and refuse me not the grace that I may be permitted to bewail them for the miseries which I have brought them to and to prepare them for my death but if your inhumanity doth carry you not to grant me this that I desire as me-thinks I observe in your countenance remember that birth not depending on fortune I am still the daughter of the Sophy of Persia and that you are but a Slave who doubtless have nothing more recommendable in you than fraud and cunning wherewith to serve the violences of your Master get you out of this Chamber then and enter no more unto it till the hour of my death be come for surely the rank which I hold doth ordain you to have so much respect unto me who commands you unto it Rustan who had no other interest in the carrying away of this Princess but that of conducting her to Soliman fearing nothing more than to see her die before she should arrive at Constantinople was affraid in hearing her speak so imperiously that she would have fallen into some extreme resolution if he should have contradicted her wherefore he went out of her chamber and assured her that she should see by his respect that he had not forgotten what he owed unto her But first he took heed with a great deal of care not to leave any thing wherewith she might hurt her self which the perceiving said further unto him You may take from me iron fire and poison but not the will to die and by it I shall alwayes find means to execute my design Rustan would return her no answer knowing full well that she was not in an estate to be perswaded After this he caused her to be served very carefully without ever entring into her chamber yet did he for the most part hear all that she said to her women for fearing lest she should offer to get out of the Cabbin for to go and cast her self into the Sea he lay alwayes at the Cabbin-door not daring to trust any body with the guard of a treasure from whence he hoped for all his fortune I will not recount unto you the generous and pitifull discourses of this infortunate Princess during this voyage since it would but augment the regret which you will have for her loss For Madam after a Navigation prosperous enough after they had passed over all the Caspian Sea by gayning the Coast on the left hand after they had arrived at the River of Araxes which disimbokes it self into this Sea had traversed by Land thorough the whole Countrey of Colobâ—â—da now called Mingrelia where Rustan betook him to his former Vessell again which had stayed still for him there had travelled Mare major or Pontus Enxinus from one end to another in its length after that I say they were come to the Bosphorus of Thrace in a place where they even touched the shoar there arose so furious a wind as they were constrained to take in all their sails And whereas the Pilot had advertised Rustan that he fore-saw the comming of a great storm and that within an hour at the farthest he thought that in regard they were not far from a place where the Skiff might easily land it would not be amiss to perswade the Princess to go ashoar seeing they were within Solimans Dominion and where they needed not fear to abandon their Vessell He caused then one of the Princesses women to be called unto him for to acquaint her with the perill wherewith they were threatned that she might propound unto her the avoyding of it by the means which I have related this Maid who out of the fear of death approved of â—usâ—ans proposition did all that she could to get her Mistress to imbrace it But this couragious Princess said unto her with an admirable constancy that she was resolved to attend the succor of Heaven imagining indeed that the storm wherewith she was threatned could bring no alteration to her fortune which would not be advantagious to her During this contestation the Sea was moved in such sort as it was out of all probability had the Princess consented to what they desired of her for one to think that she could be saved in the Skiff the tempest was so furious the ayr so obscured the thunder so loud the lightning amidst the darkness so dreadfull the waves so high the winds so terrible the rain and hail so abundant and the roaring of the Sea so horrible as it was impossible for one to conceive any hope of escaping from so evident a danger They were two days beaten in this manner with the tempest and tossed up and down with the wind and the waves without ceasing in the mean time to use their uttermost indeavour to with-stand it but at last they were fain to give way to this violence and refer their lives to the conduct of fortune Already had the Pilot abandoned the Helm his Compass stood him in no stead the Mast was all to shattered the Sayl-yards torn off the Tackle rent in pieces the Vessell took in water on every side the souldiers cried out in despair the Mariners abandoned themselves to grief the Princesses women were all dissolved into tears Rustan himself had almost lost his understanding whenas in the midst of so generall a consternation he heard the Princess cry unto him with a quiet spirit and with a setled and confident voyce at length Axiamira shall not be a Slave she shall dye with glory Heaven is armed for her succour and if I deceive not my self her death shall be the cause of her revenge Scarcely had she finished these words whenas an hideous wave hitting the Vessell with an unexpressable impetuosity dashed it with such violence against the point of a Rock as they suffered shipwrack in that very place I will not tell you Madam that which Rustan himself could not tell us for this misfortune was so sudden as in an instant he found that of all his Vessell he had nothing left him but a plank which floated to his hand as he was labouring in the water and wherewith he saved his life by sustaining himself upon it for this man was so fortunate as without other industry than strongly fastning himself to this plank the Sea which according to its custom retains nothing of all the rapines that it makes cast him on the shoar where he remained almost in a swoon till the tempest was over which was not long first so as it might have been said that this Princess had served for an oblation to pacifie the fury of the incensed waters for two hours after she had suffred shipwrack the Sun beginning to appear dissipated the darkness of the night and the tempest and restored calmness and tranquillity to the Sea Rustan being wholly come to himself again got up to the side of a Rock to see if he could discover any mark of so sad a wrack but he could discover no other thing than some of the Tackle and Planks
speak not of your death if you will not have me dye in despair Let us go Madam let us go rather to beg your liberty of Soliman and obtain of him that the loss of my life may be the price of it I will not have it without you answered she wherefore persist not in wishing to save me In the mean time they arrived at Soliman's Chamber whom they found still leaning on a Table and in a posture that they could not see his face As soon as they were there Ibrahim and Isabella cast themselves at his feet My Lord said the Princess if I may obtain the grace of thee that I may dye with Justiniano I will not complain of thy Highness but contrarily I will praise thy justice I am guilty my Lord and of an horrible crime against thee I have made thee despise the friendship which thou barest to Justiniano I have made thee abandon Reason I have put a stain on thy life I have blemished thy glory I have troubled thy rest and I have constrained the greatest Prince of the Earth to oppose all his inclinations which carry him to vertue for to follow an unjust passion Thou plainly seest my Lord that wrath ought to have a more just foundation in thy soul then this Love which afflicts thee and persecutes me Change thy passion in my favor but in such sort that as I have been the object of thy love so I may be likewise of thy hate Think of revenging thy self on the true cause of thy unquietness think of destroying and not of gaining me the last is impossible and the other is very easie for thee It is not because if my tears could move thee I can yet assure thee that hate should have a place in my soul For know my Lord that even Justiniano from whom thou wilt take away both his honor his life and my person which is as dear to him as both the other yet cannot hate thee I have seen it in his eyes I have known it by his discourse he complains of fortune he accuses that which thy Highness calls beauty in me he names that weakness which another would name injustice in fine my Lord being ready to dye innocently by thy directions and command yet am I well assured that he will dye without hatred and that even in dying he will make vows to obtain of Heaven an advantageous change for thee Judg after this whether thou oughtest to refuse me the grace that I may dye and that he may be saved since I am guilty and he is innocent My Lord said Justiniano interrupting her harken not to the vertuous Isabella but to admire the greatness of her courage and suffer not thy self to be perswaded to that which she desires of thee I will not stand to examine whether I am culpable or whether I am not since to be hated of thee is to be so but my Lord I will onely tell thee that if the sentence of my death shall be pronounced by thy mouth I will not murmur at it I confess my weakness to thee my Lord I cannot yet believe but that all that which I have seen since my return is an inchantment and not a truth For how can it be imagined that great Soliman who hath loved me so tenderly and given me so glorious marks thereof can be carryed at this present to such unjust designs That with the same hand wherewith he broke my chains and put the reyns of his Empire into mine he can put about my neck the string which is to strangle me Doth thy Highness no longer remember the