reception that it out-bad the indulgence and fondness of most Mothers I cannot express indeed what Respect and Affection this insprired in me towards her no more then I can tell you her tenderness towards me I was her dearest Daughter so She ever termed me and I was more Conversant and much more constantly attendant on her then on Pheretime But as the Queen loved me with so great Affection so the King fancy'd me with no less Passion and I was compelled at length to make the ones Amity a buckler to defend me from the others Amours Nor do I well know how to guess what had ere this been become of Birinthea if the Virtue and Discretion of so generous a wife had not shielded me from the violent attempts of so unsutable a Husband who yet practised a long reserved silence ere she would make her tongue my advocate We still were sharers in all the divertizements and past-times at Court no Assembly could be thought compleat that had not brought us in and those that had been unacquainted with our condition would sooner have judg'd us to be Princesses of his blood then distressed Captives and truly I must needs confess the Noble Vsage we then had made our condition very supportable and setting aside the liberty of residing at our own home my Mother still remain'd in the Rank of a Queen and her Children of Royal Princes The soft cords of our Captivity admitted but few Pressures or Regrets and Cyaxares took so hearty a delight in chearing and diverting us that we had scarce the leasure to reflect on our late troubles but as no excess or violence lasts long our fair dayes were soon over-cast with blackness and those early blossoms nipt at their first pretty blooming for I then began to know that Pheretime Phraorte and Arthemisa owed all the goodness and respect paid them in that Court to the wild passion Cyaxares till then kept clossested in his heart for me One day when the purity of the air had tempted me to walk with my Maids in those pleasant allies thorow the Royal park which lead toward the brook he hapned to be very neer me ere I was aware which gave him opportunity to overhear what I spake to my Maid named Diomar who has ever been my cheifest confident and taking occasion to continue the very same discourse rather then seem to interrupt what then my thoughts were busied with he presented me his hand and leading me still in the same walk as well as words cunningly wiredrawd them to his own ends which having engag'd me to attention he prosecuted thus If all these pleasing objects in this Park the pretty children and products of Art and Nature were not inanimate how glorious would they esteem themselves to be so honourd with your fancy and delight in them but give me leave to answer for them to all you say the satisfaction you express'd concernes me since I am Master of them who am too happy that there is any thing belonging to me has the power to please or content you Your Majesty reply'd I not knowing whither his discourse tended does almost rob me of the meanes to thank you for those favours you impart by indeavouring to perswade me that it is some advantage to you that I am so well satisfied with these objects But my opinâ—on must take the confidence to dispute this a little with your civility and you I know will pardon me when I dare tell you that t is some wrong to your own vertue to make your felicity consist in my sole approbation rather then seek for it in its own proper origine and center since none I humbly think can be expected from me sufficiently correspondent to your great bounty 'T is I that with more reason should value it able sing to be in such a Monarch's power who takes no other advantage of our Captivity then the frequent occasions to make known his generosity and who is so profuse of his grace and favours that we may reckon it a gain to have left our liberty which cannot be so highly prized by any one but they would freely forfeit it to enjoy what you so readily confer each moment Spare Madam reply'd the King spare this discourse for something that better deserves it and if I have been so fortunate as to oblige you to tell me so beleeve Birinthea that all the cheap observances you have yet met with are but the small effects of that greater inclination I have for the honour of your service But what must I now hope for after this declaration can you with justice disesteem a cause whose effects you praise so rarely Great King said I those two things have too far engaged me already but the acquaintance you have with my present condition and your own will tell you that it is less in my power to correspond with the one then the other and besides what can you rationally expect from a Princess that has not so much as her own liberty That she should answerd he to interrupt me accept of the present I now make of mine in retaliation that she would vouchsafe to be my Soveraign and suffer me to be her servant You have a mind to prove reparted I whether I am capable of presumption your Majesty delights in this