any remainder of my Illness The King made an obliging Compliment to the lovely Axione which she receiv'd with much Respect and all this goodly Company went with Zamar because the Hour of Dinner approach'd My Master who saw that the Princess being watch'd by Timur could not be entertain'd by another retired and after Dinner the King of Tendur Accosting her without any Obstacle had the liberty to say what he pleas'd He look'd a great while upon the Princess with a premeditated Air and then looking downwards The same Day on which Heaven gave you to the World as the richest Present it could bestow had like to have been the last of your Life Madam said he and I tremble to think of the Danger which threatned you All the World did not believe it so great as you did my Lord reply'd Taxila disdainfully and the Princes of the Monguls and Brema shew'd that they despis'd it in exposing themselves thereto It 's true Madam answered Timur Red with Anger and Shame that they shew'd some fearlesness but they at that time had all their Reason about them whereas mine was disturb'd by the most frightful of all Ideas And all this Disturbance and Trouble my Lord reply'd the Princess with a malicious Smile would have even let me perish had there not been found more unconcern'd persons and less interested for my Life I see well answer'd Timur that you would enhanse the price of a Service great indeed but which a thousand others would have render'd unto you All the World would have done it except the King of Tendur said Taxila interrupting him but my Lord be not incens'd if I have some acknowledgment for this Service which well deserveth it seeing I promise that I will make reckoning of your trouble of Mind and even of the fear it caused in you Timur would have answer'd and perhaps would have done it without respect but a multitude of people that came to see the Princess hinder'd him and he went out full of Confusion Taxila who saw the Day was very fair went down to the Palace-Gardens and walk'd there for some time Those that follow'd her remarking that she was desirous to be alone retir'd a good distance from her She sat down at the end of a Terrace that faceth the Polisangi and observing the place where she had almost been drown'd Axione said she to that fair Maid as we afterwards came to know as couragious as you are do you not quake when you look upon that River My Princess answer'd Axione I protest unto you that I was troubled only for you and that with the knowledge that remain'd with me though I believ'd my own Death certain yet the Thought of yours was that which most tormented me You are too good a Friend my dear Axione reply'd Taxila pressing her hand and I cannot enough requite that tender and generous Motion of forgetting your self for me I may truly say answered Axione sighing that you are one of the most powerful Causes that make me desire Life and one added she with watry Eyes which at present ought to carry it over all the rest You render mine dear unto me reply'd the Princess but Axione I don't know whether I ought to rejoyce that it is lengthen'd Ah Madam cry'd out Axione why should not you be satisfied with a Happiness that is precious to all reasonable persons Alas answered Taxila a Happiness that must be Sacrific'd to Timur can promise me no Satisfaction What Man among all the Men of the World doth the King my Father choose Shall I be the Victim of that Power which his Weakness gives unto Zamar Besides the little Inclination that naturally I have for Timur he doth nothing that he ought to do to win me he thinks I am his by duty and you see how he behav'd himself in our late Adventure more in love with his Life than with the unhappy Taxila he abandoneth her to an evident Danger and leaveth to the Generosity of others to Rescue her Ah! what can he ever expect from that Princess whose Preservation he so faintly neglected O Heaven O just Heaven continued she in a sadder Tone I who so much abhor Baseness will you permit me to fall into the power of the basest of all Men As the Princess expressed her self after this manner my Master who had heard that she was in the Garden appear'd with the Prince of Brema Taxila perceiving rose up to meet them Zingis presented his Hand to her after he had Saluted her Omir render'd the same Office to Axione and they continued their Walk Well Madam said my Master to the Princess How do you find your self after that cruel Accident And you my Lord reply'd she with a charming Sweetness You who took so generous a part and so advantageous for me in what condition is your Health Though it had been attack'd by a Malady answered Zingis My joy that I had successfully serv'd a great Princess in whose Safety all the World ought to interest themselves would have entirely dissipated it Our Bodies are fitted for greater Fatigues you suffered much and I have reason to be troubled at it I assure you my Lord reply'd Taxila that there remaineth nothing of that Adventure with