stead of a pennon This fantastick troop was followed by a mixture of Trumpets Attabales Hoboyes European Drummes Cimballs and Fyfes which composed a musick little less extravagant than the equipage of those that preceded them An hundred Pages rode after these same mounted on white Barbes and suited in vvhite velvet studded vvith silver Behind these Pages tvventy Aâ—apes lead in their hands ten Horses royally harnessed vvhereof the last vvhich vvas called the Horse of the Body or the Horse of Battaile had the bitt of the bridle and the stirrupps of massive gold all beset vvith pretious stones the Saddle vvhite all over vvith pearles and sparkling vvith diamonds the Sultans Target hung at the Saddle bovv by strings of gold at the ends wherof great tasselles of Orientall pearles trailed to the ground Next to these horses marched even together the Tubenter Aga and the Chiodar Aga vvho carried the Turbant and Mantle Imperiall Behind them Ibrahim Bassa the the Grand Visior rode alone mounted on a black Barbe vvhose furniture vvas of velvet of the same color as vvell as the habit of that illustrious Bassa all imbroidered vvith great pearles he carried in his hand vvithout a Scabbard the Scymitar Imperiall The hundred Peikes or footmen of the Grand Signior follovved next but in order vvith bonnets of massive silver on their heads in the midst vvherof vvhite feathers of an extraordinary greatness stuck in a quill covered vvith precious stones Fifty Archers on foot vvent after them vvith bovves arrovves in their hands in the midst of whom was Sultan Soliman arrayed in a roabe of cloth of gold imbroidered vvith pearles and diamonds his Turbant vvas ardorned vvith five plumes of Hearons and as many great jevvells of rich stones and the furniture of his Horse vvas all covered over with Emeraulds and Rubies He was followed by all the Bassaes and Beglierbies of the Empire After whom a Boluch Bassa marched in the head of two thousand Janizaries which were the last Troops of this stately Entrie After that this marvelous Triumph had made a turn about the Hipodrome all ranked themselves on the right and left hand and the Sultan went and lighted at a Tent of cloth of Gold vvhich had been pitched for him under the windows of the Sultana Queen All the Grandees of the Port stood on both sides Ibrahim alone was set at his Highness feet on a Cushion of cloath of Silver When every one had taken his place the Bassa of the Sea who that day exercised the Charge of the Master of the Ceremonies advertised the Ambassadors that they might go to the Baise-main and offer their presents which they had no sooner done and were returned to their seats but the Mufti appeared sitting on a Throne that was carried on the back of a Cammell and holding in his hands the Book of the Alcoran He was waited upon by all the Alfaquis Calenders and Dervis of the City of Constantinople all these Religious men cried and howled with a dreadfull poise and to accompany their voices and their dance they beat upon kettles and basons and rung little bels so that this modest Clergy resembled not a little the Orgies of antient Greece and the Bacchanals of old Rome When they were before the Sultan they stood still made prayers for the prosperity of his Highness offered him a Book of their Law covered with Gold and Turquesyes and after they had slashed their arms and their faces with great knives for the love of their Prophet and the Sultan they retired and gave place to those that were to succeed them The Turkish Christian and Jewish Merchants appeared then richly attired and in the midst of them a Chariot drawn by twelve Cupids crowned with flowers upon the which was erected a shop of cloth of Gold and Persian Tapestry which they presented to the Sultan The Goldsmiths followed them with a Cupbord of Gold Plate ingraven upon a frame of unpolished Silver dravvn by four white Horses which they gave to his Highness Every Trade appeared one after another each of them making shew of some rich piece of workmanship of their profession but with so extraordinary a diligence that before the turn of the place was finished the Present was in estate to be offered to great Soliman He received them all very graciously and instantly gave them to his dear Ibrahim to whom he said they were justly due since it was by his courage and conduct that he had obtained the Victory and this Triumph After that all these liberall Troopes were past as Turkie is the onely place in the World vvhere the most Juglers and Tumblers are there appeared above tvvo thousand of them vvho in the presence of the Grand Signior did all that the sleight of the hand and all that the address and force of the body could naturally permit men to Next to them vvas seen the great Frame representing the City of Tauris vvhereof the Tovvers vvere covered vvith Persian Colours as vvas knovvn by their antient Images of the Sun vvhich they all had it vvas follovved by tvvo hundred Slaves belonging to the Bassa of the sea half of them armed after the Turkish and half after the Persian manner vvith scimitars and bucklers of Silver vvho to the sound of fifty Hoboys danced that which the Greeks called the Pirrhique dance and that vvhich might be termed an armed dance the blovvs vvere given and received in a due cadence the changing of figures therein represented the advantages and flight vvhich fall out in battels and the noise of bucklers and scimitars marked out the measure of paces vvith as much even time as the instruments Amongst these Slaves there vvas one in the Turkish Troop vvhich by his good aspect and behaviour drevv the eys of all the beholders upon him the Grand Visier no sooner perceived him but he trembled vvith amazement and joy no way doubting but that it was he whom he thought he knew In the mean time the Frame and the two Troops having made a turn about the place the City was set down just against the Grand Signior and the Persians cast themselves into it Then at the sound of all the Trumpets Atabales Drums Hoboys Fifes and Cimbals in the Assembly the Turks gave an assault to that feigned City of Tauris If the assault were vigorous the defence was no less the Persians were seen to give ground the Turkes were also seen to be repulsed and this false Image of of war had all the apparences of a true fight But at length after a great resistance the well-made Slave forced the gates mounted first on the walles and plucking down the Sophyes Colours for to set up those of the Sultan his valor and address were the cause that the Moon made the Sun to be eclipsed his victory was seconded with a great shout of the Janizaries and of all the people and nothing was heard over all the Hipodrome but long live Sultan Soliman In the mean time Ibrahim Bassa who
resolved always to serve the State with fidelity in the pâ—rson of those whom she would place on the Throne of Marocco But in the terms wherein things then were he nevertheless altered his mind albeit he had an hundred times promised Abdalla if he should happen to dye before him to conserve the Crown for his son to the prejudice of Abdelcader And whereas Aly undertook not this dâ—sign but for his particular interest for in making a young King to raign he should in a manner be King himself that interest coming to change he also changed his resolution For after he had well examined both the Kings love and his own he found that what industry soever he could use it would be impossible for him to marry Hipolita with Abdalla's consent who should no sooner be incensed against him but the Princess Mariama joyning her credit and address to the just occasion she had to wish him ill would no doubt constrain him to have recourse to extream remedies With such like thoughts it was that Aly had entertained himself a good while already when as Abdelcader who believed he was in love with Leonida and consequently hoped that he would excuse the passion he had for Sophronia came unto him with an intent dextrously to learn of him what designs he had for that maid to the end he might rule his by those of a man who as he believed durst not condemn that in another which he suffered in himself All their conversation at first was but of indifferent things and of the beauty of Mariama's Slaves And whereas Aly was not ignorant of Abdelcader's passion for Sophronia he was willing in this occasion to incense the mind of this Prince against Abdalla and wholly to gain him to himself to the end that if he were to make a universal subversion in this State Abdelcader might furnish him with a pretext specious enough by giving the people to understand that Abdalla by a testament which always remained in Aly's hands intended his son should raign to his prejudice For howsoever Abdelcader was Mahomet's son as well as Abdalla and albeit he was no very able Prince yet had he no vices so that the people did not hate him Aly considered further that if he should come to extream violence and dispossess Abdalla that Abdelcader might raign he should make a King without ceasing to be one it being certain that he would have need of him for the Government of his State After this reasoning which Aly had within himself and after an indifferent long discourse which he used to Abdelcader to prepare him for that he was going to say to him he gave him to understand that Abdalla very far from approving the love which he bore to a Slave would not consent to his marriage with the greatest Prince of the Earth because both by interest and â—or the better assuring of the Crown to his son 〈◊〉 would have the matter go in that sort I leave you to judg what effect this discourse wroâ—gâ—t in the Soul of a man who was at one instant deprived of the hope of ever possessing the object of his love and of his ambition which are two of the most violent of all passions Aly perceiving by the trouble which appeared in Abdelcader's face how much he was moved and judging by his silence that he confided not in him seeing he concealed his resentment said unto him to confirm him that he had always done what he could to oppose such violent maxims that he remembred he was the son of his ancient Master and that he assured him he would never omit any occasion to serve him But after many conversations on this subject Aly seeing that the Kings love augmented dayly and finding that his own always became stronger propounded at length to Abdelcader the putting him in possession both of his Mistress and of the Crown of Marocco So bold a proposition made Abdelcader doubt that this was rather a discourse to tempt him and to discover his intentions then to serve him But Aly made him soon change his opinion for having shewed him Abdalla's testament which he had in his keeping whereby he left the Crown of Marocco to his son to the prejudice of Abdelcader he no longer doubted but that he might absolutely confide in him so that after this they thought of nothing but of executing their designs Aly had for so long a time had the whole Government of this State as there was not an Officer in all the Kingdom that was not obliged to him for the Charge which he exercised He was very powerful of himself all the Kings Treasures were in his hands all strong places depended on him the memory of the Xerife Mahomet raigned still amongst these people and the violent death of Hamet was the cause that Abdalla was not universally beloved for the pâ—ople believed that Aly had not put him to death but by his commandment though it was not true Now to carry the matter with more certainty Aly told Abdelcader that the principal point was to render themselves Masters of Marocco for by the experience of the past Wars and by a fatality which seemed inevitable all they who had seized on it had at the very same instant subjected all the rest of the Kingdom That to do it without danger he was to make shew at such time as Abdelcader should enterprize the executing of the business of being still faithful to the King to the end he might give him bad counsel and seize upon his and Mariama's person when time should serve for it to put them in the same prison where Hamet Muley Zidan and his children had lyen But that it was first requisite to make it be dextrously bruted amongst the people that Abdalla would defraud him of the right he had to the Crown and for that effect would not suffer him to marry That to render the matter more plausible he should in a publique audience go and demand permission to marry a grand-child of the last King of Tunis who was in the Court of Marocco but said Abdelcader then to him If she should be granted unto me I should be extreamly perplext for indeed I do not desire the Crown of Marocco but to share it with the Slave Sophronia Fear not that said he unto him for I shall be of the Councel and I will oblige Abdalla so severely to refuse her to you as you shall then have a pretext specious enough to make use of the Soldiers which I shall give you to begin the revolt And to let the people see Abdalla's bad faith and to oblige him not to doubt of me until such time as I am sure of him you must go to my Palace to offer some violence there as it were charging me with the outrage you have received And after you have made as though you had plunder'd it you shall shew the people Abdalla's testament which I will give you before-hand In the mean time be assured that I
and falling dovvn upon her brothers body she ceased to be ambitious in ceasing to live These conspirators being entred into the Palace and having learned from some of the Princess vvomen the cause of Ismaels death and likevvise that of Perca they redoubled their cryes and testified asmuch joy as if all their enemies had been defeated In the mean time the wisest and the most considerable of Sultania had begun to oppose the people although they loved not Perca but comming to understand the success of the business they held it not fit to incense them but rather in so strange an accident to make use of their zeal in favor of Mahamed and Axiamira After then that they had let them know how there was no further need of taking up armes since the object of their hate was no longer in an estate to hurt them after that for the calming of their fury they had removed the bodies of Ismael and Perca out of the way and after that they had promised speedily to settle a peace for them and call home their exiled Princes every one retyred to his own house and the Councell being set it was advised that it was no time any longer to defer the propounding of a peace because if the newes of this strange accident should be spread over the Provinces it might furnish them with a pretext to revolt and work the utter subversion of this Empire and that in fine it was better to yeeld something unto the enemy than to put in hazard the losing of all After this they chose the most understanding amongst them to bee sent as Deputies to Ibrahim with an absolute power to treat of all things The grand Visior as I have said having received them in the presence of Vlama and they having acquainted him with this horrible adventure he that spake for all the rest added further that knowing his generosity they came to propound a peace unto him upon reasonable conditions and to demand Prince Mahamed the Princess Axiamira and Vlama of him for the restoring of them to the ranck which they ought to hold That if so be Soliman was their protector hee was to testifie it in this occasion that to draw an unjust advantage from these illustrious persons being in his power would bee the violating of the Law of Nations and naturall equity since they were there as those that fled to him for refuge and not as prisoners but to be contented with the glory of vanquishing and restoring of those to the Sophies Throne which might lawfully pretend unto it was to do a brave and famous action that there were more examples found of such as had conquered Empires than of such as had rendred up Kingdoms and that there were more which knew how to vanquish their Enemies than surmount their own ambition After that this man had said all that he believed was capable to advance the business which he propounded Ibrahim answered him that being thoroughly informed of all the Sultans intentions and having power to resolve on any thing without receiving new directions he could assure them that they should have cause to commend him that his grief was he could not keep Mahamed and Axiamira from receiving this peace with tears since they had so lamentable an occasion for it but whereas this affair directly concerned them they were to treat with them about it that in the mean time he held it requisite that one of them should return to Sultania to assure the people that ere long they should see their lawfull Princes again and that the rest should go to Bitilisa to do their duty to Mahamed and Axiamira that to comfort them for the grief which so dolefull an accident would bring them Ulama should take the pains both to conduct them thither and also to accompany the Prince Princess and Felixana back when they returned Ulama perceiving that Ibrahim in turning himself towards him seemed to demand his consent for that which he had spoken assured him that he was very ready to do it And whereas he was generous I doubt not said he but the Prince and Axiamira will be sensibly touched with this loss since I that am not obliged thereunto by so strict bonds and that have seen my self the object of the hatred and persecution of those whom I bewail cannot choose but be grieved at the accident which is befallen them After that Ulama had given sufficient proof of his generosity by his sorrow and that Ibrahim had commended him for so noble a resentment he gave him commission to take care of the Deputies of Sultania till the next day when he thought it fit they should depart for to go and fetch Mahamed which accordingly was executed Ulama parted with those that were to accompany him carrying Letters from Ibrahtm to the Princess one of the Deputies went to Sultania and the Grand Visier remained with a joy that cannot be exprest for whereas he was perswaded that the beginning of his felicity depended on the happy end of this war seeing the favourable means which fortune presented him with to terminate it speedily and with glory he could not render thanks enough to heaven for so advantagious a success And whereas he knew that the people generally desired peace he was assured that the treaty of it would be agreeable to every body not knowing that Soliman had any other interest in this war than that of the glory of his Arms. In this thought it might be said that never any Lover absent from his Mistress was so happy as he whilst he entertained himself with so sweet a hope In the mean time Ulama arrived at Bitilisa presented the Deputies to Prince Mahamed and the Princess Axiamira and delivering Ibrahim's letter to her and acquainting them with the loss they had sustained they being generous instantly forgot all the persecutions they had suffered and no longer remembred ought but that Tachmas was their father Ismael was their brother and Perca their sister in the thought whereof they were extremely afflicted with their loss But at length Ulama having imparted to them the generous designs of Ibrahim and how necessary their presence was to their people for their consolation against so many miseries as they had indured they set forth on their way As for Ulama the sight of his dear Felixana comforted him for the loss of his enemies and the Princes and Princesses sorrow was to both of them their greatest displeasure In the end after they had travelled with as much speed as the accommodation of Axiamira would permit they arrived at Ibrahims Camp who understanding that they were at hand went to receive them with three thousand of his own quarter and to testifie the more respect unto them he appeared that day in mourning and said so many generous and obliging things unto them as they were constrained to acknowledge that if fortune had done him right he should have been King of all the world When as Ibrahim had conducted them
my Lord thou seest before thine eyes sayd she shewing Osman two of the most infortunate persons that ever were we have enemies whom we cannot whom we ought not hate to whom we ow respect to whom we ow obedience to whom we ow affection enemies I say to whom we ow our lives and for whom also we would lose them with joy if there vvere occasion for it Nevertheless it is against such dear persons my Lord that I am to speak at this time and for obtaining the justice which we demand of thee and whereupon depends the happiness or unhappiness of our lives I must discover the cruelties of my father and Osman must accuse his Judge then my Lord whether my tears be not just and whether loving our enemies as we do we be not exposed to an extreme misfortune in being thus constrained to publish their shame to accuse them and to demand justice against them Alibech found her self so oppressed vvith sorrow that she stood a good while unable to speak But Soliman having commended so sweet a resentment in her and having commanded her once again to let him understand their differences she continued her discourse Since I must sayd she obey and that I cannot conserve my husband without discovering the misfortunes of my father I must I say let thy Highness know that his name is Arsalon that he was born the subject of the Sophy of Persia and that in the time he was in that Court he was Satrap of Aderbion and so considerable vvith Tachmas as there was not any person in that Empire vvho vvas more than he but whereas his humour hath been alwayes violent in every thing being become desperately in love with a maid of excellent beauty of great vertue and of much spirit he espoused her though she were of base condition And whereas the Laws of the State do not permit a Gentleman to mary a wife that is not noble they also will that the great ones which commit such like offences shall lose the honors and charges they possess and be declared ignoble and uncapable of all manner of dignities My father was not ignorant of this custom and law but he was perswaded that Tachmas would have infringed it for his sake and if he would not that want of affection would be a reason strong enough to oblige him to make the Province revolt where he commanded and whereof he believed he was absolutely the Master howbeit the matter succeeded not so for the enemies which my Father had made him by his violences meeting with so fair an occasion to hurt him they represented unto the Sophy that if he pardoned him this fault it would make him the more insolent for the future yea and that it would even overthrow all that Empire the glory and force whereof consisted in the valour of noble persons wherewith it is replenished at length they wrote in such manner that my Father was declared guilty as contravening the fundamentall Laws of the State and constrained to undergo the chastisement which I shall come to speak of by reason that the Province where he commanded so absolutely when he was in grace revolted against him and left him not scarcely the liberty to seek a refuge otherwhere for I forgot to tell thy Highness that the same Law which commanded the utter ruine of my Father commanded also that he should pass his life in a perpetuall prison and the person whom he had maried in another for fear that living together and having children it might one day cause disorders in the State My Father seeing himself in so pitifull a fortune went not about to move the heart of Tachmas with payers and submission but contrarily sent him word that deserving not to be served by a man of his courage and valor he vvould go out of his Estates vvith an intention never to re-enter into them again but to bring war along with him Being then in Mingrelia he bought a Man of War wherein he imbarqued himself on Mare major with his vvife who as she was the cause of his misfortune so would she not abandon him in his exile They continued some time in this sort not knowing what resolution to take nor having any other design in the course that they held than to cloign themselves from Persia my Fathers great heart not permitting him to go and seek unto the enemies of Tachmas for a place of retreat for though he be somewhat cruell yet is he notwithstanding generous neither would he likewise address himself to the Princes that were allied to our Empire for fear he should not be favourably received by them In the mean time these irresolutions having no end the provisions of the ship diminished daily The Pilot was well hoped up to ask him where he would land vvhen as he found no place in the vvhole universall Map vvhither ro go Six moneths past avvay in this sort in running over all the Seas of the Levant and whereas my mother was with child of me at such time as she imbarqued her self she was not far from the term wherein I was to see the light when as Arsalons victualls utterly failed him and having imployed all his money in the buying of the Vessell and such provisions of War and for the mouth as he had laid into her he knew not what part to repair unto for the supplying of himself in so adverse an adventure The souldiers and Mariners consulted together and having gained the Pilot they wrought so with him that maugre the command my Father had given him to the contrary he steered directly to an Iland which they had discovered whereupon Arsalon being in a rage to see his authority contemned went and pushed away the Pilot so rudely for to make him abandon the helm as the poor wretch fell into the Sea and my Father becoming his own Pilot he took his scimitar in his right hand and the whip of the rudder in his left and menacing them that would oppose his will he made his Vessell take a quite contrary course choosing rather to die by famine than expose his misery to the eyes of the world fearing nothing so much as that Tachmas should come to understand his misfortunes He had already lost sight of that Hand which he had beheld as a rock and his souldiers being no longer retained but by the tears of my Mother might at length peradventure have been carried to some strange resolution without an adventure that befell them which was that my Father discovered a Vessell comming towards his which bare a Flag of Persia in her top as he thought and as indeed it proved to be Upon the sight of her he began to think that he should be revenged of Tachmas in revenging himself upon his Subjects and this desire of revenge joyned to the present necessity made him propound to his souldiers the attacquing of that Vessell who animated more by the fear of famine than by their courage resolved to obey his pleasure
dayes then after this manner in all the entertainments of a man of my age and quality the conversation of my friends vvalks and musick were my occupations and the last quiet pleasures that I have tasted in my life But my Lord since I must recount my undoing to thy Greatness and let thee see the field of my defeat I must say then that Arena whereof I have already spoken is a Burrough vvhere all the persons of eminent condition have houses of pleasure the least whereof may strike admiration into them that understand gallant things for all that is beautifull in Architecture all that is excellent in Painting and all that is marvailous in Sculpture are there to be seen in such perfection as neitheâ— the eye nor the vvit of the most skilfull can find any thing to reprehend therein The Terraces the Grots the Water-vvorks the Galleries and Balustrades aâ—e there so superb as one can hardly beleeve the first time that one beholds such vvonders but that they are of those inchantad Palaces vvhose descriptions though fabulous leave not for all that to please our imagination To conclude all that Art and Magnificence can adde to a place vvhereunto Nature hath given all her beauties are eminently found in this same It is here so near unto the City vvhither all the vvomen of quality use to go and vvalk their liberty being far greater at Genoua than in all the rest of Italy the neighborhood of France having contributed a part of their customs to it It hapned then one day that one of my dearest friends intreated me to go and hear a consort of Lutes and Voyces vvhâ—ch vvas to be the next day at an house he had in that delicious abode and vvhereas I have alvvaies been touched very sensibly vvith Musick I failed not to be there accordingly it is certain nevertheless that I came thither vvith a secret melancholly vvhich doubtless advertised me of the misfortune that vvas to betide me there but I vvas not able to make any profit by this involuntary motion vvhereof the cause vvas unknovvn to me I suffered my self notvvithstanding to be charmed vvith the svveetness of the harmony and as it vvas at that time the only passion that mastered my miâ—d me thought it had dissipated my heaviness and rouzed up my joy this agreeable transport vvas the last moment that preceded my ruin For my Lord when as the Sun was so low as it could no longer incommodate either with his rays or with his heat the Master of the house told me that before I went dovvn into the Garden he vvould let me hear a marvellous Eccho vvhich he had found out a little before and which one of his neighbors had given him without thinking of it hovv he had done him that good office by causing a Grot to be made just against the windows of his Cabinet and hollowed in the mountain in the form of a half Moon which collected and returned back the voice so admirably that the seventh repetition vvhich the Eccho made was distinguished perfectly Scarcely was this discourse ended but that devancing all the company I entred alone into the Cabinet resolving to try the Eccho first of all howbeit my Lord I had no sooner opened the windovv but insteed of obliging the Eccho to answer me I my self lost the use of my voice by the rapture vvherewithall I was seized in beholding the fairest creature that ever Nature made she vvas leaning on a Balustrade of Jasper and Porphirie which formed a Quadrant in the midst whereof stood a Fountain wherein four Nymphs of white Marble seemed to play together in bathing themselves for by a marvellous artifice there parted from their hands in different actions an abundance of water which wetted them and made one believe that they cast it upon one another making withall a very pleasing noise If I had never seen this Fountain but in this incounter I should not have heeded it so much as to be able to describe it for I vvas so surprised with the charms of this unknovvn fair one as I had no eyes but for her I changed colour twenty times in a moment and hiding my self for fear of being perceived I considered her with all the attention that a man could have who from admiration was already passed even to love it being most certain that from the very first instant I savv her I felt my self forced with so much violence to love her as I then fully resolved to dye or to possess her As I was in this estate all the company arrived and shewed me that they were sorry I had quitted them so soon because there had been a dispute about the nature of the Eccho which would have pleased me very much after I had heard this discourse vvithout answering unto it I asked whether there were any that could tell me the name of that fair one who sate musing on the brim of the fountain which I saw in the midst of the Garden in saying so I softly opened the window which I had half shut and praying them to make no noise I shewed them that prodigy of beauty I had no sooner made an end of speaking but by an hidden knowledge which prevented their answer I felt something within me that told me how it was the divine Isabella scarcely had this thought excited some trouble in my mind when as one of my friends confirmed this truth unto me and demanded of me if it was possible that I should not know mine enemy Why said I interrupting him is she that I see the daughter of Rhodolpho I spake this so loud that I made her turn her face towards the place where we were so that having perceived us she pulled down her veil and began to go away unto two women that were walkieg in an Alley a good way off To tell my Lord what became of me in this occasion would be a difficult matter my reason proved so weak and my passion so strong as little wanted but that forgetting all kind of good manners I had at the very instant departed from a place that had been so fatall unto me as to let me see in one onely person the object of my hate and of my love But at length the spight and the shame of being seen with so much weakness made me resolve to try to conreal it I said then to him that had spoken to me that I was ravished with having so fair an Enemy and that though she had arms which would easily render her victorious of all them that she would subject yet was I generous enough for to combat a person by whom one might be vanquished without shame After this they amused themselves in seeking out the beauties of the Eccho those of the company who had the worst and the hoarsest voyces forbore not forcing this Eccho to reproach them with their defect in imitating them As for me who had it not unpleasing at that time it was impossible for me to sing
