rob you of that part of honor which you might have gotten in this combate The Turkes may be well contented with this petition willingly obei'd the command of their Captaine and he addressing himselfe towards his Antagonist why â—…inger we said he See my friends are all as you desired and in so saying came one to give the first blowe but he was prevented and receiv'd so weighty a blowe on his headpeece that he knewe by this essay that he had met with an enemy such as he had often wished for He would instanly shew what his power was and with his full strength strooke at his enemy who putting it by gave the young Turke a second blowe This Lions-heart considering nothing but victory threw himselfe from his owne ship into the others and reveng'd himselfe of the blowes he had receiv'd He puts by presseth on strikes joines nimblenesse to strength and searcheth his enemy in every part where he thinks him unarmed The other who was glad to finde so valiant an adversary spar'd him let him not feele the weight of his arme but in that measure where to the necessity of overcomming obliged him yet letting fall a blowe on the head of the faire Turke more heavily then he was aware on he made him stagger and forc'd him to set one knee on the deck This fearfull stroake being seene by the spectators some grew pale and the others by an indiscretion of persons too affectionate cried out that Polexander was alwaies unequalled and ever victorious The young Turke no sooner heard the name of Polexander but he threw away his sword and buckler and cast himselfe at the feet of his enemy Polexander was astonish'd at this action but he was more when the young Turke put off his helmet yes said he Polexander is ever without a Peere and alwaies victorious and the rash Iphidamantus too much honor'd to be vanquished by an arme that may subdue the whole world My Lord said he you see at your feet that Iphidamantus who would call himselfe the most unfortunate of men if he had not the happinesse to be your brother Iphidamantus my brother Reâ—…epli'd Polexander that cannot be Iphidamantus is long since dead One of a good aspect hereat stepping in sir said he to Polexander after he had well looked on the young Turke the Prince Iphidamantus is not dead as the Queene your Mother would make you beleeve He was given to the Sultan Bajazet for the ransome of the King your Father And is this then cri'd Polexander that Iphidamantus whom I have so long bewail'd Ah my deare brother how happy and welcome to me is this meeting But and it please you we must not let that vessell escape whose taking you hindred If I loose her you loose Polexander the same day you found him She belongs to Alcidiana and the Pilot that governes her is the only man that knowes which way to get to the Island of that faire Princesse Iphidamantus very sorry to be the cause of Polexanders displeasure intreated pardon for his fault and hearing the Prince who held him imbraced to sigh I vowe said he never to rest till you have recover'd that which by my indiscression you have lost Polexander pressing him to his cheeke my deare brother said he I will not refuse your assistance but I am afraid least it come too late in thus saying he commanded his vessells to steere after that of Alcidiana They all set saile together and that of Iphidamantus with the rest whilst Polexander taking his brother apart and he who first entred conversation with them understood all the adventures that this faire Prince had run through in the Court of the Grand Seigneur and the occasion that made him forsake an Empire where he could expect no lesse place then that next to the Soveraigne On the suddaine the impatience and displeasure of Polexander breaking out doubtlessely said he we shall loose the vessell of Alcidiana Doe one thing said he to Iphidamantus which may take effect Goe backe into your owne ship and follow Linceus alone I imagine that in acknowledgment of the favour you have done him he will stay for you if you come in sight of him I follow him not but for his owne good as much as mine I thinke you will find nought amisse in a desire so innocent Iphidamantus yeelding to the desire of his brother went into his owne ship and meeting the Mute whom he had sav'd he made him understand by his signes that he would faine goe into Polexanders ship He asked him not his reason because it had been so much losse of time but set him a borde and made towards the north side of the Isle of Fez. Polexander pli'd to the other side and as he was commanding his men somewhat he perceiv'd the Mute in action of a man transported with griefe and choler He asked him the subject of his agitation But the Mute turning his head aside disdainfully presented him the lesser of his two rich boxes Polexander â—…o sooner sawe it but he knew it and taking it with a great fervency open'd it with as much unquietnesse Assoone as he sawe the faire picture therein inclos'd O glorious and onely relicks of my former happinesse said he deare treasure which I have recover'd after so long a losse is it to revive my hopes againe that heaven hath permitted me this review O faire picture me seemes thou answer'st me that my felicities are returned with thee I doe as assuredly beleeve it as if Alcidiana had spoken it from her owne mouth and will consult henceforward with thee as with that fatall starre by whose direction I hope once to arrive at the inaccessible Island After he had long regarded the portraict he began to rethinke on the meanes to gaine the originall Giving then many great thankes to the scornesull Mute and causing his ships to seperate and take divers courses he sailing alone the third day discried the vessell of Alcidiana He gave her chase two daies and mist bording her between the Isle of Teneriffe and the great Canaries But the famous Linceus adding by his arte a new swiftnesse to his ship that was an excellent sailer had alwaies the best of the more slug vessel of Polexander by favour of the night and winde got herselfe at last cleane out of kenne Polexander almost desperate at this ill successe began to take on at fortune the windes the sea and sometimes on Iphidamantus himselfe But being all foure equally deafe to him they gave no answer to either his injuries or prayers It is true that Iphidamantus employed all his care and wit to content his brother he search'd all the ports of all the Canaries and carried by his affection as violently as by the storme ran within sight of the coastes of Morocco never dreaming what punishments were there prepar'd for him and his companions Whilst he thus forgot himselfe and seemed to disvalue a treasure which was ever to
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
the best successe to follow the best causes forsooke tha Turkes and to have part in the victory came on the Christian side This favourable change was received as a certaine presage of that daies good fortune and encouraged the Souldiers to witnesse by their shouts the impatiency they were in till they were at hand stroakes with their enemies The great Gallions of Portugall which were in the front of the Christian Armie as so many forts whence they ruined the Turkes began by the noise and smoake of their double Canon to make the sea open even to the depths and obscure the aire with enflamed clouds The enemies grew therewith terrified lost their order and were flaine unrevenged At last all mingled Gallies set on Gallies Ships boorded Ships in briefe all vessells little and great of oares and sailes fought either in grosse or seperated It was there that the inconstancy of the chances of Warre appeared Those who were lately Conquerors are now in their turne overcome and such a one who had been made a slave recovers his liberty by the servitude of those who had put him in fetters By little and little this forest of Masts grew lightsome the noise lessened by the death of some and the wearisomnesse of others and both the fleets seemed to be but the shadowe of what it was at the beginning of the battell The Christians were the Victors and though the Turkes by their obstinacy in fighting made knowne they knew not what t was to fly yet at last they were constrained and without their obduratenesse had confessed that the power of earth is weake to resist the hands of heaven The Sun was no sooner set then the