tryall but I beseech you to beleeve that the honours you have baited your temptations withall are too weak to violate my Respect and Modesty and I shall borrow so much Humility from my Virtue as to assure you that I shall never own so great a vanity since I am instructed by my own defects to declare that I have not a stock sufficient to claime the merrit of the meanest favour I would now thank you for These evasions Birinthea are witty reply'd he and I perceive that I must court you rather with effectual services then words and I will follow that method hereafter and make good what I intend for your satisfaction by more authentique performances which shall write my affection in more noble characters since you beleeve but slightly when I speak them He left me with this compliment and Diamar who had taken notice that our converse was too eager to be of an ordinary concerne only came to me assoon as he was absented and desired to know what might be the discourse that had called so much colour into my face I would not hide the truth of it from her to prevent her judgement by my instructions from being seduced by the King who I was confident would endeavour to corrupt her and having summoned all our reason to aid us in our consultation what to doe in this case I resolv'd to dissemble and make the King know I reckned all this but as gallantry and formal complaisance and strictly commanded her not to discover it to any other and likewise to give me an exact account if ever the King made any discourse to her concerning it Many dayes past over in which Cyazares said no
several troublesome fears and doubts when a soft slumber caused by my over-long watching and deep pensiveness stole unawares upon me and made a happy truce in my minde for some few hours 'T is said Sybaris the only thing that is not an enemy to us all nature else declares it self against the unhappy lover when sleep as a courteous friend many times renders him contented with a pleasing dream which awake the whole world denies him But alas 't is too imaginary and short liv'd a joy to recompence those daily miseries It grew somewhat late persu'd Merame and I was yet bound fast in the easie chains of sleep when my Father commanded some to call me that I might prepare myself to receive Hylebus together with his Wife and Daughter whom he had invited to dinner I had scarce the time to slip on my cloaths when some of the company arrived and the pretended Mistress with them whom I received with the greatest civility and the least affection imaginable I was forc'd however to wear out that day in dissimulation nay and many more besides whilst the frequent blushes that invaded my cheeks sent thither from my heart as the Messengers of its trouble and perplexity though imputed to my juvenile modesty opportunely concealed the indignation and disdain which a paler face would have told them filled my breast against all Love for her Many dayes slipt thus away er'e I could have a happy tyde of opportunity to entertain Vneria in particular and I took notice that since Hylebas frequented our house she endeavoured to keep out of our presence and Society The impatience I was in to speak with her taught me to send her Mother word by a servant of whose fidelity I had many proofs that I had somewhat to communicate to her this Message allarmed her and brought her quickly to me somewhat affrighted where I waited for her with a no less troubled spirit but her astonishment grew above both our fears when I enquired for what cause she and her daughter were of late so closely confin'd and seemed to be the only two in the whole Family that express'd no signs of joy for the hopes of my sudden Marriage with Gerose That for my part I would continue to be still the same I had promis'd them to be and if any discontent were the just cause of their retirement I would engage to procure them all the satisfaction it was possible for me to make them I had before decreed to break the ice altogether and acquaint her further but then had not the power to pronounce the blessed name of Vneria so that without any fuller discovery I left her after she had answered me that they had received many favours in our house as great as numerous and that if they had been so unhappy as not to attend for some dayes past the service of the Family and their just devoirs her Daughters indisposition was the sole and unavoidable cause of it I was vext that I had not absolutely disclosed my intention and fearing least what I had told her might redouble her suspition as soon as she had left me I approached their window to hear what report she would make to Vneria to whom she sadly spake in this manner Well Vneria had I not reason to fear the sinister adventure I conjectur'd and couldst thou think the gods would have indued thee with so much constancy and generosity but that they knew thou shouldst one day stand in need of it Merame would never have spoken of his alliance with that Family in such a manner if he had not known