upon himself an exact Discretion Although he was a Prince and in a Condition to pretend unto all Things yet he would not precipitate a Declaration of his Love lest it should irritate the Princess and waited till he had by his Services prepar'd her to give him a favourable Audience The Heart of the Princess found it self on Zingis side and her Aversion for Timur receiv'd a great Augmentation since my Master's Arrival On a Day which Timur look'd upon as his own because it was Taxila's Birth-day he prepared Divertisements for all the Court and among the rest extraordinary Shews upon the Polisangi A thousand gilded Barks covered the River Every one wore what Colours he pleas'd and nothing was to be seen but Cyphers and Devices on the Streamers the Cordage was of Gold and Silk the Oars cover'd over with shining Pictures and these little Barks full of Magnificent Court form'd the most pleasant Shew in the World The Princess would have willingly dispens'd with all this Gallantry of Timur but the fear of incensing oblig'd her to accept of it and she was even forc'd to appear on this Festival with all the most far-ferch'd helps of Art Timur in all his Equipage observ'd a Magnificence that tended to Prodigality and my Master with less Affectation had greater Advantages Zamar did not slight these Shews as she had done many others and Undkan to do his Wife a Pleasure honour'd them with his Presence The Amorous Zingis had the Vexation to see the Name of his Rival every where intermixt with that of Taxila and to think that so much Beauty and Vertue was destin'd for a Man in whom he saw nothing that could render him worthy of them and these Considerations did cost him many a heavy Groan which the Princess sometimes over-heard In the end my Lord that Day which Timur was desirous to Solemnize in an extraordinary manner was Remarkable for a memorable Adventure which had like to have prov'd Fatal All were taken up with the Pleasures prepar'd for them on the River a harmonious Melody fill'd the Air when by an unexpected Misfortune the Boat in which the Princess was alone with Axione the unknown Maid that was become so dear unto her because these little Barks were able to bear but four persons at most with the Rowers was overturn'd being dash'd against some of the rest and Taxila and Axione were expos'd to so great a Danger that all there present believ'd there was no Remedy Cries of Grief succeeded the Harmony of the Instruments Timur the cowardly Timur did nothing but excite some of his Train to dive for Taxila amongst the Waves but the courageous Zingis animated with other Sentiments threw himself into the River and nimbly cutting the Water received the Princess in his Arms just in the nick that she appear'd again and when perhaps she was going to sink for ever into the bottom of the River His Action was so quick that none of the rest were able to prevent him The Prince of Brema who was with him render'd the same Service to Axione and being equally happy on this Occasion they were full of joy to have rescu'd from Death the two most Amiable Persons in the World The Danger was great for the Men who fell into the Water with Taxila perish'd because of the little Care that was taken to help them their Negligence in some measure meriting their unhappy Fortune This Accident disturb'd all the Solemnity Undkan being Alarm'd commanded them to regain the Shore the Princess and Axione were carried thither almost without sense and Timur incapable of Shame had the Boldness to approach unto them Zamar who had beheld with Envy my Master's Action and who began to penetrate into the secret interest of his Heart appear'd confus'd for her Son and could not forbear murmuring at his Cowardliness The Princess opened her Eyes and came to her self again when they had laid her in a Bed she ask'd News of Axione whom they had tended with the same Care and then betook her self to the Rest that was necessary for her She past the Night sweetly and finding her self perfectly recover'd in the Morning she ask'd her Maids To whom among the Tartars she ow'd her Life Although she had no good Opinion of Timur she fear'd she had receiv'd so considerable a Service from him and being inform'd that it was Zingis that had sav'd her having prevented all others with a Precipitation full of Zeal she felt a secret Joy and thank'd Heaven for it They did not fail to tell her that the King of Tendur did not so much as hazard himself for her and she was much joy'd to think that she had no Obligation to him As soon as Day appear'd Axione waited upon the Princess who embrac'd her tenderly Undkan had declar'd unto my Master how much he was sensible of what he had done for Taxila Zamar who was excellently skill'd in the Art of Constraining her self thank'd him also and Timur said something of that nature to him notwithstanding his Confusion but it was not they who he wish'd might be sensible of it Taxila arose and willing to prevent Timur's