Part of the History of Polexander THE FOURTH PART OF POLEXANDER The first Booke POlexander seeing two ships of Warre which were in gard at the mouth of the River of Tensiff to weigh anchor either to fight with him or to see what he was commanded his Mariners to strike saile and his chiefe Squire to goe meet those vessels and inquire newes of Bajazet Presently Alcippus tooke a shallop and observing those ceremonies us'd at sea in token of Peace and friendship rowed to the neerest ship to them She was commanded by a Rover called Cady Hamet to whom Polexander had before-time given his life assoone as Alcippus saw him he knew the man and intimating his joy for meeting him Hamet said he the King my Master intreates thee to send him newes of thy Generall The Pirate overjoyed with seeing a man he extreamely lov'd Deare Christian replied he I am infinitely griev'd that the strictnesse of our Discipline makes me faile in what we owe thee but if thou lovest me as much as I beleeve let thy affection sway something as well as the necessity of my charge and come up hither that I may imbrace thee and fully informe thee of all which Polexander would know Alcippus desirous to satisfie his friend and his Master tooke hold of the ropen ladder which the Pirate had throwne out and went straight up to him The embraces and civilities once done the Turke led the Christian into his Cabin and putting every other out The King thy Master said he may be is ignorant of the cause which hath ingaged us in the Siege of Morocco He is not altogether so repli'd Alcippus for being at the Canaries he understood how Bajazet falne in love with a slave of the King of Morocco had proclaimed warre against that King to get her out of his hands This is not altogether false said Hamet but thou must know that this pretended slave of Hely is that faire and vertuous Princesse which my Generall lost in the Kingdome of Benin these three moneths almost hath he bin with all his forces before Morocco and hath made a solemne vow to put the Towne to fire and sword if that Princesse be not quickly restored to him I will not relate to thee the brave incounters have beene since the beginning of the Siege Let it suffice I tell thee there is to be one this day which is to decide the Warre Not long since there came to the King of Morocco a Knight which calls himselfe the Unknowne 'T is the most expert the most courteous and the most valiant Gentleman next Polexander of all those that honour the Crosse. This Knight and Abdelmelec the Prince desirous to spare the lives of a great many Innocents have resolv'd to end the Siege by a Combate of two against two Bajazet and Achomat have accepted their challenge three dayes since and the conditions of the Duell being agreed on of both sides we shall this day see for whom fortune hath reserv'd the victory Assoone as Alcippus had heard
felt none so cruell as to be absent from you A hundred times in my hearing hath she wished her selfe able to give her whole life for one instant of your sight and sometimes when the excesse of sorrowes had reduced her to an extremity O death hath she cryed how sweet shouldst thou be unto me so that thou wouldst not take me hence before I had regain'd the favour of my honour'd Achomat Cydaria spoke those words in a tone so fit to move compassion that the Basha could not refraine from teares but whilst he gave this tribute to nature Iphidamantus rendred farre greater to love he was come up to Melicerta and standing in the posture of an offender which strives to get pardon for his faults Faire Princesse said he in kissing her hand scorne not this fugitive slave who prosecuted by the remorse of conscience offers himselfe voluntarily to all that your anger shall denounce against him 'T is not the insensible Solyman you see at your feet that monster hath long agoe been out of the number of things existing 't is the repenting and sensible Solyman he yet intreates you to be lesse good then the Basha your father and not to forget such crimes as would make Mercy it selfe worthy to be punish'd had she sealed them a pardon Melicerta in lieu of answering to this incessantly sighed she tooke Iphidamantus hand put it to her mouth and with kisses or to speake things as love hath inspired mee with characters of fire imprinted on it the pardon which Iphidamantus beleev'd he had not merited She contented her selfe with that mute eloquence not onely to assure her lover of the extremity of her affection but to have him beleeve that all the miseries she had indured were deare and pleasing to her since they had produc'd such a height of felicity Achomat interrupted the mysterious interparley of those lovers and to refresh the spirits of all in Melicerta't cabin I wonder now no more said he to Cydaria and Iphidamantus which stood one before the other at those errours which have been occasioned by your two faces The King of Morocco is not so blinde as we beleeve him and for my owne part I confesse that were I from you but one quarter of an houre I should not know which were Solyman Melicerta desirous to give to Cydaria all that she owed to her affection This dayes miraculous accidents said she command you to give thankes to the King of Morocco's mistakes you had been as well as I in your discontents had that Prince been more cleere sighted or Bajazet's spies not lesse deceiv'd then that amorous old man But fitly said she changing her voyce now I talke of Bajazer what important reason of State hinders him from coming to taste those sweets for whose fruition be indures so many ills and exposeth himselfe to so many dangers Achomat repli'd had not our care of you daughter put by all others we had either been yet in quest of that Prince or he here with us When Polexander came and intimated how extreame ill you were we sent to Bajazetstents to let him know the cause of your sudden departure but our Messenger found him not nor could any of his guard or slaves tell to what quarter of the Camp he was gone The haste we made to see you may be our excuse if not towards this faire Princesse he spoke it turning to Cydaria yet at least to others why we forsooke that Prince in his discontent As Achomat ended his speech there arose a mighty noise in the midst of the Pirates fleet The trumpets and other instruments of brasse which serve to warne the Souldiers what to doe disturb'd the silence of the night and the calmnesse of the elements They cryed Arme arme on all sides and the mariners whose toile is all in confusion blended their clamours and cryes with the Souldiers uproare Polexander not knowing what the cause of this Alarme should be sent Diceus to inform him who was no sooner out of the Kings ship but the noise was husht yet loath to returne with nothing he got to the place where the Pirates fleet was yet in battalia he staid the first he met to know what had happened some told him the arrivall of the King of Senega whom they thought friend to the King of Morocco had engag'd the whole navy to put themselves in order to fight with him Others told him but uncertainly of Bajazets losse and gave him a great desire of cleering so important a newes as he was in that trouble he met with the Rover Hamet who knowing him in the darke Hoe Diceus said he if thou lovest Bajazet bring me quickly to the King thy master Diceus told him he was in his ship and for himselfe he was come by his Masters command to know the cause of the Alarme 'T is a strange one said Hamet sighing but thou mayest know that Bajazet is dead if Polexander save not his life Diceus imagining Hamet to be too much afflicted to speake got him into his shallop and so carried him aboard the Kings ship Assoone as he was in Melicerta's cabin where Cydaria was with the Princes her brothers and Achomat he cast himselfe at the feet of our Heroë and witnessing his feare by his faultring speech Sir said he you have gone neere within these two houres to lose Bajazet