me but the remembrance of the sensible Obligation that I have unto you O my Lord added she with an Earnestness that witness'd her Acknowledgment what can I do to acquit my self of it It is too much that you remember it answer'd the Prince of the Monguls and that Price is great enough to recompence more important Service I do not know any that can be more worthy of my Remembrance reply'd Taxila Madam said my Master sighing and interrupting her Although according to all Appearances I have only labour'd for Timur yet I cannot but look on Yesterday as the happiest Day of my Life The Princess look'd downwards to hide some Tears which these Words forc'd from her and which nevertheless Zingis perceived He was grieved that he had touch'd her in so sensible a part and continued thus Pardon me Madam if I have nam'd the King of Tendur I fear I have fail'd in the Respect I owe you No said Taxila interrupting him But you have set before my Eyes an afflicting Idea which I often endeavour to put out of my Mind You know the King my Father's Intentions concerning Timur but my Lord you do not know mine and you are doubtless ignorant that I can't think of seeing my self subjected to the Son of Zamar without a mortal Grief I am not resolute enough to disobey Undkan and whatsoever it costs me I must if he command me sacrifice my self Judge my Lord having a natural Aversion or rather invincible Hatred for Timur in what Condition I must needs be when I think on my Father's Designs and the Queen's Authority This Freedom of the Princess Charm'd my Master and render'd him bolder I confess continued he That there is nothing in Timur that is worthy of you
her when the time of my Departure was come I will not abandon you to the Indiscretion of Hildezar He is Master of all Power here and my Misfortune hath swell'd his Authority My Lord replied she seeing I am near the Princess and seldom come out of her Presence I do not think that I have cause to fear any thing and it is not his Importunity that disquieteth me it is your Life my Lord which will be expos'd to rebellious Arms it is you your self it is that great Heart that burneth with a Desire to Signalize it self Alas my Lord Sympathize with our Weaknesses do not pursue too ardently that Glory which will alwaies follow you and in the heat of Battels forget not the Care you owe to the Preservation of your own Life This Mark of Axione's Tenderness whose fair Eies appear'd moist touched me sensibly That Life which I have Consecrated unto you fair Axione replied I will not be expos'd to so many Dangers as your Goodness perswadeth you but seeing you Ordain me I will take Care of it as of a Thing that you are not willing to lose For you Axione I entrust you to your self resist the Arrogancy of Hildezar at my Return resolve with your self to put an eternal obstacle in the way of his presumptuous Pretensions in giving your self to a Prince that liveth only for you Go my Lord continued the fair Maid whither the Rigour of Fate commandeth you to carry your Arms and if I be Mistress of any of your Interests assure your self that they can never fall into more faithful hands In this manner I took my leave of Axione and having tenderly Recommended her to my Sister I went out of the Palace accompanied with Benzid Othrize and several other Persons of Quality Hildezar said I to that Traytour when he came to receive my last Orders you have been desirous to remain at Kachen remember alwaies that I Reign there and reign justly do not abuse the Power that I have suffer'd you to assume render unto my Sister what you owe unto her Dignity and above all respect Axione all whose Interests are mine Excite no new Broils whilst I go to calm these that are already set on foot I dare assure you that I will return speedily Adieu He answer'd me only with a Salutation and I began to march but not without anxious Apprehensions I may boldly say Almundzar that I rush'd like a Torrent upon the Rebels They were animated by no couragious Captain and their Revolt being only an Effect of Hildezar's Treachery I had no great Trouble or Glory to vanquish Men that were overcome at the first sight of our Standards My Anger permitted some of them to perish for an Example to others and how much soever I was inclin'd to Clemency I could not without Resentment consider that they were the cause of my Absence from Axione In the end almost without the loss of a Man or renewing the least Wound though I did not spare my self I had in less than three Months quieted all things The Conquer'd submitted themselves to my Pleasure and I took the way to Kachen from whence I had received many Letters none of which acquainted me with any thing that could make me suspect the Misery that waited for me But arriving at that Town I neither found Hildezar nor Axione The Traytour had carried her away and how exact soever Thamarize had been in observing her she could perceive nothing and appear'd unto me desperate at the Accident