scandal for we sometimes spend a good part of the night as scarless of the air as our domesticks who are acquinted with the pleasing freedom of our secret entertainment No creature hears us nor is there entred in the garden but a little Page who holds a Torch ready to light us at the door when we return unto our chambers Wherefore the Prince seeing there was no danger in so long communication shewing all due obedience to the Princesses proceeded thus in his discourse THE INDIAN HISTORY OF ANAXANDER AND OF ORAZIA The third BOOK THe customary prayers for our souls before they cast us into the fire were begun when as that Bramin which had serv'd the Princess and who since her comming to herself had leasure to cast about his sight look'd earnestly into my face which formerly he had not done and being he had spent all the last year in the King my fathers Court where he had opportunity enough to note me Unfortunate Prince said he to me for doubtless if my eyes deceive me not you must be Anaxander son and only heir unto the great Alcidaris King of Guzarat what desparation may have made you hide your name and birth and so prefer a shamefull death before a happy Marriage Born as you are a Prince and above all I know accomplished this Kingdome Laws have no pretension to your life since you are he who have enjoy'd the Princess favours Boldly then shew your self for t is yet time and with one word believe me you may save her life and honour and your own I was exceedingly indeed surpriz'd for being known for thought it would have troubled me enough to die it would much more have grieved me to live with such an infamy as to have matried a wife who had been bedded by another and who had nere been thought upon by me the last consideration therefore ruled me and thus I answered him Good father you are not the first that have mistaken me for the Prince Anaxander a whole City have been deceiv'd as well as you for comming out of Persia whence originally I am about some twelve or fifteen months since with a purpose to â—ee all the Indes and especially these parts where I imagin'd not to finde such barbarism I passed through the great City of Campanol where King Alcidaris holds his Court and was amaz'd tâ— see that every body saluted and made me great obeysance as I pust the streets To be short I found they took me for the Prince and even the King himself who saw me was transported at the great resemblance and detained me there some while with him and sent me afterwards away with costly presents No No said he to me no halting before Criples I am no whole City I have but two eyes but you cannot deceive me for you are even the same I mean nor hath the apprehension you may have of death so changed you but that I know you Anaxander and desery the fraud of your disguisement For howsoever should you not be glad to be esteemed such a one as if it did not wholly save it might at least prolong your life and see I not that you deny your self for nothing else but through a brute aversion in you to contractia Princess whom you have abus'd but I profess unto you Anaxander that her life and honor and contentment are more dear to me than your chimeraes And therefore Gentlemen said he to the Guard while went by the Chariot go tell the King that for the honor of hi-daughter and his house t is sit to stop the execution and that I have found out a truths which doubtlesly will ravish him with joy Then instantly one of the Troop went to adveruse the King hereof and in the interimâ— some went to a Fountain which was in the great place for water to cast into the Princess face who was scarce come out of her swounding when a Captain of the Kings Guard accompanied with an unknown old man divided the throng with an incredible diligence crying withall their might to have the execution stay'd hold the King commands it Immediately a very great noise was moved through the whole assembly and followed with great acclamations of joy for there was not one of all the company who was not touched at our fortune and shed not tears for our distress And surely all were much amazed at the comming of the Captain of the Guard for our deliverance for that the officer who went to advertise the King was but then gone and all men thought he must have had some notice from elswhere which notwithstanding had not secur'd our lives had not the Bramin so much observed me as to know who I was and sure this last means had arriv'd too late for that there was not any ceremony more which might retar'd the execution As soon as the Captain whom they made room for was advanced as far as where we were the old man who accompanied him did all he could to cast his arms about my neck but not able to reach me for that the Chariot was somwhat high Anaxander said he my dear Anaxander my Prince and Sovereign Lord what evill fortune hath guided you to this sad place and you dear Piroxenus what have you done to have deserv'd this cruell usage My dear children for so may I call you since from your infancy you have had under me your education is it a dream or reall act of your ill destiny which makes me finde you in this lamentable taking and after such a tract of infinite misfortunes which have crost me since your absence is it possible the gods would give me this much happiness to see you ere I die and guide me to this Country at the instant when you must have otherwise been put to death You may imagine Madam whether I were surpriz'd finding it was the wise Evander who spake to us whom the King my father had ordain'd our Governor and unto whom I bare as great repect as if he had been my father Wherefore howsoever much I was afflicted and notwithstanding any resolution I had taken to conceal my self I could not chuse but shew him tokens of my friendship and answer with my tears that tenderness of his so that none doubted but I was the man for whom indeed the Bramin took me Piroxenus who till then had neither wept nor said one word because the greatness of his grief had drown'd his senses and shut up the powres of his soul waking as from a most deep sleep by the found of Evanders words and seeing they were like to be delivered from that danger hich he thought inevitable or that at least their deathâ—should be deferr'd he somewhat recollected his spirits and exchanging tears and kinde embraces with the old man he did for him what for Orixa he could not The Princess only remain'd silent as of all most surprized and amazed and through wonderfull displeasure she conceiv'd at my denying her had her whole mind
