Captaine was carried by six Souldiers and somewhat distant and after him you might see Zelmatida almost as bashfull as if he had been led in â—…umph by his enemy He was not come halfe his way when Quasmez who with an extra ordinary transport had received the newes oâ—…â—…o â—…enerous an action came to meet him accompanied with many Caciques I cannot tell you the joy of that good Prince the honors that he did to the Inca nor the Sacrifices he promised the Gods for so good a day He fell on his knees and lifting his eyes to Heaven O Sun O Starres Gods eternall and just I yet hope in you said he and acknowledge that your Prophet hath not deceived me Forgive then my doubts and perfect my happinesse This prayer ended he put himselfe on one Flancke of Zelmatida and without changing the order that the Iâ—…ca had commanded his Troopes to them added his owne He marched still with him and would have him to make his entry so into the Towne The people threw on them both their wishes and benedictions equally calling then the Authors of their liberty and good fortune The Queene met them at the Pallace gate and not remembring the countermand of the King her husband a hundred times alowd blest the houre that our King was brought to them He retain'd in memory these words and thinking on them since more seriously then hee did then began from thence to entertaine some great suspitions and so fell after into strange disquiets The day of the Triumph being pass'd Zelmatida had a great care of all his prisoners and sending to the Mexican Prince as soone as he was well meanes sufficient to pay his own ransome and his followers confessed withall that it appertained to so great a courage to vanquish and overcome The Inca that had gotten from Quaâ—…mez free leave to dispose of his prisoners as he pleas'd call'd them all before him gave them a sweete remonstrance that they ought to learne by their defeate to content themselves with the Territories of their Ancestors to measure their ambition by their power and not to come so farre off to seek for the losse of their lives at least their liberties After this hee told them they might take their owne way where they pleased without the feare that any of the subjects of Quasmez could hinder their returne home The Mexicans knew not what to say at this excesse of noblenesse and their Prince retayning and suspending a while his naturall vain-glory Truly said he to the King if the great Montezuma knew your worth he hath not a Crowne on his head that he would not partake with you to get him such a friend Zelmatida was not long without returning him an answere to his complement He entertayn'd that Prince as his brother and sent him presents which absolutely gain'd him and made him resolve to love his vanquisher Two moneths after hee left them the King heard from him by two Mexicans which were of the Prisoners They presented him a ceremonious Letter which the Prince writ to him with a many vessells of Gold and many habiliaments worthy the delicacy and luxury of the King of Mexico He gave the Messengers new presents to out-goe those of their Prince and writ to him back with so much freenesse that he intirely got the love of that Mexican Prince I should be too long to tell you the other brave imployments wherein the King hath since that time beene engaged or to tell you subsequently all the acts he hath done the many enemies hee hath overcome and the admiration he hath given to many Caciques whom he enforced againe to the yoake which they had shaken off He was not much above seventeene yeares old when the powerfull constellation which had domination over his life drew him from the delights and idlenesse of Peace wherein he spent his best yeares and presented him a famous occasion to make knowne his courage This happened from a refusall that Sodomond Cacique of the Province of Cenusia had made to Quasmez of the payment of a thousand emeralds The good King which never undertooke warre till he used all meanes to preserve peace sent his Ambassadors to Sodomond to represent the injustice of his refusall and the miseries he was drawing on by the violating his Faith on an infinite number of Innocents The Ambassadors found him at the Emerauld mynes They mildly acquitted themselves of their Commission and forgot nothing that might make Sodomond capable to acknowledge his weakenesse and the strength of Quasmez But this bruite reflecting neither on the one or the other gave the Ambassadors an insâ—…lent answere and testifying to them the disesteemâ—… he held of the King their Master goe tell Quasmez said he that his tyrany is not redoubtable but to them that have not the heart to deliver themselves For my selfe that am not only borne free but a Prince as himselfe I can no longer endure that he should use me as a slave and terme me his Tributary The Ambassadours growne angry at his insolence replyed that if he were free and a Prince he owed it to the generousnesse of Quasmez and if he would renounce the quality of a tributary he ought at the same time give over the title of a Prince in as much as he possest the later but on condition that he should performe the former But said they those that give you these pernicious counsells represent not to you the inconveniences that are inseperable to them Come againe to your first thoughts since you thinke you have pleased your selfe so well in following them and remember that the tribute of a thousand Emeralds being the sole meanes that the Cacique your Father could finde to preserve to himselfe his Mine you cannot deny the same tribute without running the hazard to lose the same Mine Sodomond would heare them no further but commanded his guard to take them and bury them alive in the bottome of the Mine of Emeralds The same day that Quasmez heard of the cruell death of his Embassadors he had newes that many of the hundred Caciques his tributaries wonne by the policy and promises of the King of Mexico were joyned with Sodomond and hoped to make up an Army of a hundred thousand men This newes much afflicted the good King not for the feare of having so many enemies on his hands but for the compassion and pitty he had of the ruine or death of so many innocents which should necessarily be found covered with the desolations of Warre This charitable thought would not out of his minde but made him ponder night and day to finde some meanes to smother this revolt in the birth Zelmatida seeing him more melancholy then he was accustomed to be My Lord said he command all us young men of your Court to take armes and to expose our lives to avenge you on the disloyalty of your enemies I am the least of those of my age but if you vouchsafe to trust me with the
him know the reasons which obliged him to follow thee And since thou hast such a resolution said the souldier I advise thee to stand for the Canaries thou wilt infallibly find there what thou searchest and wilt give no lesse contentment to Polexandeâ—… then thou hopest for in the meeting him Almanzor followed his advise and steered thy Islands If I had undertaken to write all the brave acts of the King my Master I should now tell thee that he fought twice with the valiant Pirat Thalemut and after he had as often given him his life and liberty sent him back to Bajazet with this charge to tell him that his great reputation wrought in him an excessive desire to see him with his sword in his hand I passe by the slight skirmish he had with the Moores and the massacre he made of them when he heard that by the shot of a musket bullet I had lost my tongue and that he saw me all pierced with wounds fall as dead at his feet I doe not speake of the delivery and freeing the faire blind Indian Lady and of the bloudy fight he gave to protect her from the violence of the Spaniards I conceale that miracle of judgement and courage by which he resetled in his Throne the infortunate King of Zanhaga and come to that sad and glorious day in which leaving to him the title of conqueror thou tookest from him that of being invincible What Heroes have the fables of the Greeks invented and what Conquerors hath Africk Asia or Europe produced which are not infinitely below Polexander and Almanzor fighting together Thou Sun which wert witnesse of this dreadfull duell is it not true that all forgoing ages have not had wherewithall to compare them And to be a spectator didest thou not stay longer then thou wert wont on the plâ—…ines of Teneriff And thou O valiant and courteous Polexander who that day by one combate gottest two victories acknoledge that it was not easy to vanquish Almanzor and that it was altogether a thing impossible to force that indomptable heart to confesse himselfe overcome How often before he died hath he remembred thy courtesies and how many times taking thy part against himselfe doe not flatter me said he I confesse Almandarin that Polexander gave me my life And not to lye thou didst give it him and the gift thou gavest was accompanied with civility sweetnesse and markes of a high esteeme When Almanzor covered with bloud and wounds fell on the earth and that he saw himselfe in that estate to lose his life or to aske it in lieu of thinking on his conservation he thought on Alcidiana and addressing himselfe to her instead of speaking to thee Since like the gods cryde he O Alcidiana thou reignest absolutely over the minds of those who have never seene thee I perswade my selfe too that as they thou beholdest our actions and readest our very thoughts Turne then thine eyes upon Almanzor and receive as a pledge of his perpetuall fidelity the life which he leaves without sorrow since to thee alone it is sacrificed I beleeve Polexander that thou hast forgotten what thou didst after this so high generousnesse of Almanzor But I can well remember that thou disclaimest an assured victory and giving the honour to thy enemy thou art conquerour said you since our Duell having for its ground the service of Alcidiana he onely must be stiled the victor that hath witnessed most love and constancy And having said thus much thou tookst thy leave of him and to leave the Spectators incertaine of the victory voluntarily forsookst both thy armes and the field Almanzor wronged not this courtesie but confessed his defeate and all wounded as he was caused himselfe to be carryed on shipboard with an intent to restore thee the picture of Alcidiana and to yeeld himselfe thy slave But his ill Fate casting him on the Isle of Fer and his wounds much weakening him he thought of nothing but to dye and to dye lingring and slowly that by his more suffering he might the more satisfie his passion And for this he forbad his Chyrurgions to dresse him and to leave to posterity a most magnificent and glorious note of his love rather then of his condition He caused to be built that brave Monument which thou seest in the Iland of Fer if ever the remembrance of that Prince hath made thee bestow any teares on his ashes I sold all his Iewels to send into France Spaine and other where to buy those materials which I was to imploy in the structure of that Tombe It was not halfe built when Almanzor who kept himselfe retyred and hid from the sight of any came forth of his first abiding and tooke possession of his last The workemen wrought night and day and yet in the opinion of the Prince they did nothing but lose time His longings were at last satisfied for his building was perfected and his workemen as well as his Mariners sent home with so great rewards that they filled all Europe with the Name and bounty of Almanzor When he saw us two left alone he shut himselfe