a hand in the business and that it was with a design to retain Roxana in town he was the more troubled too because his Wife began also to hearken to the Mufti 's Tales this made him to desire of Amurat but so much time as to take his Wife and Daughter with some few Servants with him assuring him that he would be gone in twenty four hours The Emperor thinking that there was not so great and pressing a necessity for Aladin's departure as the Mufti had suggested did grant him his request for which favour Aladin having return'd his thanks he went home to use all diligence for his depart He presently gave order to his Wife and his Daughter to be in a readiness against next Morning very early he did appoint all those of his Servants that should go along with him and those that should come after and gave order for all other things requisite for the Journey The Mufti was not present when that Amurat had granted a day longer to Aladin's desires wherefore he knew nothing of that stop and Aladin had been so cunning that he had not given any notice of it to Zora and had forbid his Wife and Daughter to speak of it for fear she should have given her Brother some information who would have again broke his measures so that the Mufti at his usual time of visit fail'd not to come to Aladin's House as he us'd to do he thought that now he was secure enough from being interrupted by Aladin but he still was in fear of the troublesome Mother's company which was not requisite on the account of his visit to Roxana but he thought that he would find a way to employ her elsewhere He stay'd not to be usher'd in as usually but briskly getting up stairs humming of a tune to himself as he went he push'd open the door of Roxana's Chamber and rush'd in on the sudden and was so hasty to shut the door upon him that he might not be disturb'd by the Mother in his last address of Courtship to Roxana that he had not perceiv'd Aladin and the Mother who were both in the Room You cannot but think that he was strangely discompos'd at Aladin's presence who he thought far off on his Journey not in the least I assure you what with his accustomed confidence and that presence of mind which he never had but in such amorous intreagues I come to tell you Sir said he to Aladin that the Sultana hearing of Roxana's safe and perfect recovery desires to congratulate her and her Mother of it as she does you by me and that to that end she will have them to attend her this Evening at the Seragliâ—â— I have no more to say You may wonder peradventure why I was employ'd to deliver this Message but the reason was that I was desirous to be the Messenger of so good news to you Prepare against the time and fit your selves for so honourable a visit As to you Sir turning to Aladin you may continue your design of setting forth in the Morning Amurat expects you should for which I wish you a safe conduct from our great Prophet Having deliver'd this formal Sâ—ory I must be going continu'd he earnest business stays for me wherefore I take my leave Though Aladin did believe all this to be a Sham he also knew that the Mufti had power and influence enough upon the Sultana to put in her head a desire to see Roxana for whom she had a particular kindness not doubting but that the Sultana would be glad to have an account of Roxana's late adventures from her own mouth this was the Mufti 's opinion also wherefore he immediately address'd his steps towards the Seraglio and all places being open to his confidence he soon found access unto the Sultana in whom he easily inspir'd the desires of sending for Roxana and her Mother which care he took upon himself and having already done that part he had no more to do but to fix on the day of the violent attempt on Roxana with his Sister Zora's assistance They both being certain that now Aladin would be oblig'd to be gone the next morning without his Daughter who should not return home that night by his contrivance They fix'd the time for the great work on the next day about the time that Roxana came from walking in her Garden she usually did retire into her Closet for a time Zora undertook to keep the Coast clear and the Mufti assur'd her that he would act his part like a Man of Mettle Aladin not knowing how to remedy all this thought it his best way to leave all to Fortune for the present and so soon as he were got to his Government to send for his Wife and Daughter or to obtain leave to come and fetch them himself mean time he knew that it was but folly to withstand the Mufti 's designs and believing they inclin'd so much towards his Daughter that by that means his Wife might escape and Roxana having already been censur'd by the World for her late misfortune he took the whole business more patiently and receiving a message at night from the Seraglio that the Sultana would not part with his Wife and Daughter till the next day he rested contented at least seemingly so dispatch'd the rest of his business and set forward on his Journey early the next Morning with two or three of his most necessary Servants Roxana and her Mother were courteously receiv'd by the Sultana who being crowded with visits that day through the Mufti 's contrivance had not the conveniency of satisfying her self of Roxana's adventure as she desir'd that with the Emperour 's coming to partake of the relation by the Mufti 's instigation also made it so late before the Sultana was fully satisfy'd with Roxana's company that she oblig'd her and her Mother to stay there all that night and part of the next day after which the Sultana dismiss'd them not without Presents as her Custom was to do Roxana was in hopes that her Father would have stay'd for their return to have taken them along with him but the Mother wish'd on the contrary that he might be gone that she might enjoy more of those pleasant Conversations with the Mufti of which she had had but a small relish which made her mouth water for more This that made Roxana's sorrow for Aladin's departure when she was return'd home was a matter of rejoycing for the Mother and both believing that all was of the Mufti 's contrivance he was bless'd and curs'd for it according to the divers interests of the Parties concern'd Mean time to make good the Proverb That the more the Fox is curs'd the more he thrives the Mufti was hugging of himself at this good success and at the hopes he had of prospering as well in the great work of that day so that it was with great impatience that he waited for the lasie Hours that were to usher in that happy moment