thoughts which thou hadst at such time as seeing me ready to enter into the grave rather then displease thee with craving my liberty of thee thou resolvedst to have the incomparable Isabella be brought away by force Was it then my Lord out of a design to ravish her from me to persecute her to blemish thy glory and to take away my life in having unjust thoughts for her Think not my Lord of the services I have done thee but of those which I purposed to do thee yet think not of them my Lord for to pardon me but think of them to save Isabella Restore her to her liberty make not me the cause of her undoing send her back into her Country and after that put me to death here But grant me at leastwise the grace to pronounce my sentence unto me for I confess to thee once more that I doubt whether it be possible that thou shouldst be the same Soliman which hath so dearly loved me It is in vain for you to desire said Isabella that we should be separated that thought is unjust and does wrong to our affection it is a motion whereof I repent me and whereof you ought to repent you Beg then of Soliman that we may dye or that we may live together for provided he will grant us this I will attend his sentence without grief and without unquietness You shall live said Soliman then to her discovering his face which he had all bathed with tears you shall live generous Princess Ibrahim's vertue hath surmounted me Approach said he unto him and if it be so that thou dost not hate me still beliâ—ve for a certain that the good-will which I have born thee is recovering its place in my Soul Repentance which was a motion unknown to me chases the love of Isabella from it therein to re-establish my friendship to Ibrahim I feel it coming my Reason re-assumes its use I see my injustice and my violence with confusion I see the vertue of Isabella and no longer see her beauty she strikes me with admiration and no longer strikes me with love I wish I could imitate her generosity and no longer desire the possession of her In fine said he to Ibrahim know that of all the marks of affection that which thou receivest from me at this present is without doubt the greatest and to give no bounds to it and to make thee see that knowing my fault I will punish it and to keep my self from falling into it a second time I do not onely give thee thy life which I would have unjustly taken from thee but I do also give thee thy liberty as well as that of the incomparable Isabella Oh! my Lord cryed Ibrahim I hear the voyce of Soliman they which spake to me from him have betrayed his true thoughts No continued Ibrahim let us speak no more of this doleful adventure but as of a fable and without thâ—nking of that which is past suffer me onely to give thee thanks for thy clemency As for me added Isabella who eternally remembers benefits and very easily forgets injuries if it be so that great Soliman hath vanquished himself I promise thy Highness to make vows as long as I live for thy glory Doubt not of that which I say replyed Soliman and the better to assure you thereof I permit you said he unto her with a voyce interrupted with
my wounds being cured I was ashamed to remain shut up in a house at a time wherein I might make use of my courage and shew my Judges that I was not a man to be cast away howbeit I felt an extreme violence for the executing of this resolution for though I were deprived of the sight of Isabella as well within Genona as if I had been further off yet found I for all that some content in thinking that we were within the inclosure of one and the same City but sense was to give place unto reason and I was to follow the will of Isabella which served much to make me depart the rather for knowing the violence of my passion she imagined that being thoroughly well I would have much adoe to keep my self from stealing unto her some evening according to the proposition I had made her to that purpose so that to avoid the mischief that might arrive to me thereby she pressed my departure I propounded it to my Father who approved of it the difficulty was to get forth of Genona without danger but whereas Sinibaldo never found any thing difficult to serve his friends he told us that he had an infallible means for to do it that I should but only get me in the night to his Galley which being ready to set sail to go and joyn with the Squadron of Corsica should for my occasion take the course of Sestra where I should be received as in a place that depended on him and from thence I might easily go to Ligorne in a Tartana This order was exactly observed but before my departure I desired to confer with Doria in private I conjured him then to take a speciall care to send me news of Isabella as often as possibly he could and that he should not fail to write me punctually even the least things that concerned her Doria promised to satisfie my desire all that he might and to forget nothing that he thought would content me I intreated him also to go from me to Isabella for to give her my last farewell and to receive her commands to me foreseeing well that Sinibaldo would make me depart as soon as it was night without permitting me to go to Rhodolphoes He so worthily acquitted himself of his commission that Isabella had leasure to write me a large Letter wherein she represented the necessity of my voyage so well unto me and gave me such assurances of her affection and of her fidelity as I departed almost without grief such an absolute power hath she ever had over my mind I took my leave then of Sinibaldo and of my father and followed the order they had prescribed me as soon as it was night I was conducted to the Galley in the habit of a simple souldier and whereas the Captain was acquainted with the business he made me enter into his Cabbin from whence I came not forth till he had cast Anchor at Sestra under pretext of taking in fresh-water I was no sooner ashoar but I went and delivered a Letter which I had for the Governour of that place who presently provided me a Tartana that carried me to Ligorn where I was so fortunate as to encounter a vessell ready to set sail for Cap d' Istria there I quitted the sea to cross through the Country of the Grisons and having put my self in a fitting Equipage in a reasonable good Town vvhere I stayed certain dayes I past into Germanie where the Emperour Charles the fifth was then employed in the War against the Protestants I speak of all these things to thy Highness without further clearing them unto thee knovving well enough contrary to the custom of the Othomans thou understandest the Universall History that there are no people so far distant of whose Religion Interests Warres and the least particularities of their Countrey thou art ignorant nor any Prince whose Exploits or Designes are unknown to thee To conclude my Lord I can tell by long experience that thy Greatness hath extraordinary lights for all that may be comprehended by a humane spirit and it is out of this knowledge that I have have not explaned my self more at large in many places of my narration which certainly are not intelligible in all the extent of thy Empire but which cannot be ignored by the most knowing the most mighty and the most victorious Monarch of the World Soliman not able longer to endure these praises given him by Ibrahim sayd unto him smiling that hee had not permitted him to speak but onely of his Adventures and that to obey him exactly he was to pursue his discourse without flattering him The Bassa returning no other answer but a low obeysance continued the course of his History in this sort I came then my Lord to the Emperor of the Christians vvho received me I dare say with joy and kindness he remembred still the services I had him and in consideration thereof vvould have given me imployment in his Army But whereas I was uncertain of the continuance of my voyage and was rather well assured that if my business was dispatched at Genona I should instantly be gone I excused my self the best I could and went and served amongst the Voluntiers I lived then after this manner without any other unquietness than what absence brings along with it which though it be somewhat hâ—rsh to a man that is passionately in love yet tollerable to me through the pleasure that I had done in receiving Letters from Isabella but I was not long in this condition for three moneths after my departure I understood the death of Rhodolpho I knew that Julia and her daughter were at Monaco and to take all comfort from me my father wrote me how that all the grace that could be obtained of the Senate was the banishing of me for ever from all the Territories of the Republique and that upon pain of losing my head if I were found in any part of them I received the news with so much anguish of mind as I thought I should have dyed with grief but of all these things that whereof I was most sensible was the affliction of Isabella which I saw so well described in a Letter that she wrote me as I forgot mine own misfortune to lament hers I knew the sorrow she was in for her father I knew the haughty humor of Julia I knew that my banishment destroyed all our hopes and even then I found her tears so just and mine flowing in such abundance as there was no room left to obey the commandment she had layd upon me to comfort her and not to think of going to Monaco till I heard from her but at length after I had a while deferred writing unto her I sent her word that I would alwaies very exactly follow her directions that I besought her for all that to consider how I could not do better seeing she could not dispose of her self than to come to Monaco where without fearing the violence of
