Distemper without fear of being infected with it how happy are you but how unfortunate is Selimana You are the Object of the Sultan 's most tender Affection answered Arianissa and that is the only thing that may well satisfie you in this Everlasting Retirement What can you desire more Madam since you are the Soveraign Mistress of him who can dispose of all Tho' Ambition is well pleased with that advantage continued Selimana sighing a Soul as nice as mine cannot be contented and if you had ever been in Love you would quickly apprehend my meaning Alas Madam I have had so many Misfortunes in my Life that I willingly renounce to that Experiment reply'd Arianissa with a Charming Sweetness well interrupted Selimana since you do not know the cause of my suffering at least do not condemn it A power which I cannot resist forces me to utter this Secret without blushing I love I love Arianissa the Prince Scanderberg and his Victory over the Tartar is not the only one he has got to day he has seem'd to my Eyes as Lovely as he was formidable to his Enemy and that short space of time has assured to him the possession of my heart for ever I cannot relate to you Selimana's Kindness without blushing But you must be acquainted with it that you may the better understand how amazed the young Sultan and I were I was loved without knowing by whom and such a man as I might have been well pleased with the Idea of this Adventure but besides that Selimana seem'd too passionate to deserve my Heart she was a Sacred Object for me being the beloved Sultaness of Amurat I was more taken with Arianissa's Modesty and tho' I did not wish her so passionate as the other I could have desired she had not been insensible Some noise made them retire the Prince drew nearer me when he heard them no longer and clasping his Arm about my Neck whatever good Opinion you entertain of your self said he did you think Scanderberg that Mars and Love should intend to bestow their Favours upon you at the same time My Lord reply'd I smiling if we had more Freedom at Adrianople I would tell you that this adventure is but a sham You see added Mahomet that there is nothing but what is Natural in it the hour the place and the person who spoke in a word all things witness your good Fortune and you have nothing to do but to rejoice Alas My Lord said I though my Heart was susceptible enough to fall so easily in Love I should never forget what I owe to the Sultan Selimana may be a charming Person what she said may flatter me but Amurat is Emperor and worthy of my Loyalty You think reply'd Mahomet that a great Zeal for his Passion will make me betray yours No My Lord interrupted I something hastily I know you are generous and discreet and I speak what I think We went then into the Seraglio and we parted at the same time I did never go to Bed without seeing Aradin that day pleased with the Honours I had received he did not fail to be in my Chamber as because I had no acquaintance in the Seraglio of the Women and all things were changed there since my Infancy I asked him several questions which surprised him I inquired of him concerning Selimana he answered me that she was always the dearest Object of Amurat's Love who had preferred her to all things and he drew her Picture with great carefulness After that I asked him about Arianissa and my Curiosity about a Slave who probably was unknown to me seem'd the more surprising to him I don't know Scanderberg said he to me what is your Design but I can assure you that among all the Women in the World I think there is none more Lovely than Arianissa with a perfect Beauty she possesses a wonderful Wit and Virtue and I cannot but wonder that the Emperour has not yet cast his Eyes upon her I hearken'd to Aradin with a trouble which I had never felt before what ever he said about Arianissa were â—â— many pleasant wounds to my heart and I may say I was in Love before I had seen whom I loved after a long Conversation I thought I could not hide it from Aradin he was afflicted at it and knowing how dear Selimana was to the Sultan and his jealous and violent Temper he used his utmost care to make me understand how dangerous to me such a concurrence would prove I assured him I had no disposition to love Selimana however I discovered not my thoughts concerning Arianissa but passed the whole night in fancying her to my self as lovely as the Eunuch had described her I found not my self the following day as I had been hitherto is it possible that Arianissa should be prepossessed with some tender Inclination said I sighing and can my Heart which she takes from me hope any comfort from her I had no sooner uttered those words but I found them unworthy of a man whose only Ambition was to