a little while that he might at â—…is pleasure embrace the King his Master and for some 〈◊〉 enjoy the â—…ght of the yong Guina Capa And that after so much contentment he wouâ—… walke to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all joy and glory and esteeme himselfe the happiest of all men living The King insisted to aske Alismaes life The spectators of eyther sex made resound againe their joy and wonder and her Pallace was all in rejoycings and confusion such as I thinke the History of all ages cannot give us an accident comparable with it The Queene when the tumult was over entertayning the while Zelmatida particularly sent to command every one to take his place and when all were ranged she went againe into her Throne and pronounced these words aloude The supposed death of the great Guina Capaes lawfull Heire wrought by the malice of men wonne me not only to make a lawe which condemned to death all men that fell into my hands but likewise to denounce a warre against the King Quasmez my brother and ancient Ally But this finding againe my sonne by the helpe of men I will That lawe be for ever abolished and putting a period to the war I undertooke I acknowledge my selfe answerable to Quasmez and give him most particular thanks for so charitably gathering together the remainder of my desolate house When she had thus made knowne her will she descended from her Throne and taking Zelmatida by the hand gave Alisma and my selfe the best entertainment we could wish Quasmez Embassadours ravished with so incredible and such an unexpected revolution of businesse did their complements to Zelmatida as to the rightfull successour of the Incaes and besought Telesmana that she would be pleased they might send their Master these good news I my selfe said he will be the Messenger of our common happinesse let therefore some one of you returne to Quasmez and without giving him intelligence of what hath happened tell him that I am on the way to visite him The youngest of the Embassadours had that Commission and presently departed to put it in execution A little after the Queene went out of her Campe holding Zelmatida by the one hand and Alisma by the other Quasmez Embassadours were on each side of her and the Queenes guard crowned with chaplets of flowres encompassed that illustrious company In this manner we marched to the gates of the City where Quasmez expected us and in the incertainty he was failed not of that extreme quietnes of minde which even the most miserable find in the testimony of a good conscience and firme confidence every one ought to have in the goodnesse of the gods Telesmana at her comming to him presented Zelmatida and after their salute See said she the cause of the warre and the cause of peace See what hath made me take up armes and that which hath made me lay them downe I know just and charitable Quasmez that Zelmatida is my sonne as well as yours and if your love and care have made you taken for his Father blood and nature oblige me to declare my selfe his Mother Quasmez not knowing where first to expresse his joy and the proofes of his aâ—…ction whether to the Mother or to the Sonne would have beene glad at once to have parted himselfe betwixt Telesmana and Zelmatida Your imagination better then my relation can represent to you all the particularities of this interview I will not therfore speake of the Sacrifices nor magnificencies wherewithall Quasmez caused the returne of Zelmatida and the peace to be celebrated Let it suffice I tell you the Queene of the Amazons was a moneth with Quasmez and after she had witnessed to him an extreame resentment for those obligations she was bound to him in the behalfe of Zelmatida she with a royall pompe and convoy tooke thence the body of the Queene heâ—… daughter tooke leave of him and stayed not till she came to the City of Quito Zelmatida who followed her by Quasmez appointment after two daies stay in that town was importuned by Alisma to goe to the Caverne of the Javelyn He consented and we three parted thence with our ordinary servants beginning that journey which the generous old man had beene so long desired We travelled night and day and tooke but little rest till we came to the Cave that concealed so many marvels We found not the entry so easy as Alisma had told us but contrarily as soone as we came neere it were set on by a great Troop of Quitonians who by their howlings enraged actions signified an extreame apprehension of our arivall Zelmatida making use of the good Sword I gave him at Calcicoëca which the Amazons had restored to him slew so many of those desperate people that what he did even passeth all likelyhood Alisma old as he was made shew of his former vigour and I that was willing to defend my life tryed to make use of those advantages that I had fetcht so farre off But the wonderfull valour of Zelmatida and his consorts strength had beene vaine against so many enemies iâ—… the wisedome of Telesmana had not seconded the boldnesse of her sonne For as soone as she knew of his private departure she caused two thousand Amazons to follow him and commanded they should not returne without him Those generous Ladies fell in on the Quitonians when we were covered with wounds and round beset on all sides and drove them to the entry of the Caverne Zelmatida much moved with his owne disgrace put himselfe in the front of the Amazons and did so wonderfull deeds of armes that since they called him the God of warre At last he forced the caves enâ—…t left not one of the Quitonians alive Alisma entred next after him and â—…an â—…o the place where he had hid the fatall Iavelin He had much a doe to draw it out Yet at last he got it but he was much astonished when he returned to Zelmatida and sawe him busied in delivering a Prisoner He gazed on the man and presently letting fall the Iavelin out of his hand cryed out am I asleepe or doe I wake Is this a truth or a illusion that I see my Lord my deare Lord is it your selfe or your shadowe doe you know your Alisma or wot you who t is that vndoes your bonds Zelmatida was about to ask Alisma the reason of his astonishment when said the Prisoner takeing the generous old man by the hand t is even I Alisma who after so long imprisonment and a hundred times escaping the death prepared for me see my selfe freed by the valour of this brave yong man Doe you live then my Lord replyed Alisma Have you escaped the rage of your enemies Have the Gods preserved you among so many Executioners shall I beleeve it Yes O yee just Gods I will said he falling on his knees and acknowledging more and more that your incomprehensible providence governes by unknowne meanes the accidents of the worlde I will employ all
into the Army he went to the Generall and making himselfe knowne by the badges Alcidiana had given him ingaged the Grandies to intertaine him as a personage of extraordinary and high estimation Some dayes after he communicated his designe to the Generall and getting his approbation obtained permission to challenge Syziphus The King at Armes was commanded to goe to the Campe of the Rebell and his Companions and not to neglect any thing that might adde to the reputation of Polexanders defiance I yet remember the challenge he sent by the Herauld T was thus The Stranger Polexander to Syziphus thrice a Rebell AMbition is alwaies guilty but not ever modest All Lawes condemne Tyrants yet there have beene many of them seene who by their dangerous magnanimity have exempted themselves from that condemnation This Syziphus tells thee that when any hath violated the Law and troden Justice under foote it behooves him by a famous death or some great event to deliver himselfe both from the power of Law and justice In the meane time poore ambitious man in lieu of following those proude tyrannicall Maximes thou hast imitated the proceedings of common Theeves Thou hast lost thy courage with thy hopes thou hast shamefully begged pardon for a crime thou wert not able to perpetrate and thy infamy is come to that height thou hast been seene to implore with teares her pity whose justice thou hadst newly most brutishly provoked After this unmanlinesse I doe not believe there is left thee any sence of honour Yet I will adventure this challenge to see whether I am deceived and if thou hast not lost all thy courage with thy integrity thou wilt come with thy armes to justifie thy selfe of those crimes this State accuseth thee by my Pen. Syziphus received the challenge with a fury unworthy a man of courage and yet to testifie he had enough he accepted it and told the Herauld that the next morning he would be in the Meadow betweene the two Armies to make knowne by the death of one of his enemies what he had prepared for the rest The ensuing morne at breake of the day there was proclaimed a truce on both sides for six houres only and yet both sides for feare of being surprised stood on their gards At the houre of combate the two Rivalls came out of their quarters and presented themselves in the field with such armes as Cavaliers were wont to make use of in the like duels Polexander after his invocation of Alcidiana and love came amaine on Syziphus and incountered him with such a force that it seemed the power of those Divinities he had called on had with their power effectively assisted him Syziphus returning from his amazement tooke him to his sword and came up to Polexander with all the resolution of a man of courage The victory was a while doubtfull but at last it inclined to the just side Syziphus covered with wounds growne desperate at â—…is ill fortune and tortured by the remorse of conscience let himselfe fall at the feete of his Conquerour to oblige him to give him his life and confessed with weakenesse enough the crimes whereof he had long since beene convicted Polexander bounded his revenge within the confession of that timerous ambitious man but he strove in vaine to preserve his life for he dyed on the place and by a ficklenesse too ordinary in Armies that of Syziphus no sooner saw him dye but renouncing any other party then Alcidiana's sent Deputies to treate with the Generall The accord was not hard to be made since they demanded nothing but that all might be forgotten which was past and every man might returne to his owne home without feare of being inquired after As soone as the Treaty was signed the intrenchments which seperated the two Armies were slighted and before 't was night it had beene a hard matter to meet with any of those that were of Syziphus party This important newes was sent to Alcidiana and with so much diligence that the next morning as she went to the Temple the Post presented the Generalls letter to her she looked earnestly on the Messenger before she opened them and reading in his countenance the good newes he brought What Syziphus is beaten said she to the