victorious Army content to see their powerfull enemies not dare to appeare before them would not drive to despaire those they had put to flight you could see no more of them then some few scattred vessells from the body of the Army yet in fight Amongst others Iphidamantus ship which had a good share in the glory of this day was grapsed with a Turke the combate equally entertained on both sides left none to doubt of the valour of those that were assaied or those that defended The Turkes were more in number then the Christians yet had they been put to the worst without the incredible valour of their Captaine who alone made all the assaults of his enemies vaine and bootlesse The valiant Iphidamantus desiring to shew by some remarkable blowe that there was no pride so high which he could not abate nor strength which he could not master threw himselfe among the armes of the valiant Turke and let drive at him so surious a blow with his sword that he sent into the sea all that the other had on his head The Turkes amazed at the fearfull blow their Captaine had received resolved not to stand wilfull in a combate which could but adde a particular shame to the generall This deliberation being as soone executed as taken the two ships sundred but Iphidamantus that would not overcome by halfes followed the Turkes and boorded them againe The combate began a fresh more bitter then before and the Turkish Captaine flying after vengeance with an heroike fury made Iphidamantus see that there is no valour like that which is seconded with choler After a hundred times trying to finish this duell by some extraordinary blow Iphidamantus threw himselfe into the Turkish vessell and made his enemy recoile but the Moore with a passe on Iphidamantus stroake him with his Cimiter on the Caske with such a force that he made him fall at his feet His companions thought him dead and the affright making them forget their honour and their faith they left him to the mercy of the Turkes and saved themselves by the favour of the night Bajazet for so was this victorious Turke called quickly caused Iphidamantus to be taken up by six of his souldiers and carried into his Cabin Whilst he tooke paines for the ease and solaging of his prisoner and seemed to have forgotten the generall routing of the Mahometan Army a tempest more carefull of his safety then himselfe tooke him from among the Christians who pursued their victory and brought him to one of the Azorez that he might there recollect those that remaine of his fleet This place had been appointed before the battle for the Rendezvous of the Pirates of which he was the chiefe The next day after his arrivall five or six ships came in the next day eight or ten and in this sort in lesse then six daies he had made a new Army Streight he resolved to goe see whether the Christians had not enterprised somewhat on the place of his usuall retreat He gave them directions for the order they should keepe in case they should be forced to fight by the way and so weigh anchor from the Azorez and came out in the head of his fleet Though his charge and the humour of those he commanded was capable to take up an entire man yet this generous Pirate reserved the better part of his time to give it to Iphidamantus He forgot nothing of whatsoever he judged fit for the healing of his wounds or for the satisfaction of his minde and told him oftentimes that so brave a man as he never appeared more glorious then when he was constrained to suffer under a misfortune That the chance of Warre being never in our power we are to take it as it falls That t is true victory was often accompanied with many advantages but they followed many times without any merit that he had heard spoken of many Captaines whose death or captivity had given more cause of envy then of glory to those who had either killed or made them attend their triumphall Chariots Iphidamantus that made profession of true generousnesse was ravished with that in Bajazet and giving himselâ—…e over to the charmes of his wit aswell as to the strength of his reason knew not sometim whether it had been advanâ—…agious for him not to have lost his liberty He admired the good aspect of this Pirate the sweetnesse of his wit and converse his manners directly opposite to others of his condition and above all his admirable complaicaâ—…cy by which he seemed to make himselfe a slave to them who where already his So many virtues met he in a person who in his opinion was destitute of all that at first they made him his admirer and soone after so passionate a friend that for it he would have wronged himselfe and called backe his affection as if he had committed an injustice in giving it to Bajazet In the meane while this famous Pirate had time so favourable that the fifth day he dâ—…ried the great Rocks which are as so many Bastions and Rampards for the defence of his Island The next day he came to the entry of his hâ—…ven and was not there admitted till he which had the command of it had been to know him I phidamantus was
every one departed with diverse actions of thankfullnesse and Bajazet being disarmed on the place returned thence in the company of Polexander Zelmatida and Iphidamantus Bajazet asked them if they were not well satisfied in the honour that those of his Religion gave to the dead Zelmatida confessed that the ceremony pleased him but Iphidamantus went further and besought Bajazet to tell him what those Pirates did beleeve should become of their soules after death and why they made so many prayers to obtaine from God that the dead should be delivered from the interrogation of the two Angels and the torment of the grave That which you aske me answered Bajazet is so peculiar to the Mahometans and held so great a mystery in their Religion that you ought to have been bred or to have long time lived among them to give you an accompt of it Yet I will endeavour to satisfie your curiosity And though I am a weake Theologitian I dare assure my selfe to cleare you of it since I most particularly informed my selfe of that point when the necessity of my owne defence engaged me to accept the charge which I now undergoe Know then that all those who beleeve in Mahomet hold for an Article of faith that the dead are liable to give an accompt of their actions in this life and that they are to give it before two extreamely rigorous Judges and those are two Angels the one is called Mongir and the other Guaneguir The first carries alwaies a club of iron the second holds with both his hands certaine hookes exceeding sharpe and they are both black Scarce can a dead man be in his grave so long as since we buried our Captaines but the two Angels come They command the dead to arise to kneele and to cover his body with his soule so as during his life time his soule was covered by his body As soone as the deceased hath given satisfaction to these severall commands the two Angels begin to examine him on divers points of his beleefe and on the principall actions of his life That is Whether he hath constantly beleeved in Mahomet whether he hath endeavoured to doe good workes enough to keepe him from those black and dreadfull Countries which they call Algenas Alsaitanas They aske him an infinity of more questions as whether he hath observed the ceremonies of the Zala whether he hath been a great Alm'ner whether he hath not failed to fast his Radaman which is the same that the Christians call Lent If he have paid all the dues that he owed to the Ministers of Mahomet and in short if he hath never broken any of the commandements contained in the Zuna of that great Prophet When as the dead that hath then no more liberty to lie hath given an accompt of his life and that the black Angels are satisfied They leave and vanish from him Presently after there appeare to him two others more white then snow that rejoce with him for his good deeds and promise him eternall recompances They lay him as he was before the comming of the two first Angels One puts his arme under his head to serve him for a bolfter the other in the same manner keeps up his leggs and both of them guard him entertaine him and promise not to forsake him till the day of Judgement But if it happen that the deceased condemned by his owne conscience stand mute before the black Angels or gives them an accompt like an ill