the certain reason why we evaded the fatal presence of Hylebas so carefully If Heavens indulgent goodness had but at least preserved Soixa perhaps he might have found out some happy Stratagem whereby to have released us from this Captivity 'T is in vain said Vneria to contend against Fortune whatever doome the deities have pronounced is no less just the irrevocable we must submit without reluctancy and then we shall have this consolation at the least that although our sorrows like a strong net entangles us on every side without any hopes of release yet we doe suffer innocently The event will declare the will of heaven more clearly and since there is no griefe so bitter which the least blessing from above cannot turne into joy and happiness let us not dispaire our wounded spirits may yet be cured and for Merame I esteeme him too brave and generous to lend a hand or heart to the unworthy designs of his Father in Law I would stay no longer there but thought my self sufficiently inform'd wheron to ground a fuller inquiry afterwards and if I were hitherto very indifferent to Gerose this inspired me with a mortall aversion for her as being constrained to act the feigned part of a Lover towards her who was the daughter of my Vneria's capitall enemy This necessity of dissembling to her did so displease me that I fell sick of a most violent Feaver Which kept me prisoner fifteen days together during which time the best meanes towards my recovery was the comfort of Gerose's absence and the pleasing remembrance of the beautiful Vneria whose interests became extremely dear to me One day as I walked in the Garden under a pretence of taking the fresh ayr to perfect my dawning health but indeed to have the opportunity to speak to Vneria and her Mother I stept aside and stole into their Chamber when there were none but themselves and finding them surpriz'd doe not apprehend my presence said I to them you have a second Soixa in my person and I engage out of a true affection only to render you all the services that he could possibly pay you Let not the alliance with Hylebas disturb you if it oppose your interest it does no less thwart my inclination and if the unparralell'd Vneria vouchsafe but to accept my faith and hearty service and doe no longer make the cause of her misfortunes a secret to me I hope I shall not be uncapable to procure her happiness They were both so surpriz'd with this proposition and request that they could not for the present contrive any answer so that renewing my discourse and courtship Is it your diffidence or wonder at the unexpected novelty of what I tell you that makes you wrap up your mindes in silence Ah Vneria if you suspect my sentiments doe but examine the heart that conceived them it is in your possession and you shall evidently find it contains nothing but affection for you The Mother would have cast her self down at my feet to have answer'd but having prevented it she said we never doubted Sir of your more then ordinary generosity we have already found the benefits of it in many happy trialls but you may be pleased not to wonder if having falen already into so many unexpected snares we feared that which menaced us so evidently And since you have so much curiosity and noble
to procure my pardon they could not bow the angry Balden to pitty who notwithstanding had not declar'd how he would deal with me but whose concealed fury shook my friends hearts with fear having indeed some more then ordinary reason to fear that clap of thunder which so long threatned to break forth against me yet kept its lightning still cover'd with a Cloud During the afflictions of my imprisonment sometimes the lively remembrance of my beautiful Vneria invaded my melancholly thoughts and gave them cause to make me rejoyce but when from her bright face I let fall my thoughts on her black destiny turning the other side of the leaf to read our misfortunes my sorrow swell'd above the power of comforts to allay and then my sighs and tears were too abundant to be exprest in words What shall I say more Sybaris when as if there had yet wanted one weight of sorrow more to sink me to the bottom of misery and dispair One of those that were taken with her having made his escape came into this disconsolate Prison to tell me such sad tydings as utterly extinguished the least glimpse of hope I had yet remaining in me He assured me that those Thieves had found Vneria so rarely handsome that they had consulted to make a glorious present of her to their Prince who had a Pallace filled with beautiful slaves in which they were confined to satisfie his wanton pleasures and that Vneria having understood their â—esign conceiving so piercing a sorrow that it converted into an accute Feaver which quickly caused her death for whom the Scythians had so much esteem and veneration that to express their regrets for her loss they had erected a very stately Monument for her which he had often seen and lamented over The recital of this funest adventure