live her husband Or if thy Highness will render my end more profitable and glorious command me to seek out death in the midst of thine enemies and I shall not be long without testifying by the loss of my life that I am not ingratefull but because I cannot be acknowledging And to incense thy just wrath I will say further that the chastisement which I demand will be instead of grace to me since that in depriving me of light I shall no longer be sensible of all the misfortunes wherewith I am so heavily oppressed I shall cease to live but I shall cease also from being rebellious to thy pleasure I shall restore the life which I ow to the incomparable Asterin and I shall dye for the glory of Isabella In brief my Lord since I cannot be Asteriaes because my love doth oppose it and my Religion doth forbid it and since I cannot likewise live for Isabella because my duty doth tie me to thy service both by a generall right and by a particular obligation death is the onely remedy that remains for me to get out of so many miseries If thy goodness had not broken off my fetters and that I were still thy slave now when that I know that the constancy of Isabella hath triumphed over the artifice of our enemies that I reign still in her heart and that on me alone her felicity or her happiness doth depend I would employ all my endeavour to free me of my chains by a ransom But my Lord I am tyed to thee by stronger bonds the obligations wherein I am ingaged to thy Highness the benefits which I have received from thee the honours thou hast done me and the last degree of glory whereunto I am mounted are too certain proofs of thy love and of thy confidence for me not to be retained in my duty It is then by these sacred bands that I am tyed unto thee and which I cannot break without sacrilege Finally my Lord the thoughts of liberty which pass for a just desire in the minds of all men were an horrid crime in me and I may well promise thy Highness that I will never so much as dream of it And as I am generous enough not to doe any thing that may blemish my love so am I yet more not to doe any thing that may wrong my duty There is no need then of guards to keep me from going out of thy Empire being fully resolved to sacrifise all my pleasures rather than doe any thing unworthy of the name which I carry and the choice which thy Highness hath made of my person for to be the first in thy favour as I am in thy Estates But without further deferring pronounce the sentence of death so just and so much wished for Ibrahim having given over speaking Soliman rose up fell to walking a great pace and with his eyes fixed on the ground continued in so deep a muse as the Bassa doubted that he should obtain the effect of his request but he was not long in this uncertainty for the Sultan standing still and beholding him in a manner that testified more grief than anger and more compassion than wrath said unto him with all imaginable kindness that he held himself infinitely unhappy in that possessing so great an Empire that being so victorious and triumphant and that being able to give felicity to so many people yet could not render the onely man whom he could love happy Upon this so obliging a discourse Jbrahim would have fallen on his knees but he would not suffer him saying unto him that he would fain have obtained so much resolution of himself as to part for ever from a man who was so dear unto him that he had debated the same in his mind when as he walked in that manner as he saw but that at last the affection which he bore him had surmounted his generosity and that it was impossible for him to resolve on so grievous a separation that he conjured him to excuse the effects of his friendship as he excused those of his love and to testifie unto him that as well as himself he did all that he could he would permit him to goe atd see Jsabella provided he would pass his word unto him to return again within six monthes with this promise also that if during his absence he could accustom himself to this privation he would give him his liberty wholly and intirely The Bassa was so surprised and so transported with joy as having cast himself at the feet of the Sultan he was a good while without speaking but at length after he had recovered the use of his tongue he rendrâ—d him thanks for so notable a favor and told him that none but Soliman could vanquâ—â—â— Soliman that this victory which he had gotten over himself was so glorious to him as all that he had done till then was nothing in comparison of it that battailes were gained by the valour of Captaines and Souldiers buâ— in this occasion he owed this victory to none but his own proper vertue As for the rest if he would permit him to go to Monaco he would ingage his faith to render himself at Constantinople within the time that he had prescribed and that he was not to fear that he would break his word with his Highness since he would keep it with his very enemies After this assurance the Sultan told him that he did not doubt of it but that which obliged him to require an oath of him for it was the knowledge that he had of the force of the passion which reigned in his heart and that his friendship would be secured against this enemy of its content Jbrahim swore then solemnly that nothing but death alone should keep him from accomplishing his promise That done Soliman told him that he would not have consented to his voyage knowing that his affairs were not composed at Genoua had he not had the meanes to have the sentence revoked which had been given against him And when as Jbrahim besought him to to let him understand how he thought to perform so unexpected a a thing the Sultan told him that to comprehend his design he was but to remember how one of his Chaoux returning out of France and staying at Genoua had been murthered in the streetes by a popular commotion so that having been advertised thereof by one of them that accompanied him who instantly imbarqued himself away he had caused all the Vessells of the Genoueses that were found in his Ports to be arrested and that for the better favouring of his design an Ambassador was the day before arrived from his Republique whom he had caused to be put in prison at Pera being perswaded that he had done nothing unworthy himself therein since the Genoueses had first violated the Law of Nations in the person of his Chaoux how it was for to communicate this affair unto him that he had sent for him in the morning but the sadness
accustomed to express her self very easily and not to have any need to correct her first by her second thoughts yet was it almost impossible for her to satisfie her self in this occasion She could not conceive that the words of pleasure of felicity and joy could sufficientâ—y express heâ—s that those of constancy and stedfastness were significant enough nor that those of passion and love were powerfull enough to paint forth to Justiniano that which she had in her soul Howbeit in the end after she had blotted out lines and torn whole Letters she was constrained to be contented and whereas it was late she got her to bed without eating any thing notwithstanding her womans perswasion to the contrary She passed the night in such agreeable thoughts as albeit sleep be a sweet and a mighty enemy yet could it not for all that surprise the fair eyes of Isabella so that as soon as the day appeared her impatience caused her to command the fetching of the Counts Gentleman unto her hoping that the sooner he returned the sooner she should see Justiniano and to oblige him to make hast she sent him a Diamond worth five hundred Crowns This liberality failed not to make him diligent hee came presently to the Princesses Chamber both to render her thanks and to receive her commands shee gave him her Letter and desired him to present her complements to the Count his Master and to assure Justiniano that he was attended with a great deal of impatience This Gentleman according to Isabellaes desire made all the hast that possibly he could to Genoua where being arrived he found Iustiniano ready to enter into his own house accompanied with ten or eleven of his friends for the Count had been so carefull that no mark of his banishment should be remaining as in two dayes it was thoroughly furnished As soon as he saw this Gentleman he separated himself from the troup for to speak with him and receive Isabellaes answer which he took with such a panting of his heart as if he had doubted that it had not been favourable In the mean time the Count perceiving Iustinianoes disorder caused all the company to enter by entring first himself so that by this address he gave him means to steal aside to read in liberty the Princesses letter which he opened with a great deal of respect and found that it was thus The Letter of Isabella to Iustiniano THe greatest crime that you are guilty of towards me is that you came not to tell me that you self which you have written unto me I know well notwithstanding that the necessity of your antient misfortunes hath constrained you to carry your self in this sort but I am not ignorant also that love is not accustomed to make such satisfaction to soveraign reason the desires which it begets in an amorous soul seem alwaies just unto it and how reasonable soever we be it is a pain to us to condemn that which pleaseth us find it not strange then if I should wish that you had seen my first transports they would have painted out so well unto you my fidelity as I should no longer be troubled to assure you that time hath not changed my heart that death alone can break my chains and that if I had the Empire of the whole world I would pray you to accept of it with as much affection as I offer you my State it is a reward which I ow you and not a grace which I do you and the onely grief which I have at this instant is to see that I can do nothing whereunto I am not obliged so that all that I can do in this encounter is to protest unto you that did I not ow it to the life of my father