up in his Tombe and after he had conjured me to conforme my selfe to his conceptions Almandarin said he I can now dispose of my life and by a new wound free a soule out of bonds that growes wilfull to persist in a shamefull and cruell servitude But before I lose the power which our reciprocall friendship gives me over thy will I would have thee engage thy selfe to me by that faith which thou hast never violated and sweare to me that after my death thou wilt fulfill two things whereon depend the comfort and happinesse I seeke after T is that thou pluck out my heart and take from me the picture of Alcidiana which I cannot leave as long as I have any sences Thou shalt carry them both to Polexander and throwing thy selfe at his feete petition him by writing since thou canst not otherwise that he love my memory in regard of my love and that he will forget my theft and my jealousie and seeing that he is infallably to repossesse the treasure which he lost that he would deigne to present the heart which I send him to that faire Princesse for whom onely it would live and for whose sake alone it hath wished to dye Imagine great Monarch to what extremities I was driven by so cruell a commandement and what blasphemies I conceived against Fortune for depriving me of the use of speech in a time when I had so much need of it Notwithstanding it behoved me to resolve there was no remedy and forced by the teares prayers and furies of Almanzor I promised him by signes to put his will in execution I assure my selfe said he that thou wilt not faile of thy promises Come neere then now and embrace yet once more that deere Son who would aske thee pardon for the upbraidings of thy life if he knew thee not too wise to impute those disasters
interested in her honor Pallantus after he had thus ended his strict and proud Declaration retyr'd and left all those who had not heard of Alcidiana in an extreame astonishment at his high cariage and language and in a great desire of knowing him In the meane time Abdelmelec farr more offended at Alcidiana's contempt then with the disgrace of his combat I will obey said he that which this proud Queen commands and I will scorne her since she makes her selfe unworthy of my service And with that he went and pluck'd downe her Picture which he had hung under a paviiion of Cloth of Gold and throwing it on the ground trampled it under his horses feet Polexander beholding that bruitshnesse ran to Abdelmelec and offering his Cymiter at his throat what Monster cryd he more Monster then he of the North give over the not rendring the respect thou owest to Alcidiana and if thou wilt avenge thy selfe of thy shame do it on thy selfe since thou alone art the cause of it Polexander in thus speaking alighted to take us Alcidiana's picture When Abdelmelec who had lost all knowledge and sence of honor glad to make use of that advantage let drive so weighty a blow with his Axe on our Heroe's helmet that he had almost laid him on the ground Polexander feeling this basenesse got present on Horseback and to avenge Alcidiana rather then himselfe had quickly brought Abdelmelec in case to implore that excessive courtesie which he had so basely offended Polexander generously gave him his life and went out of the field with the Victory and two Pictures of Alcidiana In comming from the place of the Iusts Muley joyn'd to him and intimating to him the opinion he had of his valour made him new protestations of his love They went streight to their lodging and found there Ennoramita who out of the impatiency of seeing her Lover could not stay out the end of the Turney She besought him presently to take her out of her Enemies Dominions and bring her to some place where she might with facility heare from the King her Father to treat with him of her returne and mariage Muley related to her that during the time he lay at Mezila and in some other Townes of Numidia he had there gotten so many friends and so much credit that he was little lesse absolute there then the King himselfe Lett 's go thither then said Ennoramita and assure our selves that in spight of the power of our common Enemies we shall quickly see our selves in Muley Hassen's favour This resolution was not long from being put into execution For that very houre Perselida Amatonta Ennoramita gave to Polexander those thanks which she beleev'd was due to him from her and beseeching him to preserve to her and her deare Muley the friendship he had promised them rid out of Morocco to the place where she had left her ship Polexander on his side had no lesse impatiency Assoon as he was alone he sent Diceus to learn where Pallantus was lodg'd and after he had been a while with Alcippus silent we must to Denmark said he and avenge Alcidiana of a Barbarians boldnesse Alcippus would have made known to him the difficulties that were to be met with in that voyage but Polexander with one word shut his mouth and to tell him that his intent could not be alter'd we must said he the second time go to Denmark and part for it hence this very day In that very instant Diceus return'd and told the King his Master that Pallantus was return'd to his ship and had presently set saile Let him go said he and let us on our part do what is commanded us In saying so he got to Horseback a little before night and rid to imbarke him at the mouth of the River of Tensif where his Mariners had order to come and expect him When his Ship was under sayle he cast his Eyes towards his deare Islands and sighing at the remembrance of those things he went from 't is not said he softly by the course which I take that I shall discover the Inaccessible Island But I have this comfort I do that which I ought and if I have not the happinesse to see Alcidiana yet I have the glory of obeying her After these words he began to think on the meanes of fighting with Phelismond and mus'd a long time on those he should take hold of to know who Phelismond was and in what Province of the Kingdome of Denmark he might meet him But he resolv'd to free himselfe of those cares on the dexterity of Alcippus and not to make himselfe knowne in that Northern Court. After these thoughts he remembred Zelmatida and calling to him Alcippus what will Zelmatida think said he of our stay I feare least he will imagine some treason wrought against us by Abdelmelec and if once he have that opinion assuredly nothing can hinder his comming to Morrocco to know the certainty himselfe I have a mind to send some one of my servants to him Alcippus approv'd of the King's apprehension but the difficulty was to find the means The next day they had it for a Patache of a Madera Merchant pass'd very neer by Polexanders Ship and she gave her the rights she ought and being known they made her come neer Our Heroe after he had spoken with the Master commanded him to carry one of his followers to the Isle of Lancerotta and presently went to write to Zelmatida and by his letter excusing himselfe in a good manner that he was compel'd to break his word with him was now in no other care but to chuse amongst his company a man that he might send to Zelmatida of capacity to tell him by word of mouth what he could not write to him Alcippus and Diceus came first into his mind but being not able to misse two such imployable faithful servants he was compeld to think of others He had bred up a Canaryan a Prince by birth and great grand-child to the King Guavartemus and in all his travells had found him so capable of his service that he thought he could not find a man more fit He therefore cald for him gave him his letters in charge and instructing him in what he had to say to Zelmatida caus'd him to be imbarqu'd in the Pinnace of Madera and commanded that he should attend on the Indian Prince till he returnd In an instart the 2. Vessells were farr separated that of Madera plied right between East and South and the other wherein our Heroe was taking diverse courses inasmuch as it was to coast part of the continent of Africa and of Europe put in practice for a long time the ability of his Pilot. He ran the hazard of being lost at the Cape Finister in Spaine He was cast on the Coast of Britany by a terrible tempest He was constrained to put into Holland yet all these mis-fortunes gave not so great a hindrance but that after three
another kind of Fate then their Subjects The honour of Servents lies in the hazards to which they expose themselves for the servâ—…ce of their Masters and that of Commanders â—…o preserve themselves for the safety of the servants that are left them Never make me beleeve a thing so dis-apparent answer'd Polexander in choler For if Kings as you your selfe have often told me are the soules of their Subjects should they not then watch operate and continually travell for them And what say you if bodies were not maintained in their being by the operation of their Soules would they not become meere lumps of Earth and dirt Do you think t is otherwise with our Subjects truly no. They must without doubt perish when their Kings like soules sick of a Lethargy unworthily lye sleeping in their palaces and suffer those miserably to perish through their idlenesse whom they should preserve by their 〈◊〉 Le ts on then le ts on my deare governour where our dutie calls us Sir said I your Majesty is neither of age to doe what you would nor your people reduced to the extremity of axecting it from you Kings ought to be alwaies of yeares to defend their people replied the Prince and their condition is such that neither age nor danger ought to hinder them from preserving their Estates You have so often taught me these truthes that I wonder you will read to me now a new Doctrinâ—…i I have never told your Majesty any thing I answered which in my conscience I believed not only to be true but also worthy of your royall Soul and this being so I intended not to ruin by a false dictrine that which I had established by a true one All that I desire now is that your Majesty would turne your thoughts on your selfe and thence carry them through all the histories you have read to the end you your selfe may be Judg of the difference which is now between us The Prince presently apprehending by the quicknesse of his wit what I would say to him answered me that he would not have our controversie to be decided by the examples of former ages Other Princes have done what they pleas'd and I pretend to have the same priviledg and by consequence will goe on without any consideration right to the place where our Enemies are What after this will you oppose me Ah Sir cried I throwing my selfe at his feet and moystning his hands with my teares weigh what your great heart would make you undertake and thinke with your selfe what a disaster it will be if some dismall blow should take you hence in the extremity of your youth My deare Governour replied the Prince coldly this consideration proceedes not from a true affection but it comes from an ill custome which those that are neare to Kings have gotten to flatter them in all things 'T is true that I may dye by this occasion and dying lose a great many yeares which by all likelyhood I have to live but I know from your selfe that none ever dyed before the time Heaven had prescribed him besides I am perswaded that a King never dies too soonâ—… when he dies for the safety of his Subjects Whilst the King my Master and I thus contested the Portingal and our men made on and meeting some two leagues from our Quarters fought with a great losse on both sides The Canaryans made the Portingalls give back and drave them before them into a vally