prey of my victorious Armie if the love I bare my daughters had not made me forget what I owed to Bajazet's affection Among the sea faring men that were taken about Calaura there was a Pilot who seeing himself at the point of losing his life told them that had laid hands on him he had somewhat to say to me of more importance for my owne particular then the conquest of Italie though they beleev'd him not yet for feare of an errour they brought him to me I make no doubt said he to me presently but that the losse of Solyman Basha iâ—… the principall cause of your voyage and to get him againe you would even give part of your life you may be satisfied at a lower rate grant but to a wretch who hath not offended but by compulsion a life which he will preserve for your service and he will guid you to Solyman I made the Pilot arise and promising him farre more then he had desired I understood how Solyman was gotten away and whither he was gone but I could heare nothing of my daughters The love of revenge made me resolve to forsake mine Army and to goe alone where Solyman resided I therefore reimbarked all my troupes as speedily as I could and leaving with the Generall at sea a letter directed to the Sultan for his approbation of my action I steer'd towards the Canaries I heard in the Isle of Teneriff that Solyman whom they call'd Iphidamantus had been there almost a moneth with Polexander but was gone thence fifteene dayes past and to heighten my affliction they told me he was put to sea againe in quest of a Turkish Princesse which he had lost hereupon I presently left Teneriff and without inquiring after Solyman in the other Islands repassed the straights and sought him under a strange name and habit in a thousand places of France Spaine and Italie After a yeare spent in those voyages I put me againe into the Ocean and about a moneth since by good hap I met on the coasts of Fez a skiffe in which there was none but Moores and Granadians I inquired newes of the Countrey and understood that Morocco was besieg'd by the Pirates of Cape Verd and was defended by Abdelmelec and a Knight which call'd himselfe the unknown Knight I got him to describe that Knight to me and assoone as I heard of his exceeding comelinesse and valour I imagined it was Solyman The next day I came into Bajazet's Campe and concealing the true cause of my coming feign'd others to him probable enough to take away all suspition he might have of me he us'd me after his manner that was with incomparable civilities and offering me the command of his Army made me repent my dissimulation With an extraordinary freenesse he declar'd to me the cause which had ingaged him to this Siege and by that Declaration wip'd off all my griefe for the dissembling mine owne businesse for I leave it to your thoughts to what hee had been obliged had he once knowne I sought his Mistresses brother of purpose to kill him I waited therefore without discovering my selfe the occasion of seeing Solyman with his sword in his hand Yesterday it happened as you have heard indeed the successe was not such as I hoped but so as I was to expect from that eternall Mercy which by an incomprehensible wisdome out of the greatest ills produceth the greatest happinesses Thus Achomat ended the recitall of his fortunes and fill'd the hearts of his Auditors with so much pity that even the most contented there were for that time incapable of feeling their owne happinesse This converse had lasted longer had it not been disturb'd by a great noise which came from the land and by an allarme given as well in the ships as in the campe Bajazet and Achomat knowing how necessary their presence was in the like occasions tooke leave of the company Polexander and Iphidamantus followed them after they had intreated Zabaim not to forsake the Princesses They got to the Camp before Bajazet had got together againe the troupes which the enemy had driven out of the trenches Polexander's arrivall inspiring the valour nay the temerity of the most cowards all the Pirates went on furiously against the besieged and after a conflict which lasted farre within night forc'd them to retire for shelter behinde their bastions The foure Princes were much troubled to know who had animated the enemy with that bold resolution when they brought them thirty or forty prisoners A Knight among them of a very brave aspect making way through his companions stopp'd before Bajazet and thus spoke to him I am of the Princes of Granada and the eldest of the Abinzeragues which have surviv'd the ruine of their Countrey The unfortunate Boabdilez not induring the slavery of his people nor the pride of his conquerours hath lately left Spaine and passed into Africa with all the remainder of his forces Ten thousand Moorish Knights and forty thousand of his Subjects have followed his fortune and found a safe retreate in the goodnesse of the King whom you so much injure without any wrong done you The miseries from whence we but newly came had so quell'd the courages of our most hardy souldiers that finding themselves to enjoy some quiet in the places appointed them by the King of Morocco they could not till now resolve to the taking on their armour But the King my Master asham'd to see that Prince running the hazard of being ruin'd who had sav'd him got to horse with a hundred of his Knights and stirring from place to place to incite the Granadians to the defence of their Protector so urg'd them that they forsooke their wives and children and under the conduct of the King himselfe fortunately cast themselves into Morocco Boabdilez and Hely thought it fit that to honour the succours I should sally with some troupes and somewhat trouble you which I instantly obeyed and my act had been very fortunate if the end had answered the beginning that which I have more to say is this If you are stimulated as much by your generousnesse as valour after your overcoming me you will doe the like on my adverse fortune and send me backe to the King my Master since you will not have much to boast on in detaining that had so little honour in taking me That mischance which cast me under my horse is to have all the glorie of my being prisoner let not that vaunt of it or dare share in your actions for which you should be beholding to none but your owne vertue Bajazet would gladly that Polexander and the two other Princes had answered the prisoner but thinking it not fit to treate them with so much ceremonie he did what was fit and resuming the principall points of the Abinzerrago's speech The King said he whom you have justly tearm'd unfortunate should not beleeve that my companions and my selfe have so little courage as to suffer the injurie he hath
