Palme in their hands others of Cedar some had Laurell Crownes and others had Olive Those that march'd foremost meeting with our Heroe sooner then they thought witness'd their astonishment and gladnesse by shoutes and clapping of hands Those that followed desirous to break their order and come in the first rank that they might not be the last in rendring what they ow'd to the deliverer made such a confusion that divers of them fell into the Lake and Polexander himselfe was almost stifled in the croude He was compell'd whether he would or no to answer that unmeasurable affection of the multitude by long kindnesses and great demonstrations of joy But when he saw himselfe solicited by those indiscreet zelots to goe in triumph into the upper towne and then to the Temple of Wisedome to render thanks for the happy successe of the warre hee mildly remonstrated their fault and told them that although their desires were just yet they could not without offence be satisfi'd but by order from the Queen That they ought to attend her commands and respect her as the sole power by whose wondrous effect the Spaniards were beaten from the Island The multitude being a little held in by so discreet a remonstrance by little and little retir'd into the towne and our Heroe seeing most part of the Lords of the Island who had fought under his command to come towards him was againe obliged to constrain himselfe to treat them according to their merit They congratulate with him for the victory and by a proposition reduc'd him to a necessity farre more harsh then that which he had newly avoided For they besought him with one voice to goe and declare to the Queen how the Enemies had been defeated He answered that Pallantus and some others had already retated it But that 's not enough repli'd the Lords Shee should if you please heare it from your owne mouth There is none but he by whose valour we have been delivered that can fitly declare how it was done Polexander having nothing to oppose against so much reason but a great deale of wilfulnesse which in all likelyhood had been ill grounded made no other answer but that he was ready to obey them Presently Pallantus Amintas and two others were sent to Alcidiana to entreat audience for Polexander and his followers Upon consideration she granted it and assoone as the Messengers were gone 'T is in vaine for mee said she to Amintha to resist a stronger power then mine owne I see well that Polexander must have the best of Alcidiana aswell as of his Enemies That which I fear'd most is betided and to my shame I am inforc'd to shew a faire semblance to a man that hath cruelly offended me Whil'st the Princesse made these and other the like complaints to her confident the Embassadors return'd to those that had sent them and intimated that presently after the Queen had din'd they should have audience They were glad of the time lest they might appeare unfitly before the Princesse For Polexander he never thought much of trimming or adorning himselfe His fault or to speak more truely his misfortune was still before his eies Hee imagined that Alcidiana truely mislik'd him and gave no way to see him but for her peoples sake Whil'st these cogitations perplex'd him Diceus presented a letter to him from Amintha without knowing why he trembled at the receiving it and at the opening found these words The true Amintha to the false Araxes I Have not leasure to reprove you so much as your cunning and little friendship requireth Nor doe I write to you as one offended but generous that even pities the misfortune of an Enemy Make use of my freedome if you intend to be happy and intreat it to forget your ingratitude that you may after your publike Audience have by that meanes a more particular Polexander took not long time to deliberate what he was to answer so generous a friend but calling for things fitting made this reply Araxes and Polexander equally unfortunate to the vertuous Amintha HE whom you stile ingratefull without a murmure undergoes your reproaches though his owne Conscience assures him he deserves them not Neverthelesse he renders you many humble thanks for the remedy you promise to his afflictions But it is not enough generous Amintha that your charity hath found out a salve for those wounds which I thought to be incurable It behoves you if you please to perfect the Cure and instruct me how I should demeane my selfe This Answer brought to Amintha had all the successe Polexander could expect For that worthy Lady with such discretion serv'd him that she obtain'd from Alcidiana a tacite consent of seeing him and to heare his justifications But the blinded and indiscreet love of the people hindred the execution of this designe They assembled by troopes in all quarters and imagining their quiet would never be secur'd so long as the Prophesie had not its full accomplishment beset the Palace as they had done the day before and cri'd out that the Queen should perfect their happinesse What 's the cause saies one that her Majesty acquits not her selfe of the duty she owes the eternall Wisdome for her own safety and that of her subjects Is she so insensible of the favours she hath receiv'd from so powerfull a hand that she deferres to give thanks for them But saies another with what pretext can she colour her refusall and delaies since there is no more talk of putting an unknown Slave into her throne See what 't is quoth a third to be too happy we forget our selves in the excesse of diversifi'd good fortune The Queen who at length saw her self either a Slave or engaged to wed a wretched African is at this houre not only victorious over her Enemies but on the point to be the wife of the famousest Prince in the world looseth her self in the greatnesse and abundance of her bliss and beleevs she lessens something of her glory in making her self the companion of a man Those insolent rash heads having a long time entertain'd themselves with such discourses press'd on the Palace guards and said resolutely they would speak with the Queen Rhadiotez came to them and remonstrating instantly that the continuance of their violence would make them all subject to the Law boldly and rigorously demanded if they were not freed from all feare of their Enemies and what they requested more We come repli'd they to beseech the Queen not to put off to a further day those thanksgivings which the divine Protection expects from our resentments but conferring on our deliverer the reward destin'd him by heaven by her obedience make our present felicity everlasting Rhadiotez who was as desirous as they to see Polexander and Alcidiana seated in one throne but conceiving by some speech let fall by the Princesse that she never intended to marry unlesse she were forc'd to it mildly bespoke the multitude prais'd their good intention and promis'd them
with the same assured conntenance that she had seen he daies before and admiting in her selfe the great heart of the Prince grew angry with her selfe to have as many causes to hate him as she had to love him she had a minde to entertaine him but that one came and related that the Gyant had been twice already even at the gates of the towne This news was the cause that joy and sadnesse dividing mens mindes represented to some Zelmatida victorious over the Gyant and to others the Gyant triumphing over Zelmatida But he that thought on nothing but of doing acts worthy his love left the Queene and comming into the chamber of Isatida found her all in teares He besought her to ratifie the permission which she had given him and not beleeve his enemy to be invincible I know said she why you use this language to me No no I doe not thinke the Gyant invincible yet have I notwithstanding a thousand reasons to be afflicted The perill to which you are going to expose your selfe would obliege me to it I say were you a person but indifferent to me since for my sake only you are engaged in this combat and by consequence in spite of my selfe become guilty of your death if it happen that the chance of warre give the advantage to your Enemy Indeede knowing your courage and having heard related so many marvels of it I should have cause not to apprehend the event of this duell if all things were equall But when I consider that you goe to contend with a Monster as tall againe as your selfe I cannot receive those reasons that perswade me that I doe you wrong to have you feare him My Lord the Inca by these words felt himselfe bound in new chaines and without daring to take the boldnesse to aske from the Princesse the least favour in the world told her that before night she should be oblieged to prayse him alive or dead Whilest Isatida betooke her selfe to her prayers with her Governesse and dwarfe Zelmatida went to take his armes and accompanied with one only Squire went out of Mexico and came to the causey where the Gyant stayed for him The walls of the City were ranged with men and women to see by the successe of this combat what the fortune would be both generall and particular The lake was covered with Canoas and other vessells full of Theviciens and the place where Zelmatida was to fight was a square expresly made on the great causeway for a corps du guard and in case of necessitie to serve for a place of defence and to fight with those that after they had gotten the causeway would enter into the towne Zelmatida appeared there rather armed for the tryumph then for the combat He wore a head peece covered with a great many feathers which came on his shoulders and covered part of his face His armes were halfe naked and for all defensive armour had only a Cuirasse of quilted cotton and a buckler of gold on which to signifie the extremity of his love he had caused to be painted the mountain Popocampecho all on fire and round about the buckler these words engraven My heart preserves all his owne He had a quiver full of arrowes a bowe hanging as a scarfe and two long Javelins armed at the ends with golden pikes For the Gyant he was more extravagantly covered and more advantageously too He had the whole skin of a very great Tyger the muzell of the beast served him for his head-peece and the rest tyed in five or sixe places was for a good Cuirasse He wore a bowe and arrowes and a great club As soone as he saw Zelmatida within shot of his arrowes he shot two at him that had pierced him through and through if he had not dextrously avoided them My deare Master in comming neerer darted at him one of his Javeâ—…ns but it rested hanging in the skin of the beast that armed the Gyant and could not wouâ—…d him He knew then that fighting after this manner he should not make an end of his enemy he therefore came close up and passing upon him thrust the halfe of his Javelin into his right thighe and by that would tooke away his strength of upholding himself The Gyant retyred to be reveng'd and to brayne his adversary with one only blowe but his rage taking away his judgement and my deare Master returning upon him ran him through the second time The paine of this new wound made the monster foame and he threw himselfe on Zelmatida to have stifled him in his armes and cast out his left hand to have catched him by the hayre but the Inca avoiding his holdpierced his arme and left the Javelyn in the wound This great wound made the Gyant mad he threw his club away and uncovering all his body cast himselfe on his enemy Zelmatida seeing so faire an occasion tooke his â—…owe and let fly an arrow which passing under the Gyants left arme which was then lifted up stroake him right at the heart With this the Monster gave a great cry and catching his vanquisher in his armes bore him to ground with him he fell on one side and Zelmatida on the other so unhappily that meeting the head of an arrowe he gave himselfe a deepe wound the Gyant died presently and by his death strooke so strange a terror into the hearts both of the Thevic's and Zempoallan's Army that had the Mexicans beene men of valour there is no doubt but that very day they had given end to a Seige which began to make them practise by force that sobrietie which is naturall to them As soone as they had stynched the blood that Zelmatida lost by his wounds he returned into Mexico with all the pompe that so great an action could be attended He was not only admired of Hismalita and of all the Court but his enemies themselves were forced to acknowledge that whilest he defended Mexico they had little hope of taking it In the City they spoake more advantageously The people blessed the day in which that valiant defender came thither and from the defeate of one sole enemy promising to themselves the like of three or foure hundred thousand more foolishly called on to the fight those whom they durst not see but from the top of their walls As soone as Hismalita heard the successe of the combat she made shew of an excesse of joy which makes me say that the incomparable power of the virtue of my Master overcame the ill nature of that Queene and made her capeable of a good action That which makes me thinke so is that he was received with an extraordinary freedome and that all the evening she spoake of nothing but his victory but cry up often times in exaggerating the generositie with which Zelmatida would overcome his Enemy Let us leave here if you please the vulgar resentments and entertaine our selves a little with those of Isatida Though the Queene her mother knew she was
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
beyond expectation I should said he be unworthy of the honour you doe me did I not confesse that my desire to be your servant is equivalent with that of overcomming my enemy Notwithstanding since it is very likely you would not treate a friend to lose him presently let if you please our inclinations rest in suspence till the day which may by chance finish them and besides thereto adde so much as may last us the rest of our lives There must replied Phelismond needs be some hidden mystery in your reservednesse in a businesse which seemes to me so just but I content my selfe with what you thinke fit and will have so much command on my selfe as to regulate my will by yours In the meane time I assure you that even to morrow the King shall know what he ought of your businesse and that I may serve you effectually I will take my time for it when he pleaseth to doe me the honour to have me retired with him to treate of matters which concerne his service How infinite is your noblenesse replied Polexander and how much more ought I to acknowledge what you have done for me and otherwise then I have yet performed Doe not speake so said Phelismond the respect I beare you is sufficient to make me performe impossibilities and if need were to proclaime me an enemy to my selfe O valour cried Polexander interrupting him before whom all other things have nought but of what is base why should a cruell and powerfull necessity bereave me of the meanes of acting what I oughâ—… After this stirring which in truth was not seasonable Polexander recalled himselfe and besought Phelismond not to acquaint the King to hastily with his businesse since he was certaine his enemy could not be in case to answere him for a moneth He fained this excuse to give Phelismond the more time for his strength The Prince paused a while before he answered him at last he tooke him by the hand and wringing it as if he knew his designe I will doe whatever you please said he and till you command me I will speake nothing of your affaire Till that happy houre be replied Polexander with your leave I will take a view of this great Kingdome and satisfie my curiosity with the infinite number of rarities wherewithall your Seas and Islands are replenished I could wish replied Phelismond you had no such intention and would trie to make you spend the time with more ease and pleasure but since you desire to travell I will not deprive you of that contentment but on the contrary give you a guide for whose fidelity I will be answerable both for your person and the successe of your voyage Polexander thanked him for that new favour and the next day having made himselfe ready for his journey tooke his leave of the Favourite I should transgresse the liberty I allowed my selfe if I related all the honour they gave our King and his worthy intertainments in all Townes where he came T is enough to say he saw many strange things and particularly all those varieties where withall nature pleaseth to disport her in that end of the world After his being neere three moneths at sea he landed againe at Copenhagen where he found the Court and was welcomed by Phelismond with such embraces and excessive favours that he was a hundred times about to confine himselfe to some corner of Norway to leave him the liberty of serving Alcidiana But what cannot a true love doe The remembrance of the most accomplished Princesse of the worlds beauty soone made him alter his resolution The very next day he betooke himselfe in earnest to his businesse and to stick constant to the execution of Alcidiana's commands stopped his eare to all that reason and devoyre could perswade him He went to Phelismond at his arising and assured him of his enemies arrivall besought him to perfect his affaire Phelismond promised he would and that very day obtained all he desired Presently he advertised our King of it and demanded if there were any thing else to be done Yes my Lord replied Polexander t is not enough that we have leave to fight but that we have the time and place assigned us Phelâ—…smond assured him how that very evening he would try to get the Kings consent it might be in his presence and in the great place of Copenhagen For the day said he t is fit wee leave him the liberty of appointing it you at his pleasure Yet this one thing I will promise you that you shall not be long in expectation Herewith Polexander left the Favourite to take order about his affaire and returned to him againe towards his bed time to know the Kings pleasure He was told that the King put off the combate to the last day of the moneth and that tearme is very short for t is the day afâ—…er to morrow See at last you have your desire but believe me that with griefe enough I have served you in this occasion but since 't was your will I thought on nothing out your contentment Polexander thanked him for the continuance of his favour and besought him to believe that nothing grieved him but his being constrained â—…o engage the Favourite in his follies As soone as he was retired to his lodging he sent amongst all the Armorers of Copenhagen for the choice of the best armes He had two of the best horses in Denmarke and was troubled at nothing but how he might become the Conqueror and yet not afflict or disgrace Phelismond At last the the day for the combate being come Polexander went very early to Phelismond and finding him ready â—…treated him to make a turne in the Garden Phelismond agreed and imagining Polexander requested it not without some designe commanded none should follow him When he was descended into a walke of Pines Yewes and Cypres he stopped and intreated Polexander to speake freely to him Our Heroë kept constant and making no shew of any emotion or tartnesse thus bespoake him The first thing I have to say to you Phelismond is that I am extraordinarily in love and with the fairest Princesse of the world After this Declaration I doe not only believe you already have excused me for all past faults committed in your presence but that you will like wise approve of all my offences hereafter I would not promise my selfe this grace from you if you had never loved but when I call to minde the power Thamiris hath over you I finde wherewithall to justifie the most remarkable crimes which love can possibly make me perpetrate Is it not true Phelismond that Thamiris beauty and admired graces are by you held in that esteeme that there is no man living nay I say even the King your Master whose enemy you would not declare your selfe had he an intention to rob you of them Heere he stopped and did it of purpose to give Phelismond time to answere Though I see not well whereto you tend said that
the same wherein I was to meet my greatest felicitie and in hope of it changed my habit for those I now weare the better to satisfie passion and not wrong my duty Infallibly said that incomparable phantasme turning to her Ladies see here one of those mad men against whom those lawes are established which I cause so rigorously to be observ'd Is it not true said she to our Heroe that thou art in love and callest all such who are not so monsters whom nature hath produc'd in the same manner as she hath done nights winters and diseases confesse thy fault boldly but I much feare that cowardise which is inseparably with these esseminate youths who lay all their glory in the conquest of I know not what young minion will keep thee from making it knowne speake speake poore witlesse man and deserre not till torture draw the truth from thee With that Polexander making appeare gloriously that imperioâ—… and charming countenance wherewithall he was wont to reigne over the freedome of men and even give a feeling to insensibilitie it selfe Your Majestie said hee to the Queene may give me leave if you please to leave off my observance for the defence of an innocent whom calumnie hath made despicable If you beleeve Madam that love is a monster you beleeve withall that youth is the greatest defect of life and the Sunne should be accounted a prodigy The Queene suddenly turning her eyes into two comets as red as her haire threatned Polexander with a terrible death and without any more hearing him commanded he should be delivered into the hands of the hangmen Before Polexander would be inforc'd to be withdrawn from that Megera Madam said he 't is not the custome of those who govern discreetly to condemn any that is accused till the cause be known Your Majestie beleeves me guilty in taking on me the defence of love and I on the contrary should thinke my self so if I wayv'd it Command some Knight of your Court to take armes that by a just combate hee may either force my life or make me dishonourably unsay what I have maintained in your Majesties presence such a command will be as equitable as glorious for him The Spaniard of whom we have spoken fell presently at the Queenes feet and transcending all the vanities which make his nation ridiculous Great Queene said he be pleas'd to permit me to be the exterminator of a monster as feeble as he whose defence hee undertakes but if your Majestie will please to command hee be strictly guarded till the day of combate for I reade already in his eyes that the propositions he made are but cunning pretexts to save himselfe by a shamefull flight Polexander at some other time would have laugh'd at that Gallant 's extravagancy but for divers reasons growing cholericke he retain'd himselfe onely in his first temper and told the Spaniard that if it pleas'd the Queene there was day enough to decide their difference The Castilian who was very valiant tooke Polexander at his word and would not rise from before the Queen till he had got leave to fight At the request of the Ladies it was granted him for they having no other malice to love then from the tongue were very glad to see him triumph over his greatest enemies Hereupon Polexander was unbound and delivered into the hands of the Spaniard The Gallant very insolently made use of his authority and carried to an excesse of pride which made him forget his owne alloy he spoke of his combate as if our Heroe had been already reduc'd to beg his life of him he often told the Prince that 't was not his humour to shew them any favour who were so rash as to interchange blowes with him to which Polexander repli'd he would intreate any courtesie from him but that he was resolv'd to make triall of whatsoever the chance of armes had reserv'd for him When hee came to the Bragadochio's lodgings hee intreated him the leave of sending to his ship for armour No no repli'd the other in scorne I have servants here that will furnish you with armes and horse the Prince thanked him for his profer and patiently indur'd all his insolencies Whilst hee was in this decadence a young man very well clad came into his chamber and after divers extraordinary civilities done him in the name of a Lady of the Court My Mistresse said he understanding that you had not here either horse or arms hath taken care to provide you of both and commanded me to intimate that for Polexander's sake she sends them to Love's defender she beseecheth you to make use of them and imagine that going to maintaine the power of Love you goe to fight for Alcidiana's beautie Polexander was no lesse surpris'd then ravish'd at these words and did his utmost to get from the young man his Mistresses name but the Squire humbly besought him to be exâ—…s'd since hee was expresly forbidden Go then said Polexander putting a faire diamond on his finger and assure thy Mistresse I will strive to make my selfe worthy of her Present and counsell The Spaniard grew mad at his enemies faire fortune and insolently told the Squire he would advertise the Queen of his Mistresses flippery You owe her too much respect repli'd the young man to doe her that wrong yet you may doe as you please and with that tooke his leave of Polexander not giving any the least reverence to the Spaniard Our Heroe presently opened the armour was sent him and found it very faire the shield was of an extreame well polish'd steele in the midst whereof was painted a Torrent which being repuls'd and stopp'd by a Damme foam'd with rage and shocking on it impetously seem'd to shake the very foundations The word was I will overcome Then he went to see his horse and finding him such as was promised commanded Dicens to put on his armour In the meane time the Spaniard calling for the armes he intended to use made shew of a great deale of impatiencie till he were all ready and descending with Polexander into the court of the castle went to his stables where among a great many horse he chose one that had no other fault but his being as proud as his Master Polexander all arm'd as he was would have no help to get on his Diceus had the honour that day to be his Squire and carried his Helmet and Lance into the field and gave him both assoone as the Spaniard was ready for fight The place could not be better for 't was the same rail'd in with lists where Polexander was first seiz'd on nor the season more favourable since the aire was so extraordinary calme but the company though it were compos'd of a Queene of many Princesses and a great number of Ladies was not yet such as our Heroe could have desired Assoone as all that Court were at the windowes which looked into the lists and the Queene had given the signal the trumpets advertis'd the
Combatants of their devoir the Spaniard gave spurs to his horse and made him start and fly on like lightning Polexander putting on his eagerly and inveloping himselfe as I may say in a cloud of dust rais'd by his horses hoofs met the Spaniard in the midst of the careere and with the extreame shock he gave him bore over horse and man and made him roule two or three turnes on the ground There was not a Lady the Queene excepted but began to cry out for joy our Heroe the meane while attended till the Don was got up who darting fire from his eyes and blaspheming what was most venerable above freed him from his horse and came on with his sword drawne to avenge him on his enemie Polexander to take no advantage alighted and met him with an intent onely to disarme him but the Spaniard made him know he was truely courageous and knew how to die with honour for he would never either confesse himselfe vanquish'd nor aske his life though the blowes he receiv'd from that thundring arme to which no other is to be compared made him feele sufficiently that he must either humble him selfe or die Polexander often drew backe to give him time to thinke of his preservation but perceiving he scorn'd it thought himselfe not bound to value his life more then its master did he therefore let drive so furious a blow on his head piece that cleaving his skull he laid him dead at his feet The affrighted Queene seeing the defender of her extravagances so rigorously chastis'd shot from her eyes as dreadfull flashes as those of comets and commanded eight or ten Knights which were under the window to avenge her on her enemy They were not lesse barbarous then their Princesse but came all cowardly rushing on Polexander who so stoutly receiv'd them that with the three first blowes hee laid two of them along and dead a third he made safe enough for fighting and cast such a terrour among the rest that had he delighted in bloud he might have shed what he had listed without any hazard Hee therefore contented himselfe with the driving those wretches before him and thrusting them to the utmost list of the field the Queene at the sight plai'd the mad woman and ask'd her Ladies who had brought that devill into her-dominion shee that was next to her making a low reverence and humbly beseeching to be heard If your Majestie said she considers nothing but for the present you may beleeve this stranger came hither for no other ends but such as might tend to your disadvantage but if you cast your thoughts on what hath passed and may betide you will confesse that a particular protection from heaven hath sent you this redoubted Knight to avenge you of the cruell Astramadan's tyrannie and to extinguish for ever that bloudy tribute hee exacts from your subjects for the safety of your owne person Tisiphone so was the Queene call'd meditated a while on what the Lady spoke and confessing to her selfe that Polexander's preservation was very behovefull for her shee staid those who were running to the defence of their companions and with her loud and terrible voyce commanding them to lay downe their weapons sent word to Polexander to give over the prosecuting her servants and come presently before her Hee obeyed without disputing that Princesses will and presented himself all arm'd save his head she found him more pleasing in his armour then in the habit of a shepheard and pardoning him the death of the Spaniard and her Knights If said she you will obtain the liberty to love you must avenge me on a Barbarian who by his brutishnesse hath forc'd me to beleeve that Love was a Monâ—…er which perswaded us to nothing but cowardise and villanies Tisiphone strove to sweeten her eyes as she spoke thus and as if she had forgotten what she was made the Ladies which looked oâ—… beleeve that she would not die in the detestation of love Polexander that was otherwise too much amaz'd then to note the Queenes impertinencies promised her all she desired and humbly besought her to hasten as much as possibly she could the occasion in which shee would imploy him and so tooke leave and was by her command put in posssession of the unfortunate Castilians goods and lodgings presently he dispatched Diceus to his ship to bring him thence such necessaries as he wanted to call for Alcippus and to give order to his Pilot to disanchor from the rode where he lay and to ride in that of the palace In lesse then foure houres all this was done and Polexander clothing himselfe according to his birth and the present condition of his fortune made appeare by a pleasing mixture state and magnificence intermingled with sorrow His earnestnesse to acquit him of the promise to Tisiphone scarce giving him leave to breathe he went to her presently after supper she welcom'd him with as smiling a countenance as she could put on and looking on him with an attention which seem'd very strange to the Ladies did a thousand braveries and ingag'd her selfe so farre in a businesse she knew not that she strai'd and was lost without any hope of ever recovering her old way she retir'd much later then she was wont and had not her women advertis'd her of it she had spent the whole night with Polexander Assoone as she was in bed she strove to sleep but she perceiv'd that some I know not what strange thoughts and certaine unknowne desires spight of her heart kept her eyes waking At first she began to grow angry with her selfe and having a spirit as inconstant as malicious shee alter'd her minde a hundred times in an houre went from praises to reproaches and in a word witnessed whether in loving or hating too quickly that she was neither capable of love or hatred When shee perceiv'd her thoughts were resolv'd to keep her awake I will said she traitors as you are which deceive in soothing hinder you well enough from the prolonging your malice I am not so farre from the Port but I can enter againe when I list Retire then ye too importunate gusts and hope not my voyage will be long unlesse the faire gale continue Love who intended to avenge himselfe on this extravagant woman would not terrifie her with these beginnings he gave her the calme she demanded and rais'd not a tempest till she had lost all kenning of the haven She then slept and the next more awaking with an extreame desire of re-seeing Polexander she loaded her selfe with so many jewels that if our Heroe had been covetous he would certainly have found her very amible But being not in humour to remarke ought of faire or foule in Tisiphone he besought her againe to send a defiance to her enemie or be pleas'd himselfe might carry it Tisiphone forg'd excuses to retaine Polexander neere her and whether he would or no oblig'd him to stay seven or eight dayes for the returne of such Heralds