be great I knew that violent Passions were look'd upon as a weakness and my Love for an unknown Object seem'd to me strange and worthy nevertheless it was formidable and I could not conquer it as I had done the Tartar I was forced to open my Heart to Aradin who condemned me to think never upon her since I could not hope to have any Conversation with her There happen'd then an extraordinary thing at Adrianople and which is seldome seen among the Turks The Sultan of Egypt had sent a magnificent Embassie and some rich Presents to Amurat who to shew his Grandure to Strangers in the seat of his Empire gave them a publick Audience that day the Women went from their Seraglio to that of the Sultan's adorned with the most precious things the East could afford Selimana the beloved as I told you before appeared shining with her Natural Beauty and abundance of Ornaments She was follow'd by a hundred in the same Splendour and by an infinite number of young Slaves dressed with less Art but certainly worthy of another Condition To make this Spectacle seem the greater they wore golden Chains and they had been loaded with Essences and Baskets full of Flowers which they spread in a great Hall at whose end the Sultanesses sat upon rich Cushions these Slaves stood round about them and the Emperour sate upon a Splendid Throne whose steps were occupy'd by his chiefest Officers After this manner Thopia we saw the Secret Court of Amurat when the Turks and Egyptians had a free access to the Hall Selimana sate in a higher place than the others and her Beauty as well as her Rank distinguish'd her from the rest But among the Slaves who were round about her the young Arianissa neglected and blushing for appearing before so many witnesses in a condition so unworthy of her was remarkable in spight of her self for her Charms I could not know her as being Arianissa but my
from being kind drew nearer him and knew presently tho' in the Pangs of Death Aradin the first of the Eunuchs of Amurat who had taken care of him in his Infancy and by whom he was tenderly beloved the unfortunate Aradin tho' dying knew also the Features of the King of Albania and fetching a deep sigh he said Oh Scanderberg Amurat Arianissa Knave and perfidious Musselman I dye And really he did so This strange event was but a new increase of Grief for Scanderberg The Nanies which Aradin had pronounced pass'd to his very heart he perceived the Eunuch had not spoke but after he had known him and that he was nearly concerned in all those things which Death had forced him to suppress Just Heavens cry'd he what News do you intend to tell me Is Arianissa Alive or Dead Alās Uranus my dear Uranus what perplexity do I find my self now in What can I do What can I think My Lord reply'd Vranus if I may conjecture any thing Arianissa is not far from hence Then she is in Amurat 's Camp reply'd the Amorous Prince of Albania where she suffers the troublesome Solicitations of a Barbarous Emperour or those of the unworthy Mussulman Suppose it was so am I the happier for it Yes certainly added he for I would go and take her away from the Ottomans Whilst Scanderberg was speaking Vranus went to look whether Aradin did breathe still he found him cold and without motion but turning him he perceived a Paper like a Letter just over his Heart and delivering it to his Master My Lord said he this Note will tell you may be a part of that which the sudden Death of Aradin hinder'd him from uttering the Prince opened the Letter and saw there a Sentence more cruel than if it had been against his own Life To the Great Visier Orcan MY Love hath been prevailed upon at last by my Wrath Such a Man as I ought not to hearken to pity go then Orcan and Sacrifice the ungrateful Arianissa to the Shame of having made me sigh to no purpose her Blood will quench the rest of my Flame Fear some opposition from Musselman and whilst I shall vanquish the Rebellious Scanderberg begin my Revenge that way which will prove so sorrowful to him This is the Absolute Command of Amurat. No Man could express the sad effects the Reading of this Letter produced in the Soul of Scanderberg In the first fit of his Rage he was ready to run towards the Ottoman Army but Vranus after a long but fruitless opposition laying aside his wonted respect told him at last Do you seek an Inglorious Death My Lord and will not this Triumph of the Turks blot out all the Splendour of your past Life Having lost Arianissa reply'd the Prince I am resolv'd to dye in her Revenge His Despair had likely prevailed over Vranus's Zeal if Thopia a young Prince and much addicted to Scanderberg who was looking for him because he knew he was gone out of Croya without his Train had not come in the same place