private Importunities she went out of her Apartment just as the Queen was coming to see her and meeting her in a common Gallery Madam said Zamar to the Princess I praise Heaven for the great Care it hath had of your Life and I assure you that at that moment when I saw it in danger I would have heartily hazarded mine own to preserve it You would have done much more Madam replyed Taxila with a modest Smile than many Men were able to do and you see that in the middle of my Fathers Dominions there were only found two stranger Princes generous enough to despise the Danger But Madam added she with a profound Reverence full of Grace and Majesty your Days are more precious than mine and too many Illustrious Persons have an interest in them to let them be expos'd to the least Danger and I am as much oblig'd to your good Intentions as if they had produced other Effects Zamar perceiv'd by this Discourse that Taxila had much Gratitude for Zingis and Scorn for Timur but not being resolv'd to insist longer on this Subject she was entreating the Princess to return unto her Apartment when the King past by followed by Timur Omir my Master Almundzar and several others Taxila blush'd extreamly her fair Eyes which as yet look'd languishing told Zingis in an obliging manner that she knew what he had done for her and Timur had the mortification to remark that she did not so much as turn them towards him My Daughter said Undkan to her you have made me pass the Night with a great deal of anxiety which the good Condition in which I now see you doth agreeably dissipate Mean-time methinks you should not have left your Apartment so soon My Lord answer'd the Princess a little Exercise cannot hurt me and I feel no more
Whatsoever may happen continued Philing I will die before I suffer the King of the Mogols to perish We must see Undkan and once more try the ways of Sweetness but if he persevere in his Cruelty I will openly declare my self his Enemy Almundzar approved of the generous Resolution of Philing and assured him that whatsoever he attempted for Zingis he would still stand his Friend This Day past over very sadly on the Morrow the King of Thibet went to see Undkan whom he found still Beleaguer'd by Zamar and made the more hast because he feared some secret Cruelty for they talked at Cambalu of Zingis's Death as of a thing absolutely certain Zamar and Undkan feared the Presence of this Prince who was neither their Subject nor Tributary and who they saw did ever declare himself boldly for Vertue His Arrival put them out of Countenance and Zamar was extreamly troubled at it My Lord said he to the King of Tartary I don't know whether the Design that hath brought me hither this Morning will have a favourable Success but I protest I never had a more pressing Interest than that which I have in the King of the Mogols Life It will be glorious unto you my Lord to Treat a Prince generously who you believe hath given you just cause of Offence but it would be an eternal Shame unto you to exercise an unjust Cruelty over him having so many Reasons to esteem him and to look upon him as the Greatest among Men. No body is ignorant of the Services that he hath done you and his Love for the Princess is the onely Crime you can accuse him of But my Lord In the Dignity to which Heaven hath exalted you consider what you owe to that of other Kings Shall you be Powerful only to be Unjust and will you exercise that Power over an Enemy who would not be in your Hands but that he put himself in them an Enemy all whose Steps are Glorious and on whom the Eyes of innumerable Kingdoms are fix'd that would be a ready way to confirm the Ideas which other Nations have of us they look upon us still as Scythians that is to say People without Laws without Gods and without Religion Will you imitate those barbarous Examples of Antiquity which are deservedly esteem'd frightful Prodigies And will you Sacrifice a great King for so light Reasons These light Reasons interrupted Zamar transported with Anger will not pass for such in the Hearts of Mothers as tender as I am and he who attempted to kill my Son before my Eyes and almost in my Arms can never be too severely punished for a Violence that hath cost him so much Blood and me so many Tears I am told reply'd the King of Thibet that Timur was well accompany'd when Zingis attack'd him and even that the Rules of Generosity were not at all observ'd on this Occasion seeing many Swords were at once turn'd against one Man And methinks I have also heard that the King of the Mogols saved the King of Tendur's Life oftner than once in the Wars of Ung. My Lord answered Zamar You are so well inform'd of all that concerns Zingis that it seems you have kept a particular Correspondence with him and that doubtless in our Dominions and upon these Conjectures we might justly What Madam interrupted Philing coldly Lay me in Chains as well as him and add one Injustice to another 'T is no matter from what Mouth