the honour of access unto you Madam and bid him get him Pen and Ink for that hee found himself yet strong enough to leave his last Will for his dear Sister under his own hand before he had made an end of it feeling his heart to fail him he charged Saradyn his Squire who is now yours to seal it with his Seal and give it to no hand but yours death came so fast upon him as he was constrain'd to leave it imperfect but he had so much reason as to see it Sealed in his presence ere he died I believe Madam by that I have collected from your words since my return his care did only tend to give you knowledge of our births and that to mitigate your sorrow for his death he would be first should tell you of his quality whose heart was vowed to you and whose services you had not scorn'd Then Orazia drew the Letter from her Pocket whereupon they wept again and after Anaxander had wip'd off his tears he thus went on to end his Story Madam said he as soon as brave Aronthus soul had taken flight among the Gods we caus'd his body to be pretiously embalm'd which though so inanimate wee accounted worthy of a Triumph if so the King thought good to grant that honour to his memory which could not be sufficiently perform'd towards so great a Prince we therefore sent a Post unto the King your Father to advertise him of what misfortune had befaln his only Son and that with common consent all the Army meant as soon as Visaporus should bee taken to conduct the Corps to Baticalus where we had understood the King with all his Court was gone since Lisimantus by his valour had regain'd it from the enemy and that we meant if he so pleased to accompany the pomp of his Funerals with that of his Triumph which he approved of Some few dayes after Saradin departed with the dead Princes Letter and we Madam drew right to Visaporus which was not three Leagues distant from us but first we summon'd them to yeeld themselves as we did also unto those of Goa Ballagate Chaul Bider and Danaget which were the Capitall Cities of Decan and which we would reduce under obedience to Orixa there was not one that made so much as shew of holding out against us but having lost their lawfull Lords and of themselves not able to maintain themselves they voluntarily submitted to the King your Father whose Authority they hop'd was much more pleasing and more honourable than the rule of two revolved slaves which only force had made them subject to Madam I fear to hold you over long if I should punctually relate you all that hapned us in Visaporus where soon the Gates were opened to us and if I should tell you all the joy and pleasures Piroxenus felt when he saw his dear and saithfull Orixa in a private house where she unknown to any other save her Nurse had liv'd under the name of Asteria know only Madam that there never was so great equality of transports or reciprocall embracements as they two exchang'd where I forbare not too to take my part as by the duty of my friendship I was bound without impediment to theirs Piroxenus began presently to talk of re-establishing his Spouse without expecting the King your fathers approbation with whose Forces only we had compass'd our designes but seeing that the heat of his passion moved him so forward I restrain'd him and far was that advised Princess to whom we had already told all our adventures and pretensions from pressing us thereto she would not give consent to be so much as known alive till we were known unto the King I mean said she to passe still for Asteria whiles my faithful husband goes for Calistenus and that Anaxander wears the name of Ariomant the gods forbid that ever I delight to reign alone or that I reckon the Decanians my Subjects till Piroxenus do receive the Oath of their Alegiance Go then said she present your selves unto the King of Narsinga like Princes as your are and you my faithfull husband do your best that solemnly our Marriage may again be shortly witnessed when Anaxanders and Orazias Weddings are solemnized We did as she commanded Madam and leaving her in a mean quality as she desir'd when we had left as Governor an old servant of Aronthus in the Castle of Visaporus we took our leaves of her and went to fetch the body where we left it which in the pomp you saw we followed to this City There Anaxander finished his History and his dear Orazia who for Orixas satisfaction as her own died almost in her longing desire that they should shew themselves unto the King for such as really they were pray'd them to be there again next evening to resolve how to contrive a matter of so great importance Meanwhile without more stay our faithfull Lovers interchang'd their Marriage faith which they confirm'd with mutuall kisses in the presence both of Piroxenus and of Lifimena too And being late they were compell'd to part untill next night although their hearts and inds were not at all divided THE INDIAN HISTORY OF AN AXANDER AND OF ORAZIA The fourth BOOK HAd the Princess been able to foresee the mischief which by Lisimantus Page the little Aquilant his treason was ordain'd them they would not have permitted his so free accesses to the Garden with them as they did I have already said he was a spie for Lisimantus who had gained him by flattery and gifts and having seen through certain rails the two Princes enter at a secret door into the Arbor without understanding either their discourse or complements imagining they had as much to say to Lisimena as to her companion Orazia he faild not on next morning early to advertise Lisimantus of it The Cavallier was yet in bed where notwithstanding his amorous thoughts had not allowd him any rest when that unfaithful Messenger came to disturb his mind more cruelly by that unhappy news than it had ever been Immediately as t is the common custom of men in love to think that only their Mistresses are look'd upon so great a power hath jealousie over the highest spirits he made himself believe that Ariomant for he knew not Anaxander but under that borrowed name was lov'd of Lisimena and since that a great courage endureth nothing more impatiently than scorn seeing another was admitted to his prejudice in private and imagining that that was the sole obstaele that hindred him from being lov'd of Lisimena he resolves him instantly to take revenge of both and to comprize as well Orazia as an accessary unto that Treason which they us'd towards him in that common losse But his generousness not suffering his choler in such sort to blinde him or to be led unto so base a revenge after a tedious consultation with himself at length his anger wholly bent to Anaxander and although himself had but three daies before assisted to
