greatnesse to abandon your throne and to put your person into the hands of a Prince who sometimes would have given the halfe of his Empire to whosoever would have brought him your head Zelmatida stopping Axiaman my deare friend said he the beleefe that our Divines have gotten to themselves through the superstition of weake spirits rather then by the truth of their predictions exerciseth at this day its tyranny over the councell of Kings as absolutely as over the Assemblies of the common people The most wise amongst the Caciques preoccupated with these vaine errors have no more hope neither in the abilities of their Ministers nor in the valour of their Armies but regulating all their affaires by the melancholy visions of their false Prophets draw on their ruine in striving to divert it Montezuma is not the man alone strucken with this dangerous malady The contagion hath even reached Quasmez and hath to himselfe made his owne happinesse â—…o insupportable that some have beene enforced to use strong oppositions to hinder him from going out of his owne Territories to put himselfe into the mercy of his mortall enemy The pity to see so good a Prince in so strange a phrensy hath caused me to come alone into this Kingdome and heere makes me live unknowne T is true I had gone hence long since if a cause sufficient to stay me eternally forced me not to put all things else in oblivion rather then to part hence And I must tell it thee Axiaman and in so doing I make thee the depositary of my fortune of my life and of mine honour Axiaman hearing Zelmatida talke thus threw himselfe at his feete and embracing his knees no no my Lord said he I recall that indiscreet request I made to you Discover not so great secrets to me Their importance makes me mistrust my selfe I begin to feare the weakenesse of humane mindes for it may chance that by one of those mishaps which troubles the judgement and makes the most innocent to offâ—…nd that striving to keepe my faith inviolated to you I fall into some perfidy Zelmatida raising up the Prince I know Axiaman said he better then Axiaman knowes himselfe and I thinke that neither hope nor feare which can doe all shall be ever able to make him guilty of an ill action Heare then deare Axiaman my deplorable fortune and have pity on a wretch to whom both life and death are equally funestous I am come to Mexico to seeke out a treasure which Montezuma hath stollen from Quasmez and in lieu of finding it I have lost my selfe That eternall and sovereigne power which raignes over all men hath made me loue Isatida and my will yet more absolute then destiny hath imposed on me a necessity of serving her all my life and to conceive of her as of something farre more to be valued then either the Empire of Quasmez or that of Montezuma Axiaman staied not to answer till Zelmatida had made an end of his discourse but interrupted him and said that he needed to know no more of it to be satisfied of many things that were passed and especially of the causes of Isatida's imprisoning I aske you no more said he your businesse on the Lake I have discovered that designe and I see whither you would goe but to cut you off from a fruitlesse labour I will tell you newes the most pleasant that you can receive in your ill fortune and t is that I am the sole man intrusted by Montezuma for the guarding of Isatida On the suddaine the Prince gave way to be transported with his first conceptions But presently reason and noblenesse opposed themselves against the fury of those pernicious Councellors and represented to Zelmatida that he ought to exact from Axiaman nothing that was unworthy of either of them He suppressed therefore in himselfe the unjust requests that he intended to make him and sighing often Is it possible said he to Axiaman that you are Isatida's Guardian I am so replied he and judge you to what Montezuma's opinion of my fidelity obligeth me That 's my despaire cried Zelmatida that Montezuma hath made so good an elect ion All the waies to get Isatida are shut to me and I may obtaine from the most brutish and cruell of all the Mexicans that which I neither can expect nor desire especially from you Axiaman continued this poore Lover with a sad tone you have then Isaâ—…ida in your power and you may when you please taste the sweets of her sight and converse I have that good fortune replied Axiaman and if the prison of the Princesse were not to me a continuall cause of discontent I should thinke my selfe happier in keeping heâ—… then in commanding all Mexico How cried againe Zelmatida you keepe Isatida Axiaman you guard Isatida Axiaman interrupting him for feare he should intreat somewhat which he could not graunt my Lord said he suppose your selfe in my place 〈◊〉 you please and wrest not from a person that can deny you nothing till you have considered what an honest man owes to his word owes to those that trust him and owâ—… to himselfe I aske nothing of you replied Zelmatida but that you will deplore of fortune I will doe more said Axiaman without being fâ—…lse to Montezuma or to my â—…fe I will bring you to the sight of Isatida Adde not said Zelmatida adde not any condition to what you offer Yes deare Axiaman I promise to aske you nothing nor to eâ—…terprise ought after so deare a sight If you feare that my passion is likely to 〈◊〉 me charge me with fetters binde my armes and hands and let me have nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the use of speech I will endure all on condition to have yet once the happinesse to behold my faire Princesse and to know from her owne mouth what she hath resolved of my life I will get me farre away from Mexico amongst places not habitable to end my deplorable destiny Axiaman resolute to give my deare Master that contentment t is enough said he to him I know that Zelmatida can doe nothing that is not worthy of himselfe Be then my deare Lord to morrow at this houre at the foot of the great Tower of the Castle and assure your selfe that you shall see Isatida if she expresly forbid it not Zelmatida a thousand times embracing Axiaman and calling him as often the Author of his reviving tooke leave of him and retired to his lodging He could not shut his eyes all night but to execute what he had resolved he went out of his chamber at breake of day and was at the rising of Montezuma After diverse discourses he fell on that of his house and inventing to the King divers most important newes told him that he was called home by his Father and that the Cacique his Uncle by the mariage of his Daughter with him would make an end of all those differences which had almost ruined their Family Montezuma seemed to take no great pleasure in