Alzine her self the innocent Daughter of so criminal a Father protested that she had no hand in Hildezar's Action and couragiously offer'd her Blood unto me as an Atonement for the Offence I had receiv'd I assur'd her as afflicted as I was that not confounding her with the Traytor that gave her Life I would have held her guiltless of all In fine Almundzar without staying at Kachen I run through all Thibet and even exposed my self to dismal Wandrings in the howling Desarts of Xama and after having consum'd a great deal of time in an useless Quest I return'd to Kachen to settle Things for a longer Voyage entrusting the Government to my Sister leaving her to the Conduct of Benzid and Othriz in important Affairs I departed from Thibet unable to live without Axione I saw almost all Asia I met with Adventures which I do not relate unto you because they have no direct Relation to my Love and after a vain Search of two Years being in Tartary and passing through a Forest that pertaineth to the King of Ergimul I found Hildezar at the Root of a Tree pierc'd with several mortal Wounds in a condition worthy of his Treasons He breathed as yet and easily knew me His Misery asswag'd my Anger and I went to help him No my Lord said he You ought not to lavish your Goodness for a Man that hath but too much abused it I am Guilty nor is it Death that extorts this Acknowledgment from me and it 's a great while since a just Remorse hath executed Vengeance upon me for my Treacheries This Death is too sweet for a Man that hath merited the worst of Punishments seeing it permitteth me to ask Pardon of my Master At these Words he would have made an Effort to raise himself upon his Knees but I hinder'd him and ask'd News of Axione He told me with a mournful Sigh That he had been almost two Years separated from her That after he had made her wander up and down a long time he was assaulted in Tartary by persons that carried her away That after that he had search'd for her to no purpose and that the same Robbers had now left him in the Condition in which I found him because he knew them and endeavoured to make them confess what they had done with Axione After that he breath'd his last and having caus'd my Followers to cover his Body with a little Earth I came straight hither where in the end I unexpectedly found Axione I made my self known to Undkan I have ever continued to see Axione she loveth me I am certain of it but her severe Vertue will not permit her to consent to my Happiness till she know her self perfectly she inform'd me that Hildezar carried her very privily and by a subtle Stratagem that he did not shew himself to her till long after their departure from Kachen that he had conjur'd her to pardon his Love that made him sacrifice all for her that she reproached him bitterly with his Treachery but that nothing could make him alter his Resolutions and that in the end She was violently taken from him in Tartary and sold to some Tartars who gave her to the Princess Taxila Philing left off speaking Almundzar admir'd his Generosity and Axione's Vertue Afterwards returning to the Interests of Zingis they discours'd of the Troops that he had about Cambalu and of the measures that were most proper to be taken to avert the Misfortune that
encouraged him from the Windows with all that Grief and Rage hath most violent She blasphemed Heaven and Men and even revil'd her Husband falling into Convulsions that betoken'd the cruelty of her Passions Whilst Zingis Philing Zerbin the Unknown and the Mogols with a part of the Tartars compleated the Victory Almundzar seeing the Princesse's Apartment without Guards run thither and found her frighted at the noise which she heard without knowing the Cause thereof Ah Almundzar said she to him Is the King of the Mogols dead No Madam answered the Tartar and I hope you shall see him shortly in a Condition to put an end to all your Alarm Then he related to her all that had past and seeing she was no Lover of Blood the Death of Timur did not please her how great soever the Advantage was that she receiv'd by it But of all that which touch'd her in Favour of Zingis nothing had so great an Influence upon her as the glorious Action which had afforded the Tartars so great a cause of Admiration O Heaven said she If Zingis persecuted and ready to succumb under the pitiless Sword of his Enemies defendeth the Father of Taxila against those whom Generosity arm'd to save him from the Fury of Vndkan what doth not she owe to so strong Marks of so pure a Love Axione being interested for her Lover and for a Prince whom she tenderly lov'd reassumed Hope with the Princess and they redoubled their Vows Fortune had entirely declar'd against Zamar The loss of her dear Timur was followed with the Death of several thousands of Souldiers The King of Cerguth Tenguth Ergimul and Vng fighting faintly without Valour and Courage perish'd by the Arms of Zingis and Philing and the Tartars that came from the Suburbs