not onely strengthned mee in strengthning it selfe but serv'd for a speciall remedie to all my languishments The Court seeing me suddenly got from death to life knew not to what to attribute either the cause of my sicknesse or that of my health Even Amintha was deceiv'd in it and admiring so sudden a recovery perswaded her selfe that my maladie was no other then the melancholy vapours of the spleen A little while after my full amendment Arziland King of the Isle of Madera being by a tempest cast on our coast came to the Court and having seen the Queen began to be so foolishly amorous that he threatned to put all her Island to fire and sword if she declared not her acceptance of his love I thought then that I could not better imploy my life then in freeing the Queen from that Monster and that the service I might render her in that occasion would be of a greater importance then the former I had done her in the attempt of Siziphus I sent therefore to defie the Giant but thinking for certaine that I should be flaine in the combate I resolv'd to provide my selfe a faire funerall and to make knowne at least in dying the love I had conceal'd all my life time I put on a gilded armour which by the rayes upon it did not ill represent the Sun My Helmet cast forth beames too and I had for my crest the Phenix which Alcidiana took for the bodie of her Embleme Upon my buckler which was as shining as mine armour I had caus'd an Eagle to be painted in the region where the thunder is ingendred Yet in spight of all lightning and thunder claps hee flew thorow it and fixedly gaz'd on the Sun For the word to this Device there was this which spake my thoughts plaine enough I HOPE TOO MUCH TO FEARE Cover'd with these armes I went and met with Arziland and was so fortunate that after a combate of eight or ten houres I cut off the Giants right hand When he saw himselfe without armes and unable for defence hee confess'd hee was overcome and loathing to survive his shame would have kill'd himselfe But Alcidiana who preserv'd him to serve for a redoubtable example to all such rash ones as hee caus'd him to be put in strong hold and commanded that speciall care should be had of his life In the meane time I who had received divers great wounds fell as I had been dead in the place of combate and if the Queen had not shew'd that my life was so extremely deare unto her without doubt the day of my victorie had been the day of my death My wounds were so great that I kept my bed almost six moneths and was foure or five more ere I went out of my chamber Alcidiana the third time took the paines to come and visit me and gave me such signes of favour that my love in its greatest extravagancies could never promise to it selfe Arziland the while being gotten into case sufficient to be able to suffer the punishment whereto the Queens justice had condemn'd him was taken out of prison and lead to the place where he was to lose his life Though in the Inaccessible Island wee adore but one God yet there are Temples in severall places which from all antiquitie are dedicated to particular Deities In one there is worshipped a God which they term the God of Revenge The Annalls of our Kingdome tell us that that Temple was built by a Queen who having been long time earnestly sued to by a man unworthy her bed and after the receiving a great many wrongs and outrages from him at last took him in a day of battell When the barbarous man saw himselfe in the power of a personage whom he had so ill treated he never crav'd her pardon but besought her that she would not delay too long the time of his punishment That Princesse hearing from her Priests that their God had reserv'd vengeance to himselfe built to him a Temple during the imprisonment of her enemy under the name of the God of Revenge and causing the prisoner to be brought thither commanded he should be sacrific'd on the altar of that Deitie as a victime which was reserv'd for him Arziland who had committed the same fault receiv'd the same punishment For Alcidiana thought she could not doe better then to imitate the example of her Ancestor And to give the more terrour to such Princes as loved her she sent to proclaime in a thousand places a Declaration by which shee held for irreconcilable enemies all those that had the boldnesse to take on them the name of her lovers After Arziland had receiv'd his punishment and a Herald of the Queens sent into Europe she betook her selfe to her former manner of living and shutting her selfe up in her palace there relish'd againe her wonted innocent contentments I the while who knew very well the offence I had commiâ—…ted in discovering my love was tortured with a perpetuall remorse and not possibly imagining that after so visible signes of my passion Alcidiana should be still ignorant of it I drew out my malady to a longer date and could not put on any resolution to suffer my selfe to be cured But the tokens of goodnesse which I almost daily receiv'd from that Princesse the titles of honour which she added to those I had already and the excessive presents she sent not onely to my mother but to all those of my bloud made me beleeve at first that she understood nought of my designe but since that my vanitie and good fortune so dazled mee that I perswaded my selfe Alcidiana knew of my love and that shee was glad to see the continuance of it On this opinion which hath been the cause of all my miseries I hastened my cure and repair'd againe to the Palace with all diligence The Queen her selfe welcom'd me with such extraordinary demonstrations of favour that I grew confirm'd in that foolish beliefe which my vanitie had wrought in me So my last errours waxing worse then my first and particularly that of not being hated by the Queen working in me such thoughts as you may imagine I grew so insolent that there scarce pass'd an houre in the day wherein I did not violate some one of the lawes of the private Court and gloried in the neglect of that respect which I owed to the most generous Mistresse in the world I came into her privie chamber before shee was clad There I was when they dress'd her head and oftentimes taking out of her womens hands such things as shee used for that attire I was so indiscreet as to offer to doe their office The Queen wink'd at all these impertinencies and when I told some tales which truly were faulty enough to have made me been banish'd for ever from her presence she drown'd all in the greatnesse of my service and that shee might not be ingaged to reprove mee feign'd shee heard nothing Sometime her Lady of Honour
smoake those Troopes which march'd towards the Towne At breake of day two thousand men came before it Twelve peeces of Canon which had been planted in the night began to beate their defences and two Petards were stucke by the incredible resolution of twentie determinate Soldiers on a gate that opened to the ditch They did their effect and presently those that were to fall on got into the ditch with ladders and though the most of them were lost yet the rest wonne the gate and there planted Alcidiana's rising Phenix The feigned Araxes sent fresh supplies to preserve what the first had gained and himselfe leading the way lodg'd them in the forc'd gate But when he saw beyond it an intrenchment harder to be carried then the ditch he re-intrench'd himselfe against the Town thinking no other way better then to keep what he had so well advanced Presently he commanded the ditch to be fill'd with Bavines to throw a bridge over and to bring on ten or twelve Peeces to beate off the enemie The fight lasted as long as day and above twelve hundred men fell on the place Whil'st this was doing in the lower town there happened great disorders in the upper A murmure and noise whose Author could not be knowne gave an alarme to all the Inhabitants All cri'd out that the Spaniards had receiv'd a mightie supply that Araxes had the worst in his assault that he had not won the Towne and that all these miseries had their source from the Queenes retarding the execution of the Prophesie and the expresse command of Providence These murmures were seconded by menaces and colour'd with so powerfull reasons that the Magistrates and Rhadiotez himselfe were forc'd to allow of the sedition The Queene said these Mutineers who is certain in all extremitie that a composition will bring her out of all that danger in which wee shall be inveloped rejects our prayers and remonstrances sees with a dry eye the teares of so many Innocents which implore her goodnesse and seemes to have destin'd for her ransome our goods our lives and the honour of our wives If the remedie which we propound to her for the common safety were a remedie invented by our selves she might have reason to contemne it either as dangerous or unprofitable But being prescrib'd by heaven and writ by the hand of the Author and preserver of all things can she refuse it without an expresse testimoniall either of an extreame neglect of the Divinity or as great a hatred against her Subjects Rhadiotez to appease them promis'd to go to the Queene and to let her know they were loyally intentioned Wee will go with you cry'd the seditious and if reason be not able enough to perswade the Queene wee will bring number and force to assist her Rhadiotez did all he could to go without so many followers yet thinking it not fitting to incense any further the furious multitude he put himselfe in the front and sent word of it to the Queene When shee heard the newes she was almost beside herselfe but the extremitie of scorne and choler depriving her of sense and reason she stood a while as immoveable Amintha who was by her intreated she would force herselfe and not give her enemies the contentment to see that she contributed to her ruine as much as themselves but that she would at last take on her a resolution worthie her birth and virtue It is taken repli'd the Queene with a setled countenance it is taken Amintha I will dye and though my People be unthankfull yet I will save them in expiring As she spoke these words Rhadiotez entred her chamber and though he had spoke nothing yet did he sufficiently make knowne by his pace and countenance that he brought very ill newes What father said the Queene without any dismay you come to tell me of my subjects rebellion and to advise me to submit to what they demand No such matter repli'd the Prelate but I come from them to make an humble petition to your Majestie and to beseech you by that goodnesse which is so naturall to you and by that Soveraigne power which reignes in heaven to take pity on a great number of weake and unarmed persons who see themselves readie to be given in prey to the utmost furie of their mercilesse enemies O! Let your Majestie be therefore pleased to harken to the cryes of so many mothers and children so many virgins and widowes old men and fearfull and to stop their complaints imitate those good Princes which have ountarily forgot themselves to thinke of nothing else but the preservation of their Subjects From the eternall Justice we all hope that your Majestie shall not suffer by doing a good Act and that the Prophesie which promiseth you so many blessings if you can subdue your selfe shall not be lesse true in this particular then in all the rest With much adoe Alcidiana not making shew of her perplexitie repli'd Tell me then what is 't my subjects would have of me That which the voice of heaven requires answered straight Rhadiotez Yes Father said the Queene I will doe all that is commanded me Long since the cryes of my people have gone through my cares to my heart I am sensible of every ones particular miserie and may say that I alone suffer all that the fathers and husbands suffer in severall If to stoppe the current of oâ—… common calamities there needed but the parting with my crowne I would be the first should take it off my head and if to it there be required the losse of my libertie or life I am readie to undergoe the one and to lay down the other After she had spoke thus she gave Rhadiotez time to render her thankes in the name of her subjects Hee be sought her as he had petition'd already to preserve her-selfe for them not to shew the subject her affection by deliberations which would be no otherwise then sad and mournfull unto them and to believe that on her life and peace necessarily depended their lives and tranquillity See then father said the Queene what is fitting for me to doe But if any remainder of respect keeps me yet considerable let me not be obliged to any thing that is unworthy of me In the mean time return to those that sent you relate my resolution and wish them without clamour and tumult to advise for their own safety After this the good Prelate retir'd to the impatient and surious multitude and making knowne what he had done with the Queen got them to retreat and expect till the next day the execution of the Princesse will By his good words the mutineers being thus calm'd promis'd aloud that if they were not forc'd to it by an extream necessity they would not presse at all the accomplishment of the Prophesie Night now shutting up every one within his owne doores the upper Towne was all hush'd but the lower was in an uproare Polexander had lead many troopes into the
knowledge of his Masters and confirmed the old Prince in all the hopes he conceived of him There was no game of strength addresse or disposition wherein he carried not a way the Guirlands that Quasmez ordained for the Victor Though this good King saw him endowed with all the quallities he had often wished him yet lived he not with that quiet of mind which should be given him by so excellent a breeding The more he saw the King grow the more was his melancholy and disquiets redoubled His shewed discontents when there was no cause and without cleering to my deare Master when he requested him what subject he had for it he consumed himselfe in uselesse sorows in lieu of staying the time prescribed for the accomplishing the prophecies The King was in his fifteenth yeare when five or six hundred Mexicans leaving the Forts they had built on the Mountaines which cut that space of Land which is between our two Seas came far on into the Kingdome of Quasmez Their incursion was no sooner knowne to the Inca then he petitioned the King his Father to permit him to goe against those ancient enemies and learne them to be contented with their usurped Territories Quasmez made no great difficulty of it but gave him foure thousand of his best Souldiers to accompany him in this expedition Be pleased to imagine the content the young Prince received to have the meanes to give them a triall of his courage and to know by his apprentisage what he might after expect from himselfe He departed then with the foure thousand of Quasmez men that he might not discontent him But when he knew the small company of his enemies his generousnesse would not suffer him to take them at advantage He marched right to them with all his troopes and assoone as he came to a certaine place from whence they discovered a great extention of Land he perceived that the Mexicans began to entrench themselves in a little valley He sent to them one of his followers to intimate that he would not fight with them because he was the stronger though the History of former warres had tught him that they had not made use of that moderation The Prince of whom I speake said the Souldier will never follow your ill example nor shall your cruelty oblige him to an action destitute of mercy Assure your selves then that he intends to fight with you not to murther you Besides he hath a better opinion of you then of his neighbours and beleeves you are valiant men since you have not feared under the conduct of your King to spread your selves so far from the ancient bounds of Mexico and to run so many hazards to subject to his Scepter the Provinces of so many Caciques The thought of this hath obliged him to deale nobly with you and therefore intreates you to signifie to him what number you are that he may send back part of his forces and so comming to an equall combate you may know by your defeate or victory if with justice or no you are got to be Masters of so many Nations The Mexicans received this defiance as a cause to increase their reputation and their Captaine who was a young Prince and Cousen to Montesuma finding therein where withall to satisfie his vanity sent the King word that he was ready to meet him halfe way on condition that he would stand to the tearmes of his defiance That they were but five hundred in all yet they would not refuse the combate if they were to encounter but with two thousand It seemed as if fire had flowne out of the eyes of the King when he received this answer Our of the foure thousand he had he chose five hundred whose service he intended to make use of in that expedition and gave them by his words and his example more courage then they had either from nature or the exercise of armes He commanded the rest to retire and that they should not come to the skirmish till they saw their companions either dead or prisoners Being thus severed Zelmatida commanded his five hundred Souldiers to march and the Maxicans quitting their entrenchment came to meet the King with all the resolution that Souldiers could witnes These two troopes did not confusedly fall on pel mel mingling themselves but fought a long time by little squadrons and assoone as the haile of arrowes was passed every one betooke him to his dart and halfe pike The King making his way where ever he came slew five or six Mexicans before he came to their Captaine When he met him he thought of nothing but how to vanquish him and though he found an extreame resistance yet he taught him that there was no proportion either betwixt their valour or strength He hurt him with seven or eight thrust of his Javelin without receiving any wound but one on his left arme and at the last blow overthrew him at his feet and without difficulty disarmed him The Mexicans seeing their Captaine fall betooke them streight to their heeles and of some two hundred that remained there were not twenty that put themselves in case to die like men of courage The Souldiers of my Lord the Inca moved by his example gave the rest of the enemies their lives They made haste yet after those that â—…ed and overtaking them bound them two and two together On the word of the Commander of those prisoners the King with his owne hands tooke off the cordes he was bound with and perceiving him to lose much bloud stopt it presently by the virtue of certaine words which are well knowne to all the Souldiers of our Countries This remedy yet not having the same power to hinder weaknesse and fainting as to stanch bloud the Mexican Prince could no longer sustaine himselfe on his feet The King caused him to lie downe on the earth and leaving a guard with him went onward to rejoyce with those of his who only stood spectators of the fight They witnessed by their shouts and the arrowes they shot into the aire the joy they had for this victory and came in a good order to meet the Victor When they came together it was he that could first kisse his hand and shew most his affection and wonder The King told them in few words how the businesse had passed and after he had praysed the valour of his enemies commanded some of his followers to carry by turnes the Prince of Mexico He had no sooner setled things in those partes but he dispatched to Quasmez the swiftest of his Souldiers to carry him newes of the good successe of his Army Whilst this post went to Quasmez the King disposed of his troopes in such a sort that you might see something which I know not both of warre and triumph He seperated them into foure batalions made two of them to march before him and two after and in the midst put the Mexicans that they might be conducted by those that made them prisoners Their
free me from my slavery I had already many times beate them against my face when I perceived Maranita retiring before foure men who doubtlesse would have made him smart for the death of their companions This new combate staied my fury and made me hope to obtaine by other hands then mine owne the end of my captivity And truely but for the succour you gave him said she regarding Zelmatida the traytors themselves had avenged me on the Author of their treason But t was ◅t he shōuld receive the punishment of his crimes from the hand of him whom he had the most offended and that he should fall under the victorious armes of my deare Tumanama This Princesse could no longer continue her discourse nor the Princes stay longer by her for at that very instant they perceived a Troupe of armed men like the theeves that run through the Realme of Mexico Zelmatida and Tumanama attended by some servants went to meet them and without giving them time to bethinke themselves so furiously charged them that a part of them were left dead on the place and the rest got away and saved themselves in the wood that is at the foote of the burning Mountaine Zelmatida seeing that these petty incounters were so easily put over perswaded himselfe that the Hie-priest had made matters far more dangerous then they were but he soone changed his opinion for he saw a man higher then he by the halfe who made the same noise in running as a man would doe armed after your fashion This Giant carried on his shoulders a club heavy enough to braine by his weight many men at once He lifted up this mighty logge of wood against Zelmatida and threatning him yeeld said he or prepare thy selfe to suffer the punishment I reserve for those of thy quality Zelmatida insteed of losing time in vaine replies imployed it in purging the world of a Monster who alone was able to make it desolate He darted a long Javelin at him which fell luckily at his feet and gave him a great wound The Giant roring as an enraged Lion threw himselfe on my deare Master and had almost overthrowne him but his agility serving him insteed of strength he passed this great stroke in slipping aside and gave the Giant a blow far more dangerous then the first The Giant feeling himselfe so wounded recoyled to take his ayme and kill his enemie with one sole blow of his club But seeing it a vailed him not he betooke him to other weapons and gave my Lord the Inca divers blowes which he could not avoyde He was wounded in many places and had been in danger of his life if desperately throwing himselfe on his enemy he had not luckily stroke his head through with his halfe pike The Giant with the blow tooke his death and fell at the feet of his conqueror About that time the day arose and Zelmatida weakned with his travell and the losse of bloud was enforced to lay him on the ground Coriza ran quickly to him with two of his slaves and weeping told him that whilst he fought Tumanama was like to be murdred by other theeves and that he was exceedingly wounded In that extreamity the gods made knowne that they watch alwaies for the safety of extraordinary men for within a little after Zelmatida saw many men and women comming out from among the trees and bushes which grow on the descent of the mountaine These people seemed to be very much affrighted for such as had taken the boldnesse to come downe lower then their companions fled presently after with as much feare and hast as if indeed they had been pursued Zelmatida looking on them beckoned that they should come to him but whether they tooke no heede to it or were too much afraide once they would not come out of their fastnesse This while Tumanama was no sooner recoverd from his fainting occasioned by his wounds but he besought Coriza to informe him whether my Lord the Inca were dead He is not said the Princesse but his prodigious valour hath triumphed over that terrible Giant as well as on his other enemies If it be so replied Tumanama bring me to him to the end that taking that excellent man for a witnesse and executor of my last will I may before my death pay some of those obligations for which I stand engaged to you and give you a defender that may free your virtue from the oppression of any miscreant Coriza melting into teares at the discourse of her lover helped to raise him and taking him under the arme led him where Zelmatida was laied downe Imagine the contentment those two perfect friends received in their interviewe Tumanama hardly being able to speake Zelmatida said he to my deare Master the Gods reserve you for so many other faire adventures that I am most assured that this last shall not give an end to your life Therefore I conjure you by our sincere amity to take Coriza into your protection and to put her in possession of those estates that I leave her as a token of my most humble servitude He could not continue this discourse for his being invironed with the same men that had so long looked on Zelmatida from the toppe of the Mountaine They began all to gaze on the two Princes and to shew their astonishment by their gestures and their cries Some went to visit the bodies of those that were slaine and the first they met withall was the Giant At sight of him their cries or to say more properly their howlings redoubled Some of them after they had turned the Giant on all sides came running to the Princes and inquired which of them 't was that had been able to fi◅ish so hard an enterprise Tumanama weake as he was failed not to raise himselfe to speake to those Villagers and tell them in what manner Zelmatida had vanquished the Giant Instantly they threw themselves on their knees round about my Lord the Inca and kissing his feet and his hands cried out that the fearfull Popocampecho had received a chastisement for his offences and that one of their gods had taken the shape of a man to avenge all Mexico Scarce had they finished these words when men women and children came and cast themselves at the feet of Zelmatida and kissing the earth give him all the thanks they could Zelmatida intreated them not to goe on in their Idolatries and told them that he was no god but a man who having almost shed all his bloud was even ready to expire if he were not the sooner relieved These words increased the wonder of the country people and made them more earnestly to search for their remedies Some ran one way others another and those of the better sort staying to assist Zelmatida and Tumanama carried them to certaine houses which were at the foot of the Mountaine towards the Sun rising Tumanama being lesse wounded then Zelmatida was recured in few daies by virtue of the herbes of the burning