she is faire that she is witty that she is virtuous I shall not have saied enough of her when I have told you that she is beauty it selfe that she is the highest of the created Intelligences and in short should be taken for that extraordinary virtue to which the ancient Philosophers gave the Sirname Heroicall This Princesse to have nothing equalize her on Earth lost the Queene her Mother assoone as she was borne To preserve the memory of his marriage Alcidus out of his owne Name and his Wives composed that of the Young Princesse and called her Alcidiana At that Name Polexander sigh'd but fearing least the old Shepheard might discover the cause he stifled within him more then the halfe of his Sigh The Old Man taking no â—…eed to it thus went on with his discourse Some few dayes after this Princesse birth the Riner Arzilea overflowed his banckes and rising hie even to some old buildings which were called the Tombes of the Prophets cast downe a peece of a wall which inclosed the Vaults where the bodyes of the Prophets had been buried When the River was retir'd into his Channell some body mark'd that ruine and his curiosity leading him into those Caves He saw a great Tombe covered with plates of Gold Presently he published this wonder through the City and the King being advertiz'd of it sent thither a guard A little after thrust on no doubt by some divine inspiration he went himselfe to those Sepulchers made the plates of them to be cleans'd and thereon found very ancient characters by which he understood 't was neere three hundred yeares since the death of those Prophets He had patience to read all that was there written and hapned on a plate separated from the rest to meet with certaine predictions which gave him matter enough to meditate and ponder on There was one whereon it was manifestly spoken of his raigne and of his House I cannot relate to you the proper termes but I will tell you the Substance The Prophesiy spoke of Alcidus Voyage of the short continuance of those two marriages of a Sonne which he was to have by the first which should be one day one of the most valiant Princes of the World and King of a very great Kingdome if he could be taken alive out of the Wombe of his dead Mother It added further how of a second marriage Alcidus should have a Daughter of so much perfection and rarity thar she should be esteem'd the miracle of her age and be passionately desired by many Strange Princes But that it behoved them to have a wonderfull care for the gard of that Princesse because she was threatned by many Accidents and among others to be stolne away and forc'd in her owne Pallace and to be one day the Wife of a Slave sprung from the most barbarous of all the Nations of Affrica To this prophesie there was joyn'd another in which the Prophet seem'd to see that African Slave arrive in 〈◊〉 Kingdome He solicites him for his undertaking the defence thereof against the enterprizes of many Strangers that would have lain it desolate and promiseth the Queen in the name of the Deity that if she could resolve to take that to her Husband the felicities of her Raigne should be farre more great then those of the precedent Governments Hitherto we have seen nothing of all that which the Prophesie presageth us except the death of our two Queenes that of the King who was taken from us at his age of five and forty and if the speech be true the designe which a Prince of this country called Siziphus had on Alcidiana But the late King who naturally was devout euen to superstition gave such credit to these prophesies that he caused the Princesse his daughter to be nursed in a Palace whereto no person could approach and when she was past the brest he chose many young Gentlemen of his Court to be oâ—… her guard Of them he compos'd an order of Knighthood obliged them by an irrevocable oath to dy for the defence of his daughter and appointed them to weare great chayns of gold to the end rhey might shew themselves to be the Slaves of Alcidiana This Company hath almost still subsisted and during the life of the King my Master some French and other Strangers driven by tempests on our coastes by their brave actions obtaind to be put in the number of Alcidianas Slaves Some time and not long after the death of Alcidus the Princesse sequestred her selfe wholly from the conversation of men and besides her publique Court which is composed of the Grandys of her Kingdome and the Officers of the Crowne She constituted a particular one whereinto only Maides and Women are admitted The Queen is never seen of men but when she is obliged to do some publique action be it as a Princesse or a Prelatesse Sometimes to recreate her She betakes her to the country and there enjoyes the pleasure of Hunting The rest of her time She remaines shut up in her palace amongst her Women Thus the Old Shepheard instructed Polexander in all the State secrets he knew and so fully satisfied all his curiositieâ—… that he gave him not place to aske him any one Question Seeing himselfe then so well informed he tooke hold of and went over againe with the Shepheards discourse and to content his passion he began to exaggerate the Majesty of Alcidiana and the happinesse of her subjects and ended his speech with new thankes and new Offers to the Old man and to oblige him to stay yet drew from his little finger a very great Diamond and with a good grace presented it to him The good Old man very civily refused it and told him that when he tooke on the Habit of a Shepheard hee had put off not only the Hope but the desire of riches That he wanted nothing because he could content himselfe with a little and that if he found any one that would disburthen him of a part of the meanes his Ancestors had left him he should walke on to his Grâ—…ve with a merrier heart then he did Polexander admiring so solid a virtue would not atake the paines againe or try new waies to incline it Contrarily he thought it amisse done in putting it to that tryall and imployed all the best words he had to crown it as worthily as it deserved The old Shepherd was a little tempted by the Eares as had he been by his Eyes The Prince his praises put him into a confusion and made him resolve to put somewhat in action that might oblige the Prince not to continue them He therefore arose and making avery low reverence to the Prince humbly besought him he might know whither he could be any further usefull to him you will bee extreamely so alwaies replied the Prince but for the present I intreat you one favour and 't is if your affaires can permit it you will do me the Honor to let me enjoy your company till
Africk and getting hold 〈◊〉 him just as hee was about to throw himselfe into the Sea I did that through avaricâ—… which another would have done for compassion When hee found himselfe stai'd he â—…ell on mee with the fury of a Lion that is oppos'd in his passage I told him that his â—…paire was unworthy a man of valour and how extraordinary soever his misfortunâ—… were 〈◊〉 ought not free himselfe from them by a way so base criminall My discourâ—… having recollected him hee would have told mee hee had causes enough why he shoâ—…ld hate tâ—… live but beleeving hee did not sufficiently expresse himselfe by his signes he tooke me by the hand and led me backe to the Tombe where opening the goâ—…den grate and making me enter he shew'd me the body which I had before seene At tâ—…is sad object he renewed his plaints and teares and was a long time thus celebratinâ—… the funeralls of that dead I that had no other thought but to execute my first designe was about foâ—…re or five times to ridde my selfe of him but being I know not by what feare as often hindred I got him from the Sepulchre and led him towards the Sea side the night tooke us ere we got thither and was followed with so great a darknesse that in spite of aâ—… my care and all the eyes which hope and feare could give me I was seperated from the Mute I gave not over walking all night long for feare of losing him But it was already day when I found him sleeping at the point of that Rock whence you saw us fall Foâ—… feare of wakening him I laid my selfe softly downe close by him and made so good use of the sleight that divers excellent masters have taught me that nimbly and insensibly I got from him his two chaines the boxes tide to them I put them presently about my neck and to have no more