window that had a grate vvhich I imagined to be Isabellaes Cabinet I approached thereunto then as softly as possibly I could and whereas the vvindow was low I might easily see all that was done in the room through the glass so that I perceived Isabella but with so much grace in the negligence wherein I saw her as I knew well that art added nothing to her beauty She was leaning on her left elbow upon a little table where my letter lying open before her she had her eyes fixed on it whilst Feliciana so was the mayd that served her called undoing of a string that tyed up her headgeer covered her almost all over with her hair but Isabella coming as it were out of a dead sleep and puting it aside with her hands told her she would not go to bed yet for that she was resolved to write unto me first It were better said I unto her pushing the casement that was not shut that you would grant me the honor to entertain you a vvhile She vvas so surprised with seeing me in that place as she could not forbear screeking out whereupon she would have passed into her chamber but not able to opâ—n the door thereof so quickly I had leasure to tell her that if she put me into despair I was apt enough to kill my self before her window She fell down then upon the cushions not able to speak which gave me time to crave pardon of her for my boldness I besought her to remember the discretion I had alvvays used since the day she had permitted me to serve her that this was the onely disorder whereunto my passion had carried me and that if she would take the pains to consider it she would not judge this fault irremissible Do you believe then said she in approaching to the window that to put my glory and your life in hazard is a crime of small importance But at length after I had made her to comprehend that there was less danger in speaking with her when all the World vvas retired than at such time as she of her goodness had granted me I got her to consent that from thence forward I should alwaies see her in that sort Our conference was so long as the awaking of the birds made me know that it was time to let her go to sleep but before I left her she gave me her picture which she had drawn in imitature by beholding her self in a glass for this divine person is skilfull in all excellent Arts and Sciences She also permitted me to kiss her through the grate a favour which I may well say was the onely privacy that ever she accorded me during all the nights vvhich I have past in entertaining of her I vvithdrew then by the same way I came but so satisfied with the wit of Isabella that I began to love her more for her vertue than for her beauty I found my friend in an extreme impatience for my return and ready to come and seek me out for to know whether any misfortune had befallen me but to recompence him for this pain I recounted unto him all that Isabella had the most obligingly said unto me the vovvs she had made to love me everlastingly and absolutely to renounce the world rather than be any others than mine and that whereas I would have perswaded her to suffer her self to be carried away for the avoyding of our fathers tyranny who would be forced to agree together rather than lose us she had withstood it with so much prudence and sweetness as I was constrained to confess how strong soever my passion was I could not merit Isabella It was in this manner then my Lord that I past away that lucky absence of Rhodolpho but at length his return changed the order of things and Isabella went back to Genoua with her mother as melancholick as I was afflicted we had been so accustomed to see and speak to one another that the privation thereof was insupportable to us and although I went every morning to receive a Letter at her vvindow and to give her one of mine yet could we not comfort our selves against the constraint wherin vve lived And as if it were not enough that we vvere persecuted by our own misfortune Isabella saw her self also troubled for a mishap of her fathers who in executing the Commission which he had to go into Corsica had procured unto himself the enmity of the family of the Spinolaes by saying at his return that the Governor vvho vvas of that house had contributed in some sort to the mutiny of the people and that if he vvould he might have hindred the sedition that was raised there This report obliged the Signiora to cite the Governor to come and give an account of his action which made Isabella to fear that this mans revenge vvould fall heavy upon her father As for me who had no other interest than that of the incomparable Isabella I was even mad for that I durst not offer my sword to Rhodolpho vvho was at that very time plotting my death for whether it were that he vvas advertised how I went every night about his house or that he knevv of my being at Arena by some way unknown to me one evening as I was alone with my sword under Isabellaes Window he came thundring upon me with eight men armed in such fury as I had hardly the leasure to put my self into defence now though it was very dark yet chanced I to know him and thereupon resolved rather to be killed than dip my hand in the blood of the father of Isabella I did nothing therefore but ward the blovvs which he laid at me but tvvo of his advancing tovvards me I had not for them the same respect that I had for him so that collecting all my forces together to oppose their violence I extended them dead at my feet the rest who saw this so sudden an execution made a little stand during the which I got me to the end of a narrow street that was not above tvvo or three steps from me for fear of being inclosed where I fought a good while without receiving any more than two vvounds which I got because I would not strike Rhodolpho but at length I should have fallen in this unequall combat had it not been for a succour that arrived unto me And consider my Lord the strangeness of my adventure that which should have been the cause of my undoing was the cause of my making for it hapned that at such time as I was pressed most by mine enemies the same offended Governor of vvhom I have already spoken to thy Highness came accompanyed with fifteen or sixteen and assaulted them behind In this disorder I never stood doubting which part I should take but siding my self with Rhodolpho I said unto him that I was come to lose that life for him which he would have taken from me And whereas I fought then for Isabella since it was to
remember the order that we held in the streetes howbeit I was told afterwards that Sinibaldo divided his men into two parts and that I was placed in the midst of them where Rhodolpho and Doria had in charge not to abandon me whatsoever should arrive Sinibaldo put himself into the head of the Troop and my father marched in the rear to the end that on what side soever they were assaulted a man of command and courage might still be there But whereas the Spinolaes knew not that we were retired to Rhodolphoes house they never thought of lying in wait for us so that we got to Sinibaldoes without any bad incounter After I was laid in bed he and my father advised that it would be easier for Rhodolpho to get away to Monaco as soon as it was day than if he stayed longer because his enemies had not had leisure yet to think and consider of all that might hurt or help them to that purpose they judged it fit to disguise him like a Mariner and to put him into a Feluca which might easily carry him to that place of safety Rhodolpho consented to whatsoever they thought good and Sinibaldo took upon him the care of dispatching the business He sent then to the Port as soon as day began to appear to hire a Feluca upon condition it should part presently and that the Master of it should lend one of his habits the money which was offered to this man was so much as ravished with this incounter and without further inquiry he said that he was ready to part and that for one of his habis he would lend it so as he might be permitted to goe home to his house because he had none there He that made the bargain agreed he should do so but for fear he should discover any thing he would goe with him The Master of the Feluca who thought of nothing but his gain was contented with it away they went together to fetch that habit and that done he left that man in the guard of one of his fellowes whom he had brought thither with him and came and rendred an account of his voyage Immediately Rhodolpho disguised himself and seeing it pretty far day he took his leave of Sinibaldo and my father who both of them promised him to doe in his name all that they had resolved on and whatsoever else they judged would be requisite to procure his liberty Lodovico and he shewed so much generosity in this separation and spake so obligingly one to another as Sinibaldo could not forbear telling them that Spinola could not have been lost more profitably for the Common-Wealth seeing his death had served to make two so great and excellent men become friends When they had answered to this civility Rhodolpho came to me with so much kindness and such testimony of acknowledgement and friendship as I was sensibly touched therewith He assured me once again with oathes that his daughter should be the reward of the blood which I hâ—d shed for him provided I did not change my resolution The weakness wherein I was did not keep me from rendring him thanks as I ought for so obliging a discourse but at length he went away to find out the Master that waited for him Sinibaldo did not let him go without a guard he caused six of his servants to follow him a loof of and he himself went to the Port for to see him part Rhodolpho was so fortunate that he crost through the City without meeting any one that knew him he imbarqued himself then with all possible speed and in a little time arrived safely at Monaco where he was received by his subjects with joy As soon as the Councell was set they vvould have complained in Rhodolphoes name but they found themselves prevented by the space of a quarter of an hour onely and that the father of him vvhom I had killed had accused me for the death of his sonne for though our fight vvas in the night yet vvas I knovvn by my voice and the follovvers of him that vvas slain had marked hovv he and I vvere ingaged in a particular combat This accusation appeared at first so unlikely to the Judges as they gave no credit at all unto it and vvhereas they vvere not ignorant of that inveterate hatred which was between the Justinianoes and the Grimaldies they could not comprehend how I should be induced to fight for mine enemy As they were in this pain my Father presented himself to demand justice of them for the violence had been done me and to colour the matter he told them that passing by chance along the street I had seen Spinola set upon Rhodolpho with so much advantage as my generosity not able to indure it I presently resolved to labour the hindring of that mischief or if I could not to side with the weaker party as I have done that in this occasion I had been dangerously hurt that nevertheless knowing the power of the Spinolaes and fearing lest the Senate should be misinformed of the truth of the matter I had absented my self till such time as justice was done me My Father made this discourse with such earnestness and so advantagiously for Rhodolpho as it was easie to discern that he was no longer his enemy But whereas the affair was important in regard it concerned three of the principall Families of the City they resolved nothing for the present but referred the matter to the next day with order notwithstanding to the Spinolaes to cause their witnesses to be examined the day following This news was instantly spread over all the City with so much admiration and astonishment as no body could believe it the first time they heard it contrarily all those of Genoua said openly how it could not possibly be for that the hatred which passeth successively into the minds of men cannot be extinguished in a moment and that by consequence it was not credible that I could pass from one extremity to another in an instant and that I should render to the greatest of mine enemies all that the dearest of my friends could expect from me But as nothing can be long concealed it was quickly known that love had begot friendship and that the passion which I had for Isabella was the noble cause of this adventure In the mean time the whole Common-wealth was divided and although the faction of Sinibaldo were the stronger and most considerable and that it was absolutely for us yet could it not hinder the passing of an express order for the searching out and apprehension of us And whereas the dead party is alwayes regarded all the grace we could obtain was that the affair should not be precipitated and that it should be prolonged as much as the forms of Justice would permit Whilst things past in this manner I wrote every day to Isabella who answered me with so much wit and sweetness as I could not be but happy in the constraint wherein I lived But at length
our enemies we might live and rest in safety that the Spinolaes were not powerfull enough to raise an Army for to set upon us there and that the Republique would not of a particular interest make a generall cause that for the rest time it may be would change the order of things that sometimes sentences had been revoked less unjust than that which banished me and for men that were not of the family of the Justinianoes and that peradventure were not more profitable for the publique good In the end I did all that I could to obtain permission to come unto her I wrote also unto Julia with so much resentment of that loss which was more considerable to me than it was grievous unto her As for my father I sent him word that I would buy out my liberty with my blood being resolved to perform such brave things in the Wars as my Judges and mine enemies themselves should wish to see me again but that for the executing of so noble a design he was to permit me first to go and mary Isabella at Monaco and that if my life were dear unto him I prayed him to sollicite Julia when her tears were dryed up to accomplish Rhodolphoes promise For Doria I conjured him again to be carefull in curiously informing himself whether Isabellaes mind were as firm in this incounter as she had made me hope it would be for I well foresaw that Julia who notwithstanding our reconciliation had never loved me would bring some obstacle to my design After I had dispatched away my pacquet I remained in so extraordinary an unquietness that I could not settle my mind on any object but such as being ingenious to persecute me offered every minute to my thoughts the image of a nevv misfortune but how intentive soever it was I could not foresee that which arrived unto me As I was in this deplorable estate I understood by a Letter from Doria that my father being infinitely afflicted for my banishment was dead of a Feaver the very same day that he wrote this to me and that to secure his estate unto me he had past it over to the Count of Lauagna who questionless would conserve it faithfully for me I must confess my Lord that the loss so shaked my constancy as it was ready to fail and I proved in this occasion that the apprehensions of Nature are more powerfull than all others and to leave no place for me to doubt of it I had almost forgot Isabella in this my first transport but after that reason had combated with grief and that I was able to look upon my distemper with a calmer eye I found it yet far greater than at first I had believed it to be I saw all at once both the loss of my Father and that too of my Mistris no way doubting but that it would be hard for me to carry Julia to that I desired there being no body now that had any interest to make her keep her word Certâ—in daies after this sad news I received onely a ticket from Isabella wherein contrary to her custom I perceived some confusion with an absolute command not to hazard my self as yet to come to Monaco because her mother had told her that having much wealth in Genoua she would give some order to her affairs for fear of losing it if she should so soon receive me into her State and alliance after this she made me a protestation of fidelity but in such tearms as made me judge that she had not expressed all her thoughts Yet was it not this ticket that begot my dispair and my fury a Letter from Doria which I had received the same way cleared this aenigma most cruelly for me by it I learned that the Prince of Masseran whose state is situate between Piedmont Montferrat and the Millanese being imbarqued at Villa-Franca to pass unto Naples where he had means and business had been caught by so furious a tempest three Leagues from the Port that all the Pilots skill could not keep him from suffering shipwrack before Monaco where this Prince had been so fortunate as to save himself by leaping into the boat just at the same instant when as his vessell was beaten to peeces against the point of a Rock It told me further that this Prince having gotten to some houses vvhich were on the sea-shore had sent to demand permission of the Princess that he might stay a while in that place for to gather together as much as he could of the remains of his vessell which was not sunck and whose men for the most part had escaped with swimming or by the assistance of a Barque that by chance was then near unto them Moreover Doria advertised me that Julia had received him magnificently that not long after it was bruted in Genoua how that Prince vvas become inamored of Isabella and hovv the very same day that he wrote me this he was told that he had put himself into mourning for to please the Princess All this troubled me not so much as Doriaes conclusion how that the Letter he had sent me from Isabella had been delivered to him by an extraordinary way and how by a note which she had written unto him she ordained him to send her no more Letters till such time as he had a new order from her I no sooner read this displeasing circumstance but my mind was possest with so much fury as I was no longer capable of reason I found my self seized at once with love jealousie anger grief and revenge I would at one instant reproach Doria complain of the infidelity of Isabella revenge my self of the treason of Julia and punish the comerity of my Rivall Amidst the divers passions wherewith my soul was agitated I framed an hundred designs whereof the execution was impossible but after I had disputed with my self I resolved to go in person to Isabella and demand a reason of her why she had not acquainted me with her new conquest for in the end said I I will have the satisfaction to adore her innocent or to hate her guilty But as the body and the mind are so straitly allyed together that the one cannot suffer without the other I fell sick the very same day I was to depart and so violently as the Emperors Physicians who by his order visited me every day were out of hope of saving me and verily had I not had a spark of hope remainâ—ng that Isabella was not inconstant I had refused all the remedies vvhich vvere given me and that were powerfull enough to recover me throughly But as if the health of the body had not been bestowed on me but for the better supporting the evills of the mind I received my deaths wound by a Letter from Doria which gave me to understand that Isabella had maried the Prince of Masseran and that to put it out of all doubt he had learned it from Felicianaes own mouth vvho not enduring her Mistresses infidelity without
him But to favour the impatience he was in to be with Isabella let us only say without particularizing his course that after he was come to all the Vessells which the Grand Signior had caused to be arrested and drawn out of captiviy all the Christian Slaves which were found in the severall Ports where they touched by vertue of an absolute power that he had from the Sultan after I say that he had passed the Archipelago and left Ciprus on the left hand this prosperous Fleet arrived in a few dayes within sight of the Land of Genoua There it was where the Ambassador began to reap the fruit of his voyage by the pleasure he took in thinking that he was going to enter into his City as it were in triumph by bringing thither again those so many Vessels which restored to the People their kindred and friends to the Nobility their children and their riches and to the Senate the Grace of the Grand Signior and the lives of two Illustrious Citizens As for Doria he felt that motion in his soul which Nature gives to all those who see their Country again after a long exile and that not troubled by the unruliness of passions following without resistance the thoughts wherewith she inspires them he had then an extreme pleasure but yet it was a quiet pleasure But for Justiniano it was not so with him he did not look upon this Land as the place of his birth but as the residence of Isabella and in an instant he passed over again in his memory all that had arrived unto him there and his transport was so great that joy produced some effects of grief in him he changed colour divers times he was unquiet and musing and if Doria had not forced him to speak and express his minde by his discourse it was to be doubted in beholding him whether it were hope or whether it were fear that agitated his soul whether he regretted Constantinople or desired Genoua so certain it is that violent passions pervert the use of the senses Tears which ought not to be but the marks of sorrow serve sometimes for joy and silence which seems so proper for sadness is often the effect of an extreme pleasure but as we come to one and the same place by divers wayes they were made contented by different causes and expressed their joy in severall manners In the mean time they came still neerer to Genoua but not holding it sit that Justiniano and Doria should enter into the City before the deliberation of the Senate was known the Ambassador caused his Vessell to cast anchor three miles from Genoua and going to pass into another after he had assured them that he would obtain their liberty or be exiled with them he observed that Alphonso Spinola Captain of one of those redeemed Vessells and brother to him whom Justiniano had slain in defending Rhodolpho hung back and would not follow him whereupon he would needs know the cause of it but Alphonso whose generosity was extreme seeing himself obliged for his life and for his liberty to Justiniano who during the voyage had testified unto him with much resentment the grief he had had for the misfortune wherein he had been ingaged and knowing likewise that the death of his brother had hapned with some justice he besought the Ambassador not to think it strange if he did not attend upon him to Genoua being absolutely resolved never to enter into it without his Deliverer that knowing his Father as he did he was well assured that he would with all his power oppose them that would revoke the Sentence which had been given against Justiniano so that to hinder his violence he purposed to write unto him that if he would have his sonne again he must pardon his enemy that his fortune was conjoyned with his and that he would never have such a reproach laid upon him as that a man who had drawn him out of fetters and brought him back into his Countrey should not injoy the liberty which he had given him Alphonso pronounced this speech with so much earnestness as all that heard him were ravished with his resolution and Justiniano was so charmed therewith that not able to forbear imbracing him and not suffering him to say more he conjured him that he would not force him to be ingratefull that if nothing but his blood would satisfie the revenge of his kindred he would be most ready to shed it for his sake but having some hope to serve them more profitably in his person when occasion should present it self he would spare no care nor good office for it so as it might be done without offence to his honor that he had performed a gallant action in desiring to stay with him but that he should do an unworthy one and full of inhumanity if he should consent unto it and that therefore it was more just that he should go and dry up his fathers tears and moderate his fury by the joy which his sight would bring him than to do a thing that would procure him his hatred Alphonso did not yeeld at first to the desire of Justiniano but the Ambassador and Doria siding with him he was constrained to submit to their sense and to let his inclination be overcome by anothers reason These illustrious friends parted with so much adoe as if Doria had not perceived by Justinianoes watch that the time of the Senates Assembly pressed the Ambassador to depart if he would have audience as soon as he should arrive they would have spent a great part of the day in this noble contestation whereof all the glory consisted in obliging his enemy But whilst this Fleet reasumed their course to aboard Genoua let us go to the Port and see what the people think of it and whether this agreeable surprize will make them send forth shouts of joy in answer to those of the Mariners As soon as these Vessells began to appear a confused noise was heard amongst those that were present on the shore whereby it appeared that they expected not so happy a success of their Ambassadors voyage the one said that the Senate was to be advertised of it others that Merchants Vessells came not in so great a number together some that Pirats durst not approch in that manner if they were not followed by the body of an Army and all of them together that the best was to give intelligence thereof to the end some might be sent to discover them there were those likewise whose imagination was so troubled with fear as they verily believed that they distinctly saw Turkish Galleys and half Moons In the mean time whereas the Fleet came still neerer they might easily discern that it was the Standard of the Republique which these Vessells carried the sight whereof dissipated their fear but it took not from them their amazement being not able to imagine how they should be so neer unto them whom they believed to be in chains and
slavery but at length the first of these Vessells being come to the shore and the Ambassador who was seen on the poop being known of the people which were already gathered together in a very great number and they no longer doubting but that these vessells which now they knew brought them back both their brethren and their children such a noise of acclamations arose on the suddain as they all spake without understanding what they said themselves and without being understood of others wives called for their husbands fathers inquired after their children some ran into the City to advertise their friends of it others ran out of it with their whole families they in the Vessells cryed to let them know whether all were well at home at last so great a noise was formed of all these cries and murmures as the Ambassador had much adoe to make his orders be understood He commanded all the Chieftaines to accompany him to the Palace and particularly Alphonso not to be far from him they traversed the City in this sort followed by the popular multitude who ceased not from testifying their joy both by their teares and by their acclamation When they were at the Gate of the Palace the Ambassador advanced three or four steps before his Troop that he might the better surprise that honorable Company At his first appearing they sought to know the success of his voyage in his face but as soon as they perceived all the Commanders of their Vessells the gravest and most moderate amongst them could not chuse but shew signes of their amazement and joy and when this first emotion was appeased the Ambassador having made a low obeisance to the Duke and the like to the whole assembly began to speak in this sort The Oration of Antonio Lomelino to the Duke and Senate of Genoua IF the prosperous success of my voyage had been an effect of my conduct of my care and of my address I should without doubt have had so much modesty as to declare in few words the estate of things for to attend from so honorable an Assembly the praise which a service of such importance would have deserved without giving them to my self and I should also have been so generous as to have been fully satisfied with the onely thought of having been profitable to my Country but whereas I have no part in the glory of this action but contrarily I my self am obliged for my life to the Deliverer of so many illustrious Slaves as I have brought you back and which are all either your kinsmen or your friends it behoves me both that I may not be ingratefull in my particular and that also I may keep you from being so in generall to report fathfully unto you how the matter hath past to the end that by understanding all the circumstances you may the better know how it is the interest of the Republique which makes me speak with so much earnestness You are to understand then my Lords that whereas the Emperor Soliman believed that the Law of Nations had been violated in the person of his Chaoux he thought that he might doe the like in that of your Ambassador so that as soon as I was arrived at Pera and that according to the custom I had demanded audience of his Highness I saw my self constrained to pass by his order from my Vessell into a streight prison without telling me the cause therof in such sort as he that came to obtain the liberty of others saw himself deprived of his own and laden with chaines I was two dayes intreated in this manner with a great deal of rigor and I very well perceived by the countenance of them which guarded me that they believed my head was the onely price of my liberty As I was in this unquietness I saw the Aga of the Janizaries enter who caused me to be told by Dragoman of the grand Signioes whom we call an interpreter that his Highness willing to give me audience had commanded him to conduct me to Constantinople without any ceremony this mutation surprised me so much the more for that I could not imagine the cause of it having been well enough informed that Soliman doth not easily change his resolutions and that repenting is a motion of the soul which is almost unknown to him In the mean time I beheld my fetters broken off without seeing the hand that delivered me and in this uncertainty I attributed that to the inconstancy of Fortune which I owed her not at all But my Lords why should I longer conceal this mighty and generous hand which hath delivered me The impatience which I see in your looks to know the name of our Deliverer invites that also which is in me to tell it you wherefore I must interrupt my order and without going to Constantinople to paint forth unto you the resentment the choler the menaces of the Sultan I say unto you that he unto whom you ow the return of your vessells the lives of your children and the peace of this Republick was not carried to this brave action by a sense of acknowledment it is a man who could have revenged himself instead of serving you without committing an injustice it is a man whom you have exiled because he withstood a violence it is a man whom you have chased avvay because he had been so generous as to save his enemies life it is a man whom you have banished because he shed his blood to take part with the vveaker and vvho by misfortune killed one of your Citizens not only to secure his ovvn person but to assist an undefended man finally my Lords it is by Justiniano that vve are living it is by him that vve breath the air of our Countrey it is by him that vve do not see an Army of an hundred thousand men at your Gates and it is also by his liberty and that of Doria vvho is conjoyned to his fortune that you may pay our ransome as the only price which great Soliman hath set to redeem us It is in preserving this illustrious person that you may preserve the glory of the Senate and it is upon this condition that according to the power which I had for it I have ingaged the Publique Faith for the revocation of a Sentence which you signed with regret and which you accorded rather to the tears of Philippo Spinola whom I see here in this renowned Company than to Soveraign equity It is not because I will condemn in him the apprehensions of Nature but contrarily I purpose to stir them up in his heart by letting him see that if by misfortune Justiniano hath deprived him of one sonne the same Justiniano hath restored him another in bringing him back Alphonsâ— who with tears in his eyes begs of him by my mouth the grace of his Deliverer They which are sensible of outrages ought to be so likewise of benefits especially when injuries have not been done by a premeditated malice and