and if your company get not the suppressing of his resentments I verily beleeve he will meet with that death between the armes of Zabaim and Almanzaira which he would have found in the sea Knowest thou what thou sayest asked Polexander in a tone expressing his affright Yes very well repli'd the Rover and know more that the onely griefe of meeting with Iphidamantus where he thought to have found Axiamira hath made him to confine by a quick despaire his vaine and long hopes Relate that strange resolution repli'd Polexander whilst we goe to succour that desperate man presently he call'd for Diceus and commanding him softly to cause his ship to be steer'd neere to Zabaim's bid him with-draw and he himselfe shut the dore to Melicerta's cabin whilst he was speaking to Diceus Cydaria was stolne behinde the sicke Princesses bed and set her selfe on it to heare Hamet and not be seene Our Heroë thought it so and beleeving the Pirate's relation might contribute much to his sisters satisfaction intreated him to make known very particularly what he knew of his master's misfortune Hamet being a little recollected began his discourse thus Some quarter of an houre after the newes of our General 's victory came to our Navy our Sentinels gave us notice there were a many sailes descri'd at the mouth of this River this being confirmed by the fires on the coast and by those in guard at the entrance our Admirall made ready and put the ships in battalia But this alarme lasted not long as you have heard for presently two ships brought our Admirall newes that the discovered fleet was the King of Senega's
who as Bajazet's friend had for his aid arm'd all the vessels he could make ready Our Admirall who was absolute in his command sent not to Bajazet for his direction but presently dispatch'd Telisman and my selfe to Zabaim We made to him and coming aboard perform'd those complements whereto his assistance and quality obliged us he seem'd very sad and perceiving we tooke notice of it Pardon me said he if I entertaine you not with all the joy I ought to shew you As you came my wife and my selfe were busied about the cleering to our selves somewhat which even now makes me not able to speake to you but with some disturbance the adventure is such as you must beare a share in it but that you may the more freely understand it let us retire to some roome in the place where we are both more commodious and quieter then here among so many Souldiers and Mariners equally affrighted Zabaim having received us with these civilities and excuses brought us into his cabin and spending not long time in speaking of his forces and the cause of his getting them together My ship said he with some few others staid at the foot of that dangerous rocke which over-hangs the entrance into this River and I attended the Moone rising for my setting saile againe when I heard a voyce over my head which in words the most lamenting I ever heard besought heaven and earth things sensible and insensible to be witnesses after his death of his faith and constancy Whilst I was attentive to those complaints there grew a great bustling among the sailes and ropes of my ship and running to see what it was I found a man hung in the tackling I commanded to have him straight taken downe and seeing that the height from whence he fell had depriv'd him of his senses have caus'd him to be brought into a cabin neere to this no sooner cast I mine eyes on him but I know not what remembrance fill'd me with feare and horrour my wife coming in to practise that charity which hath gotten her the name of Mother to the afflicted earnestly look'd on him and was no lesse troubled then I. We have for these two houres done all we can to get out of our astonishment and o'recome the long trance of that unfortunate man but as effectlesse in the one as in the other this is the cause you have not been entertain'd as you might expect When Zabaim had ended Sir said I may 't is fit our Generall were advertis'd of the accident therefore we both beseech your Majesty to let us see that desperate person My thoughts said the King which are not yet well setled made me forget that which particularly I had a desire to tell you 't is that I am much deceiv'd if the man we have succour'd be not one of the principall of your Army By something he weares he seemes to be a man of command and if my wife mistake not it must necessarily be your Generall himselfe Here Zabaim stopp'd and we who found no likelihood in this conjecture besought him to let us see the man and to put him out of the opinion he was in we related to him what Bajazet had done that very day but assoone as he shewed him to us lying yet stretched out as dead I knew him and cried out 't was my Generall My companion as much afflicted as my selfe thinking Bajazet had beene dead cast himselfe on him and kissing his hands began to call to him in his eares as all the Sectaries of Mahomet use to hollow in the eares of their dead In the meane while whether Nature after it had beene so long time dull'd awaked suddainely or the Princes strength recall'd by their applying of remedies had disengaged his spirits which his fall had as ' were suffocated so it was that Bajazet came to himselfe The first signes of life he gave us were his sighes which being not well perfected perished in the place of their conception and were not perceiv'd but by their heavings about the seate of his heart These halfe-sighes were followed by others which seem'd to flye headlong to get forth At last after he had a while mutter'd what none could understand yet came he out distinctly with this I will no more depend on the injustice of fortune and my soule unloaden of the weight of my body may freely goe in quest and finde thee faire Axiamira in what corner of the earth soever my cruell destiny hath hidden thee Almanzaira recovering from her deadly sorrow by degrees as her Son came out of his swoon ceas'd not to invoake that eternall Pity which had so often and so miraculously redeem'd her out of her afflictions and to beseech thence with her teares an end to those miseries which continually travers'd her life Her prayer ended she oftentimes kissed Bajazet whose head she kept on her breast and calling him sometimes Almanzor and othertimes Bajazet intreated him to know her and to come out of his reaveries To strike his imagination with some name well knowne to him she intreated him to looke on Almaid and Hydaspes who infinitely grieved for him At those names he strove to open his eyes but the brightnesse of the lights forcing him to shut them againe Almaid said he and Hidaspes are with me for their fidelity would not permit them to survive my death You are welcome deare Companions of my many miseries and since in your life-time you have lov'd nothing more deare then my company and contentment continue that affection and joyning for ever your shadowes with mine let us goe together in quest of faire Axiamira Whilst Bajazet mov'd all that heard him to compassion and Zabaim with Almanzaira melted into teares I came to that incomparable lover and so talk'd with him as he came out of his musing Yet no sooner was he come to himselfe but he began to cry out as he had felt some great torture and afflicting himselfe for being alive How Bajazet said he thou liv'st then and yet hast for ever lost the hope of finding Axiamira Ah Polexander Ah Iphidamantus what will you say of me To get him from this new affliction I said you were in great care and search'd for him every where With that I came away and had so good fortune as to meet with Diceus when I was out of hope of finding you If therefore you regard the friendship of Bajazet save his life while it is in your power Here Hamet ended and Polexander replied to comfort him that his Generall should soone have satisfaction But what doe you the while faire Cydaria You sigh in secret you beare a part in the griefes you conferre on the loyall Almanzor and repent for suspecting so wonderfull a constancy I see well your scrupulous vertue growes angry with your disposition and it is not lesse griev'd then your lover to be compell'd to receive so sensible a blow and not have sufficient armes to defend it selfe from it But let her