Thopia said the King of Albania to him None is more worthy your pity than I You My Lord answered Thopia amazed you the Love the Terrour and the Admiration of the whole World in your first Youth what Mischiefs can cross so great Advantages I perceive reply'd Scanderberg you judge of the Felicity of my Life by those Actions which have made a great noise in the World but do not decide it upon meer appearances My Lord added Thopia the Turks may surprize your Valour in this place Let us go to Croya where your Presence is wished for And so jointly with Vranus they obliged the Prince to go towards the City but first they took care of the Corps of Aradin some Albanian Troopers who were riding about the City to observe the Motion of the Turks carry'd it away by the King's Command Thopia knew very well that Scanderberg was in Love but he was not acquainted with the Particulars of his Life and shew'd a great Desire to know them Scanderberg condescended easily to call again to mind his most sorrowful Ideas that he might satisfie Thopia whom his Friendship distinguisht from all the other Princes of his Court. Thopia said he when they were come to the Palace of Croya you will help me to bewail Arianissa 's Fate when you shall hear me and you will confess that if Fortune hath bestowed some Favours upon me they have been Poysoned by many bitter displeasures Scanderberg gave Order none should interrupt them and began his Discourse after this Manner The History of Scanderberg YOU know my Mother was Daughter to the Prince of the Triballians and that John Castriot my Father did Reign in Epirus and Albania he was envy'd for his Valour by Amurat who rendered himself Formidable in Greece after he had been the Terror in Asia Castriot forced to yield to the swiftness of his prosperous Fortune made Peace with him and sent my three Brothers and me for Hostages to Adrianople Vorsana my Mother keeping still by her self four Daughters to wipe off her Tears She expected much from my Birth by reason of a Dream which she had when she was Big of me She Dreamed she was Delivered of a Serpent so great that he covered all Epirus his head did reach to Turkey which he swallow'd up and he did dip his Tail in the Sea towards Venice Castriot having heard the Relation of this Dream from Vorsona assured her she should bring forth a Man fatal to the Turks and useful to Christendom Nevertheless I was delivered into the hands of the first Nothing but the regard of the safety of his Dominions could ever have brought him to this Resolution I being but eight years old all my Brothers were Elder than I this Age exposed me to the Ceremonies of the Turks wherein they changed my Name that was George into that of Scanderberg which is as much in the Turkish Tongue as Alexander Lord concerning my Brothers their Riper Age free'd them from this Violence The Sultan who had a good Opinion of my youth took all the imaginable care to make me an Honest Gentleman The unfortunate Aradin was made my Governour and never man performed his Duty with more Zeal and Diligence But tho' his kind usage made me forget that I was beholding for it to a Slave yet my Condition and the first Impressions of Religion which I had received could never be blotted out of my Memory I shall not relate to you what I did from eight years to sixteen I learn'd all Exercises necessary both for the Body and the Mind and Aradin did all his Endeavours to inspire me with the love of Glory and Vertue The Emperour who took some delight in my Sight and Conversation seem'd always pleased with me I had the advantage of Signalizing my self in his presence in the first War wherein I was allowed to fight and kind Fortune waiting every where upon me being yet but nineteen years
heart took notice of her as of an Object which it was resolved to adore And according to what I had conceived of her upon Aradin's Relation I wished Aranissa and that Slave might be the same upon that account I abandoned my self to the Passion that possesses me and which will never end I shall not relate to you what was done there having taken no notice of the Ceremony Arianissa only had all my looks and my attention neither did I mind whether Selimana cast her eyes upon me as caring little for her Favour I ran to Aradin as soon as the Sultanesses and the Slaves were retired Love which first had engaged me by the adventure I had had with Mahomet made me feel now all its power The Eunuch was amazed at the violence of my Passion and was almost angry My dear Scanderberg said he to me you know me well enough not to question the sincerity of my advices what can you hope from an affection whose consequences must needs be unfortunate Fortune condemns Arianissa to be a Slave for ever will