have served me but with a shamefull servitude The demand which thou hast made me is worthy of thy generosity but this recompence would be unworthy of Soliman He had questionless proceeded further had he not observed my countenance to change and fearing that he had displeased me he began to ask me pardon when as I perceived that I was wounded in the left arm by the blood that trickled out of the sleeve of my habit so that doubting that I would fall into a swoon he called in company and notwithstanding any thing I could say he would needes see my wound searched which was not found dangerous but which might have been so had the dressing of it been any longer retarded It is a strange thing that I did not perceive it and if the proposition which Soliman made unto me had not moved me so violently as to make my wound burst out a bleeding I believe that I had gone away without heeding it Soliman caused me to be caried into a Tent with so great a care as one would have said that on the conservation of my life depended that of his I began then to be no longer regarded as a Slave but as the favourite of the Emperor every one observed and caressed me and even he that had bought me that had laid me in irons and had condemned me to die was one of the most carefull of my health In the mean time Soliman entred the next day into the Town with all the ceremonies of a Prince that is Vanquisher of his rebellious subjects The principall inhabitants were brought before him bound in chaines and prostrated with their faces on the ground he informed himself presently of the quality of their crime he distinguished those that had revolted out of malice from those that had been ingaged in it out of weakness and by a goodness quite contrary to the maximes of Tyrants the lives of five or six of the most culpable satisfied for the offence of all the rest and he shewed an example of clemencie where others would have shewed one of cruelty under the name of justice But whereas he had promised the pillage of the Town to the souldiers he would not give them cause to complain in a time when as the enemy was still in the field neither would he also let them charge themselves with booty knowing well that the inriching of an Army is the destroying of it so that to content them he caused them to be told that he was ready to keep his promise with them but judging it not fit Zellebis having escaped from his revenge that they should load themselves with unprofitable lumber since they could neither carry it away nor sell it being constrained to follow the enemy he offered to give each of them three monthes pay and promised them besides not to return to Constantinople without recompencing their courage The souldiers accepted of this proposition and that they might not have leisure to repent them Soliman made them march away three dayes after having left a strong Garison in the Town to hinder any new rebellion He had the goodness to desire to know almost every hower in what estate I was so that having been assured my wound would not keep me from following him he testified a great deal of joy for it We marched then directly to the enemy having discovered by our scouts where he was But whereas Zellebis who had joyned himself to his Troops would not hazard a battell lightly he alwaies avoyded with dexterity every place where he might be inforced to fight and as he was cunning and malicious so he invented a trick that succeeded happily with him He saw well that the Grand Signiors presence was the soul of his Army that his very sight inspired valor into his souldiers and that it would be hard to vanquish them as long as he should be a witness of their courage that he alone could heap wealth and honor on them He sent then with all speed some of his faction to Constantinople to sow a rumor there that Soliman was dead that his Troops were defeated that he was declared Emperor making no question out of the knowledge he had of the Janizaries turbulent humor which alwaies remained for the guard of the Seraglio but that they would make some disorder that might recall Soliman to Constantinople as indeed this sad and false news was no sooner published there but it presently begot a terrible confusion The Grand Visier did all that he could to learn from whence this rumor was come to appease the Janizaries assuring them that he had no notice at all of what they were made to believe but that which he thought to retain them by did but incense them the more and confirm them in their opinion For said they if Soliliman were not dead the report of his victories would reach even hither in conclusion the whole Seraglio and all the people were in teares and all the Janizaries in arms But when the Grand Visier seconded by some of the people and by some of the Janizaries would have opposed them they turned all their fury according to their custom against the Jews and the Christians they plundred all their houses they demolished their Chappell 's they set some of them on fire and in this confusion making no distinction betwixt a Turk and a Christian little lacked but that they had pillaged all Constantinople yea they almost durst enterprise to force the Seraglio But in the midst of this disorder the Grand Visier received a Letter from Soliman which advertised him of the happy success of his Armes to the end he should advertise his Subjects therewith so that being assured of the verity of the matter he went into the streets crying aloud that Soliman lived that Soliman was victorious and that Soliman would be suddenly at Constantinople He pronounced these words with so much joy as they made some impression in the minds of the Janizaries and having shewed the Grand Signiors Letter to some of them this truth was no longer doubted of any body The most seditious and the most insolent were the most amazed the name of Soliman restored to them that respect which avarice and violence had banished from them they threw down their arms and craved pardon howbeit there were some of them who fearing to render that which they had taken away made strange Propositions But the Grand Visier being wise and prudent thought it would be better to make them hope for Grace than to make them stand in dread of chastisement for fear lest putting them in despair they should be carried again to some new violence He promised them then to speak to the Grand Signior for them and to assure him that the news of his death had so afflicted them as not able to be revenged on those who they believed had caused it they would at least be revenged on the enemies of his Religion This discourse began to calm their spirits and whereas
to see her self so carried away had so weakned and oppressed her as she was without pulse without motion and almost without life The resentment which Rustan shewed for it and the care he took to assist her though it was rather the effect of his interest than of his pitty caused the Princesses women to have some comfort amidst their misfortune They laboured all of them together then to make her come to her self again and a little after she assured them by a deep sigh that she would soon be sensible of all her miseries and accordingly within a while she opened her eyes but not being longer able to make any resistance and seeing Rustan by her whom she knew though she had never beheld him but once before and that he had changed his habit she was constrained to have recourse unto her tears Rustan seeing her in this estate fell on his knees before her to ask her pardon for the wrong he did her and to beseech her to beleeve that so sad a beginning would have a most happy end He told her likewise that he was not what she thought him to be that he operated by a more powerfull hand than his own and that if her grief would permit her to give ear unto that which might comfort her she would quickly dry up her tears This Princess striving to answer him said unto him with a low voice that there was no vvay to comfort her but to assure her that she should die without the deprivation of her honour and liberty and without falling into the hands of Deliment Rustan sworâ— unto her then that he knew not that Deliment of whom she spake and protested that far from doing her any violence he would serve her with all respect beseeching her once again to suspend her grief untill she had learnt the cause of her misfortune This cheater spake this with a face wherein compassion and sincerity were so well painted forth as sollicited again by her women she resolved to hear him But he first desired that she would give them order to withdraw a little aside to the end that none but she might understand what he said unto her She made some difficulty to agree thereunto but at length she was forced to obey He recounted to her then how her unhappiness was an effect of her beauty but he did not tell her that Soliman had loved her under the name of Felixana onely he acquainted her that her picture had begot this love and consequently the design which he had executed howbeit he perceived that Axiamira did not beleeve him so that to perswade her the better he shewed her picture to her which she presently knew and calling her women to her to look upon it she put them in mind how the Sophy having caused her to be drawn one day with Felixana by an excellent Painter whom fortune had brought into their country he had commanded many coppies to be made of them which he had given to Merchants for the publishing of her beauty all abroad and that of Felixana whom he infinitely loved Upon this discourse Rustan was no longer troubled to conceive how Axiamira had been taken for Felixana easily imagining that a Merchant who it may be understood not the Persian tongue very well might be deceived in taking the picture of Felixana for that of Axiamira and that of Axiamira for that of Felixana and much the rather for that the Merchant had got those pictures without ever seeing the Princess as we came to know afterwards But to return to this afflicted fair one after that Rustan had acquainted her with the cause of her misfortune he would have inlarged himself upon the magnificences of the Seraglio upon the excellent qualities of Soliman upon the excess of the passion which he was in for her and have perswaded her that her unhappiness would make her happy But this generous Princess not able to endure a discourse so far distant from her sense sayd unto him with a voice much stronger than the weakness wherein she was would seem to permit her do you beleeve then that a person which might have succeeded to the Crown of Persia can resolve to be the slave of Soliman to spend her life in prison and to have for her companions infamous creatures who are for the most part the refuse of Pyrates No no Axiamira came not into the world but to reign and her death shall make it soon appear that she knows not how to obey Fortune hath put me into your hands but mine shall deliver me out of them After this she mused a pretty while very profoundly Rustan not daring to answer her for fear of further incensing her then suddenly speaking again and addressing her self to him Can I hope sayd shee unto him for any sincerity in a man that hath so cruelly betrayed me and can I beleeve that what he hath told me is true for how can it be imagined that Soliman whose reputation is so great and so fair should be capable of causing an innocent Princess to be forcibly carried away for to make her his slave and how can it yet be conceived that this Prince who is sayd to be so amorous of a certain Roxelana and who hath loved her so long could be in a passion for a picture yea in such a passion as hath obliged him to violate the law of Nations to forget naturall equity to outrage a Prince as mighty as himself and to do an act so strange as it is without example in all Ages Tell me then I conjure you said she unto him the true cause of my disaster and hide not from me that which time will clear unto me but too well Rustan seeing her mind a little quieter in all appearance thought he might gain her by gentleness wherefore he assured her with all the artifice that possibly he could use how all that which he had told her was true but how it was true also that the image of the Seraglio which seemed so dreadfull unto her was a meer effect of her grief that all the grace he would demand of her was no other but that she would live untill she had seen Soliman which favour if he might obtain of her he was well assured that the sight of so excellent a Prince would make her change her opinion Yes said she interrupting him I will live if my grief will permit it but I will live only to seek out the means how to revenge the death that I will give my self as soon as my complaints and cryes have made some one to know the outrage which I have received to the end that the report thereof being bruited abroad the Sophy my Father may by learning the cause of my loss take such revenge for it as Heaven doth promise me and which also I beg of it Behold then what I accord to your desires in the mean time if pitty may yet find any place in your soul leave me to weep with my women
Sir what have you done I doe not know said I stepping a little back but if thou canst re-accommodate this disorder During this Lucretia swore false oaths to her Mistress for the clearing of her innocency and the poor Livia was so surprised as she could resolve of nothing in fine we were all four exceedingly perplexed I was vexed for having spoken so lavishly Lucretia was much troubled in justifying her self my Agent knew not what to doe either for Lucretia or for me and Livia could think of nothing that would satisfie her She vvould fain have railed on me but she savv that I vvas too much acquainted vvith her affairs to be incensed more She could have been contented never to have seen me again but she feared lest parting avvay vvithout saying any thing unto me I should publish that vvhich I knevv At last she vvould vvillingly have recalled me for I vvas stept a little from her and stood musing with my self but her heart vvould not consent that she should use any civility to me after that vvhich I had said unto her Behold Madam the estate vvherein vve stood vvhen as la Roche the most daring fellovv that is approched unto Livia and said unto her for the justification of Lucretia with a seeming sinceritie I know very well Lady that I do put my self in danger of being turned away by my Master in discovering a thing unto you which he greatly labours to conceal but the condition wherein you are and the innocency of Lucretia forces me to open it unto you Know then continued he that whatsoever he hath said unto you is not the effect of my bodies treason but of Astrology which he understands perfectly It is a science wherein he is become so expert that if I should recount unto you the mervailes which I have heard him tell you would be mightily surprised with it And whereas he is passionately in love with you seeing you very rigorous to him he hath spent every night for these eight dayes in contemplating the Starres and turning over his books to discover the cause thereof and without doubt it was by this meanes that he is come to know that which he hath said unto you he hath shewed me continued he the garden where you were in a great glass though I would not understand what you said Truely the invention of this lad amazed me it was in vain for me to make signes unto him to hold his peace the more unquietness that I shewed the more he continued speaking and I may say that I was never in greater pain for I heard all that he said But whereas I saw that he went confounding things and that from an Astrologer he would quickly make me pass for a Magician in talking of an inchanted glass I resolved to help forward this trick that so I might make him hold his tongue wherefore I called him somewhat rudely and having commanded him to withdraw I came to Livia with civilitie enough just as Lucretia was saying to her boldly how she had already heard it assured indeed that I dealt with telling of fortunes And having saluted her for the better colouring of the business I seemed to be very angry with la Roches imprudence in discovering to her a thing which I would not have known in regard of the brutishness of the people who imagine that one cannot observe the Starres without having commerce with the Devill and know not how to put a difference between Astrologie and inchantments But since the fault was done I desired her to oblige me to her discretion by not publishing that which had been told her I said unto her also that parting from the Court of France I had past through Provence where hapning to be lodged near to a great Nostradamus so admirable in this science as it was not known whether he should be tearmed a Prophet or an Astrologer I had been so happy as to touch his inclination and to gain his friendship even to the point to teach me a part of the excellent things he knew either for Astrologie Phisiognomy or Chiromancie In fine I spake to her with so much art as she beleeved me and beleeved too that Lucretia was innocent who on her side played her part so well as she made me ashamed She clapt her hands together she accused her Mistress for having accused her and the poor Livia was almost ready to make excuses unto her so well was she perswaded And the cause why a discourse of this kind did not surprise her so much as another and was more credible with her was for that she had all her life-lifetime heard her Father talk of this science who just as we were there came out of his house assoon as I saw him I would have been gone but Livia stayed me and said to me with a great deal of spirit I know too well what respect a man of your condition doth owe to one of my sex to be affrayed you should be indiscreet and since it is true that yâ—u doe know the force of destiny and the influences of the Starres you may well know by them that I cannot eschue what they have resolved In the mean time the old man who was not accustomed to see his daughter in such a conversation drew near and after he had but coldly saluted me demanded of her what she did there but I was strangely amazed when as she answered him that meeting not long before with a friend of hers whom she loved very well she understood by her that I was one of the greatest Astrologers in the world and that being curious to know wether she should be maried or no she had desired my acquaintance which the same friend had procured her I perceived that Livia had spoken in this manner notwithstanding the request that I had made unto her to the end she might know whether I had said the truth so that I resolved to stand to it But I found my self much perplexed when as this old man said to her in a grave tone that many men had imployed all their lives in this study and had taken upon them the name of Astrologers but that few had come to the point of deserving it Then turning him to me with a more open countenance he said unto me that if I were such a one as his daughter told him he would serve me with all his heart that he was very much affected to men of merit and to the lovers of sciences whereof the vulgar were ignorant and that in conclusion if he should tell me truth he must confess that in times past he had given himself to judiciary Astrology but that the trouble of domestick affaires had kept him from excelling therein howbeit that he still knew enough to be able to discourse a little with me of it if I would come and vissit him at his house whereof he shewed me the door I leave you to judge Madam in vvhat a case a man might be that knevv not
further Aurelia appeared who believing according as I had told her that Hortensio had not concealed himself but because he was jealous would en passant have said some manner of gallanterie unto him But he who was not in a case to dissemble and that saw well enough how his love to Livia was upon breaking forth said unto her somewhat rudely you drove me away at such time as by your direction I came to wait upon you think it not strange then if after that I never do see you more and to recompence the love which you have borne me with some freeness know that I am ingaged in an affection which cannot end but with my life This said he left her for to go in all hast and try if he could see Livia to the end they might advise together about what they were to do in so cross an adventure In the mean time Aurelia so replyed upon my words as she had much adoe to believe but that Hortensioes despisall was a mark of love As she was returning home in this irresolution she incountred Leander vvho had seen Hortensio enter into Liviaes house and Leonardo presently following in after him so that inforced by his passion and my counsell he discovered unto her the truth of the History He informed her how it was by his meanes she was advertised in the morning that Hortensio never parted from Genoua and that to let her see how Livia wholly possessed his heart he knew for a certain that he was at that instant with her having said to him just as he was going in and he passing by I will no longer oppose your love This discourse so netled Aurelia as suddainly she felt a strange revolution in her mind After she had mused a little and shewed by her countenance how great a combat she had in her heart she addressed her speech to Leander If that which you tell me be true said she unto him I confess that Hortensio is not only unworthy of my affection but is also unworthy to live If you did not seem to me somewhat interessed in this encounter your word alone should suffice to make me give credit to all things but in this where you are the accuser mine ovvn eyes must be the vvitnesses of his crime if you will have them favourable judges to you conduct me to Liviaes house and be assured that as soon as I have disturbed their felicity for I mean to do it I will establish yours Leander who would gladly have done more difficult things for the hope of a prize that vvas so dear unto him told her vvith a great deal of respect joy and love that he vvas ready to obey her In the mean time it had fallen out that vvithin a minute after Hortensio vvas gone in to Livia Leonardo came home so as he had no more leasure but to let her knovv that her father had demanded the Ring of him vvhich she had given him and that he had used all his endeavour to dravv the crime vvholly upon himself for as soon as Lucretia perceived Leonardo she advertised them of it vvhereupon Hortensio vvas constrained to hide himself in a corner of the Garden vvhere they vvere it being impossible for him to get forth vvithout being seen When supper time approached I vvent thither for I vvas not sorry to seek for an occasion of seeing in vvhat case Livia vvas in afâ—er so many odd adventures as I vvas going along I met vvith la Roche vvho told me that he came from vvorking his inchantment for the man who vvas afraid of robbing by the vvay that after a thousand devices he had made him get a stride upon a pale as it were upon an horse and there having bound up his eyes and tyed both his hands and his feet he left him talking the maddest things in the world out of a conceit he had that he was flying in the air and that to keep him from being robbed by the way he had taken his money from him without his perceiving it I rebuked him for his foolery and having commanded him to follow me I entered into Leonardoes house just as he was going to accost his daughter who seeing me would have pulled dovvn her Vail over her face but he not permitting her so to do told her that a man to whom she was ingaged for the recovery of a Ring which was so dear unto her well deserved to have the pleasure of beholding her We were both of us then very much abashed for I knew nothing of that which had past betwixt him and Hortensio and she feared that her father would give her some cruel check or other Howbeit I was not so taken up but that I heard in regard I was advertised of it before hovv the poor simpleton vvhom la Roche had tyed up in this garden sayd that he had dispatched a great deal of vvay already and I find continued he hearing us talk a far off where we were that I fly very high for the sound of voyces doth diminish In the mean time we were mightily surprised to see Aurelia led by Leander come in who appearing with an angry countenance put the whole company into a great confusion Leonardo who perceived that this visit was not made in an accustomed hour could not imagine the cause of it Livia who before time had had some jealousie of Aurelia and knew that Hortensio was not above five or six steps from thence in a green Arbor could not tell what to think of it Leander though he was very certain that he had seen Hortensio enter there and Leonardo follow him yet was afraid that he should not keep his word with Aurelia Hortensio albeit he were hid was not in the least pain for that he could not doubt but that he should have some share in Aureliaes visit la Roche too was not very much at ease to see so great a company in the very same place where his traveller was which still continued prating though not heard of any but my self who in conclusion was not without a great deal of unquietnes to behold so many folks together which in all likelyhood would complain of me These severall reasonings which I have declared unto you were made for all that in one instant for we were not long without knowing wherefore Aurelia came who having neither father nor mother living only under the tuition of an uncle took more liberty to her self than ordinarily the Mayds of Italy use to do She advanced then with a boldness that amazed me and addressing her speech to Leâ—nardo without scarcely turning her eyes towards Livia Marvail not said she unto him Leonardo to see this visit made to you rather than to your daughter seeing it is from you that I expect the revenge I desire You are abused Leonardo and I am despised by a man whom Livia loves and who at this present is hidden somewhere here about your house I desired to advertise you of it that we might
her robe she caressed him very much and prayed him to remember that he left a Mistress at Monaco shewing him Aemilia The Marquis answered laughing that he should not fail therein and to the end she might not doubt of it he would take the libertie to vvrite unto her I shall be glad of that said the Princess and vvill enjoyn Aemilia to receive your letters In the mean time Doria vvho vvas in love vvith the Counts sister-in-lavv named Sophronia began to be in some unquietness for that he did not return unto Genoua vvhich being observed by Justiniano he conjured him to abide no longer at Monaco and to go along vvith the Count. Doria vvithstood it a vvhile but at length he suffred himself to be persvvaded to that vvhich he desired The Marquis vvas so dextrous as he took the opportunity vvhilst the rest vvere complementing vvith the Princess to approch unto Aemilia for to assure her a little more seriously than he had used to do that he had such thoughts for her aâ— he had never before but onely for tvvo or three of all that great multitude of vvomen vvhich he had loved in his time it is likely he vvould have said more unto her had not the Count gone avvay They departed out of the Princesses chamber accompanied by Justiniano vvho conducted them to the Port vvhere they imbraced one another vvith a great deal of kindness and also renevved their friendship vvith nevv protestations Having vveighed anchor upon the Counts Signall given the slaves fell to rovving and in an instant the gally vvas carried far from the shoar and from Justiniano vvho in returning to the Castle began to fear that the Princess vvould press him to declare the end of his History and likevvise to consider vvith astonishment the deplorable estate he was in but going insensibly along tovvards the Princess he found himself in her chamber before he vvas avvare that he vvas comâ— thither This sad thought had already painted such a melancholy in his face as Isabella perceived it as soon as he entred and for vvich she quarrelled vvith him saying that it proceeded from the absence of his friends Justiniano surprised vvith this discourse laboured to recollect himself and told her he had been so accustomed to sâ—dness that assoon as he vvas but a moment out of her sight it still regained some empire over his heart And to keep the Princess from speaking to him of ending his history he besought her to be so good as to relate to him all that had arrived unto her during so long an absence Alas said she unto him what do you ask of me Doth it not suffice that you know you were not here that I believed you to be either inconstant or dead and that being in a place wherinto I could forbid an entrance to all the world I have scarce had any other adventure than to weep all day long at leastwise since the death of my mother and the unlucky love of the Prince of Masseran which Doria hath recounted unto you as also that of some other Soveraignes of Italy where nothing hath past more remarkeable than the coldness which I have used towards them And truly in so austere a solitariness I wanted not imployment the remembrance of our felicities past and of our then miseries furnished me but with too much entertainment of my self and I may say that the memory of our good fortune was more cruell to me than the sense of our ill fortune But continued she these thoughts are too dolefull for so happy a season as this is wherein I see you and we are not yet so far eloigned from the time in which we thought to have suffered shipwrack as to look upon this Sea without dread or grief The adventure of the Prince of Salerno and of Don Fernando de Mendoza said Aemilia interrupting her is not so inconsiderable as that you should not be obliged to impart it unto a person who hath rendred you so exact an account of his life but if either your modesty or your compassion doth hinder you from acquainting him with the effects of your beauty and the mischiefes which you have caused without thinking of them I do offer to make him a faithfull recitall thereof You will be unjust Madam answered Justiniano if you will not permit that I shall know what hath befallen you and you will give me cause to fear that remembrance of some one of my Rivalls doth touch you but too sensibly The Princess did what she could to remit the matter to another time but Justiniano who sought to shun the occasions of speaking of the end of his adventures was willing to oblige the Princess to let him understand hers When as she saw then that he was resolved for it she took a pretext to go and write to Leonardo the Count of Lauagnes wife to the end she might not be present at Aemiliaes relation Justiniano complained for that she deprived him of the sight of her but whatsoever he could say she entred into her Cabinet saying she would punish him for his obstinate curiosity She was no sooner gone but Aemilia having first been permitted by Isabella so to doe began to speak in this sort to Justiniano The History of Isabella SEeing the Princess hath commanded me to render you an account of her life I am very willing to obey her having nothing to tell you that is not advantagious for her and also for you I will not repeat her first adventures since I know that you are not ignorant of the Prince of Masserans love Juliaes violence and artifices Felicianaes treason Doriaes generous resentment the death of that infortunate lover and consequently that of Julia. But I will onely tell you that when she saw she was Mistress of her self by the loss of her mother and that she had in vain sent to seek for you in Germany she resolved to go no more to Genoua but to live alwaies at Monaco to avoid the counsells and propositions which she foresaw would be urged upon her for to draw her to mary though she had ingaged her faith to you For whereas your long absence had made all the world believe that you were dead there wanted no reasons to be alleged unto her for the perswading of her to the change of her resolution As indeed notwithstanding all the care she had taken to bar an entrance into Monaco of all those which might speak to her of such like matters yet the fame of her beauty and vertue was spread abroad in such manner as there was not a Prince in all Italy which sent not unto her for a permission to visit and serve her But she who feared her Lovers more than her Enemies brought so much care to the frustrating of all their designes as none of them could ever obtain so much as the liberty to see her She lived in this austere retiredness untill such time as about a year ago or little less there ran a
