Father Sophy Chabas who confined Allagolikan to a streight Prison where he continued until Seliman came to the Empire Tachmas who being naturally Good and Generous went often to see him in Prison to testifie how much he was sorry that he had acquainted his Father with the difference that happened betwixt them who could never be brought to hear any thing in favour of Allagolikan during his life After the death of Sophy Chabas Tachmas thought it not enough to express his Joy for Allagolikans liberty but honoured him also with many other testimonies of his Love and Friendship Allagolikan answered the Prince's Caresses with the fairest appearances of gratitude that might be but following the inclination of the generality of the Persians He was implacable in his Enmity he always kept in his heart an immortal hatred against him in which Tachmas is to be blamed for his want of prudent conduct upon this occasion and for having forgotten this Maxime That Reconciled Enemies ought alwayes to be suspected This wicked Minister having had Order to acquaint his Majesty with Tachmas's Request to be permitted to Marry Negara undertook it for no other end but to destroy this unfortunate Prince and to carry on his purpose he made use of a most subtil Machination He took his time when the Sophy was in a pleasant Humour in order to his Design He Approaches him with his accustomed Submissions and usual Cringings and dexterously brings on the Discourse of Love and tells the King That he admired that among so many Beauties for whom his Majesty had shewed an inclination he had never taken notice that he had any for Negara He represents to him That besides the spendour of her Birth she was enriched with so many rare Qualities that she deserved something more than a cold indifference That there never did shine so many Virtues nor so much Wit in so beautiful a Body that it should seem that Fortune which refused to place a Crown upon her Head had reserved the Empire of all Hearts as a due Sacrifice to her Eyes alone That there was none so hard and stony that could resist her natural Sweetness and Goodness and That there was none more worthy his Love and Tenderness than her Allagolikan commended Negara with so much Zeal and Earnestness that Seliman felt a strong Curiosity to take a more attentive view of her and to have some particular Discourse with her He promised his Favourite to follow his Advice and to try how sensible her heart should prove when he spoke to her next Sometime afterwards Begona the Kings Mother who of late had been again received into favour after some disgusts that had passed betwixt them came into his Chamber to see him followed by Negara as the first person of the Court and who always went with her every where when Begona was ready to take her leave of the King he made a sign to Negara to let her know that he desired to speak with her in secret He had her unto his Closet where the better to disguise his Design He entertains her upon a Subject that was very different from what had obliged him to stay her He asked her as she was privy to all Begona's thoughts Whether she did believe that all Begona's Resentments against him were quite vanished out of her mind and whether he might confide in the outward appearances of her Love and Caresses Whether it was that Seliman was prepossess'd by his Favourites Discourses or that it was a pure effect of Negara's Charms which he had but superficially consider'd before that time besides the agreeable surprises the Princess's Beauty caused in him all her answers seemed to him so just and so expressive and so full of Wit that she left him Charmed and even angry with himself that he had not loved her sooner He left her however without saying any thing to her and because he would not derogate from the pride of his Diadem he chose to send her the tender of his Heart by another hand An Eunuch had order to wait upon her and to acquaint her with the Love the King had conceived for her He told her the Kings passion was attended with so much respect and esteem for her that he would not only place her the highest in his favours but that he would bestow upon her the title of Queen in assurance of which he would plight her his Faith before the Altars of his gods The differences of Rank and Blood is wonderful and there is little less distance betwixt a King and his first Subject than betwixt something and nothing Negara before this overture would have thought her self highly Honoured to be in the Arms of Tachmas and as she durst not carry her Ambition higher she looked upon that Prince as upon an Object whose enjoyment was great enough to fill all the Desires of her Soul But assoon as she had been informed of the Sophies favourable intentions towards her the glorious Hopes of seeing her self placed upon the Persian Throne so fill'd this young Heart with vanity that she forgot or at least believ'd she had all thoughts of Tachmas that pompous and dazling Image of all-ruling Power made her presently swallow up the Scepter and all that granduer which she admired in her first Lover appeared to her then but like a shadow or some faint glimmerings which borrowed their light from the Diadem She had so little