to doe with the Mute resolv'd to send him to his eternall sleep But in the very instant Fortune who had runne mad if any good had betided me awak'd him and made him take notice not only of what I â—…d done but of that which I was on the point to execute He threw himselfe upon me with a terrible fury and in spite of all my resistance lifted me from the ground grasped me with his armes so strictly that I could scearce breath carried me to the point of our fatall Rock and howling as a beast enraged threw me headlong with himselfe into the Sea See Sir the unhappy successe of an enterprise whereon my highest hopes were planted Suffer me now to complaine of you and insteed of asking you pardon for my faults to accuse you for the hindring of their punishment Why have you drawne me from the bottome of the Sea and by a cruell pitty given me the feeling of my miseries and the knowledge of sad fortune Let the happy Mute possesse in quiet since I see it your resolution those so ill gotten riches but let him not possesse them for ever to my perpetuall despaire and at least grant me the losse of my life that with it I may lose the thought of so much treasure as was once assur'd me The young Turke that was not ignorant oâ—… forâ—…es injustices stood lesse on the ill inclinations of this souldier then on his coâ—…stancy and disgraces And assuring him that if he would live well he would make him fortune made him to reflect on the calumnies which he had invented against the Mâ—… and to confesse in spite of his envy that that man had asmuch innocency as courage It added he let us know the rest of his fortune and try to drawe from him by signe â—…r writing that which thou canst not tell me Herewith he caus'd the Mute to comâ—… with the rest that follow'd him out and having intreated him to remember no morâ—…â—…e actions of the Canarian besought him to make knowne what Prince it was wâ—…se heart he caried The Mute drew out that beloved heart from his bosome and after hâ—… often kissing it held it up aloft as if he would say that it was the heart of a man inâ—…mparable After many inarticulate exclamations he presented it to the young Turkeand shewing him with his finger the Island of Iron invited him to goe there on shot to have a full understanding of those adventures which he could not recount to him And when he saw that the young Turke made no more haste to be gone be feared that â—…hey conceiv'd not his meaning and therefore to make himself better understood he â—…oke his other boxe and with a countenance full of indignation and sadnesse deliver'd â—…t to the Turke He receiv'd it and curiously regarding it observ'd that the diamonds â—…erewith it was cover'd were not only of an extreame beauty and greatnesse but that they were too almost all graven Upon some they might see flames which seem'd to give the diamonds the luster which they ow'd them Upon others ciphers of severall fashions of Scepters mixed with arrowes crownes of palmes and mirtles interlac'd one within another After he had well view'd the cover of the boxe he opened it and found withâ—… the Pictâ—…re of a young Marvell who by the Majesty which the Painter represented iâ—… the face made her condition to be better knowne then by the Crowne she wore on her head The delicatenesse of her feature the carnation of her lips and the beauty of her colour would have made her to have been taken for a childe but that the becomming fulnesâ—… of her neck and brest and the luster of her eyes made them judge her to be about fifâ—…ene or sixteene yeares old Her haire was neither too light nor too browne and seem'd to be expresly made to accompany a face so perfectly delightfull and highten a tâ—…cture so wonderfull lively The young Turke having been long fixed on this Picture restor'd it to the Mute and told him he had never seene the originall The Mute oftenstriking his brest and receiving the Picture againe in choler made them know by hâ—…s actions that she was the sole cause of the death of the unknowne Prince The Turke â—…eing not yet well satisfied of his doubts resolv'd to land in the â—…sland of Iron and 〈◊〉 goe to that famous Monument to have some intelligence of the Mutes actions He câ—…uld not execute his intention for just then a mariner which was at the scuttle of the sâ—…ip witnessing at once his vigilancy and care cried out Sayles Sayles Sayles of Moâ—…cco These few words brought such a fright and confusion into the ship that the Marinâ—…s harkned not to the Pilot nor the Souldiers to the Captaine and some there were who â—…ot daring to attend the death that threatned them threw them selves into the Sea to â—…revent it The young Turke who was the onely man that stood firme amongst the fall of â—…ll his oppos'd an incredible greatnesse of courage to their not to be beleeved astonishâ—…nt He ran up
the walls of Mexico a great Scaffold raised in the middest of the Lake upon many boates linked to oâ—…e another On one side of the scaffold there was an Altar on which was an Idoll of gâ—…ld which held a Javelin in his hand many great â—…aions of gold round about the Altaâ—… and in them those instruments wherewithall the Mexican Priests did use to open those men that were sacrificed to their gods When the enemies sawe all the walls of Mexico ranged with men and women they caused those Priests to mount the Scâ—… which they had chosen for that sad ceremony The Priests perfumed the Idoll and repeated oftentimes the words of Venâ—…ce Retribution and Liberty After them were seene some Souldiers who gâ—…ed and brought those that were condemned to their deaths The first being at the place destiâ—… for execution was laid on a table and with an horrible inhumanity a Priest â—…ke 〈◊〉 great knife into his left side and thence drew out his heart presently he stuck it on the end of a javelin to make it seene the farther off and after he had so held it a while gave it to one of his companions This done two Souldiers tooke the body and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ—…to the lake twenty men were executed in this manner and 〈◊〉 knowiâ—…g sâ—…e of them cryed out alas thus infallibly will these Barbarians put to death all 〈◊〉 Tâ—…iths the Mexicans call all their great Lords so which have beene taken prisoneâ—… 〈◊〉 the King She had scarce ended these words but she heard a muttering of voices mingled with the resounding of trumpets and presently saw on the scaffold the wretched Montezuma who clad in his royall habiliments had his chaines on his legs and hands and witnessed by his trembling and lamentations that he was never worthy of that quality which he was now about to lose At this sight Hismalita growing furious tore her hayre plucked in peeces the Diadem she had on her head and was with much adoe held by the Princes that were about her What ye Mexicans cryed she will you endure that the hangman shall lay his abhominable hands on the sacred person of your King of your visible god What is become of that faith you swore to him on the Altars and in the presence of the gods Doe you no more remember that you have acknowledged him for your Master for your Father for your Life and at his coronation all falling on the Earth offered your selves as Sacrifices ready to shed your blood for his preservation She would have continued her remonstrances but a new object of griefe depriving her of understanding as well as speech put her some time from her selfe she came againe with being much troubled and came againe to her more sorrow and anguish for she sawe foure Priests