Zelmatida willing to make appeare their deserts mastered the intrenchment forced the barricadoes and though they defended themselves very well within the Bourg yet at last they became Masters of it They flew all that had not time or cowardise enough to save themselves by flight This first exploit succeeding so happily Zelmatida thought it fit to pursue the enemy All his Troopes were resolute on it when there came news from Hismalita by which my deare Master understood that the Cacique of Zempoallan was within a little journey of Mexico with above thirty thousand men Hereupon he assembled the Councell of war to know what was expedient to be done There were divers opinions but upon the intelligence received that the Cacique of Thevic and five other Princes were but a daies journey thence and came with above foure hundred thousand combatants they made Zelmatida resolve to retire and to goe and oppose that inundation which came by the way of Zempoallan The next day at day breake the army dislodged from the bourg except foure thousand men which Zelmatida left there to amuse the Enemy But the Mexicans who for the most part are heartlesse and who fight not but when they are assured by their great number no sooner saw the Theviciens but they forsooke the bourg and came to seeke their safety in the grosse of the Army By this Zelmatida understood the defect of his troopes and changing his first Councell intended to undertake nothing that should be difficult with a people that obeyed not very well and fought a great deale worse Well then imagine him encamped on the side of the lake in a great plaine that on the North hath the towne of Culhuacan on the South that of Iztacpalam on the East that of Mexico and on the West that of Tlacopan Having lodged his Army in places so advantageous and made good all eminenties that might annoy his enemies he came to Hismalita and stayed not longer then he was enforced to take new commands and consult of a meanes to hinder the joyning of the troopes of Zempoallan with those of Thevic This done he visited Isatida and seeing her in an affliction that could not be augmented Madam said he I intend not to condemn your sorrowes since that nature and reason it selfe cannot give you more just ones But if the desire to serve you deceive me not and did not make me hope for more then I ought assure your selfe that you shall yet see the King your father on his Throne and all those enemies that from all parts come to pillage this brave City shall be soone sacrificed to those teares which their perfidiousnesse hath caused to fall from you Isatida could not answere my deare Master but speaking to him with her eyes which all dying as they were were yet capable to revive him she made him know that the imprisonment of the King nor the debordment of their enemies was not solely the cause of her afflictions Zelmatida was constrained to leave her sooner then he intended and to get him againe to his Army which affâ—…ighted at the comming of the Theviciens would have forsaken the field and retyred into Mexico But the Princes arrivall confirmed and retain'd them in some order Presently he went to descry the enemy and unwilling to give them time to lodge presented them battell This boldnesse did not alone astonish the Theviciens but withall gave a terror to the Mexicans But the last tooke heart by the beliefe they had that Zelmatida was a god to whom nothing was impossible and the worst Souldier amongst them animated by the Prince his presence made himselfe beleeve that he was become extreamly valiant When the Inca perceived all that multitude prepared to fight he would needs hearten them to it and an oration fitted to the humour and spirit of all that were there perswaded them that there were no forces able to resist them The Cacique of Thevic carried away by the unruly notions which the â—…ge to reigne gives the amoitious made his Army march to meete with that of Mexico As soone as they were in that case that they could not goe off but must fall to handy blowes Zelmatida made his first troopes give on but they found such a resistance that they began to give back when he sent others to assist them Wheresoever Zelmatida appeared the Theviciens were defeated but every where else they were masters and knew so well how to presse the Mexicans that without the conduct and valour of Zelmatida they had beene all cut in peeces He endured the shock of three or foure thousand men slew the Cacique of Themocolapan and made so glorious a retreate that in the judgement of the very enemy it went for a victory See in what manner the Theviciens remained masters of the field and block'd up Mexico by Land and Water Every day the king made sallies wherein his prudence and valour going hand in hand crowned him with the more glorious palmes by how much he had the worst Souldiers and fought with the best and in great number Hismalita was not in a little trouble to see the cowardize of her Souldiers and knew not what way to witnesse how much she was oblieged to Zelmatida but being dextrous and crafty she thought she could not more powerfully winne my deare Master then by giving him the meanes to see and entertaine Isatida This conjecture being confirmed by her confidents she notedly increased her former affection to the Princesse and tooke more care then ordinary to discourse and to have her in her company She even some time made her to be dressed before her and desiring that she should be alwaies richly attyred caused to be made for her both roabes and dressings of such value and so artificially wrought that the feathers if they did not therein contest for the prize yet did they for their well suting with the Dyamonds and Pearles Zelmatida enjoyed all these felicities and knowing Hismalitaes intention bethought him to make the Seige last long that his good fortune might be the longer lasting He forgot not for all that any thing that could give him the name of a great Captaine and not hazarding but when 't was to good purpose neyther himself nor his troopes wearying the enemy and made them repent of their enterprize He from time to time also proposed to Hismalita divers waies of finishing the seige and advised her to joyne the Inhabitants of Mexico with the men of warre to force the Enemy and make him resolve on a battell But the Queene that would not hazard any thing before she had heard news of Montezuma conjur'd him to suspend this good designe and attend the succours which would infallibly be sent her from those Provinces which were not revolted The King easily consented to it and blessing in himselfe the blindnesse of Hismalita was ravished to see that his fearefull Enemy seemed to affect the occasions that might please him Now one day being with her there came
of three Dimonds which the Portingalls valued at more then a hundred thousand crownes These liberalities ended the foure Princes at last tooke leave of each other Iphidamantus aboade with Bajazet Polexander and Zelmatida being shipped in one same vessell began a voyage wherein they proposed to themselves none other end but the continuation of their afflictions The End of the first Part of Polexander The second Part of POLEXANDER The first Booke THat blind and capricious power which hath chosen for the foundation of its Throne the instability of the waters was so cruell to our despairing Lovers that from Bajazets Isle till he came within ken of the Coasts of Morocco would not oblige them with any apparance of a tempest Polexander vexed with so fatall a gratification made continuall prayers against the calme and his life And Zelmatida sending to Heaven a thousand pitifull supplications besought it with teares by a sudaine death to deliver him from the misfortune of not seeing Isatida Whilst they thus vainly afflicted one another their ship passed from the torrid Zone to the temperate and leaving behinde them the fearefull plaines of the Ocean came neere the Coastes of Africa The Marriners had already descryde the smoaking point of that Mountaine the highest in the world which the Spaniards call Pico de Teyda and Polexander was come out of his Cabin with the Indian Prince to shew him that wonder of the Isle of Teneriffe and by consequence a part of his Dominions When he saw shine among the waves I know not what that sometimes seemed to him glistering as gold and otherwhile red as fire This strange object interrupted his sad meditations and holding him fixed by his eyes gave him such impatiencies and curiosities where withall a minde so abated as his in all likelihood was not capable After he had beene sometime in this contemplation he that was on the scuttle cryde out that he saw a ship on fire At that noise Polexander turned away his eyes from the object which he scarce any longer saw through his long earnest looking on it and by this diversion almost recovering his sight tooke notice that that which had so long amazed him was the vessell which the Sentinell had discovered Presently he commanded his Pilot to beare up to it and when he was at a distance proportionable to his sight he knew that the ship was not on fire as the Sentinell imagined but that it bore sayles of the colour of fire and glittered with gold in divers places This vessell said he to himselfe is too stately and rich for a ship of warre or merchandize The Princes of Morocco have none so brave It cannot be Bajâ—…zets O heaven Shall I beleeve it said he Yes most assuredly t is the sacred ship of Alcidiana He stopped at that word and musing a while on his imagination doubt not said he aloud in striking Zelmatida on the arme 't is the very same What Said Zelmatida is that there Our Heroë came to himselfe and beseeching the Prince to pardon his transport Either all likelihood deceives me or the vessell which you see is the same which for the space of two yeeres I have unprofitably sought after Goe up to it then replide Zelmatida I intend it said Polexander But wee must have a care that she doe not escape us as she hath done divers times And in finishing these words he was come so neere her that he noted the Devices that were painted on the sailes You might see shine againe that immortall Bird that seemed to have made her a Crowne with the very Beames of the Sun and they read in some places some Arabian words which signified I am sacred for I am Alcidiana's Wee need doubt no more cryde Polexander to your armes my Companions let every one prepare him to doe his best But let none what ere he be dare to shoote till I command him Whilst he yet spoake the proud vessell presented her right side and gave him foure vallies of Cannon one after another He ran the hazard to be taken off by a bullet which striking along the ship from the prowe to the poope pierced two of the sayles and carried away a peece of one of the Masts For all that Polexander would not have his Artillery discharge but commanding his Marriners to clap on all their sayles thought that Lynceus being prepared for fight had no desire as at other times to save himselfe by flight Whilst he was thus reasoning with himselfe those that were in the rich vessell offended that a little ship should dare to carry her sayles aloft before her would have satisfâ—…ction and to bring her to her duty discharged all her ordinance at her which pierced her in three places and killed Polexander fifteene or twenty of his men and two of Zelmatida's This act of hostility should have obliged Polexander to repell force by force Yet he did not But aboording the proud ship without shooting he called for Lynceus divers times and crying aloud to make himselfe understood Wee come not up to you said he as enemies wee know that you belong to the most potent and fairest Queene of the world and that knowledge obligeth us to respect you as sacred persons Give over then to war with us since wee are as well as you the slaves and adorers of Alcidiana and if you doe not please to receive us into your ship yet at least accept of us to serve you for direction or convoye Scarce had Polexander finisht these words but a man armed with armour of gold who carried on his buckler the portraict of a Queene presented himselfe on the side of the ship and lifting up his sword I would know said he adressing him to Polexander who are those that dare take to them the glorious title of Alcidiana's slaves The Prince insteed of answering stood as fastned on the buckler of the Knight with the golden armour because he knew that 't was Alcidiana who was there pictured and adoring that face which could not be seene without admiration O thou Sun cryde he that only givest light to mine eyes when shall I be permitted to burne my selfe in thy divine flames He had not ended the last word when the golden Knight stroake with his sword so weighty a blow on his head that if it had not beene covered with a very good Casque he had surely cloveâ—… it in sunder This blowe awakened him from his extasie and forced him to take his weapon in his hand Thy rashnesse is great said he presently to him that strooke him but if thou be either subject or slave to Alcidiana I beare her respect enough to endure this injury I am sent by Alcidiana replide insolently the golden Knight to correct those bold fellowes like thy selfe which dare to vaunt themselves to be the slaves of Alcidiana To me alone appertaines so illustrious a quallity and if thou doe not throw thy selfe at my feet to aske me pardon for being so audacious Know
brutishnesse of the Mahometans that hold those for the beloved of God from whom the ill disposition of their Organs or the vapours arising from their spleene have taken away the use of reason Wee came thence late home to the Pallace and because I found my selfe much disquieted I presently retyred into my chamber There began I deepely to muse on the Dervis his discourse and finding nothing in it extravagant nor ought that seemed to me very mysterious I resolved to see him often and to goe thither so fewly accompanied that he might have the freedome to discover to me those mysteries which he had yet concealed Nephizus gave me the occasion two dayes after for he receiving letters from Abdelmelec by a Mute who served him in those great imployments he was of necessity to goe to Fez and from Fez to Morocco He left me in the custody of an old Ethiopian Eunuque who was the most favoured of all his Confidents and the depositary of all his secrets commanding him at parting not to let me be out of his sight nor to suffer me to go abroade but very seldome Narcissus so was the name of the Ethiopian witnessed a great faithfulnesse to his Master but he did it with so much judgement and respect that he never gave me cause to complaine of him and still concealed all newes that might increase my afflictions Now one day thinking on my Hermit and presently urged with a desire to see him and to understand the secret of his adventures I intreated Narcissus to bring me to his Grot. He was so confident that I would never undertake any thing against that which I ought to Nephizus that he would not deny me a thing which was not precisely forbidden him I went therefore to the Hermit with five or six of my women and the Eunuques which garded me As soone as the poore solitary man could speake to me a part I expected said he to me nothing but death and seeing my selfe deprived of that light which should dissipate the obscurity of this place I wished even with passion to see my selfe inveloped with that darkenesse which shall never have end But I know now that the visible Angell that hath so often given me his assistance is resolved to continue it to me Surely Madam I promise my selfe new favours of his goodnesse and confesse I have offended in suspecting that divine Essence to be as mortall creatures subject to change and forgetfulnesse With this the Hermit held his peace and I that had an extreame desire to know what was hidden under his mysterious speech told him that if I understood well the meaning of his discourse that his fortune was not altered since he complained then as he had done other times before How replied he should the effects of my misfortune cease since the cause of it still endures I complaine and lament far lesse then I suffer But since that beyond all hope my tutelar Angell restores to me that light that he hath so long hid from me I make a vow never to be weary of expecting it and how long soever his absence be to hope still for the end If my curiosity said I may be satisfied without your discontent I intreat you by that which is most deare to us to let me know what Angell that is which you mention so often and what that passion is which obligeth you to draw out so miserably your life among these Rocks and places of fearefull solitude At this intreaty the Hermit sighed oftentimes and being a while silent whereto am I brought said he in Spanish if my Angell knowes not what I suffer and doth not know it selfe He had scarce ended these words when I gave so fearefull a shreeke that all my servants came running to me and asked what I ailed O heaven said I how have I beene affrighted Me thought I saw at the foote of the Hermit a Lyon who awaking at our discourse was ready to leape at me The old Narcissus began to laugh at my vision and advised me to take the aire to divert me I presently arose to put in action that which he proposed but the Hermit holding me bâ—… the skirt of my gowne what said he in Spanish faire Princesse doe you beleeve that by inhabiting these solitary Cavernes I am become one of the furious beasts of the Wildernesse Those words were so powerfull a charme to stay me that I stood as unmooveable But the Hermit not perceiving it can it be said he in the same language that you who have been moved with my afflictions when you knew me not should leave to be pitiâ—…ull in the same instant when you knew me Consider Ennoramita ô be pleased to take notice that I am not permitted before so many suspected persons to beseech and solicit you further to have commiseration on my miseries Our common enemies have their eyes over us and I lose you if I continue to petition you Stay yet but a moment and say what shall become of me I can but answere thee to be lamented Muley said I in Spanish for indeed 't was he I am too much interdicted to take or to give thee any good councell yet expect in this place to heare from me Farewell With that word the teares came into mine eyes and I came out of the Caverne with so extraordinary a sadnesse that Narcissus besought me to seeke no more so unpleasing a diversion I confesse said I to him there is nothing but discontent in so sad a conversation I have my minde filled with horrour and find that my communication with the afflicted increaseth my afflictions in lieu of lest'ning them This said I returned thence speedily to my Prison and being shut into my chamber with my faithfull Atalida Ah my friend said I what have I heard What have I seen this day Why Madam she replyde are you yet in feare of your imaginary Lyon Why do'st not thou know said I what I doe My astonishment proceeds from a more just cause If you should have found said she the unfortunate Muley under the habit of the Hermit you had not beene more desolate then you are Thou hast divined cryde I 't is he Atalida t is Muley himselfe I knew him when hee spake Spanish to me But who hath brought him into these Deserts What will he doe here What will become of him If you would calme your perturbation answered Atalida I will reply to your questions and without the preventing your wit with any passionate counsell will leave you the liberty to deliberate your selfe in a businesse so important For al that Atalida could say to me yet my transporting must have its course Above an houre was I in admirations and turning in my disordered minde a thousand thoughts farre more confused At last I setled my selfe and then said Atalida speaking very low for feare of being heard T is fit that I discover that which great considerations have forc'd me to conceale from you I confesse I knew
shut thine eyes to all other considerations and thou hast beleeved that thou shouldst gaine farre greater Empires then this if thou could'st preserve me Hoping therefore for no more in Egypt I returned to Tunis and after I had staid there some dayes unknown I re-imbarked me upon the assurance Atalida gave me that I should not heare any newes of Muley but in Fez or Morocco I went to Fez and learning nothing of what I desired â—…passed the Streights to get sooner and more safely to Morocco I came in there so that it had been impossible for the very servants of Nephizus to know me staid there so long as I thought was fitting to heare what was become of my unfaithfull husband and my loyall Friend But for al I could doe my diligences and perquisitions were bootlesse For Nephizus they told me that being desperatly in love with the Princesse Ennoramita his wife and not induring she should be in the custody of the King her Father he had besieg'd him in one of his Fortresses to take her But after the winning the place and not finding her he was neere dead for sorrow and presently put to Sea to follow her Imagine if I were amazed or no at these false tales and what I was to iudge of it Aâ—… last after I had long mused on this Adventure to no purpose I understood by Atalida â—…hat Nephizus was gone to the Canaries with that pretended Ennoramita I had Learn'd from Fame that you were not only King of them but the defendor of the oppressed the Avenger of persecuted virtue and the Exterminator of Monsters and Tyrants And for that reason I resolv'd to take you for the Judg of my cause and to implore your valor for the exemplary chastising of Nephizus perfidies and impostures The Princess of Tunis could goe no further for Atalida in clapping her hands and shewing an extreame astonishment cryed out that the old Eunuch Narcissus was come into the court of the Pallace with a great company of Trumpets and Armed men Ennoramita not able to beleeve the astonished Damsel ran to one of her Chamber windowes which look'd into the Court and knowing Narcissus Permit not if you please said shee to Polexander that any wrong be done to me in a place where you are the Master Feare nothing Madam answered Heroe whosoever dares to think of losing the respect that is due to you shall not doe it unpunished And not only here but wheresoever else you shall please to make use of mine arme I shall hinder as much as in me lieth your enemies from wronging your vertue Scarce had he ended these words but the Captaine of his guard came into Ennoramitas Chamber and told him that a Herald sent with a great trayne from Abdelmelec Prince of Morocco to all the Courts of Vrope Africk requested instantly that he might be permitted to acquit himselfe in the presence of his Majesty of that Commission his Prince had given him Surely said Polexander Abdelmelec hath knowne that I have his buckler We must heare his Herald In the meane time addressing himselfe to the Captaine of his Guard goe and receive said he these strangers and assure them that whatsoever they have to say to me they shall not need to feare any thing more then if they were in Morocco Ennoromitâ—… then speaking I intreat you a favour said she to Polexander what 's that Madam replied the Prince T is said she that I may have some time to speake with Narcissus before his Masters command hath ingaged him to any extravigancy You shall doe what you please answeared Polexander but let his discourse to mee be what it will he shall not want of receiving as good entertainement at my hands as if he had brought me the confirmation of that which Abdelmelec sometime promised me I know that your thoughts are not capable of any imbecillity said the Princess of Tunis but I am sure withall that the minde of Narcissus is not incapable of feare As long as he shall imagine that you know not the cause of his coming he will be reasonable enough to tell us what is become of Nephizus But assoone as he hath declar'd his charge and by consequence shall beleeve he hath offended you he will thinke of nothing after but how to get out of your power and in his apprehension and feare of being chastis'd will not even know where he is Polexander Laughing at the good opinion Ennoramita would worke in him of Narcissus courage commanded he should be brought to him assoone as he should be in case to be seene The Eunuch holding of his nation a certaine proud severity refus'd all that was offer'd him by Polexanders Officers and could never be wonne to see him alone Polexander hearing of these things in the presence of Ennoramita shee intreated him to let Narcissus come to him with all his trayne and told him smiling that before that Ethiopian began his Oration shee would pesent her selfe to him in the quality of a Petitioner and accusing the other of his ill treating her would so force him to put by his gravity Our Heroe approov'd of all that Amatontha desir'd and going into the hall of the Princess lodgings which was already fill'd with his Guard and other Officers there receiv'd the venerable Narcissus Scarce had the Eunuch made his reverences and first complements but Ennoramita appear'd in the Hall with a most desolate and afflicted countenance and casting her selfe at Polexanders feet besought him to give her his protection against many Enemies that did unjustly persecute her I understood my Lord said shee after the Prince had taken her up that there was newly arrived in this place one of the principall Agents of my Tyrants I therefore beseech you by the name you have gotten of the most Just Prince of the world to harken to my complaints and to beleeve that I have gone a hundred and fifty leagues by sea in hope that you will grant me that which my Country my Parents my Friends and my Allyes have refus'd me In saying so shee cast her eyes on Narcissus who instantly knew her and after shee had a while look'd on him See said shee to our Heroe in taking the Eunuch by the hand an inreproachable witnesse of those verities I am to tell you and though he hath been of the number of those that have tormented me yet I have nothing to say to him for I know how farre the duty and faith of a servant bindes him to his Master He belong'd to the Prince of Fez and being answerable and obliged to him for a great Fortune he could not lawfully consider any thing but his Interests I acquit him also from all those miseries he hath made me suffer but yet upon condition that he tell you before me why he forsook me under a false pretext whence 't is for these two yeares and more I have neither heard news of him nor of the King his Master and for what cause
that watchest for the generall good of the world what have I done to thee that I should be the party belov'd of Benzaida After he had ended this exclamation he turn'd himselfe towards me and ask'd me whither I would go T is no matter where I replied provided it be there where I may find the Prince of Fez. Provided that it be where you may find the Prince of Fez replied Tindarache O Too happy Prince if thou knew'st thy happinesse Let s go Let 's go Madam after that ingratefull Man Let us search for that enemy of his owne good Let 's compell him to accept the good Fortune he refuseth and if there want but my life to make him true I am content that you bestow it on your passion The love and Noblenesse of that Prince touch'd me so to the heart that I was forc'd to impose him silence for feare least his speech should make me too sensible He was no lesse obedient to me in that then in all other things and I beleeve that wee cros'd the seas and a part of Fez and Morocco without any talke aboue five or six times I found thee not in either of the Kingdomes but I understood that the love thou barest to Ennoramita Princess of Tunis had made thee undertake a voyage on the Ocean I therefore left Morocco and went to imbarque my selfe at Azafi to see if I could meet thee at Sea or at least to passe the streights and finde thee at Tunis but being ingaged to stay at Azafi to attend a Portugall ship I was I know not by what odnesse of Fortune seen and desired by four Castilian Knights who seem'd to be very Inquisitive of mee And not contented to have entertain'd me in their Inne shipped themselves with me and did what they could to win me not to forsake their conversation I avoyded it yet as often as it was possible and heaven hearing my prayers Stir'd up so furious a Tempest that it gave the Spanyards farr other thoughts then those of pratling to me After our ship had bin three dayes and three nights beaten with the Tempest it came to shyde on to an Island which is now famous by the stately Tombe of a Prince called Almansor There wee went on shore to expect fairer weather and give time to the Mariners to trym their ship and I that would avoid the sight of the four troublesome Spanyards I caus'd me to be conducted by Tindarache to a village which is not farre from the sea But I could not keep me from the curiosity of those mad men They followed mee and stopping me between a wood and a many rocks told me that they were come to serve me and not to offer me any outrage Wee are said they four Cozens who are equally in love with you and because our affection is too violent to endure any companions we are resolved to fight in your presence to give an end to the cause of our jealousy and leave you the prize for the vanquisher Though my minde was busied about nothing but the remembrance of thy ingratitude perjur'd Nephizus yet the extravagancy of those men was capable to stay my musings I gave Heaven thankes that it made me see a folly which was not lesse extraordinary then mine and told those Lovers that I found their loves so unreasonable and the person who was the cause of it so unworthy the fortune they would run for her that I advis'd them to continue freinds and give over an enterprize that could be no other then very unfortunate to them That must not stay us if you please they replyed since of four that we be there will be no mishap but for him that shall survive his companions and in ending these words they threw off their doublets and came to meet one another with their Swords drawn The Combat was very short though very bloody and indeed it could not be otherwise since 't was done by the advice and guidance of so murderous and furious a passion as that of love Three presently fell down dead and the fourth his sword red with the blood of his Cozens came and cast himselfe at my feet to aske me the prize for his victory Tindarache till then had shewed so little feeling that not being able to doubt of his courage after the proofes that he had given me of it I thought that by the remembrance of thy false promises I was not to give any more trust to his faire words But when he saw the Spanyard at my feet Knight said he to him you make too much hast and having not yet done but the halfe of your businesse you stick not to aske the salary for the whole Doe you think that I am lesse Jealous or not so cleare-sighted as you Spanyards Truely answered the other you surprize me Your leane and disfigur'd countenance your reeling and weak walking and the feeblenesse of your armes made me beleeve that you rather look'd for some Physitian to cure you then for an Enemy to cut off some one or two of those dayes that were yet to live Notwithstanding since you beseech me for it in so good a manner I am pleased not to have you to languish any longer but to kill you a little more speedily then your melancholy would have done Tindarache in lieu of replying to that arrogant answer did but smile and taking his Sword in his hand told his enemy that he besought him to make an end of his Cure The other whose new victory had made him more proud then he was by birth went on very resolutely to Tindarache The Prince met him as bravely and at first gave him such a dangerous wound that he forc'd him to put one knee to the ground The Spanyard seeing his strength go away with his blood furiously rose up to avenge himselfe of his vanquisher but he who knew how much his preservation imported me recoyl'd still in warding in that manner let him lose the rest of the strength blood that was left him Atlast that unfortunate Castilian fel backwards not being able to speak by reason of the blood which came out of his mouth he took a handkercher which he steep'd in his wound and after he had kissed it threw it towards me Tindarache who was not wounded came to me and seeing me affrighted Away Madam said he let 's away from this dismall Island wherein Love hath been the cause of shedding so much blood and let us go find out the happy Prince of Fez. I took the advice of that generous Lover and after I had given order to the Inhabitants of that Bourg whereinto I was retyr'd for the buriall of the Spanyards I re-imbark'd my selfe in the same Ship which had brought me thither The violence of the tempest had put the Portugull Ship to that necessity that they were forc'd to return to Azafie and there I left them and came back to Morocco where I understood that thou wert at Fez. Presently