were constrained to give back Zingis had no design upon Vndkan's Crown Seeing that Prince stunn'd with the Disorder re-enter his Palace he embrac'd the King of Thibet with whom the affectionate Zerbin made him acquainted and after having said unto him all that a just Acknowledgment can dictate to a generous Heart he turn'd toward the valiant Man that had fought with so much advantage and seeing his Head discover'd he knew him to be the Prince of Brema Then it was that their mutual Embraces express'd their Friendship Zingis prais'd the Mogols and Tartars that had serv'd him with all the affection that their Valour oblig'd him to His Friends advised him to go into the Palace but whatsoever Impatience he had to see Taxila he judg'd that out of respect to her he ought not to leave Vndkan and retir'd to the same House where he had lain sometime absconded Philing and Omir accompanied him thither and Zerbin took care of the remainder of the Mogols But scarce had they been two Hours in that place when Almundzar came to seek them Come valiant Princes said he to them with immoderate transports of Joy come and enjoy the Fruits of your Valour you have no more enemies to fear Fury hath executed upon Zamar what your Arms have done upon the rest She is dead and Vndkan freed from the Bondage in which her Artifices had enthral'd him recalleth that Vertue which she had banished out of his Soul and with ardent Breathings desireth a Reconciliation with you These Words which inspir'd them with Hopes of an agreeable Revolution did not at first find a perfect belief in those to whom they were address'd but in the end they were oblig'd to give Faith unto them and follow Almundzar to the Palace Peace was already re-established there all the People made Vows for Zingis there were none found lamenting for Zamar and much less for her wicked Son Coming to Vndkan Zingis found there the Princess and Philing the charming Axione The King of Tartary with open Arms received the King of the Mogols and that Prince humbled himself respectfully to receive his Embraces Will you forget the Cruelties that cover me with an eternal Shame My Lord said he to Vndkan and can you pardon me for what the unjust Empire that a Woman had usurp'd over my Weakness hath made me commit against you notwithstanding the many Services that you had so generously render'd unto me By your first Actions you merited the Crown to Tartary and all that you have added unto it and by preserving my Life for the sake of Taxila you deserve also that Princess I give her unto you Zingis and with her Tartary and all that is subjected to my Scepter being sensible of no other Pleasure than in seeing you two Reign together At these words he took the Princess by the Hand who full of Joy receiv'd that of Zingis My Lord said he to Vndkan Your Goodness surpasseth infinitely my Hopes and the Merit of my Services I receive with all due respect the precious Advantage of being united to the Princess but for the Crown of Tartary I will not joyn mine to it but to the end that I may make you Master of both Reign my Lord Reign in Peace and receive my Homages No no interrupted Vndkan I have been King too long since I have been guilty of so great Injustice in that quality whilst I Reign in you you shall Reign for me and I will reap from thence both Pleasure and Glory Then he asked Pardon of the King of Thibet prais'd his Generosity and was perfectly reconcil'd to him But casting his Eyes upon the Prince of Brema who had not yet chang'd his Habits he knew him to be that terrible Man against whom Zingis had defended him He was somewhat mov'd at the sight of him but the rising Vertue which begun to chase from his Soul all that approach'd to Vice would not permit him to entertain any Resentment He embrac'd him then as he would have done a Son The King of the Mogols would not suffer you to take Vengeance on me Omir said he unto him and I will not find fault with one that attack'd me in so just a Cause Omir answer'd with a great deal of submission Almundzar received also new Marks of Vndkan's Friendship and this King spoke with much sweetness to all those that took Arms for Zingis Mean-time Love triumph'd and Zingis and Taxila perceiv'd it mutually in their contented Eyes and received from one another the most tender Assurances thereof Philing told Axione all that he had suffered during a few Days absence and conjur'd that scrupulous person to be somewhat less fix'd in her Resolutions and to yield at last to make them happy She thanked him for what he had done for Zingis and after this first Interview the Princes having received some slight Wounds that had need to be look'd after went out together with Almundzar They were not considerable enough to oblige them to keep their Chamber and they prepar'd themselves to visit the Princess when the Prince of Brema spoke in this manner to the King of Thibet I know not my Lord whether what hath happen'd unto me in your Dominions will draw