take Montezuma and despoyling him of his robes bound his eyes and layed him along on the same table where the other prisoners had lost their lives The excesse of her resentment rendring her speech Hangman cry'd she strike not the King see mee here ready to receive the blowe come come glut your rage upon the unfortunate Hismalita and in so saying she fell as dead among the armes of her women and fortune would have it so to the end that that Princesse by the violence of her afflictions should learne to be no more insensible of the misery of others She was no sooner swounded but the boates of Mexico fell on those of the Theviciens and during their fight one man alone forcing his way in spite of so many enemies ascended the scaffold where Montezuma was ready to be executed threw five or sixe of the Priests into the lake overturned the Altar and the Idoll and unbinding the King of Mexico changed his scaffold into a theater of tryumph The Mexicans seeing so glorious a beginning of the enterprise of my Lord the Inca you may well thinke that any other then he could not have performed so difficult an action rushed in on their enemies and fearing no more death fell on them so vigorously that above a thousand boates and more then sixe thousand Theviciens â—…nke to the bottome There were taken of them some foure thousand who loaden with chaines were throwne into the towne Prisons Hismalita returning â—…rom her swound was told that by the wonderfull valour of Zelmatida the Theviciens were overthrowne on the lake and Montezuma delivered when he was at the point to receive the stroake of death The enemies wounded and fettered which they drew along the streetes were sufficient proofes of those victories which she might doubt of yet imagining that her happinesse was too great to be true she could not beleeve it till she sawe Zelmatida who leading Montezuma by the hand came to restore to her that other precious halfe of her selfe and bring againe all those prosperities and glories she had lost As soone as she had resettled Montezuma in his throne and left him with his Queene and daughters he departed without saying any thing and causing the trumpets and other instruments of warre to sound every where drew out of the towne all those that were of age sufficient to fight He made them to be fylde along the causseyes with an extreeme diligence and put them into batalia in the sight of the enemies The Cacique of Thevic knew the designe of the beseiged and in spite of the terror that the name of Zelmatida gave him prepared himselfe to fight and did all that could be expected from a man that was as valiant as he was ambitious He put his people in order aâ—…d told them that if they overcame their enemies they went not away with one sole victory but that there were five or sixe linked one to another Therefore in winning the battell said he your liberty is assured you your Tyrants become your slaves all Mexico is conquerd and our short misfortunes followed by perpetuâ—… â—…elicities Zelmatida for his part went from batalion to batalion and according to the diversitie of mindes and countries changed his tongue and perswasions Every one was animated by his owne interest and the eloquence of this invincible Commander Presently the skyrmishes began and continued on both sides At last the grosse of the Army moved the battalions joyned and their arrowes gave place to more mortall weapons I will not make you a particular description of the battell nor anoy you in remarking what the Mexicans performed Let us fixe if you please on Zelmatida since 't is his victory that you would knowe and not that of his enemies This Prince then searching out the ambitious Cacique of Thevic among his troopes was compelled in finding him to come to handy stroakes with many hardy Theviciens whom he overcame not without much hazarding himselfe At last being already all bloody and weary with so many brunts already sustained he met with Coatelicamat that was driving before him a whole batalion of Mexicans he put himselfe betweene the Runawayes and the Cacique and comming up to
by all those who assisted me as if he had beene the tutelar god by whose vertue the power of the Sorceresse should be absolutely annihilated A little after his birth they gave him me in mine armes As feeble as I was I tooke him and I befeech the gods said I to him thou beest borne to a more happy Fate then thy Mother Presentâ—…y the Messenger whom I had chosen to carry the newes to the King went away and used such expedition that in two dayes he came to the unfortunately inchanted Island Zabaim receiv'd the message with an appearance of joy but sent back my Posts not giving him leave to take his repast and made him set saile without the permission of speaking with Almaid of any other The same day he came to me conceal'd what might discontent me and inventing an extreme satisfaction said the King had promis'd he would be quickly with me Alas he came not and thought it enough to send Almaid That generous Favourite seeing me so desolate forc'd himselfe as much as was possible for feare of encreasing my afflictions but the compassion he tooke of my fortune overcame his resolution and drew teares from his eyes 'T was yet worse when he would have spoken to me for his speech failing him at the first word he stood as knowing not what to say and by that confusion told me what Zelopa's wickednesse was able to make me suffer In the meane time that Wisdome which is the Source of all other forsooke me not in that extremity In lieu of despairing at Almaids discomfort I found my selfe miraculously fortified My courage encreased and finding my selfe armed against all that might happen What Almaid said I must I contribute a constancy and consolation which I expected from you Cannot you endure the sight of an unfortunate woman or have you not the heart to tell to what new torments she is condemned Almaid seeing with what constancy I bore my affliction tooke courage and thinking there was no need of mincing my misfortune to make it the more supportable to me Madam said he the King who is not yet well satisfied in his former suspicions would see the little Prince before he would have him acknowledged for his Son He hath commanded me to come hither and to bring the child to him without delay Let nothing hinder you from being conformable to what he desires Doe this last violence on your selfe Give him that admirable proofe of your love and obedience and consider if you please the consequence and importance of his command Cruell and barbarous command cried I but I must obey it since my Lord will have it so and that with the sensibility of Nature I lose all those feares which our Enemy throwes on us Take this little Infanâ—… Almaid and go maugre your selfe deliver it to the fury of inhumane Zelopa She cannot endure Zabaims lawfull heire to live He must dye to assure her tyranny One same day must give and take away from me the quality of a Mother and without doubt by a fearfull agnition that monster must offer up the Son to those Demons which have sacrific'd the father to her Almaid having by his remonstrances and teares obliged me to put a period to my laments Madam said he if any of my actions have had the power to make your thoughts doe me the honour as to thinke me worthy the name of an honest man I submisâ—…y beseech you to believe the little Prince shall run no danger and that I will dye a thousand deaths if possible ere I suffer any whatsoever to attempt ought against his life Let your Majesty therefore