Rage in great fighs The King triumph'd and to encrease Meharen's despair and the pleasure he took to overwhelm him with Grief and Confusion he commanded him to acquaint him with the Particulars of his Intrigue with Hattige how he came acquainted with her and how he got her out of the Seraglio Our unfortunate Adventurer was forc'd to obey him and gave him an Account of the Passion he had had for her many years and was renew'd after his Nephews Adventure which let him see Hattige was not insensible That Zara had been his Confident and that very day appointed for their Interview like a Man that leaves all for Love he had not Power to execute his Orders As to her coming out of the Seraglio it was through a Window of her Apartment towards the Garden and that she was let down in a great Wicker-Basket The King had the Curiosity to go see the Machine and found it in a Posture to help up the fair Lady who had deserted it But it was his Pleasure Roukia should go up in her Room and that her worthy Spouse should weigh her up instead of Hattige whom the King gave him in exchange though not to his Satisfaction However it was the Kings Favour to him It was his Majesties Goodness to do it And I know not how he could have us'd him better Thus got Roukia into Possession not only of the Kings Kindness and Care but of Hattige's Apartment and all that belong'd to her who had not remov'd or taken with her any of her most Precious things yet Hattige was so far from being troubled at it that she lov'd her Pleasure and Liberty so well she would have given more than ever she was Owner of to be out of the Seraglio But Meharen grown wiser by Roukia's example kept Hattige as close as if she had continued in the Seraglio This quickly produc'd Disputes and Quarrels betwixt them till at last they grew weary one of another Hattige to be rid of him pretended a Revelation from Heaven which the Turks are very subject to and told him she was requir'd to make a Voyage to Mecha otherwise her Sins would never be pardon'd The Cause was specious enough to oblige Meharen to give her her Pasport though he had not as he had a mind to be rid of her He gave his Consent to the Pilgrimage and sent her to Tunis recommending her to Mahomet Bascabey his intimate Friend and praying him to fu̇rnish the fair Pilgrim with a Vessel to carry her to Alexandria This Sir says Razie is the Story of my Mistress You see I have not spar'd her that I might give you a true Account of all her Adventures which none knew better than I who have been with her ever since she was taken into the Seraglio but never approv'd her Conduct therefore she endeavour'd still to hide it from me yet I knew all she did Certain it is had her Soul been Beautiful as her Body there had been nothing more perfect under Heaven She would charm you Sir did you see her and 't is pity a Man as the Captain of the other Vessel should have her in his hands She would be far better in yours The Knight answer'd he had a desire to serve her Mistress but not to make an Advantage of her That he had been in search of her on no other Design And if it were possible he would at the first Oppertunity set her at Liberty and all those of her Vessel But it must be kept secret lest if his Friend any way suspected it he might put a stop to their good Fortune Razie amaz'd at so great Generosity in a Knight of Malta who ordinarily use not too well those of her Nation knew not what to think of it but took it for a Miracle She thank'd the Knight for the Favour he gave her hopes of and was carry'd back to her Vessel laden with Provisions which the other Women were the more surpriz'd at having been ill us'd by the other Captain whom they thought no more inhumane than this That Night the Knight did but think of the Adventures of the Lady and as bad as she had been represented yet being young he could not chuse but have a mind to see her but he was affraid the sight might cost him dear since he found by hearing the Story of her he had more than an indifferent Inclination for her Few Knights of Malta of his Age would have been so scrupulous Curiosity if not Love would have prevail'd over all other Considerations But this who was Honesty and Generosity it self made it his Business to serve the Lady without the least hope of Recompence Yet he lov'd to do things civilly and was willing before he went any further to speak once more to Gourdan and was preparing to go see him just as Gourdan came to him a little more gay than ordinary Well Sir says He how like you your Company I hope you will excuse me the easier for what Love made me do I can easily excuse answers the Knight the Love one has for a fair Lady but cannot excuse a Man who uses them ill as You do I am more troubled at it says the Corsair than you think who know not as I do the Women of this Country they are humoursome and will never love a Man but when they are forc'd to it by ill Vsage That 's a scurvy piece of Policy replies the Knight and becomes not a civil Person Believe it adds He it would be more for your Honour to send her back into her Vessel than do her the least Violence He spake these words in such a manner as made Gourdan redden without answering a word The Knight proceeded to say I know You will not take my Advice but I would do my Duty to mind you of it and if you have any Value sor me you will leave