I have learn'd the Miracles of his Life it 's sufficient that I am a very sincere and zealous Admirer of them My Lord said Unkan The Queen speaketh as an enraged Mother and you ought not to condemn her Resentment I have considered your Reasons but they have not convinced me and it would be no less than to endanger Vertue to suffer these Men to live that disquiet Kingdoms and without Reason defile the Palaces of Princes with Blood I have received Services of Zingis and Honour'd him as a Stranger whom I judged worthy of my Esteem but he abusing my Easiness remain'd at my Court to delude a young Princess and withdraw her from the Obedience which she oweth unto me and pushing on his Arrogancy to a greater height he assaulteth a Prince who is my Son because he is my Wife 's and to whom I have destin'd my Daughter and returneth incognito to Cambalu to be introduc'd into my House there to Plot secretly with the weak Taxila What do I know but he hath laid Designs against my Life and who will assure me of the Innocency of his Intentions In fine I owe this Victim to my own quiet and it 's only to lose time in vain to sollicite his Liberty I perceive my Lord answer'd Philing That his Ruin is sworn and that you cannot be oppos'd in places entirely subject to your Power But of the Humour of which I am I will never suffer this Cruelty without resenting it Probably you never fear the Wrath of Heaven nor the Scorn of Men but do you imagine that the juster part of this Portion of the World which we inhabit will suffer you to immolate the Illustrious Zingis without doing any thing for his Revenge India Persia and China will be easily mov'd and there wants only added he inspir'd by his Generosity a Prince such as I am to excite them to it and to bring into your Dominions a Storm that will soon overwhelm you He went out after this and seeing his Threats were far distant Undkan and Zamar were more incens'd than frightned at them Their first Thought was to make him to be apprehended but Almundzar and some other Tartars in whom Undkan put Confidence hindered him from proceeding to that Extremity representing unto him that it would be to arm all the Powers of the Universe against himself Zamar was not of this Opinion but she was forc'd to yield The King of Thibet would once again endeavour to see the Princess He was denied admittance into her Apartment as formerly but whilst incens'd with this Denial he meditated upon Means to humble an unjust Power the afflicted Taxila and amiable Axione lived in a sad Solitariness and were only accompanied with dismal Thoughts But what were the Thoughts of Zingis so nigh Taxila and yet so unable to discourse with her Knowing his Enemies so well he doubted not of his Misery and the Idea of Death which he had so often brav'd was less tormenting to him than his Absence from the Princess Almundzar interest'd himself as a generous Friend in Zingis's Misfortunes But how great soever his Credit was with Undkan Zamar still got the better of him He spoke boldly enough to make himself be prohibited to speak more and he had not so much as the Consolation to be able to mitigate the Incommodities which the King of the Mogols suffered in Prison Zerbin who still lay hid in the House of Zingis's generous Friend inform'd him that his Master had Six hundred of the bravest Men in the World hid in
in finishing these last Words and would by no means continue the Discourse To satisfie her I was constrain'd to neglect the Offence that she had received from Hildezar and to act as if I had never been inform'd of it But my Eies being then opened I saw but too well what past in the Heart of this presumptuous Rival But I did not penetrate so well the Factions that he was raising in Thibet by the Authority he had acquir'd during my Infancy Assoon as he had discover'd his Thoughts to Axione he took secret measures to oblige me to Marry his Daughter on whom I had never so much as thought and of whom he never spoke to me He engag'd all the Kingdom and seeing till then my Education and Love had occupi'd me more than State-Affairs it was easie for him to insinuate into those who shar'd the Publick Cares with him all that he was desirous they should do He told to every remarkable person that had Credit among the People That I possest with a blind Obstinacy abandon'd my self to the Love of the unknown Axione and that I design'd no other Princess for my Subjects Every one desir'd him to speak to me of it condemning my Pre-occupation but he refus'd to do it and others were oblig'd to undertake the Business I did not at all suspect what their Occupation at that time was and was much surpriz'd one Day being upon the account of an Affair of great Importance oblig'd to be present at Council to which I seldom went believing that my Presence was not alwaies necessary when the most Venerable of those that compos'd this Assembly address'd himself to me in these Terms I speak unto you in the Name of all