set your minde at rest and satisfie the will of a father who is most dangerous to be provok'd I wil not say some great happinesse may succeed your obedience but I am certaine your refusall will render our wrongs absolutely incurable After he had thus spoake and told me what perill it was to detaine him he cast himselfe at the feet of a Lady of Senega who was most of my Counsell and all my comfort to dispose her to follow his opinion I knew well I must resolve to leave my childe I therefore call'd for it and bedewing it with my teares Goe said I little creature unfortunate assoone as borne goe under the protection of heaven which I adore whither his commands call thee by whom thou sawest the light Give him a tryall of thy obedience even before thou knowest him and when thou art with him suppresse thy cryes and teares for feare of his ill interpretation by imagining thou turn'st against him all those armes which Nature hath bestowed on thee With these words I fell into a swound and my childe had falne on the ground if Almaid had not caught him He carried the childe to his lodging and in lesse then two houres making all things ready put on his way with my Son and the women which waited on him The very day on which that desolate troupe came to a Castle on the Sea side Zabaim heard of it and leaving his inchanted Island came to see this living image of himselfe Almaira presented the child to him and said I beseech'd him by our first love to consider that Infant as he was the father of it 'T is that to which Zelopa represents me cried Zabaim She would have me use that power which the name of father gives me and would not have any thing that is mine owne to be deerer to me then my selfe Thou therefore poore innocent creature must bethe Sacrifice not for the expiation but the continuance of thy fathers offences Zelopa covets thy life weake and unfortunate Infant and will not believe my love to be without example till she have seene me commit a murther which shall never have any Dye then since my fury condemnes thee and let my weake and captivated reason give way to that unjust necessity which pronounceth the Sentence of thy death What thou weep'st my childe and thy little cries seeme to implore my assistance against Zelopa's cruelty Stay thy teares smother these laments and if thou wilt have me to be pitifull do nothing that may make me so But alas I see that all things conspire with thine Enemy Nature betrayes in fayning to succour thee Thy teares in lieu of pleading for thy safety solicit thy destruction and thy cries precipitate thy fate in going about to divert it Well 't is done I am vanquish'd Pity hath mollified my hard heart I feele the force of bloud I confesse my selfe thy father and therefore thou must dye for Zelopa assign'd me that fatall moment and commanded me then to begin thy murder when Nature gave me the most lively and tender feelings a father could have for his Son Zabaim could not continue his lamentations The overflowing of his teares and the violence of his fobs and sighes tooke away the use of his voyce He stood sometime like a Statue but on the suddaine passing from one extreme to another He
presently alighting from his owne and offering his Sword to that dejected proud one 'T is now said he Abdelmelec that thou must beg thy life of me and since thou art not in case to instruct me I will take thy place to tell thee that thou soyl'st thy vertues with a vice which is not so much as supportable in the person of those who are continually victorious Courtesie and humility should be the particular vertues of Kings Others which are not of so high a birth may sometimes be proud but Princes renounce the advantage they have over the rest of men as often as they are apt to forget themselves This long oration was not very pleasing to Abdelmelec for Almanzors Sword was all that while at his throat nor would he answer a word to it but shewed by his demeanour he desir'd rather to dye then to beg his life Almanzor gave it him and presenting his hand to help lift him up Come said he let 's goe get our selves dress'd and never afflict your selfe with the successe of your Combate for I swear to you Alcidiana hath not brought me in love with her and I have no intent to crosse your Suite Abdelmelec hearing Almanzor's declaration could well have wish'd he had never been jealous of him but 't was too late for those thoughts He was then carried to the Palace and put into the Surgeons hands Almanzor who had but two sleight hurts got againe on horse backe and follow'd with the Acclamations and Praises of all the Court went to Zabaim and related to him what had pass'd betwixt Abdelmelec himself The King would see his wounds and have their first dressing in his presence For Abdelmelec he was sore hurt but his rage to be twice quell'd by one same man troubling him more then his wounds he besought Zabaim to be pleas'd he might retire to Morocco Zabaim told him the danger whereto he exposed himselfe yet had he rather hazard his life in getting further from Almanzor then to preserve it by being ingag'd to see him againe Zabaim did all he could to stay him but seeing his exceeding resolution to be gone would not hinder it but conducting him to his Ship left him to the protection of Mahomet Almanzor in the meane time thought on his cure and in lesse then fifteene dayes was in case to leave his chamber The second time he went abroad as Zabaim and he walked on the Sea shore they perceiv'd a ship beare right up to them they had the patience to stay her entrance into the Gulph and assoon as she had furl'd her sayles the curiosity of learning newes wonne them to send for the Captaine of the Ship who receiving the commandment sent backe him that brought it and intreated he would let Zabaim understand that he had such things to shew him as would be very pleasing to him The Messenger was no sooner return'd but the Captain landed and with him an ancient man clad like the Jewes of Africa and a woman of more then three sore yeares old which led in her hand a young mayden of sixteen or seaventeene yeares so amiable and so richly clad that the two Princes invited by her admirable beauty stood long time gazing on her Ah Almanzor thou hadst not now been the Captaine to a company of theeves if the power of thy soule had not slackned at sight of that faire Wanderer Zabaim after he had long look'd on her made her come neere and ask'd the Captaine whence he was and by what adventure those three persons he brought with him were falne into his hands The Captaine following the ill custome of those that come from farre unwilling to let slip the least accident had befalne in his voyage was about to begin a very tedious relation when Zabaim cutting him off bade him answer succinctly to these two questions The Captaine obeying against his will told him he was of the Isle of Madera and had a long time trafiqued into Spaine The last time I was at Lisbon said he I had such contrary windes and the tempest was so furious that I was cast on the coasts of Fez I staid there some time to trim my ship and attending a favourable winde the very day before I set saile as I walked on the strand those three persons you see there came out from under the rocks which were by the Sea side and shewing their feares by their teares cast themselves at my feet this old man imbracing my knees began thus My Lord said he if you beleeve there is in heaven a Divinity which recompenceth pious actions and watcheth for the preservation of oppressed Innocents have pity