which you preserved to the promise which he made you of it to that which you received from me to so many miseries which you have endured for my consideration yet do I ow it to mine own felicity seeing it is certain that I cannot be perfectly happy if I be not so with you it is a necessity that love hath imposed upon me and which reason doth not disapprove of Come then my dear Justiniano to testifie unto me that my hopes are not ill grounded that your constancy is immoveable that you still love your Isabella They who know by experience the effects of love will easily imagine that which the sight of this Letter wrought in the soul of Justinâ—â—no he had for all that a domestique enemy which went alwaies traversing his pleasures by putting him in mind that he was yet a slave at Constantinople though he appeared a freeman at Genoua In the mean time the Count sent him word how he beleeved he had forgotten that he was in his own house and that it was he which was to entertain and honour his friends there This reproach of gallantry obliged him to go in unto them who all left him a little after except Doria to give him liberty for to think of his affairs but whilst he was setling his house the Count sent him all the money which he had received of his estate in his absence with order to his Steward to render him an accompt of it Justiniano was so amazed both at his own riches and the generosity of his friend as he had much ado to resolve to take that which was his own howbeit fearing to do an outrage to the Count instead of doing him a civility he received his mony but would not suffer the Steward howsoever to particularise any thing of his affairs telling him only that provided he could assure him he gave him nothing of another bodies it should suffice for the making up of his accompt that in the mean time to make some acknowledgment for the care he had taken to enrich him he gave him twelve thousand Crowns This man fearing a check from his Master playd the generoso as much as he could and labored exceedingly not to accept of a thing which he earnestly desired but at length he must obey the pleasure of Justiniano who thinking of nothing but Monaco gave order for the making him clothes against the next day and not to lose time after he had desired the Counts Officer to provide him attendants to make up his Train with all possible care and speed he went forth with his dear Doria to render the most important of his visits to the end he might the day following satisfie his desires They impâ—oyed all that day then in ceremonies they were at the Palace to do their duty to the Duke they were at Andrea Doria's to visit Jannetin they returned to the Count and to be wanting in nothing Iustiniano would goe home to Philippo Spinola where he was received with so many testimonies of generosity both by the father and the sonne as all his civility could not answer it Evening being come he returned back with Doria where he found a man attending him from the Generalissimo who being come home
the admiration of this prodigious adventure What said I to my selâ— hath destiny resolved then that I shall pass from one extremity to another It cannot indure mediocritie in my happiness nor in my unhappiness and out of an obstinate rage to persecute me when it sees that I am resolved for the greatest misfortunes and that death passeth with me for a soveraign good it withdrawes me from that Port which I held to be most secure to expose me to the tempest again by apparent felicities But it may be too said I further sighing that there is some justice in its crueltie the temerity which I have had to love and to hope to be beloved of the most admirable person that ever will be is not yet sufficiently â—unished grief despair exile imprisonment and certainty of death are not torments proportionable enough to my crime which being infinite demands also an eternall chastisement Let us suffer then continued I since the incomparable Isabella is not satisfied and let us accept of the life which is given us for a punishment and not for a grace It was after this manner Madam that I resolved to receive all that fortune prepared for me with a design no longer to oppose my reason against her humors and blindly and without resistance to obey this invisible power which mocks all human prudence which puts us into the Port upon the point of suffring shipwrack which precipitates us from the top of happiness into the abysme of misery which overturnes Thrones which destroyes Kingdomes which causes Kings to die and to say all in a word which soveraignly disposes of the whole Universe This resolution being strongly established in my mind I found more tranquillity in my self and though I was alwaies infinitely sad yet for all that it is certain that my melancholy was more sociable and to speak truth it was in some sort necessary that I should find my self in this estate for Soliman failed not to send for me the next day to talk with him and this second conversation having satisfied him more than the first there past not a day after that wherein I had not the honor to confer with him History War Geography the Mathematiques Painting and Musick were the subject of these entertainments And whereas this Prince loves the Sciences passionately and that the Orientall people are not at this day adicted to them he was ravished to see that one of his Slaves was not ignorant in all these things so that I may say with truth that there was not a man in all his Empire whom he esteemed more than my self In the mean time I am to let your Excellencie understand since you will know all my fortune that in Galatia in the same place where was heretofore Angori which the Antients called Seuleucia and which the Turkes at this present name Gielas-il by corruption of speech there is an infinite multitude of Mahometan Religious men called Deruistars comprehending under that name all the divers kinds of those Solitaries which are found amongst them but amongst the rest there are of them which are termed Calenders who are of a different sect from the Deruis and that make a more particular profession of continencie and austeritie Of the number of these Calenders was one Zellebis that is to say a Noble man descended from Chaz-Bectas or Chaz-Hassen who lived in the time of Orchan second Emperor of the Turkes and that in his religion had been the Disciple and Sectarie of one Edebal who was the first institutor of all those Mahometan devotions which prophesied the Empire to Othoman and his successors and who in his time had been held for a man of a very holy life So that this Calender Zellebis of whom I speak a stirring and active man relying on the reputation of his Predecessors began to gain unto him all those of his sect which were no small number and under the name and pretext of liberty he made almost all Natolia to revolt Soliman being advertised thereof failed not in sending a mighty Army thither but the chance of War so favoured those revolters as they defeated it in divers incounters and also killed some Sangiaes or Governors of Provinces who would have opposed themselves to this sedition which under the pretext of the sanctity of those that raised it might at length have proved dangerous to the Turkish Empire The news of the last defeat of the Grand-Signiors Troopes was brought him a little while after I had the honor to belong unto him And whereas the bad success of this Civill War touched him more vively than the loss of a battel in a strange War would have done he resolved to go in person to punish these rebells And whereas he did not believe that these seditious were so daring as to oppose him he gave not himself the time to raise one of those puissant Armies which strikes terror into all the word but contented himself with joyning his ordinary Guard and some other Troops which he took out of the Garisons whereby he passed to those that had rallied themselves together after the last defeat When he was ready to depart he commanded me to follow him though none of the rest of the Slaves besides had order to go I will not tell you Madam all the particulars of this War for whereas I recount mine own History and not that of the Grand-Signior I am to speak onely of those things wherein I have some interest You shall understand then that Zellebis the Chief of this sedition being fallen sick had forsaken the Camp and was retired into the Capitall City of Natolia with the best Troops of his Army whereof Soliman having been advertised he resolved to go and besiege him not doubting but if he could get him into his hands he should easily prevail over all the rest This design having been approved of was not long before it was executed we marched directly to this City approches to it are made trenches are cast up batteries are raised and in a few daies the avenues to it are so well closed up as it is impossible for any body to goe in or out At length to abridge this narration Zellebis being in a short time recovered defended himself so couragiously that after he had sustained three assaults with great loss of ours the besieged were still in case to make sallies every day which extremely incommodated our Army During all these passages I had divers times besought his Highness to permit me to venture my life for his service which I could not obtain because a Slave is not suffred to bear armes I lived then in this sort with a great deal of vexation to see my self in a shamefull idleness at such a time when as occasions were so often presented wherein I might have dyed Nobly As I was in this melancholy the Grand-Signior being much incensed to see this Town hold out so long resolved that his Army should perish there or carry it by force