therefore look'd on him and knowing him what said he shall Zelmatida be so unfortunate that his deare Tumanama will not know him These words brought Tumanama back againe from the deepe meditation wherein he was in undoing his Mistesses chaines and made him turne his eyes on Zelmatida After he had earnestly looked on him he knew him though the lightsomnes of the place was not sufficient to make them well knowe their countenances and rising to embrace him O my deliverer said he hath the providence of the gods brought you into these Deserts to save my life a second time and to preserve to the faire Coriza this unworthy cause of her afflictions as well as of her love Zelmatida embrac'd him often times before he made answere and hiding from him the truth of his voyage told him that the service of the King his father oblieged him to goe to the Court of the King of Mexico unknowne he came thither by chance where five men would have murthered him whom he had kill'd But tell me said he by what strange accident the Princesse Coriza came to be in that estate I found her and why you have flayne a man who seem'd to take on him her defence That story is long reply'd Tumanama yet I will not forbeare to relate it as succinctly as I can But first bee pleased that I unloade my faire Princesse of those chaines with which the perfidious Maranita hath shewed her more his bruitishnesse then his affection When he had said thus he kneeled down and was in that posture till he had broken all the faire Coriza's bonds This done he presented Zelmatida to the Princesse and adressing his discourse to her See said he Coriza the generous Prince that for your sake forgetting my revolts and insolencies would not only give me my life and preserve my honour but withall disdain'd not to receive me into the number of his frends You see what he hath done for your deliverance give me leave to relate to him by what mishap you came to have neede of his courage and that I may justifie my selfe for the death of the traytor that fought for you Coriza here began to speake and told Zelmatida that the perplexities wherein she was gave her not the liberty to satisfie the obligations in which she was bound to him as well for her owne conservation as for her lovers but said she untill a better fortune give mee abler meanes to acknowledge your favours accept the recytall of my mishappes for a beginning of my payment Here Tumanama began and making use of the permission that Coriza gave him I was at the point said he to Zelmatida to receive not the recompance of my services for they are not considerable but the greatest proofes of the goodnesse of Coriza when as Maranita whom I had bred up as my brother and made partaker of all my secrecies as the best of my friends resolv'd himselfe on a treason so bruitish that it is not possible love should be the cause of it I had sent him to accompany the Princesse and to receive her out of my commands but he most perfidious having long before combyn'd with some others like himselfe for the taking away of Coriza surprized her one night and carried her away from the midst of her guards and chayning her as you saw brought her into this place with an intent to goe further even to the Court of Montezuma to finde there a Sanctuary for her perfidy The news of this attempt being brought me imagine if possible you can the complaints I made the blasphemies I threw out against the providence of our gods and the horrible actions my despaire made me resolve on I flew after the ravisher of my blisse without the knowledge or my advertizing of any of my subjects and fearing no danger but that which threatned Coriza I ran through the Woods and Mountaines and got into the countrey of my greatest enemy I was so happy in my search that yesterday at Sun-set I descry'd Maranita's troupe That object transporting me with 〈◊〉 I neither considered the number of my enemies nor the inequality of the combat I was about but desperately fell in among the traytors to have atleast the contentment to die in the sight of my Coriza Maranita eyther not induring to see mee or persecuted with the remorse of his Conscience made ten or twelve of his associats to turne on me and kept forth his way whilest I strove to rid me of those that would stop me I spent all the rest of the day to bring them in case that they should no more contest with me for my passage and party of the night to follow the ravisher You saw how I found him and you must now informe me who were those that fought with him and what oblieged you to fight in his defence Therewith Coriza spake Zelmatida said shee to her lover cannot satisfie your demand I alone knowe the true cause of that combat not only because it was done in my presence but that by my endeavâ—…ur it was undertaken You shall know that among those whose service Maranita made use of for my rape there were two who not being able to see mee without loving me at least they strove to perswade me so gave me their fayths that they would free mee from the hands of that Traytor But they asked me for my ransome that which I could not grant them I feyn'd yet to consent and did so dexâ—…rously keepe them in their resolution that seeing my selfe at the point to lose that person which of all in the world is most deare to mee and incomparably more precious then my life I would try this last remedy and by all meanes â—…ee mee from the tyranny of Maranita I call'd then for my two lovers and having conjur'd them to leave me no longer at the mercy of our common enemie I perswaded them so effectually that presently under some ill pretext they quarelled and fell on him Truly on this occasion he shewed a great deale of courage Two of his enemies he slew and though his owne had not come to helpe him I beleeve hee had beene able enough to have dispatch'd all the rest Amongst the five bodies you see lying there on my right hand are my unfortunate lovers This while those that remayned of the conspiracy desirous to revenge their deaths let drive at Maranita but being stoutly repuls'd they were constrayned to take them to their heeles Maranita transported with fury followed them with those of his owne party and was an houre before I saw him againe For my self I was not in a little trouble for I saw an occasion present it selfe to get me away and when I would have put it in execution I knew that by reason of the chaines on my heeles I was not possibly able to goe I threw my selfe then on the ground againe and calling oftentimes Tumanama to helpe me I would needes try whether my fetters were not strong enough to