Your Subjects my Lord who entreat You by my Mouth to give them a Queen Your Age is not far advanc'd but Your Reason is and this will tell You that nothing can be more agreeable to People than to see their Soveraigns in a Condition to leave behind them a Glorious Posterity This maketh the King more Vigilant and the Subjects better Disciplin'd Unmarry'd Princes are for the most part without Interest and that of a Family engageth them to labour for the Glory and aggrandizing of Your Dominions Resolve then my Lord to satisfie us and do as several of Your Predecessors have done Go not to bring from a Foreign Clime a Princess that could not prove very affectionate unto us There are in Thibet Houses Noble enough to aspire unto the Alliance of their King And even that Favour is due unto the Zeal and Loyalty of Hildezar Alzine is able to reckon Princes amongst her Ancestors and is not the first of her Blood that hath enter'd into the Royal Family of Thibet This Harangue astonish'd me to such a degree that I was at first unable to make any Answer Choler seiz'd upon my Soul and I look'd upon these Men as so many Enemies plotting against my Quiet and I was particularly incens'd against Hildezar not doubting but that he was the only Cause of all that pass'd In the end composing my Countenance which the Politick Hildezar examin'd I spoke because I was oblig'd so to do Botsar said I to him that had express'd himself in the Words I have related unto you I don't know from whom you have immediately receiv'd the Commission of which you have at present acquitted your self but I assure you it is not at all agreeable to me Who ought to interest themselves more than mine own Heart in the Choice you desire me to make and what man should be more careful of my Fortune than my self You must needs look upon me as a weak Person when you take the boldness to prescribe Rules to me and determine the Objects of my Inclinations I am neither so ignorant of the Laws of Thibet nor of those of all the other Kingdoms of the World but that I can regulate my Actions with some Glory and am able to choose a Wife for my self when it shall be time My Lord said Hildezar seeing that I had lest off speaking you must not take it ill if so many persons who look upon you as their only Good do ardently desire to see you tied unto them by the Interest of which you speak I have perhaps given them my Suffrage but it was not I that propos'd Alzine though my Lord she may well countervail an unknown Maid and would be more agreeable to your Subjects Hildezar interrupted I with a wrathful Look You abuse the Consideration that I have for you I am nevertheless clear-sighted enough to perceive that you are not so void of Esteem for unknown Persons and you also might have seen enough of my Inclinations to have made you more respectful and less daring Moreover I am a King and pretend to be Master When the People of Thibet are Opprest by my Injustice it will be time for them then to complain against me when I shall abandon them to their Enemies then will they have cause to upbraid me with Baseness but hitherto they can charge me with no Fault but I may justly reproach all of you that you have fail'd in that respect which I will endeavour to make you observe in time to come After this I went out full of Wrath the Effects whereof I would have made these presumptuous Ones feel but that I was afraid to give Axione the least cause of Offence She read the Agitation of my Mind in my Eies but I was not willing to inform her of the true Cause thereof disguising it with some other pretext Hildezar being incens'd against me for the interest of his Daughter but much more for that of his Love a dangerous Malice succeeded in the place of the Affection that he had hitherto profest unto me He esteem'd my Ruine necessary for the establishment of his Repose and Fortune and seeing the Peace that reign'd among us suffer'd no Cloud to hang over us he rais'd a War by pernicious Intrigues not doubting but that I would run with Ardour unto the Places where I might acquire any Glory He hop'd by my Death to ascend a Throne that had no other Heirs and though Benzide and Othrize two considerable Princes in Thibet pretended some Right to it yet the Suffrages he was assur'd of made him look upon them as no great Obstacle to his Designs It was he then that wheedled that part of my Subjects into an Insurrection who inhabit the Frontiers towards India Upon the first noise of this Rebellion I resolv'd to act the part of a Captain and King Hildezar was cold and slow and did not appear very forward in preparing for the War His Creatures imitated him but in spite of him I saw my self very quickly at the head of a considerable Army Assoon as he saw me ready to be gone he counterfeited himself sick that he might have pretence to remain at Kachen This was a cruel Necessity for me to leave Axione expos'd to his Importunities No said I to