Prince of Salerno do thus was for that he had observed how just at ten of the clock in the forenoon the ordinary Guard still used to rise and thereby had conceived that they which saw a Fisher-man go forth laden with his nets about nine would not be there at five in the evening and so consequently he might come in again accompanied with two men attired like Fishermen and laden with nets aâ— he was without any notice taken of them After he had reasoned thus with himself he resolved to execute that which he had premeditated long before judging rightly by the answer which the Princess had given his Messenger that nothing but violence could put him in possession of her This design being absolutely concluded he sought for the means to execute it This Sergeant brought him a Fisher-man into a place apart whom he instructed with that which he would have him to do and the next day this man went out of the Town about eight of the clock in the morning laden with nets and as I have already said before the Guard was risen but when it was towards evening he gave over fishing and went to meet with two Souldiers disguised like Fishermen who came by Land from the Prince of Salerno's Vessell which was at Villa-Franco and waited for him at a certain Rendezvouz which had been appointed him Having shared his nets amongst them he re-entred into the Town and incountring none of those souldiers at the Gate which had seen him in the morning no notice was taken of them and so they went along with him home where they stayed till it was night and then these two men having left their nets there were conducted by him to the Sergeants house in which they abode concealed untill the Prince of Salerno had need of them By this device there entred every day two souldiers into the Town who carryed two Pistolls and two short swords hidden in the nets wherevvith they were laden But whereas there vvas to be thirty days before the threescore souldiers vvhich he had destined for his enterprize could enter he vvas in an extreme impatience hovvbeit he concealed it so vvell as vve could never perceive it In the mean time he had gotten him a ladder of cords vvherevvith he purposed to bring a dozen souldiers into the Castle thorough the vvindovvs of his chamber vvhich opened upon a place vvhere no body usually passed and where no body could trouble his design for upon the disorder which had been between him and the Musician they had been lodged assunder For the rest of his Souldiers he had resolved to send them under the conduct of the Master of his house and that Sergeant to the gate of the Town for to render themselves Masters of it whilst he should carry the Princess away by force for which effect his Vessell was to be at the Port. But whilst he attended for the entrance of all his souldiers and that Don Fernando also attended the return of him from whom he hoped for succour in his enterprize they lived better together than ever they had done and in show they loved one another extremely though indeed they hated and observed one another as two enemies As for Don Fernando he had during the design which he kept close fallen into a strict league of friendship with one of the principall Inhabitants of Monaco whom the Princess had made Captain of the Gate His first admittance into this mans house was to teach his only daughter to sing afterwards his conversation grew so pleasing unto him as he frequented thither very often and so they came to love one another exceedingly Don Fernando in the thought which he was in turned his eyes upon this Captain and having heard him say divers times that the people began to murmur against the Princess for that it seemed she had resolved all her life-time to make a desert of Monaco and utterly to ruine the trade thereof by the difficulty which there was of entring into it he resolved to confide in him as he hid after he had blinded him first with a great sum of money which he gave him And that which made him not doubt but that the Gentleman whom he had sent would bring him Troopes was because he knew the Armies of Spain were very powerfull in Italy and that if he could once render himself Master of this place she should not only be justified but quickly succoured the Councell of Spain never wanting pretexts to invade the territories of their Neighbors when as they find occasion for it During this expectation the Princess had had her unqu etness as well as her Lovers for that Lieutenant of her Guard whom she had sent to seek you seemed too long to her in returning and whereas she had made it a secret I was she alone to whom she complayned of it Nevertheless one of her women chancing upon a day to overhear somewhat confusedly what she said unto me believed that you were suddenly to return and her joy was so great for it as she told this false newes to all the Princes Officers who quickly acquainted the Painter and Musician with it never dreaming that they would be otherwise concerned in it than to rejoyce at it as they cid Howbeit this newes wrought an other effect for thereupon both the one and the other of them hastened the finishing of the designes they had in hand They wondred notwithstanding to see that that which it seemed should have made the Princess glad should render her so melancholy as she would scarce see the Prince of Salerno paint any more nor hear Don Fernando sing any longer But I found a meanes to make her change her resolution for calling to mind two songs which you had made for the Princess I got Don Fernando to learn them and that he might take more care in singing of them I told him whose they were and for whom they were made for fear his negligence should cause the Princess to hate him I marked well that he blushed when I propounded this unto him but whereas I have alwaies been ingenious in finding out reasons to deceive my self I was yet more â—n this occasion and I believed that onely the spight of being obliged to sing the Airs which he himself had not made was the cause of his choler and in this error I continued even unto the end For when he had learned these Aires after they had been repeated unto him above twenty times yet did he not sing them very well Nevertheless the Princess would hear no other thing howsoever I intreated her to the contrary so that Don Fernando was thereby reduced to that point as he could not see the Princess unless he would sing his Rivalls songs Which he did with so much constraint as he made me to laugh at him For still I was perswaded that he did it out of caprichiousness and pride though indeed it was out of jealousie As for the Prince of Salerno another adventure
would apply thereunto At length they ordain her to be laid in her bed that still they might gain time to think of that which they had to doe Justiniano out of respect retired all in dispair and without being able so much as to reason about his misfortune his sorrow became so strong as he felt it but confusedly The Princess was not long in her weakness and Nature doing her uttermost gave her spirits the liberty again which grief had arested But thereupon there was so great and suddain a revolution of all her humors as she fell into a violent feaver so that the Physicians knowing then the Princess disease albeit they were ignorant of the cause of it they began to treat her according to the precepts of their Art Justiniano was also desired by order from the Princess to repair unto her he obeyed and came into her chamber with a face wherein the grief of the mind so nearly resembled that of the body as he seemed to be sicker than the Princess He approches every one withdrawes and when the Physicians told her that after such an accident as this which had befallen her it was fit she should not speak much she assured them that their conversation should not be long as indeed all that she said to Justiniano was comfort your self for the love of me if you will have me live for the love of you and be mindfull not to speak of our misfortunes no not to Doria himself if he comes hither And whereas she saw that Justiniano could not answer her without discovering his grief she wrung him gently by the hand and calling Aemilia she commanded her to have a care of Justiniano untill her sickness was abated This infortunate Lover not daring to speak for fear of augmenting the Princesses distemper and making too much show of his dispair which she would not have him to do retired away without saying any more than Ah! Madam if you will have me comfort my self you must then recover of this sickness which I have been the cause of After that the Princess grew extremely worse and worse the feaver held her ten daies with so much violence and weakness together as the Physicians durst not warrant her life But it was nothing in comparison of the eleventh day for then Justiniano who scarcely had abandoned her all that time absolutely beleeved that she was a dead body The feaver was very much increased her strength diminished the remedies unprofitable Nature seemed to want power and to be so oppressed as it was impossible to hope that she should escape But in the midst of all those miseries and in so great an extremity the constancy of the Princess was admirable who notwithstanding Aemiliaes teares the cryes of her women and Justinianoes dispair who was no longer in the termes to suffer himself to be constrained by reason expressed such a tranquillity of mind as it might well be judged that life was not very dear unto her Yet could she not for all that indure Justinianoes lookes nor see his teares trickle down his cheekes without resentment and besides that deplorable object she was insensible to all things But whilst they were in these termes at Monaco there was nothing but rejoycing at Genoua where it was not known that the Princess was so sick as she was for from her first time of being ill she had given in charge that it should not be published to the end she might recover without molestation or at leastwise dye quietly It was onely then knowen at Genoua that she was not well but that kept them not from meeting almost every day according to the order which the Marquis had established either at the Counts or at Doriaes who after his return had taken an onely sister that he had to govern his house and who was associated with this fair Troop which had no other thought but of delighting themselves The most considerable of this assembly were the Count of Lauagna Leonora his wife Horatio of the illustrious house of Cibo the brother of Leonora Sophâ—onia her sister Hipolita Doriaes sister Alphonso Spinola Leonardo the widdow of Livia of the race of the Adornes the French Marquis and Doria whose love began to be somewhat violent for Sophronia who certainly was very capable of begetting an ardent passion she had not only a piercing and majestick beauty like her sister Leonora but a noble stateliness which rendred her least civilities so obliging that one of her looks touched more sensibly than the tenderest caresses of others The beauties of her soul were no less considerable than those of her face and the graces of her mind did not give place to all the other excellent qualities that she had it is not to be wondered then if Doria who was a man of much vertue and of much judgement suffered himself to be touched with such powerfull charms As for the Count it might be said that he loved Leonora his wife dearly but it may be said also that he was truly in love with nothing but glory His galantry his civilities and his liberality were not terminated with the conquesâ— of the good graces of one only Lady but with the esteem of all the world Horatio was of a less active humour but for all that very pleasing of a solid judgement of a gentle and complying spirit and that notwithstanding some coldness that appeared in his countenance had yet been a long time in a burning passion for the fair Hippolita whose jealous and distrustfull humor troubled him not a little Alphonso likewise had much spirit and Leonida whose beauty gave place to none of the rest added thereunto a gentileness and liveliness which rendred her the entertainment of a company There were many others besides which had also both wit and beauty so that the Marquis being joyned to so many excellent persons it might have been said that this Assembly had been perfect indeed had Justiniano and the Princess of Monaco been there The next day after that the Count Doria and the Marquis were returned to Genoua this illustrious company failed not to meet at the Counts Palace and whereas it was forbidden to speak in these occasions either of war or of generall affairs and that Verses Painting Musick Love Vertue and all other things that depend of an excellent wit were those onely wherewith one might entertain himself in this encounter the constancy of Isabella the merit and love of Justiniano made an overture to the conversation The beauty of the place also added something to the beauty of the Assembly for the more magnificence and making of the better and more glorious show of their jewells those dayes wherein the women decked and set forth themselves all the windows were shut up and torches served to light the room which this day Leonora caused to be sumptuously furnished because the company was to be more than ordinary The hangings were of Carnation Velvet imbroidered all over with tears and spangles of gold and
was thus The Marquis his Letter to Aemilia AFter the knowledge you have had of my humour you will doubtless finde it strange that the passion which you begot in my heart at Monaco should be conserved there still in Genoua and that an absence of three days hath not destroyed that which you established in a moment I am for all that constrained thereunto by a necessity which I never tried before and though my mind be not changed yet am I forced not to change you Make use fair Aemilia of a good which fortune presents you with for not to abuse you albeit you have the fairest eyes in the world and that in the thought I presently am in you are the most charming person that I know my fidelitie is for all that rather an effect of my inconstancy than of your beauty for there being never a woman in Genoua whom I have not loved I am compelled to love you still and to fear that Destiny will force me to become faithfull But at least I can assure you that if this misfortune should arrive unto me there is none in the world that could render it so supportable unto me as you and the passion I am in for your beauty is so strong that I wish I may not be put to so hard a tryall as not to be able to be absent from you for fear I should be constrained to quit Italic or at leastwise Genoua rather than quit my inclinations I must confess said Doria that I never saw a Love-Letter of the stile of this same and how pressing soever it be for you to send it away to Monaco I am resolved not to let you have it again till all our friends have seen it The Marquis resisted it a while but at length consented thereunto and in regard the Assembly met not very soon the Marquis sent not away his Letter till just the day before they thought the Princess would have died So that when La Roche was arrived at Monaco and entred into the Castle he was much amazed to see them all in teaâ—s And whereas in this occasion the Officers had no care of any thing he went even to the Princesses chamber without any impediment where he saw Justiniano he not seeing him for grief so absolutely possessed him as he was incapable of all knowledge but of that of his own misfortune He could not indure the sight of the Princess neither could he also keep from her so that he was in a continuall agitation In the mean time the Physicians desiring to do their uttermost endeavour still carefully observe the estate she is in they consult with their books and in so desperate a disease they resolve to have recourse unto extreme remedies so that abandoning ordinary Physick one amongst them who was an excellent Empirick made her take so wonderfull an essence that after it had caused her to sleep eight hours it rectified the blood diminished her Fever restored her strength and put her quite out of danger The indifferency she had shewed at the approaches of death seemed the same when as the Physicians assured her that she should not die of this sickness and she gave them greater thanks for their affection to her â—han for their saving her life Howbeit they were not without thanks for this reâ—â—rrection for Justiniano received so great a satisfaction from it as he could noâ— give them thanks enough of his acknowledgement His joy nevertheless was miâ—gled with a great deal of bitterness and his soul was not in an estate of tasting a â—uiet pleasure This while La Roche whom the Marquis had sent hearing thâ— the Princess was out of danger went to Justiniano's lodging for to render him â—â—e civilities of his friends and to assure him that they knew nothing of his affâ—â—ction Justiniano received him with more coldness than his friendship to them seâ—med to permit but the displeasure wherein he was dispenced with him from being regular in his complements he willed la Roche for all that to render his back â—nto all them from whom he had received any and to pray them not to think it strange if he returned not to Genoua before the Princess were fully recovered That dont la Roche went to Aemilia to deliver her his Masters Letter which she received with a great deal of joy For the Princesses amendment had put her mind into so favourable a posture for him as she told la Roche that she would return an answer thereunto albeit the Princess was not yet in case to have her permission demanded for it and without further delay she caused Paper to be brought her by a Maid that served her and answered the Marquis in these tearms Aemilia's Letter to the Marquis IT would be too much vanity in me to pretend unto the obtaining of that from you which so great a number of fair persons could not oblige you to render unto them Do not believe then that I regard you as a conquest which I may never lose but contrarily I am resolved to do in this occasion as great Captains use to do who after they have taken a place which they think they cannot hold set it on fire and destroy it themselves to get some advantage still by this loss And whereas there was never place so hard to be kept as your heart I purpose in order to that you have written me to bring new flames unto it rather than to resolve to lose you altogether There will be shortly at Genoua a fair kinswoman of mine whom I conjure you to love when as you shall no longer judge me worthy of that honor to the end that in losing your love I may at leastwise comfort my self with your sight with your conversation and with your friendship Aemilia This Letter being sealed she gave to la Roche who presently departed for to return unto Genoua without speaking to the Princess for ever since she was out of danger the Physicians had absolutely forbidden any one from talking to her no not so much as Justiniano who saw himself very soon kept from it by a stronger reason For whether he had been too long without eating or sleeping or that grief alone had been the cause of his indisposition he found himself within a short time in a sickness as desperate as that of the Princess who not seeing him about her was very inquisitive to know where he was The Physicians and Aemilia who feared she would afflict her self too much if she knew the truth told her that Justiniano having seen her quite out of danger and being prest by an important affair which had be fallen him at Genoua was gone thither with an intent to have returned back again before she should have taken notice of his departure But when they saw Justiniano's sickness grow dangerous and that the Princess was as much troubled with hearing no news of him as she could have been if she had known the condition wherein he was they conceived it was sit
garden she sent to desire Mahamed that he would come and walk there and when he was come the gentleman which led him was commanded to withdraw that they might talk with the more liberty Axiamira having willed me to lend Mahamed my hand he let himself be guided by me and the Princess leaned on him After we had walked a pretty while some ten or eleven paces distant from the rest of my fellows who out of respect durst not follow neerer having well observed that the Princess was not willing they should Mahamed first speaking asked of her whether it was to say nothing unto him that she had sent for him it being certain that all the while we had walked together she had not spoken a word for continued he my dear sister whereas I do not see but with the eyes of my minde if you have a purpose to entertain me it must be with your discourse since walking câ—n have no other charm for me then what I finde in going along with you under the conduct of the discreet Felixana My silence answered the Princess will trouble you less it may be then my discourse seeing I know you too generous and Felixana too wise and too affectionate to my service to conceal my misfortunes from you It is certain that I was very much surprized to hear the Princess speak in this sort for though she had been a pretty while past somewhat sadder then she used to be yet perceiving no apparant cause for it I had attributed it to one of those melancholies without a cause which seizes upon all the world at one time or other and proceeds from ones temperature but when as going on in her speech she acquainted us that ever since the visit which she had given to Vlama after the loss of the Princess his wife and that Deliment had presented her his hand to lead her to her lodging as I remembred very well he had been so audacious as to speak divers times to her of love although she had at the very first very severely forbidden him my amazement ceased knowing well enough the extream aversion which she had for Deliment and how much her great heart ought to be incensed that a man of a birth so unequal to hers should be so daring as to lose the respect which he owed unto her As for Mahamed who knew but too well by the report oâ— some of his servants that Deliment slighted him he was so netled as he could not forbâ—ar saying aloud How sister hath this Insolent lost the respect which he ows to you Yes replyed the Princess and in such a manner as even to day when as the Sophi brought him along with him into my chamber upon protext of talking with me about an affair which I did not finde was very necessary for me to know he stayd there behinde him and had the insolence to let me understand by his obscure discourses that the greatest happiness could arrive to me was to be his wife because said he unto me so you may one day be the Sophies For the truth is Ismael knows not how to reign Mahamed is so far from guiding of an Empire as he cannot guide himself and Perca will not peradventure finde an husband able to dispute the Crown of Persia against Deliment who does not tell you all these things without reason nor without a good ground Judg now after this said Axiamira to us what I should have answered him if he had given me leasure for it but he went away so speedily and I was so confounded as I could not open my mouth Now though this insolent man hath fiâ—led me with choller and despite yet is it not that which disquiets me and had I nothing but his pride his love and his ambition to fight with I should easily surmount such weak enemies but that which amazes and afflicts me both together is that an hour after Deliment hid left me Ismael and my sister came to me into my Cabinet whither I had retired my self and spoke so much to me of the affection which Deliment bore me of his great courage of his wit and of the excellent qualities that were in him as I remained quite confounded therewith and had I not purposed to take your counsel in this affair it is certain that I would have learned of them what obligation they had had to him whom they protected so and then again I am fallen into some fear that my sister hath a great share in Deliments fault for reasons which I cannot comprehend for I know that a good while now together she hath oftener accompanyed Ismael to his lodging then to mine Ah my dear sister cryed the Prince that I had my brothers eyes or that he had Mahameds heart I you should soon be revenged of this insolent fellow and the loss of his life should in a few days restore yours to its former tranquility I know very well replyed the Princess that you are as generous as Ismael is weak and my sister malicious but in fine being able to do no other thing you are to counsel me and you and Felixana are to consider well that the Sophi loves Deliment passionately that he brought him not without some occasion into my chamber that although he be wicked yet he hath wit that consequently he must needs know that his insolence is upheld by some body that Ismael and Perca are of his party that they hate Vlama because he is of ours that the Sophi our Father is not sensible of love to his children and that the passions which predominate in him prevail with him over all things Just hereupon we saw Ismael Perca and all her women appear afar off so that to shew there was no mystery in our talk she went to meet them and going away prayed us that we would fever our selves far from all others to think of that she had said to us and that in the Evening I should tell her the resolution we had taken I led Prince Mahamed then into another alley where we were still for all that in the sight of the Princesses and there after we had well considered the matter we resolved that it was needful before it should break forth to discover whether the Sophi authorized the love of Deliment whether Ismael and Perca had any intelligence with him or any interest in this love that for this effect Vlama was to be made use of for so much as regarded the Sophi and that I on my part should endevor to know the secrets of Perca by the means of a maid whom she had loved very much and who did not hate me and that when we knew the truth of the business it would be far more easie for us to remedy the same for in fine said I if the Sophi doth not protect Deliment he will be lost as soon as he understands of his insolence and if Perca be not interested in this affair the discourse which he