Gentleman Yes Madam he replied but an extraordinary way The Queene her self broke open the packet and according to her manner would reade the letters without referring her selfe to the fidelity of her Secretaries of State She heard of the Kings challenge the combate he had with Syziphus and in briefe all that I have related After she had ended her delightsome reading All powerfull and all good Diety cried she into whose hands I have committed the fortune both of my State and my selfe well may I call the day wherein the stranger Polexander landed in this Kingdome the day of thy love and blessing What act of thankes Invisible Sun what offrings can acquit me from that miracle which thy goodnesse hath pleased to shew fâ—…r the safety of my people and mine owne particular preservation This ejaculation of her heart ended she turned to those which followed her and without discovering any excessive joy come said she let us goe and give thankes to heaven for the victory wee have obtained It is the more admirable since it hath cost no mans life but that of the publique enemy At those words there was a kinde of a humming noise declaring the joy every one bâ—…d of so happy an event and the desire to know the particularities which were published as soone as Alcidiana had done her devotion and were intertained with so generall a contentment that all shops were shut up and all the Temples open as on some solemne festivall day Polexander who had not beene knowne but by some persons of quallity for his first service done to the Queene by this second made himselfe to be taken notice of the meanest of the people His name was in the mouth of every one They called him the tutelare Angell of their Queene and State and some even proclaimed that he was the powerfull Protector which the prophesies promised the Kingdome under the name of a slave Whilst these rumours ran among the people Alcidiana retired with Amintha was assaulted by many different thoughts You judged well said she to her Confident when you tâ—…ought this stranger was more then he seemed For mine owne part when I call to minde the Majesty which shines in his face the discretion and courtesie that have made him so well esteemed by us and those two actions he hath undertaken by an absolute effect of his generosity I certainely believe him to be some great Prince who to gaine renowne to his valour and fill the world with the report of his wonders thus travells through strange Countries What thinke you of it Amintha Your Majesty knowes well enough replied the Lady that it was my first opinion That which he hath done against Syziphus addes nothing to the conceipt I had of
be unfortunate The hundred leagues which they held to be from the Canaries to Alcidiana's Island were reckoned by so exact a computation that the Pilot's Mates assured Polexander they had not miscounted a mile for all that no Isle could be discovered and the ship still made on with all her sailes Polexander not knowing whom to accuse but his destinie imprecated against himselfe and if that principle of pietie which never parted from his soule had not stopp'd the agitations of his anger he had without doubt added one to the examples of those who to be delivered ouâ—… of the hands of fortune have daringly laid violent hands on themselves being then ingag'd to suffer till Providence had otherwise appointed he caused part of his sailes to be taken in and will'd his Pilot to alter his course and somtimes steering East and othertimes sailing West not to forget any thing on what his art depended The Pilot beleeving his reputation as well as fortune to be annexed to this discoverie followed it both wâ—…h the eyes of a Lynceus and the judgement of another Typhis Two dayes and two nights he attempted severall courses and rectifying himselfe by the help of his Compasse as often as the winde put him off from his first Rhombe he had the boldnesse to tell Polexander that in spight of the power of what Demons soever he would finde that inchanted Island These promises were too audacious to be licenced and indeed were punished by a contemning which was like to cost their Authors life At the fifth dayes break those that were in the top of the maine Mast beganâ—… cry Land and by that word filled all the ship with a noise that witnessed their universall joy Polexander who durst not beleeve what he so much desired went up into a place from whence he might discover all that was round about That land he saw and his heart beating so much did that object master his senses I know said he well enough what punishment Alcidiana's just anger hath provided for me but how worthy is my mishap to be envied since the lightning that threatens me is to come from the faire eyes of that Princesse Whilst he spake thus his vessell flew on the waves and seem'd to take part in her masters rapture Assoone as they were in the roade they knew the discovered land to be an Isle Polexander unwilling to trust to any body in a thing so important to him commanded the shallop to be lanch'd and taking none with him but Alcippus and Diceus caused himselfe to be landed with all haste He came on shoare in a very hidden and private place and therefore went further up into the Isle to descry it hee had not gone above five or six hundred paces along the coast but he perceived the points of many turrets with that hee went some hundred paces further without saying any thing but when he was gotten to the top of a rocke from whence he plainly discerned the pavillions whose tops he had onely seen before 'T is the fatall Palace said he which I forsooke to pursue Amintha's ravishers He spoke it imperfectly his excesse of joy transporting him he grew pale he trembled and underwent all the agitations that an extreame Love ever yet troubled the strongest minde with sometime hee thanked Fortune then he blessed Love and ever among mingling Alcidiana I have no sense said he but wrongs the extremitie of happinesse I enjoy I confesse O ye Divinities equally powerfull that to you I am infinitely oblieged but to shew such vulgar acknowledgements for so extraordinary benefits is to be ingratefull If there be any one which may be accepted 't is the confession I make that it is not lesse impossible for me to expresse then to acknowledge sufficiently your incomparable gratifications with that he turned to Alcippus and Diceus and knowing not what was best to be done Advise me my friends said he for in the case I am 't is a hard matter for me to counsell my selfe Alcippus replied he was not so well in Alcidiana's favour as to present himselfe to her without the advise of some one of his ancient friends by whom he might understand how the Queen was affected towards him 'T is true said our Heroe I should be more guilty then Alcidiana imagineth if I made no scruple of coming before â—…er incens'd as she is or bore so meane a respect to a personage worthy so much adoration as with an impudent boldnesse inforce her to violate her owne lawes and justifie that rash man whom she hath condemned to a shamefull death Let 's returne to our ship and there we will deliberate at leasure in what manner 't is fit I should prepare my self for the punishment my disobedience hath deserved Presently he turned himselfe to sea-ward but he had not gone twenty paces e're his mind altered and so resolved to attempt on fortune and to try what should become of him Alcippus laid before him all that he thought most perswasive to divert him from so dangerous a resolution but all was in vaine and so was of force to follow him After they had left the sea coast and traversed a plaine watered with many sweet rivers beautified with faire houses and encompassed with a wood of very high trees into part of which they entred because their way ingaged them they had not gone farre in when they stopped at the sound of a flute and bagpipe Polexander imagining whence the musicke came went out of the largr way and striking into a path fast by among the trees came to a crosse way invironed with five or six little cottages there they saw two shepheards seated at the foot of a tree playing on the instruments our Heroe had heard and ten or twelve young children dancing before them who made him see by their rurall habits but faire ones that their fathers were not reduced to the necessity of the European Shepheards Polexander ravished with this adventure would have addressed himselfe to the Pipers but the poore men affrighted in seeing him fled with the children our Heroe followed to the cottage whereto they retired and had made such an out-cry that five or six other shepheards well clad and armed with staves like our halfe pikes from severall places came resolutely towards him Hee spoke much to them but imagining they understood him not he tooke a little diamond which by chance he had on his finger and offering it to them 〈◊〉 a demeanor full of courtesie staid their furie They took the ring and after they had well gazed on it imbraced Polexander one after another and shewing him many civill respects invited him into their cottage thither he went where he beheld two women whose naturalnesse that had nothing of what was silly and beautie without art might have made them taken for some of those famous shepheardesses of the ancient Arcadia there wanted nothing to his satisfaction but to make himselfe understood but that being not then possible he thought best
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