and Alisma ravished with the beauty of their enemies could not take a resolution to offend them They therefore obayed and presenting to them their weapons obliged my selfe and my companyons to give them ours too This is not enough saide the Principall of that faire Company you must now follow us and yeeld your selves prisoners to the invincible Telesmana Queene of the warlike virgins You shall not be disobeyed answered Alisma For we are both my selfe and my companions so much obliged to Telesmana that we are ready to suffer all that she shall pronounce against us This saide Zelmatida was the first that presented himselfe and consenting to have his hands bound endured Alismaes smiling at it and that I might manacle my selfe Those redoubtable enemies put us in the midst of them and so brought us to their Campe. They understood at their entry that Telesmana expected Embassadors from Quasmez and that she was to receive them with all the magnificence that she seemed to make shew of on the like occasions These news were very pleasing to them and made them resolve to take hold of that occasion and to present us to the Queene whilest she was in the state of doing justice and presently they hastened towards the Pavillions of Telesmana I must confesse to you that in no one of all the kings Courts that I have seene eyther in the one or the other world I have not taken notice of any thing so stately so rich so admirable and in a word so royall as the Guard and the Quarter of that valiant Queene It was almost a league about and twice so long as large compassed with a diâ—…ch filled with water and with a pallisadoe of high stakes There was but one entrance where two thousand Amazons were day and night in guard We entred the second Campe and passed through foure thousand warriers that stood on each side in file even to the Queenes lodging After that she who commanded our Conductors had beene with the Queene to give an accompt of the successe of her journey she returned and brought us into a great Tent which was as the Hall for Telesmanaes guard Thence we went into another that shone exceedingly with gold and diamonds There stood three rancks of Amazons armed with halfe-pike so neate and curiously gilded that they were fitter for a day of triumph then a day of combat We past by those fayre warriers and presently saw the worthy Mistresse of so illustrious Subjects She was environed with a great number of Princesses and other Ladies and seated on a throne of massie gold covered with rubies pearle and diamonds It was ascended to by six degrees of gold and silver and over it hung great plates of gold joyned together all thick set with precious stones and disposed in such a fashion that the Sun casting his beams on it made the Queene to seeme indeede as another Sun Our guards brought us to the foote of the Throne and commanded us to kneele to be examined The countenance and grace of Zelmatida and Alisma though the inequality of their ages made them farre different caused almost a like admiration in all the Assembly The Queene could not refrayne from turning her eyes on them and though she saw them not well yet confest that it was great pitty to destroy such men whose brave aspect gave sufficient testimony of their mindes and the greatnesse of their courage Yet she would be satisfied and therefore commanded Alismaes Guard to bid him stand up The generous olde Man arose and all bound as he was after five or six steps came and kneeld at the feet of the Princesse When he had cast up his eyes and that Telesmana had looked on that warlike aspect which his gray hayres made venerable she shewed a great deale of greife that she must be constrayned to condemn that man to death against her owne naturall sweetnesse Notwithstanding it behooved her to goe against her owne inclynation and to resolve it Yet before she would give the sentence of death she tolde him that if his courage did not bely his countenance he should shewe it on this occasion and patiently undergoe the disaster whereinto he and his companions were then fallen For know said she that by an irrevocable Decree made by me above sixteen yeares since I have condemned all men that should fall into my hands to be burn'd alive The respect due to my sex which that of yours hath violated in mine owne person and my childrens compells me to avenge my selfe on men with more rigour then any doth ordinarily inflict on his enemies But let them for all accuse their owne inhumanity that was the first cause of it Yes cruell and inhumane as you are yes Monsters that make Nature to blush for producing you you have been so barbarous as neither to have mercy on a woman whom the gods caused to be borne the fairest and wisest Princesse of the world nor on her infant yet a part of her selfe doe not wonder then if after so many and so great wrongs I betake me to a just vengeance and make no difficulty of massacring the innocent for feare of letting escape any one that is guilty Now you know my resolution and your owne destiny tell me who you are and what sad fortune hath cast you into the hands of my women Alisma not â—…ffecting that insensibility which makes all things indifferent and yet free from that â—…eare which brings a change of colour in the face and a stammering in the speech answered the Queene thus If my companions and my selfe had beene lesse accustomed then we are to the outrages of fortune we would complaine now of this her new plotted treason But being dayly at warres with her we will try to get the victory by our constancy and never more finde fault with her betrayings Yet we must confesse that this last treachery is horrible for we beleeved her not false enough to corrupt our best friends and to provide Goales and tortures for us where we came to seeke for repose and protection Yes great Queene we came into this Kingdome to finde a Sanctuary against fortune and have heere some helpes against our enemies I name not these considerations to wooe your pity nor doe we love life so well to preserve it by wiles You have commanded me to say who I am I will obey you and by that obedience make you confesse that fortune is yet a more cruell enemy then I have spoake her I he City of Cusco claimes my birth I am honored by being descended from the race of the Sun and to be Grandchilde to the coelestiall Mango Capa If since the death of the great Guina Capa you have beene pleased to heare related the misfortunes that followed the losse of that Prince and your incomparable Daughter I doubt not but you have heard of the name of Alisma The Queene much moved at that name how said she are you that Alisma who called your selfe the Avenger of