the poor Slave at Liberty at least to love or not love you for whatever you have to say of the Customs of the Women of this Country you see the ways you have us'd to win her have not yet taken but ended quite contrary to your wishes She is not an ordinary Woman to be threatned and ill us'd into Compliance And could you have your will of her pray tell me what Pleasure could you have of her but would reflect with Disadvantage on a Man of that Esteem You are of in our Order This open'd Gourdan's Eyes he imagin'd the Knight had been told of the Ladies Beauty and was fallen in Love with her which might be the reason he spoke in that manner and hoped perhaps he would be such a Sot to quit her to him These were Gourdan's thoughts who turning to the Knight All your Rhetorick Sir says he smiling will not serve your turn you are too young for me And without makeing a fine Speech as you have done I will only tell you I will keep my Turk and let her love me or not love me she shall not stir
only to what is external and gross when Love and Inclination frustrated of their expectations from them and not satisfied with pomp and with shew goes in search of satisfaction elsewhere Hattige lov'd the King as most Mistresses of that kind use to do that is as far as the power of a Monarch could make her Love a Man who raised her above all other Women she reign'd in all outward splendor imaginable but amidst all her Glories she was troubled she found not a Man she could Love for his own sake A Woman subject to such reflections as these is hardly kept within the bounds of her duty my Mistress found it too hard a task not to transgress a little and being in search of one worthy her condescention she cast her Eyes upon Rajep the Master Gardiners Nephew Rajep was a handsome Gentleman young and vigorous and had pleas'd other Women and was reputed to make his Fortune that way She had twice or thrice seen him as she look'd upon the sports as are usually shewn for the divertisement of the Ladies of the Serrallio where Men Fight with Beasts for the pleasure of the Women Rajep was excellent at the sport and always came off with Applause and Admiration Every blow he gave carried Death with it and made all the Company shout for joy which reached my Mistresses heart 'T is not unusual to find women affected with a Mans merit upon occasions of that nature she was deeply sensible of the Applause and Honour bestowed by the Company on Rajep When she came from these Shews she could not forbear being melancholly and pensive even in the King's presence She could neither eat nor Sleep This troubled extremely the amorous Prince who was so inquisitive after the least concerns of the health and pleasures of his Mistress that he was more in pain than she to see her languish as she did He could not imagine what she ailed and was so much concern'd at it he could not rest for thinking of it The Lady was more and more Love-sick and by degrees her passion grew so upon her it altered her quite The good King redoubled his Caresses no less than his Care and Liberality and if it had been possible would have doubled his Love He prayed her every moment if she lov'd him to tell him the cause of her trouble and protested he would not stick for her satisfaction to sacrifice his Life So great so true and so tender a passion might have turn'd that false heart of hers had she been capable of any love for him But Rajep was her man the most charming in her Eye and the most accomplished on Earth The King's bounties she thought were but her due or at least sufficiently requited in the superficial acknowledgments she made him and that if she lov'd him not heartily 't was not her fault but his who knew not how to gain her Affection Such Sir is the fortune of Monarchs in love when they are with their Mistresses they commonly lay aside that Majesty which dazles the Eyes and affects the Hearts of Mankind they go undressed into their Chambers and make themselves so familiar with their Mistresses they afterwards use them as ordinary Men The amourous Hattige wholly possest with her passion for Rajep languished under it not knowing what remedy to use Zara a Greek Slave and her chief Confident had a longing desire to know what the matter was she heard her sigh every moment and like a Woman of Age and Experience as she was she thought if it was not for Love there was no great danger She was not over hasty to know the Secret but conform'd her self so much to her Mistresses way of living that she neither eat nor slept but wept and sigh'd and walk'd just as her Mistress At last my Mistress having often observed it ask'd her what she ailed to afflict her self so Alas if you knew Madam answers the good Matron sighing if you knew says she again with a sorrowful Tone what danger you run into by living as you do But what should I tell you of it who have so little confidence in me You have no cause to complain of that Answers Hattige smiling for you know no person alive knows more of my Secrets than You. Yes Madam relplyes Zara till now because possibly you never were engag'd in any thing might deserve the Name of a Secret but now that the time is come to try my fidelity to make use of my Advice and Addresses you are content to afflict your self as if you had not Zara with you Zara who loves you if I may be allowed to say so more than