clad after such a fashion that a man must have beene voyde of all curiositie that would not earnestly have regarded him He had an habilliment imbroydered with gold and silver made in so particular a fashion and so becomming that you could not have seene any thing fayrer He wore a kinde of Helmet after the ancient manner on which waved a great plume of feathers of all colours and about his neck he had a coller of gold in which was written in letters of Diamonds Alcidiana gave it Two the like circles served him for garters and to those were fastned two long chaines of gold which were carried by two dwarfes As soone as he came before Bajazet he presented to him a linnen Roule and before he unfolded it I am said he the slave of Alcidiana The richnesse of my chaines may let you know the greatnesse of her that makes me weare them I goe from Country to Country to publish her mervailes and for feare lest the incredulous and jealous should accuse me of flattery I alwaies carry her picture to make all eyes witnesses of those truthes I proclayme A tempest throwing me on this Isle I had neere neglected to come on shore for feare of prophaning the beauties of Alcidiana in shewing them to Barbarianâ—… But when I understood it was the seate of famous Bajazet I presently set foote on shore to lay open to his eyes all that which nature and the Sun ever yet made most worthy of admiration Unrole then that linnen cloth and see or rather imagine in seeing an Image though imperfect of that divine Queene what thinke you should she be her selfe Bajazet ravished with the discourse as well as with the faire presence of the slave unfolded the cloth that he held and discovered so faire a picture that he was forced to cry out that Art had gone beyond all that Nature could doe You blaspheme said the slave to him for if ever fortune bring you a shore on the Inaccessible Island and that you have a sight of Alcidiana you will cry out more justly O how farre hath Nature gone beyond all that Art is able to produce I My exclamation replyed Bajazet is an effect of my astonishment and not of my incredulity I doubt not but Alcidâ—… is farre fayrer then she is in this portraict and if you wanted another witnesse then your selfe to confirme me in that opinion there is a Prince in this place that will not refuse you his testimony A Prince replyed the slave and who may that Prince be never other then Polâ—…xander hath beene so happy to sâ—…e Alcidiana It may be I speake of him said Bajazet The Slave would have gone on with his discourse when Polexander pale and trembling as a man in the cold fit of a violent ague presented himselfe before him and kissing the fetters he wore yes said he O most happy Pallantus I am the unfortunate Polexander whom destiny judgeth not only unworthy to review thy incomparable Mistris but also to carry as thou doest the markes of her glorious servitude The Slave after he had some while considered Polexander threw himselfe at his feete and against his will kissing them What Prince said he reignes there this day on the Earth who owes not this homage to him whom the divine Alcidiana hath acknowledged worthy of her esteeme as well as of her anger Ah Pallantus replyed Polexander thou hast not joyned the â—…steeme of thy divine Queene with her anger but to imitate those cunning Phisitions who to make their bitter and unsavory pills or potions to be taken mingle it with somthing pleasant and sweete But I am too much used to bitternesse to imagine that thing that is offered me can have any kinde of sweetnesse Tell me then deare Pallantus the most cruell of all my destiny and without flattering me with an esteeme that I shall never deserve let me know that which the just choler of Aâ—…cidiana hath reserved for my rashnesse Pallantus would willingly have hiddâ—…n from Polexander that which he knew of his fortune but fearing to offend by his discretion the blinde obedience which he had sworne to Alcidiana Doe not doubt said he to our Heroe but that my faire Queene esteemes of your valour and heares not without astonishment that which Fame speakes of your noblenesse But your daring hath not pleased her and when she knew that you respected her not with all the fâ—…are and all the reverence that we ought to beare to sacred things she hath resolved by a long absence to chastise the irregularity of your desires Her indignation had beene satisfied by putting you to this affliction if the impudency of her Subjects had not oblieged her to take from you for ever the contentment of seeing her What said Polexander was it not enough for me to be punished for my offences without engaging me to beare the iniquity of others No answered Pallantus the faults of your friends being mixt with your owne hath set you for a marke to which aymes all the most rigorous justice of Alcidiana The errors of Amalthea the solicitations of Pisander the teares of Amintha and the irregular love of a people made foole by your valour have brought my Queene to forbid you the comming into her kingdome and to condemne you to death if you ever chance to violate what she hath forbidden O errors O solicitations O teares O popular blindnesse said Polexander how much am I beholding to you that have obtayned for me a favour that I value not much lesse then the love of Alcidiana Yes faire Queene he added casting his eyes on the picture of Alcidiana yes I will die of that death to which you have condemned me and will die if I can without displeasing you by disobedience Polexander stopping at these words seemed to expect Pallantus answere but perceiving that the Slave repented him of what he had spoken Goe not about said he by your word to disguise the passions of your Princesse Remember t is she alone to whom you owe both your respect and complying and that in mincing those things which her Majesty commands you you violate the purity of your faith and make your selfe unworthy of those faire chaines which your unsoyled loyalty hath acquired you Say then boldly that Polexander must perish and that Alcidiana her selfe hath designed to pronounce his Sentence of death But Pallantus to the end that none may doubt of the will of that Princesse conceale no longer my just condemnation let me see the termes that begot 〈◊〉 in what words 't is contained and be assured that I shall receive it as the most glorious signall by which my life hath yet ever beene honoured I will satisfie you answered Pallantus since Alcidiana will have it so and that at the same time I make her beauty to be adored I cause her power to be redoubted In saying this he unfolded a great volume sealed with a golden Medal where was the portraict of Alcidiana on one side on
and Alisma ravished with the beauty of their enemies could not take a resolution to offend them They therefore obayed and presenting to them their weapons obliged my selfe and my companyons to give them ours too This is not enough saide the Principall of that faire Company you must now follow us and yeeld your selves prisoners to the invincible Telesmana Queene of the warlike virgins You shall not be disobeyed answered Alisma For we are both my selfe and my companions so much obliged to Telesmana that we are ready to suffer all that she shall pronounce against us This saide Zelmatida was the first that presented himselfe and consenting to have his hands bound endured Alismaes smiling at it and that I might manacle my selfe Those redoubtable enemies put us in the midst of them and so brought us to their Campe. They understood at their entry that Telesmana expected Embassadors from Quasmez and that she was to receive them with all the magnificence that she seemed to make shew of on the like occasions These news were very pleasing to them and made them resolve to take hold of that occasion and to present us to the Queene whilest she was in the state of doing justice and presently they hastened towards the Pavillions of Telesmana I must confesse to you that in no one of all the kings Courts that I have seene eyther in the one or the other world I have not taken notice of any thing so stately so rich so admirable and in a word so royall as the Guard and the Quarter of that valiant Queene It was almost a league about and twice so long as large compassed with a diâ—…ch filled with water and with a pallisadoe of high stakes There was but one entrance where two thousand Amazons were day and night in guard We entred the second Campe and passed through foure thousand warriers that stood on each side in file even to the Queenes lodging After that she who commanded our Conductors had beene with the Queene to give an accompt of the successe of her journey she returned and brought us into a great Tent which was as the Hall for Telesmanaes guard Thence we went into another that shone exceedingly with gold and diamonds There stood three rancks of Amazons armed with halfe-pike so neate and curiously gilded that they were fitter for a day of triumph then a day of combat We past by those fayre warriers and presently saw the worthy Mistresse of so illustrious Subjects She was environed with a great number of Princesses and other Ladies and seated on a throne of massie gold covered with rubies pearle and diamonds It was ascended to by six degrees of gold and silver and over it hung great plates of gold joyned together all thick set with precious stones and disposed in such a fashion that the Sun casting his beams on it made the Queene to seeme indeede as another Sun Our guards brought us to the foote of the Throne and commanded us to kneele to be examined The countenance and grace of Zelmatida and Alisma though the inequality of their ages made them farre different caused almost a like admiration in all the Assembly The Queene could not refrayne from turning her eyes on them and though she saw them not well yet confest that it was great pitty to destroy such men whose brave aspect gave sufficient testimony of their mindes and the greatnesse of their courage Yet she would be satisfied and therefore commanded Alismaes Guard to bid him stand up The generous olde Man arose and all bound as he was after five or six steps came and kneeld at the feet of the Princesse When he had cast up his eyes and that Telesmana had looked on that warlike aspect which his gray hayres made venerable she shewed a great deale of greife that she must be constrayned to condemn that man to death against her owne naturall sweetnesse Notwithstanding it behooved her to goe against her owne inclynation and to resolve it Yet before she would give the sentence of death she tolde him that if his courage did not bely his countenance he should shewe it on this occasion and patiently undergoe the disaster whereinto he and his companions were then fallen For know said she that by an irrevocable Decree made by me above sixteen yeares since I have condemned all men that should fall into my hands to be burn'd alive The respect due to my sex which that of yours hath violated in mine owne person and my childrens compells me to avenge my selfe on men with more rigour then any doth ordinarily inflict on his enemies But let them for all accuse their owne inhumanity that was the first cause of it Yes cruell and inhumane as you are yes Monsters that make Nature to blush for producing you you have been so barbarous as neither to have mercy on a woman whom the gods caused to be borne the fairest and wisest Princesse of the world nor on her infant yet a part of her selfe doe not wonder then if after so many and so great wrongs I betake me to a just vengeance and make no difficulty of massacring the innocent for feare of letting escape any one that is guilty Now you know my resolution and your owne destiny tell me who you are and what sad fortune hath cast you into the hands of my women Alisma not â—…ffecting that insensibility which makes all things indifferent and yet free from that â—…eare which brings a change of colour in the face and a stammering in the speech answered the Queene thus If my companions and my selfe had beene lesse accustomed then we are to the outrages of fortune we would complaine now of this her new plotted treason But being dayly at warres with her we will try to get the victory by our constancy and never more finde fault with her betrayings Yet we must confesse that this last treachery is horrible for we beleeved her not false enough to corrupt our best friends and to provide Goales and tortures for us where we came to seeke for repose and protection Yes great Queene we came into this Kingdome to finde a Sanctuary against fortune and have heere some helpes against our enemies I name not these considerations to wooe your pity nor doe we love life so well to preserve it by wiles You have commanded me to say who I am I will obey you and by that obedience make you confesse that fortune is yet a more cruell enemy then I have spoake her I he City of Cusco claimes my birth I am honored by being descended from the race of the Sun and to be Grandchilde to the coelestiall Mango Capa If since the death of the great Guina Capa you have beene pleased to heare related the misfortunes that followed the losse of that Prince and your incomparable Daughter I doubt not but you have heard of the name of Alisma The Queene much moved at that name how said she are you that Alisma who called your selfe the Avenger of