you confine the Glory of your life in an hopeless Love And don't you deserve to be blamed for the unreasonableness of the design I confess Arianissa is a Charming Person and according to all probability her Birth is not mean But what can you hope from her as long as she is in the Seraglio where all things breathe only for Amurat 's Pleasure Can you fetch out Arianissa in spight of so many Persons who watch always to satisfie the Emperour's jealousie And will you not deserve his hatred for breaking these Laws the least violation of which deserves Death reflect upon your self Scanderberg forget Arianissa who can ruine you Consider you are a Prince designed for extraordinary things and covered already with a Glory which you ought to preserve This Discourse of Aradin which his affection created confounded my reason but did not perswade my heart My Love for Arianissa was too strong and it could not be prevailed on by his Advices no more than by my own Reflections he perceived well my sad Condition but seeing it was impossible to alter my mind he exhorted me not to rule my Conduct according to my blind Passion but to have a special regard to Amurat's Severity and to take my measures accordingly I felt all the griefs of Love as soon as I knew Arianissa the impossibility of seeing her was to me a most cruel pain despair often makes us slight those things we desire to obtain but the difficulties I met with here did but inflame me the more As if the Obstacles before mentioned bad not been enough there arose against me three formidable Rivals The Emperour who had never before look'd upon Arianissa found her so Beautiful the day of the Publick Audience of the Egyptians that Selimana seemed to him less Charming Prince Mahomet who had not till then entertain'd any other thought but the fear of the common Fate of the Princes of his Blood and who had carried himself so well towards the Sultan as not to give him any just cause of Anger or Jealousie paid to Arianissa's Beauty what was due to her from all tender Hearts And Musselman who ought to have rested satisfy'd with the amorous intrigues which either his Inclination or good Fortune had procured him look'd upon her with the same eyes as we did I knew not for a long while their thoughts and I was very careful to hide mine Mahomet became melancholy and for my part I loved Solitude so much that I could scarce cast my eyes upon those things which formerly had so much pleased me we neglected our Warlike Exercises we minded no more those Pleasures which we had been so desirous of before and Solitude was the only thing we sought after All admission in the Seraglio of the Women being forbidden to us we were continually in the passages to it where ever my Love guided me I did meet there Mahomet Musselman was happier than we his Employ whose Authority is almost unlimited did give him access where we could not go and we may think he made use of his advantages As I was used to spend most part of the day and night about those places which hide Arianissa from my sight I did sometimes forget my self there One night I tarried so long in the Emperour's Garden which was next to that of the Women that the Gates were shut up All the Bostangi's had retired no body was up any longer in the Seraglio no light appeared there and I was fain to stay there till day after I had endeavoured to no purpose to get out towards the Sea As I was withdrawing in a retired place to spend there the rest of the night I saw a man crossing the great Flower Garden and marching towards me with all possible haste By avoiding him I had confest my self guilty therefore going towards him I perceived it was the Emperour What do you do here Scanderberg said he to me with a severe Countenance being bred up in Our Palaces and well instructed with our Customs ought you to shew this Example of boldness to so many Persons who can make an ill use of it and have you some secret design against my Rest my Life or my Authority I have nothing to say to thy Highness for my Justification answered I and I appear guilty enough to deserve thy indignation but I must say this that a melancholy humour is the cause of the fault for which thou blamest me and I swear I have tarryed here minding not the place where I was You are so dear to me reply'd the Emperour that I am concern'd with all your sorrows and if you have any reason for any not only I forgive you this fault but shall do my endeavours to satisfie you Thine Highness said I is too kind and ought not to trouble it self about so small trifles the want of Employment is the cause of my sorrow and thy Highness leaving nothing to do for us makes my young Courage grumble at its being idle You have done enough to desire Peace