here seeing if it be true that one is to attend that effect from your love which you speak of she would not be very judicious in favouring you since that would be for her to furnish arms her self for her own destruction If I had had any interest in this company answered the Marquis I had not explaned my self in this sort But I would fain know said Sophronia why that which Leonida calls rigor in me hath not wrought that effect in you which ought to be expected from it I mean the augmentation of your love seeing according to what you have told us your desires having never arrived at their end and your fire having always found many obstacles it should have been still as lively for me as the first day that you spake to me of this flame All that I have said replyed the Marquis are generall rules which convene not perfectly with me yet is it notwithstanding true that the death of desire is in me as in all men the death of my love and if I should not cease from desiring I should neveâ— cease from loving But by a particular grace the term of my love is to love I desire little and I am easily repulsed If I obtain at first that which I would have which is to be received favourably I am arrived at the term that I propounded unto my self and if I do not incounter it I have so delicate a spirit as being unable ever to hope for any but facile things in losing my hope I lose the love too which I had for the cruell one and changing of object I arrive still at my end which is to love eternally But if this reason which is particular to me doth not satisfie you I have no more to say than this that as we see Amber and the Adamant and so many other wonders which are in Nature working by reasons that are hidden from the knowledge of men so am I inconstant in that manner by a particular vertue whereof I cannot reach the cause and which at this present doth also inforce me to have no more but good will for the fair Leonida It were fit then said Leonora to the end we may not be troublesom to you now that you would talk to us of your past-loves since you can finde none here that is worthy to be beloved of you twice We know already said the Count that which befell him in his Countrey and that which hapned unto him here in Genoua but we know not his adventures in the Court of France and the proposition which you have made cannot be but very pleasing to the company For my part said the Marquis I will not resist it and I will indeed acquaint you with one But whereas the anger he was in for that he could not be amorous in this place had taken up his thoughts he acquited himself of it after an extraordinary way yet was it not without musing attentively on that which he had to say never regarding whether all the company were in case to hear him or no and after he had performed all the ceremonies of a man that prepares himself for a long Narration he began to speak in this sort The third History of the Marquis I Loved a woman passionately that was of a condition equall to mine she answered my affection whether feignedly or truly I know not but I know that I received all the honest favours from her which I could expect and that at such time as I was the most favourably intreated by her without having any occasion to complain on my part nor seeking any pretext on hers she forsook me for another Behold the end of my History The whole company then broke out into such a laughter to see that his attention his silence and the preparation which he had brought to the hearing of a long adventure had been paid with so short a Narration as they thought they should never have given over It must be acknowledged said Leonida at length that if they which write our Romanzes did make them deliver their Relations in this sort we should not admire as we do the wonderfull memories of their Heroes who make narrations which cause them to pass whole daies without eating and nights without sleeping For my part said the Marquis I found my self so ill with such another adventure at Monaco where I recounted my follies of Genoua to the Princess as I am fully resolved never to fall into the like again and I should rather chuse to talk to the beautifull Aemilia whom I did love and still doe love whether I will or no than play the Astrologer a second time In the mean while Doria who was infinitely desirous to speak to Sophronia of his growing passion thought there was no better way to make the generall conversation cease and bring on a more particular one than to propound the Musick for the charming of the Marquis his bad humor To which effect then he told the Count that if harmony had at other times had the power to appease the fury of some it might easily allay the melancholy of a man that was not accustomed to have any The Marquis who could not be deceived with such like things presently perceived Doriaes design and to vex him a little he told him that the remedy which he propounded unto him could not work but upon the melancholick and so by consequence it would be unprofitable for him But after he had waggishly caused the conversation to endure a little longer he was the first that prest Leonora to impose silence on the company by a consort of lutes which she had made them hope for The Count then arose and pushing open the door of a Cabinet he ordained the Musicians to begin In the mean time the Marquis who was willing to oblige Doria said that the Ladies were first to be placed where they might best hear thereupon he made a demy-circle of chaires some four or five paces from the Cabinet door wherein he placed all the women and behind every Lady he seated a man playing the Master of the ceremonies so dextrously as without any shew of affectation in his choice he placed Horatio behind Hypolita and Doria close to Sophronia who failed not to make use of so favourable an occasion For after they had harkened a long time to an excellent consort of Lutes with a silence worthy of so charming an harmony and that he saw how in the assembly each one in particular began softly to commend that which seemed to be the most agreeable in the Musick he took the liberty to say unto Sophronia with a low voice I may not venture to deliver my opinion of those exquisite lessons I have heard because the small attention that I have lent unto them would not permit me to be an equall judge thereof Doubtless the thought which hath diverted you from it replyed Sophronia turning her head about towards him was either very pleasing or very melancholick
occasion as any other then Gianger would have been deceived therewith But he who knew the canning of this Traytor had not followed his counsels if the vertuous and prudent Achmat who câ—me to them at that very time had not counselled him the same thing though it was with a very dâ—fferent intention He promised him to go to Soliman for to endeavor the appeasing of his fury and intreated him that in the mean time he would repair to his Tent without permitting any body to see him as well because he was come to the Camp without the Emperors order as for fear lest some violent spirit should make him alter his resolution assuring him that after he had been with the Sultan he would come and give him an accompt of what he had done Gianger would fain have spoken with his vertuous friend in private to have discovered unto him his love and his brothers innocence but it was impossible for him Not being able to do otherwise then he went to Achmat's Tent there to attend his return with a great deal of grief and impatience He saw his brother accused and in danger for the love of him his sister in law in prison and his Mistress in the hands of his father and his Rival and of a Prince that was both the Lover and the Enemy of Axiamira He equally feared the hatred and the love of Soliman and there was not any of all the passions of whose effects he was not afraid in this grievous encounter As indeed they reigned one after another in the soul of Soliman and never was the heart of a man tormented with such strange incertainty as good Achmat told us afterwards Fatherly love inspired him sometimes with clemency and pity then suddenly the love of Axiamira accompanied with jealousie brought fury hatred anger and cruelty into his heart When he regarded Mustapha as his son he sought to excuse him but as soon as he considered him as his Rival he resolved he should perish Reason of State furnished him with means for that he saw him black all over with crimes he had a secret commerce with the Enemies of the Empire he had treated with Tachmas about his marriage he had retained his daughter in his hands and for a last fault he had been so daring as to put a counterfeit upon him All these things nevertheless though very strong against Mustapha since he believed them to be all true could not have lost him for all that without Rustan's wicked counsel The generous Achmat did his uttermost endeavor to oppose it he represented to Soliman the affection which he had always born to that Prince the brave things he had done the â—are qualities that were in him the little likelyhood there was that he would blemish so fair a life with so detestable a Treason that assuredly there was something concealed in this affair which could not be comprehended that at the least it was to be well examined and not condemn the lawful Successor of the Empire without hearing his Excuses or Reasons that he should be obliged to condemn himself by the acknowledgment of his crime and that far from judging him without hearing his Justifications he held that it stood with the greatness and goodness of his Highness suppose he were guilty to pardon him his fault so as he confessed it with repentance and in fine that in remembring he was a King he should not forget he was a father It was with such like Reasons that Achmat sought to move the heart of Soliman but the Traytor Rustan without giving the Grand Signior leasure to answer drew venom out of all these fair flowers and undid