where for want of mistrust they fel into an Ambascado There were they ill handled and after they had lost more then their halfe on the place saw 't was then their turn to fly The Portingalls being all reunited came furiously on the Canaryans and their Cavalry making a horrible massacre of the â—…nawaies drave the rest even to our intrenchments Polexander saw the flight of his Souldiers and was very likely to have thrown himselfe down from the top of a bastion to go stay them Ah my Governor cried he I beseech you do not indure I should lose my Honour and see my men slaine unsuccored I renewed my remonstrances but to no purpose Of necessity we must and did bring him his Armes and consent that he should fall on the Enemy In the meane time I caus d all the remainder of our Souldiers that were in the Towne to sally forth who in spight of the Enemies forced them to retire Our young King with fifty of his Knights fell on the reere of the Portingalls and thrust himselfe so farre in amongst them that I was a long time without knowing what was become of him His presence and actions gave so much heart even to those that had lost it that the Portingalls were hack'd in peices and from the Town even to the Sea Side the high waies were covered with them The King should have returned from this conflict with an extream satisfaction for he had done admirably well and besides he heard on all hands applauding some of joy and some of praise Neverthelesse a secret sadnesse made him droope the head and unwilling to heare the acclamations of the people As I was about to aske him the cause My Governour said he let me once make triall of what you have often told me and whereof Sir said I That the multitude is never govern'd by reason Wee have done nothing but run after a company of people that had as great a desire to fly from us as wee had to overtake them and yet to heare the shouts of the Uulgar sort one would thinke we had gotten some important battle against all the force of Spaine I smil'd at the Princes consideration When presently putting on a more serious countenance besides said he I shal never be satâ—…fied til I see the King of Portingal with his sword in his hand Certainly that King is a very merry man and very Gamesome who whilst himselfe lies as it were buried in all pleasures and delights troubles the repose and peace of his neighbours by such of his subjects as 't is not unlikely he would faine be rid of If I live I will teach him to live quietly or to come and fight himselfe But til that happinesse betide me I am resolv'd to drive the Portingalls from these Islands and to accomplâ—…sh it with the more facility I will over into the Isle of Palmes with the rest of my Troops When he had told me his intentions I was more puzled a great deale then I was before I knew well that my Authority and power were not able to hould in that yong Lion I had therefore recourse to stronger I writ to the Queen his mother who persisted in her teares and solitude and most humbly besought her If she loved the life of the King her sonne she would call him back to her I intimated all the reasons which obliged me to write so and made them so considerable and weighty to her that for a quarter of an houre She violated the vow she had made
of thinking no more on worldly businesse She thereupon writ to the King her son that she desired to see him for some urging occasions and conjur'd him by her letter that leaving for some time the businesse of Warre he should make a turne to the place of her retirement she writ the same to me and commanded me to bring back to her the King her sonne The Prince who was endu'd with all virtues in the highest degree put it not in deliberation whether he should obey the Queen but told me that wee were to retire to his Mother the Honour wee acquire by Armes is worthyly to be desired but I beleeve that to be no lesse which is gotten by doing what we ought 'T is true said I and therefore you ought if you please to give without delay the Queen your Mother the contentment she expects by your presence Come said he let 's give it her but before we goe hence try if we can see our Enemies He needed not goe farre to be satisfied for the day before our imbarquing the Portingalls return'd on us and fail'd little of surpâ—…izing that port where the Kings ships attended him There was a furious conflict wherein without adding any thing to the truth Polexander secur'd the Honour of his Armes and dis-ingaged both his men shipping The Enemies Fleet retir'd to the Isle of Palmes I thought it had been out of feare but the next morning I knew 'T was out of cunning The Kings departure was not so secretly kept but that the news of it came to the Enemy whereupon they resolved to fight with him at Sea and by taking of the King to make an end of those warres wherewithall he threatned al Spaine For mine one part who dayly took care for the conducting the Prince I left al our vessels in the roade of Tenerif which was opposite to that of the Palmes and one night crossing one of the Islands caus'd the King to imbarpue himselfe at a port over against that of Gomera At daie breake wee set saile and in a little time our vessel had gone by all the Canaries but entring into a sleeve or narrow passage which seperated this Isâ—…and from the Fortunate we discovered â—…ve saile which surely expected us They made up and the feare I was in for the King my Master redoubling my foresight I commanded Presently our ship should take another course and to regaine on the South the Fortunate Island These five shipps chas'd us all the rest of the day and my Pilot was constrained to goe Roome-ward to Sea that they might not know the course he steer'd Two vessels of provision which followed ours were commanded to bestow some shot to amaze the Enemy Polexander was almost enraged that I would not fight with them He besought me to feare nothing and casting himselfe at my feet my deare Governour said he if you love my life give not the advantage to our Enemies to publish they have made us fly from them What will they say of thee unfortunate Polexander he added in sighing when it shall be known that five poore ships have enforc'd thee to fly as a theefe and forsake a Part of thine owne Company to save thy selfe by their destruction Ah! let me rather dye a thousand deaths And in so saying like one desperate he ran through the ship to oblige the Pilot and Mariners to tack about But the Command I had given could not be chang'd but by me and the Prince prevail'd not in giving any new He took notice of it and presently drawing one of his Guards Swords and turning it on himselfe however said he yet will I not have the dishonour to live after the flight and diobedience of mine one Subjects I stop'd him ere he could wrong himselfe and casting by all obsequiousnesse told him that If he would not be govern'd I should be constrain'd to make use of that authority which the Queen his Mother had given me Doe so my good Governour said he do what you will with me I will indure all provided that I run not away This while Night drew on and with the Night a winde so contrary that I repented me for not landing at the Fortunate Island We were forc'd to strike all our Sayles for feare of being put back to the place from whence we came Which when the young Prince perceived he shew'd an extreame joy for it and told me that Heaven more exorable then I had heard his prayers and would not permit that I should cauâ—…him to fly any longer The night passing over with a furious Tempest at breake of day we saw our vessell within a Cannon shot of two others We knew thempresently to be Enemies by their flaggs They made up shot and press'd on us so that in spight of us we must fight I wish I were able to represent to you the cheerfullnesse wherewith the young Prince prepar'd him to the combat and the confidence wherewithall he ordered others My companions said he to the Souldiers see how the Justice of Heaven favours us in exposing to your revenge those which have expos'd your families to all that their tyranny had the most barbarous Do not beleeve that these cruell Pyrates give us the chase They would be glad to be further from you But the windes and the waves which they would have so often made confederates in their robberies bring them to you whether they wil or no to the end they might purge themselves by such a delivery of those crimes whereof you might accuse them Consider besides that you are not as these theeves two or three hundred leagues apart from him for whom in particular you are to fight You have your King not only for a witnesse of your actions but also for a companion in your fortune And in so saying he took a halfe Pike and went and plac'd himselâ—…e in the most eminent part of the ship The Artillery plaid the best of an houre on both sides at last the two Portugall Vessells drew neer and being grapled with us there began a horrible fight The Canaryans seven or eight times repuls'd their Enemies and forc'd above fifty into the Sea Polexander was in the midst of the combatants Some he stir'd up by his words others by his actions the least resolv'd ran into danger at the sight of their Princes miraculous boldnesse Neverthelesse we were forc'd to forsake our sides and to resist a little longer fortifie our selves on the poope One amongst us in the meane time resolving a couragious and determinate act charged a Culverin on his shoulders and placing himselfe on the highest part of the poope caus'd fire to be given to it The blow was strange It kill'd above twenty Portugalls and the bullet striking through one of their ships without notice taken of it either by Souldier or Mariner they were amaz'd in the height of the fight to see that ship sink right down with all that was in her The Portugalls were so infinitely
those mad men His noblenesse made him streight alter his command He made againe on those beasts in a humane shape and in spight of all their resistance tooke from them the Maiden whom they had overtaken and staied in the midst of her course He put her in my custody and commanding me to see her a shipboard staied with Alcippus Diceus and ten or twelve others to resist the enemy By little and little he got to the sea and gave command to his Canoneers to shoot among those savages He was no sooner obeyed but the Cannon scattred halfe of them in peeces about the strand and the rest to fly the more nimbly threw away their stones and arrowes and hid themselves in great woods that came downe to the very shoare As soone as the Prince was shipped againe and had well laughed at our pleasant adventure he desired to see the person he had given me in guard I told him not who she was but bringing her he at first sight knew her though she was disfigured with Sunburning travell hunger and the outrages she received from those Barbarians He shewed how joyfull he was for her deliverance alas poore Elida said he by what accident fell'st thou into the hands of these Monsters Is not thy Mistris there Tell me I prithee where I may finde her and what I may doe for her service 'T was Amintha's Maide and had been forced away with her As soone as she saw Polexander she was like to have â—…lne to the ground and being not able to speake but after a long time Ah my Lord said she how doth my good fortune amaze me and how unable am I to tell you what you desire to know Amintha did ever verily believe you would lose your selfe in striving to relieve her and when her Ravisher gave her leave to be alone with me the sole thing would she say of which I am most sensible and chiefest to be thought