steward that knowes not what he hath done with the goods that were intrusted in his hands Mongir gives him so great a blow on the head with his club that he alwaies carries for that purpose that he drives the poore crimenell more then fifteen foot deepe into the earth And presently Guaneguir making use of his hookes fixeth them on the wretch and drawes him by force out of the ground nor doth this exercise end for as soone as the dead is plucked out of his hole by the one the other knocks him in againe with his club and so continuing this double punishment they never leave him in rest nor ought to leave him till the day of Judgement Bajazet giving the Princes thus to understand the secrets of so extravagant a Religion astonished them Iphidamantus likewise turning to Bajazet I confesse said he that your people here are very charitable and scrupulous to be of a profession sufficiently contrary to the rules of a devoute life You are deceived said Bajazet The Zuna of Mahomet gives us a priviledge to warre with those that are enemies to his law and to hold for goods lawfully gotten all that we can take from them by our utmost force or otherwise Besides you tooke no notice that in the relation I made you of the interrogatory of the two Angels you heard me not speake of any theft or murther After this doubt cleered Iphidamantus replied I have no more to aske you but I finde that Mahomet was very provident in fitting the mysteries of his religion to the humours of those that should embrace it and so tempered all things that according to his accommodations a man may be a great murtherer a great theefe and a very honest man and altogether It is prophanely spoken said Bajazet to give the attributes which abuse hath made abhominable to permitted and glorious actions Mahometans never steale They content themselves with the taking from the enemies of their Prophet all meanes they have that might hurt them and by a new kinde of vindicative Justice they chastice those that bandy themselves against the Law which God hath visibly sent from Heaven to the earth and published by the mouth of Mahomet Though by these words Bajazet seemed to be very passionate in defence of the Alcoran yet he uttered them in a certaine negligent manner that it made the Princes thinke he beleeved not all that he spake In talking of these curiosities they came where they used to lodge Bajazet according to his custome gave the three Princes their dinner and during the repast related to them divers secret ceremonies which made up the principall mysteries of the Religion of Mahomet They were taken from the table by the shouts of the Pirates and the noise of the brazen drums Bajazet knowing that the Princes were resolved to end the day as they had begun it told them that they were about the election of twenty new Captaines to fill up the places of the dead and that there would be something passed in this meeting worthy their seeing Hereupon Bajazet tooke his leave of them and went to the place where all his Army attended him Polexander and Zelmatida more to please Iphidamantus then to see things so unworthy their high and sad thoughts went out of the Fort and came into a great plaine which was appointed for the mustering of the pyrates They sawe presently that at a signall given the Army divided it selfe into Regiments and so stood till Bajazet had taken the whole
to Zelmatida but the Prince unwilling to give him that time he held his peace and a while thence calling by their names five or six of the principall Rovers that were come to visit him he spake to them in this manner My Companions since in the estate I am I cannot promise to serve you any more I have entreated Polexander not to forsake you You cannot doubt of his courage nor experience The only thing you are to feare is that he loves you not enough But be assured of the contrary He hath promised me to doe in all as my selfe if he find that his government please you Make your selves worthy of a protection far more powerfull then mine and be confident that you will have no cause to lament my death But said he turning to Polexander I yet aske you one favour and t is that you will let me know in what case I am and be not so cruell under the shadow of pity to let me dye without setling my affaires I have such things in my minde that the rest I expect in the other life depends absolutely on them and I protest as being ready to give up my soule that if I dye without time to discharge my selfe of one thing I never yet told I shall dye desperate There hapned then in the persons of those Pirates a novelty that their nature might make passe for a prodigy They were moved to pity and as if from wild beasts which they were wont to be they had beene suddainely turned to men they felt themselves sensible of griefe and wept in beholding the constancy of Bajazet Fame that gets in every where and hath wings to fly over the walls when the gates are shut against her published this sad newes in the Army and knew to paint it to the Souldiers in such lively colours that the desire of booty was neither their only nor the strongest passion whereof they found themselves capable Their shouts of joy were changed into lamentations their laughter into teares and the hopes of their safety being on the suddaine utterly extinct they were strucken with the apprehension of a thousand different tortures Yet since it was the custome during the sicknesse of their Generalls that the Pirates incamped and abode day and night in a body of an Army they stirred not from the place where Bajazet had left them in going to the Magazins Notwithstanding to give them some refreshing during so long a toile it was advised to execute all that Bajazet had appointed T is true that the largesse was a great ease to their sorrow and brought them to themselves by the greatnesse of the present liberality and promise of a second that should surpasse the first On the other side Bajâ—…zet being left to rest for the space of foure and twenty houres begun in good earnest to feele how extreame great his wound was Yet as weake and pained as he was it was but little more perceived then in the Princes They were so cast downe with griefe and feare that it was hard to be judged who was the sickest of them or Bajazet When they were about to take open the greatest tent there was not a man in the chamber whose feare gave him not severall conjectures though they were all sad ones and deadly The Chyrurgions were not the last that doubted of the vertue of their remedies and power of their art since Bajazet had had withall a Fever above thirty houres They already heard him talke idely and now and then sigh and lament Sometimes he seemed to threaten and then that he tooke leave with a great deale of sorrow from some one whom he called his soule and his life By reason of this they duâ—…st not meddle with his wound but when they saw they were not to deferre it any longer Diceus and his Companions put their hands to the worke As soone as the hurt place felt the paine there gush't out a streamâ—… of blood by whose losse Bajazet fell againe into his first swoundings Yet they gave not over to finish what they had begun and when t was done neere all the Chyrurgions confessed that they had seene signes of a dangerous wouâ—…d and said openly that if within twelve houres the accidents which began to appeare ceased not there was no more hope of him Diceus only despaired not assuring Polexander tâ—…t if bsides the Fever there happened not some other thing he promised himselfe to save Bajazet Whilst every one according to his severall passion was of the one or the others minde the wounded man came out of his swound and began to sigh so often that they well judged some great thing afflicted him As soone as they saw him well come to himselfe they gave him something to strengthen him and perceiving he had a minde to speake every one retired to take from him that desire All the night passed in this manner and the next day till evening they thought he would have dyed He knew it well enough and fearing least death might prevent him commanded paper and incke to be brought Zelmatida and Polexander intreated him and the Chyrurgions threatned to divert him from those strainings which they foresaw he must undergoe if he began to write But neither of them could doe