power over her self that she could not conceal her Transports from the Eunuch she tells him with an affected Modesty more becoming a Slave than a Princess That if what he had told her was true that she had gained favour with the Sophy she would receive all his Orders with all the Submissions and Joy she could express In the mean time Tachmas desires to know of Allagolikan whether he had acquitted himself of the Commission he gave him He replies That he had not yet found a fit opportunity of doing it but that he would watch the first occasion to perform it This Traytor that sought to involve this poor Prince into an inextricable destruction being afraid that he might stifle his passion as soon as he should hear of his Brothers pretentions begun to him a long Discourse of Negara's Excellencies Applauds Tachmas's Choice and tells him That if he were a Prince born he should consecrate all the moments of his life to so fair an Object Nothing so feelingly touches a Lover as to hear what he loves praised by the mouth of a Stranger nor nothing more convincingly perswades him that his Love is grounded upon Reason All Allagolikans words were as many Arrows that made fresh wounds in the heart of poor Tachmas and wounded so much the deeper because this Discourse proceeded from a man in appearance altogether disinteressed The Prince having recommended to this pernicious Confident to speak to the King as soon as he might goes to visit Negara He tells her That he came from Allagolikan who had yet no opporunity to
in the Arms of another Prince Tachmas There was a thousand things that might make Negara doubt of the truth of this Writing and she might easily judg that the Prince had too much prudence to commit such an important and dangerous Design to a frail paper and the faith of an Eunuch though his Virtue had not retained him from it But she was too much blinded with her Jealousie to open her Eyes to such Considerations She followed all the Transports of this Venomous passion Therefore to break the Prince's Design and hinder her Rival from the enjoyment of a good she thought due to her self She sent to advertise Seliman That she had something of high Importance to communicate to him As soon as he came she shewed him this Note Seliman at the sight of it was transported with Rage He commands Sunamire whom the Princess would charge with part of this Accusation to be called before him He reads this Note to her But this cunning Slave confessed it was true That Tachmas had acquainted her with his bad intentions against the Sophy but loudly protested That she always had resisted them as might appear by the Note it self which if the Eunuch had brought to her she would immediately have given the King notice of it So that Seliman that still hated his Brother and would be sorry to be undeceived turned all his Fury against him He leaves the Note with Negara that it might help totally to subdue her passion if there yet remained any parts of it unsmothered and goes away with Terror and Fury in his Countenance He sent for Allagolikan and tells him what he had learnt the Favourite seeming to be much surprized said He must blame his own lenity in pardoning his Brother Upon which Seliman swears the second Crime should not go unpunished as the other had done In the mean space Tachmas being ignorant of the Conspiracy that was formed against him but very well knowing Allagolikan's nature and not doubting but that Sunamire provoked by his last words would plot some ill Design against Negara and himself thought fit to give her a precaution against Sunamire's plots He sent to her the same Eunuch that discover'd to him the Favourites hatred The Eunuch comes into Negara's Chamber a moment after Seliman left it He drew her aside and cunningly slipped a paper into her hand which he told her Tachmas had commanded him to bring her Negara presently steps into her Closet all her thoughts were discompos'd and going to read the Note she felt her Curiosity powerfully opposed by a secret Remorse and Cruel apprehensions of finding in it the Sentence of his Death She had scarce opened it when she prensently found it writ by the Prince's own hand and in his own usual Character She draws out of her pocket that Note she had shewed to Seliman and having compared them together she found so much difference betwixt the writing of the one and the other that she could no longer doubt of the Cheat but she was further convinced when she read these words I Have found out that Allagolikan whom I believed a fast Friend to all my Interests to be my mortal Enemy Wherefore if you retain yet any Remembrance of unhappy Tachmas beware of letting any sign of it appear before his Creatures and always suspect whatever comes from him as well as from Sunamire who wishes us ill for Reasons that are not fit to be told but which you may easily guess Prince Tachmas The Princess had scarce ended reading this Note but she swooned away all her senses having left her a mortal Horror had frozen up her Heart Her Face was Vailed with the pale shades of Death and her Eyes wanted even Tears to shew they yet had any life left She lay a long while in this insensible condition and it was the happiest state that