her Life which she would very willingly sacrifice for you for what is the matter Madam what would you have wherein may I serve you why do you not make use of me Thou speakest says the Lady as if thou readest what is in my heart And who is it but can guess replyes Zara what you ail the only wonder to me is the King hath not taken notice of it and I tremble when I hear you sigh before him for when all 's done what is it you want for compleat satisfaction if it be not that he loves you too much and you love not him there is not that thing you can desire in the world but you have it already I tell you truly Madam I am afraid your Melancholly will at length make him suspect something and what he will think of it I know not Thou sayest well poor Zara replyes Hattige seemingly affected with the kindness of the good Slave and could I believe thee faithful enough to acquaint thee with all that is in my heart I doubt not but thy Advice might be to my advantage If you doubt my Fidelity says Zara you need only say nothing to me for so you will oblige me in spight of my heart to keep your Counsel Yet I would have you know that for forty years I have spent in the Serrail I have been always look'd upon as an Example of Discretion There hath not been here in all that time a gallant Woman but I have serv'd and were we at leisure could give you a very pleasant account of them In a word Madam I know who I am and I know what you want Make use of me once more and as soon as you please Perhaps you may not find me always in humour to pleasure you but it pities me at present to see you languish My Mistress who had before a good Opinion of Zara and clearly saw how necessary she was for her resolv'd immediately to discover all to her though to save her modesty she turn'd the story thus Thou knowest says she I had a Brother who loved me and I from a Child lov'd him with the tenderest Affection My Father to prevent misadventures he apprehended from the violent Inclinations we had one for another parted us sending him to Candy whence he never return'd Never were more Tears shed then by me on
the former and found in it these words A Sight of you is enough to convince one you are a very gallant man and that one cannot hazard too much to engage with you Make good use of the Sentiments you rasise in those that see you do as the Moor shall tell you and you will quickly have reason to thank Love for his favours Osman having read the Billet ask'd the Eunuch the particulars of his new Embassy who told him He carryed Rajep the Assignation of a Rendezvous at Night with the hour and the manner he was to be introduc'd The Aga more joyful of the news than can be exprest caus'd a Copy to be made of this Billet by the hand that had copied the other and dismiss'd the Eunuch to pursue his Commission Rajep who did not expect so great a progress in so short a time thought himself highly obliged to the fair LÃ dy unknown who sav'd him the Troubles and Inquietudes of longer delayes His Answer was this WHatever you think of me Madam I have not vanity enough to fancy I can merit the favour you do me I acknowledge I owe it entirely to your Goodness and if I have any thing worthy of it it is the extreme passion I have had for you now a whole day a passion so violent had you delay'd any longer my happyness of seeing you it would have certainly been the death of me I will do as directed and if I fail of my design it shall not be for want of Love it will be entirely Fortune's fault which will undoubtedly be for me if she favour those who are deepest in Love as she does those who are boldest in Action The Aga was glad of this Billet also had it copied and ordered the Eunuch to bring him word as soon as Rajep entred the Seraglio which he punctually did about one a Clock in the morning It was a little too late to carry the News to the King but it was an Occasion to good to be lost He went his ways and found the King just going to Bed The King surprized to see him come into his Chamber What says he Osman up at this time of the Night Nothing but good Fortune should keep a Man so long awake Who knows says the Aga but 't is that brings me hither You are come a little too late says the King and I am so well pleased with my good Fortune to day I will not rise to go in search of a better Hear me adds the King observing Osman very desirous to interrupt him I will tell you part of the Pleasure I have had this Evening and shall not relish it so well unless I acquaint you with it You must know that Hattige whom in spight of the hatred you have for her you will acknowledge one of the handsomest Women you have ever seen was fallen of late into so strange a Melancholly and Grief that nothing could divert her She did nothing but weep and her Tears troubled me so that at last I believe I should have died for Grief so great is the Love I have for her This Day more charming to Me at least and more beautiful than ever though not without some languishing in her Looks which shewed she was not throughly well at Heart taking pity of the Condition her Sadness was bringing me to Sir says she embracing me with extremity of Tenderness I see well enough what you suffer for my sake Were my Life only concern'd I would dye a Thousand times rather than tell you the cause of my melancholly but the care I have of your Health far dearer