I lost in the world Heereupon I began to speake and desiring to engage the Hermit to relate his Story You must Father said I if you please take the paines to expresse your self more plainly if you desire to give me the satisfaction of understanding you I would say that passing from these generall propositions to circumstances more particular you would let me know of what nature was the happinesse you have lost and of what kinde that is which you have recovered in your solitude I will obey you Madam said the Dervis though by an expresse commandment from the spirit who conducted me into this Desart if it be forbidden me to publish the secrets of my solitary retreat Know then that I am the Son of a Shepheard who in times past had great and numerous flocks and many strong inclosed pastures in the large Plaines of Numidia The care he had of his beloved sheepe was the cause of his death for being too wilfull in the pursuite of some wilde beastes that would devoure them he himselfe became a prey to those savage Monsters I was left an Orphant by that dismall accident and my tender yeares being not proportionable to the paines that it behooved me to take for the preservation of my flock I left them to the mercy of their enemies and went wandring and desolate through places and Countryes to me altogether unknowne This miserable and wandring life having brought me to such an extremity that I wished for death a hundred times in a day Our great Prophet all shining with as many rayes as he had when he was carried up into heaven appeared to me on the sea strand and taking me up from where I was fallen take heart said he and be not weary of living The superiour power is mooved with thy disfavours and see his comforts come showring downe to sweeten the bitternesse of thy life When he had said thus he vanished and presently I saw glistring through a thicke cloud an Angell more bright then the light it selfe He deigned to be the companion and guide of my Journeys and within a few dayes bounding them by a gift he gave me of an infinite more value then all the goods I had lost promised me too that I should enjoy it till my death Alas I dare say and yet hope I blaspheme not that truth is no where but in Heaven and that even an Angell is not alwaies to be beleeved if he be not in that unchangeable abode I held me most certainely assured of the eternity of my happinesse when my Angell sad and heavy came and pitifully told me that a spirit sent from above for the chasticement of my offences was to constraine him to forsake me Ah! My Angell cryde I doe not leave me And if I have deserved to be punished let me yet in my torments have the consolation to behold thee I have long resisted this black Angell replyde mine Angell of light but there is power given him to overcome me and to torment thee With this my Angell gave a great shrieke and by force was compelled to leave me to the mercy of the most to be feared by Demons that the eternall justice makes use of for the punishing of mankinde I lost with my good Angell all the happinesse and delight that his company gave me and have lived ever since so miserable and tormented that to free me from my persecutor I intended to have killed my selfe A stronger arme then mine staied that blow and the voice of my absent Angell whispring me sometimes in my eare said come into the Desart com into the Desart 't is there where thou shalt recover what thou hast lost I beleeved his promises and streight forsaking the world retyrde me into these Mountaines The Dervis here stopping and I know not what new curiosity obliging me to speake But said I since you have been in these Desarts hath not your Angell performed that which he promised you He hath not only replied the Hermit rendred me the greatest part of the goods I lost but in an apparition said thus himselfe Hope and live The expiation of thy offences is almost accomplished I shall shortly have the freedome to be with thee I am now here but in feare since for my too much loving thee I have gone beyond that which is commanded me from above That faire Angell flew away as soone as he had in this manner comforted me But in that little time he was with me he gave me that contentment that to finish where I begun I can assure you that at this instant I am reestablished in the true possession of that good which I lost in the world Nephizus taking this Dervis for a foole and that his melancholy and austerity made him take these visions for realities would needes see how farre his extravagancies would extend and therefore said he but if it be so as you assure us how is it possible that in one same time when you suffered so many afflictions that at every moment they brought you to the graves brincke and yet in the meane while as you say you enjoyed such happinesse that you even dare to compare them with those which our great Prophet prepares for us in Paradise You might well have resolved the question your selfe said the Dervis if you had looked on me not by what I seeme but by that which I am You beleeve I differ not from other men and 't is that deceives you But I am composed of two different Personages I have one Nature which is proper to me and another which is accidentall Ther 's a strange substance inseperably knit to mine In a word another my selfe lives in me in the same manner as I live in my selfe and as it happens sometimes that nature thrusts into the world bodies which are so lincked the one to the other that they cannot be seperated but by their common dissolution and yet are agitated in one and the same time with divers passions So you see in me a strange concourse or to speake as I ought a miraculous medley of a man and an Angell of a man extreamely afflicted and of another happy When I speake to you of the infinite pleasures that I enjoy in this solitary life I talke to you in the person of that most happy â—…rt of my selfe and when I complaine of my suffrings I speake to you in the name of â—…e person afflicted In full and not to hold you longer in this unpleasing discourse I râ—…joyce that I am perfectly happy in my selfe and I am afflicted for being extreamely unfortunate in another Nephizus gathering nothing from this intricate discourse but a confirmation of the Dervis his folly left him and told me that if I tooke pleasure in the extravagancyes of a mad man I had found a meanes for my often diversion Though I was not of the same opinion with the Dervis yet in shew I forgot not to approve of Nephizus opinion and to laugh with him at the