of Fez and towards mount Atlas as well to hinder any succour from the Moores as to oppose the incursions of the Arabians Wee seldome sallied but wee brought in prisoners or much incommodated Bajazet's Campe. When a companie is reduced to the like extremitie as those of Morocco were there needs no such wonders to be done for the getting a reputation among them By this meanes the unknowne Knight made himselfe so famous in so short a time that his name came to the eares of the ficke King He would needs see mee and Abdelmelec must bring me to him even with the hazard of being no more unknowne But sicknesse had so altered the good old Kings senses that he neither knew me by word or countenance Many times hee imbraced me and calling mee the tutelar Angell of Morocco sent at need by his great Prophet intreated the taking into my protection the safety of his people and to expect from Abdelmelec those acknowledgements which death might perchance hinder him from rendring mee I gave him many thankes for his profers and well-wishes and told him I hop'd his age would not alwayes be crossed but that Heaven reserved for him a peacefull and contented issue out of all his troubles in the meane time I advised Abdelmelec to send to Fez for succour But Granada's desolation and the mortalitie or exile of that Kingdomes Subjects before-time so flourishing had so abated all the Moores courages that they were farre more miserable in Africa then they had beene in Spaine Their misfortune was still in their sight they thought continually Ferdinand and Isabell were imbarking for Africa and that great name of Cardinall of Spaine was a perpetuall cause of astonishment and feare They still privately sent us victualls and in such plenty that from thenceforward the Citizens of Morocco beleeved Bajazet would be inforced to raise his Siege Some little time after one of our Spies ill informed as most commonly are such kinde of people gave notice that Bajazet was re-inforced by a mighty succour under the command of one of the prime Basha's belonging to the Grand-Signior Thereupon Abdelmelec and my selfe resolved to make a powerfull sally to discover their new aide and know whether it were compos'd of Turkes or Africans There was not in all the Siege so brave a conflict as at that time we were in fight from morning till night Abdelmelec incountred Bajazet and I not knowing him buckled with my benefactor Achomat Night onely severed us after the losse of more then two thousand men on both sides At last wearied with the Siege and perceiving the succours from Fez failing us we must render our selves to their mercy I got Abdelmelec to a resolution of determining all by a Duell Wee therefore sent our Defye to Bajazet and Achomat which they accepted and each party being agreed on the conditions we waited with equall impatience for the day on which this great difference was to be decided Two dayes since I sent an intelligent Spy into Bajazet's Campe and commanded him not to returne till hee knew certainly who the Basha was with whom I was to change blowes last night he came backe and related that being stolne into Achomats Tents he had learnt who he was and for what cause he was come to the Siege of Morocco This newes so surpris'd me that when Abdelmelec this morning came into my chamber to conduct mee to the place appointed for our Combate he found me still in my bed He began to chide me for my sloath and imbracing me with a great deale of love Deare Iphidamantus said hee I have long time wished for this day 'T will tell mee what shall be my fortune and one way or other I promise to my selfe before night I shall have no more to long for Whilst hee talked thus I got ready and arm'd me not for my defence but to oblige Achomat to take his revenge of mee and to hide my designe from the Prince of Morocco You know without doubt this daye 's successe and how farre happier it hath beene to mee then Abdelmelec I will therefore trouble you no further Thus Iphidamantus ended the relation of his strange and sad Adventures The end of the first Book of the fourth Part of Polexander THE FOURTH PART OF POLEXANDER The second Booke IPhidamantus left his Auditors in such an admiration of the wonders he had related that they were a while unable to breake off that silence they had kept during his discourse At last Almanzaira spoke who not being fully satisfied though she had her eyes fixed on that sonne she so tenderly loved would need make him speake that her soule as well charmed by the eare as by the eye might receive all the contentment it was capable of After Iphidamantus narration said she addressing her to her deare Almanzor It is not hard to guesse at the cause which caus'd you make warre on the King of Morocco Neverthelesse I thinke you will much pleasure the company and particularly the King your father if you will relate to him to me of the most remarkable accidents of your life and in particular thâ—…se which beâ—…ided you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love made you change the condition of a slave for that of a 〈◊〉 â—…et unable 〈◊〉 refuse any thing to so good a mother and marking besides that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Princesses were on him and joyn'd their requests with Almanzâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 began to â—…nt his Adventures The sole misfortune at my birth 〈◊〉 having 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 pluck'd mee out of the armes of the Queene my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…e at least in appearance lose the love of the best father living I regained in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and fidelity of Almaid part of that which fortune had forced from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 related how he had been brought up by the King and Queene of Beâ—… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other particulars you have read in the three former parts of this Story When 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the occasion that made Iphidamantus goe from the Pirates Isle he cast his 〈◊〉 Cydaria and beseeching her humbly to be pleas'd he might acquaint the company to what extremities his affection had brought him thus prosecuted his History When I was left alone for so I may say I was after the departure of Iphidamantus there was nothing that hindered me from continually meditating on the losse of Cydaria she had been constantly in my thought but she was never so there as she was then I fell into such impatiencies as no consideration could moderate and though I had put on a resolution to expect in quiet Hydaspes and Almaid's returne yet was I tempted to abandon the Generall-ship of the Rovers and put my selfe againe in quest of Cydaria After three moneths absence Hydaspes returning he intimated that he had sail'd along all the coasts of Africa landed in all the principall maritime Townes searched all the Isles from the Cape of good Hope even to Denmarke and all in vaine Imagine