the infortunate Mustapha with the same Reasons wherewith Achmat had defended him He answered him that the more Soliman had loved him the more ingrateful he was in betraying him that the brave things he had done were not so much for the good of the Empire as for the ruine of it since he did not make use of the reputation he had gotten and of the rare qualities which were in him but to subborn the Commanders and Soldiers and prepare them for a Revolt when need should require as Soliman had been well advertised of it a good while before that moreover Mustapha did not believe he should stain his reputation in going about to set the Crown on his own head without staying till the death of the Emperor should give it him lawfully seeing there were domestical Examples of such like things in the Othoman Family which seemed to authorize it that the lives of Kings and Fathers had not always been sacred and inviolable to their ambitious children whereby this wicked man denoted without naming him cruel Selim the father of Soliman who had made away his to the end that an example so fresh and sensible might make the more impression in his Soul and might give him a stronger and juster fear of his son that this affair was no way intricate to them who had nothing else in recommendation but the Sultan's interest that the knowledg of the matter being so certain Soliman was not to expose himself to the hazard of being vanquished by the motions of Nature in seeing his son for fear of being vanquished a second time by him in a more dangerous manner that it was not necessary Mustapha should condemn himself by his own confession since the Laws condemned him that clemency indeed was a great vertue but less needful then justice that it was never to be made use of but towards the weak and the other to be always exercised against the mighty that in the estate wherein things were Mustapha could not be saved without putting thâ— Empire in danger that he would forget the grace which had been done him and would ever remember the wrongs which he would think he had received that having acted before out of love and ambition he would act thence-forward out of love ambition hatred and revenge that in fine there was no other choyce but either to save Mustapha and lose Soliman or lose Mustapha and save Soliman which according to his sence was the juster that the Sultan had other sons to fill up the place of Mustapha but that there was none that could well fill up the place of Soliman if he were lost Achmat rendered not himself to so pressing a discourse and though the maintaining of Mustapha's cause after that which Rustan had said was almost to declare himself culpable yet he did it with earnestness albeit to no purpose For jealousie troubling the Judgment of Soliman and stifling all the motions which Nature and Vertue inspired him with believing withall that his son was absolutely guilty fury transported him in such sort as approaching to Rustan and speaking softly to him he pronounced the deadly and bloody sentence against the deplorable Prince and gave him order to go and see it executed I leave you to judg my Lord whether this wicked man gave Soliman any leasure to repent him of so
thank and not him And having dâ—manded of them to whom their friends were Slaves they answered that he which presented them to his Highness could tell to whom he had sold them The Grand Signior desiring to oblige the Princess in all things went away for to leave her at liberty to entertain her dear friends and to take order for the delivery of those Slaves whom she had recommended unto him When he was gone embraces and civilities began afresh between Isabella and these three fair maids Emilia likewise testified the satisfaction which she had to see them but in the midst of their first apprehensions of joy the remembrance of their pleasures past made them shed tears of sorrow They demanded of one another by what adventure they were met together in the same place and being scarce able to beleeve what they saw was true their amazement redoublâ—d every moment The desire of demanding one thing was lost by the curiosity of knowing another and going both at once to ask the Princess questions and to answer those which she asked of them neither of them answered precisely to each other Howbeit the Princess understood that those Friends which were Slaves as well as Doria were Horatio the French Marquis and Alphonso She desired to hear some news of the Count of Lavagna and of Leonora his wife but Sophronia told her sighing that she should know their adventures too soon and Hipolita added that in a day wherein Fortune had done them so great a grace it was not fit to remember so many misfortunes In the mean time Isabella who seared lest the name of Serraglio should disquiet them and make them conceive somthing to her disadvantage acquainted them with the difference which there was between the old Serraglio and that of the Grand Signior's women And whereas in her discourse she many times named Ibrahim without thinking of it and spake of him as of a man in consideration of whom the Sultan favored her Sophronia demanded of her who this Ibrahim was This question made the Princess blush but at length she informed them that this Ibrahim was Justiniano it seeming unto her that in the estate wherein their fortune stood it was not requisite to make a secret of his adventures to them This novelty equally surprized Hipolita Leonida and Sophronia not being able to imagine but that all which they were told was any other then a fiction Their own experience forced them notwithstanding to beleeve that what had been imparted to them was true there being no more difficulty in giving credit to that which was arrived to them thâ—n to that which had happened to Isabella When it was almost Evening the Bostangibassi came to the Princess from Solâ—man to tell her that according to her order for he was commanded to speak to her in those terms he had caused Horatio Doria and Alphonso to be delivered but for the other he could not possibly learn as yet where he was that all he could understand of him was how in less then a month he had changed his Master nine or ten times but he besought her not to be troubled at it assuring her that he would the next day make a general review of all the Slaves in Constantinople rather then fail in finding out of him whom she desired to have That moreover the Sultan was very sorry he could not leave with her the three persons which he had presented unto her out of a belief that they should have been her Slaves for in regard they were not to be intreated so it would be the abusing both of their Religion and Custom to let so many persons of a free condition and of a faith differing from his be in the old Serraglio Howbeit not to deprive her altogether of a conversation that was so agreeable to her she might go every day and visit them at Ibrahim's Palace where their friends were already attending for them and whither he had order to conduct them assuring her that they should be served there with as much care as respect The Princess received this news with a great deal of grief and she would fain have obliged him that brought her this message to have gone and besought his Highness from her that he would permit her to accompany her friends to the Grand Visiers Palace but he answered her that the order which had been given him was absolute and how he could do no other then execute it Isabella it may be would have redoubled her intreaties had not the Sultana Asteria arrived who having been informed of the estate of things counselled her not to exasperate the minde of Soliman and to comply with him in this particular which he did not desire of her without some reason it being very certain that it was altogether extraordinary to see persons that were free and Christians in the old Serraglio Isabella who knew the vertue and discretion of Asteria resolved to yeeld to that which was desired of her in taking leave of her dear friends who left her with tears in their eyes having this comfort notwithstanding that they were going to meet not onely with their Brothers but with their Lovers also for Time Fortune and Slavery had not changed their hearts Horatio Sophronia's Brother loved Hipolita still so did Doria Hipolita's Brother Sophronia and in like manner Alphonso continued constant to Leonida But for Isabella she remained without any consolation but that which was given her by the hope she had to go the next day and visit these fair infortunate ones whose encounter had possessed her with as much grief as joy both by the thought that they were not Slaves and the displeasure she was in for being so soon deprived of their sight The Fifth Book IT was no sooner day but Isabella sent to desire permission of the Grand Signior that she might go and visit her dear friends which he durst not deny so much was he afraid to displease her He repented him nevertheless for having made Hipolita Sophronia and Leonida go out of the Serraglio and feared lest that which he had done for his content should destroy it for it was true that he was not carryed thereunto so much by the requisiteness of things as the doubt he was in that he should not be able to speak to the Princess in private so long as they were with her Isabella then having obtained the permission which she had demanded went to Ibrahim's Palace with as much magnificence as if she had been the Sultana Queen Horatio Alphonso Leonida Sophronia and Hipolita received her with exceeding satisfaction yet was it less for all that then Doria's who having understood from his sister that Justiniano was in that Country was in so extraordinary an impatience to know by what adventure he was come thither again as he had scarcely made his first complement when as he conjured her to acquaint him with it But she that was in no less to understand his and those of his friends and by