whereof you accuse her she hath prostituted her self she hath lost her honour and deserves not to live one quarter of an houre longer This was all she said then and since that time for all their threatnings and all the tortures presented to her she never spoke but once when the Prince came to her chamber Two or three daies after this cruell proceeding that unfortunate Prince was inform'd that the Earle of Trinobant was abroad in the country with a great many of his friends and the Earle of Littidur disguis'd like a Fisherman had pass'd in a barque divers times under the castle This news startled him and made him looke as well after his owne preservation as well as the ruine of his pretended adulterers After hee had meditated on diverse evasions and was to avoide that mischief hee found none better then to force Eolinda to write to them and under a pretext of an amourous appointment to make them fall into the trap where he desired to catch them To give more colour to this assignation he sent back his mother to London and putting his wife into the custody of an old gentleman who had alwaies very faithfully serv'd him prepar'd himself to return to Court He took horse at full noon with all his houshold but at the first lodging he feign'd himself sick and put one of his Confidents into his bed to amuse the world In the mean time he got on one of those admirable gueldings which will run you some hundred or six score miles in ten or twelve houres and so in two and an half return'd to his house At day-break he came into Eolinda's chamber where he found her at prayers at her beds feet As soon as she saw him she arose came towards him with such a respect and meeknesse as would have mov'd the heart of the most barbarous man alive and falling at his feet My Lord said she to him I hope much since I and you are alone in this chamber Thou must said he rudely obey me if thou wilt hope with reason I never had any other intent amourously repli'd Eolinda Hear me then said her husband and bethink thy selfe well of the answer thou wilt make me The Earle of Littidur and the other of Trinobant are not far hence and without doubt are come upon some advertisement thou hast sent them If thou wilt save thy life thou must write to either of them according to my minde but doe not look to be much intreated for I condemn thee either to write to them or dy My Lord repli'd Eolinda I do not fear death since it is the certain repose of innocent creatures but had I committed that treason which my enemies have constrain'd you to alledge I should be so faulty that I would think my self worthy all the torments prepared for the damned Ah impudent woman cri'd the Prince what yet more testimonies of thy incontinency I endure these injuries repli'd Eolinda sweetly because heaven hath given you all authority over me but since I am not thereby commanded to obey you when your commands are offences be pleased that for this time I may be disobedient Thou must then dy said the unfortunate Prince I am ready prepar'd repli'd Eolinda strike bodly my Lord said she modestly opening her breast I will receive the blow without fear and blesse the hand that gave it me I will have thine own to be the executioner said he That is not yet permitted me replied Eolinda besides it would give you the greater satisfaction if you your self avenge your honour since you beleeve I have wrong'd it These words penetrated the hardnesse of the unhappy mans soule In that very moment he remembred what he had been before-times The standish and ponyard which he held fell out of his hands and pitifully looking on her Would to heaven said he thou wert innocent I am so she repli'd yet I deceive my self No my Lord I am not since you have been capable of mistrusting me The unfortunate Prince not deserving the grace of coming to himself departed the chamber overcome but not perswaded He lock'd her up and keeping about him the keyes of the door went to walk in his Parke to deliberate on what he should lastly resolve As long as 't was day he did nothing but go and come and was above thirty times to see what Eolinda did through a little hole in the door and found her still on her knees holding her eies and hands towards heaven and understood plainly once that she beg'd thence a pardon for her persecuters and that it would have commiseration on her husbands error Those words almost wrought that miracle which she would have requested from heaven and the unfortunate Prince began to be himself when his wicked mother arrived according as they had agreed at parting He told her what he had done and alledg'd the new doubts Eolinda's words had wrought in him The abominable hagge sharply reprehended him to suffer himselfe to be so easily seduced and to confirme him in his former resolution said That it behoov'd him to send Pantaira and Lycambus to the two Earles that by the successe of their voyage he might draw the last manifestation of his wifes incontinence Those two wretched agents were hereupon sent and so well instructed by the old woman that for the further misery of many innocents their journey took alike effect Lycambus met with the Earle of Trinobant and propounding to him the facility of delivering his mistris and by consequence of enjoying her he wonne him to hazzard himself in that enterprise with all the rashnesse of a man very young and very valiant The brutish high-lander conducted him even to the place where his master lay in ambush to surprise him where he was enwrap'd overloaden with cassockes and cloakes gag'd and so led away to the Castle The Earle of Littidur with the same easinesse was taken in his fisher-boat and as unworthily handled as his rivall They were presently shut up in two chambers and severally examined by the Prince himselfe They confess'd they were to blame and had no other excuse for their offence but the extream beauty of Eolinda and the tyranny of love But the Princesse said they both had other meanes enough to free her self of us without blemishing her vertue by so base a treason She needed but have made known the aversion she hath alwaies had to us though some traytors have told us the contrary and we would have shewn to her by a faire death that our lives were lesse dear to us then her favour You shall neither of you save your selves by these crafty excuses said the Prince Confesse your crime if you will have pardon Our offence repli'd they each one in particular is already confessed We do infinitly love Eolinda and would willingly give our lives to have some small part in her good opinion It hath not cost you so much answered the Prince Therefore prepare your selves to wash away with your bloods the
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
eyes the fault I committed against my selfe made me condemne my first inclination I retir'd from the extremity whither my disposition had hurried me and contemplating you as destinated for the sole Alcidiana Amalthea said I to my selfe thou canst not love him without a crime for to enjoy him thou must either betray the Queene or thy vertue Give over then leave that so amiable Polexander to his just Possessor But art thou so silly as to perswade thy selfe that he who so much disquiets thee is so lovely as they would have thee beleeve Ask some who are lesse interessed then a Mistris and her servants and thou wilt finde there is a great disproportion betwixt the true Polexander and Alcidiana's I did what I said I chang'd my opinion and would have let the Queene know it but she prevented me and ask'd what I thought of Polexander That which I thinke of all men said I and I sweare to you Madam by the duty I owe your Majesty that I never enquir'd after him but onely to satisfie my curiosity Alcidiana smil'd at my answer and strictly embracing me Amalthea said she I will fully content that affectation when thou pleasest Thus wee parted For my part I got to my bed But all night long I did nought but call to minde the defects which they usually cast on men to give me just cause to neglect you Not to lye I had almost effected it and my imagination had already halfe cured the wound it had made when Fame contemning Alcidiana's declarations brought you into the Inaccessible Island as a Conquerour over the Kings of Castile and Portugall I look'd on you with excessive joy in a table where you were drawne defending alone the Port of one of your Isles against all the Enemies fleet The Sea was stain'd with their bloud and the shore strew'd with Spaniards which seem'd to have come offer themselves to your sword that they might have the honour to dye by your hand O! how fatall was that sight to me I confesse it to my shame Polexander I felt my selfe burne with so sweet a fire that in spight of all the remonstrances of reason I tooke delight in being consum'd by it My extravagancy which till then had beene conceal'd at that time burst out and made me stop mine â—…ares to all prudent counsell Neither the consideration of Alcidiana nor the care of my reputation nor the feare of heaven could make me alter my resolution I got from the Inaccessible Island and not daring to take leave of Alcidiana put to Sea without other Guide then my blinded passion Heaven could not suffer my unbridlednesse nor consent to my ruine It staid me on the brink of the precipice by a violent fever made an end of another that was far more burning That sicknesse was my health For that great Physitian which never leaves his cures imperfect so strengthened my soule by the weakenesse of my body that he made me capable of that horror we should have for all the ordures of the earth I renounc'd the greatnesse of my birth I tooke leave of the world and to do a long penance for the errours of my youth came and confin'd my selfe