strange as the spectacle which astonied him When hee was come so far as the maine mast hee saw a most faire Lady richly clad ty'd to it by the hands and the feet before her were four posts on which were nayled the heads of four men so fresh that it might easily be guess'd they had not been long severed from their bodies The miserable spectatresse on these dreadfull objects pitifully turned her eyes now on one and then on another of them and though Polexander presented himselfe before her shee interrupted not her mournfull exercise The Prince noting her admirable beauty even through her afflictions and teares was extreamly mov'd to see her in so deplorable an estate and imagining because of the neernesse to France shee might understand him if hee spake French told her in that tongue that hee was come to offer her all his utmost ability either for her consolation or revenge The poore distressed Lady made no shew of hearing him but kept still her eyes fixed on the distruncked heads This attention and fixednesse doubled Polexander's astonishment and commanded some of his followers to goe into the Cabines and descend under hatches to see if there were any that might understand him Alcippus and Diceus searched every where and neither finding any one dead or alive returned and assured the King their Master hee should learne nothing of that adventure if hee had it not from the mouth of the bound Lady Hee therefore came againe to her and employing the best words his desire to make her speake could furnish him with besought her to take heart to think of avenging her on the cruelty of her enemies to make use for that revenge of the assistance which heaven had sent her and promise to her selfe from his arme a part of the satisfaction which the resentment of her griefs ought to make him wish for He added many other considerations to these and so pressed the miserable woman that shee cast her eyes on him but in such a manner that a man might say shee saw him not and after shee had often sighed Why said she sadly come you againe to fore-slow the end of my miseries Are you sent by that pernicious enemy who hath brought me to the extremity I am in to the end she may glut her malice in making me die often Madam reply'd Polexander I know not the monster of whom you speake and would your griefe give you leave to heare mee you should know I come not hither for any other cause then to free you from all your torments Your generosity is great reply'd the Lady but it can availe me nothing unlesse you could give back againe the lives of those unfortunate wretches whose heads you see here I wish them their lives because I have been the cause of their deaths and desire it because they would disapprove my most cruell enemy and justifie my innocence before a Prince too credulous and too easie to be deceiv'd Polexander would faine have insensibly drawne her on and engaged her to relate him her fortunes had hee not been hindred by the approach of a tall ship which streight denounc'd warre against him Our Heroë therefore went back into his owne vessell but kept still the desolate Lady 's grapled with his owne and made answer to the enemies signes by others which stay'd the fury of those which would have assaulted him Initantly they sent him one of theirs in a shalop who coming up to them asked who hee was and for what end hee had stay'd the English ship Polexander made reply by Alcippus hee was a French man and an enemy to those that would not joyne with him in the avenging a Lady whom some accursed miscreants had expos'd to the mercy of the sea When the Messenger heard that answer hee reply'd with a great many injuries and after divers threatnings hee return'd towards his companions No sooner was hee got on boord againe but they fell on Polexander and quickly repented them of their rashnesse for our Heroë giving them at two vollyes an hundred Cannon shot brought them to implore his mercy Polexander promising their lives commanded the conquered vessell to come neere and entring her found there so few souldiers that hee was neere to put them to the sword for daring to assayle him but at last his clemency getting the upper hand of his resentment he pardoned all and seeing one of a better aspect and presence then the rest called him aboord his owne ship Hee asked him in particular why hee would not accept of friendship when hee had offer'd it him and what interest hee claimed in the barke that floted before them The other humbly besought that before hee reply'd hee would doe him the honour to make known whether the Lady in the other ship were yet alive our Heroë assured him shee was when hee left her Try then said hee to get to her againe that you may the second time preserve her life for had you not broken the designe for which wee set to sea shee had been by this time at the bottome of the Ocean Goe then goe if you please and finish what you have begun and doe not think in succouring that unfortunate Lady you doe onely an act of Charity for you execute likewise another of Justice You will protect innocence against Calumny and a wretched and disarmed goodnesse against a powerfull and redoubtable villany Polexander unwilling to heare any more of that discourse till hee had freed from danger the persecuted Lady got her bark againe which had but turned and by consequence was not gone farre off As soone as hee had her hee went aboord and his prisoner with him who presently ran to the Lady and making himself knowne Be of good heart Madam said hee your innocence is acknowledged the accusations of your stepmother are found untrue and the Prince your husband is even desperate for not knowing how fortune hath disposed of you The Lady by a modest smile seeming to be pleased with what was spoken lifted her eyes to heaven since she could not her hands and after shee had some time kept them fixedly open sweetly let fall their lids and droop'd her head on her incomparable breast Polexander thinking shee was swounded cut the cords from her armes whilst the Prisoner did the like to those on her legs and whâ—…n shee was unbound laid her all along Diceus presently came in and looking on her told his Master shee was dead The King could hardly beleeve that ill newes but being confirmed by his owne sense hee could not otherwise then bewaile the losse of that innocent Lady and wish from heaven a just punishment on her persecutors which instantly hapned And thus Polexander's mariners descrying an English ship bearing up to them called out they were like to be set on Before our Heroë was disengaged from his pious and charitable endeavour hee saw the English vessell fall fiercely on his His Prisoner infallibly doubting the businesse My Lord said hee to