his heart and that his Master was his Rival And whereas he knew very well that Love no more then Royalty endures not any companion he resolved to conceal from the King the design which he had in his head It was not long before his suspicions were fully cleared for Abdalla being become passionately in love and fearing lest if he should talk too often with Hipolita his sister to whom he carryed a great respect would come to know his intentions he opened his heart wholly to Aly discovered his passion unto him conjured him to finde out the means to acquaint her with it who had caused it Aly as we understood afterwards testified a great deal of joy unto him for that he being fallen in love as he said with one of those Slaves he had been so happy as not to prove his Rival The King demanded of him then whether it were so that he loved any of them and the other answered him with a false confidence that Leonida had touched his heart That which obliged him to this lye was his belief that by this mean the King would never be jealous of him nor would fear his falling in love with Hipolita being perswaded that his affection was engaged otherwhere and indeed the matter fell out as he imagined The King gave him the conduct of his Love as well as that of his Estates commanded him always to follow him whensoever he went to the Princess Mariama and not to lose any occasion of speaking to Hipolita concerning him In the mean time as if Fortune would give a particular persecution to each of these three fair Slaves a younger Brother of Abdalla's named Abdelcadar became desperately in love with Sophronia For the rest of us except it were the Marquis we had no new passion and mishap in this encounter appeared not to us at first but in the semblance of good fortune The King sent to visit us with presents and many times made us come to his lodgings for to entertain him Aly resorted to us himself and assured us of his protection We had also the liberty to see and speak with our sisters or to say better our Mistresses for in these occasions love always prevailed over friendship In fine the greatest of our unquietnesses was that we could not foresee the end of our present felicities nor divine wherefore they treated us so favorably and yet would not deliver us Howbeit we were not long without discovering it for the King 's and Aly's love still augmenting whereas gallantry seems to be natural to all the Moors they were willing to restore Hipolita to her former joy before they would speak to her of their passion For notwithstanding all the caresses which these faâ—r maids received from the Princess Mariama and the affâ—ction which they carryed to her yet melancholy appeared still in all their discourses and in all their actions So that to delight them there were nothing buâ— publique feasts turneys balls and rejoycings But in all these encounters Aly so carryed the matter as all the parties whereof he was the Head were both braver and more magnificent then that of others without the Kings ever suspecting any thing of his true intent because his minde was prepossest with the opinion that it was Leonida he was in love withall and not Hipolita And surely he should have been very melancholique that could not have taken pleasure in these assemblies it being certain that nothing is seen which is more agreeable even in Europe especially for dancing For whereas since the desolation of Granado many persons of quality retired to Fez Tunis and Marocco though the remembrance of their misfortunes ought to have made them renounce all manner of delights yet their desire to please Abdalla who protected them caused them to be present at all these feasts And truly I do not marvel if the Spanyards in conquering their Kingdom though they be conquerors severe enough have not forborn taking some of their gallantries chiefly that dance called Sarabanda But it must be acknowledged that they are but bad imitators of them no more then we who have taken it from the Spanyards it being most certain that they dance it in a manner wherein there is so much art and grace as we come nothing neer it And whereas out of a particular favor we were present at all these feasts I remember one amongst the rest wherein the Marquis made an end of losing his liberty by a Sarabanda which the Princess Lela Mahabit danced For whereas all thâ— features of her face were excellâ—nt her eyes sparkling and passionate her shape advantagâ—ous and comely her carriage free and majestical although the colour of her skin was not vâ—ry agreeable yet her whole person together appeared infinitely pleasing in this Assembly where she danced a Sarabanda with a negligencâ— so full of charms with so graceful a disposition and so gallant and amorous an ayr as the Marquis was in a minde solemnly to renounce his ordinary humor and bâ—come constant for this Princess And to testifie unto you how gâ—eat an impression she made in his heart I only can tell you that in four days the Marquess who was dâ—sirous to transform himself into the person beloved as much as possibly he could learned this dance so miraculously that having demanded permission of Aly to intermingle himself amongst a Troop of Granadins who were to dance disguised in one of these Assemblies he charmed all the company in such sort as the Princess Lela Mahabid who was an equitable Judg of such like things would needs know who he was But she was much amazed when as she perceived that he was not a Granadin but one of the favorite Slaves for so we were called Sophronia Leonida and Hipolita were no less then she to see that they had admired him without knowing him never dreaming it should be he though they discerned him not amongst us In the mean time this adventure was not displeasing to her for after that there past not an Assembly and there was one almost every day wherein he spake not to her wherein he danced not before her and wherein with his adress and accustomed confidence he gave her not some mark of his affection yet without passing those bounds of respect which he owed to her But whereas all these Feasts were made upon design the King solicited Aly to spâ—ak to Hipolita of his love which he did soon after but in such a manner as seemed at first sight infinitely to oblige my sister For after a reasonable long discourse he besought her to consider what he owed to the King his Mâ—ster to the end that afterwards she might receive that which he was going to say to her as a pure effect of his obedience to Abdalla and not as a matter he approved of He told her then that he had such a particular esteem of her as he would rather expose himself to the hazard of losing his life and his fortune then to that of
of his Arms and that he was in a condition to impose Laws on the vanquished he was sent from the Bassa of the Sea to beg a grace of him in favour of Arsalon This name equally surprized both Ibrahim and Ulama for the Grand Visier remembred very well that this Arsalon was he who had taken Doria neer to Naples that he was Father to Alibech whom Osman the Bassa of the Seas son had maried but he could not comprehend how they should meet together and be made friends Ulama knew too by report that the Satrap Arsalon was become the famousest Pirate of all the Seas of the Levant so that both of them provoked by curiosity pressed Morath to explain himself more clearly My Lord said he to Ibrahim before I tell you what Arsalon desires may you be pleased to let me relate unto you the sequele of an History the beginning whereof you are acquainted with to the end that by the knowledge you shall have thereof you may be the more easilier carried to grant the favour which is desired of your generosity Ibrahim having consented thereunto caused every one to go out of his Tent except Ulama and they two being set Morath spake in this sort The Sequele of the History of Osman and Alibech I Make no doubt my Lord but if the generosity of Alibech moved you at such time as by your goodness you got the Grand Signior to judge her cause to her advantage I make no doubt I say but that which I am going to impart unto you will carry you to serve her I will not stand to run over her first adventures thereby to make you understand the rest since I hold it impossible that you should not still remember that she is the daughter of Arsalon the Pirate or to say better of a Satrap of Persia whom ill fortune hath made a Pirate And I do not think you have forgot that this Pirate took Osman prisoner who in a few dayes became desperately in love with the vertuous Alibech and that she delivering him saved her self with him upon condition that he should marry her when he came to Constantinople No more can you be ignorant that the Bassa of the Sea would never have permitted his son to have kept his word with her had not the Grand Signior by his commandment and by his liberality forced him to receive this fair Maid in whom he found no other defect but poverty Now since that my Lord I can assure you that Alibech hath not rendred her self unworthy of the grace you did her nor of that which yet she attends from your goodness She hath lived with the Bassa of the Sea in as much obedience to him as if she had been his own daughter and with her submissions and respects hath in such sort acquired his affection as he loves not his son with more tenderness As for Osman there hath never been heard speak of a more violent or more durable love than his and every day too he sees some new grace in his dear Alibech for whereas the beauty of her soul is far greater than that of her face she hath given him so many new marks of her vertue of her courage of her love and of her generosity as he should be the ingratefullest of men if the affection which he bears her could enter