on three miserable creatures and suffer not this harmlesse Soule with that he shew'd me this young mayden to be a prey to those villaines that pursue her If their cruelty would have beene satiated by our deaths we had glutted it but their fury threatens us with a more horrible disaster They would immolate the honour of this Virgin to the brutishnesse of their Prince and have us consent to the ruine of that for whose preservation we would give a thousand lives The good man's speech much mov'd me I tooke him with his company into my ship and weigh'd anchor to returne to Madera but the winde unwilling to have it so hath cast me on this Coast and the old man knowing it gave thankes to heaven and besought me to land him with his wife and daughter I could not deny him so just a request and therefore bring him with me taking to witnesse the Justice which reignes in heaven that I have carefully observ'd the Lawes of Hospitality and have not fail'd of any duty which the prudent Law of nature wills us to render to one another This Commander that might passe for a miracle amongst Sea-faring men ask'd those whom he conducted whether they had any cause to complaine of him but receiving thankes and blessings from them in lieu of accusations tooke leave of them and the Princes and so retir'd into his vessell Zabaim was ravish'd at the vertue of that Pilot but he was farre more with the beauty of that visible Angell who was come from a place so remote to put her selfe under his protection For Almanzor he stood as tied by the eyes on the face of the faire stranger at last hee suddenly came out of his deep and dangerous contemplation and having heard nothing of what had been said 'T is to be confess'd said he to Zabaim that she is perfectly faire but let 's know what she is and whence she comes For this quarter's houre repli'd Zabaim wee have talk'd of nothing else No doubt if you continue as you begin you will out-goe all those that have been before you Almanzor blush'd at Zabaim's jeasting and though it reflected on the pleasure he had taken in beholding the faire stranger yet he could not refraine from looking on her againe and to wonder in himselfe at the sweetnesse of her eyes and the power of
all alive seeing her funeralls perform'd and notwithstanding Mahomets forbidding to receive such honours as are reserv'd for men onely wept as much for joy as griefe and even ravish'd to see how deare her memory was to Zabaim When the prayers were ended Zabaim arose from his place as pale and wan as he had been ready to give up the ghost and made a signe that he would speake Presently there was a great silence and the Prince beginning his speech with teares continued with these words I should rather let you know by the effusion of my bloud then my teares how guilty I am All that former ages have seen of cruelty of barbarisme of inhumanity cannot parallel but the least part of my actions I have violated all manner of Lawes I have by execrable courses blotted out the Character which heaven had imprinted on my brow and the Majesty of Kings which hath been hitherto the love and safety of all Nations is become by being communicated to me the terrour of Innocents and abomination of all men 'T was I my friends 't was I who thrust the sword into the bosome of the incomparable Almanzaira I am the unnaturall father who consented to the death of him to whom I gave life Yes I have depriv'd you of your legitimate Prince I pluck'd him out of his Nurses armes and to glut the ambition of a wicked woman have not trembled to abandon that Innocent to the outrages of fortune Had I alone contributed to his birth as I have to his misery I would esteeme you happy in being delivered from the race of such a monster as I. But alas Almanzaira gave him you and you beleeve as well as my selfe she being the perfect rendezvous of all royall vertues could produce nothing but what was worthy to governe Lament therefore and bewaile that great losse make the Author of your misfortunes feele your just anger Remember how dearly Almanzaira lov'd you and suffer not her executioner to be any longer your master At that word Zabaim was constrained to stop because his weaknesse being neither answerable to the vehemency of his action nor the excesse of his griefe he stood suddenly without voyce or motion This accident causing a great trouble among the people every one arose to help the Prince and the noise increasing with the opinion they had of his death Almanzaira left her place and thrusting her selfe in amongst the prease without any other consideration then to get neere the King made so good shift that she came close to the Kings throne when he came out of his faintnesse Every body seeing him recover'd tooke their places againe and Almanzaira hiding her selfe behinde some of the Guard would attend till her Lord descended to cast her self at his feet He in the meane time all dying and wet with teares What my friends said he have you no resentment Will you let me live since Almanzaira is dead She is not cry'd out the Queene breaking forth from behinde those which hindred her from being seen she is not for heaven would not suffer her to be so soon depriv'd of her Lord. Zabaim affrighted to heare that voyce and to see a woman come creeping on her knees towards him arose from his chaire and presently fell backe againe and there lay long without stirring In the meane while those who were neerest the King look'd on Almanzaira and knew her though she seem'd to them much chang'd and ask'd one another if what they saw were not some new inchantment of Zelopa Whilst Zabaim came out of his insensibility and that all the world press'd and cry'd out to see the Queene Almaid declar'd himselfe and intreated them to make way for him At this new cause of astonishment the multitude redoubled their acclamations throng'd together and seeing Almaid could not passe lifted him up and from hand to hand carried him to the King Art thou descended from heaven deare Almaid said Zabaim to confirme the good newes I heare and dare not beleeve He staid not for an answer but certainly crediting that she before him could be none other then Almanzaira he fell on his knees and taking her by the hands Doe I then said he see you againe deare Almanzaira and have your enemies been lesse cruell to you then I But do you not return to upbraid me of my inhumanity and aske Justice for it from all the World My Lord repli'd the Queen forget if you please the griefes I have throwne on you and let me see that my returne and life is not displeasing to you All the assistants lifted their hands to heaven throng'd about the King and Queen to congratulate so miraculous a re-union and understanding it was an effect of Almaid's fidelity they call'd him aloud the Redeemer of Senega This worthy Favorite to satisfie the King his master and the rest of the company declar'd in few words all that we have knowne before At which recitall their admiration increased and the multitude which takes pleasure in framing to themselves causes of astonishment added miracles and prodigies to Almanzaira's adventures to the end to give new nourishment to their greedinesse of deceiving themselves In the meane time the Priests changed their prayers and requests into giving thankes They praised Heaven for this happy and unexpected successe and sent backe Zabaim with as much comfort and joy as he had of despaire and sorrow when he came into the Temple Almanzaira for all her being re-established in her former fortune and environ'd with such