she ever after saw during the rest of her life When she had recovered sense enough to feel her sorrow she made several vain efforts to call out but her voice remained still intercluded and stifled by the violence of her grief Her imagination was clouded with sad and terrifying Objects She fancied Tachmas's Ghost all bathed in blood comes to Reproach her with his Death and the dismal effects of her blind and ill-grounded Jealousie She returns into her Chamber and with a Voice interrupted with Sighs she prays the Eunuch that brought her the Note to run to the Sophy and to tell him that she had something to acquaint him with of no less Consequence than what she had already told him Seliman returns to Negara but as soon as he perceived she intended to justifie the Prince he attributes this precipitated change to her Love and would not hear her but said abruptly as he was going out That though Tachmas had not been guilty these apparent Signs of a passionate affection towards him were cause enough to ruine him He commands the Eunuchs not to let her come out of her Chamber nor the Princess Begona who was then just enter'd He caused Tachmas to be clapped in a dark Dungeon and left Allagolikan to see it done The Prince not knowing what his Accusation was perceived all was the Favourites contrivance and therefore gave him some reproachful hints of it But this Traytor insolently answers him That he only executed the Sophie's Orders to whom he returns Seliman calls for some of his Council to advise with them what was to be done with Tachmas Allagolikan who spoke first opined his Death Some were of the same opinion but others with so much force and Eloquence represented to the Sophy the danger of putting the Prince to Death That it was sufficient to keep him in safe Custody It was carried in spight of all the Favourite's Animosity that Tachmas should live But Seliman would have a Corporal punishment inflicted upon him And as he was considering of the kind Allagolikan proposes to have his Eyes pluck'd out Alledging That as by the sight of Negara he became the King's Rival so this was the best Expedient to Revenge both his Love and his Throne and to take away from Tachmas all means of attempting for ever any thing against the one or the other Cruel Seliman approves of this Advice And this barbarous Sentence was pronounced against the unhappy Prince And the Favourite had Order to see it put in Execution the King himself refusing to be present fearing lest in seeing him he should be moved to pity as before Allagolikan being impatient until he made Tachmas feel the effects of his Rage commanded a Stage to be erected in the Hall wherein this Illustrious Blood was to be spilt before Then it was that this Prince who under Sophy Chabas his Father had carried the Terrors of his Arms through all Asia and made the Ottomans tremble for fear of his Valour even at the Gates of their Seraglio This Prince that had a million of Souls at his Devotion and whose Virtue as well as Power was cherished by all the Army This Prince in fine for whom all his Souldiers would have taken pride to shed the last drop of their bloods saw himself abandoned to the Fury of a Traytor without finding one man that durst attempt any thing in his Defence So true it is that Fortune rules the friendship of the major part of Mankind Yet no degenerate Voice no weak or base Complaint falls from him only when he desired to know his Accusation and that it was answered It was for conspiring gainst the King He beseeched Heaven quickly to make his Innocence appear and not to leave so foul and so black a Treason unpunished In the mean time the Princess Negara delivered up her Soul to all the Cruel stroaks of an unconsolable grief and the most pleasing of Objects that can offer themselves now to her Imagination were those of Despair She heard from all hands that Tachmas was in the hands of the Executioner and there were some of the Eunuchs who by mis-information assured her that he lost his life Then she thought it time to have recourse to the last Remedy and put an end to her miseries by Poison by the Example of Princess Begona who was there with her The Sophy being distracted with several Remorses thought to retire into the inner part of the Palace that by the conversation of the Ladies he might dissipate that black Humour with which his Soul was agitated He was scarce got within Negara's Chamber when he saw his Mother pale and ghostly her Face all cover'd with the cold sweats of Death As he went to help her turning his Face towards some noise he had heard he saw the unhappy Princess grovelling in the same state with Begona and making her last Efforts to dispose of the remaining moment of her life she expired uttering with her dying breath the Name of Tachmas At the same instant Sunamire presented her self to Seliman and assured him that Tachmas was Innocent and that the Note which was given him was contrived by Allagolikan with whom she had been of Intelligence and that she well knew what she deserved for such a Treason and with that drew out a Poiniard she had under her Garments and therewith stobbing her self in the breast fell down bathed in her own blood by Negara's side The Sophy