struck me into the deepest silence possible for a long while It ceaz'd upon my reason too and made me so much loose the helm of judgement I was like to run and Shipwrack upon dispair so that I sought for some weapon wherewith to put a period to that heap of miseries which I could bear no longer on my tortur'd bosome But finding that means was deny'd me I had recourse to my complaints Ha! what said I does Balden withhold the execution of his vengeance only to make me linger in my miseries Is his cruelty become so witty to make me taste a thousand deaths for one must I yet live upon this wrack of torments and not be allow'd the mercy of a sudden death Cruel and inexorable Butcher you have now found out the way of full revenge indeed by suffering me still to live in a condition that has more of horrour than many deaths could frighten me withal and thou blest soul do not thou charge me with backwardness and want of Love and courage thou seest I search out all the wayes I can to follow thy too hasty flight and since I am yet bound under the sad necessity of staying longer than my soul desires comfort me with thy blessed spirit that I may not be left thus still alone with those wild thoughts and here again my griefs came flowing in so fast they quite choakt up the passage of my speech I was thus a long time mute and that Gentleman taking at last his farewell left me rather in the possession of my sorrows than my reason A few dayes after Senisra sent a Gentleman to comfort me whom I intreated to tell the Prince that the only favour he could procure me would be not to follicite any longer for my pardon but to joyn his pursutes with those of my Enemies to hasten my end and that as this was the last so it would be the greatest favour I could implore and the most welcome honour his mediation could confer upon so miserable a person Contrary to the prayer of this Petition that Generous Prince fearing some sinister accident from this dispair beg'd of his Father so earnestly that he obtain'd permission to give me a visit He found me in a posture which begot as much wonder as compassion in him My Chamber was very obscure having only the faint light of one little window which I had half vail'd over with a Curtain I was thrown on my bed my arms crossing my breast my eyes fixt upwards and so weather-beaten with the storms of tears that bubbled from those springs and my visage so melancholly wan and discomposed from its natural dress that he might well mistake me as he did and think his feet had led him unawares into some doleful Cell where only grief and mourning kept their disconsolate Court my thoughts had buried my mind in such a deep sence of my Calamities that I did not perceive when he entred into the Chamber so that he came close to me without discovery and after he had gaz'd some time upon me I turn'd my head that way and look'd upon him with an eye so full of trouble that he believed it furious Being first amazed to behold me in so woful a condition and perceiving me immoveable his pitty made him first salute then call upon me when finding I made no reply he proceeded thus to rowze me by a gentle check Is it thus Merame you mean to receive and slight the visit of Senisra and is it so importunate as to deserve this silence and these forbidding looks these words brought him to my knowledge and striving to salute him I hardly had the strength to shew it by a little inclining of my head which I follow'd with these languishing accents Noble Senisra the infinite sorrows that overwhelm me are the cause of my incivility but what Ceremonies can you expect from a man equally in dispair of life and death who during the violent agitation of this perpetual agony does neither live nor dye a combat so much the more cruel because it continues so long in one poor heart and does not yet quite burst it Gods how merciless are your decrees against me why should you thus delight to oppose all my happiness and will not send death after you have curst my life and blasted all my just designs which how unhappily they have succeeded you can judge I drew Vneria from my Mothers house with the fond hopes of delivering her from a Captivity which was more advantagious then that liberty afterwards prov'd to be If I justly revenge her injuries on the destroyers of her worthy Family and her own sweet repose that becomes the ground work of all my misfortunes when I imagine I am going to embrace her and graspe the highest felicity in my arms I find it rudely snatch'd away and she hurry'd to her fatal end whil'st I am left the sport to Destiny and example of the greatest sufferings mortality ever tasted of and lived under Cruel thoughts sorrowful remembrance which stings my very soul with bitterness that I my self should be the sad cause of hers and thereby my own utter ruine had I not better have continued