would be the undoing of all because if the Sophi did love me he would be so incensed thereby as he might peradventure be carryed to a violence which otherwise he would not be capable of As for Vlama he had secret apprehensions which incessantly tormented him the power of his Rival made him afraid neither was he so assured of my constancy but that he feared ambition would move me more then his love But whereas it was not long before I perceived his unquietness I wrote unto him for his better assurance that nothing but death could keep me from performing the promise which I had made him to be wholly his when he had setled his affairs so as he might marry me For whereas he was a widow r by the dâ—ath of the Sophi's sister civility would not permit him to think so soon of a second marriage espâ—câ—ally with a person whose birth though noble and illustrious enough came not neer for all that to the former Things being in these terms we were a good while without having any great occasion to increase our unquietness because the Sophi and Deliment having consulted a second time together and resolved to seek to gain me by gentlâ—ness before they would come to force there was nothing but sports and entertainments And whereas according to the order I had for it so often as Deliment spake to me of the Sophi's love I made as though I did not beleeve there was any truth in his words Tachmas being thereof advertised and desiring to give me a proof of the esteem he made of that they called beauty in may face he did a thing which hath since been the cause of a great deal of mischief for generous Ibrahim it happenâ—d for our ill fortune that there arrived about that time at this Court a Painter of Europe whom chance or the desire of travelling had brought thither and that drew pictures in little so admirable resembling the life as the like had never been hear of And at the same time certain Merchants came thither also who amongst other rarities which they had made shew of a number of the pictures of the fairest women of such several Nations as they had passed through These two things joyned together caused the Sophi out of the design he had to oblige me to give command that all the maidens of quality which were at the Court should present themselves at his Palace on a certain day appointed for it together with the Princesses and their maids sumptuously apparelled This ceremony whereof we knew not the cause for they made a secret of it somewhat troubled us but at length that day being arrived and all this fair Assembly compleated the Sophi followed by Ismael Mahamed Vlama Deliment and the Painter of whom I have spoken to you entred into the room where we were all set in order but without the Princesses holding the rank which they ought to have had for so had the Sophi ordained it and that which also redoubled the impatience we were in to know for what reason they had caused us to be attired so richly was to see the Sophi hold in his right hand two Crowns of gold set with Diamonds and taking the Painter with his left hand whom neither the Princessâ—s nor any of their maidens knew as yet to say unto him that he established him the judg of the beauty of all those which composed this fair Assembly as knowing better then the rest of the world the just proportion of the features of the face that which made up the delicacy freshness and vivacity of the complexion and what the difference was between an animated beauty and another that hath no life nor grace in it And that to make him give a more equitable sentence he had so ordered it as he could not discern the condition of the fair ones of whom he was the judg but howsoever that he nevertheless reserved to himself the right of crowning them whom he should judg to be worthy of that honor This said he led him all over the room and making an exact stand at each of them that so none might be disobliged he finished his first turn none being able to judg that he had given advantage to any nevertheless I perceived when the Painâ—er made a stand beâ—ore me that the Sophi seeing me cast down my eyes as pretending to no part in this victory had said softly that I had not so much as need of their sparkling to merit the Crown having beauty enough other-where It is certain that I blusht at this discourse and that lifting up my eyes again I encountred Vlama's wherein I marked so much unquietness as it pityed me exceedingly Prince Mahamed was close by him who not able to see but with others eyes demanded softly of him what they were doing But at last when the Painter for ceremonies sake had separated twelve from the rest whereof the Princess Axiamira and I were two and that the Sophi had willed him once again to be equal whether it were that Tachmas had made me known to the Painter without my perceiving it as in all likelyhood he had or whether he was not very knowing in beauty I was the first that was declared victorious and on whose head the Sophi set one of the Crowns But whereas I knew very well that this victory was an effect rather of the Sophâ—'s love then of my beauty it brought me more spight then joy so that taking the Crown which had been given me I went to place it at the feet of Axiamira just as the Sophi by the sentence of the Painter set the other on her head But he seeing this action of mine took that which I was going to place on the ground and giving it me again a second time Is it said he unto me for that the Crown which I offer you is not beautiful enough or that the hand which presents it to you is not illustrious enough It is neither the one nor the other my Lord answered I but it is because I am neither beautiful nor illustrious enough to wear a Crown that parts from the hand of so great a Prince And then coming nearer to me Receive this same said he to me softly fair maid and beleeve if you will be reasonable that this shall not be the last you shall receive from me All the answer I made to this discourse was onely blushing and so I shuffled in my self amongst my fellows with as much displeasure for my victory as they had vexation for that they had not carryed it But in conclusion my Lord Axiamira and I were painted in the habit of Amazons which as he said who drew our pictures was pleasing to all Nations When they were done the Sophi caused him to make six copies of each of us which he put into Cases of Gold enriched with Diamonds and gave them to those Merchants who had shew'd him so many forraign beauties but with an oath that they should never sell
brought the matter about with so strange a justness of time that at the very same instant when as I was beseeching Soliman by the memory of the Princess Axiamira when as I was lamenting her untimely death and was all in tears with the grief that I said I was in for her loss I saw her come in followed by Sarraida and conducted by Rustan who at the very first named her to the Grand Signior To tell you generous Ibrahim what a case I was in and that which this sight effected both in Soliman's minde and mine is absolutely impossible for me the Sultan beheld me with an eye of indignation and fury and turning himself towards me he said unto me with a strong and impetuous voyce Is it in this sort then that thou justifiest Mustapha but know continued â—e that justice shall be done to thee as well as to him Sarraidâ— hearing her husband named cast her self at Soliman's feet to protest unto him that he was innocent but he without hearing or heeding her turned about to the Princess with a little more civility and said unto her with a countenance that yet resented the trouble of his soul It was then out for Soliman that the Princess of Persia suffered shipwrack It was but for Soliman that she was dead or to say better it is but for the happy Mustapha that she hath escaped the Sea and is living I know very well that the violence of the love which I was in for her beauty hath made me commit one against her which seems to make me unworthy of her affection but the tears which I have shed for her loss have throughly defaced that crime In the mean time O pitiless Enemy whil'st I sigh for her death whil'st I shed tears and consume my self with grief the happy Mustapha laughs at my tears and sighs becomes my Rival or to say better mine Enemy and the Enemy of mine Empire in retaining a person whom I loved or to regard the matter with another face in retaining the daughter of mine Enemy in making secret Treaties with him and in desiring without doubt to pull me out of my Throne for to place you and himself there For to think that Mustapha hath not understood from you by what adventure you suffered shipwrack is that which I will never be perswaded to To beleeve that he hath treated this marriage without intending to deprive me of my Crown is very improbable I have such proofs of it as cannot be destroyed and nothing can make me beleeve the contrary Yet I my Lord must undertake to do it said the generous Axiamira to whom he had still spoken in her own Tongue and with a discourse wherein the very truth shall appear make thee know that Mustapha is not culpable that Sarraida is innocent and that this maid whom thy Highness beholds with so much choller said she in speaking of me merits extream praise for exposing her self to the peril wherein I finde her onely to save me In fine my Lord I purpose to shew thee that if this tempest which I see is risen in thy soul cannot be appeased without falling on the head of some one it must be upon mine for that I am the only cause of the troubles of thy mind But do not believe that in hearing me acknowledg this innocent crime I have forgotten thine or that I am base enough to flatter thee no no I still remember that I am the Sophi's daughter and that with a usage unworthy of my condition one of thy Slaves carried me away by force But whereas the preservation of them that I love is dearer to me then mine own I will not speak to thee in this occasion but of those in favor of whom Nature speaks to thee as well as I. Rustan fearing then lest Soliman should be moved with the tears and discourse of Axiamira was so audacious as to interrupt her and demand of the Sultan what greater proof he would have against Mustapha then the supposition he had made him in bringing him Felixaâ—a for Axiamira but he would be sure out of the design he had to undo that deplorable Prince not to speak a word how he knew at the taking of Axiamira that Gianger alone was in love with her This discourse of his repossessed Soliman's mind with anger so that notwithstanding Sarraida's tears notwithstanding any reasons Axiamira could alledg or any supplications she could make we no longer saw but marks of fury and jealousie in the eyes of Soliman He commanded guards to be set upon us without permitting Axiamira to undertake the justification of Mustapha and expresly forbad that any body should speak with us Rustan came himself to see this Order observed but when we went out of the Grand Signior's Tent to go to that whither they were conducting us we encountred Gianger whom the Capigis had not suffered to enter at such time as we were carried in This Prince seeing us all in tears approached to Axiamira Well then Madam said he unto her what am I to resolve of my life have you been ill-intreated and Mustapha is he convicted of my crimes Is it to the Serraglio or to prison that they are leading you In fine acquaint me with your dâ—stiny and that of my dear brother to the end I may regulate mine by yours and that thereupon I may form my designs and take my resolutions Rustan who would not suffer this conversation neither would incense the spirit of this young Prince before his intentions were accomplished for fear he should be carried to some violence answered him that Soliman's anger would be appeased that patience would overcome him and lest he should be offended if he came to know it that it was fit he should forbear speaking to Axiamira because he had expresly forbidden it and that without exception I am undone replyed Gianger love or choller hath been the cause of this Command and howsoever it be I am equally unhappy Comfort your self said the Princess to him and be sure that Axiamira will never do any thing unworthy of her birth of her courage and of the esteem which you have of her But in the mean time if it be possible endeavor to assist Prince Mustapha Rustan seeing this conversation continue still committed the Princesses and me to the custody of them that accompanied him but Sarraida intreated him that her son might at least be restored to her for he would not let Soliman see him for fear he should have been moved with it this cruel man granted her this grace out of the doubt he was in lest her cries and lamentations should have caused some tumult amongst the Soldiers if they had heard them As for him he stay'd with Gianger to whom he said so many things to pacifie him and to make him believe that the more patient he was the more submission he shewed and the more confidence he put in the goodness of Soliman the more would he make it appear in this
Highness that may displease thee Ah! infortunate that I am and most base as thou art continued Soliman how readily hast thou obeyed me in a wicked action He asked him then whether he had not seen Achmat and having understood that he arrived not till after the death of the Prince he shewed such excessive grief as the like was never seen Rustan amazed at so sudden a change would have represented unto him how much this death assured the quiet of his Empire but the Sultan exceedingly moved with choller chased him from his presence and forbad him for ever appearing before him again In the mean time Soliman not knowing whom to make his moan to about his crime and his misfortune commanded Achmat to be sent for again to him He was sought for and found with Prince Gianger much busied in moderating the violence of his grief for he had acquainted him with the death of his brother These two Princes had always loved so dearly together as never was there a more perfect and dis-interested amity then theirs so that it is easie to imagine the despair Gianger was in when he knew not only that his brother was dead of a violent death but that which touched his heart more nearly that he dyed for his sake without being culpable of any thing but of too much loving him Ah! my Lord that I could repeat vnto you all that this afflicted Prince said in so lamentable an adventureâ— but you will see but two well the resentment he had of it by one only action of his without my insisting on the relation of his discourse unto you Felixana observing that Axiamira and Ibrahim had their cheeks all bedewed with tears as well as she told them that it was not time yet to shed them all for Madam said she to the Princess you know that I have that still resting to deliver which is not unworthy of your sorrow and which without doubt will possess this illustrious Bassa with pity and grief Whereupon she held her peace to wipe her eyes and to give them leasure also to do as much and when her sighs and theirs had had all the liberty could be required for them and that a sad and heavy silence had renewed their attention she proceeded in this sort Achmat having received the Sultan's command for his repair to him thought it was fit for him to obey He left Prince Gianger then in the guard of five or six of his followers with order carefully to observe him and not to leave him out of their sight In going from his Tent to the Grand Signior's he discerned the beginning of a Tumult amongst the Soldiers he heard not onely their lamentations and their cries but also the propositions which they made against Rustan and even against the Emperor himself So that being come to him and perceiving by his tears and discourse his true repentance for his violences he represented unto him how it was requisite for his safety and for the good of the Empire that he should shew unto all his Soldiers the sorrow he was in for the death of Mustapha That he could not do it better then in taking care to preserve that which had been dear to him in his life-time to which effect he was to give a place of retrent to Sarraida have a good regard of Axiamina and labor to appease the grief of Gianger who was come with them to the Camp and whose affliction was so great as it was capable of putting him into despair Soliman not knowing what to do in this occasion retained Achmaet with him and sent to offer Gianger by the Aga of the Janizaries all Mustapha's Governments But this excelâ—ent Prince abhorring the enriching of himself with the spoyls of a brother who was dead for the love of him generously refused them demanding no other portion of Soliman said he then the same string wherewith his brother was strangled At the same instant the Sultan was advertised how the Soldiers who knew not that Sarraida was in Rustan's Teâ—t thrust on by the fury that mastered them were going to set it on fire So that to hinder this mischief Soliman sent Achmat to let the Soldiers understand how Sarraida was in that Tent and that in seeking to revenge Mustapha they were upon the point of burning his wife and his son But to take from them an object which might exasperate their grief Achmat held it convenient not to leave Axiamira Sarraida or Mustapha's son any longer in the Camp so that having drawn Soliman to like of it and kept the Soldiers from offâ—ring any violence to the place where we were he came to Axiamira to assure her from Soliman that she should be entreated by him with the respect which was due to her condition and that in attending till they might advise what was fit to be done therein he desired her she would be pleased to suffer her self to be conducted to Constantinople As for Sarraida he told her with tears in his eyes that the Grand Signior permitted her to chuse a retreat in what place of his Empire she would assuring her that he would have as much care of protecting her as he had had violence in the person of Mustapha Sarraida no longer doubting of the death of her dear husband after this discourse and Axiamira being but too well assured of it as well as she they both of them said things that were stronger then the constaâ—cy of Achmat. He wept with these two great Princesses and recounting to them the matter as it had past excusing Soliman as much as he could he made them comprehend that Rustan waâ— the cause of all this mischief In the mean time Axiamira in the midst of her affliction demanded news of Gianger and after she had been assured that he lived and that the Grand Signior had none but good thoughts for him she craved pardon of the infortunate Sarraida for having been the cause of her miseries and made this discourse with so much tenderness and grief as Sarraida her self was moved with her resentment Mustapha's son yet further augmented the Princesses displeasure for albeit this childe had not attained to the tenth year of his age he seemed to be so afflicted for the loss of his father and said such generous and reasonable things as it might be said that he would have as much resembled him in the qualities of the minde as in the features of the face if Fortune had permitted him to live He assured Sarraida that he would one day revenge the death of his father he grieved that he had not so much strength as courage and that he could give her nothing but tears in this occasion I should never have done my Lord if I should repeat all this conversation unto you but in the end Achmat having assured Axiamira that it was not to the Serraglio they would conduct her and having made her apprehend that she would be better at Constantinople then in the Camp he also caused
with a great deal of admiration I do not marvel said he unto Ibrahim that love hath been stronger in thee then friendship and that the sight of so rare a creature hath been dearer to thee then all my favors But it is not requisite that so many persons should be spectators of thy felicity and it will be enough if thou suffer me to be partaker of it with thee Saying so he commanded the Aga of the Janizaries to cause all that had been brought thither to be carryed into Ibrahim's Palace and to send every one away but onely those which were to serve the Princess In the mean time Emilia who came in the Charet that followed the Canopy under the which Isabella had been placed lighted out of it and repaired to her the Slaves that were destined to wait on her in her chamber followed her also and in that order the Grand Signior marching foremost and leaving Ibrahim to lead Isabella they went up the stairs entred into his chamber and passed into his Cabinet where they were no sooner arrived but the Sultan beginning to speak acquainted the Bassa how having seen that his melancholy was invincible and knowing that the absence of Isabella was the cause thereof he had desired to make it cease without parting with him That besides to the end there might be nothing wanting to his felicity he had not caused her to be thus brought away without considering the sequel of it and that the Princess might live contentedly in his Empire where she should always have as much power as he That for so much as regarded her Religion she might not only be a Christian in her heart as he was but even in the sight of all the people That there were examples of the same in the Othoman family that Mahomet the second was the son of the Dâ—spot of Servia's daughter whom Amurath had marryed both out of love and interest That the same Mahomet had marryed the sister of the Emperor of Constantinople to Zogan Beglierbey of the lower Macedonia with permission for her to have the exercise of her Religion as freely as if she had been amongst the Christians That these examples sufficed to keâ—p the people from accusing him of introducing a Novelty but in case they should dare to murmur at it he knew well enough how to make himself be obeyed To all these particulars Ibrahim had nothing to say but to thank Soliman for although upon a second thought the joy to see Isabella again was crost with some unquietness yet he found no occasion to complain The Princess on her side coming thus to learn that it was not Ibrahim which had caused her to be brought away was much comforted therewith being very glad to see that his own interest had not carryed him to expose her to such a violence In the mean time Soliman continued beholding Isabella with a world of admiration for albeit the grief she had been in had a little altered her yet the joy to see Ibrahim and the agitation of her spirits had brought a carnation into her cheeks which covered all the marks of her melancholy and which rendred her as fair as ever she had been The Grand Signior being surprized with too much attention in considering this Princess desired at least-wise that the Bassa might not interpret it amiss so that to conceal it in some sort it must be acknowledged said he unto him that thou hadst reason to assure me that the pictures which thou hast placed in thy chamber resembled this Princess but very imperfectly for the more I seek for the ayr and features of those pictures in her face the less comparison do I finde in them Hitherto the Princess had not answered to Soliman's discourses save with obeysances and submissions but hearing her self so highly praised she fell a speaking and humbly besought the Grand Signior he would be pleased to justifie the love which Ibrahim bare her by some other way then by that of her beauty She told him that if he had not stronger chains then that he would be blame-worthy for preferring her before his Highness but without considering either her merit or her beauty he was to think that the affection which he carryed to her was one of the inevitable effects of sympathy or sate That she requested him to beleeve how Ibrahim had done nothing but what he could not chuse but do that he knew without doubt as well as she that the glory to serve so great a Prince was to be preferred before all things but his knowledg being the least of that which governed his will he had abandoned Reasons party to follow that of love Soliman ravished with the wit of this Princess desired her to pardon him for her forcible bringing away and to remember that he had not undertaken it but to save Ibrahim's life So fair a cause answered the Princess could not produce a bad effect and whatsoever can save Ibrahim can never wrong Isabella With such like discourses the Sultan and these two illustrious Lovers entertained themselves very pleasingly but dinner time approaching the Grand Signior told the Bassa that having purposed to bestow the Sultania Asteria upon him for a wife and his love not permitting that he should be so happy as to have the most excellent man upon the Earth in his allyance he would at least-wise bring him Isabella with the same pomp and with the same ceremony as if she had been his daughter indeed After so obliging a discourse he retired leaving Isabella extreamly satisfied both of his wit his courtesie and generosity The Fourth Book AFter the Grand Visier had waited upon the Sultan forth he returned to Isabella with so much transport and joy as he had never felt the like before the liberty to be able to speak to her without other witnesses then Emilia was so sweet unto him that neither the remembrance of what was past the care of the present the fear of the future nor even the weakness which his melancholy had brought upon him was sensible either to his body or his minde I would undertake more exactly to describe the apprehensions of these two illustrious persons were I not perswaded that one had need to have made tryal of the like misadventures and the like pleasures before one could worthily acquit himself thereof After the first transports which unexpected joys do cause in a soul and which for the most part do somewhat disorder Reason Ibrahim and Isabella coming to consider the estate wherein they were found that Fortune had but gilded over their Irons yet was it some consolation to them that they might wear them together I would not follow you to Constantinople said Isabella to Ibrahim without being your wife nor would I likewise that love should have carryed you to make me be forcibly brought away but since without your or my being guilty thereof Fortune hath conducted me hither I have courage enough to endure this noble captivity with you until we
unto Vertue the power of raising them which possess it to the glory of raigning over others From whence it comes that the most part of those who are Princes or Masters of the Earth carry not that title but because their Predecessors by the address and by force of Arms usurped the Empire over their equals I do not deny but that there are some persons who as well as Vincentio will blame your resolution before it be conducted to its end in regard all hardy and dangerous actions are never commended till they are executed but as soon as the happy success of the event shall have justified and authorized the greatness of your enterprize the blame will be turned into admiration and that which was called temerity and imprudence will be termed valor and greatness of courage As long as the first of the Caesars was in Arms against Pompey and that the Roman Empire was the cause of their conflicts he had not only Pompey for an adversary but even all the Nobility were his most cruel foes In the mean time as soon as he had defeated his Enemies mighty Army in the plains of Pharsalia and that this victory had put him in full possession of the Roman Empire all the hatred which was born him ceased and he was so dearly and ardently beloved of the Romans as this affection could not finish with his life but they punished his death with a memorable revenge Resolve then to suffer the Genouesses for a time to call you Tyrant and do not take this name as a grievous injury seeing it shall be the last insolency of their dying liberty They will accustom themselves afterwards to acknowledg you for their lawful Prince and as such reverence you Behold how much I rely on your fortune in speaking to you of the felicities of your Empire before you have resolved to fight for the acquiring of it But things are disposed in such sort as you may sooner be wanting to your self then the Empire to your vertue For if the difficulties be great according to Vincentio's opinion your courage is yet greater Let us grant him that the enterprize is dangerous and difficult in what History ancient or modern hath it been found that the way which conducteth to glory is covered with flowers and that an illustrious action hath been executed without pain All great designs have always been followed by great perils and all high places are ever near to precipices A generous man will not for all that let the fear of an uncertain evil make him a prey to an inevitable servitude Amongst private persons it is an effect of prudence to be contained within mediocrity but in affairs of State all resolutions are to be extream the rest being dangerous especially in enterprizes which begin not to break forth but by their execution For it being then no longer in our power to retain the thing we must of necessity arrive at the end we have proposed to our selves or fall in the midst of the course and be utterly lost Yet let us not make so unhappy a presage of our designs but let us forecast the misfortunes which may arrive to us not to torment our selves in the expectation of them but by prudence to take from them the power of hurting us We are to be guided with precaution but yet not so far as that extream wisdom may thereby render us more timorous and viresolute You must generous Count give something to the conduct of Fortune who having chosen you for the Deliverer of Genoua and Restorer of the ancient Italian valor will know well enough how to find out the means to plain all difficulties before you It is she that calls you to glory it is she that will conduct you to it only consent to your good fortune and with an open heart receive the Crown which fate presents you with nor sharing it with any one For to what end would it serve you to call in the French to the sharing of your glory whereas that Nation having lost their credit in Italy as well as their States would hurt you more then they could help you The example of Andrea Doria should keep you sufficiently from it He had served them with exceeding affection and to their great profit in the mean time you know how he was intreated And then again what recompence could the French ever give you that might be worthy of your labors It may be they will leave you Governor in Genoua with the dependances which they use to exact of their Subjects but that would be to render you mercinary in a place where Nature hath given you part in the Dominion If any resistance should be made by the Emperor or by the City it self against your designs with what forces could they come and succor you being in a Country so far distant from ours and so taken up with their own affairs Verily you are to make use of your Subjects of your Friends and of your Confederates And why will you not with so generous a Troop undertake to set this Crown upon your head which is as worthy of you as you are worthy of it When as your power shall be established in Genoua which may be said to be the Key of all Italy on the Sea-coast the chiefest Kings of Christendom will seek for your alliance and amity with care The envy of your Competitors being surmounted the family of the Counts of Lavagna will be in a state whereunto no person in Genoua ever yet arrived It will lie in your hands to be revenged of those enemies that despised your youth Jannetin himself yea Jannetin Doria your mortal enemy shall fall spight of his teeth at your feet to crave pardon of you He shall reverence you as his Lord he shall fear you as a Prince his actions shall be accommodated to your pleasure your will shall rule his desires and on you alone shall his life or death depend Let the French then keep themselves in their Kingdom and from thence only let them hear the fame of your Victories It is for you alone to surmount all the Obstaclâ—s which may be opposed to your generous designs Undertake it then with a confidence worthy of your birth and of your courage merit by this action the triumph which Heaven hath destined to you Let all the world learn that you knew how to be the illustrious and sole Artisan of your fortune Surpass the hopes which I have of you although they be very great and to say all assure the Empire to your family and Eternity to your name Baptista Verrin had no sooner made an end of speaking but Raphaello Sacco affected to France and Vincentio Calcagna pushed on by his timidity by the fear of losing that repose which he had enjoyed all his life time and by the affection which he bore to the Count opposed themselves once more against Baptista The first would have had nothing undertaken without the succor of the French and the