sent presently to stop the Execution but it was too late for this Traytor was too eager to quench the thirst of his insatiate Revenge The unfortunate Tachmas having understood what befel in the inner part of the Palace wept with Tears of blood the loss of his Mother and his Mistress and never did Love and Nature draw so many moving Complaints from any man before as Tachmas uttered upon this fatal Occasion Seliman whose Jealousie was now extinguished by so many Tragical Events fell into a furious Rage against Allagolikan He caused him to be strangled before his Face thereby making this Traytor at his turn to suffer the just punishment of all his Crimes FINIS Errata Page 25. l. 17. r. into p. 33. l. 4. r. his p. 37. l. 15. dele in p. 40. l. 7. r. faithful p. 52. l. 5. r. starr'd p. 66. l. 3. r. expedients
insults and divided betwixt these two Objects had at last stifled all the Flames of Ambition with intent for ever after to feed those of Love only That now she began to acknowledg the truth of the first words she had spoken to him which were That she would shut her Eyes to all the Crowns of the Earth to open them to his Virtues That he needed no other tryal of her Love than that sincere Confession she had made him which was the greatest proof she could give him of it And that she did call the Holy Prophet to witness That neither the offers of the Throne nor the persecutions of the Sophy should ever be able to overthrow that Empire which Tachmas had acquired over her Heart Though these Discourses and others might re-assure the Prince Yet he could not wholly suppress his Jealousie for he judged That as Negara had eloped from Ambition to Love she might with the same easiness return from Love to Ambition At that very instant Seliman whom Allagolikan had acquainted with what passed betwixt Tachmas and him came rushing into the Chamber and commanded Tachmas to go out after forbidding him upon pain of Death never to see nor speak more to the Princess whom he designed for his own Bed He reproached her with the want of affection for him telling her It was an odd way of deserving the Honour he was going to do her by suffering any other to entertain her besides himself That all the Beauties of Persia would most earnestly wish not only for the Rank he intended for her but even for the least particular favour of their King That she deserved to be used like the meanest of his Slaves were it not for the respect he had for her Blood He was not satisfied to have forbidden her for ever the sight of her Lover but commands an Eunuch to wait close in her Chamber to spy all her actions and to give him a faithful account of them He told her as he was going away from her That she should prepare her self to receive his Faith the next morning Whatever has been said of the strength of our mind it must be allow'd that all its faculties are very weak since they are not able to support the violence of our passions extremity of Grief and excess of Joy make us insensible as Statues they must abate of their force to make us sensible of them The Sophies Discourse left Negara without sense or motion and she was a long while before she could recover her self or consider the state she was reduced to When she came to her self and was able to open her Eyes she could see nothing but an Abyss of Miseries As our Desires commonly encrease by Obstacles and are irritated so much the more by how much the possession of their Object is difficult so the Princess felt her Love to Tachmas grow so much the greater by the reflexion she made that she was going eternally to lose him The Minutes seemed to flye faster and the Sun to precipitate his course to advance that fatal hour which was to deliver her a Victim to the Sophies will In vain she look't about her for Relief she could find nothing that could ease her grief The very liberty of complaining was forbidden her she durst not so much as let fall a tear nor breathe out a sigh lest if the Sophy should know it he should pour down all his vengeance upon her Lovers Head In the mean time Tachmas being instructed by Allagolikan of Seliman's Resolution was no less perplexed Whatever project this great Soul could set on foot he saw himself shut up in a Palace full of Eunuches and barbarous Slaves all devoted to the Sophies Will all his hopes rested in Allagolikan it was from him alone he expected some solace in his Despair Knowing then that he was all powerful in the Palace He entreats him to facilitate his Access once more to the Princess before that fatal hour wherein he was for ever to be banished from her sight Allagolikan opposed him for a great while representing to him the impossibility and the hazard of what he desired That the Discovery would expose both theirs as well as Negara's life to inextricable destruction At last seeing himself more and more pressed by Tachmas he seemed to yield to his Prayers and told him If any mischief followed he should in no ways attribute it to him He pretended to the Prince That he was going to give Order to a trusty Slave to come to give them sudden notice if the Sophy were coming out but it was indeed to let the Sophy know that the Eunuch whom he left in Negara's Chamber was corrupted