Hearing these words come from him we have reason to beleive my neice said Rolimon that Alcidor speaks from his heart and to what purpose should these many ceremonies be used where marriage is the substance aimed at My opinion is that you should make a mutuall contract of love after which there will be no fear that any body else should pretend to either of you You speak Sir replied Alcidor to him like one that knows how to find the knot of such an affaire as this in hand And I swear Madam addrest he himself to Dorame that if you will think of no other husband but Alcidor I will think of no other wife but Dorame And I protest returned Dorame to him that if you will have no other wife but Dorame I will have no other husband but Alcidor He having as soon as those words were out of her mouth with a gracefull veneration kist it they again by Melian's motion solemnely promist to marry one the other as soon as she had completed her year of widdowhood Which tie being made and thereby that which all the Company desired as firmely secured as could be wisht to be at present they with a generall pleasantness continued conversing upon that and other subjects till they were called to supper and after supper till the late houres commanded them to bed The End of the third Book The Fourth Book ALcidor rising early the next morning as being kept from sleeping by his thoughtfull love found that Dorame whom he beleived yet in bed was gotten up before him and walkt abroad Finding her out he entertained her with what she had been entertaining herself his affections and she changed not the subject till they were interrupted by Rolimon Melian and Vindorix who came to bidde them good morrow and farewell together The Lovers endeavoured to retain them but they gave them reasons for their going away which induced them to allow it Betaking themselves therefore all together into the house they had been but a few moments there when Meonimus arrived and he had not been much longer there before he told Alcidor that he mother of Almidon was about to inform against him for the killing of her son advising him not to deferre getting a pardon by which to put himself out of all danger from the Law At this notice Alcidor was not at all disturbed knowing that Polianis had a better opinion of him than to be quickly imprinted with a bad one or indeed to deny him any thing that he should ask but Dorame was very much troubled and choosing rather to deprive herself of her contentment in his company for a time than detain him with her when his stay might be disadvantageous to him conjured him with all speed to make a journey to Paquin to the end that he might prevent his enemies and put himself under covert against their malice This counsell being backt and urged by the rest of the Company he only staied breakfast and badde Dorame adieu Rolimon Melian Vindorix and Meonimus going a long with him to his house they all staied there that night and the next morning parted the three first to go home and Alcidor and Meonimus to Court Here Alcidor going to the King and reporting to him his adventures with Cartagenes and Almidon and the danger that he was in of being prosecuted for their deaths he very graciously gave him his pardons for both and caused them to be allowed by the Counsell of twelve Auditors the Letter which Cartagenes wrot before his death to Dorame and the testimony of Limonides serving very happily for his justification Polianis farther by the contexture of Alcidors business understanding that Dorame was his Mistress exprest severall times to him that he was very much pleased with it one time in particular there is nothing brave Alcidor said he to him which obstructs your loves for Florisa is courted in marriage by my Cozen Eridan Astasia is lately dead and Carmelia hath taken the hahit of a Religious See I say if there be any thing to keep you from pursuing and injoyning your present affections since of your three former Mistresses there is but one of them retaining to the world where also she is so straightly guarded that nobody can have her Company but the Prince whom I now spake of I am not ignorant of the Love which she hath had for you her brother having recounted to me that which he knew of it by their Uncle who hath many times had purposes of sending you out of the world upon that occasion But she now gives hopes that she will entertain that new Lover and not only Dorilas wishes you as well as you can desire but Lucimon also is disarmed of the choler which he hath had against you knowing that the offence which he beleived you to have committed proceeded not from you but from his neice These two Princes I have made your freinds and I would have you as soon as you can joine myrtles to your laurells so that Hymen as well as Mars may render your life glorious The many powerfull reasons Sir replied Alcidor which I had to hold Astasia in esteem while he lived render it imposible for me not be troubled for her death If Florisa is loved by Eridan and acknowledges the merit of that Prince of your blood the success will be far more advantageous to her than if she had nourisht an affection for one so unworthy of her as myself For Carmelia I reckon that she could not have betaken herself to an abode more convenient to regret the loss of her deare Clidantus than that which she hath so sagely chosen And for my own particular I have abundant obligation to your Majesty for the acts of Grace which your Clemency hath granted me without that by an excess of favor you should procure me the good will of two Princes whose ill will I have allwayes been apprehensive of and as much as I could shunned the means of provoking If the Princess Florisa hath done me the honor of testifying some kindness to me I never have abused it nor have I ever had the temerity to aspire to things contrary to reason and my duty and if for having before them quitted the party which they headed they have wisht me ill why did they betake themselves to the same obedience that made me acknowledge you my King Have not they been constrained to subject themselves to the Laws of your Majesty as well as to those of your Kingdome You have acted Alcidor resumed the King very well in every thing and with the services that you have done me since you have restored your self to your allegiance I have so much reason to satisfie my self that waiting for some better gratiâ—ication of them I at present make you my leiftenant of my Company of men at armes Lisantus is dead Alcidor pursued he and my regret for his death sufficiently declares what esteem I have for men of courage At these words Alcidor could