give credit to alterations which seem'd to her beyond all hope but Polexander after he had done his complements and made himselfe knowne Madam said he having been alwayes as you know so much at oddes with Phelismond I beleeve you will not accuse me of flattering or giving him such praises as he deserves not and this being granted I hope you will doe me the honour to give credit to what I shall say and beleeve since 't is truth that the generous Phelismond hath preferr'd his serving you before the gift of a Crowne and having turn'd the love hee bore to Alcidiana into the friendship of a brother he now hath not onely any more passion but for your beautie but he cannot give way to be happie unlesse he be so with you Helismena witnessing to Polexander her joy in seeing him and to heare his words Though said she what hath already passed cannot promise me but an unfortunate successe yet I will suspend my feares and put off my mistrusts for feare of offending that veritie which speakes by your mouth I beleeve since you say it that Phelismond hates me not so much as he hath done but withall I thinke that being compell'd by your valour to leave to you Alcidiana he hath at last resolv'd to take such a wife as may establish him in that authoritie which otherwise he might perhaps not be very well assured of Polexander desirous to free Helismena of that imagination related to her all Phelismond's adventures and letting her know that Alcidiana was his sister not onely cur'd her of her jealousie but dispell'd all other clouds of sorrow In an instant she pass'd from one extreame to another and according to the nature of the Northern women which are full of violent agitations but of short lasting she thought on nothing but her returne into Denmarke and with all content to behold him againe whose sight had been alwayes so deare though so sad unto her The Dane then began and having given the Princesse an account of the cause of his voiage If your Majestie said he will make no longer abide in this Island I shall be glad to have the honour of conducting you into your kingdom and will not beleeve I have fail'd my master in ought I owe him though I put off to another time what I have now in charge to hasten the contentment he will receive by your returne Polexander againe addressing him to the Princesse If said he I were not restrain'd by my adverse fortune I would propose to you a meanes by which your desires and those of Phelismond should be alike satisfied I would humbly intreate you to charge me with Phelismonds instructions and make me you Embassadour to Alcidiana Helismena approv'd of this advice and commanding the Dane to deliver all to Polexander I desire you withall said she to reconcile me to Alcidiana and after you have made knowne to her the just cause of my wishing her ill represent the reason I have to love her during my life Madam repli'd Polexander I will acquit my selfe as I ought alas what can I promise of the charge wherewithall you intrust me But that I may not faile for want of instruction be pleas'd ere I goe fully to informe me of such things whereof I am ignorant I conceive well said Helismena what you would say without any further intimation You would know my follies and I like them so well that I take pleasure to relate them you shall heare all Sir but before I begin I must needs see what is become of my nurse that while I intertaine you she may take leave of these palmes and waters which have preserved our lives Whilst she spoke she perceived her nurse among the trees much afrighted she call'd her and being setled told her in few words the change of her fortune and commanded she would make ready for their departure Whilst the nurse put that injunction in execution Helismena sate downe with Polexander at the foot of the palme-tree which had served her long time for a palace and began thus I need not tell you that Phelismond is a most courteous and gentile man and by consequence very amiable you have too long convers'd with him to be ignorant of his qualities judge then whether it were not very hard for me to be almost continually in the company of so winning a personage and not be mov'd by him I was indeed assoone as I became capable of knowing his merit For besides his sweet aspect his brave courage and his pleasant wit which were as so many enemies who resolv'd the ruine of my libertie the King my father's example made me resolute to receive the law of so sweet a conquerour I knew I loved Phelismond by the contentment I tooke in his intertaining me nowithstanding I know not what modestie restraining me from declaring my love to him and besides his owne puritie hindering him from noting it I liv'd above a yeare much in love and yet silent my languishing lookes my intermitted sighes and â—…e eyes wearied with my watchings and tears spoke to him of it sufficiently But he who apprehended nought but what spoke of Alcidiana as often as those true interpreters of my heart made knowne my love seem'd to understand nothing of all that they intended At last I resolv'd to speake my selfe and finding an occasion in the time of a violent sicknesse caus'd by the excesse of my affection Phelismond said I to him one day when he came to visit me you grieve for my losse and yet would you have understood mine eyes and sighes you might long since have knowne that you are not onely the cause of my sicknesse but the sicknesse it selfe whereof I die I have not been lesse sensible then the King my father and though my feare hath not permitted me to make it known as he hath done yet assure your selfe that I have farre more then he resented the imperious charmes by which vertue reignes absolutely over all hearts I confesse Phelismond I love you and so much that for feare of being troublesome to you I am resolv'd to die I would have gone on but my father coming in I was forc'd to deferre it to any time and indure the perfecutions of a troupe of ignorant Physitians Many new diseases they invented because they would not be silent before the King and blinde as they were discern'd not that I was sicke of a disease as old as the world Phelismond that was retir'd from me with a wonderfull astonished countenance had a great desire at least if my conjecture be right to free the King his master from the trouble wherein he saw him But conceiving he could not draw the King out without plunging himselfe into the same vexation hee was pleas'd to say that my malady was a pure effect of a melancholy humour and that if he would preserve me he should try by all kinde of diversions to bring me to my former mirthsomnesse My father who was not able to
clamours arose in all parts of the wood and a little after a great number of women and children hurrying on the necke of one another into the Temple made the Arch-priest beleeve that either the blinde Prince was dead or his enemies were come to assaile him Presently our Heroe made out of the Temple and with the Priest ran to the Kings lodgings there he understood how the troupes of the tyrant of Thombut were got into the wood and that they had either slaine or put to flight all those that oppos'd their entrie He heartned the blinde Prince and his timorous Court and putting himselfe in the front of three or foure hundred archers made signes to them that they should go on courageously and repulse their enemies The Princesses who had now no other sanctuarie then his valour brought him part of such armes as he needed one of them presented him with a sword and target another caus'd a very brave horse to be brought him and all falling at his feet besought him to have compassion on their misfortunes and not abandon their honours to the infamous prosecution of the tyrant of Thombut Polexander overjoyed that he had gotten wherewithall to resist the enemie and so piously exercise his courage went to meet the Thombutians and surprising them as they were scattered either to pillage the Galatians or to murder them charg'd them so furiously that they were all routed and after so followed through the deserts that not one was left to carrie newes of their defeate to the King of Thombut Polexander return'd from the fight or to say better from the chase without the losse of any one that followed him and entering the Kings lodgings found him at his devotions with the Chiefe Priest and the Princesses his daughters He made known to him by the Priest that his enemies were retir'd and that they seem'd by their little resistance they had no great minde to drive him from the place where he was His modestie would