Allagolikan returns and leads him to speak to another Eunuch that was brother to him that watched in the Princess's Chamber The Prince followed him and the door was opened as soon as the Eunuch made his voice be heard Negara was not a little surprised to see the Prince once more Love Fear Joy and Grief confusedly agitate her Soul These ill-Starr'd Lovers scarce had time to mingle tears and to inform one another of their mutual tenderness by their passionate looks when of a sudden they heard a great noise of many people coming hastily that way the Eunuch all in confusion run to a back-door that opened into Begona's Appartments to let the Prince slip out that way but was furiously pushed back by the Sophy himself that entred that way and caused him immediatel to be run through by another Eunuch that rushed in at the other door without giving the poor wretch the time to justifie himself He Commands them likewise to strangle Tachmas who heard this Cruel sentence without the least concern and who would have made them sensible of a more undaunted Courage if a man that is passionately in Love could resolve to dye without regret The Princess hearing this barbarous Command threw her self prostrate at Seliman's feet and with her tears and repeated Cryes stopped or at least suspended the execution of this severe Order which those barbarous Eunuchs were upon the point of executing Begona at the same instant came running in and would have joyned her supplications with Negara's but the Sophy who had always observed that she had a more tender affection for Tachmas than for himself which had been indeed the cause of their falling out believed that she was of intelligence with them and therefore would not hear her He did not then push matters to the extremity but gave all sufficiently to understand by the severity of his Countenance by the flaming of his Eyes all full of fury and by the often shaking of his Head that the punishment he intended to inflict upon these Lovers was but defer'd He caused Tachmas to be clapped into a dark Dungeon and placed at Negara's door those of his Eunuchs in whom he most confided with strict Order to let no Soul enter upon pain of falling into the same disgrace with their dead Companion and so goes
away and shutting himself with Allagolikan into a Closet tells him what happen'd and asked his opinion of what should be done to Tachmas Allagolikan shewed a feigned tenderness that he might strike his blow home told Seliman That the Laws of Nature would never permit him to use the rigour of his Justice in this rencounter But the Sophy pressed him to deliver his opinion without respect or regard to persons and told him That the Throne was above the tyes of Blood and that Nature must be silent where the interest of the Soveraign was in question This perjured Traytor here calling Heaven and their holy Prophets to witness That he was going to declare his sense without preoccupation or prejudice to one side or other represents to Seliman That it was of the last importance to him not to let Tachmas his offence go unpunished That the least Revolt in a Subject against the will of his Prince deserved Death That as the passion which Tachmas had for Negara could never be extinguished so he would never leave trying all ways possible to satisfie it That Tachmas was of a daring Spirit and capable of undertaking any thing That he might seek his Brothers Death as the best expedient to set the Crown upon his own Head and securely bring his Mistress into his Embraces That the execution was not difficult That having already seduced one Eunuch he might do the like to many more That perhaps Tachmas came to Negara for no other end but to concert the Design how he might rid himself of his Brother That the example of the Sophy Chabas yet fresh in memory ought to strike a terrour into him and make him sacrifice to his own security all that was suspected to him That he ought to look towards his Neighbors the Ottomans whose custom it was to Ciment their Thrones with the blood of their Brothers This venomous Discourse of Allagolikan had too strong an impression upon a Heart that was already too prone to such barbarous inclinations Seliman tells his Favourite All he said was very just and that he was resolved to follow his Advice He added That although the Wills of the Sophy's had always been a Soveraign Law to their Subjects he was resolved the better to avoid the peoples murmuring not to rid himself of his Brother without keeping some formality in putting him to death and to strengthen this Resolution with the opinion and assent of some Judges Allagolikan did not oppose the King's Will because he knew there were but too many corrupted persons to be found in the Court He makes choice of Six who with a sordid and blind Zeal had sold their Souls and condemned poor Tachmas as Siliman desired The noise of this fatal Sentence was soon spread about the Palace and some months after all the Town of Ispaham heard that the unfortunate Tachmas was to be put to death by the hands of the Executioner for some secret and important Reasons A Scaffold for this Execution was erected in one of the great Halls of the Palace where the Sophy himself resolved