any thing There was no remedy but to give him what he called for but he had not writ above two or three lines but the extreame paâ—…ne he had put him to was like to cast him into a swound He grew setled againe and resolute to what he had undertaken and making a little Roll of the paper in which he had writ drew from under his shirt a Picture boxe that was enamelled with green incarnation and white As soone as he had opened the boxe his strength failed the cover fell out of his hand wiâ—…h the Roll that he held and himselfe fell backward on his bolster senselesse Iphidamantus was the first hat ran to him who putting his arme under Bajazets head for ease saw the Picture in the box The sight had almost done him as much hurt as to Bajazet He made shew of a great alteration retired two or three paces changed colour and as if he was become Bajazets enemy had no more care of his recovery and was a long while in withdrawing his eyes from that portract Those that tooke of the novelty at first wondered But ignorant of the true cause took Iphidamantus transport for an effâ—…ct of friendshippe At last he became recollected and impossible to hide all his concâ—…ptions O God said he must mine eyes deceive me Reason would not have me beleeve what they see Bajazet then opening his eyes as if he had awakened with Iphidamantus words and comming to himselfe just heaven said he with a dying voice must it needs be that after you had obliged me in occasions such as I most desired not you would forsake me in the principall Permit not if it be your pleasure that I perish under the burthen that orewhelmes me
him so favourably But whosoever considers well the demeanour of this Prince will confesse that he himselfe is the Author of his good fortune and that the blinde chance of armes and that rash and inconsiderate divinity to whom we give the glory all that happens extraordinarily cannot be boasted of with any justice to governe the actions of Polexander nor to place on his head the Lawrels wherewith he is crowned Amintha ended this discourse just when the great Chamberlaine of Alcidiana sent her word that he was to advertise her of your Combat and to present her a Letter from you The Queene went thence into the Chamber where she was used to give audience and followed by all those rare beauties wherewith her private Court was composed seated her selfe in that Throne shining with gold and precious stones wherein she was plac'd the second time you had the honour to see her The high-Chamberlayne was straight admitted and kneeling at the foote of the Throne related to the Queene the manner of your Combat and then presented the Letter you had written to her The Queene commanded Amintha to take it and turning to her Chamberlayne I will see said she to him what the stranger hath written and he shall know my pleasure In the meane while said shee smiling intimate to him that his good fortune makes me jealous and that if he goe on hee wil make me so farre indebted that all my fortune will not be sufficient to furnish me wherewithall to acquit me As for you Sarpedon I doe not prescribe to you those things that are in your charge I beleeve you too well know of what value Polexanders actions are to entertaine him as a common person When she had said this Alcidiana arose and returning into her Cabinet with none but Amintha Let 's see said shee to her what Polexander hath writ to us We shall infallibly know by this Letter that hee is not much exempt from vanity as you would have me imagine He was surely afraid that we should not heare of his Combat or that the honour he got in it could not bee well related to us if it were not done by himselfe Amintha hath often told mee that she had an infinite desire to reply to the Queenes speech but being confident that your Letter would make a better Answere she unsealed it to give an end to the reproaches â—…f my faire Princesse and gave it to her all broken open The Queene tooke it and presently giving it her againe commanded her to reade it Imagine Polexander if she were slowe to execute that commandement She read your Letter and stopping at all things that made it appeare how much Alcidiana was deceived brought her to that point to beleeve that she extemporarily compos'd the submissions and humilities that were expressed therein She snatched it out of my hands and would reade it her selfe hoping to finde it in some what to convince you of vanitie and Amintha of falshood But seeing nothing there that was not to your advantage Why said she somewhat angred should not this man be made as all others I confesse Amintha my beleefe hath wronged his virtue But who would have thought that this stranger being young fayre valiant victorious should be uncapable of vaine-glory For mine owne part I hold it for a prodigie and not being able to be wonne from my first opinion I imagine yet that Polexanders extreme humilities want not their pride and that the utmost of his vanitie is to strive not to have it discernd Your Majesty answered Amintha is too just to oppose or conâ—…ost with a known truth and to desire that because a man appeares to bee extreamely innocent he should therefore be exceedingly guilty But why doe I strive to make that seen to your Majesty which incomparably you discerne better then my selfe That which you feigne to beleeve is but a turne of your good wit and a signe that as often as you please you can make humility taken for arrogance valour for cowardize and changing the face and constitution of things bestow foulenesse and beauty according as the force of your eloquence intends to obliege or damnity I jest noâ—… said Alcidiana and if I had that absolute power which your ingenious flattery gives mee I should not have so much injustice to imploy it to so ill purposes I have beleev'd that Polexander was a man and I thinke so still and therefore cannot consider him but with those weakenesses where withall the condition of men is accompanied Were Polexander replyed Amintha so happy as to defend his owne cause hee would very humâ—…ly beseech your Majesty to be a little lesse cleare sighted then you are and to imitate the eternall justice who never condemned a crime that was never committed 'T is possible Madam that Polexander hath none of those faults which your Majesty supposeth but if he have not beene so much favoured by Nature as other men is it not a great deale of glory to him to have surmounted those vices that should have overcome him or at least to keepe them so well concealed that the eyes of envy it selfe are not penetrating enough to discover them Your Majesty doubtlesly will beleeve that I am too obstinate in the defence of a man that is almost altogether unknowne to me and the love of virtue is not the sole motive that makes me wave my respect and complying I most humbly yet beseech you not to have that ill opinion of me and to beleeve that I will alwayes forsake Polexanders part provided that you suffer me not to abandon that of verity Let it be the love of virtue or of the vertuous replied Alcidiana smiling that makes you so generous I will never condemne the conceptions that so faire and high a passion gives you and to witnesse how much they are in my esteem I would have them advise me what I ought to doe for Polexander If your Majesty said Amintha speak in good earnest and would doe me the honour to beleeve your intentions which have your fame and content for their chiefe and last object I engage my selfe to finde you a moderation by which you shall preserve that advantage which you have over the greatest Kings of the earth and send home Polexander with an eternall obligation to fill the world with the renowne of your bounty and magnificence You shall be beleev'd answered the Queene speake therefore and speake what you thinke in your conscience you are bound to The honour replied Amintha which your Majesty hath done me being considered I should not be dutifull if I were silent Nay I should be disobedient I will therefore speake since it is your pleasure and tell you that the proofes of your liberality shewed to Polexander should have filled him with admiration of your bounty You have therefore me more to expediate but to let him know that you are no lesse good then great Sixe lines from your owne hand may make him beleeve this and force him