her when the time of my Departure was come I will not abandon you to the Indiscretion of Hildezar He is Master of all Power here and my Misfortune hath swell'd his Authority My Lord replied she seeing I am near the Princess and seldom come out of her Presence I do not think that I have cause to fear any thing and it is not his Importunity that disquieteth me it is your Life my Lord which will be expos'd to rebellious Arms it is you your self it is that great Heart that burneth with a Desire to Signalize it self Alas my Lord Sympathize with our Weaknesses do not pursue too ardently that Glory which will alwaies follow you and in the heat of Battels forget not the Care you owe to the Preservation of your own Life This Mark of Axione's Tenderness whose fair Eies appear'd moist touched me sensibly That Life which I have Consecrated unto you fair Axione replied I will not be expos'd to so many Dangers as your Goodness perswadeth you but seeing you Ordain me I will take Care of it as of a Thing that you are not willing to lose For you Axione I entrust you to your self resist the Arrogancy of Hildezar at my Return resolve with your self to put an eternal obstacle in the way of his presumptuous Pretensions in giving your self to a Prince that liveth only for you Go my Lord continued the fair Maid whither the Rigour of Fate commandeth you to carry your Arms and if I be Mistress of any of your Interests assure your self that they can never fall into more faithful hands In this manner I took my leave of Axione and having tenderly Recommended her to my Sister I went out of the Palace accompanied with Benzid Othrize and several other Persons of Quality Hildezar said I to that Traytour when he came to receive my last Orders you have been desirous to remain at Kachen remember alwaies that I Reign there and reign justly do not abuse the Power that I have suffer'd you to assume render unto my Sister what you owe unto her Dignity and above all respect Axione all whose Interests are mine Excite no new Broils whilst I go to calm these that are already set on foot I dare assure you that I will return speedily Adieu He answer'd me only with a Salutation and I began to march but not without anxious Apprehensions I may boldly say Almundzar that I rush'd like a Torrent upon the Rebels They were animated by no couragious Captain and their Revolt being only an Effect of Hildezar's Treachery I had no great Trouble or Glory to vanquish Men that were overcome at the first sight of our Standards My Anger permitted some of them to perish for an Example to others and how much soever I was inclin'd to Clemency I could not without Resentment consider that they were the cause of my Absence from Axione In the end almost without the loss of a Man or renewing the least Wound though I did not spare my self I had in less than three Months quieted all things The Conquer'd submitted themselves to my Pleasure and I took the way to Kachen from whence I had received many Letters none of which acquainted me with any thing that could make me suspect the Misery that waited for me But arriving at that Town I neither found Hildezar nor Axione The Traytour had carried her away and how exact soever Thamarize had been in observing her she could perceive nothing and appear'd unto me desperate at the Accident Alzine her self the innocent Daughter of so criminal a Father protested that she had no hand in Hildezar's Action and couragiously offer'd her Blood unto me as an Atonement for the Offence I had receiv'd I assur'd her as afflicted as I was that not confounding her with the Traytor that gave her Life I would have held her guiltless of all In fine Almundzar without staying at Kachen I run through all Thibet and even exposed my self to dismal Wandrings in the howling Desarts of Xama and after having consum'd a great deal of time in an useless Quest I return'd to Kachen to settle Things for a longer Voyage entrusting the Government to my Sister leaving her to the Conduct of Benzid and Othriz in important Affairs I departed from Thibet unable to live without Axione I saw almost all Asia I met with Adventures which I do not relate unto you because they have no direct Relation to my Love and after a vain Search of two Years being in Tartary and passing through a Forest that pertaineth to the King of Ergimul I found Hildezar at the Root of a Tree pierc'd with several mortal Wounds in a condition worthy of his Treasons He breathed as yet and easily knew me His Misery asswag'd my Anger and I went to help him No my Lord said he You ought not to lavish your Goodness for a Man that hath but too much abused it I am Guilty nor is it Death that extorts this Acknowledgment from me and it 's a great while since a just Remorse hath executed Vengeance upon me for my Treacheries This Death is too sweet for a Man that hath merited the worst of Punishments seeing it permitteth me to ask Pardon of my Master At these Words he would have made an Effort to raise himself upon his Knees but