and enjoy some Rest reply'd the Sultan but if your Valour wants exercise I promise you some Go home quietly and expect from me such Employments as are worthy of a Hero who intends to surpass all the Ottomans I made a very humble bow to the Emperour glad I had pacify'd him and went away as he directed me but that Night was to bring forth other adventures Prince Mahomet brought there by the same motives as I had been also shut in and we saw him coming towards us thinking we were some Bostangi's or Eunuchs Is this a fit time for you to be here said the angry Emperour to him and are you my Son only to shew your self unworthy of being so The young Prince was struck with these words he saw me and thought concerning me the same thing I did concerning him I have sinned against my own will My Lord answered he to the
Sultan but I protest to thy Highness I shall come hither no more A third man who did steal behind the Hedge more slily than we had done hinder'd the Sultan's reply he did go towards the Womens Lodgings a place which had always seem'd suspicious to Amurat but chiesly now in the beginning of his new Passion but his fear and vexation increased when he heard Arianissa's fine voice with which he was already acquainted sing these words Go on observe the Dictates of your Love The Favours of the shady night improve Suppress these sighs which from disorders flow And let your noble Flame yet higher grow Yield him your heart his pleasing rules obey Who is a God and does direct your way The Sultan felt then all the powers of jealousie esteeming that Song to be the signal we were guilty all three and never did an innocent Adventure afford greater cause of suspicion to a passionate Lover He ran to the third Adventurer and knew him presently to be Musselman whom Arianissa's voice had stopt None of us was a contemptible person and tho' Mahomet and I had some advantages above Musselman by reason of our Youth and natural parts yet his Authority in the Gardens might be of a great use to a forward man Tho' the Bostangi Bassa had some priviledges and few set hours yet Amurat thought him more guilty than us Musselman said he to him with that pride which is natural to all the Sultans what brings you hither at an hour when no duty requires your presence Was it to introduce you to the Sultanesses that a Slave sung just now and do you leave your house only to come and trouble me in mine Musselman was not amazed at this upbraiding he is Naturally bold and answering without any commotion I thought my Lord reply'd he I could not have too much Zeal for thine Highness and that all the hours of the day and night were free for my Loyalty by thy Kindness I command in the Gardens but I know how to stay in mine as soon as I shall perceive that my Services are suspected I believe said the Emperor I shall not be able to unriddle this Mistery I will moderate my own Temper let us retire and let us be more careful for the future So we retired into the Seraglio I don't question but Musselman suspected both the Prince's Love and mine Amurat whom his reflect thoughts had brought to the Garden at that hour against his Custome doubled the Guards towards the Seraglio of the Women and gave more severe orders to the Eunuchs which some faithfully observed Aradin upbraided me the next day for my wandring We concluded Mahomet and Musselman were my Rivals and hoping to cure me he assured me the Emperour was deeply in Love with Arianissa That Passion could not destroy mine tho' it ruined all my hopes I feared neither the Prince nor Musselman whose condition was not better than mine But I ought to fear all things from the Sultan whose inclinations were violent and whose will nothing was able to resist I sighed for this with Aradin I became more circumspect before the Prince and avoiding the Gardens contented my self with the Entertainment my Melancholy Thoughts enjoy'd upon the Sea Shoar I understood one day that the Emperour was going to bathe with some Sultanesses in a little Island from Adrianople about an hours journey he was used to take secretly such Pastimes and then he would put off for a while all sorts of Gravity his Galley was so shut that the Sultanesses could neither see nor be seen it was led by some Bostangi's and Musselman by vertue of his place was at the head of them but that honour procured him no advantage since he could see nothing but his Bostangi's But my Jealousie was so strong that I went all along the Sea a very great way from Adrianople and casting my looks as far as they could reach I saw something over the water carryed away by the stream I thought I perceived a Vail and believing it might be a Woman ready to be drowned I threw my self presently into the water and using