strength of Arms. After the Mother had a little recollected her self she caus'd some body to go call Zora to her the Messengers were knocking at the door till they were weary without any answer which made them look through the Key-hole and by an imperfect dim light it being yet early having perceiv'd her fallen on the ground and a great deal of Blood about her they hastily run back to the Mother and told her that Zora lay murthered on the Floor in her own Chamber and that the Door being look'd within side there was no coming at her The Mother did presently give order that the Door should be broke open that to that purpose some men servants should be call'd up as also to be sent for some Physitians in all haste all was done accordingly and Zora was found coming to her self again for the loss of Blood which had caus'd her fainting in which she had fallâ—n on the Floor being thereby stopt for the present she had come to life again those that were about her stopp'd the blood and bound up the Wound as well as they could till further help came She was asked who had done her the mischief and the question being made by those that were inferior to her she thought not fit to give them any account of it but wav'd the Discourse Roxana in the mean time having amongst the rest of her extravagant talk mention'd the Mufti 's Name two or three times The Mother having given strict Charge she should be held in her Bed did go to Zora's Chamber to see her and to ask her some questions She asked of her in the first place who had so wounded her to which Zora made answer that having heard a great noise in the Womens apartment she had stepped out of her Chamber to see what was the matter and that as she was returning she had met with Roxana who calling her Robber and Thief had given her that blow with a Scimiter that she had in her hand at which she had run away and locked her self in her Chamber for fear she should follow after her to give her more The Mother asked her whether the Mufti her Brother had been there that day to which Zora made answer No. Are you very sure of that said the Mother Yes Madam answered Zora and I am certain that no body in all the House can say he has been seen by them this day He may have been here and you not know it reply'd the Mother No Madam answered Zora I can and will give you ample proof of what I say And pray Madam continued she because my Wound will not permit me to write call but for some body that can and I will send the Mufti word that he should give us an exact account of the places and Company he has been with all the Day and all the night A person being brought Zora bid him only write justifie your self and give good proofs where you have been of late This was presently sent by Zora's special order to her Brother who was found in his Bed. By this time the Surgeons being come they took Zora in hand and dressed her Wound No sooner did the Mufti read that note but he presently got up though it was so early and he began his Certificate which was that having been at the Council till past twelve of the Clock he had from thence gone home from whence he had not since stirr'd out This was sign'd by all his Servants Of truth there was but one who knew of his going out who was his Consident the others believing really that he had not been out that night So soon as it was convenient for him to stir forth he went to divers of the Counsellors and obtain'd from them their hands to certifie that he had been with them in the Council Chamber till after twelve telling them to satisfie their Curiosity that a wager depended upon it after that he went to all the other places where he had been all that day and obtain'd from those Persons in whose Company he had been to sign to his Certificate which he sent back to Zora He thought this a very necessary thing for him to do out of hand because the Court was moving that day towards the Holy Waters that he might be so far justified to the World that he should not in his absence be accused of a deed which he verily believ'd was done but knew not by whom and had no hand in it with hopes that at his return he might renew his Friendship with Roxana who still stuck at his heart though he believ'd her ravish'd Thus he fitted himself for the Journey and went with the Court. The Physitians having administer'd things to Roxana in order to compose her Spirits and to cause her to rest The Scimiter was examin'd and no body could imagine how Roxana came by it nor any body remember that they had seen such a one in the House But when Zora had view'd it a little more nearly she fancy'd that Cara did wear just such a one which confirm'd her in the suspicion she had before that Cara had come and taking one Râ—om for another had met with Roxana while she her self had been disappointed The Mother not knowing what to think of all this nor what to make of it began to wish her self in the Country with her Husband or he with her at Constantinople to dive a little deeper than she could in all these Mysteries and to unravel the Riddles Cara for his part having got by his change was well satisfied fancying that it was with Roxana that he had met in the dark in lieu of Zora of which he hoped to be one day fully satisfyed by the Ring which he had taken from off her Finger nothing did trouble him in all this business but the loss of his Scimiter which he knew not whether he had dropt by the way or left behind him through his extreme haste to get away unseen which he had almost despair'd to do by the great noise which Roxana began to make By this time of the day the Emperour and the Sultana were ready to go their Journey accompanied with the principal Officers of the Court not forgetting our Mufti amongst the rest Not but that he would fain have lingred behind for some few days to have learn'd of certain who had been his Substitute of which he had but a bare distrust and to have had some account of Roxana's condition But the Emperour calling particularly for him he was forc'd to go and leave all to Zora's care which was to send him word how things were but he resolv'd to take Cara along with him to prevent him from any further progress in his good fortune with Roxana under the pretence of having then more opportunity to present him to Amuâ—at and to get him some employ Roxana who was all this while in her Mother's bed had at last fallen asleep and by the assistance of those Remedies
