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
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
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