into comparison with any other This person then being so straightly linked in good will to her Father-in-Law and to her husband could not resolve to abandon them at such time as the Bassa of the Sea was constrained to imbark himself for to go and command the Fleet which was sent into Mingrelia And although out of the fear they were in lest she should receive some incommoditie they did all they could to keep her from it yet was it impossible for them to prevail with her No no said she to Osman I cannot leave you and seeing I could follow a father out of obedience I can better follow an husband out of affection I am already inured to the discommodities of the Sea which no doubt will be sweeter to me sharing them with you than rest would be agreeable unto me if I should enjoy it without you If you fight with advantage added she the joy which I shall have of your victory will redouble yours and if by misfortune you be vanquished which Heaven forsend my tears shall fight for you when you no longer can In fine said she further tempests war slavery yea and death it self would be sweeter to me than a long absence Alibech having in this sort touched the heart of Osman and the Bassa of the Sea being overcome by her intreaties she imbarqued her self with her husband who was Vice-Admirall under his Father Their Navigation having been prosperous enough untill they came to Mingrelia they thought of no hing more than of choosing a place where they might make a descent according to the order they had for it but a horrible tempest that arose destroyed all their designs It was so great so long and so extraordinary that the whole Fleet was dispersed so that when it grew to be calm again three Vessells were scarce found together Howbeit so great was our good fortune as in four or five dayes the whole Navy rejoyned and albeit most of the ships had something or other broken yet we rejoyced to see them all shattered as they were after we had believed they were lost The two Vessells of Osman and of the Bassa of the Sea were only wanting to the Fleet but at length that of Osman comming in made us hope that the Bassa would return in like manner After he had been attended some dayes with an impatience which well demonstrated the love which Osman and the generosity which Alibech had for him and after that many Vessells had been senâ— out to cross up and down the Sea for to try if they could meet with him one day as Osman was looking forth himself to see if he could descry any thing he discovered a Vessell and though it was so far off as he could not discern of what Nation she was yet the extreme desire which he had that it might be his fathers perswaded him that it was he In this belief he caused his dear Alibech to come upon the deck to let her see that which all the rest of his Vessell saw as well as he they continued a pretty while in this sort between hope and fear but at length this Vessell approaching by little and little destroyed the first and increased the other for Osman certainly knew that this Vessell was a Brigantine and not that of his father whose fortune had been very different from his The tempest having severed him from his Fleet and the storm having mightily bruised his Vessell he had been so unhappy as to encounter with a Pirate who having found him in so deplorable an estate had set upon him or to say better had taken him he not being able to make any
her imprisonment the War of Persia the things which Ibrahim had performed therein the death of Zelebis and many other such like things which filled his mind with so many deadly ideas as the love which he bore to Isabella began to be too weak to dissipate them He felt some repugnancy in his heart for that which he did and his Reason being suddenly untangled What do I said he to himself sensless that I am not to consider that the impossibility which I find to destroy a disarmed man whom I hold in my hands who is loaden with irons and who is without defence in the midst of his Executioners is without doubt a sign that Heaven protects him For if it were not so I had destroyed him ere this I had not promised him so long ago that I would not put him to death I had not remembred it so precisely this Artifice which they have found out for me to be revenged had succeedâ—d I had slept and Ibrahim had been dead But I see plainly as I have said that Heaven guards him and that it will not let me be revenged But alas said he still to himself for what crime for what injury for what outrage will I be revenged No no continued he Ibrahim is not guilty and I alone am the offender for I owe all things to him and he owes nothing to me It is true that he would have gone out of my Empire without my leave but it was to save his Mistress and this generous man who might have overthrown all my State to secure himself and to be revenged of the infidelity which I have used to him was contented to fly away like a simple Slave Let us harken to Reason which speaks to us let us harken to the voyce of the Prophet who holds our hand and let us harken no longer to this unjust love that possesseth us Here Soliman could not retain his tears and the love which he bore to Isabella made him that he still found some difficulty in resolving to be deprived of her But Rustan's endevoring once more to carry him to violence made him incline wholly to Vertues side No no said he unto him base as thou art I will commit no more crimes by thy counsel the Prophet who guards me will keep me from dipping my hands in the blood of Ibrahim and if I am to shed any it must be theirs who blemish my glory with their pernicious counsels Rustan hearing Soliman speak in this manner thought that he had lost his Reason for whereas nothing new had happened he could not comprehend how in so short a time so great a change should arrive unto him But he knew not that they which have vertuous inclinations and which are not wicked but by a violent passion or the counsel of others have need but of a moment to carry them to that which is good Their Reason is no sooner cleared but they find a mighty succor in themselves and so soon as they have a will to fight the victory is certainly theirs Soliman gave an illustrious example of this verity in this occasion it being most sure that never was there a greater or more sudden change made then that which was made in his Soul He charged Rustan not to go out of his chamber and commanded another to go and fetch Ibrahim and Isabella to him who little thought what Vertue was doing for their advantage This Prince nevertheless had great unquietness still he seemed uncertain in his resolutions and during the agitations of his Soul he cryed out sometimes O Heaven must Ibrahim be destroyed then suddenly checking himself but also said he can I resolve to lose Isabella After this he sat him down on four Cushions and hiding his face with both his hands leaning on a table as it were the better to think of that which he would resolve of Rustan remained in strange pain In the mean time Ibrahim could not comprehend for what reason they made him attend so long for his death He feared lest some violence should be done to Isabella he doubted lest they should be so cruel as to put her to death before his eyes and in this pain death no doubt would have been a remedy unto him had not the thought of never seeing Isabella again rendred it more grievous to him for that consideration then for the loss of his life The disorders of his Soul for all that appeared not in his face and one would hardly have beleeved in looking on him that he did think he should dye every minute Isabella on her part was not without trouble for having understood that they came to fetch Ibrahim she certainly believed that he was lost and was already preparing to follow him when as they who had order to go for her entred all into her chamber As soon as she saw them and that they had told her how they had order to carry her before Soliman if it be to put me to death in his presence answered she I will give him thanks But acquaint me at leastwise whether Ibrahim be living and whether we shall dye together or no. These men not knowing Soliman's intentions durst scarce answer her only they assured her that she should see the grand Visier very suddenly as indeed they led her into the Hall where he was attending the time of his execution There were seen about him his Guards weeping and four Mutes that were to strangle him and that having in their hands Bow strings of black silk for that purpose seemed also to haue some compassion of him This doleful object having touch'd the heart of Isabella she could not forbear giving a great skriek Alass said she how do I repent me of my wish and how much more supportable had it been for me to dye alone then to dye with you Ibrahim seeing and hearing her speak thus What Madam said he unto her will they attempt upon your life Ah! no no continued he turning him to those that invironed him it is a thing I shall never endurâ— when they shall meddle with none but me I will tender my neck to them without resistance but if they attempt any thing on this Princess I protest that I will strangle him with mine own hands that shall offer any outrage to her This is not that which I will have answered she defend not my life if they attempt upon yours since they are to be inseparable I have not wish'd to live but onely that I may not see you dye As they would have continued speaking they that came for them told them that they had nothing else in charge but to carry them before the Grand Signior Let us go then said the Princess to him let us go my dear Justiniano I repent me of my weakness and since I must dye provided that I dye in your presence I shall be glad that we may dye together Let us go then and beg for death of Soliman as a grace Ah! Madam cryed the illustrious Bassa