last the consideration of Mariama and a little touch of jealousie carried him unto it yet was it upon condition that if Aly were found innocent she should from thence-forward have as much goodness for him as she had had aversion Mariama having promised Abdalla all that he desired she began the very same day one of the most extraordinary Artifices as ever was made use of for the discovery of the thoughts of an ambitious man and a Traytor and lo how she proceeded She obliged Abdalla to keep his chamber certain days and not to let himself be seen of any but his Physicians and the Slaves which served him At first Aly marvelled not to see the door kept fast against all the Great ones of the Kingdom because he knew that it is the custom of the Kings of Marocco to shut themselves up many times whole Moneths together with their wives and Slaves to the end that suffering not themselves to be seen so often the people may respect them the more neither did he find it strange that he himself was not permitted to enter there by reason Mariama who kept her design concealed told him that Abdalla was not well and that they which looked to him had forbidden any body from seeing him as indeed the Physicians had a command fâ—om the King to say so and to be always very frequent about him that it might be beleeved he was sicâ— During this Aly was somewhat jealous and fearful that this retirement proceeded rather from Abdalla's love then from any malady but at length the knowledg he had of Mariama's vertue dissipated this suspicion and he beleeved as all others did that the King was effectively sick In the mean time Abdelcader and he thought of the design they had in hand and they brought the business to such a pass as it wanted not above eight days of being in an estate to be ready to break forth when as Mariama began to tell Aly that the King was in danger that his disease became every day worse and worse and that if he mended not the sooner his Physicians were out of hope of him This Princess had carried the matter with such Art as all those of the Palace were in tears for she had so well instructed all the persons that saw the Prince as with a feigned melancholy they possessed every one that spake to them with a true one This false news stayed Abdelcader's designs for Aly represented unto him that if the King should happen to dye it would be a more favorable conjuncture for them then that wherein they were to make the business which they had projected succeed because then they should have a lawful cause to take up Arms for the executing of the Xeriffe Mahomet's Testament to the prejudice of Abdalla's That in the mean season they were not to neglect giving order for all things and to cause as many Soldiers as they could of all the Garisons which depended the most absolutely of Aly to come secretly into Marocco to the end they might make use of them as soon as Abdalla should be dead or escaped from the danger wherein they thought him to be Aly in this incertainty went twenty times a day to Mariama's lodging to know how the King did but though he was one of the most dextrous men in the world yet was this Princess more then he In the beginning of this fiction she sighed and shewed as much affliction as if that which she said had been true but when it came near to the time wherein she had resolved to finish her design as often as Aly saw her she composed her countenance in that manner as it seemed she took great care to conceal a part of her grief and that her Soul was more nearly touched then she made shew of This Artifice failed not to work that which she expected from it for Aly thinking he had observed how this Princess affected to appear more constant then she was beleeved that Abdalla was dead and that Mariama for some secret design or to seize upon the Crown or to conserve it for Abdalla's son would not publish it as yet When as Mariama perceived Aly's thought she advertised Abdalla that the next day she would either convince or justifie his favorite And having instructed him in that which she would have him to do she caused a Guard to come in for to seize on Aly in case there should be need of it and took order for all things so secretly as no body discovered any thing The day following Aly early in the morning came to Mariama with an intent to employ all his address for the clearing of the doubt wherein he was for ambition and love gave him so much impatience as he had no rest And verily in this occasion the protection of Heaven appeared visibly both to revenge Mariama of Aly's cruelty and to preserve us For it is certain that as the matter was carried Abdalla and Mariama had been lost Sophronia had been exposed to the violences of Abdelcader Hipolita to the brutishness of Aly and the rest of us to be constrained to dye in defending them or not to survive their loss had not Mariama wrought as she did But in fine Aly being come one morning as I have told you to the Princesses chamber and she having used as much address in talking with him as she had done at other times augmented in such sort the opinion which he had that Abdalla was dead as not able to let himself be any longer guided by prudence he in plain terms desired the Princess to tell him whether the King were not dead because said he if it be so it were fit that the affairs of the Kingdom were speedily provided for Mariama seeing so fair a beginning to her design did not answer him but with a great sigh and without saying any thing unto him she led him into Abdalla's chamber Now albeit he was already perswaded that the King was dead yet left he not to be mightily surprized to see all this chamber hung with black Velvet all the windows shut in the midst a great bed of State invironed with a balustrate of Ebony set all about with flaming Torches and upon Cushions near to the Bed the Mantle Royal the Scepter the Crown and the Turbant of Abdalla with his Scymitar at the feet of the Bed whereupon was a large black Cloth trailing a great way on the ground which seemed to cover the body of the King some of his Wives and Slaves were about the Balustrade who testified by their countenance so sensible a sorrow as would have drawn tears from any other but Aly. The Princess having conducted him then into this chamber of mourning and perceiving that this sad object had sufficiently perswaded him that which she desired he should beleeve she began to shew an extream affliction and to request him with feigned tears that he would perform the Kings last Will in conserving the Crown for his son according to
that one of the Guard who had more brain then the rest perceived that although three several men had presented themselves for to go out of the City yet it had been still with one and the same horse so that he certainly bâ—liâ—ved there was some mystery in this adventure and how it might wâ—ll be that Aly was not far off This Soldier having imparted his thought to him that commanded the gate he conceived that his opinion was not ill grounded wherefore to clear himself therein he made shew of being perswaded by the intreaties of this man who dâ—sired to be let forth but whil'st to gain time he made yet some new difficulties he sent for three horses to the end he might follow him a far off with two of his companions which were no sooner come but having let him go out and set them elves to follow him they saw that contrary to the custom of all such as fear â—o be followed he went on still without turning his head to the place from whence hâ— parted so great a desiâ—e he had to arrive where the unhappy Aly waited for him Sâ—eing then that they might follow him without his being aware of it they approached neerer to him then they would have done if he had behaved himself otherwise and quitting the high-way as well as he when they came neer to a wood whither this man seemâ—d to have a purpose to go they espyed a woman who having discovered them hid her self in the thickest of the bushes This action made him that was carrying the horse to Aly turn about his head who knowing that he was followed would have takâ—n more on the left hand and not have gone to the place where he was attended but this trick would not serve his turn howsoever it was not because those which had observed her bâ—liâ—ved that this woman was effectively Aly but being neer unto it they would needs know certainly what this adventure was The Captain then having given order to the two Soldiers to seize on this man went to the place where he had seen the woman hide her self and had not gone fifty paces but he found her at the foot of a tree where keeping down her vail still about her she besought him in counterfeiting her voyce not to do her any violence And when she saw that this man had no intent to use her civilly and seemed fully resolved to discover what she was she would have tempted this Captain with the hope of a great recompence so that suddenly lifting up her vail Thou seest said she the infortunate Aly who can make thee happy if thou beest wise for if thou wilt resolve to let me escape I will put thee in a condition that thou shalt never need to ask any thing more of Fortune This Captain who was faithful or it may be did not believe that Aly in the case he was in could recompence him as much as he said answered him that he would never enrich himself by a Treason and without further delay he called his companions who having tyed the man on whom they had seized to a tree went to help him to take the miserable Aly who though without Arms left not off resisting them for while But at last they brought him to Marocco and having conducted him before Abdalla this Prince reviled him with all imaginable reproaches And whereas Aly had always been happy this one blow of unhappiness so mightily surprized him as that judgment and prudence which had rendred him so considerable in his prosperity wholly abandoned him in his misfortune so that in stead of seeking to colour his fault he confessed it as it was and related unto Abdalla all that he had said and thought just in the same manner as I have delivered it unto you for the Princeâ—s Mariama had the goodness to recount it unto us afterwards in so much as Abdalla regarding Aly not onely as a Traytor but as his Rival the tenderness which he had at other times had for him was of no power to excite any thought of pity in his heart but contrarily the remembrance of the good-will he had born him incensed his minde the more At last love anger interest of State and jealousie made the King without further delay as soon as Abdelcader was app ehended even the very same day take off the ambitious Aly's head who seeing his loss inevitable resolved for it with constancy enough Thus was the Princess Mariama revenged on this man for his cruelty and Hipolita delivered from one of her persecutors Aly was no sooner dead but the Princess Mariama always generous went and cast her self at the Kings feet to beg Abdelcader's life of him which he granted to her tears upon condition that he should remain for some time a prisoner For albâ—it he was guilty of high Treason as well as Aly for intending to usurp the Kingdom during his life yet was there this difference that Abdelcader was Abdalla's Brother and was not his Rival But Madam to make an end of telling you at once both the goodness of Mariama and our fortune you shall understand that in the confusion wherein all the City of Marocco was this day when as the Princess Mariama entred into a Chamber where these three fair Slaves were and saw them all in tears especially Hipolita who knew well that she was in part cause of all this disorder this Princess I say seeing them in this estate had so much generosity though she loved them very tenderly as to deprive her self for ever of them It may be also that the design of taking from the King an object of passion which might trouble his rest from Abdelcader that which had made him fail in this duty and from the Princess Lela Mahabid another which might make her in some sort forget the rank which she held carryed her to this resolution But in conclusion a little interest and a great deal of generosity made her tell them that profit was to be made of others misfortune so that before the King had leasure to ask for them she caused them to be secretly conveyed to the house of a man who absolutely depended on her and having advertised us to repair thither we continued concealed there above eight days She in like sort caused the Mariners and Soldiers which we had brought to Marocco to be delivered for the ambitious Aly being dead the Princess Mariama was as powerful in the State as the King himself The day following Abdalla seeing the Princess Mariama with a feigned melancholy in her face which yet he believed to be true demanded of her whether revenge which is said to be one of the greatest pleasures of Kings did not give her some My Lord said she unto him present misfortunes are doubtless more sensible then past pleasures the loss of the Slaves which you gave me is cause of more grief to me then that of Aly hath made me feel joy So strange a discourse surprized the King extreamly
whereas Alphonso had been a long time in the voyage from whence Justiniano brought him back he had understood nothing of what had hapned to Leonida for being fallen in love with her presently after his return no body had been so uncivil as to say any such thing to him It was not as you shall know by the sequel of this History because that which arrived unto Leonida was not glorious for her but because love is a passion that renders the spirit so sensible and delicate as it is impossible to hear that the person whom one loves should have affection for another without some sense of griâ—f And verily Alphonso tryed it but too well in this occasion he beleeved at first notwithstanding that this was an effect of the malice of his kinsman who regarding his succession had perchance a design to do what he could for the rendring Leonida less amiable but when as continuing his incivility he had told him that one named Octavio of the House of the Pallavicins and who was dead since had in times past loved her and that he had been infinitely loved of her he did not beleeve that this man durst have told him things so precisely if they had not been true At length Alphonso having made his visit retired with some unquietness nevertheless whereas he had not yet lost his Reason he did not find that he had any cause to complain of Leonida for that she had been loved of Octavio or for that she had loved him in a time when as he was not known to her For said he I should be unjust to desire that the eyes of Leonida should not have begun to make Conquests before they captivated me and I should be unreasonable to desire also that she should have been absolutely insensible of the affection of a man who it may be was of more worth then my self Now whereas Love is ingenious to torment those which are under his Empire Alphonso did not complain of having a Rival that had not been hated but for that Leonida had made a secret of it to him This unquietness was not for all that very strong but you shall understand by the sequel of my discourse that it carried him to another which put him to a great deal of pain Alphonso had no sooner the commodity to speak with Leonida in private but making shew as if it were without design he took occasion to name Octavio this name which had been so dear to Leonida could not be heard of her without touching her heart and her heart could not be moved without giving some marks of it in her face For her Sense preventing her Reason she blusht and â—â—â—hed both at an instant howbeit desiring to conceal this disorder from Alphonso she layd her hand over her eyes and endeavoring to change discourse he was thereby perswaded that this touched her heart exceeding sensibly augmented his curiosity and made him resolve to testifie it to her plainly In pursuance of so precipitous a design Alphonso without deferring the execution of it any further said unto her I would fain fair Leonida be assured that after my being dead for your service my name should be so happy as to make you blush and sigh as the blessed Octavio's hath done You should do better answered Leonida sighing a second time to call him infortunate Octavio Whosoever hath been loved of you replyed Alphonso could nâ—ver be unhappy notwithstanding any thing that could arrive to him otherwise I wish for all that said Leonida that you never make tryal of the like felicity But continued she with an altered countenance why have you spoken to me of Octavio Let us leave him to enjoy that rest which he could never finde in this life let us not trouble ours in troubling his and let us I pray you have so much regard to him as to leave his ashes in peace Please you to pardon me said Alphonso then unto her if without losing the respect which I owe to you I dare crave of you for a mark of your affection that you will take the pains to relate exactly unto me that which Octavio in times past bore unto you that which you bore to him and briefly all that besell you till the time of his death otherwise you will give me causâ— to complain of you Leonida would not at first accord to Alphonso that which he desired of her for as she knew how highly her heart had been touched for Octavio so she know likewise that it would be impossible for her to remember all their felicities and all their misfortunes without a great deal of unquietness wherefore she excused her self from it as much as she could nevertheless seeing that Alphonso took this refusal for a wrong she promised to grant him his desire so as he would give her some time and in this sort many days past away Alphonso being unable to make her keep her word with him But at length his curiosity being grown the stronger by Leonida's resistance he testified unto her one day so seriously that he should hold himself disobliged by her if she continued in the resolution which she seemed to have as having appointed him a time to come to her for that purpose she resolved to content him If one had then demanded of Alphonso why his curiosity was so strong he could not have told at least-wise he hath acknowledged so much to Leonida since For whereas he was perswaded that she had loved Octavio both by that which his Kinsman had told him by that which he had also learned other-where concerning it and by the marks which he had seen of it in her countenance if in her speech nevertheless she had disguised the truth that lying would have given him a great deal of unquietnâ—ss and yet he felt in his heart that if contrarily she should avouch unto him that she had loved him very much this discourse would not please him But at last carryed by a secret motion which he could not resist he went with an extream impatience to the assignation which Leonida had given him He found her more sad then ordinary for whereas her imagination was filled with displeasing idea's that charming and jovial ayr which she hath usuâ—lly in her face was somewhat changed After she had caused Alphonso to sit down and had told him that she was going to render him the greatest proof of her affection that he had ever yet received she was ready to impart unto him what her fortune had been when as Alphonso before he would give her leasure so to do conjured her once again not to omit any part of all that which had arrived unto her But he had no need to intreat her thereunto for Leonida had no sooner began to speak but forgetting that she was recounting her History to her Lover she suffered herself to be charmed with her own relation and shewing grief or joy according as the matters which she related gave her occasion for she omitted not
in your own dispose as in mine wherefore then if you have not deceived me do you not obey me When as I promised you that which you say replyed Alphonso I hoped that I might if not raign in your heart at leastwise not be surmounted there by any body Leonida perceiving then that jealousie was the disease that tormented him and knowing that she had given him no reasonable occasion for it fell a smiling and reaching him her hand with that gallantry which is so natural unto her Affict not your self said this amiable creature nor fear that I will be displeased to understand that you are jealous I know said she unto him still smiling that we fear to lose the good which is extream dear to us that jealousie is an undoubted sign of a strong passion and of the merit of the person whom one loves because if she were not amiable she would have no Lovers and consequently she would give no cause of jealousie And I am the less offended continued she to see you touched with this passion in regard it is easie for me to help you For to speak more seriously to you added Leonida you have no Rivals which can keep me from giving you the pleasure when you will to hear me termed by them cruel inhumane rigorous and inexorable In fine said she unto him you have a malady whereof you shall no sooner have acquainted me with the cause but you shall be cured of it I do not think answered Alphonso with as much anguish as Leonida had gallantry that it is as easie for you to restore tranquâ—llity unto my Soul as it was easie for you to deprive me of it for continued he I have no Rivals whom you can ill intreat and yet I am the most jealous that ever was I do not understand you said Leonida to him with more coldness then before and if you do not explain your self better I shall beleeve that either you have lost your Reason or that with a premeditated design you purpose to break off with me But take heed Alphonso of leaving me long in this suspicion for fear lest whereas I am proud and disdainful I do not prevent you and it be too late for you then to have recourse to my goodness Alphonso surprized both with Leonida's discourse and the manner wherewith she spake resolved at length freely to tell her the cause of his grief I know very well said he unto her that I am going to speak in vain for my self and indeed it is rather out of despair then Reason that I am carried to obey you Know then continued he that I am jealous and that I shall be so eternally since the Rival that surmounts me in your heart can never dye for to conceal the truth from you no longer the blessed Octavio is the object of my jealousie The tears which you shed for his memory are the cause of those which I shall pour forth all my life time the sighs which you fetch for him shall always make me sigh and his past felicity shall beget the misery of all the rest of my days You have loved him so much continued he and you love him so much still that I can find no place in your Soul He much raign there alone for indeed you do not suffer me there but only to conserve the memory of him the better Ah cruel man cryed Leonida hearing him speak in this sort is it possible that you have the inhumanity to open the Tomb of Octavio to persecute me and in stead of weeping with me or at leastwise of bemoaning and comforting me you are so audacious as to give me marks of your hatred to a person whom I have so much loved and whose memory is still so dear unto me and yet in grateful as you are said she to him you owe the affection which I bear you to that little resemblance you have with Octavio but as this infortunate creature hath been the cause of it so shall he likewise give an end to it for in regard of that which you have said to me I ordain you never to speak to me and never to see me more Why do not you shut your self up then in Octavio's Tomb answered Alphonso since you can love none but him Reply no further to me inhumane that you are said she to him and take from my sight the persecutor of Leonida and the enemy of Octavio Alphonso seeing Leonida in such choller and not able to give her a good reason either for the maintaining of his error or for the obtaining of his pardon went away more jealous then before Alas said he to himself how sensible she is on that side I what a powerful mark of her love is her choller if she had loved me she would have used me after another manner she would have taken pity of my weakness she would have given me some new proof of her affection but she could not disguise her heart all her thoughts have been for Octavio and all her words have been against me In this opinion Alphonso got him home with an intent to obey Leonida exactly and never to see her again As indeed he came no more at her and that be might avoyd meeting with her any where he feigned himself sick Leonida seeing to what a madness this ill-grounded jealousie carried him desired at leastwise to conceal it from the eyes of the world and to that effect she advanced a voyage which she was to make to Albengua where as you know she hath some means and affairs She departed then from Genoua so incensed against Alphonso that she could not so much as resolve to do him the favor to complain of him by a Letter Her departure did not cure Alphonso of his frensie but contrarily it augmented it for he beleeved that Leonida did not abandon Genoua but to bewail Octavio with the more liberty This thought for all that was not the most powerful in his heart the impossibility of seeing Leonida redoubled his desire of it and love being stronger still then jealousie he purposed an hundred times to go to Albengua to cast himself at Leonida's feet to crave her pardon and to obtain an oblivion of his fault of her But no sooner did the Phantom of Octavio present it self to his imagination no sooner did he call the tears and sighs of Leonida to remembrance but he re-entred into his former furies He made an hundred impossible wishes which destroyed one another and led a very irksom and melancholick life During that time he wrote divers Letters to Leonida according to the divers thoughts wherein he was but when as she perceived so great an inequality in his mind and such marks of an unsetled Reason she returned no answer thereunto and although she loved Alphonso so much as to be extreamly grieved to lose him yet could she not imagine how she might cure him of this fantasie so that finding no expedient for it and being very much incensed against
first time she could speak with Alphonso in private his melancholy still increasing she demanded of him whether he were resolved to live long in that manner Truly no answered he for I do not doubt but from the misery which I feel death will come shortly and deliver me Is it not possible said she that Alphonso should make use of his Reason in this encounter I perceive very well answered he that you have some pity of the hurt you have done me but know that it is not that which I desire in the estate wherein Octavio is I could endure that you should have compassion for him provided you would have affection for me but I could not endure that you should have love for him have nothing but pity for Alphonso What change said she unto him is there come to me since the time that you were contented with my affection have I loved Octavio more or have I loved you lest then I did in no wise at all I swear unto you Wherfore then since I am not changed for you are you changed for me If I had known my unhappiness sooner replyed he I should have been less unhappy it being certain that I should not have engaged my self so straitly in the love of a person that could never love so much as she had loved It is true said she unto him that I have loved Octavio as much as I was able to love in the age wherein I was and it is true also that his memory is dear and precious unto me but who hath told you that I have not the same thoughts for you I know it from your own mouth replyed he for in having assured me that you loved me less then he you have let me understand that you have done that for his consideration which you have never done for mine You loved him as soon as ever you opened your eyes said Alphonso unto her he was agreeable unto you as soon as ever you knew him and your Reason hath told you since that you would have done out of choyce what you had done out of inclination he hath had the happiness to please you always without ever giving you cause to be displeased you have sighed for him in divers occasions you have many times bewailed his absence as much as I could pretend to be lamented by you if I had lost my life in your service and for my last unhappiness he dyed in speaking to you of love It may be if he had lived longer you would have repented the tears which now you shed for him but as the case stands there is a shadow of Octavio remaining which is in stead of his person to you that possesses your soul and will not suffer you to have such thoughts for another How unjust you are said Leonida unto him to speak to me thus howsoever since I am resolved to try whether I can draw your minde out of that disorder whereunto this strange jealousie hath carryed it promise me that if by my discourse I can let you see that you have received more testimonies of my affection then I have given to the infortunte Octavio you will then repent you of your error restore tranquillity to your soul and leave mine in rest Alphonso after he had withstood it a while in saying that she propounded an impossible thing to him and by consequence he was not to answer unto it resolved for all that to hear her and promised her that if she kept her word with him he would crave pardon to his fault and would live better for the future After they had made this agreement tell me Alphonso said she unto him if I can make it appear to you that since the day wherein I permitted you to serve me you never have had occasion to complain of me and if I can shew you that the unhappy Octavio if he were living might with justice accuse me of little affection would you not have reason then to be contented That will not be enough answered Alphonso for it may be that you have never given me just cause to complain and that you have given Octavio occasion so to do and yet for all that I cannot be happy But that which I desire is you would let me know that you have not done any thing for Octavio which you would not have done for me and that I think will not be easie for you to perform I will peradventure shew you yet more replyed Leonida and to begin to cure you is it not true Alphonso that the original of the affection which I bear to you is far more advantageous to you then that which I have born Octavio when I began to wish him well continued she I was in an age wherein perchance that which I then called love was none wherein I counted for great services petty things which now I should not regard and wherein I acted without knowledg and without judgment I said Alphonso interrupting her but not without inclination which is that which renders affections the stronger and more durable I agree with you therein said she unto him but howsoever I had this inclination in an age wherein at first my reason did not combat with it for I had none at that time That is the cause said Alphonso why it is so will setled in your soul And that is the cause replyed Leonida why I do not know whether it were any whit strong since I did not make resistance against it But as for you Alphonso when as you began to please me and that my inclination carryed me to like of your services I was in an age wherein my Reason was in a condition to oppose it self against it as indeed it did resist it as much as it could You had to vanquish in my heart not onely that wisdom and that modesty which permits not a woman to engage her self lightly in affection to a man but had also the memory of Octavio to surmount in forcing me if one may say so to commit a greater infidelity against him then when as I abandoned him to obey my Father seeing it is certain that I marryed Livio without loving him and that I could not keep the promise which I had made to my self never to love any thing more after the death of Octavio This discourse is very subtil replyed Alphonso but have you not told me that you did not love me but because I resembled Octavio I have indeed told you answered she that by this resemblance you comforted me for the loss of Octavio but not that this conformity which you have with him was the onely cause of the good-will which I bear you And certes to speak truly since I must retract what I have said with shame if there had been no other then this reason and that my inclination your services and your merit had not constrained me I should rather have avoyded the sight of you then sought it It was not yeâ— so long since I lost Octavio that I