that she tooke notice of it and knowing him was so strucken with greife that she fell into a swoon Assoone as her Women had brought her againe from her fainting She commanded her Squire to take that miserable creature from under the Charriot divers alighted to obey her and taking Polemander by the armes and head made him by force to let go his hold on one of the wheeles But assoon as they had pulled him off he threw himselfe on againe and those that would have hindred him could not doe it so wel nor the Charioteer so fitly take his time to put on but that one of the wheels ran over his right leg which pain he indured so patiently that no body perceived it and though he could scarce keepe himselfe up yet followed her more then a league on foot still caling on the Name of Infeliciana wishing her a happy Iourney He remain'd still in these violent passions and begg'd from Heaven eithera speedy death or the return of that beauty When he was told that she had forgotten her promises and given her selfe to one of the house of the Palatine T is very hard to expresse the excesse of Sorrow which that infidelity brought on Polemander But when he was in the height of his griefe he heard that Infeliciana was dead with sorrow for having left him for another Polemander after he had related all this stood a while speechlesse at last surmounting his passions and wiping off his teares he addressed him to the Prince of Morocco and discovering the Picture of Infeliciana I come said he to maintain that there is not a beauty in the world which should not give place to this Abdelmelec would have made an answer to that speech conformable to his peevish humour but the Judges of the field intreated him to give them leave to doe their charge and addressing them to Polemander Your intent said they is praise-worthy but it is contrary to the Lawes of this Turney the Prince Abdelmelec hath undertaken it to make all Knights confesse that Alcidiana is the rarest beauty in the World She who is pictured on your Buckler is dead and by consequence how faire soe ever She hath been she can be no more compar'd with Alcidiana That beauty which is no more is as a beauty that hath never been Judge after this If you may be received to the combat and whither Abdelmelâ—…c should hazard the glory of Alcidiana to ruinate that of a Shadow of a Name of a Picture of nothing Polemander had too much witt to stand without an answer He then replyed to the Judges that it was to wrong that beauty which he adored to beleive that death had been powerfull enough to destroy it That she Lived not onely in his heart and in the memory of men but in heaven where she shines fairer then She did on Earth and where She was assur'd of her immortality The Judges who knew how farre the gallantry of a Lover mightextend hearkned very favourably to Folemander but answering him in few words that a dead beauty could not be set in comparison with a living one they intreated him to retire til he had gotten a new Mistris give place to those that were yet to run Polemander loath to be noted by an unreasonable wilfulnesse the very same day got towards his shipping and after his setting sayle within few dayes happily arrived at Beyone The while Abdelmelec seeing the Sun ready to set promis'd to himselfe to goe victorious out of the Turney and bragged already amongst his Courtiers that the Theife who had stolne from him the Picture of Alcidiana durst not forsake his vessell nor appeare in so famous an Assembly But the pretended Thiefe was come and had it not been for Ennoramita's intreaty had long before made him with his Honor lose also the boldnesse of continuing his boastings Whilst that Princesse sate desperate of seeing him come in whom her heart and Eyes so servently long'd for She saw enter a Knight clad after the same manner as are the Knights of Senega and Thombut he was followed by six black Slaves and mounted on a Black Barbary caparison'd with Olive-colour Velvet cut into the fashion of Oakeâ—…-leaves and when he was before the Judges he ask'd them leave to speak and to fight Abdelmelec who was gone to meet him and had received him with a courtesie that was not natural to him intreated that before he told what he was he would shew his Buckler The Knight took off a taffata of the colour of dead leavs that was upon it shew'd him a prodigions shape instead of a Lady's picture 'T was a living death He had caused to be painted a body which in all parts was half bare to the bone and half cover'd with flesh One side of her face seem'd very faire and the other shew'd nothing but bones Abdelmelec was affrighted at the sight of it and asked of the Knight whither he had caus'd that Monster to be pictur'd in contempt of ALCIDIANA Such as she is said he she is more fair then your Queen and could you see he Originall as you now see but the Copy you will avow to the shame of Alcidiana that this body so faire in those places by which she seemes to be living is the sole object whereto all Princes owe their affections and services But that I may let nothing stick in your minde to hinder you from being of my opinion Know that picture you see is that of a Princesse who lately was adored through all Africa She is faire in the highest degree but she is more unfortunate her body which by a particular priviledg preserves all her beauties in her mseries is accompanied with a minde that incessantly dies and which is equally devour'd by love and hatred by duty and aversion If Christians who have the liberty of re-presenting all things by their colours had the Art of painting mindes you should see the fairest body of the world joyn'd to a minde even like death it selfe But what my Painter could not doe one way he hath done in another and not being able to make the mind seen with the body he hath divided the body it selfe and painted the one part alive and the other dead The Starre under whose aspect I took possession of earth gave me not life but to consecrate it to this faire Princesse I loved her before I was of fit age to know her and I adored her assoone as I was capable of reason I left Africa to try by the knowledge of strange virtues and manners to acquire such qualities as were worthy of her after 3 years carying her to an excesse which I had nocause to hope drew me out of the dirt to raise me even to the Skies My Rivalls were amazed at my good fortune and their pride not permitting them to suffer it they eâ—…ployed forces more to be feared and more powerfull then their own to compel me from that place of pleasure I was
terrified and astonish'd by that accident that they utterly lost that eagernesse with which they strove to make themselves Masters of our Vessell In this Intervall we regain'd what we had lost knock'd our Enemies in again to the ship that was left them Polexander no way appear'd daunted in so great a danger but alwayes avoyding me was alwayes amongst his men and still promis'd them the victory Notwithstanding their number was so diminished that we had left us both of Mariners and Souldiers but fifty The Portugalls awakned from their amazement took notice of our weaknesse and about a hundred or sixscore of them flew into our Vessell All the Mariners as well as Souldiers thought now on nothing but how to defend themselves The fight began afresh and not a man of ours was slaine which had not before kill'd at least one of his Enemies Though Polexander was as you may imagine extreamly wearied with so long a toyle yet resisted he couragiously that fatigation and witnessing the greatnesse of his heart ran to assist his people As I followed him and had my Eyes only on him he saw me fall at his feet by two thrusts of pikes which I received at once Ah my Governor is dead cri'd he and in the same instant preventing a Portingall who without doubt came on to dispatch me thrust his sword through the others body He fell dead fast by me but in falling with a Mallet at Armes gave such a blow on the Princes head that he fell with him Though I was sore wounded yet I arose and seeing the King my Master in so ill case I carried him all in a trance into his Cabin and disarmd his head to see whether he had yet any life in him Presently he came to himselfe and streight ask'd me what was become of his Enemies Alas said I what ere is become of them they have their wish and gotten enough by