staine you have thrown on the house of your King We dare die said those unfortunate illustrious Gentlemen but we protest to you for the discharge of our consciences that if the intention be not a crime worthy of death we shall die innocents The most condemnable Prince having lost all humanity with his reason and being truly possest with the Devill of blood and fury which serv'd for a soule to his mother hastily resolv'd the death of those young Lords and brutishly had them ponyarded by foure Irish men After this execution done he would have gone to the innocent Eolinda's chamber either to have cut her throat or done her some other bloody indignity but as he was in a place of the staires whence you might see Eolinda's chamber doore he heard somebody call him by his name and forbad him to goe further He cast up his eyes and saw in the doore of that chamber a young English Gentleman of his houshold who with his sword and pistoll in hand threatned him to throw by all respect if he came any neerer The Prince ask'd him the cause of his extravagancy Aske me rather repli'd the generous Englishman the cause of my just resentment and I will tell thee blind and enraged Prince that I am here to protect as farre as my life can the innocent Eolinda against the persecutions of thy wicked mother The Prince threatned to have him punished according to his desert and commanded two of his murderers to seize on him A great Irish villain stept forth with a partisan in his hand but when he came within a few paces of Eolinda's generous defender two pistoll bullets stopt his journey and roul'd him to the bottome of the staires His fellow beleeving that the brave Englishman had no more fiery weapons furiously came up towards him with an intent to strike him through with his halberd but he had not time to perform that brave thrust for he received a like chastisement with his companion for the like offence committed They perceiv'd then the valiant English man had forgotten nothing of what was necessary for his long defence Indeed he had yet three pistolls charged and was so advantageously placed by reason of the thicknesse of the wall that he could not be set on but before The Prince would have obliged the two other Irish men to revenge the death of their companions but they would doe nothing unlesse they had peeces They therefore brought them two long fowling peeces and the villaines discharg'd them both on Eolinda's courageous martyr O heaven quoth hee feeling himselfe shot in so many places receive my soul and my life which I have freely expos'd for the defence of vertue and with those words fell downe dead yet for all that remained vanquisher For the unhappy Prince having had leisure to bethink him of the execrable murder he would have committed or else with-held by the last words of the heroicall English man return'd from whence hee came and told his cruell mother he would never kill one whom he had so much affected The damnable hagge after she had some time grumbled told him he worthily deserv'd his dishonour since he took pleasure in preserving the cause of it The Prince offended with this reply entred the great hall of his Palace and the first that came before him was the execrable Lycambus who very likely came to demand the reward for his treason And art thou there then thou infamous and perfidious slave by whose assistance I have lost mine honour and comfort The miserable Scot cast himself at his feet and the Prince taking him by his long haire dragg'd him about a great while and then with a brōad sword that he had stroke his head from his shoulders The traytor to save his life would have accused the old Dutchesse but before he could speak a word there was neither speech nor life in him The Prince then called for Pantaira but she was so close hidden that it was impossible to meet with her His mother seeing him in such a fury ask'd him if he could not distinguish between the guilty and the innocent You should discharge your choler said she on that lascivious French woman and not on those wretches who durst not disobey her Never doubt it said he Eolinda shall have her punishment with the rest but it shall be so that no one whosoever of mine shall besmeare their hands in the blood of that miserable woman Presently his wit furnishing him with a new kind of punishment he commanded that barque to be made ready wherein you saw the innocent Eolinda die and cutting off the two Earles heads and that of the charitable English man made them to be nayl'd with the other of Lycambus in that manner as you saw them Then went he into Eolinda's chamber and though she fell into a swound at his entrance yet he caus'd her to be carried into the vessell and set her in the same posture you found her That done he commanded all his followers out of the barque the sayles being all hoys'd and tow'd her into the open sea by two shalops and then abandon'd her to the mercy of the winds See a great many tragicall events yet am I not at the end of all for scarce was the Prince got up againe into his chamber when Pantaira it may be repenting she had been the cause of so many murders came to him and beseeching him to heare her confess'd that neither Lycambus nor her self had done any thing but by the command of his mother Protested boldly that Eolinda never knew ought of their practices nor done any thing misbeseeming the vertue and honour of a most chast Lady That shee had never seen but in publick any of the two Earles and that the letters which were found in her cabinet had been conveigh'd thither without her knowledge and that she had never seen them She had told more but that the old Dutchesse flew on her and in the fury she was would have strangled her if she had not been taken out of her hands The Prince in the meane while filled with horrour at what he had heard reflecting presently into himself What hast thou done cri'd he unnaturall mother I now doubt no more Eolinda is innocent and with those words fell into a swound and had not I borne a part of his fall he had infallibly broken his head against the floore of his chamber We laid him on his bed and whilst his faithfull servants bewail'd his misfortunes and strove to recover him from his fainting his wicked mother caus'd Pantaira to be strangled and sent to make ready a ship of warre which lay in the rode with a secret order to her most Confidents to make after Eolinda and to throw her into the sea All this could not be done presently In the meane time the Prince recover'd his spirits and spying me at the head of his bed Altoph said he if my faults have not taken from thee that amity thou hast