within this Isle Almost two yeares have I tried to appease the anger of that incomprehensible Spirit that is no lesse just then mercifull I have bewail'd my loving the Creature more then the Creator I have fasted I have prayed I have wept in briefe I have omitted nothing of all that which might restore me the Innocency which my frailty had rob'd me of My sufferings have beene followed by consolations and though my minde hath beene often tempted by the charmes of your remembrance yet I can say it came off victorious Yes I dare brag now I am certaine of my victory I see the end of my combat such as I desired Heaven opens it selfe to receive me and shewes me that immortall Crowne it hath prepar'd for all those hardy Combatants who know how to tame the rebellion of sense and the disorders of the will Farewell then Polexander admire the vertue of Alcidiana and condemne not the infirmity of Amalthea Polexanâ—…er had his eyes full of teares all the while he read the letter and when he had ended it I did verily beleâ—…ve said he this letter would be to me a Source of new disasters O fortune O Alcidiana O love O death which of you foure wil have so much pity as to put a period to my miseries This sad cogitation having a long time tormented him he call'd to minde the assurances Amalthea had given him by her letter of Alcidiana's favour to him But he had not beene scarce a moment setled on so pleasing a subject when despaire and incredulity depriv'd his thought of all those faire Idea's He return'd againe to those old distrusts of himselfe tooke for lyes Amalthea's verities and rejecting his least hopes as rashnesse worthy thunder made himselfe as miserable as he had cause to think him happy Thus to no purpose he persecuted himselfe when Almanzaira came out of Amalthea's chamber as much afflicted for the death of that Princesse as for her owne misfortunes At the first word Polexander was about to speake to her she interrupted him and shewing him a man who then entred the Court of the Hermitage 't is Almaid cried she and presently ran to meet him and said what was fitting to oblige him to speake freely before Polexander After that declaration Almaid was not fearefull of being knowne therefore addressing him to his Queene Madam said he give heaven the thanks which its justice and pity deserve Your misfortunes are at an end and your enemies power is extinguished I know replied Almanzaira the unfortunate Almanzor hath slaine himselfe 'T is true Madam said Almaid the brave Polexander which seemes to be descended from heaven on earth to free the world of tyranny and exterminate monsters hath deliver'd you from two the most fearefull and cruell that Africa ever bred Polexander in lieu of making himselfe knowne undertooke Almanzors defence and addressing him to Almaid Our passions said he are disorders of the soule and therefore the harder for those by whom they are govern'd to preserve either all their judgement or all their imagination This being so I wonder not your affection transports you so from your selfe as to draw your sword against a woman and pardon not the memory of the dead I am farre from justifying Zelopa since her actions accuse her and being condemned by Almanzaira she is so by the mouth of Justice it selfe 'T is Almanzor I defend not onely for being Zabaims son but because I knew his vertues and that he never consented to the crimes of his mother Besides his valour was so extraordinary that all these Seas have beene the Theater of it and if he had not coveted death he by his acts would have shewd himselfe the worthy son of that great Monarch who is the Author of his life Polexander never vaunted he
hand which I kisse said she and by this submission wherewithall I implore thy goodnesse deare Solyman pardon me those faults which the excesse of my love have made me commit against thee I confesse I am unworthy thy love since I would have purchas'd it by other charmes then those of my affection and perseveranee but if I have judges a little more pitifull then thy selfe I shall finde mercy For tell me lovely Soiyman what faults are pardonable if that of too much love deserves to be punished The Princesses speech did renew in my memory but confusedly some particularities of my sicknesse and that reiterating the desire I had to know all Faire Princesse said I the unfortunate Solyman knows too wel theeffects of love to condemn as criminal the actions to which he enforceth us Al that his absolute power make us undertake is just and if some one think otherwise he knows not what love is After this fear not faire Princesse to declare what you have done to me know that we never understand better how violent a passion is but when it puts on such as it possesseth to actions extreamely violent May I beleeve replied Ennoramita that 't is from thy selfe and not the vertue of some new charme which gives thee so favourable thoughts and makes thee so pitifull If it be so let Fate doe its worst I will never thinke my estate unhappy Ennoramita having put on this resolution related to me all that I have told you and the meanes she made use of to try the overcomming my insensibility Afterwards she acquainted me with the causes of my last sicknesse and suddainely casting her selfe on me Deare Solyman said she I say not if thou love me but if thou hast pity on a Princesse who is even mad for thy love hinder me since 't is in thy power from losing mine honour with my life Thou hast both in thy hands Deale with them as a man truly generous and strive to constraine thy selfe a little that the King my father may not discover how I have beguil'd him I aske thee nothing but that thou faigne thy selfe to be a maiden and induring the love he beares thee be so noble as to draw me out of a labyrinth whose intricacies thou onely canst winde through Instead of answering the Princesse I began to reflect on her miseries and mine owne and exclaiming against heaven Justice eternall said I which raignest over us why intendest thou to inflict such strange punishments on poore miserable creatures which are but the play-toyes of our passions and the examples of a deplorable weakenesse And thou unfortunate Princesse then I addressed my selfe to Ennoramita what pretend'st thou by thy obstinate affection Thou lovest a wretch that cannot love thee I must needs confesse it I love as well as thee and my love as well as thine is accompanied with so cruell a destiny that it cannot attaine to what it aspires Thou follow'st me and I follow another I flye from thee and by another am as fast fled from Thou intreatest I would have pity on thee I grant it provided thou be not unpitifull to me Let 's do the like one for another and since our diseases are equally dangerous let us run both to the same remedy 'T is fit I should conforme my selfe to your opinion replied Ennoramita but 't is impossible for me I wish thy peace and yet I cannot chuse but disturbe it Yet I am not desperate of being able to please thee but thou must give me a great deale of time to performe a matter of that difficulty Grant me that which I request thee and I will yeeld to what you desire This last word so seis'd on the Princesses heart that she was neere suffocated in pronouncing it The teares fell abundantly from her eyes and her sighes impetuously driving out one another resembled the impetuous course of a torrent which had overflowed the damme that oppos'd it No sooner was she a little resettled but the King her father came into my chamber and accosting me with a countenance that witnessed how deare my life was to him Now said he I perceive my prayers have beene heard and heaven hath granted to my Sacrifices the recovery of faire Philomela 't was under that name Ennoramita made me passe for a maid And truly said he it had beene too rigorous had it condemned to a precipitated death or to a perpetuall languishment a beauty which for its owne glory merits not onely to live long on earth but to be there perpetually happy Sir replied I if ought could give me comfort in my sad fortune I had met it in the entertainement I receive from your Majesty and the Princesse your daughter But alas the misery I am falne in is so great that not onely it can have no end but it even deprives me of the capacity of being comforted Melicerta is dead and by consequence there is no more happinesse left for me in the world The deare name of Melicerta renewing within me the sense of those miseries whereunto I had exposed her drew such abundance of teares from mine eyes that Muley Hassen could not doubt the truth of my losse He thought it fit seeing me so sensible of my misfortune not to discover any griefe of his owne He therefore contented himselfe in making appeare to me by reasons and examples that 't was a thing unheard of among men to love that which had no existence But he added I hope the same hand which hath redeemed you from the grave will free you from these mournfull and funerall cogitations which are so fatall to your repose Many other words he us'd which I will not repeate and 't was very late ere he went from me As long as my extreame weaknesse forced me keep my bed all the day and part of the night I had with me either the father or the daughter assoone as the one left me the other tooke the place and both of them speaking to me of their affection in lieu of afflicting as you may imagine they comforted me since they represented to me mine owne I utter'd boldly before them both the deare name of Melicerta I besought her to heare my laments to thinke how my constancie was assaulted and to give it the vertue of continuing victorious When I spoke thus before Ennoramita Shall I said she make my prayers contrary to thine or implore heaven not to heare thee In one same instant my affection commands and forbids it it would have me love thee owne for mine sake and by the same reason wish the losse of Melicerta on the other side it would have me love thee for thy sake and by consequence pray for Melicerta's safetie Thus that happie enamour'd Lady is not onely beloved by him she affecteth but is affected by what she persecuteth Againe Solyman in this contestation meets both with his content and glory he satisfies his passion in resisting what opposeth it and by the power of her allurements makes