and that was it which perswaded Horatio and the rest that Alphonso's melancholy proceeded from the jealousie he was in of the affection which Aly seemed to carry to Leonida but indeed it was that which I have declared unto you The Marquis seeing that Sophronia held her peace and that Leonida was going to speak as if she would have excused Alphonso It must be acknowledged said he that there is a marvelous diversity amongst men and that which makes me most to wonder is to see by example that Alphonso who in all other encounters hath a great deal of wit and discretion and would in indifferent matters without doubt think the same things that I do should fall into in imagination so far distant from all good sence I think answered Leonida smiling that in matter of love it may be said that you are both of you an object of admiration and wonder the one to the other but with this glorious difference for Alphonso that his fantastical jealousie was not derived but from an excess of passion and that your inconstancy proceeds not but from a defect of love If the very excess of Reason replyed the Marquis comes near to folly I believe that this excess of love is not far from it and if it be true that by the effects one may judg of the cause acknowledg fair Leonida that this inconstancy which you call defect of love in me gave you not so much unquietness when I abandoned you for another as this excess of passion hath been the cause of to you and confess withall at least that it were better to be loved of a man of my humor then of that of Alphonso It would be more advantageous replyed Leonida very roundly because as long as one should not be loved but by an inconstant man as you are one should not be exposed to the hazard of too much engaging ones self in this affection And then again continued she there is this difference betwix you too that I have cured Alphonso of his error and that nothing can cure you of yours You believe it to be just and you finde it pleasant judg then whether your disease be not incurable For my part said Hipolita who according to her humor always took jealousies part I cannot condemn Alphonso nor should I be sorry that a man would render me this proof of affection You speak in this sort said Doria interrupting her rather out of temperature then reason but whatsoever you can say I do not think that Horatio will become jealous out of complacency and will open Tombs to finde a Rival there It would be easier for me questionless to enter into them never to come out again answered Horatio then to give this unjust mark of love to the person I affect I believe what you say replyed Hipolita it being likely enough that a man who could see an hundred Lovers at the feet of his Mistress without being disquieted at it would be never a whit moved to know that she should grieve for a dead man As for me added the Marquis smiling if by an inversion of all the ages it might come to pass that a person whom I should love had been beloved of all the Heroes of antiquity that they had all dyed for her and that the ashes of the Cesars and the Alexanders had been the object of her tears and of her love I should be less jealous thereof then of the least amongst the living and there is not a man how mis-shapen soever he could be that would not more disquiet me to see him on his knees before my Mistress then Alexander would in the state wherein he is should he raign in her heart as he raigned over all the Earth I confess said Sophronia laughing as well as the rest of the Assembly that in this occasion I am of the Marquis his side for I cannot but follow Reason wheresoever I meet with it I perceive said Leonida then that all the world abandons me and that I have need of Alphonso's assistance for the vanquishing of so many Enemies I am generous enough answered the Marquis to go and fetch him my self and saying so he went and called Alphonso who was almost ashamed to come unto the Company again making no question but that they had condemned his jealous humor And whereas Leonida perceived it Fear not said she unto him as long as I am on your side you will have no Enemies which you may not overcome and doubt not that the remembrance of an error which I have pardoned can make me angry with you I believe you to be too just replyed he for me to suspect you of any such thing onely I fear that you will be accused for using too much goodness towards me and that by this means I should be the cause of condemning a vertue in you which makes one to be commended in all the world besides If we engage our selves in making of complements said Sophronia interrupting him the Marquis will not be able to pay me that to day which he ows me and so we should spend the time less pleasingly then otherwise we might do if we gave him audience for I assure my self that he cannot tell us any thing but what will delight us I do not know answered the Marquis whether this discourse be advantageous to me or no howsoever since I have promised to relate that unto you which befell me here in Constantinople I will not break my word And then again continued he to speak sincerely unto you I shall have a share in the pleasure which I shall give you it being most cerain that I am of a humor to receive more satisfaction by recounting the adventures which have happened unto me be they never so happy then I had at such time as they arived unto me In fine continued he I comfort my self for mishaps in telling them to others and I augment my good fortune in publishing it Seeing it is so said Leonida haste you to satisfie Sophronia in satisfying your self and be not of the number of those who make one hope so long for an indifferent pleasure as one is not obliged to them for it All the Company having added their intreaties to Leonida's discourse the Marquis acquitted himself of his promise in this sort The History of the too good Slave NEver was any so happy in servitude as I and never did happiness produce an effect like unto that which I am going to recount unto you You remember without doubt that when we arrived all at Constantinople and landed at the Port there was a man who rightly imagining by the chains we had on us that we were destined to be sold and finding something in my person that pleased him bought me for the price that was demanded of him This man who was my first Master carried me home to his house and whereas he was one of the mightiest men in Constantinople I was comforted in my misfortune to see that at leastwise
it self in the end so weak as he absolutely resolved to speak to Isabella of his passion I know very well said he to himself that this is to betray the friendship which I have promised to Ibrahim but I know withall that it would be the betraying of my self and the cause of my death if I should bereave my self of the hope which I have of prevailing one day with Isabella In this resolution Soliman went to the Princesses chamber on a time when as the Sultana Asteria was come from her and that none but Emilia was with her When as first the Princess saw him she changed colour and Soliman on his part who very much respected her and that still loved Ibrahim thought to alter his resolution and in this sort fear troubling Isabella and respect silencing Soliman they were a while unable to speak to one another The Sultan was he at last that began the Conversation in craving pardon of Isabella for the constraint wherein she lived My Lord said she unto him since it concerns the quiet of thy State I dare not murmur at it and though the privation of my friends be a displeasure sensible enough I do endure it without complaining of thy Highness I do accuse Fortune and do justifie Soliman who without doubt will never be but equitable Would to Heaven said he unto her I might be sure that you would speak thus always My Lord replyed she this is a thing which will absolutely depend on thy Highness it being most certain that I shall ever be reasonable and not be so inconsiderate as to think ought to the disadvantage of thy Majesty if I be not constrained thereunto by thy self I could have wished replyed Soliman that without exception you had promised me never to think amiss of me for it may be you will learn from mine own mouth that I am faulty Isabella blusht at this discourse and casting down her eyes without daring to look any more on Soliman and being unable to answer him she was a pretty while in this incertainty but on a sudden Soliman carried away by his passion resolved to discover it unto her I know full well said he unto her that I am going to destroy my self that in acquainting you with my thoughts I am going to make you hate me but I would sain have you tell me added he before I confess my crime unto you whether an error which is not voluntary merits as much chastâ—sâ—mâ—nt as a prâ—mâ—ditated malice My Lord answered Isabella all persons that have great Souls like thy Highness can never commit faults but voluntarily There is nothing that can â—orce Reason when one will make use of it and the most violent passions without doubt are but the pretext of weak ones when as they will excuse the bad actions which they do it being certain that it is not impossible to furmount them I knew well enough said Soliman interrupting her that you would be a rigorous Judg to me that you would judg of others by your self and that you would condemn in another that which is not found in you But amiable Isabella continued he you are unjust to deal so seeing it is impossible that ever your Soul should be put to so difficult a tryal as that is which I have encountred You have but weak enemies to sight with and a great deal of vertue to resist them your Reason in what a occasion soever you find your self is always on your side but amiable Isabella in this wherein I am my Reason is my cruelest enemy It is not because she hath not opposed all my thoughts as much as she could and this is it which puts me out of all hope of vanquishing having no longer arms to defend me For my Reason hath been so absolutely surmounted as it is rather by her then by my passion that I am resolved to discover my hurt unto her which hath caused it Let thy Highness take heed said Isabella to him then that in discovering it thou make it not the worse and that that which thou believest would be a remedy for thy grief be not a means to increase it That which you say answered Soliman may easily fall out but continued he what would you have a Prince do who is no longer Master either of his heart of his soul or of his will who seâ—s his death indubitable if he conceals the disease wherewith he is stricken and who is absolutely resolved to dye or to move the person whom he adores with love or pity Isabella knowing not what to answer to a discourse which she understood but too well for her rest fetched a great sigh in lifting up her eyes to Heaven as it were craving succor from thence which Soliman having obâ—ervâ—d I perceive said he unto her incomparable Isabella that you have understood me that you are not ignorant of the Conquest you have made and I thank Fortune for that she hath not compelled me to tell you that I love you so to make you know it for it is certain that I should have been much troubled to execute the resolution which I had taken for it But after I have perswaded you continued he without giving her leasure to answer him that Soliman adores you suffer not that which hath accustomed to be beneficial to all Lovers to be prejudicial to me For added he I see very well that the more I shall perswade you that I love you the more you will hold your self injured by mâ— But to take away at leastwise the means from you of reproaching me with my crime I will acknowledg divine Isabella that I know being your Protector I ought not to be your Lover that loving Ibrahim as I do I ought not to be his Rival that respecting you as I ought I should not use any discourse to you that offends you that loving glory I ought not to endure an affection which may blemish it but I know more then all this that love never shews it self either greater or more perfect then when it destroys friendship forces Reason and without considering either honor or glory carries us to dye or to make our selves be beloved of the person whom we adore This incomparable Isabella is the estate whereunto you have reduced my Soul but if notwithstanding I may be permitted to employ Reason for the obliging of you to pity remember that you would be unjust in causing the death of a Prince who heretofore hath saved Ibrahim's life and that cruelty can never pass for a vertue Be then in some sort indulgent to my passion and at leastwise bemoan the hurt which you have done me Soliman holding his peace and Isabella being somewhat come to her self again Is it possible said she unto him that this which I hear is true and that the greatest Prince of the Earth should be the weakest amongst men No I cannot think it and the discourse which thy Highness hath used to me is doubtless a design to prove my constancy and resolution
resistance The Bassa of the Sea after this misfortune was perswaded that to be the more gently used and to get the sooner out of his enemies hands he was to tell who he was to the end that offering a great ransom he might be restored to his liberty the rather for that in this occasion the affairs of the Empire being much concerned he should have committed a crime if he had concealed his name for the saving of money But that which he thought would conduce most to the getting himself out of trouble gave him the more for be pleased to know that by an encounter altogether prodigious he that had taken him was the Pirate Arsalon father to the vertuous Alibech who no sooner understood that this prisoner was the Bassa of the Sea but he appeared to be mightily incensed with anger What said he unto him are you the father then of the Traytor Osman or to say better of the Ravisher of my daughter and hath fortune who hath alwayes persecuted me so cruelly at last furnished me with means to be revenged Speak said he unto him but disguise not the truth lest I be drawn to make you tell it by force The Bassa of the Sea surprised with this discourse and perceiving very well that this Pirate was Arsalon thought nevertheless since he had said so much already that the best would be not to dissemble and to indeavour by the assurance which he would give him that Alibech was Osmans wife and that he had alwayes used her as if she had been his own daughter to induce him to use him also with the more humanity In this resolution I acknowledge sayd he unto him that I am the Bassa of the Sea that I am the father of Osman and the father of the ravisher of Alibech but withall you are to acknowledge to me also that I am the father of your daughter seeing she hath maried my sonne and you are consequently to confess that since love alone hath been the cause of their fault you ought to pardon them for it if so be you have not lost the remembrance that the very same passion made you in times past forget all things I have not lost the remembrance of it replyed Arsalon but I remember the punishment too that was inflicted on me and if I treat my daughter after the same manner she will have no just occasion to complain If you knew answered the Bassa of the sea what the affection of Osman and Alibech were it would touch your heart It is so great continued he that in the voyage which I have so unhappily undertaken she would by no means abandon her husband Arsalon hearing this discourse made him explane it more particularly unto him and knew that his daughter was not very far from him Whereat he testified a great deal of joy and beholding the Bassa with a smile full of bitterness to shew you said he unto him that I am generous and that I will not confound the innocent with the guilty I will not use you ill nay I will not require sonne though as my slave I might do it but I will only have that which appertains to me that is to say the ingratefull and unnaturall Alibech I do you a good office sayd he unto him raising his voice for since she could betray her father and abandon him she would quit you no doubt and betray you as well as me The Bassa surprised with this discourse and demand stood a while without answering thereunto nevertheless whereas he is generous and that the vertue of Alibech hath won his heart he could by no means agree to what was required of him No sayd he to Arsalon I will never be ingratefull to your daughter she restored my sonne to his liberty and I will lose mine to preserve her that which she enjoyes And then again said he unto him I am not master of her she is Osmans who commanding the Navy in my absence is in an estate to refuse her unto me if I should be so base as to demand her which I will never do We shall see said Arsalon then to him whether you will not change your mind and after they had disputed yet a while he commanded him to be loaden with chains and told him once again that he should never have his liberty and that every day he would make him try new torments if he did not write to his sonne to oblige him to deliver Alibech into the hands of those whom he would send to him for that purpose promising him that she should be no sooner in his power but he would restore him to his liberty The Bassa in so cross a conjuncture knew not what to think or what to resolve on He knew by the report of his sonne and of Alibech too that Arsalon was firm in his resolutions and of a severe and cruell inclination He knew that his absence would prejudice the affairs of the Empire yea and he was perswaded that his sonne loving Alibech more than his life would never resolve to lose her for the saving of him he felt a strange repugnancy in his heart too against the making of this request unto him and not knowing what to do in so deplorable a case he lamented his misfortune accused Arsalons cruelty and without framing any design indured the sharpest grief that any soul can be capable of In the mean time Arsalon fearing lest the Bassa of the Seas Fleet should remove further from him and that then he should not have Alibech so easily pressed him to take his last resolution but what threatnings soever he could use unto him he could not possibly draw him to write to Osman to oblige him to give Alibech for his ransom Arsalon did all that he could to shake his resolution he assured him of a perpetuall slavery he made him see that his death was indubitable and perceiving at last that he no whit prevailed he chose out one of the most understanding and resolutest men of his company and giving him a Brigantine he sent him towards a Cape where he had learnt the Fleet was reassembled and having told him he would stay for him at a creek which was not far from thence he willed him to search so diligently that he might find out the Bassa of the Seas Navy and having found it that he should deliver to Osman his sonne who commanded in his absence the message which he would impart unto him whereupon rowning him softly in the ear he instructed him with his intentions and dispatched him instantly away This man who was a Persian by Nation exactly obeyed him and was so fortunate as he sayled directly to the place where the Bassa of the Seas Fleet were all joyned together again And it was my Lord the very same vessell which Osman discovered at sea which a far off gave him so much hope and which approaching so mightily redoubled his grief to see that it was a Brigantine that the spight to be so
robbed him of two slaves and if he can complain of any one it must doubtless be of me Your accusing of your self in this sort said Osman then is to put me in remembrance of the obligations wherein I stand engaged to you and it is to say to me also Do not abandon me Do not you abandon me answered she but suffer me to abandon you I cannot replyed Osman Bot could you indeed sayd Alibech to him see a dagger in my fathers hand to stab the heart of yours For my part continued she I would rather dye Let us die then said Osman to her for I tell you once again that it is as equally impossible for me to resolve to lose my father as to abandon you In pursuance of this discourse Alibech did yet what she could to obtain her husbands permission that she might go to her father She joyned tears to her prayers and albeit that which she desired would destroy her felicity bereave her of her liberty expose her to the fury of her father and deprive her of her husband yet was she so generous as to omit nothing of whatsoever she thought was capable of perswading him not to refuse her that she demanded But seeing at last that she entreated in vain and that Osman unable to resolve on any thing yet seemed to be resolved not to render her she purposed to make use of a kinsman of the Bassa of the sea whom she had won after the first time that Arsalons Messenger came thither And that she might talk with him at liberty and without suspition I see very well sayd she to Osman that the tears which I shed to move your heart do but harden it the more and that as long as you see me you can resolve of nothing wherefore suffer me to withdraw my self and remember sayd she unto him that the life of your father is in question After this she retired into the Captains cabbin whither having sent for the Bassa of the Seas kinsman who she knew was very much affected and greatly obliged to him as holding his fortune of him When he was come and that she could speak to him without witnesses she summoned him to the performance of the promise he had made her two dayes before to do any thing for the deliverance of the Bassa of the sea when she should furnish him with means for it For rightly foreseeing that Osman would never resolve to remit her into the hands of Arsalon though he was very generous and that he loved his father exceedingly this courageous woman had forecast a way how to beguile him After then that she had asked of him who was to serve her in her design whether he was resolved for it or no and that she had told him how all that she would have of him was that he would give her the opportunity the night following to go to Arsalon in the vessel which he commanded This man albeit very much obliged to the Bassa of the Sea was notwithstanding somewhat unwilling to consent thereunto But Alibech adding art to her entreaties undertook to perswade that to him which she did not beleeve her self She told him that her father would let himself be moved with her tears that without doubt this generous action would touch him and that so without exposing her to any great danger she should deliver the Bassa of the Sea This man then suffering himself to be carried to what she pleased promised her not to go aboard his vessel till it was very late and that the night was far spent to the end that stealing away he might get her into the skiff that was to carry him thither which without doubt might be easily enough done it being credible that in the agitation wherein the mind of Osman was he would not take much heed to things The execution of this enterprise proved yet more facile than Alibech had imagined it as you shall understand by and by Osman not knowing what to do in so cross an incounter after that Alibech vvas withdravvn fell into a deep muse and began to cast in his mind what he might doe He no sooner formed one thought but it vvas destroyed by another his imagination propounded nothing unto him vvhich his judgement could approve of the motions of nature combated those of love and without vanquishing one another Osman was not surmounted but by his own grief He saw in every thing cause of dispair and whereas he had a noble and generous Soul being unable to take any resolution which was not criminall he remained alwaies irresolute But at last after he had a long time debated with himself after that love and nature had made him think of all that they could inspire in a like incounter after that he had sought for an hundred unprofitable meanes how to deliver his father without losing his wife no no said he to himselfe I cannot lose Alibech but I must lose my self too Let us resolve upon it then and make the Bassa our Father see that we doe for him all that we can He hath given me life I am ready to render it to him again and I cannot think that Heaven would approve of the delivering of an innocent to the crueltie of Arsalon neither doe I think too added he but his revenge would be more satisfied with having me in his hands than with having Alibech And albeit he hath not demanded me aswell as she it was doubtless because he beleeved that I would render him my wife rather than render him my self But alas cryed he how was he ill informed of my thoughts As for my Father said he I may not beleeve that he can complain of me since I indanger my self for the love of him And as for Arsalon he will in my person find an object worthy of his wrath it is I that stole away his daughter from him it is I that was the cause of the flight of that generous Slave from whom hee expected so many things in fine I alone am culpable and if there be any justice in his cruelty I alone too shall be punished He shall deliver my Father or at leastwise I shall wear yrons with him and if rage carries him to take away my life I shall howsoever have the satisfaction to dye without having abandoned either my Father or my wife I owe my life to my Father and I shall render it to him again in losing it for his sake I owe my liberty to the generous Alibech and charing my self with the same chaines which are prepared for her I shall have done for her all that the unhappiness of my destiny permits me to do Let us goe then added he let us goe to Arsalon since it is as equally impossible for me to abandon my Father as to lose Alibech This designe being strongly imprinted in his heart hee drew the Persian aside and told him softly that as soon as night was come hee should have satisfaction of him and assured him besides
lost me would wholly possess her Soul If I dyed added he in defending Isabella if the loss of my life could restore her to her liberty I should be happy and I should think my fortune worthy of envy But I dye to leave her in the power of her enemy I dye without serving her and without dâ—livering her nay I dye without bidding her farewell Hereat Ibrahim redoubled his grief and his mind seeking for new occasions to torment him he was taken with a remorse of Conscience for having so long a time worn a Turkish habit He was perswaded that the misery whereinto he was fallen was a punishment for this dissembling He thought he had been ill counselled and though his intention had been pure and that he had not done it but out of a design to serve Christendom to whom it had been very profitable and that his faith had never been shaken yet he beleeved notwithstanding that he was faulty This reflexion made him lift up his spirit to Heaven crave pardon for his levity repent him of his misdeeds and then pray that Isabella's innocency might not be involved in the chastisement of his crime The last thing that yet afflicted Ibrahim was that in his misfortune he could not find any that would tell the Sultan that which he had resolved to request of him in the favor of Isabella for Rustan had taken order to the contrary He had also by the power of Roxelana kept every body from going out of the Serraglio after Ibrahim was entred into it so that although it was known in Constantinople that there was some great disorder between Soliman and Ibrahim yet the people did not suspect that the Sultan could hate him with so much violence for if they had been of that opinion loving Ibrahim as they did they would without doubt have set fire on the Serraglio rather then not have succored him In the mean time Rustan being returned to Soliman whose mind was full of nothing but deadly thoughts this Prince to satisfie that fantastick scruple which obliged him not to beleeve the death of Ibrahim to be unjust but because he had promised him that he should not dye as long as he lived commanded him to keep at his beds head and to be sure not to go to put Ibrahim to death till he was fast asleep After this order given Soliman layd him down with an intention if one may be permitted to speak so as it were to summon sleep with silence and quietness He did what he could to divert his mind from all kind of objects to the end that ceasing to think he might the more easily let himself be vanquished by this invisible Enemy who always surmounts those more easily which resist him then those which seek him The Sultan being thus recollected within himself remained a while with so much tranquillity in appearance as Rustan beleeved that he was asleep and that he might go and put Ibrahim to death But he had scarcely made one step when as this Prince rising up in his bed Stay said he unto him I am not asleep and I will not have thee part from hence till thou art certain I am so Rustan not daring to contradict the Grand Signior and fearing to make him more awake then he was if he talked longer to him only promised him not to offer any more to go out of his chamber till he was well assured that he could hear nothing After this Soliman did yet all that he could to sleep howbeit he had no sooner closed his eyes but his unquietness augmented he was vexed that he could not be master of his thoughts and that that which he did to provoke sleep was that which awakened him the more He turned him on one side and then on the other and yet was not able to find any rest One might have said that he met with thorns every where that the change of place redoubled his unquietness and when of purpose he forbore from speaking and complaining aloud his sighs gave Rustan but too many signs that he was not asleep Soliman's impatience growing stronger he thought if he walked a while that it may be he should become drowzy with weariness He got out of his bed then and walking sometimes with violence and sometimes with less precipitation it might have been said that he was the cause of as much unquietness to Rustan as he felt himself to see that he gave him not the means to execute the desires of the cruel Roxelana He stood still many times and then began again to walk faster then he had done Afterwards he leaned down in one place and then in another scarcely knowing what he did nor what he would do When as he had walked a long time and that through weariness he had layd himself down again upon his bed he found yet less disposition to sleep then before for his agitation having dissipated some vapors which peradventure might have lulled his Reason and charmed his displeasure he no sooner had a mind to close his eyes but his imagination represented things yet more lively unto him And whereas a long time before he had had none but violent passions such then too were all his thoughts How unhappy am I said he to himself I find an impossibility in all that I desire the least things are forbidden me even sleep which all my Subjects enjoy is to me a prohibited good that which I do to get it is that which deprives me of it and though I change place yet still is it all one with me surely I must be separated from my self if I will find the rest which I seek for In fine I am more an enemy to my self then Ibrahim is yea and I am more unhappy then he After his unquietness had made him change place an hundred times Rustan seeing day approach would have perswaded him not to amuse himself about this scruple and to permit him to go and strangle Ibrahim with his own hands to punish him said he for the unquietness which he gives thy Highness But Soliman spake unto him with so much fury as he was constrained to hold his peace This cruel motion of Rustan's struck this Prince with horror and whereas it is a way to compassion leaning on a table which was near to his bed his imagination insensibly presented him with other objects He saw Isabella all in tears for the death of Ibrahim yea it represented to him the deplorable estate wherein he was he remembred the time when he was his Slave and that glorious day wherein loaden with chains he had saved him his Empire and his life And comparing it with that wherein he was then he could not chuse but be moved at it After this the sight of Rustan brought to his memory all the miseries of his house and all the violences which he had done by his and Roxelana's counsel The death of Mustapha that of Sarraida of her son of Gianger the forcible carrying away of Axiamira