into the arme of my deare master The Angell who had the guard of so faire a life made him feele the stab before he had it A certaine trembling seiz'd on him and awak'd him so that he saw himselfe ready to be strucken but being but halfe awake could not stay Perseus his hand Assoone as he felt the stab he threw himselfe on the Murderer Sir said he with that generous mildnesse wherewith he was wont to qualifie his fiercest enemies what cause have I given you to treat me thus Have my enemies prevailed more on your inclination then my affection and service could ever obtaine from it Come home to your selfe I beseech you thinke to what others passions have carried you and assure your selfe I will forget the blow you have now given me if you will promise to drowne in oblivion the causes why you cannot love me The to be abhor'd Perseus in lieu of being mov'd by those generous words did his utmost to get free from Almanzors hands and may be too to perfect the murther he had begun But our Prince wounded as he was got him under and that could not be done without wakening his slaves who ran in at the noyse My masters said Almanzor come help me the Prince agitated by some strange malady hath lost all knowledge and understanding and questionlesse mistaking me for his enemy hath with a ponyard stab'd me into the arme All the slaves ran to him with so deare an affection that they had torne Perseus in a thousand pieces had they knowne what had pass'd howsoever they rudely enough drew him out of the bed and one of them who naturally hated that barbarous Prince cri'd to his companions 't was best to binde him since he was distracted Almanzor chid him very much for losing his respect and commanded he should no more come neer to Perseus Six others who had no mind he should get away kept him whil'st two of their companions who were Surgeons stop'd Almanzor's wound Assoone as he was drest he labour'd much with Perseus to win him from his sury but perceiving all his perswasions were lost he turn'd him to his Slaves and forbad them on paine of death from ever speaking of that adventure Whereupon Perseus with as much rudenesse as pride call'd to be no further detain'd from his owne lodgings for said he I will not be any longer amongst mine enemies Almanzor presently commanded those that had him in guard to conduct him to his chamber and intreated in parting that he would beleeve he should never have any more affectionate servant then himselfe The next day he came abroad and liv'd in such manner with Perseus that Abrinzias and Andromeda knew not the base act of their Sonne in above six moneths after Now a while after Almanzor was cured of that secret wound Abrinzias contemplating him as the man by whose vertue his Sonne and Estate might be much advantaged resolv'd to offer him part of his Crowne to oblige him to the preservation of all One day therefore being retyr'd with Almanzor and his Queen My Son said he tell us what is your intâ—…tion will you leave us for Zabaim and under hope of a more eminent fortune then you can expect from us neglect two persons which value you more then all the Crownes of Africa Almanzor answering as he ought and Abrinzias judging by his reply that he surely thought him to be his Father I will use you said he not as the younger brother of Perseus but as his elder his Master and Defender Know therefore that after mature deliberation on the proposition I am to make you and with Andromeda's advise I am resolv'd to divide my Estate betwixt you and Perseus Heaven can witnesse if I have not wish'd onely for your sake that my Kingdome were as great as all the Empire of Ethiopia or that of the Ottomans But when I consider that the greatnesse of the Present is not alwayes a testimony of the greatest affection I feare not to offer you a part of the Kingdome of Benin since by that donation my Self and Andromeda transact to you and waive all that is in our power and by consequence give you asmuch as if we had set on your head all the Crownes of the world looke on our hearts not our Present and remember that he is not the greatest Monarch who hath most land and the greatest number of people under his subjection but he that knowes best how to suppresse those disordinate desires which ambition breathes into him Abrinzias stopping a little to take breath Almanzor or would have answered and gotten out of the trouble whereinto the Kings proposition had throwne him but Abrinzias staid him and be sought he would heare a second which he had to make him Know said he that Andromeda and my selfe are not satisfied with chusing you for our Successour but we have thought on the finding you a wife and by some alliance worthy your selfe establish your Throne extend the Limits of your Government and purchase you a repose no lesse innocent then delightfull We have cast our thoughts on all the Princesses both of Africa and Asia but after our long consideration we finde none to be compar'd with the Princesse of Congo 'T is true she is yet but young but what can there be said which is spoken of her vertue her wit and her beauty It may be you may imagine I offer you a treasure which is not in my power and that Princesse as young as she is being fought to by the greatest Princes of Africa there is no likelihood she would bestow her selfe on a petty King of Benin We confesse there were some deniall to be fear'd if Almanzor had no other quality then what we give him but you must understand that her Nation who within these three yeares have given you the title of Africa's Deliverer and the Princes of her bloud equally wish you for their Master See what Andromeda and I have been meditating for the comfort of our age and not to leave poore Perseus to the mercy of the greatest enemy he can ever have to wit to his owne discretion Almanzor taking his breath againe at the end of the Kings Speech as if he had got out of somewhat that troubled him fell at Abrinzia's feet and intimating his inward sorrow Is it possible said he that some words or actions of mine have made you beleeve that you could not surmount my ingratitude satisfie my ambition nor stay me longer in your service at a lesse rate then by setting your Crowne on my head If it be so I deserve to be look'd on by you as one of those abominable children by whom the wrath of heaven chastiseth the pride of such Families as are blinded with the height of their good fortune But not desirous to appeare better then I am suffer me to let you know that I feele not my selfe guilty of so black a crime and the more I examine my conscience the more it assures me