I put on with my little and faithfull company but passing through the solitudes of Mount Atlas a Lyon rush'd on my poore Nurse and carryed her away Tindarache not being able to rescue her The losse of one who had been alwayes deare to me so transported me that I would have expos'd my selfe even to the fury of the Lyon But the faithfull Tindarache who had alwayes his eyes on me tooke notice of my action and doubting of what I had resolved Madam said he what mean you to do Do you not remember now that there is nought in the world capable to move you but the Prince of Fez I must confesse it to thy glory and my confusion perjur'd man that thy Name took away my griefe and I often accused my selfe for loving any other then thee Some few dayes after I came out of those Deserts and entred into thy Kingdome Consider what kind of passion mine alwayes hath been since at the only name of Fez and the sole looking on thy Territories I was so transported that my body too violently agitated by my mind was compell'd to give way I fell sick of a malady which at first they thought deadly Shall I relate to thee insensible man the care which Tindarache had of me the paines he undertook and the despaire whereunto the obstinacy of my ill oftentimes threw him No I will tell thee nothing of it That soule intirely loving and wholely pure which now enjoyes the eternall felicities will not have me to prophane his mysteries Thou shalt only know that I overcame my Fever by the desire I had to see thee Assone as I could leave my Chamber I went from the place where I had faln sick and endeavour'd by little Journeys to make an end of my unfortunate voyage And I had almost cross'd the large champians of Temesna when I know not what strange affrightment seiz'd on me I turn'd me towards Tindarache and looking round about me as if I had been pursued Tindarache said I without knowing why we must shortly part Madam replied he I do no lesse then you wish for that happy moment that must render you to the dearest part of your selfe But if my love could consent to it I would wish to die ere I were compeld to that cruell necessity to lose with that content I receiv'd by your presence the remaynder of an imaginary hope which yet flatters my passion Yet happen what the Destinies please Tindarache will without feare see fall that blow which must deprive him of his life Those words made me beleeve that that faithfull Lover fear'd to meet with thee not that he thought thee more valiant then himselfe but because he knew by my extravagancies that thou wert better belov'd then He. I would willingly at the same time have free'd him of that feare and stopping in the mid-way to speak more earnestly Tindarache said I if you beleeve that I leade you where I am to find my greatest Enemy to give you that discontent to see him possest of that which you think you have deserved and to make him triumph on your disgraces you neither know my intention nor what is the generousnesse of the infortunate Benzaida I am not of those light mindes which may be twice deceived by apparances I have committed one fault but my Spirit and the assistance of our great Prophet wil hinder me from acting a second Let us go therefore Prince as unfortunate as my selfe let us go find the Traytor At whose very name my Sense and Reason re-begin their old enmityes But le ts find him quickly to the end that one same houre and one same action may make us all Three equally contented I had scarce ended the words when Zamaella began to cry out that I should take heed to my selfe I turned my head and saw ten or twelve men on horsbacke who with their swords drawn â—…ere ready to fall on Tindarache Assoon as they had beset him one of them came to me and presenting me the point of his Sword Is it so said he infamous and vagabond Izilia that to satiate the Lubricities of a Tyrant thou prostitutest thine honour and reputation of thy race I answer'd nothing to those revilings because I thought they were not addressed to me In the meane time he that had spoken commanded two Negroes that were of his company to bind my hands guard me well on payne of their lives presently hasten'd to his complices that were cowardly murdering of Tindarache I did all I could to withhold him and to make him know that he was mistaken but his choler having blinded him he perceived not the fault he had done till after when it was irreparable Assoone as Tindarache was faln â—…to the Earth he that had taken me alighted from his horse to know him better but not finding him whom he look'd for O Heaven cried he to his â—…mpanions how blockishly are we mistaken He came then presently to me and looking long on me Unfortunate Scander Stianack said he striking his brest what hast thou done and how wilt thou justifie thy mistake and ending those words he took me by the hand and taking off my bonds what service can I do you said he that may be sufficent to expiate the wrong which I have Ignorantly done you Exact from me what satisfaction you please Madam you will see by the content I shall have in it that my intent was not to offend you I would have answerd him when I heard thevoyce of Tindarache sounding in mine ears which made me run to the place where he lay I found him all weltring in blood and extreamly wounded in divers places Assoone as he saw me he strove to arise but not being able he turn'd his dying Eyes on me and kissing the hand which I had given him Madam said he to me I cannot perform what I promis'd you but you see t is not my fault Give me an assurance that you are satisfied and I shall go contentedly out of the world Those words were so peircing to me that forcing my weaknesse and forgetting that I was look'd on by men who might conceive an ill opinion of my resentments I rais'd up the head of that to-be-lamented Prince and knowing not what I said so much was I troubled besought him not to forsake me and leave me all alone in an Enemies Country T is that which makes me go to my grave with sorrow replied he with a low voice but the vowes and prayers I make for the retarding of my death are vaine and to no purpose spight of me I must leave you and I perceive that I have no longer time to live then sufficeth to bid you farewell Farewell then Benzaida remember if you please Tindarache though he deserve it not and lose not the memory of him in the contentments which you hope for by the sight of the too much He could not finish what he had begun for death prevented him I will not tell
interested in her honor Pallantus after he had thus ended his strict and proud Declaration retyr'd and left all those who had not heard of Alcidiana in an extreame astonishment at his high cariage and language and in a great desire of knowing him In the meane time Abdelmelec farr more offended at Alcidiana's contempt then with the disgrace of his combat I will obey said he that which this proud Queen commands and I will scorne her since she makes her selfe unworthy of my service And with that he went and pluck'd downe her Picture which he had hung under a paviiion of Cloth of Gold and throwing it on the ground trampled it under his horses feet Polexander beholding that bruitshnesse ran to Abdelmelec and offering his Cymiter at his throat what Monster cryd he more Monster then he of the North give over the not rendring the respect thou owest to Alcidiana and if thou wilt avenge thy selfe of thy shame do it on thy selfe since thou alone art the cause of it Polexander in thus speaking alighted to take us Alcidiana's picture When Abdelmelec who had lost all knowledge and sence of honor glad to make use of that advantage let drive so weighty a blow with his Axe on our Heroe's helmet that he had almost laid him on the ground Polexander feeling this basenesse got present on Horseback and to avenge Alcidiana rather then himselfe had quickly brought Abdelmelec in case to implore that excessive courtesie which he had so basely offended Polexander generously gave him his life and went out of the field with the Victory and two Pictures of Alcidiana In comming from the place of the Iusts Muley joyn'd to him and intimating to him the opinion he had of his valour made him new protestations of his love They went streight to their lodging and found there Ennoramita who out of the impatiency of seeing her Lover could not stay out the end of the Turney She besought him presently to take her out of her Enemies Dominions and bring her to some place where she might with facility heare from the King her Father to treat with him of her returne and mariage Muley related to her that during the time he lay at Mezila and in some other Townes of Numidia he had there gotten so many friends and so much credit that he was little lesse absolute there then the King himselfe Lett 's go thither then said Ennoramita and assure our selves that in spight of the power of our common Enemies we shall quickly see our selves in Muley Hassen's favour This resolution was not long from being put into execution For that very houre Perselida Amatonta Ennoramita gave to Polexander those thanks which she beleev'd was due to him from her and beseeching him to preserve to her and her deare Muley the friendship he had promised them rid out of Morocco to the place where she had left her ship Polexander on his side had no lesse impatiency Assoon as he was alone he sent Diceus to learn where Pallantus was lodg'd and after he had been a while with Alcippus silent we must to Denmark said he and avenge Alcidiana of a Barbarians boldnesse Alcippus would have made known to him the difficulties that were to be met with in that voyage but Polexander with one word shut his mouth and to tell him that his intent could not be alter'd we must said he the second time go to Denmark and part for it hence this very day In that very instant Diceus return'd and told the King his Master that Pallantus was return'd to his ship and had presently set saile Let him go said he and let us on our part do what is commanded us In saying so he got to Horseback a little before night and rid to imbarke him at the mouth of the River of Tensif where his Mariners had order to come and expect him When his Ship was under sayle he cast his Eyes towards his deare Islands and sighing at the remembrance of those things he went from 't is not said he softly by the course which I take that I shall discover the Inaccessible Island But I have this comfort I do that which I ought and if I have not the happinesse to see Alcidiana yet I have the glory of obeying her After these words he began to think on the meanes of fighting with Phelismond and mus'd a long time on those he should take hold of to know who Phelismond was and in what Province of the Kingdome of Denmark he might meet him But he resolv'd to free himselfe of those cares on the dexterity of Alcippus and not to make himselfe knowne in that Northern Court. After these thoughts he remembred Zelmatida and calling to him Alcippus what will Zelmatida think said he of our stay I feare least he will imagine some treason wrought against us by Abdelmelec and if once he have that opinion assuredly nothing can hinder his comming to Morrocco to know the certainty himselfe I have a mind to send some one of my servants to him Alcippus approv'd of the King's apprehension but the difficulty was to find the means The next day they had it for a Patache of a Madera Merchant pass'd very neer by Polexanders Ship and she gave her the rights she ought and being known they made her come neer Our Heroe after he had spoken with the Master commanded him to carry one of his followers to the Isle of Lancerotta and presently went to write to Zelmatida and by his letter excusing himselfe in a good manner that he was compel'd to break his word with him was now in no other care but to chuse amongst his company a man that he might send to Zelmatida of capacity to tell him by word of mouth what he could not write to him Alcippus and Diceus came first into his mind but being not able to misse two such imployable faithful servants he was compeld to think of others He had bred up a Canaryan a Prince by birth and great grand-child to the King Guavartemus and in all his travells had found him so capable of his service that he thought he could not find a man more fit He therefore cald for him gave him his letters in charge and instructing him in what he had to say to Zelmatida caus'd him to be imbarqu'd in the Pinnace of Madera and commanded that he should attend on the Indian Prince till he returnd In an instart the 2. Vessells were farr separated that of Madera plied right between East and South and the other wherein our Heroe was taking diverse courses inasmuch as it was to coast part of the continent of Africa and of Europe put in practice for a long time the ability of his Pilot. He ran the hazard of being lost at the Cape Finister in Spaine He was cast on the Coast of Britany by a terrible tempest He was constrained to put into Holland yet all these mis-fortunes gave not so great a hindrance but that after three
another kind of Fate then their Subjects The honour of Servents lies in the hazards to which they expose themselves for the servâ—…ce of their Masters and that of Commanders â—…o preserve themselves for the safety of the servants that are left them Never make me beleeve a thing so dis-apparent answer'd Polexander in choler For if Kings as you your selfe have often told me are the soules of their Subjects should they not then watch operate and continually travell for them And what say you if bodies were not maintained in their being by the operation of their Soules would they not become meere lumps of Earth and dirt Do you think t is otherwise with our Subjects truly no. They must without doubt perish when their Kings like soules sick of a Lethargy unworthily lye sleeping in their palaces and suffer those miserably to perish through their idlenesse whom they should preserve by their 〈◊〉 Le ts on then le ts on my deare governour where our dutie calls us Sir said I your Majesty is neither of age to doe what you would nor your people reduced to the extremity of axecting it from you Kings ought to be alwaies of yeares to defend their people replied the Prince and their condition is such that neither age nor danger ought to hinder them from preserving their Estates You have so often taught me these truthes that I wonder you will read to me now a new Doctrinâ—…i I have never told your Majesty any thing I answered which in my conscience I believed not only to be true but also worthy of your royall Soul and this being so I intended not to ruin by a false dictrine that which I had established by a true one All that I desire now is that your Majesty would turne your thoughts on your selfe and thence carry them through all the histories you have read to the end you your selfe may be Judg of the difference which is now between us The Prince presently apprehending by the quicknesse of his wit what I would say to him answered me that he would not have our controversie to be decided by the examples of former ages Other Princes have done what they pleas'd and I pretend to have the same priviledg and by consequence will goe on without any consideration right to the place where our Enemies are What after this will you oppose me Ah Sir cried I throwing my selfe at his feet and moystning his hands with my teares weigh what your great heart would make you undertake and thinke with your selfe what a disaster it will be if some dismall blow should take you hence in the extremity of your youth My deare Governour replied the Prince coldly this consideration proceedes not from a true affection but it comes from an ill custome which those that are neare to Kings have gotten to flatter them in all things 'T is true that I may dye by this occasion and dying lose a great many yeares which by all likelyhood I have to live but I know from your selfe that none ever dyed before the time Heaven had prescribed him besides I am perswaded that a King never dies too soonâ—… when he dies for the safety of his Subjects Whilst the King my Master and I thus contested the Portingal and our men made on and meeting some two leagues from our Quarters fought with a great losse on both sides The Canaryans made the Portingalls give back and drave them before them into a vally where for want of mistrust they fel into an Ambascado There were they ill handled and after they had lost more then their halfe on the place saw 't was then their turn to fly The Portingalls being all reunited came furiously on the Canaryans and their Cavalry making a horrible massacre of the â—…nawaies drave the rest even to our intrenchments Polexander saw the flight of his Souldiers and was very likely to have thrown himselfe down from the top of a bastion to go stay them Ah my Governor cried he I beseech you do not indure I should lose my Honour and see my men slaine unsuccored I renewed my remonstrances but to no purpose Of necessity we must and did bring him his Armes and consent that he should fall on the Enemy In the meane time I caus d all the remainder of our Souldiers that were in the Towne to sally forth who in spight of the Enemies forced them to retire Our young King with fifty of his Knights fell on the reere of the Portingalls and thrust himselfe so farre in amongst them that I was a long time without knowing what was become of him His presence and actions gave so much heart even to those that had lost it that the Portingalls were hack'd in peices and from the Town even to the Sea Side the high waies were covered with them The King should have returned from this conflict with an extream satisfaction for he had done admirably well and besides he heard on all hands applauding some of joy and some of praise Neverthelesse a secret sadnesse made him droope the head and unwilling to heare the acclamations of the people As I was about to aske him the cause My Governour said he let me once make triall of what you have often told me and whereof Sir said I That the multitude is never govern'd by reason Wee have done nothing but run after a company of people that had as great a desire to fly from us as wee had to overtake them and yet to heare the shouts of the Uulgar sort one would thinke we had gotten some important battle against all the force of Spaine I smil'd at the Princes consideration When presently putting on a more serious countenance besides said he I shal never be satâ—…fied til I see the King of Portingal with his sword in his hand Certainly that King is a very merry man and very Gamesome who whilst himselfe lies as it were buried in all pleasures and delights troubles the repose and peace of his neighbours by such of his subjects as 't is not unlikely he would faine be rid of If I live I will teach him to live quietly or to come and fight himselfe But til that happinesse betide me I am resolv'd to drive the Portingalls from these Islands and to accomplâ—…sh it with the more facility I will over into the Isle of Palmes with the rest of my Troops When he had told me his intentions I was more puzled a great deale then I was before I knew well that my Authority and power were not able to hould in that yong Lion I had therefore recourse to stronger I writ to the Queen his mother who persisted in her teares and solitude and most humbly besought her If she loved the life of the King her sonne she would call him back to her I intimated all the reasons which obliged me to write so and made them so considerable and weighty to her that for a quarter of an houre She violated the vow she had made
of thinking no more on worldly businesse She thereupon writ to the King her son that she desired to see him for some urging occasions and conjur'd him by her letter that leaving for some time the businesse of Warre he should make a turne to the place of her retirement she writ the same to me and commanded me to bring back to her the King her sonne The Prince who was endu'd with all virtues in the highest degree put it not in deliberation whether he should obey the Queen but told me that wee were to retire to his Mother the Honour wee acquire by Armes is worthyly to be desired but I beleeve that to be no lesse which is gotten by doing what we ought 'T is true said I and therefore you ought if you please to give without delay the Queen your Mother the contentment she expects by your presence Come said he let 's give it her but before we goe hence try if we can see our Enemies He needed not goe farre to be satisfied for the day before our imbarquing the Portingalls return'd on us and fail'd little of surpâ—…izing that port where the Kings ships attended him There was a furious conflict wherein without adding any thing to the truth Polexander secur'd the Honour of his Armes and dis-ingaged both his men shipping The Enemies Fleet retir'd to the Isle of Palmes I thought it had been out of feare but the next morning I knew 'T was out of cunning The Kings departure was not so secretly kept but that the news of it came to the Enemy whereupon they resolved to fight with him at Sea and by taking of the King to make an end of those warres wherewithall he threatned al Spaine For mine one part who dayly took care for the conducting the Prince I left al our vessels in the roade of Tenerif which was opposite to that of the Palmes and one night crossing one of the Islands caus'd the King to imbarpue himselfe at a port over against that of Gomera At daie breake wee set saile and in a little time our vessel had gone by all the Canaries but entring into a sleeve or narrow passage which seperated this Isâ—…and from the Fortunate we discovered â—…ve saile which surely expected us They made up and the feare I was in for the King my Master redoubling my foresight I commanded Presently our ship should take another course and to regaine on the South the Fortunate Island These five shipps chas'd us all the rest of the day and my Pilot was constrained to goe Roome-ward to Sea that they might not know the course he steer'd Two vessels of provision which followed ours were commanded to bestow some shot to amaze the Enemy Polexander was almost enraged that I would not fight with them He besought me to feare nothing and casting himselfe at my feet my deare Governour said he if you love my life give not the advantage to our Enemies to publish they have made us fly from them What will they say of thee unfortunate Polexander he added in sighing when it shall be known that five poore ships have enforc'd thee to fly as a theefe and forsake a Part of thine owne Company to save thy selfe by their destruction Ah! let me rather dye a thousand deaths And in so saying like one desperate he ran through the ship to oblige the Pilot and Mariners to tack about But the Command I had given could not be chang'd but by me and the Prince prevail'd not in giving any new He took notice of it and presently drawing one of his Guards Swords and turning it on himselfe however said he yet will I not have the dishonour to live after the flight and diobedience of mine one Subjects I stop'd him ere he could wrong himselfe and casting by all obsequiousnesse told him that If he would not be govern'd I should be constrain'd to make use of that authority which the Queen his Mother had given me Doe so my good Governour said he do what you will with me I will indure all provided that I run not away This while Night drew on and with the Night a winde so contrary that I repented me for not landing at the Fortunate Island We were forc'd to strike all our Sayles for feare of being put back to the place from whence we came Which when the young Prince perceived he shew'd an extreame joy for it and told me that Heaven more exorable then I had heard his prayers and would not permit that I should cauâ—…him to fly any longer The night passing over with a furious Tempest at breake of day we saw our vessell within a Cannon shot of two others We knew thempresently to be Enemies by their flaggs They made up shot and press'd on us so that in spight of us we must fight I wish I were able to represent to you the cheerfullnesse wherewith the young Prince prepar'd him to the combat and the confidence wherewithall he ordered others My companions said he to the Souldiers see how the Justice of Heaven favours us in exposing to your revenge those which have expos'd your families to all that their tyranny had the most barbarous Do not beleeve that these cruell Pyrates give us the chase They would be glad to be further from you But the windes and the waves which they would have so often made confederates in their robberies bring them to you whether they wil or no to the end they might purge themselves by such a delivery of those crimes whereof you might accuse them Consider besides that you are not as these theeves two or three hundred leagues apart from him for whom in particular you are to fight You have your King not only for a witnesse of your actions but also for a companion in your fortune And in so saying he took a halfe Pike and went and plac'd himselâ—…e in the most eminent part of the ship The Artillery plaid the best of an houre on both sides at last the two Portugall Vessells drew neer and being grapled with us there began a horrible fight The Canaryans seven or eight times repuls'd their Enemies and forc'd above fifty into the Sea Polexander was in the midst of the combatants Some he stir'd up by his words others by his actions the least resolv'd ran into danger at the sight of their Princes miraculous boldnesse Neverthelesse we were forc'd to forsake our sides and to resist a little longer fortifie our selves on the poope One amongst us in the meane time resolving a couragious and determinate act charged a Culverin on his shoulders and placing himselfe on the highest part of the poope caus'd fire to be given to it The blow was strange It kill'd above twenty Portugalls and the bullet striking through one of their ships without notice taken of it either by Souldier or Mariner they were amaz'd in the height of the fight to see that ship sink right down with all that was in her The Portugalls were so infinitely
no other love then a judicious and just desire to do good actions to render to every one what is his due to acquire a Noble reputation by legitimate waies and by a wise contempt of a life of few yeares continuance to aâ—…chieve that which shall be everlasting By hearing you make this distinction 〈◊〉 Hyppolitus it seemes you comprehend not that which is properly to be called love I say that violent and imperious passion which proceedes either from inclination or knowledg and raignes â—…o imperiously over our understanding that it â—…braceth the object presented as it were its soveraigne felicity I meane not to admit of that love said the King for I have condemned it from the beginning of my discourse This may be added Hyppolitus because you feare the troubles and disquiets which accompany it But you would not be sorry to see some young beauty passionately in love with you and to give to another that passion you would not entertaine your selfe I have as little intention answered Polexander to give as to receive any love and since it falls fitly now to be spoken of I will tel you truly that if by any fantasticalnesse of Fortune it should betide me to be beloved as you would have me understand it there is nothing I would not doe either to dis-beguile her that had made so ill a choice or to hinder me from seeing her And I said Hyppolitus sighing alowd would leave nothing undone to be never seperated from such a person as you who knowes not so much as the name of love and would fly from me as if I were his Mortall Enemy I pitty you repli'd the King and advise you to what a generous man should doe If you cannot cure your selfe by any remedy may please you try those which seem to you the most dis-agreeable and yet which by their hidden virtue may be extreamely profitable unto you I meane if you cannot be holpen by the enjoying cure your selfe by contempt absence or oblivion Ah! Cruell and bunexperienc'd Councellor cri'd Hyppolitus O remedies more painefull then the disease it selfe I am in the wrong repli'd Polexander 't is true I should have stai'd the prescribing you those last remedies till you had lost all hope Forget them till there be need deare Hippolitus an in the meane time go on to relate to me your fortune I have told it you all repli'd Hyppolitus What have you told me repli'd Polexander That I loved added Hyppolitus and lov'd a personage as insensible and as great an Enemy to love as your Majesty I am very glad continued Polexander for having that conformity with your Mistris since without it I know well you would leave me as some Barbarian that could not polish or civilize himselfe in the abode of politenesse and civility it selfe Thus ended the first converse of Polexander and Hyppolitus and all the time of ouâ—… voyage they had at every foot the like and Polexander alwaies desirous to oblige Hyppolitus to relate his story to him could never draw other thing from him but that he Knew it as well as himselfe and how it consisted in this only that he lov'd an insensible beauty In the meane time Hyppolitus visibly lost that lustre and freshnesse which made him admired at the first meeting He did seldome sleep or eate He never sung but when Polexander pres'd him to it and towards the end he sung so weakly that we judg'd him entring into some dangerous disease Polexander strove to comfort and cheere him and to draw him from this depth of sadnesse made him hope his Mistris would not be so insensible as he imagined To make me hope with reason answered Hyppolitus it behoves your Majesty to make tryall on your selfe and acknowledg whither you may be capable of being sensible No no Sir do not make a proofe so difficult 'T is done already and in saying so he held his peace and after he had some while mused Dye dye said he unfortunate Hyppolitus and by death finde that which thou couldst not get ether by neglect absence or oblivion At last we came to Nantes where Polexander was receiv'd yet with a greate Magnificence then he had been in any of the other Townes on the River of Loire Hyppolitus was the one cause of his disquiet But he was too generous to abandon him in the State he was He besought him to think on his cure and call his courage and Fortune to second his love I would faine make use of your councell said the languishing Hyppolitus but my owne weaknesse opposeth it and the more I endeavour to bring my passion to obedience the more rebellious I find it 'T is your virtue Sir t is that alone which I call to the reliefe of my infirmity Have pitty on a wretch who implores your assistance Lend your hand to one from whom you have taken the strength of upholdding him selfe Be sensible by commiseration if you cannot be so by love and if you will not heale a heart which you have cover'd with wounds yet give a testimoniall at least that you have a feeling and participate of his misery I speak to your Majesty in this manner because I see so great a resembiance betwixt you and the Saint I adore that I continually perswade my selfe if I could but see you once touch'd with my afflictions my Mistris would at last become exorable Polexander who was exceedingly astonish'd at the beginning of this speech came out of it by the artificiall conclusion And to content Hyppolitus he protested to him he was extreamely sensible of his miss-fortunes and wish'd he knew the meanes to overcome them These promises brought back a little courage to Hyppolitus and in a moment He regain'd new strength and beseeching Polexander to stay for him at Nantes two dayes he parted thence with two Squires and a Page and was a day and a halfe in his Journey He return'd not more merry but more resolute then when he parted and then assur'd Polexander he had an intention to follow his first advice and to overcome by absence and forgetfullnesse what he could not otherwayes subdue He told him more that having vainly attempted divers meanes to mollifie his Mistris obdurate heart he intenended to forsake France and in His company to seek the recovery from his malady Polexander was so good that without thinking on what he was He oftentimes imbrac'd Hyppolitus promisd to make him happy and to confirme him in his designe I will said he propose to you an exchange of which 't is possible you may approve Leave an ingratefull Mistris for an acknowledging friend Let friendship take the place of Love and to give your mind an object worthy it make it amorous of honor and immortality Take the Exercise of Armes for a counterpoyson to that melancholy which devours you and in lieu of shedding teares poure forth the blood of your Enemies Surely 't is farre more honourable to command men then to serve a Child and to acquire