not permit him to say more but his souldiers being dispers'd through the palace so highly extoll'd his valour which had overthrowne their enemies that they made him be esteem'd for the Deitie whom they adored The women and children seeing their husbands and fathers safely return'd cast themselves on the earth to render thankes to our Heroe and invocating him in their private necessities besought the continuation of his miracles among them The good King of Galatia let himselfe slip into that opinion and as there is no errour which so easily infecteth all humane mindes then that which leades us to the adoration of such as have redeemed us from our miseries he thought he could not without impietie denie divine honour to such a one as did the actions of a Deitie This thought so rais'd his abated courage that in the very instant he left his bed and leaâ—…ing on two of his daughters was led to the Temple to give thankes to heaven for Polexander's victorie Our Heroe admiring the zeale which that afflicted Prince made shew of to a Power of which he had scarce any knowledge resolved to instruct him ere he went thence and in the meane time told him by his Priest that he should goe on in his pietie and promise to himselfe from that Deitie which he invoak'd with so much fervour not onely all the greatnesses and goods he had lost but all that his imagination could represent unto him After these promises he desired instantly to prosecute the execution of such as depended on him and to performe them effectually intended to sallie out of the deserts with five or six thousand Galatiaus and charge in all parts of the countrey on the troupes of the tyrant of Thombut The blinde Prince who certainly beleev'd that Polexander was sent from heaven to establish him in his throne approved of his resolution and all those whom love and dutie had obliged to follow the fortune of their King prepared them to that warre with all the courage and cheerfulnesse which loyall and affectionate subjects could testifie in defence of their Prince Our Heroe drew them forth from their abodes made them traverse the deserts entered into Galutia and in eight dayes gave two little battles perfected three sieges out the throats of most part of the garrisons and drove the rest farre into the territories of Thombut Those that know not the Provinces I write of will beleeve I mean to make Polexander passe for an Aâ—…adis or some other inchanted Knight in making him conquer a Kingdom in eight dayes but when he shall understand that all the Kingdom of Galatia consists but in three great Bourghs and some twentie or thirtie Hamlets they will alter their cause of upbraiding me and accuse me for so ill husbanding our Heroe's time in making him lose so much in an enterprise of so little importance Yet let their second accusationâ—… be silenc'd as well as the former since 't is true that the King of Thombut's souldiers having notice of our Heroe's coming not onely came to meet him with a true warlike resolution but intrenched themselves in the villages after they had been beaten in the field and disputed with the Galatians for the least of their Hamlets There fell above foure thousand in the fights and sieges and the rest as I said being forc'd to save themselves in the ancient territorie of the King of Thombut strucke the inhabitants with such a terrour that if Polexander had intended to assaile them without doubt he had conquered them all But he thought it not to belong to the King of Galatia nor for the good of his affaires and therefore contented himselfe with the regaining of that which had beene unjustly usurped He therefore returned and brought him out of his sanctuarie and conducting him to the great towne that beares the name of the kingdome re-established him very solemnly in the ancient throne of his fathers Some few dayes after came to him the King of Thombut's Embassadours and after their congratulating his return told him that the King their Master had specially sent them to intreat an abolition of things passed and impute all which seem'd contrary to his promises and their ancient alliance to the iniquitie of the times To this they added that if the blinde Prince intended to preserve the peace and make his peoples tranquillitie lasting he should hearken to some alliance whereby the Crownes of Galatia and Thombut being united their interests might be common and their affections reciprocall The King of Galatia deceived by these faire propositions yeelded to all that the tyrant of Thombut desired from him and told his Embassadours that he not onely left to their Master the choice of foure daughters he had but also from thence forward would live with him as with his sonne or brother provided that he restored to him the two Princes his sons whom he had detained prisoners since the beginning of the warre The Embassadours dispatched letters to their Master â—…and had quickly their
laid waste my deare Countrey But what remembrest thou perfidious and abominable Menocenarez Impose thy sorrowes an eternall silence and involve if it be possible in that darknesse which shall never have end those horrible treasons by which thy unbridled passion deliver'd thy King and Countrey into the hands of the Usurpers With that the Slave was silent and not able to suppresse his teares cover'd his face with his hand that he might weep at more liberty Polexander desirous to take him out of that agony I said he have knowne your name in the city of Fez. I have heard Benzaida utter against you all that the anger of a wronged Lady could make her invent yet rather pity then hate her For if her love have brought you into this servitude that which shee bare to the ingratefull Prince of Morocco made her turne on her selfe the point of that ponyard which shee had provided to avenge her selfe on that Infidell 'T was that traytor said the Slave who after he had strook the steele into the heart of Benzaida for he was the cause continually whetted that knife which is prepared to cut my throat But since you know the generall misfortunes of my Countrey I will relate the principall causes and tell you that Ferdinand and Isabella are beholding to my treason more then to their owne power for the conquest of the kingdome of Granado The unfortunate King under whose government that brave Province was lost was one of those timerous Princes who are so far from any intention of extending the limits of their kingdomes by forcible incroaching on their neighbours Territories that they scarce have courage to oppose the enterprises of their owne enemies Two yeares before the truce was broken betwixt the Spanyards and the Moores my ill fate made me cast mine eyes upon Benzaida I saw her faire for she was then in the prime of her age and may well say that in the very instant I began to die of a death which is not yet ended When I lost my liberty I lost my reason and not considering that I was but onely on ordinary knight my ambitious thoughts made me beleeve that my Nation owéd not the Empire and States it possessed to men of a royall extraction but to great invincible and persevering courages such as were Masters of the fortunes of Monarches themselves I therefore sought out the most fit meanes to get me the favour of Benzaida and knowing her to be of an exceeding high spirit and particularly esteemed men of valour I betook me to the Warres I dare say and so will my greatest enemies too that for eighteen moneths together I was plac'd as an inexpugnable Fort on the Frontiers of Granado against the invasions of Ferdinand My name was spread throughout all Spayne The Court of Granado was fill'd with it and the King my Master seeing himselfe secure under mine arme omitted nothing that might oblige me to the continuance of a service that was so advantageous unto him The affaires of Castile recalling Ferdinand and Isabella into their owne Territories our frontiers were left in peace I then returned