cutting off a Life that was to be so fatall to them I spake it wholly transported with griefe seeing all the Princes haire knotted with blood so that I beleeved he had received so dangerous a blow that it was impossible to save him and so gave him for dead I laid him along on me and carefully search'd his head wherewith he clapt his hand on it and seeing at the drawing it back 't was all bloody I perceive now my good Governor you feare I am much hurt but let it not trouble you for I feele no paine After I had well search'd I saw that he had no wound on his head but that the Axe wherewith he was struck down sliding along his Helmet entred into his shoulder and from the wound it made there came that blood which after he was fall'n ran into his hayre I streight disarm'd him and finding the place where he was wounded I thought the hurt not mortall and so went about to stench the blood which being done I told that Heroe it was fit he should rest a while as he was whilst I went to see in what estate our businesse stood and would send some of his Servants to attend him The generous Prince would have risen but fainting with Weaknesse he grew pale and striving for feare I should perceive how ill he was since said he you think it fitting I will stay here I went presently out of the Cabin and wondring to heare no more noyse got quickly up to know the cause of their silence Truly 't was terribly fearefull and t is possible you never yet heard speak of the like adventure Our Vessell seem'd to me a bloody Scaffold on which had been executed a great number of unfortunate and miserable wretches Of above a hundred and fifty Canaryans and Portugalls which I had left fighting I found not one standing Some were dead others wounded with mortall blowes with sighes and groanes were giving a period to their lamentable Destiny The Portugall Ship too which was grapled with ours at the beginning of the fight had either been forced off â—…y some gust of Wind or unhook'd by some of their own who seeing their Companions so ill handled had thrown themselves into her for their safety After I had been a while as it were out of my self by so dismall a spectacle I re-collected my wits and perceiving by this generall defeate that the King my Master was in some safety I gave thankes to heaven and besought it with all my heart that it would perfect what was begun for the good of Polexander 〈◊〉 view'd all the dead and wounded of our party and found amongst the last a Young Canaryan that serv'd in the Kings Chamber His Name was Diceus and for his age he was an excellent Chirurgion The need I had of him obliged me to see in what plight he was and whither his wounds were deadly I drew him from under many bodies that were faln on him and laying him in a place commodius enough caled him so often so much tows'd him that he opened his Eyes a little I imagined there might be found some Essences about him and therefore rigging in his pockets and finding what I search'd for made him take the half of a little glasse bottle Presently he retook heart and his affection rendring him the memory of his Master he asked without knowing me what was become of the Prince He lives said I thankes be to heaven but Diceus said I he is in such a case that he needs thy assistance See what a true affection can do Scarce had Diceus heard Polexander was living and yet wounded but he arose and knowing me my Lord said he bring me speedily to the King Prithee replied I do thou take the paynes to help me to him for I cannot keep my selfe on foot and feeling a faintnesse Diceus said I the King is in his Cabin Go quickly and help him So that thou savest his life t is no great matter what becomes of the rest With that I fell and lost all perceivance and understanding Diceus fore-seeing that my swoonding would be long left me after he had commodiously seen me laid and went to the King whom he found in a heavy slumber whereof he had no good opinion and therefore awakened him and telling who he was Sir said he all your Enemies are dead It is fit your Majesty should now relish the sweets of so brave a Victory Whilst he spake thus he perceived his wound and having gently searched it was assured that not a Ueyne was cut nor Nerve wronged and by divers actions intimated his exceeding gladnesse for it and besought the King not to feare any ill successe of his hurt I have none replied the King all that troubles me is that I finde a certaine weaknesse that duls me Hereupon Diceus got him to take five or six drops of a Cordiall Potion which so strengthned him that after he had closed and bound up his wound he arose as cherefulll as if he had not been hurt But as he was about to aske for me he
and utmost power to see whether his Kings minde might be changed and to that end made to him a long and well laboured Oration desirous to remonstrate by all waies of reason as well of State as of what was seemely and behoofull that he ought very honorably to send home Polexander The King answered according to his custome and Phelismond replied according to his owne so that at last they grew both so hot that they were long time in contestation But when the King saw his reasons were too obstinately disputed and opposed by those of Phelismond he arose all in choler and being unable to containe himselfe any longer Content your selfe said he to him that you have displeased me and never speake to me more of a man who shall feele how heavy that Kings arme is who will not be wronged without a just punishment Phelismond then growing calmer and more humble as his Master waxt hotter Sir said he t is most just you be obeyed and most of all that I receive an infliction for my losse of respect I therefore here vow never to supplicate for ought that may displease you This humility of Phelismonds met with the King so much transported from himselfe that it won nothing of him He walked with hasty strides in the chamber without turning his eyes towards Phelismond and on the suddaine thrusting open a window which looked into the Pallace great garden he leaned there about a quarter of an houre musing and disgesting his choler Longer had he beene there but for the shriecks which on the suddaine were heard behind him He turned his head and saw that Phelismond servants and Chyrurgions were round about his bed and held him for dead He ran thither and found that poore Prince in the most pitifull posture could be imagined He was fallen in a swound or to say better as it were drowned in his own blood His woundes were all open and the bloud which came not out but drop by drop was a certaine signe there was not much more behinde in his veines His body was halfe out of the bed and his armes and head almost touched the floore They judged he had done himselfe that violence because he held yet one of his swathes which because it was knit about his arme fell not with the rest The King yet tooke no heed to it for he was so transported that he could not utter a word When the first astonishment was over he commanded the Chyrurgions to use all their art for Phelismonds safety who poore Prince lay all that day without any signe of life The King in the meane time was extreamely afflicted and asked every one the cause of this new disaster but no body could satisfie him The Chyrurgions and servants told him that comming into the Chamber to dresse Phelismond they found him in that deplorable manner The King began to weigh what might cause this affliction and could attribute it to nothing but his owne generousnesse I will said he then save Phelismond though I never receive satisfaction nor contentment After these words he set himselfe at his beds head and stirred not thence till he heard him sign and thereby gave hope he had some life in him Halfe of the night was spent ere the King retired and yet slept not but sent hourely to know in what estate Phelismond was He was at the extremity the first three daies nor was he much better the foure following and so lay betwixt life and death till the seaventh As soone as he began to speake ought at all the King asked him the cause of his violence on himselfe 'T was the feare of displeasing you said he and if your Majesty think it not fit that I importune you againe t is in vaine for you to endeavour the saving my life He so often repeated the same discourse that he made it