my little Skill I swam with all possible diligence and took really into my Arms a woman who was almost choak'd I doubled my efforts to get to the Shore and as soon as I was there I perceived it was Arianissa You may judge Dear Thopia what was my grief when I saw the only thing that was dear to me in such a lamentable condition Merciless Fate cry'd I ought you to have offered her to me in such a condition O fair but unwise Arianissa why did you seek your death in so little important a Pleasure This transport of mine did not hinder me from assisting her I lifted her head and bending a little the rest of her body abundance of water rushed out of it and within a short while she recovered her Breath this relief called again the natural heat which seem'd to have forsaken her and drove away part of my Allarms after a deep sigh she open'd her Eyes and seeing her self alone with a man having but a thin gown on she was willing to change her posture Knowing her Design and desirous to please her I let her set down upon the Grass and seeing she was able to understand me Fair Arianissa said I that Fate which hath exposed your Life hath been favourable to my Affection but let not this adventure trouble you since Scanderberg would sooner lose his Life than his respect towards your Person Arianissa sighed twice or thrice and was some while without answering me but at last she reply'd Tho' my Life be not dear to me My Lord I am not the less beholding to you if you had not been so generous you had freed me from many Misfortunes but you could not have guest my condition I was as much moved with Arianissa's words as with her languishing Charms I know not what Fate Heaven designs for you but I shall think my self happy for ever since I have been serviceable to you in another time and under another Government I should take other measures and should not let you know my Love till my Services and Respect had sufficiently demonstrated it and deserved your consent but as things stand now how is it possible to see you in a Palace where we can have no admission and how can one speak with you since it is in vain to hope to come near you I Love you I am forced to acquaint you with it and if this free Confession renders me guilty I shall never repine at my Punishment I was the same before I had seen you and I adored your Vertue without knowing your Person What Discourse is this My Lord interrupted Arianissa with a charming Sweetness Is this to try me Do you consider that I am a Slave subject to the Emperour of the Turks loaded with Chains by Selimana and who likely shall not see you any more in all her life time as for your present
to live with this Monster How blame-worthy is your faint-heartedness Must my own example encourage you If you do not come to me I will go meet either Death or you then she attempted to get loose out of Musselman's hands but her strength was not sufficient Musselman foresaw then his certain ruine Love said he without any more ado guide mine Arm Then he lifted it up to stab Aranissa in the breast and he had certainly done it if the affectionate Thopia whose mind was more sedate than Scanderberg's foreseeing the effects of Musselman's rage had not taken secretly a by way and got in that critical minute so near him that he struck him and sent both his Arm and Dagger to Arianissa's Feet another blow divided Musselman's Face in two so that he gave up his unclean Soul with his cruel Blood Those that were there present were so amazed at this wonderful Action that they took Thopia for a Man sent down from Heaven But Scanderberg whose terrour was converted into a sudden joy ran to embrace Arianissa's Deliverer before he went to her self 'T is impossible for us to relate all the obliging things they told one another Scanderberg to shew his great passion prostrated himself at Arianissa's Feet and uttered the most passionate expressions that his heart could invent She embraced him obligingly at which favour Mahomet was sorely vexed Thopia received from Arianissa such Praises and Elogiums as his Action well deserved and Scanderberg shewed him all the imaginable demonstrations of joy and friendship The Turks who had follow'd Musselman fled away but they were not pursued Mahomet did sigh having no hope left him and seeing there was now no likelihood to paâ—â— Arianissa from Scanderberg Cruâ—â— Fortune cryed he why must I be the witness of their Felicity Must I forsake for ever a Beauty whom I have so long ador'd Having made this sorrowful reflection he came near Scanderberg with as much freedom as he might have done at Andrianople Tho' we are both Enemies and Rivals said he to him I fear nothing from thee which might be unworthy of a Prince whom all the World admires