than mine and the Concern I am under to see you so altered in few days will not permit me any longer to conceal from you the cause of my sadness I must tell you then though I were sure to lose your Affection by it my grief proceeds only from a dream I had lately which made such impression on my spirit I cannot to this moment get it out of my thoughts At that she stop'd not able to proceed for weeping and sobbing which she could not forbear and I had much ado to perswade her at length to put an end to and pressing her more earnestly to go on and tell me her dream Alas continued she sighing may it not be a fatal Prediction out of my own mouth against my self I dreamt Sir I saw you in Roukia 's arms the Master Gardiner's Wife and was not able with tears or reproaches to force you thence Can you be so false and will you not endeavour at least to divert the blow Heaven threatens me with Ah Sir rather let me die than ever see this come to pass Here her grief seiz'd her more violently than ever and she fell half dead into my Arms. You may believe dear Osman I said many things to her to bring her again and perswade her out of the thoughts of the Dream which you know signifies nothing I have often heard talk of Rouchia but as beautiful as they report her to be I never had the curiosity to see her I was so satisfied with the lovely Hattige for whom I have resolv'd to keep my self entirely and stick to her alone To end my Story you must know I prevail'd with her so far with oaths and kind words that I disabus'd at last and left her perfectly cur'd of those suspitions of falsness she had entertain'd against me She recover'd her former Gayety of humor and was kinder than ever having exprest to me all the tenderness and strength of an extraordinary Passion I stay'd with her longer than ordinary and am more in love with her than ever I am but newly come from her and to tell you the Truth had scarce the power to leave her Pray stay a little longer says she still as I was going And still one moments stay procur'd another full of love and of kindness which seem'd to increase still as she staid me I could entertain you all night with the pleasure I had in the Closet of that charming Woman and yet not tell you all which you know is not discretion in a Lover to do to his Confident though never so faithful But what think you of her tenderness for me Was ever woman in love so allarm'd at a Dream And must I not love her more than ever for having endur'd what she did without daring to acquaint me with it 'T is true says the Aga very seriously what you have said is surprizing but not to that degree you imagin'd Give me leave to acquaint you only that a Man for whom I have the highest respect and veneration being passionately in Love as you are with a Woman one day in confidence gave me an account how pleasantly he had spent some moments in her Company and that she had given him a taste of all that the most tender and passionate Love hath of sweet and of charm and that he thought himself the happiest Lover on Earth You would think your self much abus'd
use her as the basest of Women The Aga being a dextrous Courtier and not unacquainted with Lover's Relapses knowing where lay the Weakness of his Prince said not a word for or against her only pray'd him to believe he had not in his Kingdom a Servant more faithfull and jealous of his Master's Glory than him But that he was afraid if his Majstey saw that Woman again things would return to their former course The King blush'd at these words as reproaching him with his frailty Yet he swore a thousand Oaths it should never be so again which his Heart mis-gave him he would not keep as it afterwards hapned As for Rajep Order was given to apprehend him Meharen the Master-Gardiner having no Heir but that dear Nephew of his when he had the News of what had past in the Seraglio and the Order against Rajey threw himself at the King's Feet but was presently rejected Yet his Freinds at Court appeas'd the King in some measure and prevail'd with him to change the Sentece of Death past against Rajeb into that of Banishment during Life My Mistress the first the second and third day of her Disgrace saw not the King This was a long time for the amorous Prince who us'd to be scarce an hour away from her Acquaintances of that nature are not lost without a great deal of pain She had Friends she imploy'd who every moment acquainted the King with the lamentable condition her Repentance had brought her to being so pin'd away she was not likely to live an Hour The fourth day the Prophesie of Osman was fulfill'd The King foftned with the sad News melting into Tenderness sigh'd staggerd and at last following his Inclination went to give her one Visit more under pretence of taking his Revenge of her being asham'd without doubt of so unbecoming a Relapse after the noise he had made of the Falsness of that Woman To excuse himself he said he would go to her only to take from her those Jewels he had given her who deserv'd not to wear auy thing belonging to him The Aga who knew his Master well and of what Consequenee that Visit might be would have diverted him dextrously by taking the Ladies part And telling him It did not become a generous Prince as he was to repent of his Liberality especially to Women But if he design'd only to frighten her which he doubted