glory as any other but her selfe had been lost in it forgot not Polexander She besought the King he might be look'd after to render him what she ought as the person whom the eternall Providence had made use of to denounce the end of her miseries Polexander straight presented himselfe and doing reverence to the King without making knowne who he was follow'd him to the Palace with Almaid and many others of the chiefe in Court The people on their parts renew'd with their fires the joy they had so long smother'd and running as their manner is from one extreame into another spent the rest of that night in sports in feastings in musicke and other jocundnesse Zabaim spent it more seriously for assoone as he had bid good night to all the Court he shut himselfe in his privy chamber with Almanzaira Polexander and Almaid and accusing himselfe in their presence of all those crimes his love had made him commit ask'd the Queen pardon a thousand times and mov'd her so much by his submissions as she thought so good she was there was no body guilty but her selfe But to divert Zabaim from his sad thoughts My Lord said she the same Goodnesse which hath preserv'd your Almanzaira from the power of all the Devills hath not onely had care of the true Almanzor's life but hath many times sent him you as a tutelar Angell to defend you against your ill-affected Subjects Rebellion and to re-conquer those Countries which divers tyrants had
negotiation had so good an issue congratulated with the one and the other the union of their affections And would needs before they parted celebrate the feast of these spirituall Nuptials For two dayes together there was nothing else done but on the third a new sorrow succeeded their joy They were to part Polexander and Zelmatida though they were to take leave never to see one another againe found in their discretions and in the strength of their soules so much constancy as was necessary for so cruell a separation But the two Princesses being of a more milde nature and lesse capable of a high resolution had all the paines that could be to winne themselves to it A hundred times they bad farewell and as often weeping renew'd the same â—…ents and had the same irresolutions At last the winde and the Mariners shouts inviting both to their last Adieuâ—… they imbrac'd one another and moystning their cheeks with their teares bewaild as much as if they had beene to be led to their deaths Polexander tooke his Sister out of Izatida's armes and Zelmatida having lead his Princesse to the Sea and then over a bridge the Mariners â—…d made the more easily to imbarke her one same winde separating the vessels of those foure admirable personages Zelmatida steered West and Polexander North-Easterly The end of the fourth Part of the third Booke THE THIRD PART OF POLEXANDER The fifth Booke POlexanders ship was fifteene dayes under sayle with so favourable a winde that he crossed that large extent of Sea which severs the Isles of Cape verd from the Canaries and came happily to an Anchor at that Isle where the young Almanzor had chosen him a place for his glorious Sepulcher Our Heroe presently call'd to minde the lamentable end of so generous a Prince And to acquit him of that which he owed his memory landed with a resolution to visit his tombe He made his intention knowne to Cydaria and invited her to that action of piety But the Princesse who knew but one Almanzor was so startled to heare of his death that her griefe betraying her discretion she grew pale and withall intreated Polexander to relate by what accident that Prince dyed so farre from his owne Country His extreame generosity lost him replied our Heroe and himselfe turning against himselfe that great courage which hath made him so famous chose rather to lose his life then to live and not see the faire subject of his passions Cydaria strove extreamely with her selfe to resist the effects of this sad newes Yet could she not hold that command over her first agitations which she was wont to do on other occasions and shewing she was subject as others to the weakenesse of humane condition How doe I said she grieve for Andromeda and pity Abrinzias At that word Polexander perceiving his Sisters errour Do not bewaile those Princes said he that Almanzor of whom I speake is indeed the Son of Zabaim but not of Almanzaira He whom you thinke on is living and if appearances deceive me not at this time reignes over almost all those provinces which we have coasted along by since we came from Benin Cydaria angry with her selfe for appearing so weake on an occasion wherein she would have shewed her selfe strongest condemn'd her â—…o a long penance for that fault and thinking on Almanzor as he had beene guilty of it did what she could to blot him out of her memory or at least out of her heart She was loath Polexander should perceive these last emotions she therefore went ashore with him and accompanying him to Almanzors tombe intimated an extreame desire of hearing the particularities of his History Polexander gave her that contentment and going back to the Source of all related to her the amourous errours of Zabaim the power of Zelopa's wit and beauty the brâ—…eding of both the Almanzors and the tragicall end of the youngest He had scarce ended his discourse when he entred the wood of weeping trees in the midst whereof was the stately tombe of the African Prince and giving to Cydaria's curiosity that which he would not have done to his owne began to consider the rich monuments of his Rivals love He went neere to two blacke marble columnes which stood at the entry into the Tombe and staid to reade that which was written on a great table of brasse which two Doves flying from the tops of those pillers seem'd to carry away with them He straight knew it to be Almanzors Epitaph which the trusty Almandarin had caus'd to be graven on the brasse and because it was in a language which Cydaria understood not he translated it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 WHOEVER THOU BE THAT LOOK'ST ON THIS TOMBE BE NOT LESSE SENSIBLE THEN THE TREES WHICH INCOMPASSE IT BUT AT LEAST MOYSTEN WITH SOME TEARES A PLACE THAT HATH BEEN BEDEW'D WITH THE NOBLEST BLOUD WAS EVER SHED FOR LOVE ALMANZOR WHO WAS BORNE TO COMMAND THE GREATEST PART OF AFRICA IS DEAD BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT SURVIVE THE LOSSE OF A SERVITUDE WHICH WAS DEARER TO HIM THEN ALL HIS CROWNES ADMIRE PASSINGER THIS PRODIGIOUS EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF LOVE WITH TREMBLING ADORE SO DREADFULL ADIVINITY ON EARTH LOADE HIS ALTARS WITH SACRIFICES AND PERFUMES AND GET HIM BE PROPITIOUS TO THEE OR RATHER TO BLOT THEE OUT OF THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHICH BY AN ETERNALL TRIBUTE HE EXACTS FROM TIME AND BEAUTY Cydaria was so neerely touched with these words that giving them the teares they demanded and mingling them with Polexanders yeelded to Almanzors vertue an homage which his memory shall recâ—…ive from all those which shall be sensible of the darts of love or noblenesse The heavens have done well said Polexander onely to shew thee to the world since they had no intent to lose those prerogatives which they have above it With that he opened the golden grate which shut up the Tombe and entring with his Sister stood a good while fix'd contemplating the marble which covered Almanzors body He curiously ey'd the Statues mark'd the Emblemes and Mottoes and saw every where signes of a great courage of an incomparable love and a desperate melancholy which had nothing in it of base or brutishnesse Amongst all these things he saw some Arabick characters and calling Cydaria to interpret them to her Hearken said he to Almanzors brave thoughts when he had lost all hope of seeing Alcidiana He hath caus'd it to be ingraven on this Tombe Judge whether it be not fit to be observed YEE MISERABLE WRETCHES WHO NOT KNOWING HOW TO LOVE AS YEE OUGHT DARE PLACE IT IN THE LIST OF THINGS PROPHANE COME NOT NEERE THIS TOMBE 'T IS THE ALTAR OF THAT DEITY WHOM YEE KNOW NOT. IT IS BUILT ONELY FOR YOU O BLESSED SOULES WHO RECKON THE DAYES OF YOUR LIFE BY THOSE OF YOUR LOVE COME THEN BOLDLY AND LEARNE THE MYSTERIES OF A PLACE CONSECRATED BY THE BLOUD OF THE GREAT ALMANZOR THAT PRINCE IS DEAD 'T IS A DISASTER WHICH ENGAGETH YOU TO BEWAILE HIM BUT