when by his respects and adorations he endeavour'd to alure my soule to himself What can you apprehend now since he has affronted and wronged me so basely and that the inclination I had for your deare self is converted into love but what love Gadate alas shall I dare name it you know it enough already and the last evidence I have given you cannot but place your beleef above all doubts if there were roome for any What greater proofes can you demand Speake Gadate must I die to gain your full beleefe Ah what was there wanting tell me prethee did I not seek for death when I durst cope with him that came to quench that small remaining sparke of life in the streames of your own blood I know indeed reply'd Gadate that I have nothing to feare since you forbid it But Madam I have neither Crown nor Scepter to reward your affection nor with my person can you espouse any thing but the hatred of a King who now can make you a worthy Queen The regret that you should loose those advantages in consideration of me and that I am not able to recompence that loss but by the Grandeur of an affection which truly has no paralel but which nevertheless can procure you nothing else suitable to it is that which casts me into so much trouble That Chryseide should refuse Uectorez to embrace Gadate put by a King to entertain a Subject is a Prodigy of grace and goodness which should surpass the hopes of ambition it self notwithstanding my Deare Chryseide these are not only things which I may fondly hope for but such as your assurance crownes me with Most rare effect of love but yet produced by a cause more rare Adorable Chryseide at least permit me as an earnest of my affection to avenge the base attempt of that ignoble King you have less reason to endure the affront he would have acted then to refuse the Crown he prostrates at your feet by this meanes you shall no longer have that loathsome object of your batred in your Eye nor I have further cause of any apprehension Chryseide would not suffer him to goe on but absoluttly forbad him to express any ressentment towards the King who seem'd to repent his crime since he confess'd his shame by hiding it They afterwards vow'd an eternal love to which they call'd the gods for witness and resolv'd to secure their felicity at soonest by a speedy marriage At the same time that they propounded to roote and establish their content Vectorez studied to undermine it As soon as he was cured of his wounds he went to visit Gadate and repeated over to him personally what he had formerly sent him word off The Kings sanity troubled these lovers happiness Chryseide seldome saw Gadate and the feare least Vectorez should renew his love together with his inseparable jealousy made her not visit him but with much caution and secrecy till he was able to goe abroad and visit her himself without openly declaring himself her lover Vectorez being faithfuly advertis'd of these enterviews became so jealous that not able to suffer another to enjoy that fulness of happy repose which he could by no meanes taste he resolved to separate these two lovers before they could have the blessed opportunity to tye themselves closer by the indissoluble and holy knot of marriage which he apprehended above all things and which he nevertheless foresaw would be inevitable unless he hastily cast in some impediment to obstruct it As he was forecasting this ugly design a fit occasion presented it self to him to put in execution the inhabitants of a remote Province did insolently raise a mutiny and it being necessary to elect some person of eminency and Authority as well as of ability and courage to quell these seditious spirits and range them to their just Devoir his jealousy easily suggested him instantly to impose this Commission on Gadate thereby to snatch him away and part him from Chryseide He propounded it to his Councel who soon approved his choice as the fittest person of his Court and not considering the particular interests that lead him to it immediately dispatched all the orders requir'd towards this expedition This business did indeed call for a diligent disposing of affairs but yet the jealous impatiency that nettled Vectorez made him precipitate that departure the more suddenly so that his rival had scarcely time to set his own domestick business in order because the King feigned to have received fresh intelligence that without a very quick remedy that fire of rebellion which kindled more and more might perhaps suddenly enflame his neighbouring Provinces Gadate plainly perceived what posted him from Babylon and that his deare Deare Chryseide who made him part with so much trouble and unwillingness was the sole cause yet he was forc'd to yeild to Soveraign command and obey the Kings absolute power without delay least he should utterly ruine his hopes and future fortunes The evening before his departure he waited on his Chryseide where though these two faithful friends had very much to say to each other yet were they so overwhelm'd with grief that for a long time they could demand no other expressions but mournful sighes and teares but when they perceiv'd the fatal moment of their