you and your friend is to consider how you will live your selves hereafter For my part I promise you both that I will follow your intentions and in all you desire there shall neither be found difficulty nor delay The two Rivalls thanked him with an equall resentment and Polexander for his particular intreated him to be pleased he might speedily returne to the Canaries The King replied he was at his owne liberty to doe what he pleased and when he had a minde to depart he would furnish him with men and shipping Sir said Polexander since your Majesty will so much favour me I beseech you humbly to doe it intirely I came into Denmarke with a Gentleman and a servant and I desire if it please you to returne so You shall doe as you list replied the King and finde in Denmarke as many friends and as much observance as in your owne Territories These complements ended Polexander resolved to be gone as soone as he could to the end he might returne againe to his wonted and unprofitable inquiry Phelismond shewed an extremity of griefe to see him so neere leaving him and did all he could possibly not only to retaine him but to perswade him that his Master bore him a great deale of affection Phelismond said Polexander I will not contradict those reasons whereby the King your Master may justifie his act nor I assure you will I ever complaine of it For your selfe believe it you never have had a servant or a friend whose love hath been more true then mine Alcidiana shall know if I can possibly your value and her aversion cannot be of that force but it may be surmounted by the infinite number of your virtues when they shall once be made knowne to her When Phelismond heard his Rivall speake thus he raised himselfe to imbrace him and when he was as it were glued to him made this answere I know what I owe you and am not so much an enemy to true honour to fancy to my selfe I can pertake with you of any in our combate It is intirely due to you Polexander Go then and gather the fruits of it and if you please assure Alcidiana that the fortune of armes having confirmed the sentence of death she hath pronounced against me I will not faile to execute it my selfe If I toke time to doe this execution t is for no other cause but to serve her in that person which of all the world should be most deare unto her and to undergoe the longer time the pennance for my offence committed in daring to adore her without being first worthy Phelismond replied Polexander if the greatnesse of your courage were not knowne to me as it is I should hardly suffer a discourse that wrongs the wonderfull actions of your life Live happily and doe not so great an injury to our great Princesse judgement as not to expect from it a recompence proportionable to your deserts Hitherto you have not beene so well treated only because you were not knowne But when Alcidiana shall understand what Phelismond is and heare it even from the mouthes of such whom she cannot suspect assure your selfe she will change her opinion Grant me then the request I am to make you before your seperation and t is that you intend you recovery and be not transported to any dispaire till you have received a new command from Alcidiana it you doe otherwise I denounce on her behalfe you shall not only offend her virtue but demonstrated by your owne disobedience you never truely loved her To how many new Tortures answered Phelismond doth your request ingage me But I refuse nothing said he raising his voice since t is for the honour of Alcidiana and the increase of her renowne Yes you most generous man on earth I will punctually observe what you pâ—…escribe me Yet if you please it shall be on condition that I may enjoy your company yet for three dayes Polexander granted it and unable to be wearied in the admiration of his valour continued with him the time he desired During which they almost spoke of nothâ—…ng but the virtue and beauty of Alcidiana of the impossibillity of getting to her Island and the number of Lovers her pictures had acquired her in all parts of the world This intertaining had not ceased but that by the King of Denmarkes presence it was often interrupted At last the three dayes being expired the businesse was of taking of leave Phelismond though exâ—…reamely weake went out of his chamber to doe his Rivall the more honour and wished a happy succeâ—…e as well to his love as in his voyage The King came betwixt this Farwell and shewing a great deale of griefe for the departure of his second Pâ—…elismond for so he called Polexander promised to preserve preciously in his memory the voyage he had made into Denmarke but principally because of his happy successe This said the three Pâ—…inces made mutuall promises and reciprocall presents and the two Danes accompanied the Canarian to his ship The Pilot unwilling to lose a North winde that was so good for him left the Coast of Zeland and in a little time got into the Germane Sea The End of the fourth Booke of the Second Part. THE SECOND PART OF POLEXANDER The fifth Booke OUR Heroe over-joyed at his happy fullfilling of Alcidiana's command sayl'd through the vast extention of the Germane sea and driven by a winde which Love seemed to fanne with his owne wings forsook the unhappy climates of the North to returne to the delicious countries of the South and seeing himselfe so much smil'd on by Fortune he conceived no thing lesse then the infallible hope of quickly finding the inaccessible Island and in his complacency with himselfe durst even promise to him the possession of Alcidiana This contentment though imaginary too pleasingly deceiv'd him for not incensing the Demon which had resolved to crosse all his happiness Hee was therefore troubled from the first daies of his navigation for as he entred the Sleeve which separates France from England hee was like to have been lost by meeting with an adventure extreamly tragicall A contrary winde stopping him right against Calice he was forced to aleere up and down a whole night to avoid his returning back againe As hee was in this troublesome exercise a ship driven by the fury of the winde strook against his yet so fortunatly as hee received no other hurt then the bruising the side of his ship This shock awaking the most sleepy made all think on more then was betided Polexander would needs know who 't was that so secretly assayl'd him and therefore commanded his Pilot to make after At day-break they descryed the adverse ship and presently came up and laid her aboard Our Heroë was the first that leapt into her but hee was amazed when he saw nought there but an horrible solitude Never was there presented on the sea though it be the theater of prodigies and novelties any thing so
strange as the spectacle which astonied him When hee was come so far as the maine mast hee saw a most faire Lady richly clad ty'd to it by the hands and the feet before her were four posts on which were nayled the heads of four men so fresh that it might easily be guess'd they had not been long severed from their bodies The miserable spectatresse on these dreadfull objects pitifully turned her eyes now on one and then on another of them and though Polexander presented himselfe before her shee interrupted not her mournfull exercise The Prince noting her admirable beauty even through her afflictions and teares was extreamly mov'd to see her in so deplorable an estate and imagining because of the neernesse to France shee might understand him if hee spake French told her in that tongue that hee was come to offer her all his utmost ability either for her consolation or revenge The poore distressed Lady made no shew of hearing him but kept still her eyes fixed on the distruncked heads This attention and fixednesse doubled Polexander's astonishment and commanded some of his followers to goe into the Cabines and descend under hatches to see if there were any that might understand him Alcippus and Diceus searched every where and neither finding any one dead or alive returned and assured the King their Master hee should learne nothing of that adventure if hee had it not from the mouth of the bound Lady Hee therefore came againe to her and employing the best words his desire to make her speake could furnish him with besought her to take heart to think of avenging her on the cruelty of her enemies to make use for that revenge of the assistance which heaven had sent her and promise to her selfe from his arme a part of the satisfaction which the resentment of her griefs ought to make him wish for He added many other considerations to these and so pressed the miserable woman that shee cast her eyes on him but in such a manner that a man might say shee saw him not and after shee had often sighed Why said she sadly come you againe to fore-slow the end of my miseries Are you sent by that pernicious enemy who hath brought me to the extremity I am in to the end she may glut her malice in making me die often Madam reply'd Polexander I know not the monster of whom you speake and would your griefe give you leave to heare mee you should know I come not hither for any other cause then to free you from all your torments Your generosity is great reply'd the Lady but it can availe me nothing unlesse you could give back againe the lives of those unfortunate wretches whose heads you see here I wish them their lives because I have been the cause of their deaths and desire it because they would disapprove my most cruell enemy and justifie my innocence before a Prince too credulous and too easie to be deceiv'd Polexander would faine have insensibly drawne her on and engaged her to relate him her fortunes had hee not been hindred by the approach of a tall ship which streight denounc'd warre against him Our Heroë therefore went back into his owne vessell but kept still the desolate Lady 's grapled with his owne and made answer to the enemies signes by others which stay'd the fury of those which would have assaulted him Initantly they sent him one of theirs in a shalop who coming up to them asked who hee was and for what end hee had stay'd the English ship Polexander made reply by Alcippus hee was a French man and an enemy to those that would not joyne with him in the avenging a Lady whom some accursed miscreants had expos'd to the mercy of the sea When the Messenger heard that answer hee reply'd with a great many injuries and after divers threatnings hee return'd towards his companions No sooner was hee got on boord againe but they fell on Polexander and quickly repented them of their rashnesse for our Heroë giving them at two vollyes an hundred Cannon shot brought them to implore his mercy Polexander promising their lives commanded the conquered vessell to come neere and entring her found there so few souldiers that hee was neere to put them to the sword for daring to assayle him but at last his clemency getting the upper hand of his resentment he pardoned all and seeing one of a better aspect and presence then the rest called him aboord his owne ship Hee asked him in particular why hee would not accept of friendship when hee had offer'd it him and what interest hee claimed in the barke that floted before them The other humbly besought that before hee reply'd hee would doe him the honour to make known whether the Lady in the other ship were yet alive our Heroë assured him shee was when hee left her Try then said hee to get to her againe that you may the second time preserve her life for had you not broken the designe for which wee set to sea shee had been by this time at the bottome of the Ocean Goe then goe if you please and finish what you have begun and doe not think in succouring that unfortunate Lady you doe onely an act of Charity for you execute likewise another of Justice You will protect innocence against Calumny and a wretched and disarmed goodnesse against a powerfull and redoubtable villany Polexander unwilling to heare any more of that discourse till hee had freed from danger the persecuted Lady got her bark againe which had but turned and by consequence was not gone farre off As soone as hee had her hee went aboord and his prisoner with him who presently ran to the Lady and making himself knowne Be of good heart Madam said hee your innocence is acknowledged the accusations of your stepmother are found untrue and the Prince your husband is even desperate for not knowing how fortune hath disposed of you The Lady by a modest smile seeming to be pleased with what was spoken lifted her eyes to heaven since she could not her hands and after shee had some time kept them fixedly open sweetly let fall their lids and droop'd her head on her incomparable breast Polexander thinking shee was swounded cut the cords from her armes whilst the Prisoner did the like to those on her legs and whâ—…n shee was unbound laid her all along Diceus presently came in and looking on her told his Master shee was dead The King could hardly beleeve that ill newes but being confirmed by his owne sense hee could not otherwise then bewaile the losse of that innocent Lady and wish from heaven a just punishment on her persecutors which instantly hapned And thus Polexander's mariners descrying an English ship bearing up to them called out they were like to be set on Before our Heroë was disengaged from his pious and charitable endeavour hee saw the English vessell fall fiercely on his His Prisoner infallibly doubting the businesse My Lord said hee to
prison By the footmanship of those posts which from place to place were laid to carry us on their shoulders we came the third day to the Port of Calciroeca Quitalvor who was Montezuma's Lievtenant in that Province having seen the directions and commands of our conductors gave them a Canoe to land us in some Isle of the Caribs to execute that murder which to her great grief Hismalita durst not do herself But heaven which had not decreed that Izatida should be freed from all her miseries rais'd a terrible tempest and by it threw us on coasâ—… unknown those that were our conductors landed and made us do so too on a desert shore where as in all places else my fair mistris using that solid piety which made you admire her had recourse to heaven and beseeching thence a protection for us and our enemies mov'd those Savages to pity who led her to her death They unbound her tooke the band from her eies and said they had an expresse command from Hismalita to carry her into some place inhabited by certain Canniballs that would devoute her But happen what may said they wee will not be guilty of the death of the great Montezuma's daughter I will not tell you Zelmatida by what prodigy or remorse of conscience these hangmen became mercifull But I can assure you from that time forward they serv'd Izatida with such care and respect as without a miracle she could not expect it When I call to mind the excesse of their courtesy I say 't was a thing against nature and a kinde of monster by which the Eternall providence did presage to us some dysaster which shall never be sufficiently bewail'd eitherby you or all the vertuous people in the world I dare say I had some knowledge of it before it happened An unknown spirit often spoak to me within and whether I slept or wak'd said Fly Galtazis fly from this shore The fruites here are poison and the trees cast no shadow but to kill those who come for refreshment under them Our conductors quickly made that prediction true after they had been a while landed they sought a place for our retirement which might be lesse offensive then were the dry hot sands on the beach At last they found one which seem'd to have all that could be wish'd for both for necessity and pleasure Many little rivelets trill'd along by the grasse and the flowers and many trees as fair in shew as deadly in effect fram'd naturall arbours and alleys the leaves of them were very large and green and the fruit so great and beautifull that they were so many venemous baites to betray the innocent stranger Our leaders fell heartily to them but no sooner were they in their bodies but they felt themselves stung as with prodigious serpents which in lesse then four daies had eaten up al their entrails Two of Izatida's slaves eat of them as the rest and died as they For her selfe her ordinary food being her sighes and teares she ran no hazard that way but by an act of that awfull power which every day invented new accidents to try the Princesse vertue it unluckily hap'ned that she fell asleepe under those deadly trees Her fair eies which were shut up for a few moments were shut up for ever and the subtle venome of those accursed trees sliding with their shadow on that other sun covered her with fearfull perpetuall darkenesse Izatida felt in sleeping the strength of the poison and awaking with it O governesse cri'd she looke to me my fight is gone I see nothing at all the vertuous Mexiqua so was the name of the governesse ran to her and finding but little alteration in her eies did not beleeve so suddain a mischance could be long lasting she got the Princesse to arise and leading her to the source of a clear fountain wash'd there her eies a long time but Izatida finding but little helpe by it Give over mother said she this unprofitable labour It had not been just that she should suffer but ordinary punishment who by her disobedience incurr'd the curse of those by whom she came into the world Just gods excercise your justice on this malefactresse let her feel more and more the weight of your armes and since as parents of all men you are interested in the cause of parents hear the prayers of mine and though they petition for my affliction deny them not Zelmatida at that word interrupting Galtazis How yee gods cri'd he who are not so if you be not just would ye allow the tyrannies of an insensible father unnatural mother to be thought exorable would ye hear the praiers of your enemies No no that excesse of injustice cannot be in heaven the curses of Montezuma and Hismalita have had no power to wrest your equitable decrees 'T is my dismall and tragicall fate which hath been the Author of these new miseries I am the venemous tree the contagious shadow who after innocent Izatida's losse of peace and liberty have lastly depriv'd her of her sight and questionlesse will soon lose all that remaines to her of life Thinke on thy self monster born for the ruin of vertue Dye unworthy Zelmatida and by forcing thy selfe from the world snatch from fortune the sole pretext she hath of persecuting innocency What said Galtazis shal Izatida's blindnesse and her other disgraces rob her of that absolute command which her beauty and prosperity had acquired over your will and will you lose the desire of suffering for her as soon as you have lost your hope of being recompenc'd Let heaven reduce me into dust cried Zelmatida affrighted at Galtazis words let the earth open and swallow me let hell be all my portion if Izatida although banished if Izatida though a vagabond if Izatida though blinde be not as dear to me and as much honored as in the height of her glory and the extremity of her beauty Believe it Galtazis and assure thy selfe my constancy is growing to be such that even in thine owne judgement it will make me be reputed a man altogether insensible I will obey you replied Galtazis but let me get away if you please from a countrey more execrable and horrid then Hismalita and relate to you the last accidents which ensued Izatida's blindnesse We had been about fifteene dayes on that accursed earth and our unfortunate company which consisted at first of above fifty persons were reduced to five when we saw our selves invironed with thirty or forty men such as those that brought me hither They stood stil a while and gazed on us and at last understanding by our signes rather then by our words the need we had of their assistance they comforted us with a great deal of humanity and went to fetch what was fitting to relieve us in our extream weakenesse I presently believed heaven had sent those men to assist Izatida and therefore brought them to the place where she was retired with her Governesse and
among those who came with me to Senega there was a Prince of my bloud who became so pleasing to Zabaim as he made him his Confident in spight of all jealousies from the Principals of his Kingdome That Prince so wisely husbanded his favour and so gentilely oblieged even those who had professed themselves his enemies that by little and little he quell'd their envy and fill'd all the Court with admiration of his vertue In this generall approbation he had beene a yeare when he was engaged to follow Zabaim into Guinea At his returne he avoyded all occasions of comming where I was durst not come to give me an account of those commands I had given him I presently therefore thought him guilty though was innocent and not knowing on whom to throw Zabaims change I imagin'd Almaid so was the favourite call'd had wrong'd me to him that he might solely possesse him With this beliefe I returned to Senega and gave it not over till I understood the true subject of all my afflictions Zabaim one day sending to me Almaid to make knowne the affection he preserv'd me in midst of his melancholy or rather to hinder my complaining of his ill treatment I conjur'd him by our neerenesse of bloud by my sad fortune and by the authority which heaven had given me over him not to conceale from me any longer the causes of Zabaims hatred When I perceiv'd he strove to put me on some other discourse without answering me I redoubled my entreaties and commands and led him into a little closet whereto I usually retir'd me to weepe more freely When he saw himselfe alone with me he was not a little perplexed and much doubted I was not come to that extremity without having taken some strange resolution I shut the doore and fell on my knees before him with an intent to move him by those extraordinary submissions Straight he kneeled too and almost not daring to looke on me Madam said he let not your Majesty doe any thing unworthy your birth and vertue and suffer not a curiosity which cannot but be prejudiciall to you encrease a malady which it cannot cure No no replied I I will not lose the occasion I have to get out of my miseries by one meanes or other I cast me at your feet Almaid not as your Queen but as a poore afflicted Lady who hath need of your assistance Take pity therefore of so many teares which I have vainely spent and suffer her not to languish out her whole life whom you can comfort by one onely word Almaid moved by my teares could not hold his first constancy in so great a cause of compassion and falling to weepe as well as I call'd himselfe a thousand times unfortunate and wish'd he were dead I left him to his raving a long while and spake to him all that my griefe prompted me to winne him to discover to me the cause of all my miseries But when I had long expected and saw his pity extend no further then to bewaile and not to succour me I arose as one furious and getting out his sword Barbarous and inhumane wretch said I which hast but a false and seeming pity on my afflictions and who takest pleasure in persecuting of Innocence by thy feigning comforts thou wouldst have me with mine owne hand perfect that murder which thy calumnies have begun Almaid hearing me speake in that fashion and knowing I was resolute enough to fall on his sword had he gone about to take it from me Madam cried he preserve that vertue which hath made you hitherto victorious over your enemies and know your wrongs are lesse dangerous then the remedy you will apply to them I will not propose to you these considerations to release me from that absolute command you make me Know Madam I will obey it But you must please first to promise me secrecy to be of good heart and to have power enough over your selfe to suffer without resenting the most unjust contempt in the world Were I now replied I to heare my Sentence of death and that I should be engaged to execute it my selfe I am ready prepared I refuse no kinde of torment so I may know what 't is that troubles the King and makes him hate the sight of me You shall be satisfied said Almaid and I sweare to you by that which is greatest in heaven I will conceale nothing of what you desire to know on condition you first render my sword There 't is said I and do not believe if thou deceiv'st me but there are meanes enough to deliver me from my miseries and make thee repent thy treachery Almaid judging by my actions as well as words he must either ruine me or discover Zabaims secret resolv'd to save my life even with the losse of his fortune He arose then and assoone as he saw me set beginning his discourse by a long Preface which tended to nothing but the justification of mens inconstancy told me it betided even the most wise to have extravagant humours and to preferre the most abject things which they possest not before the more excellent they enjoy'd After that preparation he related to me as succinctly as he could how Zabaim in his conquest of Guinea was falne in love with a white Slave and so fondly amorous that to behold the alterations she wrought on him 't was necessarily believed she had bewitched him This Sorceresse Madam hath not onely made him forget his first affection but made him insensible of his owne honour and not left him so much discretion to hide the excesse of his folly Most commonly the like passions are of small continuance and though they are even strong enough to last in spight of time yet have they not such ability as to bicker with absence This love of Zabaim is quite contrary Time strengthens it absence in lieu of quenching feeds and augments it Those mad men which are chain'd up have not more fearefull agitations then this Prince hath every day He finds no ease but in his self-vexations He hates all company where his griefe is restrain'd He flies into the forrest before day and most commonly there spends intire nights He scarce eates or drinks He hath ever in his mouth the name of Zelopa so is that Sorceresse nam'd and if he see her not againe the sooner I will not promise you his life Here Almaid ended and I who was prepar'd to heare matters more prodigious found my selfe in heaven when I heard this I look'd on Almaid with a cheerefulnesse he expected not and desirous to let him know how I tooke it This is then said I all the cause of my Lords melancholy and his aversion to me Truly you are not to be pardon'd for being so reserv'd in a businesse which hath not troubled me but onely while it was conceal'd from me Your extraordinary silence had been excusable if Zabaim had intended to have repudiated me or to immure me to be starv'd betwixt foure walls
agitated spirit makes me feare the explanation of certaine words which that old woman spake to me who came for Almanzaira Whilst he said thus he saw that Matron running as fast as she could He would faine have avoided her but not being able to do it without incivility he went to meet her and ask'd whether she desired any service from him You may render a signall one replied she to the person that sends me and she therefore conjures you by the name of Alcidiana that you will not disdaine to see her At that word Polexander grew pale and trembled but unwilling the aged woman should perceive it I will goe said he where you please Yet I am most certaine you take me for another With that he went in great haste to the garden gate and there remembring his pace was not proportionable with the Matrons he return'd to her and so went to the same Cell where he staid at his entrance into the Hermitage Almanzaira met him at the doore and shewing her sadnesse by her eyes full of teares Amalthea said she knew you at your first entrance into this place and though that knowledge hath brought her into the misery she is yet hath she an extreame desire to see you It may be she expecteth her cure from the hand that wounded her Be pleased then to enter and let us see what lessening of paine that poore sick Lady can receive from your presence Almanzaira presently led Polexander into Amalthea's chamber and plac'd him where she might see him 'T is he cried the dying Lady 't is even he but miserable Amalthea regards him not The desire thou hast made knowne to see him is certainely a temptation of those cruell Enemies who would retard thee from that rest which vertue hath prepared for thee in heaven With that she shut her eyes turn'd her head aside and calling Almanzaira Madam said she to her let him depart if he please and when I am dead give him the letter which you shall finde under my beds-head She spake so low those last words that the Queene well deem'd she was departing She lamented her as much as if she had beene her owne daughter and to performe her last will tooke the letter which she had laid under her boulster and gave it to Polexander The Prince unwilling to stay in a place where his sight was so deadly went forth much afflicted and felt in Amalthea's death one of those new disasters whereof a little before he had spoken to Alcippus and Diceus He forbore not to open the dead Ladies Letter but he durst not reade it for all his imaginations having no other object but Alcidiana he conceiv'd he should therein meet some great example either of that Princesses anger or contempt After he had well considered on what he had to do he ventur'd to reade the letter and first found these words on it To the unfortunate Polexander 'T is to me indeed said he this letter is addressed For though there may be other Polexanders in the world yet there is none that can dispute with me for the title of Unfortunate Reade then Polexander reade a Letter which must bely its superscription if it be not extremely dismall to thee After these words he leant on Alcippus and found in the paper this that followes SOme other may talke to you of my life for mine owne part I will give notice to you of nothing but my death I say of that long and cruell death of which I have beene three yeares or rather three ages dying I was with the divine Alcidiana and liv'd in that delightfull and continuall repose which Innocence crownes youth withall when the Queens Sacrificers and Pilots publish'd in the Inaccessible Island the wonders of your life They spake of your courage as of that of the ancient Semi-gods They extold your generosity beyond all others and prov'd your incredible prosperities were the pure effects of your excellent vertue and not the favours nor Capricioes of fortune I confesse it unfortunate Polexander I was struck to the heart with the recitall of so many miracles and Love whose name and maliciousnesse I knew tooke the maske of esteeme and admiration to gaine under that disguise what he could never have obtained of himselfe I was in Alcidiana's privy Chamber when this mischance betided I lost the respect I ow'd to her quality and that to mine owne birth and declaring to her my folly Madam said I is it possible you have so long time beene ignorant of these things or have you envi'd your Subjects the protection of so brave a man Alcidiana blush'd to heare me say it and ask'd me whether her people had need of any other safeguard then her owne Nature said she hath beene too favourable to reduce us to the shamefull necessity of imploring the help of man We have no need of Polexander For had we beene so unfortunate as to have occasion to use his courage we would have retain'd him when Fortune cast him on our Island Have you then seene him said I interrupting him and can you keep this indifferency or rather so cruell a neglect Ah Madam your insensibility will be one day punish'd I durst not prosecute this discourse because I perceiv'd by Alcidiana she lik'd it not but desirous to leave to her Subjects a memorable example of her severity she not onely forbad them to speake of you but by a declaration contrary to her owne inclination condemn'd your memory to an eternall oblivion and any whosoever of her Priests or Pilots which should conduct you into the Inaccessible Island to be expos'd with you to the flames of the Altar of Vengeance All these rigours no way lessen'd my passion It got new strength in growing elder and when I knew it proceeded from love I found my selfe too weake to suppresse it One day finding my selfe alone with the Queene I cast my selfe at her feet and besought her with teares in mine eyes to let me know all she had heard of you She grew extremely cholerique at it but seeing her anger did but the more stirre up my desire and impatiency I will said she give you that vaine contentment yet I vow your extravagancy amazeth me A hundred times I kissed her hands in lieu of being troubled and confessed to her I was no more rationall In the meane time my teares my sighs my dying looks and my faintings wrought so much pity in the heart of that Princesse that she told me of your arrivall in her Kingdome and the command she gave for your departure thence assoone as she knew your affection By the content she tooke in that narration I judg'd you were not so indifferent to her as she would make me believe and that her passion betraying it selfe discovered that which she held with so much difficulty Assoone as she had ended her discourse I felt my selfe cleane alter'd from what I was before Reason which had forsaken me tooke her place againe and setting before mine