and without any base submission I must tell thee I esteem thee tho' without love Compare my condition to think own and grant that I am an unfortunate Man since neither in my Father's Dominions nor in this place I have any hopes left me Could a reasonably expect to fight for her with success and gain her favour the Ottoman Blood which runs in my veine should never be allarmed at thy valour I see you must remain Conquerour and since thou hast triumphed over Amurat you can never be vanquished and I cannot but be unfortunate for ever These words which could not proceed but from a noble heart made a deep impression upon Scanderberg he had always been sensible of Mahomet's excellent Virtues which answered well his Illustrious Birth and seeing that he could not in reason upbraid him of his Pride My Lord said he to him I shall never hate you tho' you can never love me and I would willingly part with any thing besides Arianissa for your satisfaction Time interrupted Mahomet will without doubt afford us some occasions to see one another again In the mean time enjoy your Arianissa whom I cannot take away from you Having spoke these words away he rode and was soon out of sight with his Men. Scanderberg resolved to tarry no longer in a place where Arianissa had been so sadly allarmed and which was like to have proved fatal to her They told one another a thousand obliging things and they chose the fairest Horse for the beautiful Princess who rode towards Croya with her illustrious Lover leaving Musselman's Corps to be devoured by wild Beasts wherewith those Desarts were full Tho' Arianissa was not used to any hard exercise yet she rode a long way within a short time and she couâ—â— hardly be perswaded to take any 〈◊〉 at night the strong desire she 〈◊〉 to see Aranit Amissa and her other dear Relations made her long to arrive at Croya During that Journey which lasted two days and a night Scanderberg had now the opportunity â—â— knowing his own good fortune and Arianissa's tender love Thopia was as well pleased as he and never did â—â— greater tranquillity succeed trouble which were thought endless In fine Scanderberg brought into Croya without meeting with any opposition his fair Princess All the People of the City went in great crowds to see her and to congratulate him upon his return Aranit then the most fortunate of Fathers told Scanderberg That since he had deserved so well his Daughter she belonged by right to him Amissa and Arianissa kissed and embraced one another for a long while and Thopia who had been so glorious an Instrument in procuring Scanderberg's Happiness receiv'd from Amissa such protestations of Love as he deserved Croya where Sorrow had reigned during the War and Scanderberg's Grief then quite alter'd Pleasures and Sports had now their time and all possible endeavours were made to divert Arianissa who had led before such a sorrowful life Among all these pleasing Diversions Scanderberg neglected nothing concerning his important Affairs and whilst Amurat was hearing what had pass'd and was taking new resolutions both against the Life and Fortune of the King of Albania this Prince who now enjoy'd his dear Arianissa kept his Army in a capacity of resisting all the Ottoman Forces He knew not what had pass'd at Andrinople since his departure thence Arianissa who had seen Acomat and bewailed the Death of the Loyal Aradin was willing to satisfy Scanderberg's Curiosity one Evening being with Amissa and Thopia who had heard her former Adventures she thus related the last to the King of Albania The History of ARIANISSA AS I had passionately wished for your departure from Andrinople so was I overjoy'd at the News of it since you ought not to expect there any favour and tho' I could not absolutely flatter my self with the Idea of a future Liberty yet I had some glimmering hope still left me Aradin and I congratulated one another upon this occasion but the fearful Sultan fell into an exceeding Rage when he heard you had been proclaimed King by the Albanians As his wrath increased so did his troublesome and imperious Sollicitations He did not question but I had some secret Intelligence with you and he suspected Aradin of having favour'd our Designs he threatned him with Death and me with the utmost Severity and so cast me often into dreadful Fears Selimana seeing she had lost you for ever endeavoured to regain the Sultan's Love I did what I could to facilitate that Conquest unto her yet she hated me as a dangerous Rival who deprived her of the Sultan's Affection and who likely had hindred you from loving her She conjectured from the words which you heard me sing and which truly proceeded from my heart that since the day you fought the Tartar I had not look't