not was all he intended it would suffice as he conceiv'd to send any one to her from his Majesty without doing her the Honour of a personal Visit The Counsel was good but unseasonable for a Lover who was going in search of what the other would have diverted him from The King answered he knew what he did and that in some Affairs he lov'd to follow his Humour without any Advice The Aga by this judg'd all was lost and that the King would be engag'd deeper than ever He shrug'd and retir'd unwilling to be Witness of an Action which would be charg'd half upon him if present The King was not displeas'd as his retyring and perhaps things would have gone otherwise then they did had the Aga been there The King came to Hattiges Apartment where presently without staying to give her notice of his coming or calling for the Keys of the Closet where the Jewels were he caus'd the door to be broke open entred it and finding the box they were in open he fell to viewing them over and taking particular notice of them as it were to give time to his perfiâ—ious Mistress to come and appease him She fell down at his Feet with her Hair about her Ears and embrac'd his Knees with that irresistable tenderness he took her up and led her into the Closet what Reconciliation was made there I know not but certain it is the King left the Jewels behind him and returning two hours after made her new Presents This agreement by degrees gathered such strength that the Amorous Prince visited her oftner than ever and seem'd to have forgotten not only what he had said of Hattige but all that had past which for a Lover of his Character was of consequence enough never to be forgotten It was talk'd of abroad but not much to his advantage Only the Aga said not a word of it Being politique he knew there was no remedy and that it was an incurable Infirmity in his Prince whose Ascendant was Love So that the Aga held it imprudent in him to ruin his Fortune to serve his Prince against his will and was confident Hattige was a Woman of that humor she would destroy her self at last Rajep being banish'd and Hattige more addicted to Gallantry than ever the King having caus'd her only to change her Gallant and add to her former the Pleasure of Variety Zara who through his means was again taken into her Favour was imploy'd a new to find out one with whom she might break those Oaths of Fidelity she had newly made to the King Hattige did no longer mince the matter to this Slave so well acquainted with her Concerns And the good Matron who knew her Mistress desir'd a Gallant as well out of the Infirmity of her Nature and Weakness of Temper as to please her Inclination resolv'd to find her out one with whom she also might do her Business The King on the other side who after he was convinc'd of the Falseness of Hattige began to love her less was very desirous of a new Mistress and fell in love with Roukia as Hattige had foretold It was an Inclination he was strangely surpriz'd into and perhaps in a manner not to be paralell'd Women besides the natural Beauty of the Face which chiefly gains them Admirers have a Thousand other ways to engage Men to love them for their Voice their Wit their Humour their Shape their good Meen and other Qualities capable to produce great Effects in the Hearts of their Lovers But I scarce dare tell you how Love brought the King enamour'd of Roukia who being one of the Handsomest Women of the Kingdome charm'd him by that part of which she took the less care because she would have been asham'd to shew it him and would not have expos'd it to the Light but for necessity and without dreaming it could be the cause of so lucky an Effect Excuse me Sir says Razi laughing if I enlarge no further on this Sublect You may guess by what I have said few Fish are caught with that Bait. One Evening about Sun-set the King from the Terrasse of the Garden of the Seraglio looking through the Trees had a sight of Roukia in that pleasant Posture The Sun who seem'd to stay to guild with his Rays an Object so charming to that Prince never saw any thing whiter or better shap'd 'T was in truth a Master-piece of the kind and notwithstanding the unpleasing Function it was about inflam'd the Heart of the Royall Spectator who did all he could to see a little more but Love would not
permit it being resolv'd the part he had first seen should have all the Glory of that Conquest The morrow a Courier for Gallantry was dispatch'd with a Billet to Roukia to this effect I Love you Madam and love you with a Passion no less tender than new I will not tell you how you have wounded me but it was no less than an innocent Treason I have heard say you were dangerous to see but not of that side I saw you Others run away from the sight of that wherewith I am taken and it was my Fate to feel the Power of your Charms by that which is commonly least charming However I am more in love than any man living and what will become of me when I see you as I ought I cannot tell I have realon to fear an entire Defeat I dye with impatience to expose my fels to your most powerfull Charms I am preparing for you that Triumph this Evening Let me not languish otherwise you will be the Death of your King whom you have already too cruelly wounded not to pity him a little The Moore who brings you this Billet will tell you what is to be done Adieu