and as in an act of sorrow every one witness'd his astonishment and feare At last the Soveraigne Priest drew out the ball that was to cleare the doubts of so many terrified mindes and presently they cri'd thrice that the Officers of death should come forth of their darke dungeons Instantly foure doores which were in the foure sides of the bloody Altar opened and foure men came out having their eies banded with black Cypres to shew that with a blinde obedience wee are to goe where we are call'd by the voice of Religion The Arch-Priest deliver'd into their hands the ball which he had taken out of the Urne and presently he and all his Clergy fell with their faces flat on the earth The foure Executioners of Justice which those Slaves call'd divine read the Name that was written on the ball and going behinde the Slaves who by a particular prohibition were enjoyn'd not to turne their heads they seiz'd on that miserable Granadian who the preceding evening as if he had fore-seen his death had before Polexander unburthen'd himselfe of all the sinnes wherewith he was tormented by the remorse of Conscience The Executioners presently blind folded him and making use of no other thing to binde him but the chaines he was wont to weare led him to the Altar Strait they cri'd out that all were to fall flat with their faces to the earth and that done there arose from among the Priests a lamentable voice which filling their minds with horrour Remeâ—…ber it said O powerfull Deity that thou hast not made man to destroy him That being spoken they heard it no more till the pile being kindled another voice but lesse mournfull then the first cri'd out thrice thus Let O mercifull Divinity by thy All-powerfulnesse be enlightned again this life which is newly extinguished for thy glory When this prayer was ended the High-Priest arose and all the Assistants doing the like without any prayer they went about the pile and with no more Ceremony return'd towards the Temple The gates were found shut conformable to the ancient Ceremonies and then the Chief-Prelate turning towards all the Assembly Let every one said he retire and obtaine by his private oraizons what is not to be gotten by the blood of Sacrifices After hee had pronounc'd those words thrice he entred the Temple by a little doore which was then presently opened The Priests departed to their Quarters the slaves to theirs the Embassadours to the High-Priests palace and the Pilgrims to their particular lodgings The Noble Slaves that day eate together in common and after their repast went to walk together in a garden which was appointed for that purpose Polexander took him by the hand who came to visit him with Menscenarez and separating themselves from the rest led him into a long and close alley and witness'd there his grief for the death of their common friend The Slave stopping to answer Polexander I bewaile not said he Menscenarez but I lament my selfe for the losse I have had For him he hath met with what he wished for the end of his torments and the Deity which they worship in this Island making to appeare at need the succour which he promis'd to such as are in misery hath taken home to himselfe our friend from a place where his affliction had infallibly made an end of him by a more dismall blow then that which he lately receiv'd The newes you told him yesterday threw him back into his former designe of dying and the last night calling on Benzaida and bewailing her death I will follow thee ingratefull but amiable Princesse said he from time to time and will let thee know by my death that I knew how to love and by consequence how to die aswell as thee Acknowledge then his death is a particular gratification of the Deity which he hath so faithfully served and that we are more to be lamented then he since we are bound to attend yet may be five or six yeares till the lot free us from our chaines and the remembrance of our misfortunes Polexander admir'd at the slaves understanding and looking on him more cursâ—…usly then he had done saw in his face something of I know not what which made him desirous to know who and from whence hee was Hee therefore ask'd how long and by what accident he came into that Island of the Sun My too much daring said he hurried me hither and that which is to mee the most insupportable of all the torments I indure in my conscience I know I have deserved them I would have gone beyond that which was permitted me My good fortune made me proud and that pride made me forget my self Wretched bird of darknesse that I am I feard not to flutter out of my obscurity but expos'd my weake eies to the beames of a more radiant Sun then is worshipped in this Island In a word I would have committed a Saeriledge and from an adoration permitted gone on to a love that was forbidden me It is now almost three yeares since my impiety was discovered and almost as long time have I undergone the punishment enjoin'd me for it I was at last brought into this Isle and without the hearing my justifications they consecrated me to the service of the Sun Polexander being not to his wish well satisfied intreated the Slave to make known the place of his birth and if he might aske him with modesty to let him understand more cleerly then he had done the cause of his Exile and Captivity It would bee very hard for mee though I indevour'd it reply'd the Slave to refuse any thing you shall request of me Your desires have a certaine charme which compels all mindes and they get with a great deale of violence what they intreat with farre more sweetnesse Let us therefore I beseech you retire to some place where none may interrupt us and I will there amaze you with the recitall of a passion which may serve for an example to all young Spirits which through a ridiculous presumption perswade themselves that all things they affect should be permitted them Polexander putting himself to be guided by the Slave travers'd a great many Alleies and at last came to a place where the murmure of many fountains and the shade of divers Palme trees and Cedars made a retreat fit for the converse of melancholy lovers They sate downe both farre enough from the fountains that they might not be troubled with their noise and Polexander intreating his companion not to deferre the Contentment he had promised him wonne him to beginne his discourse in these termes Certainly they knew well what a passion that is which we call Love when they represented it by an Infant that had his Eies banded They would surely thereby intimate that 't was a two-fold blindenesse since 't is true that Infancy is as it were a blindfolding which hinders the Soules operation with knowledge and permits it not either to consider the end of
carry mee forth and by vertue of some remedies they brought mee againe But I was so sensibly touch'd with it that with sorrow and anguish I fell into a sicknesse wherein my recoverie was so much despair'd of that Alcidiana to comfort my mother who was a sick as I was so noble and good that she took the paines to visit mee and to let mee know that my death would not be an indifferent thing to her I think verely that the power of her sweet eyes triumph'd or'e the violence of my disease For the fever presently left mee but there rested such a feeblenesse that I usually swounded sometimes thrice sometimes foure times in the day In the meane time I pray'd continually that I might not recover of that weaknesse because my amorous swoundings being taken for the reliques of my sicknesse I had the content of seeing the Queen and could swoune before her and yet she not suspect the cause One evening as I meditated in the great garden on the estate I cannot tell whether I may say happy or unhappy of my life on a sudden Alcidiana came into the arbour where I was and being surpriz'd with mine incounter witnessed no lesse anger then if shee had heard all that my reaving had put into my mind What doth this melancholy man here said shee and presently calling for a Lady nam'd Amintha which alwaies attended her See said she Pisander would you not say by his disfigured countenance and his melancholy humour that he is no more already then his shadow Amintha who truly merits to be call'd the example of all courtefie and goodnesse repli'd according to her admirable wit But Madam said she since the wise should make benefit of all things I humbly beseech your Majesty to draw from the losse of Pisander a meanes of preserving your selfe The love of studie and the pleasure he tastes in these meditations hath made him fall into this deep melancholy Beware if you please lest you run the same fortune Your books and your Râ—…aiotez which without intermission take up your thoughts will infallibly throw you into some profound melancholy and at last make you abandon the throne to bury you alive in some one of those Grottes where your Philosopher tells us so often that his Predecessors found out all their Sciences Alcidiana laughing at Amintha's pleasâ—…nt conceit I am said shee no such wise Philosopher to come thither I make profession of a lesse austere doctrine and thou shalt know it my deare Amintha that though I love Philosophy well yet I love Alcidiana better I advise Pisander to doe so too You would be caught repli'd the good Amintha with a great laughter if Pisander followed your counsell You are not so wise as you were wont to be said the Queen who was the best Mistresse that ever was borne The counsell I give to Pisander iâ—… that his Philosophy should be as mirthsome as mine Alas how vainly did that Princesse advise the unfortunate Pisander Hee was not in case to hearken to her for from the beginning of her discourse he was fallen into his usuall fainting Amintha perceiv'd it and ran to help me Presently I recover'd and being a while without abilitie of discerning who was about â—…ce at last I knew that Lady to whom I gave thanks for her assistance and after I had ask't her pardon for the paines shee had taken with mee Shall I said I be ever so unfortunate as to bring nothing but disturbance to such persons whom I have most affection to serve Pisander answered Amintha you should take a little more care for your health then you doe and not suffer your selfe to be thus over-growne with melancholy which will bring you to your grave if you doe not quickly ston the course of it My malady said I is now incurable I have done my utmost to overcome it and from ordinary remedies I have betaken me to extraordinary but both have been alike to me unprofitable Nor indeed doe I expect any else then death and the worst that can beâ—…ide mee is to live I am very sorry repli'd the Lady that I cannot apprehend the cause of that sorrow I note in your discourse but the Queen is gone and I must follow her With that shee went out of the arbour and left me in as much griefe as my sad destiny could make me sensible of What will become of thee Pisander said I then to my selfe Know'st thou not well enough the perill thou ruâ—…'st into to resolve to free thy selfe Seest thou not that all discretion condemnes thy designe that thy flames are criminall that thou wilt be held for a foole if they be discovered and that thy daring is such as far off for being any way glorious to thee it will make thy death and thy memory alike ridiculous Thou art at one extremitie and Alcidiana at the other and these extremes are so farre distant that he who shall undertake to joyne heaven and earth