of Fez and towards mount Atlas as well to hinder any succour from the Moores as to oppose the incursions of the Arabians Wee seldome sallied but wee brought in prisoners or much incommodated Bajazet's Campe. When a companie is reduced to the like extremitie as those of Morocco were there needs no such wonders to be done for the getting a reputation among them By this meanes the unknowne Knight made himselfe so famous in so short a time that his name came to the eares of the ficke King He would needs see mee and Abdelmelec must bring me to him even with the hazard of being no more unknowne But sicknesse had so altered the good old Kings senses that he neither knew me by word or countenance Many times hee imbraced me and calling mee the tutelar Angell of Morocco sent at need by his great Prophet intreated the taking into my protection the safety of his people and to expect from Abdelmelec those acknowledgements which death might perchance hinder him from rendring mee I gave him many thankes for his profers and well-wishes and told him I hop'd his age would not alwayes be crossed but that Heaven reserved for him a peacefull and contented issue out of all his troubles in the meane time I advised Abdelmelec to send to Fez for succour But Granada's desolation and the mortalitie or exile of that Kingdomes Subjects before-time so flourishing had so abated all the Moores courages that they were farre more miserable in Africa then they had beene in Spaine Their misfortune was still in their sight they thought continually Ferdinand and Isabell were imbarking for Africa and that great name of Cardinall of Spaine was a perpetuall cause of astonishment and feare They still privately sent us victualls and in such plenty that from thenceforward the Citizens of Morocco beleeved Bajazet would be inforced to raise his Siege Some little time after one of our Spies ill informed as most commonly are such kinde of people gave notice that Bajazet was re-inforced by a mighty succour under the command of one of the prime Basha's belonging to the Grand-Signior Thereupon Abdelmelec and my selfe resolved to make a powerfull sally to discover their new aide and know whether it were compos'd of Turkes or Africans There was not in all the Siege so brave a conflict as at that time we were in fight from morning till night Abdelmelec incountred Bajazet and I not knowing him buckled with my benefactor Achomat Night onely severed us after the losse of more then two thousand men on both sides At last wearied with the Siege and perceiving the succours from Fez failing us we must render our selves to their mercy I got Abdelmelec to a resolution of determining all by a Duell Wee therefore sent our Defye to Bajazet and Achomat which they accepted and each party being agreed on the conditions we waited with equall impatience for the day on which this great difference was to be decided Two dayes since I sent an intelligent Spy into Bajazet's Campe and commanded him not to returne till hee knew certainly who the Basha was with whom I was to change blowes last night he came backe and related that being stolne into Achomats Tents he had learnt who he was and for what cause he was come to the Siege of Morocco This newes so surpris'd me that when Abdelmelec this morning came into my chamber to conduct mee to the place appointed for our Combate he found me still in my bed He began to chide me for my sloath and imbracing me with a great deale of love Deare Iphidamantus said hee I have long time wished for this day 'T will tell mee what shall be my fortune and one way or other I promise to my selfe before night I shall have no more to long for Whilst hee talked thus I got ready and arm'd me not for my defence but to oblige Achomat to take his revenge of mee and to hide my designe from the Prince of Morocco You know without doubt this daye 's successe and how farre happier it hath beene to mee then Abdelmelec I will therefore trouble you no further Thus Iphidamantus ended the relation of his strange and sad Adventures The end of the first Book of the fourth Part of Polexander THE FOURTH PART OF POLEXANDER The second Booke IPhidamantus left his Auditors in such an admiration of the wonders he had related that they were a while unable to breake off that silence they had kept during his discourse At last Almanzaira spoke who not being fully satisfied though she had her eyes fixed on that sonne she so tenderly loved would need make him speake that her soule as well charmed by the eare as by the eye might receive all the contentment it was capable of After Iphidamantus narration said she addressing her to her deare Almanzor It is not hard to guesse at the cause which caus'd you make warre on the King of Morocco Neverthelesse I thinke you will much pleasure the company and particularly the King your father if you will relate to him to me of the most remarkable accidents of your life and in particular thâ—…se which beâ—…ided you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love made you change the condition of a slave for that of a 〈◊〉 â—…et unable 〈◊〉 refuse any thing to so good a mother and marking besides that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Princesses were on him and joyn'd their requests with Almanzâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 began to â—…nt his Adventures The sole misfortune at my birth 〈◊〉 having 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 pluck'd mee out of the armes of the Queene my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…e at least in appearance lose the love of the best father living I regained in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and fidelity of Almaid part of that which fortune had forced from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 related how he had been brought up by the King and Queene of Beâ—… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other particulars you have read in the three former parts of this Story When 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the occasion that made Iphidamantus goe from the Pirates Isle he cast his 〈◊〉 Cydaria and beseeching her humbly to be pleas'd he might acquaint the company to what extremities his affection had brought him thus prosecuted his History When I was left alone for so I may say I was after the departure of Iphidamantus there was nothing that hindered me from continually meditating on the losse of Cydaria she had been constantly in my thought but she was never so there as she was then I fell into such impatiencies as no consideration could moderate and though I had put on a resolution to expect in quiet Hydaspes and Almaid's returne yet was I tempted to abandon the Generall-ship of the Rovers and put my selfe againe in quest of Cydaria After three moneths absence Hydaspes returning he intimated that he had sail'd along all the coasts of Africa landed in all the principall maritime Townes searched all the Isles from the Cape of good Hope even to Denmarke and all in vaine Imagine