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
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
and added that tho' the Sultan's Rage had not fall'n so heavy upon Mahomet or Musulman as upon me yet they had smarted for his Jealousie Tho' I was fully at liberty I did not know what to resolve Amurat had possess'd himself of all my Dominions and the only thing I could own was my Sword after a long Consultation with Acomat and Aradin at last I intended to depart tho' I felt a great reluctancy in leaving Arianissa Tho' I had conceived a mortal hatred against Amurat yet I resolved to speak to him I met him one day as he was going out of the Divan He had been vexed at some important deliberation there and displeased with Arianissa's continual rigour so that one could easily read his Rage in his Eyes I thought said he you should make a better use of the Liberty I granted you at Adrianople than to offer your self to my presence and that your remorse should free me from the sight of such an odious Object This Discourse like the Ottoman Pride was too outragious to me to be born patiently If thine ungrateful Eyes had never seen me answered I it is likely you had paid dear enough for it You are no longer an Hostage interrupted the unjust Amurat but a Captive of whom the Janissaries are to be responsible If thou hadst considered Hostages as sacred replyed I thou hadst never poison'd my Brothers and nothing can hide the Horror of this Barbarous action from Posterity I pity thy young age replyed the Sultan with a scornful smile and the trouble thou takest of describing my Actions deserves a fit Reward get far from me and Arianissa and repent of having offended me I swear to thee by our most Holy Laws I shall never call thee back again So he left me spightfully I saw presently that it was now time for me to depart and to perform for my own Family and that of Arianissa what Honour required from me it was impossible for me to see that Charming Beauty whom I recommended a thousand times to the care of the Affectionate Aradin Amurat to cloak his injustice and not to disoblige the Janissaries who had declared themselves my Protectors offered me by Orcan his Favourite and already Grand Visier in the room of the deceased Hersecoli the Command of some Forces which he kept in the entrance of Asia and sent me word to tarry there for his Orders thinking I should never attempt any thing against him since all the Garrisons in Epirus and Albania were filled up with Turks Aradin did not question but Amurat's design was to shut me up in some remote Fortress Croya it self seemed well affected for him notwithstanding all the Efforts of the Princes Loyal to our Interest But Thopia as I was ready to depart seeming to accept of Amurat's proffer Fortune procured me the happiness of seeing Arianissa once more There happenned one night a fire in the Seraglio Musulman was suspected to be the Author of it It increased so much that it cast all Adrianople into a great Consternation The Appartment of the Women began to burn and the like Confusion was never seen they laboured but in vain to put it out in the Emperor's presence who encouraged those that laboured all the Water of the Sea Channels and Rivers had never been able to save Arianissa had I not shewed my self more eager and more Couragious than the rest You may judge how much I was affrighted at this Accident and with what haste I ran to assist her All the Janissaries Spahis and other Souldiers and all the Officers of the Seraglio were busied in quenching the Flame but durst not venture any farther to save the Women threatned with a cruel Death Amurat's fair Promises were in vain fear rendred them all deaf to his words and I was the only Man whom Love emboldened I ran upon high Piles of burning Cinders to the Gallery where the Women with the Eunuchs expected their last hour And most part of them did cry after a strange rate for fear of Death Selimana her self looked very pale and fearful But Arianissa preserved still her magestick and serene Countenance and look'd upon death without the least Commotion As soon as Selimana perceived me she came to trust her self into my arms but she found them not opened Aradin said I to the Eunuch who had followed me save the beloved Sultaness whilst I shall endeavour to do the same to some more exposed Person he took her away and I ran to Arianissa who had observed my behaviour and I carried her away easily reproaching the Eunuchs with their weakness and exhorting them to do the same to the rest Mahomet and Musulman who had seen me going into the Seraglio were ashamed to stay idle and not follow my Example but I was more diligent than they and brought Arianissa into a safe place I pass'd slily towards the Gardens to converse with her in Secret whil'st the faithful Aradin carried Solimana into another place Arianissa was almost choaked with the smoak and tho' she had the advantage of a purer Air yet she could not suddenly recover her lost Speech I had also suffered much by it and all my Cloths were spoiled but the pleasure of being with Arianissa did not permit me to reflect on such an inconsiderable loss I think my Lord said she to me when she was a little recovered that Heaven had design'd you for the preservation of my Life for as often as it is threatned with a danger you hazard your own to secure it How fortunate should I esteem my self Scanderberg if I could acquit my self of those great Obligations Tho' you prolong but an unfortunate Life yet that do's not lessen the dangers to which you expose your self Madam interrupted I had I done a thousand times more you should not be beholding in the least to me your dangers are mine own and acting for your Security I promote my own rest Alas Arianissa let not your kindness busie it self in taking notice of such small Services but consider rather how grievous your absence will prove to me you know Amurat's barbarous proceedings towards our Family my Mother stript of all her Estate and Dignity leads an uncomfortable life in some corner of Albania with her Daughters and the illustrious Aranit that Prince your worthy Progenitor is forced to submit to a Foreign Power Arianissa was sensibly moved at my Discourse and her Tears testified it Go my Lord into Albania answered she sadly to me revenge your Royal Blood deliver those great Princesses whose only comfort you are possess your self of Castriot's Throne protect Aranit and never forget Arianissa If you were willing Madam replied I I should not fly alone Alas my Lord answered she I could follow you without repugnancy was it possible for you to take me from hence but such an attempt can never succeed well here at Andrinople To prevent those Griefs and Alarms which absence might produce in you I pass my word to you I shall