â—ot hinder himself from letting fall some teares nor could the King forbear having some stand in his eyes and farther was the memory of the loss of that great captain about to carry them into melancholy when Lucimon and Dorilas came in to them and dismist it See the generous Alcidor my Cozens said the King to them presently love him for the sake of his valor and for love of me there are few of his fashion to be found in the world we were just now speaking of you The King thus accosting them and Alcidor very civilly addressing himself to them they both imbraced him and acknowledging his high value desired him to beleive that they had and as long as they lived would have a very cordiall amity for him To which he having answerd them what was â—itting he left them and the King together and went to his Lodging Come thither he wrot to Dorame an account of all his occurrencies to this last and particularly what was become of Florisa Astasia and Carmelia The conclusion of his Letter was an assurance of the King's approbation of their marriage and of his own speedy returne to her Limonides was the carrier oâ— it About three dayes after Alcidor being with the King newes was brought him that the forces of Atalantus had taken Thiau by assault and Senoy by composition and made very ill work in the province of Xanton Hereupon he with all speed called an assembly in forme of the estates and caused to be levied a potent army with which to put a stop to the progress of those invaders But while preparations were in hand against them what by the imprudent willfullness of the inhabitants who would not receive any souldiers in garrison and what by the menaces of some factious they surprized Hucâ—io in open day Thither for the recovery of it the King determining within two or three dayes to march he told Alcidor that notwithstanding his affairs of love he must go along with him his Feild-Marshall but withall that he might go first and wait upon his Mistress for a few houres Which liberty he used with a diligence which carried him quickly to her if the first sight of him inspired her with joy he quickly changed it into affliction by telling her what a short limit of time he had to stay with her and what imployment the King had ingaged him in which renderd it so short Hearing this to go to this seige said she with a face full of trouble is to go to be killed rather than to fight I cannot therefore added she but be very much dissatisfied with your going But setting before her eyes the Kings command and the forfeiture which he should make of his favor by not obeying it then the glory of the imployment and the irreparable damage which he should contract to his honor by refusing it perswading her also that there was not so much danger in the expedition as she imagined and that in all probability he should not be long before he returned he in a good measure lessened her dissatisfaction What remained after this of the three houres which he told her he had to spend with her they made much of in protesting to one another inviolable affections and in giving and receiving caresses of which the harmless fervor and sweetenss made it pitty they should be quickly broken of But time calling him away they kist and badde adieu not without sighes on both parts love requiring that tribute of them No sooner was Alcidor returned to Paquin but he parted from it the King the next day marching away to invest Huchio and there the first task of his armes was to defeate the forces of the enemie's Field-Marshalls and he therein performed wonders Some dayes after the seige was fixt the gross of the beseiged Cavalry making a salley with designe of beating up a quarter and it being Alcidors let to command that time at the place where they came on though he had not with him above two thirds of the Kings Company of men at armes and the enemies were four or five hundred Lances he upon a slow pace attended them and stoutly receiving them performed against them all that was possible with so small a number He had not indeed strength enough to keep his men from being at length beaten back but he quickly returned with them to a second charge and at the instant that Polianis was dispatching succours to him inflaming his own courage and animating his Companions fell with the impetuousness of a Whirlewinde into the enemy-squadrons put them all in disorder made them turn their backs and pursued them taking and killing them as farr as the counterscarpe of the trench To this action the King and Adrastus his Leiftenant-generall in whose sights it was done gave applauses which plainly fore shewed the memory of it would be immortall Several other engagements made Alcidor with the enemy during the siege continually throwing himself into the most dangerous places and in all of them he was a very successfull purchaser of renown but in one of them together with renown he got a wound with a musquet-shot in the legg which compelled him for awhile to lie still Silarmin Generall of the forces of Atalantus after he had made many attempts to succour the beseiged and saw he was not able to atchieve it taking his way home wards and thereupon they in Huchio the Indian garrison first passing out in good order yeelding it up to the King he presently led his army which was composed of the military flower of his Kingdome after the enemy into their Countrey but the memory of his past victories imprinting such a terror upon their souls that they feared nothing so much as that Mars of China's fury he could by no means draw them to a battel There indeed appeared nobody in the Feild to stop his triumphant progress but to prevent the universall ravaging of his territories Atalantus dispatched to him proposalls of reconciliation and to give his empire a calm he freely accepted them Peace being re-establisht and the armies on both sides disbanded Polianis promist his subjects a golden age in room of that iron one which had so long and so sadly aggreived them and what he promist at the instant began to appear the artist workt with security the Merchant trafficked with freedome the Villager laboured the earth without fear King Prince Lord Gentleman Souldier they of holy Orders and those of common quality feasted themselves with those sweetenesses of repose pleasure advantage which the tumults of the sword had a great while hinderd them from so much as tasting in a word all every where in China appeared with a laughing face Of this universal joy Alcidor took part awhile about the King but not with a full satisfaction to make it full he must see Dorame and not only see her but also accomplish his marriage with her The King therefore at his request dismissing him not without extraordinary commendations of