together would not be thought so very a foole then the miserable Pisander if hee perswade himselfe that hee shall be rais'd to Alcidiana or that she will descend to him Let judgement then effect what love cannot Be a victor by flying since thou canst not be so by contesting Desire no more since 't is impossible for thee to obtaine what thou desirest and spend not thy whole life in reavings and dreames which make thee run after phantasmes which thou shalt never attaine to After I had thus discours'd with my selfe and brought mee to be a little capable of reason me thought I saw Love who full of indignation and fury reprov'd me for my disloyaltie and infamous resolutions What said he doest thou so ill acknowledge the favours which thou owest to my bountie and dar'st thou so cowardly betray him who plucking thee out of the centre of the earth hath on his owne wings carried thee as high as heaven To what greater glorie aspirest thou or to what height wouldst thou have mee lift thee if thou be not content to be in heaven But I heare thy murmures and I know thy thoughts Thou tell'st mee thou lovest in vaine that thou shalt never win Alcidiana to the least thought of pitie That thou shalt languish all thy whole life and yet shee shall not so much as know 't is for her and when thou dyest thy death as the death of one of the meanest of her subjects shall not make her bestow a teare on thee Answer mee disloyall Pisander When thou began'st to love this Princesse did thy common sense faile thee so much as to promise thee thou shouldst be belov'd again No no repent thy selfe of thy repentance perfect thy ruine for Alcidiana and remember that the glorious thought which gave thee the boldnesse to adore Alcidiana is of more esteeme then the possession of all that is fairest in the whole world These last counsells made all the former to vanish and my passion flatter'd by these pleasing imaginations taking new root
consecrated to visit me whose eloquence and sanctitie of life did daily miracles They came and neglected nothing that might free me of my frenzie and perform'd it after many long resistances Then I betook me to my former calme and confirming to them in cold bloud what I had spoken in my fits Yes fathers said I I will die but let not this resolution make you beleeve that I have any remainder at all of despaire left within mee I sweare to you by that Eternall name which we are not suffered to abuse that I will not precipitate the end of my dayes and that whether it be in war or otherwise I will strive to meet it in such a way as may be said I ran not headlong to it A few dayes after this declaration all things were ready for my voyage I had notice of it and Amintha coming to mitigate my afflictions I intreated her to be a meanes to the Queen that I might take my leave of her She made mee answer that could not be done At least then said I deliver her a letter from mee I cannot doe that neither repli'd shee for I am â—…o expresly forbidden it Well Amintha then cri'd I I must then die and die without pitie Let Alcidiana have her will As soon as Amintha had left me I went to ship and with the first good wind setting saile in eighteen dayes arriv'd in this Island The high Priest predecessour to this here now receiv'd me with the same ceremonies you saw practis'd at your arrivall The pomp of our sacrifices deserves well my describing it to you but my mind is not able to busie it selfe with such unprofitable intertainments Give mee leave therefore without medling that way to end the storie of my misfortunes and leave the afflicting your thoughts with the representation of so many sad and deplorable accidents You may please to know then that after the unbloudy sacrifice had been performed and they were to celebrate one like that you saw perform'd this day I went to the chiefe Prelate and besought him to put mee in the place of him whom the lot should that day condemne to die The Priest at first knew not how to take a speech that seem'd so out of all reason but perceiving that I constantly persisted in my petition My son said he you are not the first to whom the hatred of living hath given the like desire 'T is not long since a Prince whom I will not name came expresly into this Isle to find that death which his feare to offend heaven permitted him not to bestow on himselfe To free him from that ungodly fantasie I used all my best and the same reasons wherewithall I am bound now to contest with yours Know therefore that homicide is not committed onely by our hands it is committed too by our wills and hee is no lesse a murderer of himselfe that seeks the occasion of his owne death then if he had indeed strook the poniard into his own breast inasmuch as sin consists not but in a determinate will to doe the ill or to procure it This being so my sonne struggle generously with that temptation which would hurry you to your ruine and be assur'd that 't is all one thing to cover what you desire and to turne your owne weapons on your selfe But if you have just cause to hate life and that the miseries which are link'd to humane condition in stead of exercising your patience have absolutely o'recome it have recourse to that innocent and harmlesse remedie which Religion offers to free you from the tyrannie of fortune and your passions Consecrate your selfe to the Eternall Providence which we adore in this Island under the figure of the Sunne and expect without murmuring or disquiet what it hath ordain'd shall become of your life that so you may find your peace in your obedience and merit in making your selfe happy Father I repli'd how much impatience soever I meet withall in searching out a better condition then mine owne and however dreadfull the tortures may be which the continuation of my life prepares for mee yet will I follow your advice and to assure you that I will never wave it even now I make a vow to put my selfe among the number of the Slaves of the Sun The chiefe Prelate after hee had accepted my vow told me it must be publish'd in consecrating my selfe before all men to that great Sun whereof the Sun was but an imperfect image Those ceremonies were put off to the next day and then I tooke on these fetters which I weare so joyfully that if my judgement faile mee not I doe not beleeve the happinesse of enjoying Alcidiana would have been more pleasing to mee As soon as Lynceus so is the Pilots name which serves in the sacred Vessell saw mee in my new slaverie hee took leave of the Priest and return'd towards the Inaccessible Island Polexander being no longer able to containe himselfe ask'd straight Pisander at what time Alcidiana's Vessell did use to arrive at the Isle of the Sun If you live but two moneths longer repli'd Pisander you shall see that glorious Vessell here laden with offerings wonderfull for their raritie and with victimes almost as spotlesse as is the Princesse which sends them to the God of puritie 'T is to be confess'd said Polexander that you have been wonderfull generous in being able to preserve a respect to such a personage which seems to have gone out of her selfe of purpose to forget what shee truly owed you Whatsoever Alcidiana doth repli'd Pisander shee cannot be accused for doing ill Her vertues are so extreme that she can make good what is not so in it selfe and ingratitude would become a vertue if of necessitie Alcidiana should become ingratefull With this height of praise ended the conversation of the two Slaves the one of Alcidiana the other of the Sun Polexander would gladly have continued the discourse but fearing he should not be master enough of his emotions hee preferr'd a solid contentment before that which could not be but imaginary and praising in himselfe Pisander return'd to his lodging The desire he had to disburthen himselfe to Diceus of these important secrets he laetly learn't caus'd him as soon as hee was retir'd to take leave of Pisander and shut himselfe in private with his trusty servant Friend said he my conjectures are become reall truths We are in the fatall Island from which there is a certaine passage to the Inaccessible Isle 'T was from hence Lynceus return'd when I descri'd him neere to the Canaries and to this place hee or some other is to come within two moneths to celebrate the famous sacrifice of Alliance whereof wee have so often heard spoken I know it from so good a hand that 't were meere folly to doubt of it and that thou may'st be as confident as I am hearken from whom it comes to me Thereupon he epitomiz'd to him the storie of Pisander and though he were
of that reward and make you confesse that Love and Honour are certainly two of those Inchanters which promise pearles and diamonds but give us onely a few oaken leaves and acornes My sonne repli'd the Hermit Ignorance is alwaies unjust but it is not alwaies criminall and is not so principally when it is accompanied with a deale of affection Yours is of that nature and therefore I condemne it not But know that the man whom you bewaile is not in case to deserve it Neither Love nor Death shall ever rob him of the felicities are due to him I dare say he enjoyes them already and though his troubles have been great his recompence shall be farre more But let us break off this discourse since I have not so long time to live that I should bestow any part of it on any other save my selfe In this sort having ended our conversation the holy man intreated me to goe and finish the grave he had begun and leave him a while alone to prepare himselfe seriously for the great voyage he was to make I obay'd him and was above an houre in digging That done I ascended againe up to the Cave and found the good Hermit laid on his bed of mosse I came neere to give him an accompt of my labour but he was not in case to receive it He lifted his eyes and hands towards heaven and seem'd to be so transported thither already that he remembred no more any thing that was earthly I took him by the hand all amaz'd to see him in that estate and demanded what he ailed and what I might doe to comfort him But he answer'd not I then thought him to be extremely sick and to get him out of his swoune began to stirre him By little and little his judgement return'd and presently knowing mee Oh! my son said he out of what a trouble have you brought me I saw the habitation of the Blessed all open My soule ravish'd to quit this clog of earth which hinders her flying thither did her utmost endeavour to be absolutely disburthened of it But as she complain'd for seeing all her industry bootlesse a voice call'd mee by my name Beware said it that thou break not those ligaments which hold thy bodie bound to thy soule Thou wantest one thing without which it is forbidden thee to enter into this place of all delights The voice flying into aire I call'd a long time to intreat it to instruct me what it was I wanted