to be to feed his cruel Eyes with this so Tragical a Spectacle Allagolikan opposed a great while this Resolution fearing what afterwards happen'd but all his Remonstrances to the contrary did but irritate his Desires the more The Queen Begona run to Seliman's Door to conjure him by that life she gave him not to sully his Glory with so base a Parricide but he was so far from letting her in that he commanded his Eunuchs to shut her up fearing her lamentations and cryes might soften his heart or bring it to relent The time of this black Sacrifice being come they led forth Tachmas out of his Dungeon to expiate the Crime of his Love and ill-policy How strong is the voice of Nature in mans heart How difficult a matter is it to lay aside all sense How powerfully does the presence of a sad Object move us When the Sophy beheld his Brother loaden with Chains his Eyes languishing his Face pale and disfigur'd not for fear of Death but through the violence of his passionate Love It was too late to call back all his hatred and Jealousie there was no resisting of that melting tenderness with which he felt himself suddenly seized and if he had any malice left in him against Tachmas it was because he found him too innocent He suspends the Execution and orders the Prince to be confined to a larger Prison where he might have more Light and Ayr. The major part of the Judges there present were not sorry for this sudden Change because they had no hand in the Judgment given against the Prince But Allagolikan was so nearly touch'd that his displeasure was seen in his Countenance Tachmas perceived it for his Eyes that hitherto had been darkened with the Clouds of Love and Friendship let fall that mist to shew him a Traytor that had sworn his Ruine in the man he believed his most faithful Friend And one of the Eunuchs that waited upon him back to prison seeing the sentence of Death recalled helped fully to disabuse him thereby hoping to gain his affection and told him That it was Allagolikan's advice that hurried the Sophy to this Extremity In the mean time Negara's heart was rent with many mortal Disquiets she was tossed betwixt a thousand apprehensions and gave her self over as a prey to all the vexations that could perplex a Soul Death represents many violent expedient to her troubled Imagination whereby to free her self from this Abyss of Misery into which she saw her self plunged but she durst not dispose of her self without knowing Tachmas fate So true it is that amongst sincere Lovers the interest of what they love is dearer to them than their own She draws one of the Eunuchs aside and pressing him to let her know what he heard was become of the Prince shows him a Diamond of great value which she wore upon her Finger which she promised should be the reward of his Service This man won partly by the hope of the Reward and partly softened with the fight of the Princesses miseries resolved to betray his trust for this one time as he did believe he should give some ease to Negara's afflicted Soul if he drew her out of the uncertainty she then was in He confessed to her That Tachmas was condemned to lose his Head upon a Scaffold and that perhaps that was the very moment of his Execution We have naturally a great Aversion and Horror for any thing that torments us and we bear all our grievances with so much impatience that we always fancy them in the last extremity and that no new Event is capable of adding to them but we are not long in this Errour for Experience often convinces us of the contrary Negara believed she should suffer less by knowing Tachmas's doom but she soon was convinced that her doubts were preferable to so dismal a knowledg When she represented to her self those terrifying Idea's
of his murder She fancied she saw the Prince all cover'd with blood and that Face and those Eyes wherein she had been so often pleased to read the marks of a sincere and passionate Love now buried in an eternal Night she could no longer support the weight of her sorrow But as she had yet so much sense left to think that perhaps there was yet time enough to rescue her distressed Lover She conjures the Eunuch to run and tell the King That she had something of great moment to impart to him before he should carry Tachmas to be executed The Eunuch could not be won by any promise to satisfie her Request knowing his Head would be the price of his Complaisance So that Negara was forced to address her self to another from whom she concealed her knowledg of Tachmas's Doom only prays him to acquaint the King that she desired to speak with him Seliman at any other time would have caused all the Eunuchs that were in Negara's Chamber to be put to death because he strictly charged them to conceal from her those violent Resolutions he had taken against his Brother But the emotions which his Brothers presence had raised in his Soul would not suffer him to reflect upon the breach of his Commands As soon as the Princess saw him enter into the Chamber she threw her self at his feet and told him That his own interest must perswade him to let Tachmas live That she would not now speak of the Seditions and Revolts that might be stirred up amongst a people that would not