I hinder'd him and ask'd News of Axione He told me with a mournful Sigh That he had been almost two Years separated from her That after he had made her wander up and down a long time he was assaulted in Tartary by persons that carried her away That after that he had search'd for her to no purpose and that the same Robbers had now left him in the Condition in which I found him because he knew them and endeavoured to make them confess what they had done with Axione After that he breath'd his last and having caus'd my Followers to cover his Body with a little Earth I came straight hither where in the end I unexpectedly found Axione I made my self known to Undkan I have ever continued to see Axione she loveth me I am certain of it but her severe Vertue will not permit her to consent to my Happiness till she know her self perfectly she inform'd me that Hildezar carried her very privily and by a subtle Stratagem that he did not shew himself to her till long after their departure from Kachen that he had conjur'd her to pardon his Love that made him sacrifice all for her that she reproached him bitterly with his Treachery but that nothing could make him alter his Resolutions and that in the end She was violently taken from him in Tartary and sold to some Tartars who gave her to the Princess Taxila Philing left off speaking Almundzar admir'd his Generosity and Axione's Vertue Afterwards returning to the Interests of Zingis they discours'd of the Troops that he had about Cambalu and of the measures that were most proper to be taken to avert the Misfortune that
threaten'd the Life of that famous Prince In the mean time Timur the Author of all the Sufferings of so many Noble Persons was not altogether free of a restless Anxiety himself and though the Man in the World whom he hated most was upon the Point of being Sacrific'd unto him having as much Love for Taxila as he was capable of he could not live out of her Sight and knew well that if he dar'd to present himself before her he would doubtless hear nothing that would please him Zamar who lov'd him even to Idolatry saw his Melancholy with Grief Why do ye languish Timur said she unto him all Things conspire together for your Felicity and there is no Crown in Asia equal to that which you shall possess What more can be done to satisfie you After so much Care that I have taken will you alwaies shew me a gloomy Countenance Madam replied Timur These Motions are not voluntary and it 's against my Will that you perceive them You have done but too much for me My Gratitude can never rise high enough but if my Ambition be contented I feel my Love alarm'd Too constant Lover of Taxila that I am I must either deprive my self of her Sight or expose my self to her Reproaches Ah Madam How do I deserve to be lamented and how uneasie do I find my self in the heighth of my Prosperity Rather say that you are weak interrupted the Queen of Tartary and that you deserve real Miseries seeing you torment your self with imaginary ones Suffer our Enemy first to perish and afterwards make your self Master of Taxila 'T is no matter whether or no you obtain her Consent Undkan's Authority will remove these Obstacles In fine My Son I will have you to Reign over the Tartars and there is nothing but I will do to effectuate this Resolution Go see that ungrateful Taxila whose Disdain I bear with only upon your account and in the mean time I will press the King to put Zingis to Death The Son of Zamar instigated by such a Mother left her and went to the Princess to whom he alone had access Taxila who had not seen him since her Disgrace was so moved at the sight of him that she had almost lost her Understanding To follow his Mother's Advice he had laid aside his Sadness so that he appear'd before her full of a bold Arrogancy Madam said he One would have hardly believ'd that such a Person as you had been capable to draw exil'd Enemies into Tartary and even into the King your Father's Palace and without reckoning my Interest you had others powerful enough to have disswaded you from such a Correspondence As moderate as the Princess was she lost all Patience at those Words Tho' I had committed something that oblig'd me to make Reparation replied she it should never be to the King of Tendur a vile Slave of his own Vanity and his Mother's Passions that I would justifie my self This is indeed to Treat me as a Prisoner to carry your Insolency to the place to which I am Confin'd Cannot the Aversion for you that Nature hath inspir'd me with satisfie you unless you augment by Proceedings full of Injustice and Presumption Go pretended King of Tendur go to the Feet of the cruel Zamar and sollicite the Death of Zingis but know that into whatsoever Condition your common Fury may reduce him he shall be ever dearer to me than my Life I would never perhaps have said so much if he had not been miserable but in the present state of our Affairs I have no Measures to observe and all my Tenderness