for my felicity But I re-claim'd in vaine It would not deliver me out of the torment whereinto it had throwne me and I was in such anguish of mind as is not to be imagined when your calling brought mee out of so strange a dreame or rather so wonderfull a transportation of the spirit No sooner had the holy man recounted to mee his vision but I imagined that heaven desirous to bestow on him that reward it hath promised to all good men had wrought a miracle in the moment of his departure that so by the knowledge of that verity which had never been spoken to him he might attaine the beatitude propos'd for the salary of its beliefe Hereupon I told him it was reveal'd me from heaven what was wanting for his gaining that true happinesse and afterwards as fully as I could in so short a time made knowne the mysteries and fundamentalls of what we beleeve After which that learned man who all his life time had made profession of the most solid and rationall parts of Philosophy witnessed so great a submission and gave so great a credence to such mysteries as being infinitely elevated above all reason must needs justle with his and cleane overcoming it hee demanded to be perfected by lavation which I performed and had no sooner done but he with an hearty ejaculation and instant prayer sunk downe by mee and testifi'd that the death of a good man is a true peace and a pleasing sleep I confesse I wept at so great a losse and you were not the onely man whom I was bound to bewaile I watch'd him till next day and as soon as the Sun arose carried him to the place chosen by himselfe for his interment His funerals ended I resolv'd to take possession of his Hermitage for the remainder of my life But knowing not where to draw the water or get the dates whereon hee liv'd I determin'd to dye with that absolute resignation and religious constancy which the holy man had taught me Yet was I not reduc'd to that extremity for eight dayes after the Hermits death I saw a little Barque arrive at my rock guided by two Negro's They descri'd me on the top of the rock and the distance hindring them from any certaine knowledge they surely took mee for my predecessour By their shouts they made shew of their joy and brought on shore eight or ten barrells of fresh water and some six little chests of dates As soon as those things were unshipp'd the Black-Moores cri'd out againe as 't were to take their leaves and so return'd without any curiositie of visiting me After I had long meditated on somewhat that was not very likely I imagin'd that the late Hermit being not desirous to be seen by any man had given order to such as were to furnish him with his ordinary pittance to land what they brought at the foot of the rock and so to returne without troubling him in his solitude How ere it was I remain'd there three moneths living according to the incouragement which the life and death of the holy Hermit gave me and receiv'd such things as were necessary for me from the hands of the same Negro's And I grew then so well accustom'd to that manner of life that the most pleasing things of the world pass'd not through my memory but as objects of commiseration and contempt and I thought on nothing but how to dye well when a great ship whose sailes were of purple and gold shew'd her selfe one morning some miles off my rock I confesse to you that object did not almost a jot move mee and I wished often that they who were in that proud Vessell fearing to fall on my rock would turne their sailes another way But I had not my desire satisfied On the contrary the tall ship came with full sailes within a mile of my rock and casting anchor there for feare of the shelves and the crags I perceiv'd five or six men which descended into a great boat and then with an extreme swiftnesse came right to the rock There they landed and presently came up to my Cave My haire was so exceedingly growne since my living there that I had not much lesse then I have now and besides being growne gray as you know it did begin to be so from mine age of five and twenty I seem'd to be above threescore and ten though I was not five and forty Those men certainly taking me for my Predecessour cast themselves at my feet imbrac'd my knees
lastly for the preservation of him which it had sent for their defence After she had ended her praier all the people confirm'd it by their acclamations and applauses and so went out of the Temple blessing the Queen and waited on her to the Palace with such testimonies of affection as were farre beyond all that had preceeded As she entred the second Court of her palace Diceus who had plotted that action with his Master presented himselfe and humbly besought her to have pity on a Canarian who had lately escap'd out of the Spanish fleet Alcidiana was so troubled and diverted that shee took no heed to what the man said But Amintha who attended her thought she should know the Supplicant and staid to look on him Ah madam said Diceus if the memorie of a personage whom you have somtimes affected be yet deare to you have compassion on that miserable estate whereto his losse hath reduc'd me Amintha knowing Diceus by his voice better then by his countenance and unable to suppresse that violent passion which she alwaies had in any thing concerning Polexander How Diceus cri'd shee art thou yet alive Arise and follow me Alcidiana at Amyntha's noise turned her head and saw the Lady talking to Diceus but not imagining whom he might be kept on her way and retir'd to her chamber where she presently â—…eil on a Couch and commanding all to withdraw fell to her usuall reveries An houre after she awoak and call'd Amintha They told her she was gone Let her be fetch'd hither said she and after that Commandement fell again into her former imaginations Amintha came presently after and approaching the Queen your Majestie said she may be knowes not the man who this morning fell at your feet The Queen answering that shee had not taken notice of him 'T was said Amintha that faithfull servant of Polexander who was only with him when he was murthered by Astramadans Subjects He was about to tell me in what manner hee escaped after his Masters death and by what accident hee arriv'd in this Island when your Majestie vouchsafed the honour to send for mee At these words Alcidiana coming as it were out of a deep sleep How said she is Diceus here O you thou lov'st me Amyntha let me see him The recitall he will make me of his Masters death will serve me for a great diversion A sad and dismall diversion replid ' Amyntha I doe not think Diceus can relate any thing more particularly to you then I have done 'T is all one said the Queen I shall be glad to see him and hear the reproaches he will throw on me for the death of his Master Hee hath been too well bred repli'd Amintha to take such libertie as shall not please you I am in such an humour said the Queen that whatsoever he shall say will not be able to displease me Therefore without losing more time let me see him With that Amintha making a low reverence went out of the chamber and calling for a Squire commanded him to go call Diceus The Squire obey'd the command and Diceus presently after entring the Queenes chamber Amintha brought him where she lay Alcidiana trembled at his sight and finding her selfe more troubled thâ—…n she thought she could be Alas poor Diceus said she thy Master is then dead Diceus continuing on his kneees though the Queen bad him arise Madam said he my Master dy'd because your Majestie thought his life was not worth the preserving Neither his life nor death depended on my will repli'd the Queen The will of your Majestie said Diceus hath alwayes had more power over him then that soveraign law on which depends the destinie of all other men It seemes then by what thou saiest answered the Queen that thou wouldst make me guiltie of thy Masters death Heaven said Diceus who can make us immortall was never accus'd but by blasphemers for confining the course of our life to so short a date Nor hath the King my Master who alwaies look'd on you though not as a Deity yet as its living image otherwise then with a benediction receiv'd the sentence of death you pronounc'd against him And the last time he did me the honour to speake to me Diceus said he let my death come when it will I will take it for a speciall favour from heaven since 't is the onely thing iâ—… left me whereby I may witnesse my obedience to the greatest Queen in the world Alas repli'd the Queen how knew he that I bore so great a hatred to his life Hee hâ—…d read it quoth Diceus in the declaration which Pallantus shew'd him in the Pirates Island but he read it more clearly in the effects of your anger I mean by the warre which nature her-selfe had denounc'd against him and by the ill successe of â—…ll the voyages he undertook to have the happinesse of continuing to you the testimonialls of his most humble Servitude I should condemne my Declaration answered the Queen though it were justly done if it hastened the death of your Master But 't was his valour and not Alcidiana that slew him Hee thought himselfe immortall as he was invincible and judging of his enemies by himselfe imagin'd there was none base enough to commit a murther Hee had too much loved life said Diceus or to speake better he had been as he was the superstitious observer of your commands if he had thought on the preservation of a life which he knew pleas'd you not He is dead Madam and died the more happily since he was perswaded in dying he should give you a strong and unquestionable proofe of the greatnesse of his love and obedience These last words touch'd Alcidiana to the heart so that spight of her selfe she sigh'd and feeling her teares in her eies turn'd her head towards Amintha that her too lively resentment might not be perceiv'd Assoon as her amorous teares were wip'd off she beganne again and would know of Diceus by what meanes he sav'd himselfe after the death of his Master I will not relate to your Majestie said he for what cause the King my Master came to the Isle of Astramadan Amintha was by when he was ingag'd to sight with him and I doubt not but she hath entertain'd your Majestie with it I will therefore content my selfe with the narration of the most strange and diversified Combate that ever was seen since weapons have been us'd He related how Polexander had sent to defie Astramadan with how many Knights he had to do till he came to haâ—…die stroakes with the Gyant in brief all that which we have descri'd at large heretofore But when he came to that part wherein we spoke of Tisiphone's arrivall and the firing of Astramadans City I had said he to the Queen the honour that day to serve my Master in the place of his Squire and to doe somewhat worthy my new quality assoon as the Tyrants Guard assail'd the King I fell in amongst them and wâ—…s so