separation approached Gadate in fine broke silence with these words We must part fair Chryseide 't is heavens decree as well as the Kings will but what must we expect in so long and tedious an absence if we find so much trouble only to say adieu A love reply'd Chryseide which shall never untye the union of our souls whatever fortune plot or contrive against us love me still Gadate but as I shall and doe love you and we shall thus triumph over all opposition and make them know our constancy and promis'd Faith is firmer rooted and founded then their obstinate and unhandsome malice That I should love you for ever reparted Gadate is to command me a thing from which I cannot possibly decline since no object can ever possibly be so lovely as Chryseide as nothing can be so pleasing and charming as the sweet and too sorrowful remembrance of your presence Gods who know future events and can read all our actions ' ere we conceive them or write them in our intentions strike me with thunder immediately rather then suffer me to be false to her but no you shall never chastise me for that crime what power soere you have over us for since you cannot shape a beauty more glorious nor furnish a soul with more perfection she shall be eternally the only object of my affection and veneration Yet I must leave you dearest Chryseide to please the jealous humour of a rival who teares me from you rather then for that interest of State which is pretended I must be my own Enemy by this self banishment to humour him and under the pretence of serving my King and Country abandon you to the danger of a Tyrant
pass-times to charm that god who has nothing of Childishness in him but his stature and who in his littleness may justly vaunt he is the great Father and Universal cause of all things But finding her entertainment very cold and at a distance and having an opinion that he should rather be courted then denyed he judged that what opposed his contentment must needs be the consideration of some rival who had taken possession of her heart and fancy These thoughts prompted him to ordain spies to uncover that fair Ladies Actions but what vigilancy or care so ere they used they could not lay hold of the least conjecture of her Love she having ever conceal'd it with great discretion believing it was not befitting the Reputation of a Woman to anticipate Gadate by a too evident sign or any Declaration that might leave the Print of her shame written in the blushes of her Cheeks The King having lost a great deal of time without any hope of success to his content that way imagin'd that to make her sensible of the worth of his esteem for her he must feign it lost as towards her and bestow it upon one of her Neeces whose Name was Prinea with whom she entertain'd a strickt League of Amity that being moved with envy and the disdain he should testifie towards her she might ressent the loss of his Affection and endeavour to redeem his favour again This Plot might perhaps have taken effect had it been practized towards any other but Chryseide because that fair Sex to whom the highest respect is due are the less able to suffer disdain by how much they challenge respect as a particular Tribute due to them But it wrought no change in her only in stead of receiving a sensible displeasure for having lost that Noble prey out of her toyles and chains she manifested how much his love was troublesome and importunate to her that could by no means correspond in the same terms with him again though he were a person to whom she ow'd the greatest respect and reverence of any in the World The success of this stratagem in fine betray'd the intention of Vectorez and instead of subduing the Will and Affections of Chryseide to him by this craft he ingaged Prinea by those false Testimonies of love he acted to a most violent passion for him and this Bizarre event caus'd infinite disorder and trouble to him for that his dissimulation had produced a real love in the one his real love had not been powerful enough to gain a civil Correspondency from the other This made him dispair the other was importunate and clamorous and that which added most to his trouble was to have raised such an Enemy against her he so dearly loved Prinea knowing what a bar the remembrance of Chryseide was to her affection beheld her as a rival who disputed her the Crown and Scepter So that she perpetually watched to hinder Victorez from Meeting and Conferring with her who had not so well dissembled but some flames of that Love he cherish'd for Chryseide appeared thorow his false masque Insomuch that the unadvised Prince seem'd in this Act to become his own cruel Executioner himself having twisted that fatal Cord of his own misfortune which even strangled his greatest hopes for had not he feined Love to Prinea she never had oppos'd or struggled so much against his desires and content He was many times in the mind to discover his mind end cast himself at Chryseides feet to implore her pardon but knowing her to be