considerations the overflowing of that passion but Almanzor cutting me short Do not said he imitate Hydaspes and speake against your owne thoughts through a desire to hinder a matter already resolv'd on Your Son Almaid must love he must heaven will absolutely have it so and that love Axiamira But said he how unfortunate am I in that I must give an account of my life to others then my selfe I am overtyr'd with visits and businesse and for a little vanity which the power of Commanding gives me I must deprive my selfe of my contentment yeeld my selfe a slave to other mens passions and for the accomplishment of all misery have all my labours and industry rewarded with perfidy and ingratitude They are not suspitions and doubts which make me speake thus No they are truths Almaid and such truths as you have unwittingly told me Ah! ingratefull Zabaim King incident to all crimes must thou needs after so many services which I will not remember be the author of my just complaints and the object of a yet more just indignation But he went on addressing him to me to the end we may proportion the punishment with the fault bring me hither Osmin I will from his mouth understand the wrongs Zabaim hath done him I very attentively gave eare to all these words and knowing they proceeded from an extreame affection and hatred I fear'd lest the power of love might be able to violate that of nature and winne Almanzor to breake with Zabaim These feares made me oppose against the complaints of my deare Master all that I thought availeable to get him from that opinion he had of Zabaim I therefore besought him to do nothing hastily nor upon the relation of parties interessed dissolve an amity which seem'd to be immortall I know said he what I owe to Zabaims favour He knows too how I have serv'd him Notwithstanding he hath sayl'd of his word and endeavour'd to rob me of the treasure wherewith I intrusted him Judge to what a resentment so great a contempt and so base a treason obligeth me Yet I will not doe what love adviseth me It shall never be reproach'd me that I neither know how to make or preserve friendship If Zabaim have injur'd me his fault shall not make me commit another but it shall teach me how to demeane my selfe with him that so hereafter I may cut off all causes of sayling in our amity Go then Almaid fetch me Osmin and let us see how farre Zabaim is guilty Presently I went and brought Osmin to Almanzors chamber The presence of that old man extreamely comforted the Prince and made him seeme farre lesse unquiet then he was before He spake to him with a very temperate spirit and intreated him to relate all his fortunes but before you begin said he you must satisfie me in one thing which troubles me and make knowne how Zabaim hath treated you since my absence I know you had rather lose your life then preserve it by an untruth Therefore I intreat you not to forget the injuries Zabaim hath done you no nor so much as to suspend the resentment of them to the end that without preoccupation you may make me a plaine and true recit all of what hath befalne you in Guinea Begin then and without considering that Zabaim is my friend tell me the truth purely Osmin whom I have alwayes knowne most sincere taking heaven to witnesse what he was to speake Two dayes said he to Almanzor after your departure Zabaim took the paines to come to my lodging where he staid a while with Axiamira but seeing her in a silence and sadnesse not to be surmounted he left her and taking me by the hand Father said he let us leave this faire maiden to her selfe I follow'd him and when he was come to the Sea side he made me a long Speech of the obligations in which he was ingag'd to you and repeated all the requests you had made him in behalfe of my daughter and my selfe Hee added that for your sake and particularly for mine hee would alwayes respect mee as his owne Father and that hence forward hee would put no difference betwixt his wife and my daughter I rendred thankes for his proffers and telling him they were too advantagious for a stranger like my selfe and a poore maiden as mine was I humbly besought him to contract all his liberalities into one which was to give me the meanes by which I might returne into mine owne Countrey Father repli'd the King I am ready to grant what you have desired but I must not for the infinite love I beare you become mine owne enemie and in preferring your content before mine owne leave an ill opinion of my selfe in those who looke not on the actions of Kings but to finde fault with them yet let us passe by the conceptions of the multitude which commonly are most unreasonable and fasten on that of Almanzor Will not he have cause to beleeve that I have abus'd you when he shall understand that contrary to what we had agreed together you have staid so short time with me Stay therefore here yet a few dayes and have patience till I can send him your resolution You are too generous and too good I repli'd and if the love you beare were not founded on the worthiest cause in the world I could not but still thinke on the excesse of your courtesies But Sir as I imagine your Majestie needs not use so much circumspection in so inconsiderable a businesse We are three poor Wanderers that have no name but by our miseries and who cannot receive the least favour but we must acknowledge it to be beyond our expectations Suffer us then to accomplish the course of our calamities and let not your goodnesse be so sensible as it is of those outrages which Fortune is not yet wearie of making us undergoe I made this long speech to Zabaim to the end that mov'd with compassion or overcome by my reasons he might give way to our departure I cannot tell you whence those impatiencies of parting which I discovered proceeded but I confesse to you they were very extreame and yet my wife's and Axiamira's were greater For all that my prayers my solicitations and intreating Zabaim in your name could not obtaine the leave I demanded He oppos'd so many shewes of amitie and so many reasons to my request that at last to comply with him I went against mine owne thoughts and yeelded to stay yet with him That conformitie of mine was so pleasing unto him as imbracing me with the transport of a man very passionate Father said he I will make you confesse that Almanzor is not the sole man deserves to be beloved and raise you to that happinesse that with the one part of your affection you beare to him you shall lose all that other which you beare to your native soile After all these artificiall promises he return'd to the Palace and leading me by the hand made his
to them unworthy of him yet would they not make use of unjust meanes to perfect what they intended They had their whole life time thitherto condemned all craft deceit and violence and their goodnesse had perswaded them that to hinder one ill by another was to multiply mischiefes in lieu of suppressing them Andromeda following such rare maximes would need know Axiamira before Abrinzias should make any shew to my deare Master of the discontent he tooke in his alteration She therefore sent for the mother and the daughter and without laying traps to insnare them turn'd them on all sides and left them not till she had put them to all the trialls her wisdome advised She was very well satisfied from both and from their first converse found so much sweetnesse and vertue in Axiamira that I shall not lie if I say she became almost as farre inamour'd of her as Almanzor Afterwards she could not live without her she had her name still in her mouth she even lov'd to praise her in Almanzor's presence and when Abrinzias blamed her for that indiscretion You said she to him know not Axiamira and would it had pleased the Divinitie we adore that this Mayden had been borne for our unfortunate Perseus Whilst Axiamira was thus exceedingly belov'd of Andromeda Almanzor swom in pleasures beyond expression and though Axiamira would neither permit him to see her in private nor once to intertaine her with his passion he was yet so content with his fortune as he thought he had nothing more to wish for Now one day when Andromeda had shut her selfe up with Axiamira in a Temple of Virgins destinated to the worship of a god which those of Benin call the Soule of the Sunne Almanzor sent for Osmin and being alone with him intreated he would acquit himselfe of the promise he had so often made him and make knowne who Axiamira was and by whom she was delivered unto him Osmin in stead of replying cast himselfe at Almanzor's feet and kissing them whether the Prince would or no there kneeled as bound without doing any thing but bedewing them with his teares The Prince at last raising him up Father said he if you thinke me unworthy to know or incapable of concealing so great a secret I release you of the promise you made me and swear to you to smother for ever my curiosity though it be not condemnable Osmin recovering his use of speech My Lord said he to the Prince my sighes and teares proceed from an other Sourse I have at least as great a desire to disclose to you what I know of Axiamira as you have to know it But alas I feare the event of a Prophesie of the great Abul Ismeron He threatned me in Morocco that I should lose Axiamira assoone as my obsequiousnesse should make me erre in that secret I had promised her Keep it then inviolably repli'd Almanzor but free your mind of that credit you give to Abul Ismeron sometimes he tells truth in his predictions but 't is by chance and for one verity they containe there is discovered in them a thousand lies and as many impossibilities When I was in Morocco at the Prince of Fez his Tourney had not he published that no stranger Prince should carry away the honour of the day but Abdelmelec should come off victorious if he continued in the termes of his Defiance The event yet shew'd the contrary That Prince was vanquish'd by another Prince which is not altogether without name and was overcome with the same weapons he himselfe had chosen in his Challenges The Imposter Ismeron went further on he durst maintaine in the presence of the King of Morocco that I gave my self out for what I was not and in spight of all apparances I was an obscure person who neither knew my place of birth nor the quality of my Parents After these falsities judge whether your Prophet deserves any credit should be given to his predictions Osmin dis-beguil'd or to speake more truly abused by that great example laughed at Ismeron's menaces and beleeves not fortune to be hardy enough to assaile him under the protection of Almanzor He besought him therefore to hearken and preparing him by a long preface to the beliefe of such wonders as hee was to tell him thus began the relation I am descended from the great Abuchar Izchias which founded the Kingdome of Zanhara and who labouring for nought else but to make his people happy and free thought that the power of Kings was never more absolute then when it was submitted to the will of the Subject Thence is it that of all the Kings of Africk those of Zanhara are the least powerfull and least renowned but in recompence they are the most assured and contented He who raigns at this day would needs dispence with and give over the Lawes his predecessours had observed and suffering himselfe to be corrupted by the contagion of his neighbours thought that to divide the Soveraignty with his Subjects was to descend from his Throne and mingle himselfe amongst the throng of the people and enjoy nothing of Royaltie but the name and the ornaments Do you know what is betided him on that frenzie He hath lost the love of his people by it with his peace and safety and found himselfe without Subjects when he thought he was absolutely King I was long one of those in whom he had a particular affiance but he met not in my disposition either basenesse enough to flatter him in his faults or so much ambition as to build my fortunes on the ruines of my brethren I oft times remonstrated the wrong he did himselfe in changing the ancient Lawes of the State and humbly besought him he would be pleased I might retire to the end I might preserve the fidelity I ought him and not faile in that I ow'd my Countrey He would never give me leave but told me 't was to be an enemy to reason not to prove of his alterations I yet staid a while with him beseeching and pressing him alwayes to cast his eyes on the diminution he brought on his authority in going about to increase it But perceiving he went on from the absolute power which is not altogether ill to a tyranny which is evermore pernicious and that after he had despoyl'd the husbands and fathers of their goods he attempted the pudicity of their wives and daughters I left the Court and within a while after the Kingdome My wife who hath alwayes made profession of an eminent vertue was the first that solicited me to leave my goods to save mine honour and the first who expos'd her selfe to the perils of a difficult journey After I had engaged my selfe with all my Family in those deserts and famous mountaines which are placed as inviolable bounds between the Kingdom of Morocco and that of Zanhara we arriv'd at that stately and populous City which may be called the Queen of Africa where we were receiv'd by the King
all alive seeing her funeralls perform'd and notwithstanding Mahomets forbidding to receive such honours as are reserv'd for men onely wept as much for joy as griefe and even ravish'd to see how deare her memory was to Zabaim When the prayers were ended Zabaim arose from his place as pale and wan as he had been ready to give up the ghost and made a signe that he would speake Presently there was a great silence and the Prince beginning his speech with teares continued with these words I should rather let you know by the effusion of my bloud then my teares how guilty I am All that former ages have seen of cruelty of barbarisme of inhumanity cannot parallel but the least part of my actions I have violated all manner of Lawes I have by execrable courses blotted out the Character which heaven had imprinted on my brow and the Majesty of Kings which hath been hitherto the love and safety of all Nations is become by being communicated to me the terrour of Innocents and abomination of all men 'T was I my friends 't was I who thrust the sword into the bosome of the incomparable Almanzaira I am the unnaturall father who consented to the death of him to whom I gave life Yes I have depriv'd you of your legitimate Prince I pluck'd him out of his Nurses armes and to glut the ambition of a wicked woman have not trembled to abandon that Innocent to the outrages of fortune Had I alone contributed to his birth as I have to his misery I would esteeme you happy in being delivered from the race of such a monster as I. But alas Almanzaira gave him you and you beleeve as well as my selfe she being the perfect rendezvous of all royall vertues could produce nothing but what was worthy to governe Lament therefore and bewaile that great losse make the Author of your misfortunes feele your just anger Remember how dearly Almanzaira lov'd you and suffer not her executioner to be any longer your master At that word Zabaim was constrained to stop because his weaknesse being neither answerable to the vehemency of his action nor the excesse of his griefe he stood suddenly without voyce or motion This accident causing a great trouble among the people every one arose to help the Prince and the noise increasing with the opinion they had of his death Almanzaira left her place and thrusting her selfe in amongst the prease without any other consideration then to get neere the King made so good shift that she came close to the Kings throne when he came out of his faintnesse Every body seeing him recover'd tooke their places againe and Almanzaira hiding her selfe behinde some of the Guard would attend till her Lord descended to cast her self at his feet He in the meane time all dying and wet with teares What my friends said he have you no resentment Will you let me live since Almanzaira is dead She is not cry'd out the Queene breaking forth from behinde those which hindred her from being seen she is not for heaven would not suffer her to be so soon depriv'd of her Lord. Zabaim affrighted to heare that voyce and to see a woman come creeping on her knees towards him arose from his chaire and presently fell backe againe and there lay long without stirring In the meane while those who were neerest the King look'd on Almanzaira and knew her though she seem'd to them much chang'd and ask'd one another if what they saw were not some new inchantment of Zelopa Whilst Zabaim came out of his insensibility and that all the world press'd and cry'd out to see the Queene Almaid declar'd himselfe and intreated them to make way for him At this new cause of astonishment the multitude redoubled their acclamations throng'd together and seeing Almaid could not passe lifted him up and from hand to hand carried him to the King Art thou descended from heaven deare Almaid said Zabaim to confirme the good newes I heare and dare not beleeve He staid not for an answer but certainly crediting that she before him could be none other then Almanzaira he fell on his knees and taking her by the hands Doe I then said he see you againe deare Almanzaira and have your enemies been lesse cruell to you then I But do you not return to upbraid me of my inhumanity and aske Justice for it from all the World My Lord repli'd the Queen forget if you please the griefes I have throwne on you and let me see that my returne and life is not displeasing to you All the assistants lifted their hands to heaven throng'd about the King and Queen to congratulate so miraculous a re-union and understanding it was an effect of Almaid's fidelity they call'd him aloud the Redeemer of Senega This worthy Favorite to satisfie the King his master and the rest of the company declar'd in few words all that we have knowne before At which recitall their admiration increased and the multitude which takes pleasure in framing to themselves causes of astonishment added miracles and prodigies to Almanzaira's adventures to the end to give new nourishment to their greedinesse of deceiving themselves In the meane time the Priests changed their prayers and requests into giving thankes They praised Heaven for this happy and unexpected successe and sent backe Zabaim with as much comfort and joy as he had of despaire and sorrow when he came into the Temple Almanzaira for all her being re-established in her former fortune and environ'd with such glory as any other but her selfe had been lost in it forgot not Polexander She besought the King he might be look'd after to render him what she ought as the person whom the eternall Providence had made use of to denounce the end of her miseries Polexander straight presented himselfe and doing reverence to the King without making knowne who he was follow'd him to the Palace with Almaid and many others of the chiefe in Court The people on their parts renew'd with their fires the joy they had so long smother'd and running as their manner is from one extreame into another spent the rest of that night in sports in feastings in musicke and other jocundnesse Zabaim spent it more seriously for assoone as he had bid good night to all the Court he shut himselfe in his privy chamber with Almanzaira Polexander and Almaid and accusing himselfe in their presence of all those crimes his love had made him commit ask'd the Queen pardon a thousand times and mov'd her so much by his submissions as she thought so good she was there was no body guilty but her selfe But to divert Zabaim from his sad thoughts My Lord said she the same Goodnesse which hath preserv'd your Almanzaira from the power of all the Devills hath not onely had care of the true Almanzor's life but hath many times sent him you as a tutelar Angell to defend you against your ill-affected Subjects Rebellion and to re-conquer those Countries which divers tyrants had
usurped from you 'T was he who appear'd in your Court under the name of Perseus and who by a youthfull folly renounc'd but in appearance only the amity he promis'd us Is it possible cry'd Zabaim that Perseus is my sonne and that even he whom I would have smothered in his cradle hath had so generous a spirit as to re-establish me thrice in my throne and twenty times to save my life Truly Almanzaira I beleeve it when I consider the excesse of your affection and since the effects take much after their causes Almanzaira is such as there can come nought from her but what is extraordinary But where is he our deare Almanzor when shall I imbrace him and settle on his head all those Crowns which through a just indignation he refuseth The Queen to increase his astonishment answered thus Know Sir that love hath made a Pirate of your sonne and hath made you know him for such under the name of Baiazet which he now carries O! my son cry'd Zabaim againe how heroicall is thy vertue how great thy courage and how many extraordinary things are to be reserv'd for thy wonderfull fate Yes Almanzaira I have knowne him under the name of Baiazet and but for the assistance he gave me to quench a Rebellion worse then the former you had seene Zabaim amongst the number of those unfortunate Kings with whom there is left no remainder of royalty but the griefe of being despoyled of it But let us not suffer my deare Almanzaira that the heire or to say better the conquerour of so many Kingdomes continue any longer the Captaine to a company of theeves Almaid presented himself to carry the Prince news what he was and what had lately hap'ned Zabaim besought him to undertake the voyage and to restore againe the person he had so happily stolne from him Polexander offered to accompany him if need were and I dare believe without vaine-glory said he that Almanzor loves me so well as he will not deny me such things as I shall intreat from him In this manner ended the first converse now betwixt Zabaim and Almanzaira and so presently withdrew giving congey to Polexander and the faithfull Almaid The publique rejoycings the while being sufficiently made shew of by all manner of liberties left all the City of Senega in so sound a tranquillity that two or three dayes following were not onely festivall dayes but wholly consecrated to rest Zabaim having satisfied his conscience and made an eternall peace with Axiamira began to purge his Kingdomes of all those pernicious spirits which Zelopa had made use on for the establishment of her unjust authority All the Peeres of the Kingdome came to the Palace to congratulate the returne of their good Queene and renew'd even to Zabaim the assurances of their inviolable fidelity Almanzaira now free went through all the Temples to give thanks to heaven and to be seene of the people which earnestly desired it was carried after the manner of that country through all the streets of Senega When she had satisfied the Subject she would give content to her selfe and thinking there was an infinite obligation due to Polexander besought Zabaim to make him proffers great enough in acknowledgement of what he had done for her sake and to keepe him in his service The King who had no other will then that of his admirable wife presented such things to Polexander as were capable to tempt the most moderate of the world But Polexander astonish'd and amaz'd to see himselfe so well treated I said he have never serv'd you Zabaim and you know the Queene is so good that she makes no distinction betweene the wishes and the effects and by consequence is perswaded I have serv'd her because I had a will to it Yet believe not because I doe not accept your Present that I will avoid all occasions of ingaging my selfe No Sir I owe you all I refuse and the possessing so great a fortune as you present me would nothing adde to my affection of doing you service Whensoever you shall have occasion I will expose my life and those of my friends and be ready to go whither you will call me on so emergent a consideration But now when the love of your subjects and the feare of your neighbours gives you time to taste in peace the fruits of your conquests and that the Queenes returne invites you to sit downe without any new undertaking be pleas'd I may retire home and after that voyage carry the Prince Almanzor newes of his good fortune Almanzaira was present when Polexander spake thus to Zabaim She did what in her lay to stay him but being just as she was she gave consent to his depart and would not to please her selfe that Polexander should receive any the least discontent He had sent his trusty Alcippus to the Port to looke for Diceus and advertise him of his coming Assoone as he heard from them he tooke his leave of the King and Queene and bidding farewell to all his friends and particularly to Almaid departed from Senega to the Sea side He had not been two howres aboard his ship when an unknowne man entred her and intreated he might speake with him in private Polexander led him into his Cabin and shutting the doore Speake freely said he you are in a place where none but I can heare you The stranger forgetting nothing of what civility instructs a Gentleman to practise Knight said he Almaid having made profession of a generosity which cannot passe by the least wrongs would thinke he had absolutely renounc'd it if he tooke no resentment of the injury you have done him He therefore hath sent me to intreat you before you go hence that he may see you with your sword in your hand and to the end you may not doubt of what I have spoken see here a paper which he commanded I should deliver you Polexander beleeving the Messenger tooke him for some other Sir said he you are mistaken I have nothing to decide with Almaid I am his humblest servant and ready to give him all kinde of satisfaction if I have chanc'd through any imprudency to offend him Almaid verily thought replied the Gentleman you would make me that answer and confessed to me he should not be extravagant or thought giddy braind enough to demand ought of you if it concern'd none but himselfe but since it toucheth the honour of a Prince whose adorer he is he resolves to avenge it on his enemies Be pleased therefore to read this paper and satisfie Almaid by the way of armes since I assure you that your excuses will not content him Polexander smiled at the counsell he gave and taking the paper found this Almaid a Prince to the Christian Knight WIth an extreame griefe I am obliged to be your Enemy I have knowne so much valour and vertue both in your words and actions and your person hath so many charmes that it is almost impossible to be an honest
man and at discord with you But when I call to minde that you have offended Polexander and by I know not what secret Envy indeavour'd to rob him of his victory o'rethe false Almanzor all your rare endowments slip out of my memory and I finde my self capable of nought but revenge You may say I have a long time conceal'd my resentment It is true but the consideration of Almanzaira whom I preferre before all others forbad me to make it knowne till this time Now when I may without troubling her quiet satisfie my passion I intreat you to approve of it and to beleeve all he shall say who brings you this Note Polexander having receiv'd this Challenge wondred at the fantasticalnesse of his fortune and Almaid's humour But it came presently into his minde that Almaid might have learnt his name of Alcippus or some other and this was but an invented match to bring him backe to Court Well said he to himselfe be it what it may be I will not reveale my selfe nor will I commit an unsteady action to satisfie Almaid After he had taken this resolution he spoke thus to him that brought the Challenge You may tell your friend that for the present it is not in my power to give your friend the contentment he desires I will send him my excuses and answer his Letter With that hee opened the dore and calling Diceus commanded for paper and inck and all sitting being brought he wrote this Answer The Christian Knight to the Prince Almaid I Am Polexander's friend but I am more the friend of truth Doe not any more accuse me for being jealous of his fame I beleeve he is courageous but I shall never be so observant as to give him an honour he hath not deserved Truly he is too much oblig'd to you for your love to him and if any occasion present it selfe wherein you may need his service I shall have a farre lesse esteeme of him then I have now if he doe not as freely expose his life for you as you would have done yours for him In the meane time take it not amisse that I come not where you expect me and truely you shall be unjust if you be not contented with my Declaration Polexander having seal'd his Letter would have put it into the African's hands but he often refus'd it and would not have taken it at all if Polexander had not assur'd him he would not depart thence till he had newes from Almaid Upon that promise the stranger went away and within an houre after return'd to Polexander and told him how Almaid more offended by his Letter would see him with his sword in his hand and follow him to the worlds end rather then faile of his satisfaction Let 's goe then said Polexander and make Almaid know we are not so hardly to be perswaded as he Hereupon he call'd for Alcippus and Diceus and enjoyning them that his ship might be ready to set saile presently upon his returne descended into a shalop with the African and so went on shore Assoone as he was there he follow'd his guide and after he had walked a mile met with Almaid in a little valley who expected him with a great deale of impatiency He ran to him with open armes and imbracing him almost whether hee would or no How now said he my deare Almaid will you for a Polexander whom you know not but by anothers report lose a person who perfectly honours you and whom you thinke not absolutely unworthy of your friendship Almaid putting on a more serious countenance I know repli'd he Polexander better then you imagine and that Prince's reputation is so great that envie it selfe strives to increase it as often as she goes about to diminish it Polexander should be very happy answered the Prince if all the world had so good an opinion of him as you and his fortune were equall to his reputation Pardon me Almaid if I tell you I know Polexander very well and he is nothing lesse then what you would have him go for How replied Almaid 't is too much I must quit all respect and vindicate the honour of so great a Prince from the outrages of envy With that he drew his Symetar and compelled Polexander to do the like What said he in warding would you have me bely my conscience Almaid you are too teasty a friend Thinke what you are doing and ingage me not to commit either a folly in flattering my selfe or an injustice in defending me against so deare an enemy Almaid for all that still pressed on and would needs oblige him whether he would or no to esteeme himselfe above all other men But whilst with too much fervency he prosecuted the Prince who recoyl'd he tooke not good heed to his footing but sliding on the grasse fell so rudely that his Symetar flew out of his hand Polexander straight stept to him and helping to raise him Confesse said he that your affection is much blinded and to make you know it fortune hath reduced you to such an estate as you cannot contradict it I will dye a thousand times if it be possible replied Almaid rather then lessen the esteeme I ought to have of Polexanders incomparable vertue But said our Heroe the law of Armes is that the vanquish'd should conforme himselfe to the will of the vanquisher 'T is true replied Almaid but I account not my selfe overcome though I be at your mercy Fortune by your owne confession hath given you the advantage over me and I hold you too generous to imploy any other arme then your owne in the subduing your enemy Live then invincible said the Prince in restoring his Symetar and since it pleaseth you continue in an errour which is so extreamely advantageous to Polexander Almaid mov'd with so high a generosity confess'd he ow'd him his honour and his life and asked pardon for the extravagancy whereinto a most just affection had drawne him But if it be true said he as I will not doubt it that my folly hath nothing lessened your love I beseech you to affect Polexander since he should be the love of all eminent men and to let me know to whom I am so much indebted It should be no hard thing replied the Prince to satisfie you in those your two requests I have a particular ingagement not to hate him whom you would have me love and as for my fortune beleeve me I have more desire to tell it you then you to know it But that it may not be done unseasonably I beseech you be pleased I may returne where I have left my servants and that your friend may goe with me who shall bring you in writing what I am not permitted to deliver you by word of mouth Almaid yeelding to so just a request said many things to Polexander to perfwade him that next to Polexander he was the man whom he most esteemud in the world Our Heroe often imbrac'd him and having much adoe to