lamented in my misfortune is that Polexander out of his generousnesse will not faile to engage himselfe in my disaster He will leave our Isle to follow me and never considering that there is no returning when once he hath lost sight of it will bootelesly adde his owne losse to mine If thou lovest me replied Polexander kill me not by these new proofes of Amintha's generous affection Tell me who was her Ravisher and whether he hath carryed her My Lord answered Elida my Mistris is in the hands of a Portugall Pirate who is no lesse mad then those you now came from Ambition and love have deprived him of more then halfe his reason and yet hath enough left to keepe him from being carried to the utmost violence against Amintha A tempest throwing him upon the Isle of these inraged brutes and necessity compelling him to land there he went on shoare and was received in the same manner as you He lost many of his men and was forced to put to sea againe in the height of the tempest The aversion or â—…islike I had to him and the shewes I made him every moment of it put him on to rid me away He therefore by force plucking me out of my Mistris armes barbarously exposed me to the fury of these incensed savages I must needes relate to you the strange accidents which have betâ—…ded me among these fooles Thou shalt doe that another time replied the King but tell me now what is become of Amintha That which I have told you said she may make you imagine I can certifie you nothing of my Mistris Canst thou not at least added Polexander shew me as neere as can be the way the Rover tooke Even this same replied she and if I forget not he is going to meete with other Pirates which have their place of refuge and retreate in an Isle of this sea I know where ' â—…is said the Prince and presently commanded his Pilot to stand for the Islands of Cape Vert. He was obeyed and so happily that within few dayes after wee discovered the continent of Africa to which he was forced against his will by the winde and the currents and staied there longer then he desired for they were so much becalmed right against the flourishing shoares of the Kingdome of Senega that for three dayes together his ship was as setled as it had beene turned into a rock The remembrance of the happinesse he had lost and the vexations that continually followed him fed then extraordinarily on him He disclosed those anxieties impatiences and distasts to which he had never beene knowne to be subject He found fault with all the calme was more insupportable to him then the tempest he would not even see Elida and scarce could Alcippus and I draw him for a few moments out of this melancholy humour There was but one thing that set him at rights and 't was the picture of Alcidiana They talke of meâ—… who being possest by some ill spirits and others distract of their reason by the power of musick have beene freed from those ill Demons and cured of their madnesse and I believe it to be true since I saw Polexander above a hundred times get out of that fury which visibly possest him at the only aspect of Alcidiana's picture and to take on his former wisdome and usuall temper But to the common misfortune of us all that powerfull charme that admirable counterpoyson that Talismon more virtuous then all that are sold at Tunis and Morrocco in a word that picture which is hard to believe was taken out of Polexander's hands During the calme whereof I have told you he being much disquieted and growing weary of his ship made himselfe be rowed ashoare and not desiring any company no not Alcippus there intertained his thoughts neere a Fountaine in the contemplation of the Queenes picture 'T was the last day of the calme he came on shoare and the sight of that â—…aire portraict and his reading of some Arabian verses composed by him for the Princesse brought him into a sleepe and whilst he lay so at rest a yong Prince called Almanzor as long after wee learnt by a fatall fortune was unluckily led to the place where the King my Master lay sleeping From a farre off he perceived his guilt armour and knowing not what it might be his curiosity drew him to approach as softly as he could The King slept still and the other perceiving that famous boxe which Alcidiana had given him staied to looke on the picture within it He admired was strucken and became in love with it Then taking up the paper wherein the Arabian verses were writ and retiring without awakening the King got on his horse and fled away as fast as he could spurre Polexander informed by his Guardian Angell awakened in the very instant that Almanzor was on horseback and heard the noise he made in flying but his understanding and memory being not yet well cleered of those vapours which cause sleepe had not the liberty the one of reasoning
his Queene guilty of high treason and to condemn her to a prison unlimitable but by the ends of her life Nay she had woâ—… him to have strangled with his owne hands the Sonne 〈◊〉 had by that unfortunate Princesse but that Almaid a Lord of Senega hindered the murther and plucked the 〈◊〉 from the blinde fury of the Father and the sharpe sighted rage of his step-mother who for a long time knew not what was become of the Childe but her spies were so industrious that at last they discovered he was bred up in King Benin's Court. As soone as she heard it she resolved his death and chusing me for the executioner or at least the prosecutor she put in practice all that she knew might conduce to the perfecting of her damnable designe She forced Zabaim to write to Benin for the delivering his Sonne into my hands and in case he should refuse it forced to denounce war against him You may easily see all this wickednesse proved when you please to read the letter I gave you But in as much as the African Kings never make denuntiation of wars but they send the Ring which is the principall note of their dignity I found a way to steale it from Zabaim Now to tell you after so many villanies that which hath beene the cause of my being now your prisoner know I parted from Senega expressely on a message to King Benin and if that Prince had delivered into my hands the lawfull heire of Senega for certaine blinded as I was with ambition I had executed Zelopa's command and sheathed the sword I weare in the breast of that Innocent Polexander affrighted at so horrible a relation told his prisoner he gave thankes to heaven for his being mistaken and that in his misfortunes he found a great deale of consolation since the divine goodnesse had vouchsafed to make use of his errour for the hindring the death of the Prince of Senega It belongs to me answered the prisoner throwing himself at our Princes feete to give thankes to the fountaine of all mercy for the enlightning my soule with the raies of his love in spight of my obduratnesse I therefore make a vow not to abuse it any more nor ever to returne into my Countrey till it be freed from Zelopa's tyranny You shall doe very well replied Polexander and to quit you from the sorrowing for the losse of your fortunes by this resolution I engage my selfe to restore them to you The Prince infallibly had beene better then his word to him but heaven seeing the holy and rigorous penitence of that sinner was willing to recompence him more liberally then Polexander For it tooke him out of this world the very same day that wee arrived at the Canaries I will not relate to you the sundry fights Polexander had with the Pirates whilst wee strove to bring him back into his Kingdome I will only tell you he was there no more happy then he was at sea At his arrivall he heard of the death of the incomparable Axiamira He bewailed her losse as much as it deserved and after some moneths of mourning from one part of piety â—…ell to another He bestowed all his time in hearing the complaints of his Subjects to reconcile their differences and to free them from all feare of the Spanish forces After all this he deigned to cast his eyes on me declared me his Vice-roy in all his Isles and establishing me in that authority before his departure commanded that in his absence I should be obeyed as himselfe Scarce tooke he any time of repose after so many travells and disquiets Amintha's Confident whom he had brought from the Islands of mad men seeing him still to grieve for the losse of the picture strive said she one day to get the thing it selfe rather then the shadow That thought answered the Prince comes on me a hundred times in a day but I give no eare to it because it proposeth to me a thing impossible T is so indeed replied Elida by ordinary meanes but you must have recourse to such as are not so Alas and what are those asked the Prince I imagine to my selfe one added Elida that seemes to me infallible I prithee tell that me said the King It behooves you then added Elida either under pretext of religion or otherwise to get entrance into the Isle of the Sun and when you are permitted to abide there stay for the comming of Lynceus or some other of Alcidiana's Pilots I intend so much sadly answered Polexander but when I have attempted it what will be the issue for my consolation I make it no difficulty to get into the Isle of the Sun since it is never denied to such as come thither to sacrifice And I may too stay there nay and meete with those that come from Alcidiana's Island but all this is nothing for I am certaine the Queenes Pilots will never receive me into their vessell What ground have you for that feare said Elida to him From some what you have spoaken to me unawarres replied Polexander I thinke I know what you would say answered Elida Yet faile not to doe all that lies in your power and leave the rest to fortune If you gatâ—…er thence no other satisfaction yet you shall at least have thus much that you have not neglected any meanes of making your selfe happy Well I 'le believe you deare Elida said the Prince and indeed followed her advice so absolutely that the very next day he put to Sea and tooke with him that Maiden Alcippus and Diceus and though his Pilot knew not the scituation of the Island of the Sun yet he promised to finde it provided it were not inchanted as that of Alcidiana But the season being extreamely ill and the difficulty which the Pilot thought to orecome greater then he imagined he was above two moneths contesting with his ignorance and the frequent stormes At last he drew neere to that Island and Polexander being where he might discover a far off perceived a vessell which came away from the Isle He made up to her he carefully marked her and finding by assured tokens that she belonged to Alcidiana followed her but in such a manner as he believed he made them not jealous of him Yet Lynceus for t was he perceived the Kings designe and winding up and downe all the rest of the day thrust himselfe into the Haven of the Sun as soone as the obscurity of the night had made him lose sight of the Princes vessell The next morning he sought for her he pursued her he got with all the sailes he could make away from the place where he might have found her in short by often turning and traversing that sea Polexander returned to the place from whence he set saile Heere he spent a part of the winter for all his impatiences At last his strength being by little and little ore come by the weakenesse of his minde he fell sick of a languishing disease