father Which Lisimantus perceiving to satisfie his desire and curiosity thus presently began his discourse THE INDIAN HISTORY OF ANAXANDER AND OF ORAZIA The fift BOOK I Confesse great Monarch I have heretofore been proud of some things I have done because I thought them high considering my mean extraction as I thought mine own to be but at this present knowing certainly the honour I have to be issued from your loynes I grow asham'd for having done so little and that I am no more worthy of the glory you afford me in acknowledging me your son However to satisfie the dence you have to know how I obtain'd honor and advantages abroad I will tell you in a few words that though I thought my self Eurimedes his son and kept in equal breed and habit with his own in the City of Diu I forbare not in those tender years to aspire to nobler and more generous exercises than he caus'd us to be taught If I saw a goodly horse I long'd to be upon him I delighted alwaies more to see a sword than a feather and Eurimedes here present can assure you they found me oftner at the Manage and the Fencing school than at my Grammar Besides all this I had so strong a passion to be gone out of that little City where I was shut up to see strange parts which I had heard of as being one day walking a good way off the City on the Sea shoar a private ship having there landed I was not at all astonished when they took me because they us'd me kindely and after having much prais'd my prettynesse and beauty they promis'd they would give me to their King who was one of the most generous Princes of the world In part they kept their words with me for indeed they carried me into Zeilan which was the place of their birth but instead of making a present of me as they had promised they sold me to one of the greatest Lords of that fair Island They perswaded him I was a poor Child whom they had found and bred up for Charity because seeing me so pretty and spritely they might hope to make somewhat of me and made me believe that if I would gain my self a fortune and be bred among the great one should say as they did This Lord who was called Arbiran found me so pleasing for my words and actions which he said were more than of a Child and seeming as it were somewhat noble that at the end of three Weekes or a Moneth that he had had me having put me into very good Clothes commanded me to wait on him to the Palace and ask'd me whether I would talk as well before the King as I had done to him I had at that time a great liberty of the Arabick tongue which is the Mother Language of my reputed father and which passeth with estimation through all India in so much as Iassuring him that I would do yet better and that he should discern as much difference as between the King and himself he was so touch'd with the grace I uttered those words as he acquainted the Queen therewith who desired to see me which having done she would have me presently from him to place me with the Princesse Lisimena her onely daughter who at that time was not above six years of age Although I were unknown to all men because I rather chused to confirm what the Pirats had said of me than confesse I was a Merchants Son my face and the gentlenesse of my actions together with my discourse begot me much honour from all people and to such a degree as they held me fit to wear the Princes livery wherein I was the first and only Page a pretty while And because I had according to the Pirates assured them that my Parents were as unknown unto me as my name the Queen named me Euribaldus which in that Country language significs a found Child The Princesse who at that innocent age had found the secret of making her self feared appeared the most beautifull thing that was ever seen and already ravish'd all eyes with admiration of so many graces and perfections as nature had bestowed upon her She commanded me to be ever near her and to follow her alwaies as well because she saw every body lov'd me as for I was the first Creature over whom she had an absolute power But alass she in time knew that she had got much more than she desired I found my self so ready for her commandt and took so great contentment in her service as although I had known at that time my extraction I should have held my self very happy in the quality of her Slave I was as ready to obey her as she gracefull in commanding me and though that age did not allow me knowledge of the force of Love I could not but perceive my cares and my affections passed common duties She had perceived it as well as I when on a day that she had praised me for somewhat I had done to her minde Euribaldus said she to me well done but I fear this passion will not last Madam said I I purpose it shall not end but with my life And were my happiness such as to be the greatest Monarch of the world I would desire to be ever at your feet nor should any consideration loose me from your service Truly said she your services are not like those I expect from Princeâ— That 's my grief Madam answered I with tears in my eyes that I find not my self worthy to come near you and that I cannot by important services recommend my self unto you But how said she smiling by what services wouldst thâ—n make thy self more commendable unto me by such replyed I as proceed from my own inclinations and my free will when I do that which you command me I do but what I ought and what a threat of punishment may force me to But if the gods had made me of so free and elevated a condition as that I could of my self have given you my self and put me in such case as you might like my services that I might free lydie for you and where there might be quedion of obeying you I should finde but few things impossible Although she were but full ten years of age her spirit forward and her judgement formed which supply'd the want of years made her sufficiently to apprehend my words I observed that when she would reply she stuck twice or thrice upon the utterance an assured note that she had understood me I believe her first purpost was to answer me sharply to teach me more respect afterwards and not to aspire to things out of my reach but that thought was soon sweetned by a feigned ignorance that she understood my discourse proceeded from the true affection I already bare her Thus you see how I took boldnesse betimes to discover a thing unto her which I did not understand For how at thirteen years of age could I apprehend