for her searching she caus'd a great many torches to belighted that she might not mistake but at last finde Polexander either alive or dead Being come to the place where the slaughter had beene greatest she her selfe turn'd and remov'd a great many bodies and finding not that of her Protector began an incredible lamentation In the meane while Alcippus who with a torch in his hand searched more narrowly then shee came to the place from whence Polexander was newly gone and knowing his armour cri'd out that he was certainly dead His light fell out of his hands and lifting them aloft O Heaven cry'd he jealous of extraordinary vertue hast thou permitted an infamous rout to extinguish by an obscure death the bravest life of the world With that hee turned to Tisiphone and presenting her his tasses and one of Polexanders gantlets See said he all that you shall finde remaining of that Prince whom you have delivered into the hands and to the mercy of these murderers Tisiph one going out of one furie that had some bounds to another which had none at all tooke Polexanders gantlet and presenting it to the dead as if they had beene in case to heare her Villaines cri'd she who for these many yeares have been the authors of my afflictions what have you done with Polexander after you had kill'd him Shall I not have the comfort to injoy him dead since it was deni'd me living Seeke said she turning to Amintha and Alcippus seek ye faithfull servants of that unfortunate Prince and if ye cannot finde his body at least finde me his sword What! you hearken to me but assist me not and instead of prosecuting your search content your selves with unprofitable teares and lamentations With that she cast her selfe on the ground and besmearing her hands and clothes in removing many bodies drown'd in their bloud continued till almost day-break that horrible exercise At last she found out Astramadan and her hatred all goary as he was making her know him she seem'd to be infinitely joy'd at that incounter instantly she began extreamly to raile on him and finding a sword cut off his eares and his nose and the inraged woman not to be satiated at halfes commanded two of her Moores to strip the wretched Prince and assoone as he was naked she ran the sword into his body and rending his breast and tearing out his heart Accursed heart cri'd shee how unfortunate am I that thou art no more capable of suffering How glad should I be couldest thou revive againe and become sensible that thou might'st feele the extremitie of my hatred and torments but as dead as thou art I must teare thee in pieces and taste at least the shadow of that pleasure I had enjoyed in eating thee alive To it Tisiphone glut thy selfe with this accursed heart avenge thee as much as thou can'st since thou canst not as much as thou wouldest and intermingling love hatred despaire revenge and death together give succeding times a prodigious example what a woman can doe when she is as hardy as she is unfortunate With these words the inraged woman gnaw'd off and swallowed a piece of Astramadan's heart and whether that dismall morsell choak'd her or as 't is most likely the excesse of her furie discompos'd all that order of nature which preserves life so it was that she fell starke dead at Amintha's feet and freed her age of a monster which had made Heaven accus'd of Injustice had she not been punished by an exemplary chastisement Amintha Alcippus and others of Polexander servants being delivered from that womans tyrannie thought of nothing but on what they had lost Dead Polexander was the onely object which became master of their thought They invited one another to weepe and bewaile him and to preserve his memorie for ever among them made a vow to keepe more charily then their lives the reliques that were left of him Amintha tooke the gantlet which Tisiphone let fall in dying Alcippus his helmet and distributed the other pieces of his Princes armour to his most affectionate servants which done he erected a pillar in the midst of that fatall place and fastning to it Astramadan's armour all broken as it was tooke a great shield which he found all whole on the ground and writ thereon with bloud these words following Polexander for the eternall memory of his Victory and Astramadan's Treachery in the midst of this by fire consumed Towne hath here fix'd his Enemy's Armes which he lost with his life This Trophie being erected Amintha and Alcippus returned to the port and imbarking themselves in our Heroe's vessell thought of nothing more then how to accomplish the vow they had made to eternize the lamentation for his death But he in the meane time laid along in his boate without any more strength then what might suffice him to undergoe his many wounds was row'd on by the weake armes of Diceus or rather by fortune who desirous to belie those who accus'd her of that Prince's death imploy'd all her endeavours to preserve his life His boat made mighty quicke way whilst it was carried by the violent swiftnesse of the torrent but when that impetuousnesse was lost in the bosome of the Ocean Diceus perceiv'd he had not strength enough to handle the oares and imagining straight he had lost his master in striving to save him did so vively resent it that the most of his wounds opened againe and he the second time fell for dead at his masters feet The Prince beleev'd he was so indeed and bestowing on him some teares as the last tokens of his affection Goe Diceus said he goe to thine eternall rest and if Fidelitie as the most necessary vertue is the most worthily recompenc'd take thy place among the highest thrones which Eternitie reserves for the truly blessed I shall soone follow thee and restore if I dare hope it from the mercy of Heaven the prsence of that master whom thou hast alwayes so extreamely loved After he had spoke thus he stood some time without losing his sight and yet not seeing any thing but by little and little growing weaker it seem'd to him as if a thicke cloud tooke all light from him Then indeed 't was he thought he should die and that the judgements of heaven laying before him the vanities of his youth as so many causes of his condemnation and the ill imployments in which he had exercised his life hee fell to his oraizons After which he left all knowledge and lay a long while be twixt dead and alive In which time his boat carried by the waves out of sight of the desolate Island floated almost two dayes at the will of the the winde which having no lesse care of him then it would for a nest of Halcions brought them happily to an Isle where Polexander and Diceus recovered againe that life which they had more then halfe lost Truly that succour betided them whence with reason they could not expect any