his quality Some time he spent in the Court of the King of Guinea from thence he went to that of Benin and came at last to ours at Congo Almanzor welcom'd him as a potent Prince and his ancient Allie Some few dayes after his arrivall some body spake to him of my beauty and wit and those relators told him those tales lyed the more boldly because they were certaine I was not to be seene and by consequence Zabaim could not convince them of imposture At first that young King heard those praises without shew of any desire to see me nor any great discontent if he had not seene me yet But assoone as he heard how my Father caus'd me be kept in a Palace whereinto none had accesse he seem'd presently troubled and growing in love on heare-say or rather following the error of most young people who affect nothing so much as what is forbidden resolved to see me When he had set that designe on foote all others were suspended and without foreseeing the difficulties of his enterprise therein imbark'd himselfe with all the indiscretion which commonly accompanieth those of his age and quality He might have made knowne his desire and have asked the King my Fathers leave to present his service but he thought it would be no glory to him to take those wayes which should be common to him with Princes of lesse value He therefore concealed his intention from him strove to win some one of my domesticks set his Confidents on worke walk'd at all times neere my lodgings and by a young mans imprudency no day past without talking to Almanzor of his depart and yet staid without any appearance of a just hinderance Some time past before my father had any suspicion of Zabaim but so soone as he had reflected on his discourses he perceiv'd the cunning He therefore set his confidents as spies over him and watched him with such care himselfe as one evening he found him with one of my women Be pleas'd to imagine whether he were offended at it he who was the most severest Prince of the world and the most jealous of his reputation His first thoughts were to kill Zabaim But loath to draw so powerfull enemies on his armes or at least pardoning the Princes youth he thought it best to be freed of him without any noise To that purpose the next morning he writ a note to him in the name of the Prince his Confident and sent him word his designe was discovered the King was advertis'd of it and that if he did not quickly save himselfe he ran the hazard of never seeing his owne Kingdome againe This letter was so nimbly thrust into the Princes bed that he perceiv'd it not though he was present When he was laid he found it and calling for a torch to see what 't was was much amaz'd when he saw his designe thrive no better His courage yet fail'd him not A day or two longer he staid in Court with as good a cheere as before and inventing a specious pretext to colour his departure took leave of the King my Father Almanzor somewhat troubled for thus making him quit his Kingdome sent spyes after him with charge to see what way he tooke At their returne they said for certaine he was gone towards Guinea He thought then that the Princes passion would go no further and that it was rather a Caprichio of youth then a designe well framed Time confirmed him in that opinion and his minde was quite at rest when the King of Benin sent his Ambassadors to him to renew their ancient Alliance and intreat him to be pleas'd that the Princesse his daughter might passe some time in my company Almanzor thinking himselfe much oblieged to the intreaties and civilities of that Prince dispatch'd two of the principall Lords of Congo to restore his complements ratifie the treaty of their Alliance and to offer him aswell as to his daughter all that was in his command Not long after the returne of my fathers Ambassadors arrived Palmira so was the Princesse of Benin called and was receiv'd with all magnificence and the first day lodg'd with two of her Ladies within some of my lodgings Our first interview was accompanied with all that which courtesie makes use of in the like occasion but there was this difference betwixt my complements and those of Palmira that mine were all heart and freedome and hers mix'd with so much feare and humility that I knew not how to behave my selfe to her She had not been with us above fifteen dayes when a strange accident discover'd to me the cause of her submissions and differences The King my Father who punctually visited me twice a day had let slip foure without either seeing or sending to me I wondered at his neglect but I did it more when one evening I saw him come into my chamber dragging after him a man who had his hands bound behind him As farre off as he saw me Almanzaira said he to me with the tone of a voice which witnessed at once both his choler and griefe where is Palmira I answered she was retir'd Let her come to me said he and turning to one of my women commanded that servant to call her Whilst she was gone Almanzor did nothing but walke with hasty strides up and downe my chamber Some times he lifted his eyes and hands to heaven then he stamped on the planching and afterwards stopping short before me O heaven which seest all cryed he and art justâ—… why wouldst thou suffer so horrid a treason But since 't is thy wil that I must punish it posterity shall know my honour hath ever beene more 〈◊〉 to me then my life or my Crowne After that he turn'd him to my Governesses and with an angry brow 'T is you said he unusefull and perfidious women which one way or other are become confederates with mine enemies and you shall receive the deserv'd punishment of your negligence and disloyalty As he ended these threatnings Palmira entred my chamber She neither trembled nor look'd pale and though in her conscience she knew her selfe guilty yet shew'd such a height of courage as is not usuall with maidens Assoone as she saw the Prisoner which my father held she knew him to be her principall Confident and judging by his surprisall her cunning was discovered in lieu of being troubled at it she spake thus to the King my father Think more then once on what thou intend'st to do Thy precipitation may work more mischiefe then my rashnesse hath done Give no eare to it then if thou wilt preserve the name of discreet and give thy selfe patience to heare me I call to witnesse that eternall Providence which reades my heart and beseech it to be never auspicious to me if I hide from thee the truth of 〈◊〉 things as have passed since I have beene with Almanzaira I sweare to thee that neither she nor any of her women ever knew me for other then Palmira Princesse
But what thought you would betide when I should know the King lov'd another woman then his wife The corruption of all Ages and the examples of all Princes have taught me that 't were worth wondring at if Zabaim should not take the way of his Equals but have beene contented to enjoy one sole woman I bewaile his weakenesse I deplore his blindnesse I condemne his inconstancy but I wish him no ill at all and were not heaven displeased with his passion I should be the first to serve him as his Agent Go Almaid go and labour for that Princes quiet who loves thee so dearely Leave him no longer in his despaire bring her hither whom he loves and free him from those feares he suffers for my sake I promise thee I will not crosse his contentment nor omit any thing belonging to the endeavour of a wife of honour Were I in your place I would quickly finde some specious pretext whereby without scandall that happy Slave what said I that happy slave that abominable Sorceresse might live with her Lover But why should I soyle my selfe in your ordures All you men are ingenious enough in wickednesse without any need that my too much love to my Lord should make me your Confederate When I had thus spoken to Almaid I was silent to heare what he would answer But he was so ravish'd with my resolution and so astonish'd at my constancy that he could not reply At last he came out of his admiration and falling at my feet Madam said he your wisdome this day saves all Africa and I hope in little time your vertue will be the Kings preservation Since you have taught me with what dexterity this malady is to be treated I sweare to you I will forget nothing of that which may hasten his recovery Thus ended our discourse Presently I writ a letter to the King full of respect and sent back Almaid to him and within short time understood how Almaid had taken the way I had prescribed him Zabaim had a cessation from those cruell tortures his affection inflicted By little and little he became accessible left his country life and recalling about him all those whom his melancholy had estranged made the Court as full and flourishing as ever But not to shut himselfe presently within his Cities nor to give his subjects a new cause of entertaining themselves with his alterations or rather to drive away the time whilst they went to fetch the infamous Zelopa he would needs make a progresse through his Kingdomes Before he began it that journey he came to Senega and entreated me by the love I had alwayes borne him to forget what was passed and to be the same with him I had beene the two first yeares of our mariage I confesse to you I receiv'd his excuses as if they had been true and was as sensible of his kindnesses as if a loyall love had produced them He was so overjoy'd to see my affection nothing lessened that a hundred times in a day he asked my pardon for his extravagancies For my part I doubted not if he had not been forced by some witch-craft but that he would have repented him of his error and beene wonne againe by my care and complying In this good correspondency we began our progresse and so ended it 'T is true that oftentimes he fell into his frensies and was as transported from himselfe by the charmes of that Sorceresse But his disquiets lasted not and the hope he had of reseeing Zelopa joyn'd with the facility he promised himselfe from me made him hide his passion so well that it troubled no body but himselfe We went even to the frontiers of Guinea and Zabaim resting himselfe in a very faire towne intended to stay there till the Spring and resolved to passe that season in all kind of sports and pastimes Three weeks or a month after our arrivall the speech went that the onely daughter of the late King of Guinea was coming to the Court to cast her selfe at the Kings feet and to beseech him for somewhat whereon to subsist after the ruine of her house This newes coming from the Town to the Court at last entred my closet and one day Almaid so well watch'd his time that he spake to me of that supposed Princesse even in the Kings presence I seem'd to believe what he told me Zabaim was overjoyed at it and saw well by my innocency I would contribute as much to the setling of his pleasure as himselfe When Zelopa was within three dayes journey of the Court I advised the King to send to meet her and give her all those honours which appertained to a Lady of her extraction He prais'd my courtship and promis'd to follow my counsell But when he saw I resolv'd to go so farre to entertaine Zelopa as out of the towne and conduct her my selfe to the Palace his joy so much troubled him that had I beene ignorant of his affection that which he did to thank me had beene sufficient to have too much discover'd it to me Some five or sixe houres after Zelopa came to a Castle which is but a quarter of a League from the towne I went thither to her with all the Court and neglected nothing of that which might sarisfie her pride or expectation I found her not more faire then Almaid had describ'd her to me But I saw by her countenance she should be very humorous and cruell My conjectures alas have beene but too true and I feele yet daily the fearefull effects of that ambitious and barbarous minde Let me relate to you my misfortunes in order and you will admire what my desire to please Zabaim made me do in spight of my inclination I kissed that infamous woman I spake to her in her owne language to entertaine her the more civilly I intimated to her the resentment the King and I had of the honour she did us and so was with her as she had beene the greatest Princesse of Africa In a very ill garbe she returned my complements and shewing a brutish pride in her actions as well as words gave a most disadvantageous opinion of her selfe to all those that came with me I endur'd all that fooles extravagancies for his sake that lov'd her and forgetting the birth heaven had given me gave her place and with the most respect I could brought her to the Palace Zabaim whose passion deserv'd pity came out of the towne and under a pretext of hunting would witnesse to the Sorceresse that her absence had nothing at all lessened the power of her charmes But my deare Comforter let us lightly passe over this fatall enterview and be pleased I spare him who is so much the more to be bemoan'd because 't was either by force or frailty that he became guilty of my misfortunes The pernicious Zelopa was receiv'd and lodged in the Palace as if she had beene something more then Zabaims wife She was serv'd with so much order and