to Granado and the honours I received there rather beseem'd a King that triumphes then a Subject whose services had made him usefull I was not only admitted to the Princes particular pleasures but to his Counsels and I dare say that if my my love to Benzaida had not troubled my senses and taken away courage I had put the Granadians in an estate of regaining on the Spanyards all those Kingdomes which they have lost within six hundred yeares But that furious passion possessing all the functions of my soule I was not able to reflect on any thing My thoughrs my designes and my wishes had onely the enjoying of Benzaida for their object I betray'd the publique affaires to adjust and fit them to my private contentment and subverted the Counsells of the Sages by the authority which my pass'd-actions had gain'd me In the meane while I burnt in secret and durst not make known to Benzaida that she had kindled the fire But at last the violence of my disease forcing me to forget all consideration I imagined that I should not be more unhappy then so many others who had ventur'd on the like boldnesse One day therefore as Benzaida walk'd in the Palace Garden only accompanied with her maides of honour I met her as it were by chance and feigning to be much surpris'd at the encounter made a low reverence and retired She smil'd at my astonishment and calling me What said she if I were a Castillian you cannot witnesse a greater mislike of me I repli'd even trembling Madam you may please to pardon me if I say your Highnesse doth your self a great deale of wrong by so unjust a comparison I have indeed an extreame aversion to the enemies of your state but their presence shall never amaze me For you Madam whom I am not to look upon but with respect I confesse that as often as I have the honour to see you my soule is full of dread and astonishment but of such a religious astonishment and devoute feare as our Alphaquies command us to feele when we approach things divine and holy Your words repli'd Benzaida more surprise me then my encounter did you I never thought that a man train'd up in warre and who all his life time breath'd nought but blood and battles was capable of so much and so high a jeering I answered that brutishnesse whereof your Highnesse accuseth me under such words as may seeme obliging is not that which hath hitherto made me delight in the acts of warre A fairer cause compell'd me to so noble effects and did I not feare to violate the lawes prescrib'd me by my subjection I would bring your Highnesse to confesse that till now I have not been happy enough to be well known of her I will never said Benzaida take you for my Interpreter since you come no clearer off in your explications I would have onely said that I thought it very strange how a man accustom'd to the serious discourse of warre could be so skill'd in those effeminate termes wherewithall both delicacy and idlenesse have compass'd the Courtiers language Your Highnesse then said I must hate that which is most to be beloved amongst us if you condemne a language which Love himself hath invented to render all things faire and eminent the testimony they deserve from all mens acknowledgements This language repli'd Benzaida is as ridiculous as its Author and though Spaine had nothing strong enough to make you give up your armes yet I will undertake to have the better when you dare defend so bad a cause You have already carried away one part of the victory I repli'd but since I am sure of the other be pleas'd Madam that I leave your Highnesse lest I may be engaged either to ore'come you or to waive all verity and my self With that I made her a low Reverence and went away that
came to Copenhagen Assoone as Phelismond heard of it he came not as a King but as the Guardian of the royaltie to receive Helismena and render her all the honour a subject owes to his Soveraigne He declared that he sate not in the Throne but to preserve for her the place which her birth and the peoples votes had given her and in case she were assail'd to defend her against all aspirers and usurpers Helismena answered these civilities not with words but with teares sighes swoundings she was without perceiving it carried to the castle and the Prince your brother despoiling himselfe absolutely of all tokens of royaltie made divers declarations to let the Danes understand that he pretended to no other part in their State then what an affectionate compatriot might lay claime to But his generousnesse won nothing on the minde of Helismena nor the opinion of the people the more Phelismond strove to make himselfe a private man the more was he settled in the regall authoritie The Queene who liv'd not but by the sight of that amiable Prince even besought him on her knees to comply somewhat with the excesse of her love and accept with her Crowne the utmost proofes she could give him of her affection At last Phelismond yeelded to Helismena's intreaties and assuring her he accepted not the title of King but to gaine to himselfe the meanes of serving her married her with the consent and joy of all Denmarke A few dayes after the wedding I arriv'd at Copenhagen and making my selfe knowne for one of your Majesties Slaves I receiv'd such entertainment both from the King and Queen that the greatest Kings of the world would have had cause to rest satisfied with it So indeed Madam was it to prime Princesse of the universe that these honors were done and I was considered as a person your Majesty design'd to make use of to make you ador'd by all the world The King and Queen of Denmark keeping me there neere two moneths I besought them for my convey They granted it me but very loathly and loading me with Presents and Letters intreated me to indeare them in the honour of your favour Those were the terms they both used to intimate to me the desire they had to be beloved of you I left your picture with the Queen sore against my will for I intended never to leave it but her intreaties earnest sâ—…ing and if I dare speake all pleasing violence carried it at last in spight of my obstinacie Assoone as I was under saile I commanded my pilot to touch at no place whatsoever till we came to the Island of the Sunne because I hop'd to find Linceus there and by his meanes returne to your Majestie but being gotten on this side the Canaries we met with a storme which put us by our course and when it was over we were set on by two great men of warre Long was our fight and furious my cannon suncke one of the enemies ships the other came up close to mine and fir'd her but some of my souldiers did the like to theirs Upon this reciprocall firing we separated the winde then and the combustible matter in our ships increasing the flame spight of all our labour to quench it we saw one another perishing by a new and fearfull kind of combat I had given my selfe for dead Madam when the vincible Araxes came to my succour and knowing I belong'd to your Majestie had such care of me as it put among the number of the greatest testimonials he will ever shew you of his zeale How now Pallantus said Alcidiana you are then bewitch'd aswell as the rest and by the attribute of Invincible which you have cunningly given the African Slave you would have me beleeve that there is no way to save my selfe but by his valour Your Majestie may give me leave if you please reply'd Pallantus to explaine my words and to say that my intention was not to tie your safetie to Araxes valour But considering what he hath already done and what he is resolv'd to doe assoone as his wound will permit him to leave his chamber let me take the boldnesse to tell your Majesty that without doubt you will owe to the great courage of that African the ruine of your enemies and the re-establishment of your authority I am not of your opinion reply'd the Queene angerly goe and if you be yet Pallantus have better thoughts Pallantus much astonish'd retir'd and the Queene taking