is but a mean Recompence for what he hath done and now suffereth for me At these Words Taxila went into a Closet where she shut her self up and Timur full of Rage and Confusion said a thousand Things to Axione without Respect or Reason She answer'd him with a great deal of Wit and Courage and did not swerve in a Point from the Princess's Sentiments which raised the Fury of the Son of Zamar to such a heighth that he return'd to his Mother to bawl against Taxila and hasten the Death of a Rival whom he could not endure to see preferr'd before him Undkan so ardently sollicited by persons that had all Power over him was quickly perswaded to a fatal Resolution Almundzar whose Affection to Zingis's Interest made him a watchful Spy over all their Actions perceiv'd what past in Undkan's Mind and went to Advertise the King of Thibet of all Then keeping no more measures they dispatch'd Zerbin to assemble the Mogols that lay near Cambalu and Almundzar took the same Care for the Tartars that had declar'd in Zingis's Favour The King of Tartary desirous to act with some form of Justice lest he should draw upon himself the hatred of all the Earth believ'd that it would be esteem'd a Crime great enough to condemn the King of the Mogols that he was surpriz'd in the Night-time at the Gates of his Palace in a design to enter into it Zamar made choice of the Judges who according to her Instigations condemn'd the Illustrious Zingis to lose his Head within three Days When the Sentence was pronounced he was nothing mov'd But the King of Thibet and Almundzar upon whom Generosity had so powerful an Influence trembling for Horrour and Anger resolved to lose all or save Zingis They acted with so much diligence and secrecy that they quickly form'd a strong Party whom they dispers'd through the Twelve Suburbs of the City of Cambalu to appear in Arms when it should be time and rescue Zingis from Vndkan's Guards King Philing made no scruple to declare himself Head of his Defenders He owed nothing to Vndkan and did not violate any Right in resisting one that endeavoured so barbarous an Act of Injustice The Noise of Zingis's Death reached the Princesse's Ears who repented but too late that she had irritated the Jealously of Timur She remained in the dismal expectation of that Misfortune shedding Tears in abundance with her dear Axione and that fair Maid more touch'd than ever before she had been felt a Grief not much inferiour to that of Taxila The Day appointed for the Death of the King of the Mogols being come the Streets were crouded with a multitude of People in the Morning He was to lose his Life before the Palace and it was easie for them that design'd to save him to conceal themselves in a Cround composed of all sorts of persons The Scaffold was erected before Zamar's Apartment that from her Chamber Windows she might taste the Pleasure of that Spectacle Vndkan took his Place with Zamar Timur and the Kings of Vng Tenguth Cerguth and Ergimul worthy Slaves of the Tartarian Queen The People beheld with Astonishment this Assembly of Soveraigns in an Occupation so unbecoming their Royal Dignity whilst the afflicted Taxila groan'd or rather was ready to expire in the Arms of Axione Zamar who saw her Revenge ready to be
encouraged him from the Windows with all that Grief and Rage hath most violent She blasphemed Heaven and Men and even revil'd her Husband falling into Convulsions that betoken'd the cruelty of her Passions Whilst Zingis Philing Zerbin the Unknown and the Mogols with a part of the Tartars compleated the Victory Almundzar seeing the Princesse's Apartment without Guards run thither and found her frighted at the noise which she heard without knowing the Cause thereof Ah Almundzar said she to him Is the King of the Mogols dead No Madam answered the Tartar and I hope you shall see him shortly in a Condition to put an end to all your Alarm Then he related to her all that had past and seeing she was no Lover of Blood the Death of Timur did not please her how great soever the Advantage was that she receiv'd by it But of all that which touch'd her in Favour of Zingis nothing had so great an Influence upon her as the glorious Action which had afforded the Tartars so great a cause of Admiration O Heaven said she If Zingis persecuted and ready to succumb under the pitiless Sword of his Enemies defendeth the Father of Taxila against those whom Generosity arm'd to save him from the Fury of Vndkan what doth not she owe to so strong Marks of so pure a Love Axione being interested for her Lover and for a Prince whom she tenderly lov'd reassumed Hope with the Princess and they redoubled their Vows Fortune had entirely declar'd against Zamar The loss of her dear Timur was followed with the Death of several thousands of Souldiers The King of Cerguth Tenguth Ergimul and Vng fighting faintly without Valour and Courage perish'd by the Arms of Zingis and Philing and the Tartars that came from the Suburbs were