quietly bear the loss of a Prince that was so dear to them condemned upon the suggestion of an imaginary Crime That History was full of Examples of these kind of Disorders raised upon such occasions But laying aside all these considerations If it were true that he had any kindness for her he ought to grant her this favour and in return she promised for ever to bury all thoughts of that kindness she formerly had for Tachmas and to answer all his designs with so perfect an obedience and intire resignation that he should even doubt whether ever she had setled her inclinations upon any other but himself but that if he would push his rigour against his Brother to the utmost extremity she durst not promise him that she should have so much command over her self as not to hate mortally that man who all cover'd over with the blood of him she had once loved should force her to marry him to make her against her will a Complice to his Crime The Princess found little difficulty in obtaining her Request of Seliman and Love happily concluded what Nature had begun But as the Sophy was infinitely Jealous he told Negara That though he had granted her Tachmas his life it should be upon those Terms she her self proposed that is Upon condition She should for ever smother all thoughts of Love or Tenderness towards him and that the least Sigh that should escape from her should be the infallible and irrevocable decree of his Death That she had his Doom in her hands That she must look well to her hits and take her measures so as she desired he should live or die He added That he gave her Fifteen days to conquer this her Passion and to facilitate her victory over her Love she should see Tachmas no more because he well knew how forcible the presence of the once beloved Object was to re-inflame a Love that had been quite extinct After this Discourse he left her and causing his Brother to be brought before him he commanded his Chains to be taken off and outwardly made a shew as if he had been perfectly reconciled to him though in his Heart he nourished still a secret Jealousie of him Tachmas now was restored to his pristine Liberty and was forbidden nothing but the sight of Negara In the interim Allagolikan knowing that Tachmas well understood the hatred he bore him doubted not but he would study a Revenge Wherefore he resolves to declare open War against him and to suggest new Crimes against him to the Sophy to ruine him And to make his Accusation less suspected He contrived to make Negara the Instrument of it and to make this unfortunate Princess the chief promoter of her Lovers Death Therefore he found out an Invention that had but too Tragical a success There was a She-slave in the Princess Begona's Retinue called Sunamire one of the best accomplished Women in all the Court excepting Negara she was transcendently beautiful and she had a vivacity of Wit surpassing her Beauty As Tachmas loved the conversation of those sparkling Beauties he had formerly made his Addresses to Sunamire as well as to Negara with much assiduity This Ambitious Slave had made such use of it that she imagined with a little Address the Prince in some short time might infallibly become her Conquest But though she made use of all the little necessary Arts for her purpose by soliciting the Prince's tenderness by her repeated sighs whether Tachmas not yet well acquainted with the intrigues of Love did not understand them or that he did purposely despise them he returned nothing but indifference And the gay humour of Sunamire was the only thing that drew him to her conversation But when she saw that after being so long blind to her Caresses he had settled his Affections upon Negara she abandon'd her self to all sorts of Resentments and by a change which is very common in the hearts of that Sex she let the desire of Revenge succeed her Love in the most violent manner imaginable She conceived a most malignant Joy when she understood that those Lovers were crossed in their Designs when they believed themselves upon the point of perfecting their happiness However as it is very hard to wish the utter ruine of what we once loved when we see them upon the brink of the precipice our first flames which we thought extinguished easily take fire again in their favour and rebel against those motives of hatred which did animate our vengeance As soon as Sunamire heard that Tachmas was in danger of his life she used all her endeavours for his delivery without taking notice that in so doing she discovered her passion to her Rival She conjured Negara with tears in her Eyes who was but too well inclined of her self to make use of all her power and interest with the Sophy to avert the storm that threatned Tachmas's life This Prince since his being reconciled to his Brother as was said was no more at liberty to see Negara not but that he had the freedom to come into the inner part of the Palace but the Princess was locked up in a little particular Appartment whither none but Seliman Begona Sunamire some Slaves and a few Eunuchs could have ingress Tachmas came often to visit Sunamire but it was only to entertain her with talking of Negara to express to her by the most tender and sensible Requests he