Amintha by the hand continued her walke they were in the garden till 't was farre within night and Polexander was the onely subject of their discourse Alcidiana at last having her minde farre more wearied then her body withdrew and kept her bed foure dayeâ—… to frame absolutely an intention of dying in case shee saw her selfe constrain'd to take Araxes for her husband On the evening of the fourth day Rhadiotez came to the palace and making knowne he had businesse of importance to communicate to the Queene was brought to her bed-side he told her that Araxes being resolv'd to execute some great enterprise it was thought fit to have publike Oraizons and to get to the Temple to celebrate such sacrifices as were appointed on the like occasions That he came to beseech her Majestie to approve of the Clergy's deliberation and since she was obliged to be at that Ceremonie as having with the royall Character that of the Soveraigne sacrificature it would please her to make ready betime and give that testimonie of love to the necessitie of her State Alcidiana gave consent to his request and calling for her dressing Ladies told them what she would weare the next day At breake of day she arose and tooke on a robe of black silke open before and on the sleeves and to be clos'd with diamond buttons her head dressing was not extraordinary she put on a vaile of blacke tiffiny border'd with pearles and fast'ned with a little Crown of diamonds which ended in a point on the top of her head Assoone as she was attir'd she went to the Temple of Wisdome and parting thence with a most royall pomp went to another which her predecessors had caus'd to be built and call'd it the Temple of divine assistance The Ceremonie was long and faire and all the people meeting there shewed by their earnestnesse and offerings that the time of calamity is truly the time of Heaven Though the Priest-hood had for a while been separated from the royaltie yet was it not so absolutely but there remain'd some functions to the Kings Therefore assoon as the Chief-Prelate had ended the accustomed praiers he presented a golden Censor to the Queen and marching before her went to the High Altar Alcidiana kneeled down on the steps and having a composition of perfumes on the burning coales made a long praier for the diverting of heavens menaces for the continuance of its favour to her Subjects and subverting and driving thence their publique and bloody enemies And
lastly for the preservation of him which it had sent for their defence After she had ended her praier all the people confirm'd it by their acclamations and applauses and so went out of the Temple blessing the Queen and waited on her to the Palace with such testimonies of affection as were farre beyond all that had preceeded As she entred the second Court of her palace Diceus who had plotted that action with his Master presented himselfe and humbly besought her to have pity on a Canarian who had lately escap'd out of the Spanish fleet Alcidiana was so troubled and diverted that shee took no heed to what the man said But Amintha who attended her thought she should know the Supplicant and staid to look on him Ah madam said Diceus if the memorie of a personage whom you have somtimes affected be yet deare to you have compassion on that miserable estate whereto his losse hath reduc'd me Amintha knowing Diceus by his voice better then by his countenance and unable to suppresse that violent passion which she alwaies had in any thing concerning Polexander How Diceus cri'd shee art thou yet alive Arise and follow me Alcidiana at Amyntha's noise turned her head and saw the Lady talking to Diceus but not imagining whom he might be kept on her way and retir'd to her chamber where she presently â—…eil on a Couch and commanding all to withdraw fell to her usuall reveries An houre after she awoak and call'd Amintha They told her she was gone Let her be fetch'd hither said she and after that Commandement fell again into her former imaginations Amintha came presently after and approaching the Queen your Majestie said she may be knowes not the man who this morning fell at your feet The Queen answering that shee had not taken notice of him 'T was said Amintha that faithfull servant of Polexander who was only with him when he was murthered by Astramadans Subjects He was about to tell me in what manner hee escaped after his Masters death and by what accident hee arriv'd in this Island when your Majestie vouchsafed the honour to send for mee At these words Alcidiana coming as it were out of a deep sleep How said she is Diceus here O you thou lov'st me Amyntha let me see him The recitall he will make me of his Masters death will serve me for a great diversion A sad and dismall diversion replid ' Amyntha I doe not think Diceus can relate any thing more particularly to you then I have done 'T is all one said the Queen I shall be glad to see him and hear the reproaches he will throw on me for the death of his Master Hee hath been too well bred repli'd Amintha to take such libertie as shall not please you I am in such an humour said the Queen that whatsoever he shall say will not be able to displease me Therefore without losing more time let me see him With that Amintha making a low reverence went out of the chamber and calling for a Squire commanded him to go call Diceus The Squire obey'd the command and Diceus presently after entring the Queenes chamber Amintha brought him where she lay Alcidiana trembled at his sight and finding her selfe more troubled thâ—…n she thought she could be Alas poor Diceus said she thy Master is then dead Diceus continuing on his kneees though the Queen bad him arise Madam said he my Master dy'd because your Majestie thought his life was not worth the preserving Neither his life nor death depended on my will repli'd the Queen The will of your Majestie said Diceus hath alwayes had more power over him then that soveraign law on which depends the destinie of all other men It seemes then by what thou saiest answered the Queen that thou wouldst make me guiltie of thy Masters death Heaven said Diceus who can make us immortall was never accus'd but by blasphemers for confining the course of our life to so short a date Nor hath the King my Master who alwaies look'd on you though not as a Deity yet as its living image otherwise then with a benediction receiv'd the sentence of death you pronounc'd against him And the last time he did me the honour to speake to me Diceus said he let my death come when it will I will take it for a speciall favour from heaven since 't is the onely thing iâ—… left me whereby I may witnesse my obedience to the greatest Queen in the world Alas repli'd the Queen how knew he that I bore so great a hatred to his life Hee hâ—…d read it quoth Diceus in the declaration which Pallantus shew'd him in the Pirates Island but he read it more clearly in the effects of your anger I mean by the warre which nature her-selfe had denounc'd against him and by the ill successe of â—…ll the voyages he undertook to have the happinesse of continuing to you the testimonialls of his most humble Servitude I should condemne my Declaration answered the Queen though it were justly done if it hastened the death of your Master But 't was his valour and not Alcidiana that slew him Hee thought himselfe immortall as he was invincible and judging of his enemies by himselfe imagin'd there was none base enough to commit a murther Hee had too much loved life said Diceus or to speake better he had been as he was the superstitious observer of your commands if he had thought on the preservation of a life which he knew pleas'd you not He is dead Madam and died the more happily since he was perswaded in dying he should give you a strong and unquestionable proofe of the greatnesse of his love and obedience These last words touch'd Alcidiana to the heart so that spight of her selfe she sigh'd and feeling her teares in her eies turn'd her head towards Amintha that her too lively resentment might not be perceiv'd Assoon as her amorous teares were wip'd off she beganne again and would know of Diceus by what meanes he sav'd himselfe after the death of his Master I will not relate to your Majestie said he for what cause the King my Master came to the Isle of Astramadan Amintha was by when he was ingag'd to sight with him and I doubt not but she hath entertain'd your Majestie with it I will therefore content my selfe with the narration of the most strange and diversified Combate that ever was seen since weapons have been us'd He related how Polexander had sent to defie Astramadan with how many Knights he had to do till he came to haâ—…die stroakes with the Gyant in brief all that which we have descri'd at large heretofore But when he came to that part wherein we spoke of Tisiphone's arrivall and the firing of Astramadans City I had said he to the Queen the honour that day to serve my Master in the place of his Squire and to doe somewhat worthy my new quality assoon as the Tyrants Guard assail'd the King I fell in amongst them and wâ—…s so