extream haughty and Nobly Generous the fear to reveal those poor unhandsome Arts he had practised to vanquish her which in all probability would but encrease her aversion hindred him for some time But as his shame did moderate and curb his impatience so his Love press'd and spurr'd him with a most strange violence And he in fine was constrain'd to declare himself openly but not having so much resolution as to present himself before her whom he had seemingly slighted he rather chose to write a letter in these following expressions Victorez to Chryseide Beauteous Chryfeide I do not aske your pardon before I aske your Punishment for a fault which the excesse of my Love might nevertheless excuse since that alone is guilty acknowledge it Chryfeide you having given it Birth and if the disguise I have made use of to cover it have wronged your merit do you ordain the punishment and satisfastion being my Soveraign and I shall have this one advantage at least that you will be obliged to recompence the perseverance after you have chastized the Crime Let not that which I feined towards Prinea offend you Chryseide those false appearances betrayed the Sentiments of my Soul and I have already suffer'd enough in the constraint I was engag'd to rendring her the Testimonies of an Affection which never were truly address'd to any but your self but if you are not yet satisfied with my Repentance I will present my self in person before you my Dear Princess to receive from your fair Mouth the Punishment you shall vouchsafe to pronounce and hope by that Submission you shall find that I am the most real and most affectionate of all your slaves Vectorez If Chryseide received this Letter with a great deal of wonder not imagining the King thought now in the least of Love to her she read it with no less displeasure finding her self again persecuted by one from whose importunate suite she blest her late hoped delivery She sent him word That it seem'd he relied very strongly upon her discretion since he did not fear least she might Publish that Embassy to Prinea who alone received offence by his dissimulation if it were true he had fein'd Love to a person whose Beauty merited a more true passion and whose ambition would hardly brook so great an affront that for her part she would never be wanting in her devoir which was ever to bear a greater respect and veneration then Love towards her Soveraign Prince This Answer brought the amorous Vectorez into the opinion which flatter'd his passion he now thought Chryseide had been more civil then cruel and that having perceiv'd the difference there is between the receiving the adorations or disdain of her Soveraign she had acknowledg'd her errour by that word of respect which ought to be construed in the mouth of a Subject and a woman for an expression of Love which the mear modesty of that sex forbids them to express more plainly He could give himself no repose or respit till he waited on her to be confirmed in his flattering opinion but the presence of Chryseide which he guess'd so favourable to his interpretation quickly undeceived him Not that she was wanting in what she had promised for at his reception she treated him as a King but as soon as he laid by that Magistick Garb to assume the Person of a Lover she express'd all that froideur and coynes which is practized ordinarily by
left the place He also gave order to have the Gates secured having waited some time to see if any other Forces would appear not having faith enough to believe that those few Prisoners could have alone the confidence to force his Guards After a while he returned again to Cyrus who notwithstanding the smart of his wounds and the shame of his Captivity testified he thought nothing troublesome compared to his fears for Birinthea after whom he often inquired of those that were in presence Zorbas aborded him so civily that although he were prepossess'd with those griefs he could not but observe something in him which is not to be met with in ordinary persons and from which he derived setting aside his interests no small or mean hopes of all the favour that can be expected from a Noble Enemy Their first discourses were nothing but just and mutual praises they paid each others valours in fine Cyrus prompted by his affection beseeched Zorbas to let him give him in particular an account of the reasons that had urg'd and drawn him to this pursuite of his men even within his Gates and Zorbat being first inform'd that Cyrus might use the liberty of his Speech without any detriment to his health after he had cleared the Chamber of other Auditours Cyrus spake thus to him Generous Warriour I should have reason to conceal the Cause and Subject of my present condition if I were not to relate it to a person who has the gifts of too many other brave quality's to be a stranger to the experience of what has thus engag'd me Love is that puissant Deity whose power your Soldiers could not withstand he fought in my person nor should I ever have