Thus it is our Kings declare their Love they never sigh in vain They need but say I love you and I will and the business is done Our Women think it their duty to obey them in matters of Love as our Men in Affairs of State Roukia inclinable as the rest of our Countrey-Women in things of that nature was so charm'd with the Honour of being written to by the King that without examining circumstances she presently return'd him this favourable Answer SIr you are no less Master of our Hearts than our Lives You shall never find me other than full of Respect and Obedience towards you Your Will is a Law And Nothing shall be too hard for Me when You command it to be done The Direction I have from the Moor shall be observ'd You must only take care to imploy Meharen about business All things else will assuredly be favourable And if you love me as much as you say you will save me part of those pains that attend the Impatience of one in Love when forc'd to wait long The King receiv'd this Letter with the joy of a Lover who was to be happy that day which seem'd long to him who was to stay till night before he could go to the place of Rendezvous He was so wholly taken up with his new Passion and the pleasures he promis'd himself from it that he never thought of seeing Hattige which he seldom fail'd to do A Commission was presently made ready to send Meharen out of Town Night being come the King went alone without noise into the Garden of the Seraglio where the Comedy was to be acted by him and Roukia who at the hour appointed came in by a Ladder he had caus'd to be brought for the purpose This enterview was charming on either side The night was not so dark but the King could discern Roukia's excellent Shape and judging the Features of her Face to be answerable he made no doubt but she was beautiful as she was reported But what charm'd him most was her admirable Wit which she shew'd on all occasions to make him amends for what the Night hid from his Eyes The King was transported at it And to tell you the truth they spent not much time in Complement but were quickly familiar as if they had been acquainted many years 'T is a priviledge Kings have to make more way in a day than others in a Month. Roukia no less proud of the Honour the King did her and the Dignity likely to attend it than she was of his love did her utmost endeavour to deserve it with admirable success for she gain'd his Esteem no less than his Affection She said a Thousand pretty things which he was ravisht at and made him very obligingly for her blame Love for having been so slow in bringing him acquainted with her who deserv'd best of any his A fection and his Care They were got into a Grotto convenient enough for an Entertainment almost like that of Aeneas and Dido and were there for some time without Interruption I will not disturb them continues Razy smiling to give you an account what past there between them You have been in Love I believe and may guess what discourse they had The King it seems was well pleas'd with it for he resolv'd to pass the rest of the Night there The Summer is the best Season for Rancounters of Love but this being a Gallant us'd to Success afforded less matter of discourse than one who had been less fortunate would have done and at length he fell asleep with his Fair one Love who had more Business to do in the same Garden allow'd him but a short time to rest Roukia hearing a Noise awak'd him to tell him of it At first he could hardly believe it the place being inaccessible to any but himself and Meharen as Master-Gardiner whom he had sent abroad and therefore had no apprehension of He hearken'd more attentively and could hear ones voice and afterwards his steps Before he would proceed farther he was willing to know who were so rash to enter that Place which it was Death to do by Day without his Permission he was scarce got up but he sees them approach to come into the Grotto It was a spacious Place made of purpose for a Coolingroom in the Heats of Summer and had in it several Beds of Turf very prettily made with Pots of Jessamin Flowers and other Sweets all about In a word it was a place pick't out for the Kings Pleasure It appear'd by the manner of the new Comers entry they were no strangers to the Place They chose a Quarter not far from the King 's But it was so dark it was impossible to see one another He let them seat themselves at their ease and had observ'd they were two but could not discern whether Men or Women One of them whose voice the King presently knew says immediately to the other 'T is the finest place in the world to laugh at the Jealous and to be quit with them He hath sometimes brought me hither where I have been forc'd to spend with him many a tedious quarter of an hour This was Hattige The King was extremely surpriz'd not knowing how she should possibly have come into the Garden but he was the more surpriz'd and Roukia also at the answer of the other whom both knew to be Meharen I confess Madam says he he deserves not to possess alone the Affections of a Lady beautifull as you are but he is my Master And nothing but a Passion great as that I have for you could have prevail'd with me to be false to him as I am Nothing but the extremity of your Beauty whose charms are irrisistable could excuse such a Crime But let a man value himselfe never so much on his