of his Vessell which the waves had brought to Land so that despairing of any comfort he went to the habitation that was nearest to the place where he was and stayed there certain days to make search if at least the body of Axiamira might have been found as also to meet with some means for him to return to Constantinople As for the Princess all his care in vain he found indeed some dead Souldiers and Mariners along the shoar but of her he never could have any tidings so that the unhappy Axiamira is doubtless without life and without sepulture In the mean time Rustan thinking of his return although he were neer to a place where Prince Gianger the youngest of Solimans sonnes was residing yet would he not demand any assistance from him for fear he should be obliged to tell him a thing which was to be concealed wherefore he had recourse to the Governor of a small Town that was not above four miles from thence where he had suffred shipwrack who furnishing him with all things requisite for his journey he returned by Land to Constantinople with so melancholick a countenance as at first sight one might easily perceive that his enterprize had not been prosperous I was at that time with his Highness and I have not lost the remembrance of so dolefull a conversation As soon as Rustan had made an end of relating to the Grand Signior that which you have heard he would have excused himself for having forcibly carried away Axiamira without his order but Soliman said unto him with a face wherein grief and choller equally appeared Speak no further unto me thou base and infamous ravisher and know that if thou hadst not maried my daughter Chimeria thy death should have satisfied for that of Axiamira Ah poor Princess said he how deplorable is thy face and how unhappy is mine Then turning himself towards me who was present at this mournfull relation do not reproach me my dear Ibrahim said he unto me for not giving credit to thy counsell which I remember but too well for my content and the estate wherein I am punisheth me sufficiently for my imprudence Can any innocent be found more infortunate than I But what say I innocent continued he I cannot be so of the death of this Princess it is I that have delivered her into the hands of Rustan it is I that have exposed her to the tempest and it is I that have been the cause of her loss Could I be ignorant that she was not an ordinary person No Ibrahim I could not I loved her under the name of Felixana but I was to adore her in my heart as a great Princess I saw something so high and so majesticall in the air of her face as I cannot be excusable for not knowing her for howsoever if the possession of Axiamira was necessary for my felicity she was to be intreated after another manner and if my love would have constrained me to have recourse unto violence I should have gone in person in the head of an hundred thousand men to make so noble a conquest with honor she should have been brought in a triumphant Chariot and not in the Vessell of a Traytor and impious man I should not have thought of possessing her till I had set a Crown upon her head and if I could not have obtained her I should have changed my love into respect and with admiration have looked upon a bliss that was forbidden me But Rustan did not believe that I was capable of such noble apprehensions he hath judged of my minde by his own he thought because he is violent that I should be wicked he hoped for a recompence of his crime and out of an inhumanity which is without example he hath betrayed an innocent Princess he hath put a stain upon my life which I shall not be able to deface and hath reduced my soul to an estate never to be comforted Then addressing his speech to the Princess as if she â—ould have heard him and calling to mind her last words which he had caused to be repeated to him more than once he cried out with an exceeding transport Yes Axiamira thy death shall be the cause of the revenge which thou desirest and the grief which I shall have for it all my life shall be instead of an eternall punishment unto me There needs no Arms to invade my State there needs no proclamed Enemy to fight with me I carry oâ—e in my bosom which shall alwayes surmount me repentance and sorrow shall be inseparably with my spirit and the image of so unhappy and of so beautifull a person shall accompany me even to the grave Soliman having been constrained by the excess of his displeasure to give over speaking I did what I could to restore tranquillity to his soul but his grief was so vive and so strong as I needed a great deal of time to vanquish or to say better to moderate it Behold Madam the History of the unfortunate Axiamira all the particulars whereof which I have told you I learned from Rustan and more too from one of his souldiers who returned a little after him and was saved almost in the same manner Isabella could not then forbear interrupting of Justiniano to lament the misfortune of Axiamira but after she had satisfied her compassion she desired to make an end of contenting her curiosity and intreated Justiniano to continue his discourse which he did in this sort The Sequele of the History of Iustiniano I Will not stand Madam to relate unto you how I imployed my self after my return from Natolia in regard I know that Doria purposeth to let you understand that Ibrahims Palace was built by my direction and how it was in that intervall of peace and assoon as I was Grand Visier that I caused the ornaments thereof to be made having seen that work finished but a little before Doriaes arrivall at Constantinople It is true said Doria that I have a desire to describe that inchantâ—d Palace to her Excellency and to acquaint her with all the magnificences and all the grandeurs which you have quitted for her sake and to make her comprehend a part of what I say I am but to present her with that which the Grand Signior hath seâ—t her saying so he drew out of his pocket the box of gold which Soliman had delivered unto him and having opened it he let her see one of the goodliest things in the world Isabella was so surprized with the richness of this present as she would not have received it but at length Doria having told her laughing that he was not determined either to keep it or to carry it back to Constantinople she was constrained to accept of it Doriaes jesting made Justiniano fetch a great sigh beginning already to apprehend the end of his narration and for that cause had spun out that of the Adventures of Axiamira as much as possibly he could in exactly recounting her
History and all because he was not yet well resolved whether he should deliver the truth of things to Isabella in the mean time whereas she was in much impatience and that night began to come on she desired him not to lose such precious minutes but to prosecute his discourse I would willingly have had you dispence with me answered Justiniano for leading you once more to the wars but since you will be acquainted with all my fortunes I am to let you understand that being absolutely determined not to wear a Turbant unprofitably for Christendom I had no other thought but to divert the Arms of Soliman from Hungary where I knew he had a design to imploy his greatest forces the loss of Axiamira furnished me soon after with means to put so just a resolution in effect For whether it were that some of the Princesses women were saved by a prodigious good hap and had acquainted Tachmas with the cause of the death of his daughter or that the aboad or sudden departure of Rustan who had alwayes past at Mazanderon for a Merchant of Constantinople had begotten some suspition of the truth advertisement came that Tachmas was levying a mighty Army The Truce which had been so long between these two Princes could be no obstacle to this war for it had never been observed exactly and some particulars had often committed acts of hostility on either part so that according to the Maxims of State a plausible pretext could not be wanting for an Army to march into the Orient as often as Soliman had a mind to it In the mean time it happened that the Georgians having past over Euphrates did much spoil in Comagena robbing all that went to or came from Mesopotamia so that the Sangiacs of the Province having complained of it and seeing that Soliman took no order therein they passed to Diarbech where in all the Countrey about Birtha they did great havock and rendred that with usury which the Georgians had lent them This conjuncture seeming too favourable unto me to be neglected I repaired unto Soliman who notwithstanding the advertisement he had received that Tachmas had put himself into Arms could not be drawn for all that to think of this war the image of Axiamira reigned still in his heart he could not resolve to fight with the Father whose daughter he had caused to perish and if some resentment of glory had not been still remaining in him I think he would rather have let Tachmas invade his Empire than oppose himself against him But to shew unto you how hardly this Prince was drawn to make a war which he believed to be unjust I have no more to say than that after I had used all my address to remonstrate unto him that the war of Persia was a thing no longer in his choice since knowing what his Governors had done in Diarbech and Tachmas having an Army on foot he was not to doubt yea though he wre ignorant that he was the innocent cause of Axiamiraes death but that he would fall upon him that after I had told him how it was alwayes advantagious for great Princes to begin the War that it was a mark of love to his Subjects not to suffer the fire to be brought into their houses and that I had made him also to consider that at last it would be better to be in an estate to shew grace to his Enemy than to receive it from him that in this occasion it did not concern his particular glory alone but that of the Empire that being innocent of the misfortune of Axiamira he was not to fear that heaven would be contrary to him and that if this death was to be lamented it would suffice to imploy his tears and sighs therein without beholding the blood of his Subjects shed After all these things I say he made no other answer but Axiamira is dead for me I must sacrifice a part of my State for her and that my Subjects may not murmure at the Conquests which I shall suffer Tachmas to gain upon me I will labor to obtain others of the Christians without obliging thee as I have promised to serve me therein I vow unto you Madam that this discourse surprized me extremely not knowing which way to oppose my self against a will so fully determined And that which put me into further despair of being able to execute my design was that the Mother and Wife of the Emperour hated me with a secret hatred because I had always favoured Mustapha and Gianger excellent Princes and the children of Soliman for though this last be the sonne of Roxelana yet leaves she not to hate him because he loveth Mustapha This hatred was the cause then that these two women opposed the voyage of Persia onely to contradict â—e with so much address and violence as I stood in need of some extraordinary mean to destroy all their artifices The first represented unto Soliman that the wars of the Orient had always been infortunate to the Othomans that his Armies would be exterminated with hunger and thirst if he carried them to a place from whence his father Selim although victorious brought back no other advantage than the loss of his best souldiers As for Roxelana she imployed nothing but her tears wherewith alone she was more powerfull than reason it self so that all these things being joyned to the loss of Axiamira wrought in such sort as I saw almost an impossibility in diverting the storm which was ready to fall on Christendom But in the end after I had tried all wayes in vain I bethought my self how Soliman being mightily perswaded that Judiciary Astrology is a Science which men may practise with certainty I might peradventure bring him to what I desired if I could get an Arabian to come from Damascus that was an excellent Astrologer and Mathematician called Mulé Aral whom the people accused of Magick by reason of the wonders which every day he did hoping after I had won him with gifts to make him say unto Soliman whatsoever I would have him I sent then secretly unto Damascus not knowing how to meet with any other expedient that could satisfie me otherwise and whereas my orders were as well executed as the Grand Signiors it was not long before he was brought to me In the mean space I was resolved to speak no more of this war to Soliman untill such time as that which I projected should utterly fail me As soon as Mulé Aral was arrived at Constantinople I talked with him in private and after I had ingaged him absolutely to do what I would have him I discovered my design unto him which nevertheless I covered with the good and glory of the Empire to the end too he might serve me the more faithfully But this man told me how he held it fit that the Stars should be observed and his books consulted with a little about this war because it might so happen that without any imposture or lying
so great throng of people pressed in amongst them as they lost one another in the croud and each of them seeking to be cleared in this matter they got out of the Town spight of the obstacles which they met with at the Gate whereof the three parties had been Masters more than once I cannot repeat all this sight unto you but at length the Princesses people fought with such courage as they killed very near all the Prince of Salernoes and Don Fernandoes Souldiers And when it appeared that there were no more enemyes in the Town they shut up the Gate Part of the Garrison and of the inhabitants having in the mean time pursued and made an end of defeating them returned into Monaco Hereupon the Prince of Salerno having certainly understood that the Princess had not been carried away by Don Fernando for we learnt so much by certain Souldiers and seeing that he was hurt that it was impossible for him to do more and that he had lost his Rivall in the press he resolved to get to his Vessell As for Don Fernando he found himself yet in a stranger condition all his Souldiers having been well neer slain or fled away whilst he was fighting with the Prince of Salerno he beheld himself almost alone covered over with wounds and not knowing what to do having no Vessell to facilitate his flight by Sea nor any security on Land for him with so little company It is credible considering what I have said that seeing himself in that estate and perceiving that the Prince of Salerno followed by some of his men made towards the port he with his Souldiers mingled amongst them and entred into his Vessell with him the darkness of the night favouring the design which doubtless he had to kill the Prince of Salerno and to make himself master of his Vessell For when the day began to break there was a great noise heard on the Port side which made every one to get up on the walls for to see what the matter was The Princess and I went up to the top of the lodgings where we were which looked upon the Sea and whereas it was grown very light we saw a Vessell that was making from the Port and on the hatches a great number of men fighting together whereof some tumbled alive into the Sea and others fell down dead at their enemies feet In the midst of this disorder we knew the Prince of Salerno and Don Fernando by their apparell who combated with such violence as moved the Princess to compassion but at length the Vessell still getting further of we saw that after a long combat these two Rivalls remained fighting almost alone and presently after both of them tumble down upon the hatches and so on an instant the Vessel vanishing we could no longer discern those two couragious Lovers who more happy in this sad adventure than they were aware of made the Princess shed teares of pitty but she shed them abundantly when as in her return unto the Castle she beheld so great a number of dead bodies as the streets were even covered with them The Prince of Salernoes Master of his horse was found living still as well as he whom Don Fernando had sent into the Milanese and it was by their meanes that we came to learn the particularities of this History which without them I could not have told you for the Princess understanding who they were caused them to be very carefully looked unto that she might learn that which I have related The Captain of the Gate and the traiterous Sergeant were found amongst the number of the dead and as if the Prince of Salernoes Master of his horse and Don Fernandoes Agent had prolonged their lives but only to tell the Princess what she desired to know they dyed within a few dayes of their hurts As for their Masters we heard aftervvard that being fallen dovvn as it were dead in the manner as I have told you the remainder of the Prince of Salernoes men having made an end of killing those which had followed Don Fernando de Mendoza and believing their Master to be dead three or four of them took up the body of Don Fernando for to cast it into the Sea vvhen as the Prince of Salerno coming out of his svvoon and seeing vvhat they vvere going to do recovered so much strength as to forbid them from it generosity being greater in him than hatred or revenge This commandement of the Prince vvas executed and that too of seeing vvhether he had any life remaining in him and vvhen it vvas reported unto him that he still breathed he charged them to have as much care of him as of himself as indeed he vvas looked unto and treated in the same manner I vvil not declare the conversations of these tvvo Rivall unto you but in brief it sufficeth to let you know that the Prince of Salernoes generosity so nearly touched the heart of Don Fernando as he ceased to hate him and would needs land with him at Naples to be throughly cured there And as if on the healing of their wounds that of their minds had depended they surmounted the love which they bare to the Princess the first out of reason and the other out of his pride And each of them following his own sense they sent to the Princess wrote unto her the last with rhodomontades according to the humor of his Nation and the other with a great deal of civility beseeching her to remember that she had promised her friendship to the Prince of Salerno and praying her also to attribute all that had past to the passion of the Painter Lucilio and not to him who vowed alwaies to seek occasions to serve her and to publish every where that she was the admirablest creature on the whole earth The Princess answered with much discretion both to the one and to the other and in this sort endeâ—â— the adventure which she would not recount unto you and which possessed me with so much fear that though it be now three months since it hapned I am not yet well recovered of it Justiniano thanked Aemilia for the paines she had taken commended her wit and her address and after he had ended thâ—s complement he saw the Princess come out of her Cabinet who having heard Justiniano talk judged rightly that Aemilia had finished her relation This faithfull Lover no sooner saw her but he complayned for that she would have concealed an adventure from him where things had past which heaped glory and confusion on him how it was almost as much as to say that she repented the having of too advantagious thoughts for him in that she would not have let him have known them but she answered him very obligingly that the remembrance of others misfortunes alwaies touched her so sensibly when as she esteemed herself the cause of them as she thought she should render herself guilty of those of the Prince of Salerno and of Don
Fernando de Mendoza if she should hear them without grief and that having desired to avoyd all occasions that might bring her to a sense of sadness in a time when she had the pleasure to see him she had withdrawen herself In this sort it was that Isabella entertained Justiniano who ordered the conversation so dextrously as he bad the Princess good night without her pressing him to acquaint heâ— vvith the end of his History IBRAHIM OR THE ILLUSTRIOUS BASSA The second part The fourth BOOK WHEN as Juctiniano was retired to his lodging and that he had commanded his servants to leave him alone after they had got him to bed his imagination represenred unto him more lively than ever it had done before the inconsideration of his voyage the promise he had made to Soliman to return unto him the necessity either of breaking his word with a prince who had so much obliged him or to quit his Mistress Alas said she how unhappy am I and how imprudent have I been what shall I do in so deplorable an estate What shall I say to the Princess Wherefore came I to Monaco Had I the design to betray her in coming to marry her and then to steal away from her the very next day Or have I past my word for to falsifie it No no that was not my design I desired to see Isabella my love carried me unto it and doubtless it ought to carry me unto it and were I to dispose of my self again I should still do the same thing And could I said he alowd refuse to see Isabella Then turning himself about with precipitation he recommenced his complaints What continued he did I come to the Princess only to acquaint her that I was Grand Visier that I was the chief of all the Orient that I was the Favorite of a great Prince and afterwards to abandon her to grief and dispair and so return again to enjoy all those greatnesses Ah no Justiniano is not base he will not quit a Princess who is not unhappy but for the love of him he will not sacrifise her so cruelly to the pleasure of a Prince who may find men enough in his Empite that will take the place which he held there For in fine if Soliman loves us this princess loves us too and if I have friendship for this Prince I have love for Isabella Let us not balance the matter any longer let us injoy the good we have and let us not destroy our selves Whereupon he thought that he had found some rest but on a sudden a sense of honor comming again into his minde he went on passionately Why thou base man said he canst thou resolve to cover thy self with infamy to break thy word with one of the mightiest Princes of the world and that hath the most sensibly obliged thee And doest thou believe that this generous Princess whom thou servest would think thee worthy of her affection after this baseness Thou deceivest thy self Justiniano and with her own mouth she hath pronounced thy sentence That which she hath said of this Prince the praises which she hath given him makes me know but too well that she could not esteem one that should betray him But continued he if in this occasion honor should give place unto love yet wouldst thou not find thy self at rest since this love well considered will in this incounter have the same thing which honor requires Seest thou not wretch as thou art that this Prince whom thou wouldst betray is the most rigorous observer of his word that is in the world and that if thou shouldst fail in that which thou hast given him he is capable of coming with an Army of an hundred thousand men not onely to undo thy Countrey but thy Mistress her self as the cause of thy fault Save her then from this mischief sacrifise thy self for her and follow the Fate which will have thee always unhappy But wilt thou also deprive thy self for ever said he further of the sight of Isabella of the hope of thy possessing her which is to say of all thy felicity to render thy self the most infortunate and the most desperate amongst men Yes I must resolve for it and withall resolve to dye Have courage enough then continued he not to hide a thing from her which thou canst not conceal without baseness speak then wretched man but how darest thou tell her that thou art a Slave that thou wilt abandon her and that thou preferrest thy word before thy love No that may not be thou canst not consent unto it and death hath something sweeter than this wofull speech But again added he further wilt thou consent to the undoing of Isabella and thou that canst not resolve to betray Soliman wilt thou betray this Princess by disguising the truth unto her Wilt thou be so inconsiderate as to let her mary a Slave Ah this thought is too unjust No no be far from so bad a design do only that which thou oughtest to do and leave the rest unto fortune let her intreat thee ill let her persecute thee let her pursue thee every where it imports not so as thou dost nothing contrary to that which thou owest to Isabella It was in this manner that Justiniano agitated in his mind so difficult a thing to resolve on and honor and love tyrannized him so cruelly as his reason was almost lost therewith But at length after he had past the greatest part of the night without sleeping he generously resolved to speak plainly to the Princess and in this design prest with weariness and thought sleep surprized him whether he would or no or to say better a dull and melancholy vapor brought a senselesness upon him which yet could not keep his imagination from representing still unto him the deplorable condition wherein he was Day being come he found himself so altered as one would hardly have beleeved that the miseries of the mind could in so little a time have brought such a notable change to the face As soon as the Princess was in an estate to be seen she sent him a complement to advertise him of it whereupon he came straightway to her Cabinet but with a countenance so pale and eyes wherein grief was so visible as Isabella was surprised with it But whereas she did not believe that he had any cause to be afflicted she thought he was sick told him that he should not have come out of his lodging in the case he was in asked him what he ailed whether he had a feaver whether it were still on him and finally propounded very many questions unto him whereto Justiniano answered not a word For upon the point of executing that which he had resolved he felt so extraordinarie a trouble in his mind as he suddenly past from paleness to redness he was taken at first with an universall shivering which made him to tremble and then with so great a burning that he seemed all on fire The Princess
you follow a wretch and an infortunate man Do you not consider how if it should happen that I should dye in what an estate you would remain Ah! my dear Princess if I may be permitted to call you so give over so wofull a design Live in tranquility whilst I go and combat my evill fortune at Constantinople with a promise if I cannot overcome it not to survive her victory very long But it may be we shall not be so miserable Soliman hath a great and vertuous soul that which I am going to doe may please him he may be moved with my teares and prayers he may break that invisible chain which tyes me unto him and being no longer a slave you might then without shame accord me the honor which now I refuse This hope is too weak said the Princess to make me change the resolution I have taken No Justiniano to speak to me thus is not to love as you should this is to blind me with an artifice to doubt of my affection and courage and to say all this is to offend me sensibly My teares shall not hinder yours from having their effect but contrarily I am of a sex accustomed to vanquish even cruelty it self with such like armes Suffer me then to share this victory with you if you are to carry it or that I may be vanquished with you if you are to be so You do not consider Madam said Justiniano that if Soliman should see you at Constantinople it would be the meanes of never obtaining my liberty because I should then have all there that could render me happy The Princess stood a whiles to answer so pressing a reason But whereas her affection would not be surmounted May I not follow you replyed she without being known and under the habit of a slave No Madam you cannot answered Justiniano there is something that is so great and so dazeling in your face as you could not conceal your self But it is not for this reason alone that I will not consent thereunto I love you Madam and that is to say all I will keep my word then with Soliman since you do consent unto it if it be true that I can absent my self from you without dying in dispair and all the grace which I demand of you is that you will not dispose of youâ— self untill my return or the newes of my death have made you shed teares either of joy or of grief Ah! cruell man cryed the Princess cease to outrage my affection Madam answered Justiniano pardon a wretch who not knowing how to hope is capable of fearing all things Assure your self of my person replyed the Princess for to assure you of my constanâ—ie and permit me to follow you in the manner that I have told you I may not too generous Princess said Justiniano my love and my reason will not suffer it But sufficeth it not that I will have it so replyed Isabella for the obliging you to obey me No my Princess it is not enough answered Justiniano and my misery is arrived to that point that I must for the love of you oppose you and I cannot acquit my self of all that I am owing to you but in disobeying you The Princess then found herself so seized with grief as she remained a long time without abilitie to speak the use of her eyes was almost gone and so was that of her teares too for the easing of herself so much had the excess of her sorrow suspended all the functions of life in her She was negligently leaning on the table neer to which he sate and without giving any sign of sence save that of breathing she was in an estate of moving to pitty even cruelty it self Justiniano seeing her so was affraid she would have swooned He took her by the hand and besought her to remember that great courage which she had alwaies shewed against the persecutions of fortune It is not fortune that surmounts me said she sighing it is thy insensibility Ah! Madam replyed he falling down on his knees before her and wetting her hand with his teares wholly transported with love and grief will you have me render my self infamous break my word and not return to Constantinople I am ready to obey you This couragious Princess did her uttermost then to take heart again and beholding him with eyes whence the first teares began to issue forth No my Justiniano I would not have that said she unto him but onely I would have you promise me that within the time you are to stay here you will obtain the resolution from your self to mary me and to permit me to follow you for in conclusion I cannot consent that we should be separated from one another but by death alone This last word was no sooner pronounced but the Princess found hee self very ill she became pale and languishing her eyes that were so clear so piercing and so full of fire grew dead and dull on a suddain and gently closing themselves up she fell backward on her chair her head leaning on the left side and weakly reaching out her right hand to Justiniano who was so surprised to see her so changed in an instant as he could not forbear crying out pretty lowd But forcing herself to speak she bid him with a low voyce not to fear the end of an evill whereof the beginning was so violent foreseeing well that fortune was not yet weary of persecuting her But Justiniano without answering her opens the Cabinet door calls her women who frighted to see her in that case advertise Aemilia of it and losing their respect in this sorrow they demand of her all at once what she ayles What her disease is and so busie themselves in succoring her as they render her no service at all But she being unwilling to give them leisure to inquire it to the cause of her sickness did her uttermost for to tell them in half opening her eyes that some days past she had indeed foreseen that she should be sick and having neglected those little symptomes which she had concealed she perceived very well that she was entring into a fit of a feaver which was beginning upon her by this weakness that she felt Justiniano admiring her wisdom and prudence did what he could to imitate her and concealing a part of his grief he perswaded her to goe and lye down on her bed but having not strength enough to sustain her self they carried her in the same chair wherein she sate to her chamber whither her Physicians where already come for being incountred by good hap in the Castle they had been advertised of this accident by one of the Princesses women They beheld her feel her pulse ask her questions to come to the knowledge of her disease and not able to find out the cause of it they testifie by their actions and by their unquietness that not knowing it perfectly they are troubled how to resolve on the choice of the remedies that they