tremble yet so that it neither troubled his minde nor judgement He thought a while on what he had heard and made a little noise that he might as well satisfie his eyes as his eares presently he saw come out from behinde the tombe an apparition like to that Alcippus had describ'd to him he was extreamely pleas'd at that sight and not doubting but it was a Spirit resolv'd to aske it newes of what was to come and to know whether he should give over the hope of seeing Alcidiana againe when therefore he saw the Ghost neere enough to him Be not offended said he faire soule who even in the grave retainest thy love and fidelity if I disturb the peace and silence of this sad abode unfortunate lover that I am I seeke every where for some one that may instruct me by what way I may return towards the glorious and worthy cause of my flames and afflictions If pity have any place in thee amorous Spirit be favourable to a man full of love Help a wretch which wanders sea and land without regaining the blisse he hath lost and tell him whether Time reserves nought for him but death for the end of all his miseries Thoâ—… art deceiv'd replied the Spirit I see no clearer then thou dost into future things and though my abode my habit and countenance make me passe for a Ghost know yet I have onely the resemblance of one but am indeed a most unfortunate mayden who in this tombe bewaileth a bloudy and precipitated death and a life farre more worthy of compassion This speech amaz'd Polexander more then the former had done or the thought he had of that miserable mayden and looking on her as on something more strange then a phantasme Who will ever beleeve said he that your love to an ingratefull man hath been able to worke in you so prodigious a perseverance as to make your selfe an enemy to light life and your selfe only to preserve your heart for an unmercifull man who contemnes it Goe not on in these revilings repli'd the mayden I love the cruell Solyman too well to suffer him to be censured his rigours are pleasing to me his insensibility augments my passion I am all fire because he is all ice But let us breake off a discourse which neither merits thy paines nor mine Since thou art in love get farre away from these aboades which are so mortall to Lovers and trouble no longer the unhappy peace of two poore Sisters who have met with none from the time of their birth I wish Madam replied Polexander it were fitting to obey you I should then be farre from interrupting by my presence the repose you finde in your selfe-persecution for I know by a long and rigorous experience that consolations are new griefes to afflicted soules and the greatest enemies the misfortunate meet withall are those indiscreet Counsellours who would perswade them they should leave to be sicke assoone as they should cease to refuse the remedies But when I call to minde what my birth and profession bindes me to I finde my selfe compell'd to continue troublesome and to intreat you by that ingratefull man you too-much love to let me know if there be no meanes left to you to be avenged of his ingratitude I have vowed said the desolate Lady never to discover my griefe but on a condition to which I thinke it not just to ingage you How strange soever that condition be repli'd Polexander I subscribe to it provided I may execute it and not be faithlesse and disloyall Your generousnes quoth the Lady revives those hopes which were with me buried in this tombe I imagine you may bring some ease to my afflictions and I may finde their end if I left to you the guidance of my fortune I therefore accept your offer and even now make you the Judge betwixt Solyman and my selfe and condemne me voluntarily to finish my miserable life farre from those faire eyes which sometime inlightned my Soule if my pretentions and prosecution appeare not as equitable as they may seeme strange unto you After the Lady had ended this Speech she opened the place inclosed by the ballisters and taking Polexander by the hand Let us said she goe hence into another place not farre off we shall there finde a place more fit to entertaine our passions she walked whilst she spoke thus and Polexander who led her saw come from out the sides of the tombe two maydens clad like the former which slowly and softly followed her and seem'd by their action they were not loath to abandon so sad an habitation Assoone as Polexander was out of that obscurity which shaded the beauties of the desolate Lady he found them so extraordinary as he began in good earnest to hate the ingratefull person that had despis'd them He took too from thence a new occasion to entertaine the Lady and intimating to her his admiration That barbarian said hee who could look on so much attraction and yet preserve his infamous liberty was surely borne among those horrible rockes which an eternall winter covers with â—…akes of ice and snow 'T is doubtlesse some monster whom angry nature produc'd in some extream corner of Scythia Turkes are naturally cruell and unpitifull but they are not insensible and the furious tyrants who in their unjust anger spare nor age nor sex yet have hearts capable of love and to please their slaves can sometime lose the title of master and conquerour If any allurement repli'd the afflicted Lady could have mov'd the heart of insensible Solyman it must have beene more powerfull then my sister's or my beauty neither have we pretended thereby to gaine to us that great heart who as obdurate as he is can neither be accused of savagenes nor barbarisme He is no Turk but by the injustice of his fortune nature hath made him born from a Prince who was no lesse polite then courageous and both France and Greece which have equally contributed to his birth publish who shall most that if Solyman had not the great Polexander for his brother he should be held the first of men Madam said the Prince you amaze me to have so much love and goodnesse for one so ingratefull as should have exhausted all But who should that Solyman be halfe Greeke and halfe French Was it not the sonne of the unfortunate Periander whom the cruell Usurper of Constantinople even feared in his fetters You know repli'd the Princesse the amiable author of our long afflictions 'T is that Prince happy in his misfortunes who changing his name of Iphidamantus for that of Solyman exchanged his prison for the favour of the redoubtfull Baiazet and is found susceptible of all kind of alteration excepting that which may be advantagious to my sister or my selfe Polexander had more particularly inform'd himselfe of his brother's adventures had he not seene Cydaria who all affrighted with the seeing him conversing with that faire apparition drew backe still as he came
Would to heaven reply'd Histeria a little angry that you were sensible as much as you strive to perswade us You would then take into your thought two personages who are more slaves then you and would hearken to their intreaties in lieu of deluding them with your vaine and subtle evasions The Sultanesse then coming broke our discourse and as much vex'd us as she pleas'd the disdainfull Solyman Assoon as he was got from us he made a solemne vow not to be so caught againe and indeed from that day till Achomat's returne 't was impossible for us to speake with him in private In the meanetime our love increased with our eares wee not onely forgot all things for Solyman but forgetting our selves were so foolish as to be jealous of one another we broke off our wonted communications we conceal'd our intentions and each of us working our projects apart we went so farre as that our Governesses tooke notice of our ill correspondency Nature who had made but one of us two could not long indure this disunion she knit again that which was not altogether broken and after she had let us know our idle extravagance made us conceive so great a sorrow for it as we were many dayes continually asking one another forgivenesse After this reciprocall fault had obliged us to a mutuall repentance we discovered all our thoughts to one another and being rejoyn'd not to be separated againe we promised each other to be together both Rivalls and Confidents some few dayes after this reconciliation the Emperour resolv'd to perfect and bring to some good issue an enterprise wherein his predecessours and himselfe had fail'd He would all at once conquer Egypt set on the heires of the Estate and rebellions of Scanderbeg and his principall designe was to avenge him of the Venetians and the Knights of Rhodes He therefore rais'd four mighty Armies and sent the greatest into Egypt under the command of Basha Herzecogli that was the title whereby my father was knowne He tooke Solyman to that warre and depriving our eyes of that onely and deare object made us make so many earnest prayers against the prosperity of his armes that many times since thinking on our amorous impiety I beleev'd it to have been the cause of the unhappy successe of Achomat's expedition He encountred the Sultan of Egypt and after a fight of two intire dayes wherein above two hundred thousand lay dead on the place hee fell from his horse was taken alive and carried in triumph to grand Cairo Solyman in that occurrence did such deeds of armes that it was not to beleev'd at a lesse rate then by loving him so much as we did He was not then above seventeene yeares old but his great heart giving him a strength beyond his age he had redeemed Achomat and put the Egyptians to the losse of that victory they had gotten if the Asians cowardise and the Europians disorder had not abandoned that victory which was assured them Solyman not knowing what else was to be done upon the routing of his party strove to die but his enemies having more care of his preservation then himselfe staid him and made him the partner of his second father's fetters Imagine if you please when these newes came to Constantinople how they were receiv'd the Emperour witnessed more griefe for Achomats imprisonment then for the losse of all his forces He presently sent a Messenger to the Sultan of Egypt to pay the Princes ransome and the other prisoners with menaces that if he did not deliver them he would goe in person to make a second Nile of the Egyptians bloud Lividarus a great Officer to that Souldan not thinking it best to drawall the Turks on his Masters hands for the keeping away of two or three of them sent backe Achomat and Solyman with all the civilities the state of businesse so standing could permit and remonstrated to the Emperour by the bold Thenor that they ought to make a League together and joyne their armes to make warre on the Christians their common Enemies The Emperour who had sworne the Souldan's ruine contemn'd the advise of his Officer But why doe I fall to perplex you with businesse of State as if our fond love were not sufficient enough to trouble you Know then that during Achomat and Solyman's imprisonment Histeria plotted such designes as were more proportionable to the thoughts of some great Captaine then of a young Mayden Shee told me a hundred times she would disguise her selfe and under the habit of a Janizary goe stab the Souldan for keeping in prison whom she held more deare then all the world my timorousnesse staid her valour and laid before her that after shee had made many shamefull and unprofitable endeavour she would get nothing by her losse but the death of her father and lover but the newes of their liberties making her lay by these fancies the hope of soone seeing them especially the faire slave gave her others cleane contrary Whereas a little before she was all furious and seem'd able enough of her selfe to conquer all the Mamalukes at the sight of Solyman she put on a spirit of meeknesse of submission and servitude and meditated long before how she should entertaine that insensible man Sometimes she would talk to him of his valour then of his imprisonment and againe extolling the dangers he had escap'd in striving to redeeme Achomat Be not lesse generous said she in his absence to the daughter then thou hast beene to the father Let that brave heart which hath made thee hazard all for Achomats safety oblige thee not to neglect that of Histeria Whilst she made these preparatives on her side I forgot not on the other what I was to doe I resolv'd to imploy if not of the same things my sister had prepar'd at least some others which in my judgement should have as good an effect I advis'd with the best skill'd in the roule of the Eye the sweetnesse and true time of the Voice and Action and in briefe if I dare say so in the imbellishing of beauty it selfe and all this to joyne the forces of the body to that of the minde to give a generall assault at Solyman's returne to that strong and well defended place He arriv'd sooner then we expected and fill'd Constantinople with so great an admiration of his valour that he had by this time enjoyed the supremest honours of the Port had he not contemned them After the Emperour had kept him and Achomat divers dayes in the Seraglio we were permitted to see him but not to speake the brave Orations we had studied to move him he scarce gave us time to congratulate his freedome he had no thoughts nor desire but for warre he solicited Achomat for nothing but to returne into Egypt and he was seen to have such a deep sadnesse in his countenance as often as he was told of the brave acts he had done there that they well imagin'd his disgrace
as she had sent to challenge her enemie During which time Polexander abode alone as long as he could be permitted and one evening being retir'd into his chamber Diceus advertis'd him there was a Lady at the dore who desir'd audience Let her enter if she please said Polexander and straight way rising went to receive her with his wonted courtesie When shee was in place where she might speake unheard of his servants she tooke a vaile off her face and approaching the lights Cast your eyes said she Polexander on a person which hath been sometime in your esteeme to let her know you have not altogether forgotten her Our Heroe instantly knowing the Lady both by speech and countenance Doe not said he mine eyes deceive me or doe not I flatter my selfe with a vaine beliefe if I take you for Amintha No repli'd the Lady you are not deceiv'd I am Amintha but before I can relate by what chance I came into the service of this Princesse so differing from Alcidiana I must acquit me of the commission she gave me and tell you that after I had been a long time your confident I at last became hers You laugh at so brave an employment but when I have recounted my fortune you will confesse I was not to deny Tiâ—…iphone in any thing Doe me then the favour said Polexander to relate what your fortunes are and without losing time the follies of this old woman Presuppose I know them all already and thereafter frame your selfe such an answer as you think I would make to your propositions Truly repli'd Amintha you shall not scape so easily you have made the wound and you must worke a remedie she spoke those words smiling but perceiving Polexander tooke no pleasure in it Know said she that Tisiphone is passionately in love with you and beginning to neglect her owne interest for feare of your losse she deferres as much as she can the combate you are to have with Astramadan but to instruct you who that Tyrant is I will relate what hath betided me since I was stolne away To begin my discourse of it well it must be by rendring you all acts of gratitude for the obligation in which I am bound to your valour for avenging me on my greatest enemie in killing Tisiphone's protectour I cannot tell you on what humour that insolent Spaniard cast his eyes on me the very day that Alcidiana came to the palace of the sea but I can say hee found me so pleasing his fancie that knowing well he was not like to obtaine me by his merit he resolv'd to get mee by cunning To that end hee came to my lodging like a merchant and having unfolded all that the luxurie of Spaine hath most voluptuously found out he told me that he had a whole magazine of such things in his ship and if I would goe downe to the haven he would shew me such jewels and rarities as the Queene had not in her closet I confesse freely to you that my curiositie which is farre more naturall to me then distrust made me give credit to that traitor and besides I that never had so good an opinion of my beautie as to beleeve my selfe worthy the stealing away thought the Spaniard who call'd himselfe a merchant of Lisbone had no other designe then to sell well his merchandize I put off that visit till next day and promised him to come aboord in the morning before Alcidiana was awake which I perform'd accompanied onely with an Esquire and two women He took me into his shallop without making shew of any thing that might give me the least suspition and in a trice getting me into his ship talked of nothing but of Spanish cut-workes amber'd skins Essences and other the like commodities But I was no sooner aboord then foure of his servants laid hands on my Squire and strictly bound him my selfe and my women were brought into the hinder cabin and reduc'd to the estate of reclaiming your succour without hope of obtaining it Whilst I made these unprofitable acclamations and rail'd on the Spaniard for his impudence and treacherie he made me be held by foure of his servants and answered me not a word till his ship was farre off at sea But when he had lost sight of Alcidiana's Island and saw he was not pursued by any of her vessels he commanded his men to leave me at libertie and casting himselfe at my feet Madam said he I am none of those infamous pirates which scowre the seas for all mens destruction and the dishonour of women An offence of State made me lose the favour of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabell but with it not the qualitie of a Prince which cannot be taken from me but with my life though they deprived mee of all my fortunes due by birth-right I was forced to abandon Spaine and seeke my safetie among the dangers of the sea The companions of my better fortunes have been sharers in my adverse and by a generositie rare in the Courts of Kings those true friends have stood constant in my miseries and instead of abiding on the safe shore when they saw me suffer shipwrack threw themselves into the danger to witness their unparallel'd affection to me These are they whom you see in my ship disguis'd like Souldiers and Mariners I tell you this Madam to free you from all feare and fit you to beleeve that being among men of qualitie you are to apprehend nothing of violence the greatest enemie you are to contest with shall be the head-strong wilfulnesse of my too amorous inclination it hath sometime made me aspire to the enjoying of a Princesse which was one day to fill the throne of my King and love who takes a pleasure as well as fortune in seconding all daring enterprises had rendered all my services so acceptable to her that could reward them that I was on the point of ravishing from the King of Portugall all hope of the crowne of Castile I cannot imagine you to be more rigorous then that Princesse in denying tâ—… requests of a man who never yet made any in vaine The Spaniards insolencie put me into a rage and casting mine eyes on him more severely then my face and spirit promised blaming him for his vainenesse so out of all apparance I said that at first I tooke him but for a pirate and a ravisher but by his speech I held him for one most extreamly impudent aâ—…a foole I ascribe these reproaches to the strangenesse of your taking away repli'd â—…e Spaniard and to your little knowledge of my deservings when time shall let you understand how rare those treasures are which my affection hath in store for you I am most assured you will alter your language and to preserve me wholly to your selfe will not permit my returne to Spaine To these he added many other flourishing bravadoes but let them be buried with him it shall suffice me to relate that after I had been neere a moneth so sued
to and persecuted and as much cause to complaine against heaven and aske Justice thence for the violence I was like to suffer either it or the sea tooke compassion of my teares which animated against my ridiculous lover dash'd his vessell in pieces on this Island I sav'd my selfe unawares upon some great fardles of corke which my feare made me lay hold on He was taken up by fishermen which casually met with him among the rockes where we were shipwrack'd All the rest were drowned I was presented to Tisiphone the same day we were cast away and the morrow after the Spaniard was led by the fishermen who had sav'd him to the worthy husband of that excellent Princesse When shee heard of the danger I had escaped she seem'd to have some feeling of it but when shee understood I had beene stolne away and would never give consent to my ravishers desires What said she cleane out of her selfe you doe not love then Is it possible I repli'd for any to love a thiefe and a traitor You speake not enough quoth the Queene you must goe further and say It is not possible to love any man whatsoever My fathers tyrannie hath inforc'd me to marrie the greatest enemie I have in the world I speake it aloud for I would have him know that my hatred increaseth daily and if I meet not at last with some one of my subjects courageous enough to restore mee the libertie I am depriv'd of I in my just indignation will finde strength enough to regaine it my self Imagine whether I were terrified or no at the horrour of this first speech But not knowing to what intent she had made it I repli'd that the hatred women might beare to men could not without blame goe so farre as to their husbands 'T is to them said the Queene it should be most of all for besides their being the tyrants over our liberties they are to us continuall executioners which whether they flatter or abuse us keep us night and day in torture and are never taken by them from one but to make us suffer a many others At this second speech I was without an answer and thinking my selfe not bound to contradict her I intimated by my silence that I condemn'd her not The first day I saw not the happy husband of that good Lady but the next I had the pleasure of it 't was a Prince who truely was worthy the love his wife bore him he was of a very ill looke and a farre worse humour he came to the Queen with a brutish fullennesse and presented her my ravisher with a certaine barbarous authoritie which not to lie was capable enough to make me partly of Tisiphone's opinion Assoone as the Spaniard saw me he gave an out-cry of admiration and casting himselfe at the Queenes feet Madam said he if your Majestie will have the honour to surmount that which o'recomes Kings you have need of no other thing then to restore to mee a treasure which I thought had beene buried in the bottome of the Ocean Fortune thought I had lost all that I could but if you render me that Lady pointing to me I make knowne that your Majestie will have inrich'd me with more then that blinde goddesse hath depriv'd me of Tisiphone presently imagining the Spaniard might be very usefull for her abominable designes resolv'd to winne him and to begin that divelish trafficke This stranger is mine said she but if you be so venturous a merchant to buy her at my price you shall have the first offer The Spaniard answered that if I were to be purchased by any action of valour he would ingage himselfe to imploy his arme and sword both against heaven and earth to redeeme me By that promise their conversation ended but as if I had been borne the object of all extravagancies Thersites so was Tisiphone's husband called fell in love with me and thinking to witnesse extreamely well to me the greatnesse of his love he spoke of it to every body and took for his private confidents such as were accustomed to serve him in his other passions Tisiphone knew it assoone as I and though she was neither capable of love or jealousie yet was she of rage and vengeance That made her precipitate her execrable intentions she plotted with the Spaniard and neither disclosing to me nor any of her women her secret practises so manag'd them that Thersites 〈◊〉 found dead in his bed and none could discover the instruments of the fact Tisiphonâ—… a few dayes after sent his corps to Astramadan his cruell brother and withall proclaim'd warre against him The Isle whereof he is Lord is not distant from this above a dayes saile thither went the Spaniard with a fleete and had so good fortune by his armes that but for the incomparable valour of Astramadan who came from afar off to the aide of his territorie he had beene absolute master of But that hardy Tyrant some three moneths since forc'd him from his Island and I make no doubt but to avenge himselfe he had been already here if hee could have gotten sufficient ships of war Newes hath come to Tisiphone of his sending into Europe for vessells and that assoone as they are arriv'd he will imbarke his troupes to assaile her she every day expects that enemie and hath therefore set so many guards about her palace But leave we Astramadan and be pleased I goe on with the historie of Tisiphone The death of her husband did but augment her aversion to all men shee forbad on paine of death as well her subjects as strangers to come within three leagues of her palace and to have alwayes before her eyes such objects as might confirme her in her hatred and serve as instruments of her horrible cruelties she sent into Africa for the most deformed and barbarous that could be found amongst the Negros when they came she commanded and made them cut the throats of all such as were of any eminent condition in her Court and taking out of prison those whom her husband had cast there gave them the title of Knights and the places of greatest command and trust That done the Moores were chain'd and rank'd about the castle to defend the accesses to it the Spaniard was preserv'd not out of consideration of the services hee had done the Queene nor that she thought her selfe bound to keep her word with him but because she feared the arrivall of Astramadan or rather that shee reserv'd him for the riddance of that tyrant in the same manner as she had freed her selfe from her husband Now since the Spaniard is dead you are the man she will imploy in so notable an execution if you will hearken to her or rather if the affection wherewithall you have miraculously stung her be not as miraculous to reforme the defects of so depraved a nature After Amintha had related thus much she stood a while looking on Polexander and seeing he spoke not thus went on