appeare he was earnestly resolved to dye or to free Polexander And the King howsoever fearing to lose so incomparable a Successor resolved absolutely to give him that satisfaction without which he saw there was no meanes of curing him He came then in person to visit Polexander and could with much dexterity colour his rashnesse that our Heroë confessed he deserved to be far worse dealt withall then he was The King imbracing and calling him his Sonne said a hundred times that he repâ—…ted of what had passed but that the circumspection of his authority and the ordinary mutining of his Subjects permitted him not to doe otherwise That he was not ignorant how far the promises of Kings should be inviolable and principally when they were made to Princes But that he knew withall that the Law of Nations gave no security nor exempted from any rigour in strange Countries the greatest Princes of the Universe when they came thither concealed and would not be esteemed for what they were This being so said he you will grant with me we are both equally in fault You for not making knowne your quallity and I for being too quick with you After Polexander had heard him speake so judiciously he replied 't was he alone that was in fault and therefore asked his pardon and humbly besought him to believe that had he not been compelled by a necessity more urgent then all kindes of considerations to fight against Phelismond he had not so slightly come to disturbe the Court of so great a King The Prince replied he would not dive into his secrets nor engage him to discover them But said he we trifle too long let us goe visit Phelismond and get him from that passion wherein he lies and render to him that quietnesse he enjoyed at the very time he knew you were a prisoner With this he tooke Polexander by the hand and lead him to the Pallace Alcippus and Diceus went out with him When the King of Denmarke was returned to his Court he retooke Polexander and leading him to Phelismonds bed side see heere said he to him your friend whom I have my selfe been to fetch to you I will not relate to you the apparant alteration Polexanders presence wrought in the incomparable Phelismond He wept for joy and found not words enough to expresse his exportation His Rivall he called the second cause of his life and his honour acknowledged by an excesse of humility that all the honour of the combate was due to him asked his pardon for his ill treating since and assured him his King had been forced by very great reasons to cause him to be staied Whilst Phelismond was thus talking to him the King made divers turnes in the chamber and after he had long mused he came to Phelismond and asked if there were any thing else to be done to content him Phelismond tooke hold of his hands and transported with joy raised himselfe halfe way up in his bed to thanke him Phelismond said the King take heed your joy bring you not into the same case your griefe had reduced you That which is to be done by
great number of those Arabian theeves which wander up and downe Africa hearing Benin was besieg'd ran thither for pillage I who foresaw the lamentable successe of that warre shipp'd Andromeda Iphidamanta the Nunnes and other chiefe Ladies of Benin to the number of towards eight hundred and sent them downe the River to a fortresse which for its being built on a rock encompassed by the Sea hath by our Predecessors beene called the Palace of Safety Within a few dayes after the towne was taken through the trechery of some Arabians who dwelt in it and I reduc'd to a condition more miserable then death it selfe I presented my selfe to my ingratefull Perseus assoone as he entred the towne and opening my breast Sheathe here said I to him sheathe here barbarian the murtherous steele which reekes yet with thy brothers bloud I deserve that punishment since I am the author of thy life and I beg it from thee as a favour rather then to see thee cut the throats of so many innocents for whose preservation thou art bound to expose nay to lose thine owne life The inraged Perseus was about to grant my request but as he lifted his arme a white Slave which Almanzor had given me stept before me and with his Symeter strooke Perseus such a blow on the head that he fell from his horse and presently addressing his speech to that wretches Souldiers Come ye infamous and cruell rabble cried he come and imbrew in my bloud your hands accustomed to so many murthers Imitate your accursed Leader and permit not vertue to be one sole minute in safety before you The unnaturall Perseus is not content to have drench'd his ponyard in the breast of Almanzor but he would have the King his father try the same steele and that his rage should be glutted on him since it could not be satiated on his brother But heaven cannot suffer these horrible murders It makes use of the most weake instruments to instruct us that it can at pleasure confound the malice of the most strong and is continually the avenger of unfortunate parents This Slaves speech had beene powerfull enough to have mitigated Lions and Tigers had they beene capable of understanding but it wrought nothing on mine enemies They fell on that trusty and generous Slave ran him through and through and after they had hack'd him in peeces tooke up Perseus who was sorely wounded and to make my thraldome more ignominious loaded me with irons and so brought me back to the palace There was I strictly guarded till Perseus was healed Some few dayes after by his command I was taken out of prison and brought to the Isle we came from 'T is three months since I arriv'd and was already resolv'd to end my miserable life there without laying the fault on any other then my self or bewailing any of my losses but that of my deare Andromeda This morning walking by the Sea side I saw those men land whom you have parted They had order to kill me but there was onely one part who came to execute that barbarous command Of thirty which they were fifteene of them intended as they told me not onely to save my life but to take me out of that desolate Island and carry me either into Congo or Guinea Assoone as they came on shoare they hastned to me and made knowne Perseus command But when they were all come to the place where you found them those who had agreed to save my life put themselves before me and made knowne their resolution to their Companions That made them enemies and brought on the Combat which you have ended In these few words brave Knight you have the recitall of my long afflictions I can accuse none but my selfe for them Perseus their author is lesse guilty then I. My negligences my flatteries and my blinde affection have beene the fosterers of that young mans most vicious inclinations and bred him up in the practise of all wickednesse Finish then O heaven finish my punishment adde new torments to those I have suffered I will accept them with thanks provided they satisfie thy Justice and that they be great enough to expiate the offences I have committed either by my selfe or the to be deplored Perseus Abrinzias could not make an end without teares for notwithstanding his great courage and the intire resignation he made appeare yet was he afflicted not with the thought of his miseries but the griefe for deserving them Polexander to wipe off his teares gave his word not to forsake him till he had brought Perseus to an accompt and made him quit the throne he had so brutishly usurped These promises might have comforted some other unfortunate Prince but they could worke nothing with Abrinzias He continually call'd to minde the ill breeding of his Son and repenting his more care taken for his fortune then vertue lifted every moment his eyes to heaven and begg'd from thence afflictions proportionable to the enormity of his offences Polexander thinking it was impossible to stop this torrent let it run over with all its violence and when he saw a remarkeable diminution My Lord said he to Abrinzias you are not the sole father which resents the impiety and fury of his children The King of Morocco for being too indulgent like you hath as you lost his Crownes and liberty The undutifull Nephisus hath no lesse attempted against him then Perseus against you but by some mysteries which are not knowne but above that Prince in striving to satisfie his lascivious desires is