of a young man and painted himselfe to regaine what age had rob'd him of came to see me and us'd the same language he had done the first time he mistooke me for Cydaria In finishing his speech he turned towards the Princesses picture and pointing to it See said he what hath preserved my life during your absence when my griefe hath spent my spirits and orecome my resolution I had recourse to this faire picture to refresh both the one and the other I there found wherewithall to resist my longings to keep my desires in vigour and even wherewith to passe over your contempt and aversion Heaven which knowes the innocency of my affection after its triall by so many crosses hath at last resolv'd to recompence it give your consent to so just a decree and disarming those eyes of their usuall disdaine which never appeared milde to me but for my ruine requite at least by some favourable aspect the long torments your beauty hath made me undergoe The goodnesse of that Prince which indeed deserv'd an acknowledgement made me resolve to disdeceive him I therefore besought him to give more credit to my words then he had before-time and to suspend a while that passion which had twice almost cost him his life that he might so the better consult with reason and no more contradict a knowne truth He smil'd and shooke his head when he heard me say so I am very sorry said I that my misfortune in bringing me hither makes you call to minde againe a person that doth but perpetuate your afflictions could I have found any other way that might have freed me from mine enemies how irksome soever I would have attempted it rather then have had recourse to your assistance Not but that I am glad to be obliged to so great a Prince as your selfe but owing you so much already my conscience upbraides me every moment that my resolution to cast my selfe againe into your hands was the most ingratefull part could be acted The reason is very forcible I knew it told me your errour and to bring into his sight againe that fatall face which disturbs the peace of your age was wittingly to continue you in it but since it hath not been in my power to divert this inconvenience I will stop the progresse of the mischiefe it workes and freely tell you I am the brother of that Ennoramita who is onely faire for your affliction Ah replied Hely if you love me I beseech you dissemble no more for it will not worke the successe you hope by it 'T is not much lesse then a yeare since you thought by such a device to cure me of my passion But dear Ennoramita what got you by that cunning Nothing but the augmenting my torments and almost the ending my dayes If in lieu of humbly intreating you as I doe to be somewhat favourable unto me it were permitted to make you some few upbraidings in your conscience should I have not have just cause to blame you for your flight and being your owne judge may I not accuse you for putting your life and honour in hazard rather then to indure the company of a Prince who hath had no other designe then to bestow both himselfe and his Crowne on you Reflect if you please on all the misfortunes which seconded your flight thinke on the dangers you have run the slavery whereinto you have falne and if your life be not considerable thinke at least into what hazard you have engaged your honour after that what mislike soever you have towards me you will be inforced to confesse that it had been farre more easie to beare with the afflictions of poore Hely I see well said I there needs somewhat else then words to free you from those errours you have no minde to leave exact from me therefore all that you can imagine most prevalent to give you an absolute manifestation of so important a truth and at last plucke off the cause of your voluntary blindnesse Hely lov'd so modestly and so respectfully that fearing to offend me he with-drew and in going out of my chamber told me he rather desired to be miserable all his life then once to contradict me two or three dayes he left me in quiet and though all his happinesse consisted in my fight yet had he rather lose that contentment then to run the fortune of displeasing me At three dayes end whether he would or no he returned to his former solicitations but assoon as I spake of freeing him from his error he flung away and saw me not or if he did 't was by some secret chinkes or holes which he had made in the walls of my chamber In that manner did I live neere three moneths and indeavoured to winne some one of the slaves which waited on me to get me the apparell of a man and some armes and by his means free me from the hands of the senslesse old King The Negro woman that came along with me seemed to be fit for that purpose but Hely had too much pleas'd her for fearing the like turne she had plaid the Basha Aladin I had no sooner then spoke to her of my escape but she rudely chid me for it and assuredly by her advertising the King of Morocco I was more strictly garded then before A few dayes after this milde detention I understood that all the Court was in an uprore and that a great many sail of ships were discovered at the mouth of the River of Tensif This allarme increasing by the arrivall of some Embassadours Hely came to me one evening and delivering me a paper Read this said he and afterward if you can perswade me that you are not Ennoramita I tooke the long Scroll and if my memory deceive me not there was written in it thus BAJAZET Generall of the Pirates to HELY King of Morocco HAd I not farre more regard to what I owe my selfe then I have in considering those violences wherewithall the unrulinesse of thy passions dishonours the later yeares of thy life I would not solicite thee as I doe by Embassadours but instantly imploy the justice of my armes to compell thee by a severe chastisement to a repentance of thy crimes Thou shouldst blush Hely to have in thine old age those raging agitations which are not allowed to young men but that nature permits them not to be wiser not that I declare my selfe against love or by an indiscretion too common blame that in another which I thinke honourable in my selfe I disallow such vices which to be approved of insolently put on the face of vertue I utterly condemne all impurity and I abhorre all disordinate affections and violences In a word I detest that madnesse by whose intemperance thou treatest like a slave a Princesse that can raise in armes all Europe and Africa for the subversion of thy tyranny For mine owne part who am the meanest of those which have dedicated their armes and lives to her service I here
thy part therefore to continue thy liberalities and not expect from our acknowledgement but a just and insatiable desire of daily receiving more Garruca whom vve send to thee to make thee partaker of our common joyes is particularly commanded to receive thy instructions touching the vvonderfull effects of love of that Deity thou hast made knovvne to us â—…ch him if it please thee those truths so much importing our happinesse and make him comprehend for vvhat cause that eternall Monarch vvould put himselfe in the place of his enemies to deliver them from those punishments to vvhich they vvere by him justly condemned After Polexander had read this letter he cast forth many pious ejaculations and in the meane while Garruca put up the little plates into their box and delivering it to the Prince gave him withall Zelmatida's and Xaira's letters very neatly written in vellam He opened the King's and read this Zelmatida Successour of the Yncas to Polexander the greatest of the Croseat Princes IF my happinesse had depended on any thing else then the enjoying of Izatida I would have staid till time had seated me in the throne of my forefathers to have made known to you that I am perfectly fortunate but since without yeelding ought to my affection I am certaine that the great Empire of â—…inacapa cannot be to â—…e but a great hinderance I will not say a great misfortune should I not be injurious to Izatidâ—…'s vertue if I were no more without assuring you that there wants nothing to make me perfectly happie I will say it boldly Polexander and the rather because I have daily â—…ew assurances that imagination representâ—… to us contentments infinitely below their realitie mine have gone beyond my hopes and thoughts and leave on my hands neither trouble nor care but what ariseth from my inabilitie of representing them as they are resented I hope time will give me eloquence sufficient to expresse them in the meane while I wish you were well skild in so sweet and pleasing a language and that the enjoying Alcidiana had taught you all the graces and ornaments of it POlexander sigh'd often whilst hee read the letter â—…nd was pleas'd to witnesse by that sad language that he was as yet ignorant of Zelmatida's He put up his letter againe into a little box of diamonds which serv'd as for a coverture and tooke that of the Princesse Xaira which spoke thus Xaira to her Benefactor POLEXANDER AFter the letters of the King my father and my Lord Zelâ—…ida I should have nothing left to write if your obligations wherein I am 〈◊〉 did not furnish me with such thoughts as neither of them could conceive I 〈◊〉 therefore tell you that as the contentments which each of them â—…aste apart are only reâ—…ted in me so the resentment of your favours which is dividâ—… betwixt them is altogether intirely treasured in my soule One of them contemplates you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—…liverer of his daughter and the other as the preserver of hiâ—… wife but I consider you as a 〈◊〉 Angell by whose assistance with the sight of my body I have recovered the eyes of my soule and with a most worthy husband a father whose like the world containes not These truely are extreame obligations I yet desire their 〈◊〉 and to obtaine it I joyne my humble requests with the intreaties of the King â—…y father and the Prince my lord and beseech you with them that you will perfect the discoverie to us of those lightâ—… by which you have begun to draw us out of that darknesse wherein we languished with the rest of our world POlexander put off the answering those letters to another time and admiring no lesse the pietie then the affection of those truely royall mindes it had beene very hard said he to Garruca