admitted the least thought of violating the Articles of Truce had I not unhappily beheld her brought into this City who alone has the absolute and intire posseâ—sion of my Heart and Liberty Judge you what reason I had to follow her and whether it were not stricktly just finding her in my Enemies hands in a time when I was impatient to know her condition to endeavour to save and recover that treasure of my Soul but since my designe was defeated by your means 't is from your only favour that I can hope to attain the blessing of beholding her and to you alone must I owe the Oâ—ligation for that immense and more then ordinary savour You have expressed and practic'd too much the Laws of generosity in my behalf already to refuse this addition of Grace and I dare trust your Virtue so far as to be confident that you will suffer some Messengâ—r to go and wait on her in the behalf of a Persian Gentleman and also assure her from you that she may safely disband all her fears so long as she is under your happy protection Who ever you are Answered Zorbas though I were not Witness of your extraordinary Valour yet to say you fought under the Standard of that potent God were alone enough to make me quickly resigne my Sword and yield I should not have offered to oppose you had I known what Interest inspir'd and enflam'd your courage and I do much regret to have resisted one that was so bravely busied in his quarrel who is my Soveraign Lord no less then he is yours Dispatch whom you please to that honoured Lady and I will personally accompany him to disengage and free her from those infamous ravishers and if you take it for a favour that I should help you to her sight and presence I shall expect no other reward then only that you would obtain the pardon I now crave for my Mens Insolence which I shall expiate by any satisfaction she and your self can further demand of them or me and that you may enjoy the full Liberty of her converse and society I leave you and so adue Generous Lover and would to Heaven that I could ever hope for the same happy fate I now procure you by this willing Observance and Civility He passed out after these words and commanding the Captain that had charge of the Prisoners to give them all full liberty to be by themselves he went along with him whom Cyrus had appointed to fetch his Byrinthea This Excellent Lady who little knew she had such interested Protectors so near was confin'd to a close Chamber wherein she was lock'd up with a Wench and a Souldier that stir'd not from the door The barbarous Villain scarce gave her liberty to bemoan her condition or breath a sigh but seeing her in a habit suitable to that disasterous Captivity he proffer'd his comforts and impertinent frenzies to abate her sorrows and told her to dry up her trifling and fruitless tears that she was but too happy in being valued by him that had brought her to this pass this insolent Courtship sensibly offended her who must needs be Mistris of a rare patience to endure it that knew her self to be ador'd by the greatest of Princes but she had reason in that distress to suffer all this and more rather then discover unreasonably what she was and Zorbas step'd into the room just when she was defending her self against the rude caresses of this rough fellow She was truly joy'd that his presence put an end to the others insolence but yet another fear stept in to make her fortune less compleat which was an apprehension that this was the person had surpriz'd her for his own base ends nevertheless the civility of his mild approach promised more good and gave her way to reassume her first fair hopes and as he was very discreet he had no sooner met her and performed the most usuall and becoming Ceremonies of Salutation but he intreated she would be conducted to a Frieâ—ds house where he doubted not but she would find a greater satisfaâ—â—ion and conâ—ent then she could probably expect in such an invitation Though these words spoke of happiness she seemed to fear the contrary by her amaze a sudden bashfulness orespread her face which carried rather the marks of virtue then of shame in the beholders opinion and only answering what he said with a respectfull silence Whither do you lead me said she to the other that proffer'd her his hand to that intent May I tread confidently where you guide me without offence to Virtue Or were it not better to let me dye in this same Place Ha! My Lord Continued she turning towards Zorbas if you have as much true sence of Honour as you perswade me leave me not in these apprehensions but assure me before I go that I shall meet no danger in the Obedience I now pay you To remove these Scruples and Threatning Apprehensions Zorbas promised faithfully she should be treated with all the respect and decency she could desire or that Country could afford but his deepest oathes could not gain her belief so that she went forward with much dread and diffidence and with a positive resolution to dye rather then yield to any dishonour or