clamours arose in all parts of the wood and a little after a great number of women and children hurrying on the necke of one another into the Temple made the Arch-priest beleeve that either the blinde Prince was dead or his enemies were come to assaile him Presently our Heroe made out of the Temple and with the Priest ran to the Kings lodgings there he understood how the troupes of the tyrant of Thombut were got into the wood and that they had either slaine or put to flight all those that oppos'd their entrie He heartned the blinde Prince and his timorous Court and putting himselfe in the front of three or foure hundred archers made signes to them that they should go on courageously and repulse their enemies The Princesses who had now no other sanctuarie then his valour brought him part of such armes as he needed one of them presented him with a sword and target another caus'd a very brave horse to be brought him and all falling at his feet besought him to have compassion on their misfortunes and not abandon their honours to the infamous prosecution of the tyrant of Thombut Polexander overjoyed that he had gotten wherewithall to resist the enemie and so piously exercise his courage went to meet the Thombutians and surprising them as they were scattered either to pillage the Galatians or to murder them charg'd them so furiously that they were all routed and after so followed through the deserts that not one was left to carrie newes of their defeate to the King of Thombut Polexander return'd from the fight or to say better from the chase without the losse of any one that followed him and entering the Kings lodgings found him at his devotions with the Chiefe Priest and the Princesses his daughters He made known to him by the Priest that his enemies were retir'd and that they seem'd by their little resistance they had no great minde to drive him from the place where he was His modestie would not permit him to say more but his souldiers being dispers'd through the palace so highly extoll'd his valour which had overthrowne their enemies that they made him be esteem'd for the Deitie whom they adored The women and children seeing their husbands and fathers safely return'd cast themselves on the earth to render thankes to our Heroe and invocating him in their private necessities besought the continuation of his miracles among them The good King of Galatia let himselfe slip into that opinion and as there is no errour which so easily infecteth all humane mindes then that which leades us to the adoration of such as have redeemed us from our miseries he thought he could not without impietie denie divine honour to such a one as did the actions of a Deitie This thought so rais'd his abated courage that in the very instant he left his bed and leaâ—…ing on two of his daughters was led to the Temple to give thankes to heaven for Polexander's victorie Our Heroe admiring the zeale which that afflicted Prince made shew of to a Power of which he had scarce any knowledge resolved to instruct him ere he went thence and in the meane time told him by his Priest that he should goe on in his pietie and promise to himselfe from that Deitie which he invoak'd with so much fervour not onely all the greatnesses and goods he had lost but all that his imagination could represent unto him After these promises he desired instantly to prosecute the execution of such as depended on him and to performe them effectually intended to sallie out of the deserts with five or six thousand Galatiaus and charge in all parts of the countrey on the troupes of the tyrant of Thombut The blinde Prince who certainly beleev'd that Polexander was sent from heaven to establish him in his throne approved of his resolution and all those whom love and dutie had obliged to follow the fortune of their King prepared them to that warre with all the courage and cheerfulnesse which loyall and affectionate subjects could testifie in defence of their Prince Our Heroe drew them forth from their abodes made them traverse the deserts entered into Galutia and in eight dayes gave two little battles perfected three sieges out the throats of most part of the garrisons and drove the rest farre into the territories of Thombut Those that know not the Provinces I write of will beleeve I mean to make Polexander passe for an Aâ—…adis or some other inchanted Knight in making him conquer a Kingdom in eight dayes but when he shall understand that all the Kingdom of Galatia consists but in three great Bourghs and some twentie or thirtie Hamlets they will alter their cause of upbraiding me and accuse me for so ill husbanding our Heroe's time in making him lose so much in an enterprise of so little importance Yet let their second accusationâ—… be silenc'd as well as the former since 't is true that the King of Thombut's souldiers having notice of our Heroe's coming not onely came to meet him with a true warlike resolution but intrenched themselves in the villages after they had been beaten in the field and disputed with the Galatians for the least of their Hamlets There fell above foure thousand in the fights and sieges and the rest as I said being forc'd to save themselves in the ancient territorie of the King of Thombut strucke the inhabitants with such a terrour that if Polexander had intended to assaile them without doubt he had conquered them all But he thought it not to belong to the King of Galatia nor for the good of his affaires and therefore contented himselfe with the regaining of that which had beene unjustly usurped He therefore returned and brought him out of his sanctuarie and conducting him to the great towne that beares the name of the kingdome re-established him very solemnly in the ancient throne of his fathers Some few dayes after came to him the King of Thombut's Embassadours and after their congratulating his return told him that the King their Master had specially sent them to intreat an abolition of things passed and impute all which seem'd contrary to his promises and their ancient alliance to the iniquitie of the times To this they added that if the blinde Prince intended to preserve the peace and make his peoples tranquillitie lasting he should hearken to some alliance whereby the Crownes of Galatia and Thombut being united their interests might be common and their affections reciprocall The King of Galatia deceived by these faire propositions yeelded to all that the tyrant of Thombut desired from him and told his Embassadours that he not onely left to their Master the choice of foure daughters he had but also from thence forward would live with him as with his sonne or brother provided that he restored to him the two Princes his sons whom he had detained prisoners since the beginning of the warre The Embassadours dispatched letters to their Master â—…and had quickly their
their Enemies Polexander who was resolv'd to dye in this occasion grapled presently with the greatest ship and spight of sword and fire made those tyrants of the sea to feel that valour they had already so often tryed 'T is hard for my pen to expresse the impetuousnesse with which the assailants and assailed hurried themselves to their common ruine Here falls a Spaniard shot through and through with a musker There layes drown'd in his owne bloud an Islander his head cleft by a Spanyard The iron neither flew nor fell in vain One stood Victor a moment which was straight vanquish'd for ever another escap'd a thousand bullets to fall but honorably for him under the victorious sword of Polexander At last that new Alcides forcing through all obstacles leapt into the Spanish ship with some twentie or thirtie of Alcidiana's valiantest subjects and slew or made to flie all that were in case to resist them The Spanyards preferring a glorious end before a shamefull slavery were sacrific'd to the honour of Alcidiana aâ—…d others that could not detest life how infamous and unfortunate soever had recours to the mercie of the Victor and abandon'd their honour with their armes Polexander made them be taken by such as had follow'd him and promising to treat them as prisoners of warre made himselfe Master of their ship In her he left to command the youngest of the Embassadors and hastned to the succour of the Sacred Vessell which was full of Spanyards and expos'd to their fury If what he had already done might passe for miraculous that which he did to avenge Alcidiana who was wronged in her ship might be esteem'd as true miracles To throw himselfe into that vessell fight with those that had wonne it and make them lose it againe with their lives were things betwixt which there was almost no distance The regaining the ship did not satisfie him he would perfect his victorie and laid not downe his armes till he had ended all was to be done So noble and important an action putting againe Alcidiana's Embassadors into their former admiration they tooke our Heroe for somewhat more then a man and whisperingly ask'd each other if he were nor the very Power whose slave he named himselfe In the meane time the violence of the vvindes as vvell as of their armes ceasing Polexander and his follovvers had found themselves in an admirable calme had they not been ignorant of the coast whereon the tempest had hurled them In particular our Heroe that could promise to himselfe nothing but disastrous upbraided fortune for his victorie and accus'd her of a deadly malice for saving him from the mortall blowes of his enemies but whilst he was on his unjust revilings Linceus came and told him that since he came to himself and had re-call'd to his memorie what the storm and fearfull lightning had as it were blotted thence he descry'd that the tempest had happily advanc'd the end of their voyage Be pleas'd to know said he that the River werein we are is one of the greatest in all the Inaccessible Island it is called Arzilea and gives name to a very faire citie some thirty miles hence Imagine if you can what Polexander's joy or rather extasie was at the recitall of this good fortune he was a while as out of himselfe and when he had recollected his spirits dissipated by his excessive rapture hee would have cast himselfe on his knees to aske pardon of Heaven for his murmuring and yeeld thankes for the favours he had received thence but that humane wisdome which tyrannizeth over our thoughts and will not so much as permit all that is just staid our Heroe's zeale he was therefore compell'd to let his heart speake for his mouth and by private thankesgivings and unheard vowes to satisfie for that which was passed and ingage himselfe for what was to come Alcidiana's Embassadors came presently in to rejoyce with him not onely for their arrivall in the Inaccessible Island but that they were got thither by the wonders of his valour Polexander answer'd them with his usuall civilitie and intreating them not to give the honour of an action to him wherein they had a greater share then he told them 't were fit to learn from some one of their prisoners what designe they had on the territories of Alcidiana or at least by what accident they got thither Presently he sent for the Captaine of the greater ship and when he came intreated him to suppresse the sorrow which appear'd in his countenance and not expect from his vanquishers any treatment unworthy of him The Spaniard putting on againe that gravity which nature hath bestowed on all the Nation My defeate said to Polexander nor my captivity shall never be able to make faile in what I owe my selfe I grieve not for my selfe the thought of my Kings service and the hinderances which the enemie of our Belief daily raiseth to retard the holy intention of our armes are the powerfull and onely cause of my sorrow the dishonour throwne on us by your valour is to me a certaine presage of our enterprises ill successe and though you are mine enemie I am forc'd to confesse that if the Queene of this Island whom we have besieg'd in her capitall city have many defenders like you shee may a long time yet keep her Crowne from paying that tribute which Spaine may rightfully exact from all the Kings of the earth What say you reply'd Polexander interrupting the Spaniard Have you then an Army in this Island Is the Queene besieg'd and have you dar'd to thinke to make her one of your tributaries What I have said is true answered the Spaniard The Prince of Medina Sidonia putting out of the ports of Spaine with a powerfull Armado to regaine the Canaries in lieu of getting thither was by a tempest throwne a month since on the coasts of this Island at first he thought it desert and not inhabited because it was unknowne to our mariners but since perceiving the fertilitie richnesse and beautie of it and understanding by some prisoners we tooke how well it was peopled he neglected the conquest of the Canaries and thought he should gaine his King a new world if he could conquer this Island Casting therefore aside all other designs he thrust his Fleet into a great river which invirons the capitall city and laying waste divers neighbouring villages to give the more terror to others and be an advertisment to them not to be obstinate in a defence that would prove so dismall and deadly these happy beginnings were so seconded as they seem'd to assure us of a most fortunate successe for a few dayes before our arrivall a Prince of this Island call'd Tantalus had tooke armes against the Queen and to avenge himself as he told us of the contempt he receiv'd in his wooing her and the instant supplications of all her Subjects was resolv'd to get that by force which he could not obtaine either by the greatnesse
desires and thine own will to the safetie of thy Countrey 'T is a businesse resolv'd in heaven thou must swallow this potion which hath no bitternesse but whilst thou refusest it on then and let not thy brave heart faile thee at need taste those sweets thy vertues have deserv'd O new age of gold O Island truly fortunate O Slave worthy the regall throne O Princesse happily deceived O glorious alliance O illustrious posteritie In all likelihood Alcidiana at the reading of this Prophesie might have receiv'd some contentment but she renew'd her sighings and unable any longer to refraine from tears even let them fall down on the Prophesie in such an excesse as if she had beleev'd she could with the Characters have drown'd all the misfortunes they seem'd to threaten her Rhadiotez seeing her discontent spoke all he thought fitting to quiet her afflicted minde but Alcidiana not induring his discourse Retire father said she and assure your selfe that I have not so little profited in your schoole but that I know well how we must die when we can live no longer but with dishonour I was borne free and you propose to me something worse then death when you propound I am not to live but by making my selfe the slave of a Slave Rhadiotez willing to give the Princesse time to advise with her selfe and more seriously to meditate on the Prophesie return'd to his palace and Alcidiana seeing her self then at libertie began again her lamentations and turning to her confident Come Amintha said she am I not now at last arriv'd at that utmost point of misfortune which long since my visions my disrests and melancholy foretold me O cruell Fate certainly thou too tyrrannically abusest that soveraigne power which is given thee from above on us poore mortalls What wilt thou shall become of me But doe what thou list my good or ill shall not depend on thee the command I have over my selfe is no lesse absolute then thine I will keep it in spight of all thy violence and since death hath depriv'd me of all that could make me in love with life 't is in vaine by the object of greatnesse and felicities to bustle with my resolution and tempt my courage Cast thine eyes on me deare and worthy subject of my sorrow turne thine eyes on me and upbraid me of falshood if thou read'st in my soule any motion that counsels me to forsake thee for another The Princesse's confident seeing her teares and sighes had taken away her power of speech Polexander said she to her is worthy of these testimonies of love you bestow on his memorie and Madam he having lov'd you what said I lov'd having ador'd you as he hath done I doubt not but amidst all the pleasures which inviron him hee resents your displeasures and seeing you afflicted is even pensive and sad in the very source of all happinesse Ah deare Amintha cry'd the Queene how doe thy words pierce me and mournfully re-imprint in my memorie the remembrance of my folly and ingratitude She could not speake further for word was brought her the multitude was round about the palace and threatned to breake the gates if they were not let in All conspires against us Amintha said she to her confident but let us resist to the last and at least shew that faire soule which lookes on us from heaven that we abandon not his party though it be to the weakest With that she went out on a great Terrasse which ran along the first court of her palace and commanded the gates to be opened Presently the people rush'd in headlong but at sight of the Princesse whom they never look'd on without respect and wonder they rain'd in their fury and fell all on their knees Alcidiana seeing them in such a reverence commanded them to stand up and declare the cause of the tumult the multitude after their wonted manner speaking in confusion began to cry out that the Deliverer which had beene promis'd the State even from Heaven was at the towne gate and they besought the Queen's permission to goe meet him to see him and petition him for an end of their present calamities Alcidiana unable to indure the continuation of their discourse How my subjects said she all inraged you doe not thinke of me then otherwise then as of an enemie or at least as of one without power What doe you expect from a wretched stranger what you hope not from my vigilancie from my forces nor your owne courage who is the seducer that hath impoison'd your minds with a prediction as idle as it is intricate You see at hand the safetie my care hath acquir'd you and yet you tread underfoot what is sensible to run after Chimera's and meer leasings Assure your selves the date of your misfortune is pass'd the revolt is buried in the graves of the authors and the strangers are no more in case to annoy us have a little patience and you shall soone see them shamefully quit our coasts and carrie nothing of their crimes with them but their griefe for committing them The people repli'd she promis'd no happinesse but what was most certaine but that she might not be unworthy of it 't was fitting the person should be honour'd who had wrought it That reply absolutely angring the Queene she withdrew without giving the people any contentment and shutting her selfe up in her closet with Amintha onely O ingratefull people cry'd she that have neither thought of me nor my predecessors Reeds shaken with all winds minds adoring novelties you are then wearie of my Government and without the knowledge of what is beneficiall or hurtfull to you desire a Slave for your King and that Alcidiana who would not bestow her chaines on Polexander should offer her Crowne to Araxes Here she was silent and after a little musing threw her selfe weeping on her confident's neck And my poore Amintha said she see I pray thee with what eagernesse my misfortune pursues me and thinke what I should resolve on to avoid the accomplishment of our dismall Prophesie Doest thou imagine that Alcidiana hath so base a spirit as to preferre before death a Slave who without doubt is come from among that barbarous nation which wretchedly inhabits the in-land deserts of Africa No no let Fortune arme the whole universe to force me to that necessitie I will see my kingdome all of a flame if my bloud cannot quench the fire rather then undergoe the reproach of doing an act unworthy of Alcidiana Amintha desirous to intertaine the Queen in this just aversion There is nothing said she but your Majestie is bound to suffer rather then the dangerous beliefe which is slid in among your subjects Weak minds as your Majestie knowes are susceptible of all we need but propose things to them beyond their understanding to fill them with foolish admirations and from those idle wondrings carry them to beliefes more ridiculous and extravagant If once your subjects strongly conceive that their fafetie
depends on this Slave and that you ought to be the sacrifice to be offer'd for their good your forbiddings how severe soever shall never plucke that opinion out of them I feare lest at the upshot they come to violate the respect they owe you and to avoid the falling into such misfortunes as threaten them they cast your sacred person into the greatest that can betide you pluck out this errour before it have taken too deep root and suffer not this African Inchanter to bewitch the minds of your people and forbid on paine of death any man whatsoever to have the least communication with him I would willingly follow your advice reply'd the Queene but the love I beare to my subjects forbids me What shall I do miserable wretch that I am the sorrow for what is pass'd the horror of the present and the feare of what is to come present themselves to my thoughts all at once like so many monsters resolutely bent to be drunken with my bloud I confesse Amintha my Philosophy yeelds to my fortune and my constancy leaving me I float incertainly in my selfe and know not what to resolve on thinke on it for me deare Amintha and as a charitable Physitian imploy your judgement and remedies for the comforting of a Patient whose sicknesse is all in extremities If your Majestie reply'd Amintha gets not from your selfe the remedie that may give ease to your maladie doe not expect that any which may come from without you can render you your health I am capable of all repli'd Alcidiana sighing excepting two things which I finde alike impossible the one of comforting me for the losse I have suffered by mine owne indiscretion and the other of assuring my peace in hazarding that of my subjects As shee had spoke thus the Ladies which kept the dores of her sever'd lodgings came and told 〈◊〉 that Rhadiotez demanded audience not onely for Amintas and his associates but for Araxes deputies to give her Majestie an account of his actions and to know her resolution for that which remain'd unperfected At this newes Alcidiana was extreamly perplexed her anger forbad the hearing of her owne Embassadors whom she thought had been wonne by Araxes and those whom the Slave had taken the boldnesse to send to her on the other side the love of her people overcoming all her resentments represented to her that to offend a person chosen for the safetie of the State was to make a publike declaration that shee had sworne the destruction of it After she had beene long without resolving what part she was to take her affection carried her at last on that of her hatred and shee told her Ushers that within two hours she would be in the Hall of publike audience Presently all the Officers had order to performe their severall charges and the Ladies which made up her private Court dressing themselves all in haste assembled in the chamber where they were wont to attend at the like Ceremonies Alcidiana cover'd with a large vaile as if she would let them know that during her subjects misery she resolv'd to be in mourning came out of her chamber and so went with all her Ladies into that Hall shining with gold and jewels which we have already made admirable to our Readers Assoone as she was plac'd in her Throne the Officers of her Guard went for the Embassadors Rhadiotez and the high Chamberlaine brought them to the audience and coming to the foot of the Throne one of Aminta's associates made an ample narration of all that which pass'd in their voyage to the Island of the Sunne and offer'd her all the King of Gheneoa's presents I erre for the best was not there since the victorious Araxes kept backe by his wound and the necessitie of affaires was still in the Fort and indeed the Embassador making known that present was missing turn'd to those whom Araxes had chosen for his owne particular and giving them the place Your Majestie said he may be pleas'd to understand from these what hath been done since our returne Alcidiana giving them leave to speake one amongst them particularly recounted all that which Araxes had perform'd from the very day hee had devoted himselfe to the Queen's service and ending his relation with the wound hee receiv'd at the taking of the Fort presented her a Letter Alcidiana was surpris'd at it and blushing for anger sate awhile so extreamly confused that 't was well perceiv'd she deliberated with her selfe whether she should receive or refuse the Letter at last the good Genius who had resolv'd Polexander's happinesse forc'd the Queen's will and wonne her spight of her selfe to extend her hand to receive that which she had look'd upon with horror Yet had she no sooner touch'd the paper but she repented it and to discharge her selfe of a burthen which as light as it was seem'd to her insupportable gave it to the chiefe of her Secretaries Read said she this aloud that my subjects may know the love onely which I beare to them makes me forget what I owe to my selfe The superscription of the Letter was thus The Slave ARAXES to his Soveraign Princesse After he had read it he open'd the Letter and read what followeth THis is not the first time Madam that a Slave urg'd by an extream zeal for the glory of his Master hath dar'd more then was permitted him by the Lawes of servitude I confesse I am bold but my boldnesse is justified by that Soveraign Law which from the houre of my birth impos'd on me the necessity of not living but for your service It commands me now to persevere and not to laydowne armes till the name of your sacred Majestie be avenged for the wrongs of a barbarous nation and your kingdome freed from all its enemies Those that have been witnesses of my actions will relate to your Majestie particularly what hath passed I should feare to goe beyond that which is permitted me if I tooke the boldnesse to propose what is to be done for the good of your service You may vouchsafe if you please to send me your commands and let me know what you have resolv'd touching the Spaniards in the meane while I submisly beseech you to beleeve that the Slave Araxes would repute himselfe unworthy the glorious chaines he weares if he had not courage enough to promise his Soveraigne Princesse that within few dayes he will compell the Spaniards dishonourably to abandon such places where of their excessive pride had promis'd them the conquest After the reading of this Letter there grew a deep silence through all the Hall Alcidiana look'd on Amintha she againe on the Queene So sometimes did Polexander write to me said the Queene to her selfe so said Amintha presently would Polexander have written to the Queen had he beene now alive At last the Princesse recollecting her spirits and repuls'd all other motions but those of her indignation I should be an enemie to my people said she to the
Embassadors if I thank'd him not that sent you for all he hath done for this State let him be assur'd I will treat him as the King of Gheneoa's heire and not as a Slave and for the continuance of his prosperous successe in armes I will goe adde our Prayers and Sacrifices to those troopes which I have appointed shall joyne with him Every one being somewhat satisfi'd with this answer the Embassadors withdrew and the Queen presently freeing her self from all her attendants except Amintha shut her selfe into her closet with that Lady She was neither so indiscreet nor so much an enemie to her selfe to wish the feign'd Araxes ill for his coming so fortunately to deliver her from the furie of strangers but the threatnings of the prediction fill'd her with horror and when she came to think that she was intended for the reward of the Slave 's brave actions her great heart advis'd her to nothing but tragicall resolutions Though she extreamly lov'd her people yet could she not consent that they should grow happy at the cost of all her peace and contentment I refuse not said she to purchase the ruine of their enemies with the price of my bloud but from a Queene as I was born to become the companion of a Slave 't is a condition that no subjects how irrationall soever should exact from their Soveraigne Amintha seeing her in this perplexitie and being not much more merrier then she rashly blam'd Fortune for that which she should heartily have thank'd her Ah! said she giddy-headed fancie to whose will heaven seemes to have remitted the guidance of my fortunes why takest thou pleasure in blending the good with ill to beset roses with thornes to ravish from us what we affect and to work our safetie by the mediation of our enemies Was not Polexander more worthy to serve Alcidiana and to preserve her countrey then a Slave bred in the sandy deserts of Africa Who ingaged thee to murther the one in an Island almost unknowne and to plucke the other out of his miserable lonelinesse to triumph at once both over the pride of Spaine and Alcidiana's libertie The Princesse here imposing her silence We complain said she too much on Fortune since it is in our owne power to deliver us from her tyrannie Let 's make use of our libertie whilst we have it and not attend till it be taken away by a Slave or a Spaniard Let 's die Madam repli'd Amintha but let 's not die till we know certainly 't will not be permitted us to live any longer What knowes your Majestie but that this Slave may be indow'd with more wisdome then so many others whom Fortune hath rais'd out of the mire and carried even to the skies 'T is possible he will neither lose his judgement nor the remembrance of what he hath been and unwilling to soil the fairnesse of his life with the impudent desire of enjoying you content himselfe with the title of your peoples Deliverer Alcidiana being a little revived at this We shall said she shortly see Amintha what heaven hath resolv'd in the meane while if it be possible let 's take a little rest and not altogether despaire of our fortune Herewith she betooke her to her bed and Amintha withdrawing left her a prey to all her troublesome thoughts She vex'd her selfe as she was wont as long as her eyes were open the unfortunate Image of Polexander which appear'd so often to her troubled imagination presented it selfe at her bed's feet shew'd her his wounds made knowne his love and recounted all the accidents it had surpass'd to make his fidelitie triumph over time fortune and her insensibilitie With these thoughts she fell asleep but she had scarce begunne her first slumber when the same phantasme shewing it selfe under all shapes that a dreame could present her sometimes appear'd wounded sometimes whole now miserable then happy now a Slave then a King and Alcidiana thought her selfe a hundred times a prisoner and as often delivered as many times Araxes wife and as many Polexander's The night thus passing away she awoke and awaking recommenc'd her ordinary exercises to complaine on Fortune to lament Polexander's death and to bewaile the miseries of her people Amintha hearing she was awake came into her chamber and plac'd her selfe at the beds-head to speake more privately The Princesse who was yet affrighted with her dreames turn'd towards her her eyes yet swolne with watching and teares and looking as pale as if she had been ready to swound Amintha said she I have spent a night which I can neither call good nor bad poor Polexander's ghost hath continually haunted me but I cannot represent to thee the horror and contentment which accompanied the apparition I saw Polexander cover'd with wounds loaden with chaines wandering among fearfull solitudes I heard him calll me to his aide and having nothing more in his mouth then the name of Alcidiana intimated that onely on my will depended either the continuance or end of his miseries In that extremitie my love made me forget what I was I ran to that miserable man's aide and thought I could assuredly have redeem'd him from his disasters when with a great clap of thunder I saw the Slave Araxes fall at my feet amongst a great deale of bloud and a number of dead careases saine would I have fled but I could not possibly The Slave in the meane while lay at my feet and having told me part of what I have seene in our dismall prediction made use of all that eloquence hath both of cunning and beautie to make me confident of his respect and loyaltie He swore that he had not taken the boldnesse to serve me but that it was a necessitie impos'd on him by the decrees of heaven and those of my beautie You beleeve Amintha this discourse did not greatly please me I look'd on the Slave with mine eyes full of disdaine and straight turning away my head Goe Wretch said I and know that Alcidiana is not capable of change I wish it so reply'd the Slave No sooner had he spoken the word but Polexander appear'd to me as brave and comely as the first time I saw him and forcing his enemie to vanish tooke me by the hand and as 't were in spight of me lead me to the great Temple in this city Is not this dreame altogether very pleasing and very terrible and if the one way it displeaseth doth it not on the other promise a great deale of contentment Yes truly repli'd Amintha and I hope that at last the Chaos and intricacy of your fortunes disclosing themselves and Heaven laying open what it hath conceal'd of that which is come those things which we feare most will have a happy successe It may questioulesse be fortunate repli'd the Queen but not as you beleeve Death only shall produce that felicitie and by its mediation I shall gaine what I could not obtain by any other meanes If you search into and meditate
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