if that persons of so eminent a vertue should have lesse solid contentments then those they now injoy The Deitie whom they love and seeke with so much fervencie should not be what he ought to be eternally if after the triall of their constancies by so many adversities they had not been crown'd with all kind of gifts and consolations Garruca being very glad that this discourse led him out of it selfe to that which was the most important of his Embassy told Polexander that his Kings seem'd to be ordained by Heaven to drive all Idolatrie out of the new world and do that by their pietie and good examples what the Spaniards vainly pretended by their cruellties and tyranny I shal with a great deal of joy said Polexander give satisfaction to Quasmes in what he desires from me and we will not part till I have not onely given you instructions but withall Doctors that shall attend you into the new world for the perfection of so pious a worke Thus ended their converse for that time and Zelmatida's last adventures were put off to the next conveniency Two or three dayes passed during which our Heroe variously perplext with his adverse fortune was not capable of any diversion he besought a hundred times in the day for an end of his miseries and addressing himselfe to Heaven I acknowledge said hee I doe too stubbornely persist against the will of the infinite Wisdome I search after a happinesse is forbidden me and forsake what I am commanded to follow Change my intention if it be absolutely ill but 't will be more easie to exterminate the offender then rout out the crime After this petition he resign'd himselfe wholly to that Providence which at once he invoak'd to his succour and destruction and promising an indifferency whereof he was incapable was a few moments as insensible of that excesse of love he bore to Alcidiana The end of the second Book of the fourth Part of Polexander THE FOURTH PART OF POLEXANDER The third Booke IMperious Reason thou hast more boldnesse then hope when thou promisest thy selfe to governe absolutely over such powerfull rebels as the body raiseth against thee I could not refraine from this exclamation considering the high resolutions which the superiour part of the soule made our Heroe take on and the secret repentance which that revolted slave I would say sense made him presently conceive for it Indeed Polexander had no sooner submitted his love to be ruled by reason but he thought he had committed an offence that merited more torments then he had suffered and by a sacrilegious vow disingag'd himselfe from another which he acknowledged most equitable Hereupon he threw himself againe into his griefe and impatiencie and rather wish'd to perish then to faile of that dutie which hee thought was owing to the incomparable beautie of Alcidiana My voiage said hee to himselfe is no more in my owne disposition hee which drew mee out of the haven hath shut up the entrance against mee for ever I must yeeld to my Fate of necessity and without feare of stormes or hope of calmes perfect that voyage which through it I have undertaken I know that this fearfulnesse which they
that our ships may goe in consort-ship I will come aboard of yours and at leasure relating Phelismonds adventures free you from an errour which as generous as you are certainely throwes on you a great deale of jealousie and disquiet Polexander no sooner heard the Danes proposition but he accepted it and presently commanding his mariners to joyne indeed with the Danish ship he tooke into his own that messenger of so great and good novelties The complements ended he brought him into his cabin and commanding his servants away was alone with him I will then said the Dane begin to atquit my selfe of what I promis'd in presenting you this letter and therevvith he put into our Heroe's hand a packet on vvhich vvas vvritten To Polexander King of the Canaries He open'd it and there found a letter vvhich said thus MY dearest brother let me call you so for I finde no tearme like that which can so well expresse the greatnesse of my affection nor the happinesse I wish you if you injoy it not be pleas'd to know that all those whom I have sent to the Canaries to renew the assurance of my love and service have return'd without informing me any thing concerning your selfe that could either content or give me satisfaction they could onely relate to me your absence and your subjects sorrow for your losse I at last perswaded my selfe that you were return'd to the Inaccessible Island and that Alcidiana o'recome by your services as well as by your merit had given you both her crowne and favour as the sole reward wherewithall she could remunerate the paines and travels you have indured for her If your longings have receiv'd so good a satisfaction the Embassadours I now send to that Princesse will impart some of those secrecies to you which they goe to intimate to her and will protest on my behalfe as I doe by this letter that the throne wherein I am seated hath nothing in it so pleasing as the beliefe I have of your enjoying Alcidiana After Polexander had read this letter he gaz'd on the person that gave it him as if he would aske whether truely Phelismond had sent it the Dane surely knew the Prince's meaning and to put him out of trouble The King my master said he hath commanded me to make you a relation of all which hath hapned since the day of your separation and particularly to assure you that the love he bore to Alcidiana is absolutely confin'd within the bounds of friendship I could expect no lesse repli'd our Heroe from Phelismond he must yet give me leave to be sorry for his change and to accuse him for preferring Ambition before Love and the Crowne of Denmarke before the service of Alcidiana The Dane smiling at these upbraidings Your Majestie said he may be pleas'd to give me leave to contradict your opinion and condemne your accusations as unjust 't is true Phelismond hath taken on him the Crowne of Denmarke that hee might no more dreame of his enjoying Alcidiana but it is not so true I beseech your Majestie to pardon this boldnesse that his ambition hath beene more prevalent then his love Hee loves Alcidiana as much as he hath ever done but loves her not the same way and is still her affectionate servant though he be no more her lover The sense of what you speak repli'd Polexander is too mysterious to be deciphered 'T is very true said the Dane that the veritie I announce to you is able to astonish your wit and thought rather then to convince it and though all its circumstances have betided yet hath it so little of ordinary events that it may passe with you for one of those wittie intrications of the Theater represented for the peoples admiration to suspend the functions of their soules on the doubtfull expectation of a successe which they could not foresee You will therefore I hope give me leave to exercise a little your patience and as if I repeated one of those stage-peeces clearely make manifest to you by little and little Phelismond's adventures The late King of Denmarke in lieu of being displeas'd with that worthy favorite for so many combates he had undergone and so many disobediences he had rendred to save your person conceiv'd so extreame an opinion of that Prince's generousnesse that hee thought himselfe not able to give him sufficient testimonie of his affection if he forgave him not the losse of his daughter and in his life time plac'd not the Crowne of Denmarke on his head To that end he convocated the Estates of his kingdome and remonstrating that in the state their affaires stood there needed a man to command them besought them with teares to approve of the election he had made of his successour I know said he that the love you beare my daughter though may be she is not now among the living is more deare to you then your owne interests and may make you obstinately resist all other election which may seeme to exclude your Princesse from that dignity she might claime by birth-right But let not that consideration amuse you the successour I have chosen is such that in giving him my crowne I assure it to my daughter and in giving him you for your Lord I secure you the conquest of Sweden and Poland and make you the arbitratours of all the German liberty I think there is no need for me to name to you that worthy successour The thoughts of all you here abouts are cast on Phelismond and seeme to say to one another that 't is he alone from whom these wonders are to be expected 'T is true my loyall subjects it is Phelismond I say Phelismond who hath intomb'd those discords which laid waste your families who hath reveng'd the authoritie royall for the Norway revolt who hath knock'd in againe the Swedish ambition even into the deserts of Lapland and finally who hath made Poland feele that her Cavalry as valiant as it is is not invincible I know what his enemies can say for his exclusion The mournfull accident which betided the imprudent Helismena may be laid to his charge with that he put his handkerchiefe on his eyes but why should the remembrance of so lamentable a historie cast us into our former sorrowes Let us burie in oblivion since 't is the will of heaven that disastrous accident and strike it out of the number of whatsoever cases have mis-betided strike out that unhappy day of Helismena's losse from amongst those which compose and fill up the ages On so sad a subject let us impose an eternall silence and so discreetly conceal our shame that gliding away by little and little in the traine of years it may never come to the knowledge of posterity When the King had spoke thus he was going on to the election of Phelismond but that generous Favourite preventing the Danes remonstrances cast himself at the feet of the King his master and decyphering himselfe as the most despicable of men besought
and the Lady which dress'd her being offended at it intreated her to doe them justice for my freedome but she still counterfeited the ignorant and as if shee had been somewhere else not onely ask't them what I had spoken but blaming the nicenesse of their eares told them that shee was too well assured of my discretion to think their complaints were just This indulgencie which I should have consider'd as the utmost Alcidiana could doe to constraine her selfe being expounded to mine advantage absolutely depriv'd me of that little judgement which the excesse of my happinesse had left me Alcidiana said I to my selfe is too cleer-sighted not to take notice of a thing which is remarkable to the least witted of her women Infallibly she knowes mine intention but she feignes her selfe ignorant that she may not be ingaged to make mee such a prohibition as may be would not have pleased her Her condition is subject to most rigorous necessities She must sacrifice her will and contentment to the will and liking of others and to preserve to her selfe a strange authoritie put off that command which nature had given her over her selfe O the qualitie of Kings so generally envied and truly so little deserving it how well doe the Godd avenge them on thy selfe for the slavery wherein thou plungest thy subjects Thou first feelest the miseries thou makest them suffer and imposest not so heavie and cruell a yoke on others as that thou wearest thy selfe But what said I Ye ridiculous considerations get from me and ye troublesome relicks of my melancholy hide your selves in some extreme obscuritie and there dwell with fooles and miserable wretches But for you ye deare and pleasant thoughts of mirth riches and command lay open to me all the charmes which