War and the things that affright and molest were scarce so much as mentioned all the discourse was of love of the chase of dances of feasts of all the more elegant recreations of humane life There indeed spread a felicity over all the Kingdome Heaven blessing it with a serene tranquillity and an exuberancy of good things But the tranquillity was at length disturbed the workers of the past tempests raising new ones Liampo forgetful of the mercy which the King had shewed it when at the next door to ruine renewed its old factions and the Isle of Varella was powerfully and sharply assaulted by the Japonoises Aftertaind of this the King who armed with speed to prevent the mischeif with which he beleived the Isle of Chapasi threatened commanded Alcidor to put himself into it and it was in an instant that he had set foot on ground there with a great number of Gentlemen who reckoned it a fair glory to fight under his colours To help him make good his charge there was quickly sent to him by the diligence of the admirable Orestes eight thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and with these aids he so well disposed the Iland to a defence that the Japonoises coming three dayes after to view it found it too well fortified and managed to be assaulted After this the King seeing that the designe of Callimorus was wholly set to force the I le of Varella caused a good part of Alcidors forces to be joyned with others and make a descent thither and the success was that they compelled the Japonoises with great loss to retire to their ships Callimorus being gone Ariances who came with him fled also back with him to take refuge at Meaco Alcidor who had not as yet stirred from Chapasi was orderd by the King to go Feild-marshall to the seige of Liampo He was again upon intelligence that Roâ—ilus had forces in the Feild which he intended to put into Liampo or else to divert the siege with them ordered by him with eight hundred Horse to go seek him out and sight him and taking with him Silvanus and Dolompus the latter of which the newes of the arming had brought from Mongul where he had been dangerously wounded at the siege of Teudac he made his course but could no where meet with them that he looked for Returned to the Kings quarters he had past but few dayes there before he received the newes of the sickness and within a few houres after of the death of Florinda newes which filled his great heart as full of greif as it could possible hold and not break and which put his two Sonnes all in sadness He had Condolers of his unhappiness the King and all of his acquaintance and when seeing the change of his habit they had learnt the cause of it the whole army the King withal together with others his freinds reading lectures to him of patience and comfort He had indeed for arguments of quieting himself that she was fallen into a sleep for which it was below a soul of true courage to torment it self and from which all his Stock of Tears and sighes could not awaken her that the Queen and Court had taken all the care and pains about her not only which humanity but which also a zealous tenderness could suggest and that he had neither himself nor any other to complain of for his not seeing her in her sickness the first moment that she fell ill a Curâ—ier being dispatched to him with notice of it and she dying within six hours after of which also he had as quick a messenger But after all he had an earnest mind to throw aside his charge and arms and go weep over her that which stop him from doing it was a just consideration that his sovereign had present need of his service and demanded it and that therefore to leave him would be to incurre an opprobry from which he should never be able to clear himself Let us wait therefore said he to himself to go pay our last duties to that part of our dear Florinda that remaines till this rebellious City which is at the even of its being subdued be fully so It is not now the first time that we have received an infelicity of this kind we have too well learnt the sad usage of resenting a wife's death to forget it and shall we make less resistance against the oppressions of affliction now than heretofore when our spirit had more of impurity than now by the advantage of age it hath The exercise of Tears is to be left to women we have reason to shew ourselves more constant And besides into what region is Florinda gone that we should do nothing but lament for her Is she in an abode that is inaccessible to us Is she not there where all faithfull souls have a place reserved for them and where it is not long before we shall see her again Let us forbear then to sigh over her state of bliss and resume the temper which we had before the loss of her that so we may the better imploy ourselves as our duty and necessity require in things importing to the speedy reduction of the enemy This resolution tooke and followed Alcidor and by his advice and example his Sonnes also very much to the satisfaction of the King in regard both of the benefit which thereby they would receive themselves and of that also which would accrew from it to his own affairs The Japonoises having a good mind to succour Liampo but in regard of the invincible obstacles that stood in their way contenting themselves to appear upon the sea and retire the beseiged though they had thereby their hopes frustrated continued obstinately enough to defend themselves but at length great numbers of them being destroyed by the arms of the besiegers and greater by sickness and famine so that the Town made hast to be desert of inhabitants they were necessitated to beg the Kings mercy and what they necessarily begged he freely indulged Having mastered this City which three Kings his predecessours could not do and re-establisht there the old Religion of China he returned in triumph to Paquin and thither Alcidor waited upon him and then applied himself to perform the supreme honours to Florinda When he came to see her body in the Coffin he was wholly possest with greif and his sentiments were more equitable than to be blamed but his reason after a while making good its empire and tempering his passion his Cheif care was taken up about her funerals and he laid her in the grave with a State in which Mourning was renderd full of Majesty While the King continued at Paquin Alcidor was always about him and new occasions calling him abroad he and his Sons attended him They were of his Cheife assistants when he forced his way through the barricades and other obstacles that shut it up and dissipated those that opposed it releived Baiador that was straightly beseiged upon the Prince