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
from me and I would finish before you what Achomat hath begun if my desire of restoring Melicerta to him did not imperiously command me to live Achomet interrupting the two brothers discourse If said he to Polexander I could be happy the sight of you which I have so long wish'd for would be the end of my misfortunes The name of Polexander which hath stirr'd in me so much emulation and that high vertue which I have propos'd for the Idea of my actions would fill my soule with such delights as would not be found neither in the favour of Princes nor the reputation and fame of a great Command nor the possession of riches But I am too miserable to taste of any felicity and therefore 't was necessary my daughters losse should betide that the pleasingnesse of meeting with you might be as it were poysoned by so great a sorrow I accept your civilities repli'd Polexander since they are so many witnesses proclaiming your generous soule hath preserv'd her purity in the corruption of a Court where the greatest fortunes are not usually rais'd but by villanies farre greater But what doe Iâ—… in lieu of contemplating you by what you are I consider you by what you seeme Achomat is but the maske under which is hidden Antenor the Prince of Montevera The favour nor alliance of the Turkish Emperour have not been able to pervert that incomparable heart which nothing hath been able to conquer but love and I know well these alterations which some indiscreet man would construe to be ambition or lightnesse are signes of his moderation and constancy But since love hath sway'd the father to things so incredible could he without injustice condemne that which the same passion had made his daughters undertake You are just Achomat doe not then punish that in another which you approve in your selfe and thinke two young Ladies being but weaknesse ignorance and infirmity were not able to resist the most sweet and contagious of all maladies since he could not doe it who by his valour as well as by his wisdome had infallibly ruin'd the Ottoman's if the misfortune of Christendome had not arm'd them for their preservation Attribute therefore to Fortune or if you will to Nature the disasters of your house and bury in eternall oblivion the errours of two young Ladies who could not almost avoid them since they had the amorous Antenor for their father Would to heaven repli'd Achomat that Histeria and Melicerta were in case to receive that pardon you intreate for them you should get it though nature and bloud would not force me to that indulgence but death makes your intreaties and my love effectlesse and may be you would have me beleeve Melicerta alive to accustome me to a misery before I know the greatnesse of it I have said Polexander related to you matters as they are Melicerta lives and since my brother is become rationall I doubt not his redeeming her from the hands of that Tyrant who to tire her constancy puts her daily to new tortures At those words the fire flew into Iphidamantus face and his action full of impatiency witness'd sufficiently hee was no more an enemy to love I shall beleeve said he to Polexander you are of intelligence with that insensibility wherewith you upbraid me if you doe not without delay let me know where Melicerta is For the Tyrant that keeps her his captive either he is invisible or I am most certaine that Princesse shall be reveng'd for his wronging her That Tyrant repli'd Poleaander is to be seen but he is almost invincible He goes alwayes arm'd and lives in a place so strong and so well furnished with resolute Souldiers that of those which have hitherto assaultâ—…d him some have lost their honour others their lives or liberties and generally all have repented their undertaking to vanquish him The successe said Iphidamantus will make it appeare whether I am happier then the rest but hap what hap may be confident I will not repent me of my enterprise The onely griefe that â—…ickes by me is that I have but one life to lose and out of my poverty I cannot acquit my selfe to Melicerta but I must remaine in debt to Histeria But that faire soule which amongst the eternâ—…ll lights that inviron her may be penetrates into the obscurity of our hearts and discovers their secret'st thoughts knowes Solyman's intention and repentance and no more accuseth him of his forepast ingratitude she already receives for a full satisfaction my will which hath no bounds nor sees no impossibilities and considers not my power which is limited by obstacles too powerfull to be surmounted Why deferre you Sir said he addressing him to his brother Why conceale you Melicerta from me Are you become jealous assoone as you saw me sensible And have you not presented me with my happinesse but then when you thought me incapable of knowing it No brother repli'd our Heroë I am neither jealous nor cunning but will give you even more then you could hope Yet shall I but vainly intimate how you may be happy if Achomat consent not to your felicity My Lord said Iphidamantus let not the thought of that hinder you I thinke not of inriching my selfe my intent is onely to pay my debt Let Achomat doe what he pleaseth with me I owe him all that I owe not to Periander when he shall use me as his slave he shall doe nothing unjustly leave therefore in his hands my good and ill fortune and let him dispose of either as he pleaseth whatsoever hee shall deliberate I can never be unhappy if I but once suppresse Melicerta's miseries Achomat was about to speake and may be to testifie to Iphidamantus that he held him not in the quality of a slave when Bajazet who had left Abdelmelec in as ill a case as Polexander had the Moorish Knight came to know the cause of so long an interparley and who the stranger Knight was but he no sooner look'd on him then he alighted and with open arms astonished and overjoyed went to imbrace him with all the kindnesse his accustomed noblenesse could cause any to expect from him A hundred times he kiss'd him and had not given him over but that the faire Prince said Polexander was jealous of his imbraces Straight he left him to salute Polexander and because he had heard from Hydaspes and Almaid what that Prince had done for Zabaim and Almanzaira he câ—…t himself at his feet call'd him his protector and said aloud he had sav'd his Parents lives preserv'd his State and ruin'd the fatall cause of all the disasters befalne his house Polexander not induring him in that posture nor to heare him speake so tooke him in his armes and willing to make knowne he had heard all his life Is it possible said he that you reserve yet some cause of hatred against Zabaim and that the love of incomparable Almanzaira hath not been more powerfull over your resentments then the ill