are linked with the fruition of Alcidiana Tell me that as her beautie is without parallel so the blisse of enjoying her is beyond all comparison Make mee see that such a happinesse is accompanied with many more That in acquiring the fairest wife in the world I wi hall gaine the richest crowne of the Universe and from the qualitie of a private man which is alwaies troublesome how elevated soever it be I ascend to that of a Soveraigne which is all of flowers how thorny soever some fooles imagine it After I had entertain'd my selfe with these Chymera's and even emptied my thoughts to be no more powerfully deceiv'd I went to Alcidiana The discourse I had with her proceeding from such thoughts as I have related made her blush out of shame and anger and in spight of all her goodnesse to looke on mee as on another Siziphus Two or three moneths before my disgrace the vertuous Amintha who onely witnessed shee was truly my friend advis'd me to take heed to my selfe and not settle on a foundation which was to be shaken Alcidiana said shee begins to distasse your words and actions I am afraid hath she lately said lest Pisander lose himselfe and hearkens after such who may be will make benefit of his ruine I know well he offends through ignorance and not having so well studied the malice of Courtiers as he ought he perceives not the traps they have laid under those flowers wherewithall they have covertly o're-spread his walkings Tell him therefore that a man may be shipwrack'd in favour as well as in the sea That his loyaltie and discretion have rais'd him to the height he is and they onely must keep him there Imagine whether this advice coming from so good an hand was not able to make me wiser But 't would not doe on the contrary being even drunk with a good conceit of my selfe I imagined Alcidiana â—…ad not given in charge these advertisements to Amintha but the more cunningly to let mee know that shee was not ignorant of my love On this foundation I began to build and rais'd up more and more an edifice which at last fell on mine owne heâ—… One day when the Queen was adorn'd for a solemne action I could not but tell her that she never was more lovely and I went on not to lye Madam what e're hee be that hath the courage to aspire higher then is permitted him he should not fixe on any then How said the Queen interrupting me 't is too much Pisander Thinke who I am and do not force me to come out of my voluntarie ignorance Hereupon I thought that the Queen satisfi'd with her owne words would no more remember mine But I grew much amaz'd when two dayes after taking no notice of any diminution of her favour I saw my selfe utterly and suddenly cast downe by a grace which any one lesse cleer-sighted then I would have taken for an augmentation of his good fortune The Queen assembling her Councell and calling together the chiefe Officers of her Crown made to them a long enumeration of all the services I had done her amplified with an admirable eloquence the attempts of Siziphus and Arziland and call'd mee oftentimes her Deliverer and Protector The conclusion of her speech was that shee was ashamed she had not yet acquitted her selfe of so notable debts and that she ingenuously confess'd her selfe guiltie of negligence not to say of ingratitude But said shee time which had more care to free me then my selfe affords mee wherewithall to acknowledge the services of Pisander The command hee hath neere my person is farre beneath his merit and his valour seemes to complaine that I have so long time retain'd it in obscuritie and as it were fetter'd amongst my Slaves I therefore give him the command of Generall of my Army which place is void by the death of Diomedes After she had ended this crafty speech she took from the hands of her Chancellour the provisions for that charge and calling mee to the foot of her throne Goe now said she and make appeare the knowledge you have in warre by preserving that peace which my subjects have so many yeares enjoyed With that shee tooke a sword which her high Chamberlaine presented and commanding me to take it See said she the Signall of the absolute power I have over my subjects Doe not use it but in case of extremitie and to oblige you to keep it in its sheath know I had rather see it over-run with rust then bloody I desire the love of my people and feare their feare Doe so then that they may live under me as children not like slaves I was about to refuse the charge imagining ' â—…was but in stead of an honourable banishment Yet I accepted it for feare I should make my designe too palpable Thus was I put from Alcidiana's Palace and as soon as I was in that which was assign'd to my place and freed from all such troublesome visitants as came to mee either out of ignorance or malice to congratulate with mee for so unwelcome and dismall a dignitie I was often tempted to have transpiere'd my selfe with the sword the Princesse had given mee and to send it her
two houres hence I will conduct you by passages not much frequented to a chamber the key whereof he hath given me and where hee will be as soon as the last prayers are ended In the meane time sleep For my part I will watch for feare you faile in your assignation Ah! friend repli'd Polexander I should have but little curiositie or to say better but a small portion of reason if being on the point of making my happinesse certaine I were able to close mine eyes No no Diceus I will not sleep Tell me therefore once againe all that Alcippus said to thee and omitting the death of the extravagant Tysiphone recount particularly what thou hast heard concerning Amintha Diceus obey'd the command but 't was not so well done but that he left the King his Master doubtfull what was become of that Lady When hee had ended this relation I have said hee to Polexander some advice to give you on which depends all the successe of your labours and inquiries 'T is that you expresly command Alcippus to compresse his affection and keep more then ever that gravitie which he put on with the Priesthood By this meanes he shall secure your life for he may secretly take out the ball whereon your name is written since he keeps the vessell whereinto all the fatall balls are throwne and besides when Alcidiana's Embassadors arrive under the qualitie of Arch-Prelate and Interpreter of the Deitie's will he may invent some specious pretext that may oblige the Embassadors to waft you to the Inaccessible Island But when will that fatall moment betide cri'd Polexander transported with the power of his imagination wherein I may see againe that blessed abode which hath conceal'd and kept it selfe so long away from mine inquisition O fairest Alcidiana be pleas'd to let me taste the happinesse which my hope gives mee of re-visiting you and that losing with my despaire the memorie of my afflictions I may inure my selfe by little and little to those raptures and almost incomprehensible blessednesse which are inseparably annex'd to the condition of such as serve you Polexander would have stuck as ravish'd with these sweet meditations if Diceus had not interrupted them and told him 't was time to goe meet Alcippus Polexander thereupon in all haste clad himselfe follow'd his guide went through the Cloister and unseen of any bodie came to the chamber where he was to meet Alcippus He fail'd not and presently that worthy Favourite casting himselfe at the feet of the King his Master Let Heaven said hee doe now what it will with mee I aske it no more since I have the happinesse of seeing my good Master againe O errour which hast made me shed so many teares I thank thee for so happily deceiving me Polexander taking up Alcippus Remember said he who you are and in what place goe not on in these superfluous testimonies both for your selfe and to me but without losing in needlesse demonstrations of love this time which may be better spent give mee an accompt of all you have done since your departure from the Island of Astramadan and chiefly let me know what is become of Amintha But I feare much that you can relate to mee nothing of her that can be welcome newes for if I call to mind well what you writ in a Cave which is at the point of a rock which they call the Hermits rock you were separated from her by the wrack of your ship What sayes your Majestie repli'd Alcippus and what Demon could bring you to that rock I was brought thither said the King by an adventure the most strange and happy in the world for my ship being sunk I had perish'd but for that rock which to mee was a very favourable haven There I spent two dayes and two nights and read my Epitaph which you had ingraven But put mee out of trouble and tell mee how you were forc'd to forsake Amintha Alcippus beginning his relation at Tysiphone's taking a resolution to follow Polexander to the Isle of Astramadan and having continued it with all that which had passed in that Isle As soon said he as we saw that desperate woman dead Amintha and my selfe return'd to your Vessell and being not able to speak so much had your losse quell'd us that we spent the rest of the day not knowing what to resolve on At last Amintha starting up and speaking suddenly No said shee I will not leave the bodie of Polexander to the mercie of his murderers With that shee went forth and never telling mee what shee intended to doe commanded some of your Mariners to carry her back on shore I went into the Shallop with her but we had not row'd scarce halfe a mile when we saw all the beach cover'd with armed men Our Mariners thereat fell hard to their oares and having told us that there was no reason for us to put our selves into the hands of those barbarous people got back againe to your ship Presently there came out of the haven two Vessels of the enemy and had had we not with all speed gotten into open sea infallibly wee had run the hazzard of losing life or libertie The wind which favour'd us much meeting a ship so good of saile as was yours had quickly made our pursuers lose sight of us Two dayes and two nights we sail'd we knew not whither The third day we discover'd an Island and there our Mariners cast anchor to take some refreshment and from thence to steere right for the Canaries Amintha in all the voyage had no other thought then of your death and from time to time speaking loud enough to be heard Ah! too superstitious Queen said she how lately wilt thou repent thy selfe for preferring false beseemlinesse before loyall affection Well thou art now rid of this cause of thy disquiet but I feare for thy peace lest those disturbances be redoubled when thou comest to understand in what manner thou art delivered from them Thus was she talking when I advertis'd her that we were arriv'd at an unknowne Island You may doe what you please said she For mine owne part I am resolv'd to think on nothing but how I may grieve enough for the losse we have sustain'd Seeing her so constant to her affliction I imagined that if there remain'd in you any knowledge or feeling after death you would accuse mee for the most ingratefull amongst men if I had not a particular care of a person to whom your memorie was so infinitely deare I resolv'd therefore to bring her to the Canaries and put her in possession of all the treasure you had left there that so shee might end her life in the same splendour shee was borne and have no cause to repent her of the affection shee had borne you As soon as our Mariners had provided themselves of all that was necessary they set saile againe and leaving the South behind them bore up full North. From the very first day were we beaten by a