falne under the avenging sword of your deare Almanzor Doubt not then but Perseus leading the same life will meet the like end if heaven touch not his heart and draw him from this obduratenesse Let 's hence presently if you will be advis'd by me and suffer not your subjects and may be your Queene to be any longer expos'd to the fury of that unnaturall Son Abrinzias thought he resisted the will of heaven in not consenting to Polexander and therefore besought him to do what he thought fittest Polexander who had businesse otherwhere presently commanded his Mariners to steere for Benin and in the meane while consulted with Abrinzias but farre more with himselfe to finde meanes for the speedy terminating the warre betwixt the father and the son and redeeme his Sister from those barbarous parts Two dayes was he in these consultations and the third he descried the rock on which was seated the Palace of Safety When he was neere enough to distinguish of objects he perceiv'd the rock to be inviron'd with a great many little boates He shew'd it Abrinzias and told him that Perseus for certaine had besieg'd the place With that he went throughout his ship and commanded his Gunners to shoote betwixt winde and water and not make an unprofitable shoote Next he gave order amongst his Souldiers and giving them advantagious and thick plancks with holes in the middle for their shot to play through told them for their
to it They had laid a great many corslets pikes muskets halberds and other armes on the ships prow many ensignes coâ—…ch'd by the arms skim'd along the water and foure Spaniards their hands bound behinde their backes and their legs fetter'd made appeare by their severall countenances that one same disaster produceth as many different thoughts and sensibilities as the minds are of such who are touched by it Assoone as the three ships were within kenne of Arzilea the artillery of the sacred vessell made the lesse curious to run out of their houses and fill all the key of the port others came hurrying out of the city gates and stood rank'd on both sides of the river the two prizes bearing but halfe their sailes did not ill imitate at least in the ridiculous opinion of the multitude the dejected countenance of slaves which sorrowfully follow the triumphant chariot of the conquerour For mine owne part I will say without feare of being accus'd for too daring an amplifier that the ship which bore Polexander was touch'd with some sense of honour and that her first pride being augmented by the Princes incomparable merit with whom shee seem'd to triumph did no lesse fill her sailes then the winde which drove her This glorious and unexpected spectacle carrying in an instant the Arzileans from one extremitie to another quite blotted out of their memories all that they had promis'd to Tantalus and call'd them back to her obedience whom the day before they had us'd as an enemie Publikely they accurs'd Tantalus revolt ask'd vengeance for the Spaniards attempt and thinking their revilings and imprecations were powerfull enough to drive them out of the Island never gave over vomiting enough against them when they were in sight Assoone as Polexander came into the Port he landed with all his companie and the Priests inviting him to give thankes for his happy successe they march'd through the multitude to the chiefe Temple in the city there the Hymnes of thankesgiving were sung and many prayers made for Alcidiana's prosperitie All the people ratifi'd it by their acclamations and applaâ—…dings and Polexander perceiving without going further he might compose out of the people very good troops for Alcidiana's succour spake to them with the consent and according to the intent of the Priests and Embassadors At the very first he promis'd them on the behalfe of Heaven which had sent him the strangers ruine and the perpetuitie of that happy estate wherein they had liv'd so many ages These assurances being seconded by many others made even those men to take arms that were no more through age able to bear them In the meane time at the newes of our Heroe's arrivall the Provinces changed countenance the rebellious party visibly lost their former courage and the disinteressed wonne by the example of such as either affected the kingdome or libertie came in great troops to augment Polexander's Armie If slownesse be necessary to the deliberatioâ—…s of warre promptitude is farre more requirable in the executions our Heroe who knew too well his trade to be ignorant of the Principles was desirous to make profitable use of his Souldiers eagernesse leaving therefore Pallantus within Arzilea for his sooner recoverie and to render the Princesse Philesia her funerall dues he put himselfe into the field Five dayes he march'd and met no opposition the sixth hee saw himselfe compell'd to force a passage where the rebels lay advantageously intrench'd the businesse was of passing a river not fordable and to force the intrenchments that flanck'd it to that end he assembled all the chiefe Commanders in the armie and advising with them not to deliberate whether the enterprise was to be undertaken but in what manner they should fall on he won the least adventurous to follow a resolution which indeed had in it somewhat though I cannot name it of too much rashnesse The cavalry serv'd for a bridge to the foot-men to passe the river and the terrour which Polexander threw into the rebels Armie by the death of their Chiestaine open'd a large breach into their intrenchments They were above ten thousand but there fell not of them above five hundred for at the sight of Polexander's troops their hearts failing them they fled and saving themselves without armes or baggage got away from the just indignation of their compatriots Though this victorie was not very bloudy yet was it of great consequence for as much as the runawayes returning into their owne Provinces spread abroad with the newnesse of their defeate the terror which had canâ—…'d it Every one then began to disavow the part hee had followed the name of Tantalus was execrable they proclaim'd all those enemies to the Princesse and the State which rais'd any forces without Alcidiana's Commission and for accomplishment of their levitie all of them stil'd this pretended slave which was scarce knowne to them their Defender and visible Deitie In the meane time Polexander quelling the Queenes enemies came into the territorie of Eliza The Spaniards who had newes of his victories left him the Countrey free and thinking they could not be beaten out of such places as they had fortified resolv'd to continue the siege of Eliza to gaine a part at least if they could not vanquish all and inrich their fleet with the riches of so populous and brave a city The scituation of that place may be termed one of the miracles of nature the river whence it hath its name falls from some high mountaines which lie on the West and after it hath run through many fertile plaines and grown great by the accesse of divers other currents makes a lake of about seven leagues long and not lesse then a league broad where it is narrowest some two hundred paces above the mouth by which this river runs out of the lake and betakes him to his course againe there is a rock of a most strange and odd figure from what part soever you descry it For besides it s not rising above twenty or thirty foot above water it perfectly represents the forme of a man laid all along with his legs open and shrunck up his arms alost his neck unmeasurably long and his head farre greater This forme doth not onely make the city very pleasant and commodious but so regularly fortified that all which the later ages have invented in the art of fortification was found there exactly put in practise by the sole industrie of nature The hands and feet of that humane figure were foure great bastions which defended one another and in all likelihood made the place impregnable notwithstanding by the treachery of some of Tantalus confederates the Spaniards were gotten masters of some of the principall parts and making use of them against nature's intention imploy'd them for the ruine of their whole body I would say there was no more but the last towne where Alcidiana was blocked up which held good against the Spaniards and was no more shaken by their faire promises then by