constrained to give back Zingis had no design upon Vndkan's Crown Seeing that Prince stunn'd with the Disorder re-enter his Palace he embrac'd the King of Thibet with whom the affectionate Zerbin made him acquainted and after having said unto him all that a just Acknowledgment can dictate to a generous Heart he turn'd toward the valiant Man that had fought with so much advantage and seeing his Head discover'd he knew him to be the Prince of Brema Then it was that their mutual Embraces express'd their Friendship Zingis prais'd the Mogols and Tartars that had serv'd him with all the affection that their Valour oblig'd him to His Friends advised him to go into the Palace but whatsoever Impatience he had to see Taxila he judg'd that out of respect to her he ought not to leave Vndkan and retir'd to the same House where he had lain sometime absconded Philing and Omir accompanied him thither and Zerbin took care of the remainder of the Mogols But scarce had they been two Hours in that place when Almundzar came to seek them Come valiant Princes said he to them with immoderate transports of Joy come and enjoy the Fruits of your Valour you have no more enemies to fear Fury hath executed upon Zamar what your Arms have done upon the rest She is dead and Vndkan freed from the Bondage in which her Artifices had enthral'd him recalleth that Vertue which she had banished out of his Soul and with ardent Breathings desireth a Reconciliation with you These Words which inspir'd them with Hopes of an agreeable Revolution did not at first find a perfect belief in those to whom they were address'd but in the end they were oblig'd to give Faith unto them and follow Almundzar to the Palace Peace was already re-established there all the People made Vows for Zingis there were none found lamenting for Zamar and much less for her wicked Son Coming to Vndkan Zingis found there the Princess and Philing the charming Axione The King of Tartary with open Arms received the King of the Mogols and that Prince humbled himself respectfully to receive his Embraces Will you forget the Cruelties that cover me with an eternal Shame My Lord said he to Vndkan and can you pardon me for what the unjust Empire that a Woman had usurp'd over my Weakness hath made me commit against you notwithstanding the many Services that you had so generously render'd unto me By your first Actions you merited the Crown to Tartary and all that you have added unto it and by preserving my Life for the sake of Taxila you deserve also that Princess I give her unto you Zingis and with her Tartary and all that is subjected to my Scepter being sensible of no other Pleasure than in seeing you two Reign together At these words he took the Princess by the Hand who full of Joy receiv'd that of Zingis My Lord said he to Vndkan Your Goodness surpasseth infinitely my Hopes and the Merit of my Services I receive with all due respect the precious Advantage of being united to the Princess but for the Crown of Tartary I will not joyn mine to it but to the end that I may make you Master of both Reign my Lord Reign in Peace and receive my Homages No no interrupted Vndkan I have been King too long since I have been guilty of so great Injustice in that quality whilst I Reign in you you shall Reign for me and I will reap from thence both Pleasure and Glory Then he asked Pardon of the King of Thibet prais'd his Generosity and was perfectly reconcil'd to him But casting his Eyes upon the Prince of Brema who had not yet chang'd his Habits he knew him to be that terrible Man against whom Zingis had defended him He was somewhat mov'd at the sight of him but the rising Vertue which begun to chase from his Soul all that approach'd to Vice would not permit him to entertain any Resentment He embrac'd him then as he would have done a Son The King of the Mogols would not suffer you to take Vengeance on me Omir said he unto him and I will not find fault with one that attack'd me in so just a Cause Omir answer'd with a great deal of submission Almundzar received also new Marks of Vndkan's Friendship and this King spoke with much sweetness to all those that took Arms for Zingis Mean-time Love triumph'd and Zingis and Taxila perceiv'd it mutually in their contented Eyes and received from one another the most tender Assurances thereof Philing told Axione all that he had suffered during a few Days absence and conjur'd that scrupulous person to be somewhat less fix'd in her Resolutions and to yield at last to make them happy She thanked him for what he had done for Zingis and after this first Interview the Princes having received some slight Wounds that had need to be look'd after went out together with Almundzar They were not considerable enough to oblige them to keep their Chamber and they prepar'd themselves to visit the Princess when the Prince of Brema spoke in this manner to the King of Thibet I know not my Lord whether what hath happen'd unto me in your Dominions will draw