though he is so great a Preselyte to the Religion of Haly of which most of those Confederate Princes against Cha-abas are Professors Thus have the Mahometists under pretence of Friendship to Persia work'd those Ends and brought about those purposes for the advantage of Pesina which they could not compass by open force and put the Pesinians by their entring into the Confederacy in a Capacity of not only recovering suddenly all that Cha-abas has at several times basely stol'n from them but in sharing also in that spoil which is intended of the whole Persian Empire I hope the Reader will pardon this Digression on condition that I will not trouble him with any more And now I return to my Subject again Cha-abas having gone so far in his Design against the Ottoman Empire as to cause Amurat to desert it though his Designs were first quite different from what had happen'd he design'd farther to make use of Amurat's Desertion of his Empire to his particular advantage which could not be done without causing Amurat to change the Resolution which his good Nature had promp'd him to of retiring from the World into some Religious Place there to end his days in Devotions To this purpose Cha-abas gave Orders That all persons from the highest to the lowest in his Dominions should give the same respect to Amurat and to his Sultana as they us'd to shew to himself He caus'd them to be bravely and magnificently entertain'd in all places they pass'd through made his own Guards to attend them and sent his own Chariots to bring them to a magnificent Palace which he had caus'd to be richly furnish'd and adorn'd with all necessary things for their Reception and went some part of the way himself to receive them with all the Demonstrations of Sorrow imaginable and all the Assurances of Friendship Aid and Assistance that could be expected protesting That notwithstanding all those formidable enemies which he had at that time on his hands he would re-seat Amurat on his Throne and that he would beg for Peace on his bare Knees of his enemies rather than not pursue the destruction of the Mahometan Religion which he was resolv'd to accomplish happen what would and to make Amurat a more glorious and absolute Prince in the Ottoman Empire than ever any of his Predecessors had been Thus did that Vain Man that Monster of Pride Cruelty and Ambition domineer and huff when he knew not which way to turn himself before the Confederate Princes who were all resolv'd to pull down his Pride and to take from him at once all those places and whole Provinces which by fraud and deceit he had at divers times encroached and stoln from them He had first tried all means imaginable and had apply'd himself to the Grand Mufti and to the Emperour of Myrgena with promises to restore all that he had gained from them but they told him that they knew him too well to trust any longer to his Word which he had never kept So that finding that that would not do he had propos'd to beg those Princes Pardon which he had offended and to make full restitution of all that he had possest himself of theirs with an assurance that he would submit to all that they should please to impose upon him provided they would but withdraw their Forces from falling upon him till he had accomplish'd that great Design he had so well begun of totally rooting out the true Mahometan Religion But those Confederate Princes knowing that all that he said was but to divert them from taking revenge of all his perfidious dealings against them and that at the very time that he so earnestly begg'd for a Peace he was animating and fomenting the Heathens to continuing a War against the Mahometists they therefore gave no ear to any thing he said but went on still with their preparations of War against him with all the vigour imaginable This made Cha-abas to look out for a place of Retreat in time in case he should be driven out of his own Empire but he did it with that same Pride and Ostentation which usually accompanies all his Actions He cast his eye on the Island Leridan pertaining to Amurat and which still held out for him all the Natives of that Kingdom being Halists and govern'd by Clorinet who was a great Halist also and who had been plac'd in that station by Amurat After then that he had brought Amurat and his Sultana to that Palace which he had appointed for them and settled an Allowance for their Maintenance suitable to their Greatness he began to consider which way to begin and in what proper Terms to propose to Amurat so that he might not find out his drift the reâ—â—ction of Clonstad and of Albiona to him but Amurat was not long without giving him himself a fair opportunity of declaring his Mind for he being still dejected and unconsolable for the loss of the Love of his Subjects without which he had no prospect of ever recovering his Right again did still pursue the Design which he had taken of leaving the World and of retiring into some Religious House where to end his days in peace and quietness and mention'd his Design to Cha-abas There needed no more to set the Persian Emperour on this was matter sufficient for him to work upon He represented to Amurat that that would tarnish the Glory of all his former Actions it would give occasion to the World to censure him and to future Ages to entertain aâ— very ill Opinion of him He added That he himself was so highly concern'd in the whole Business that it would greatly tarnish that Glory which the Justice of his Cause and the good success of his Arms had acquired him if he did not re-establish Amurat on his Throne and totally root out of all his Dominions the Mahometan Religion as he had already done out of his own Empire and would do out of the whole World before he would be quiet That a War which was founded on Religion and the extirpation of Heresies as his was was not to be left undone being of quite another Nature than those Wars which are made on the account of securing ones Right enlarging of ones Dominions increasing of ones Glory and the like That whosoever once set his his Hand to that Plough wherein Religion was concern'd was not to look back but to go forwards over all the Hazards and Difficulties imaginable being confident that the more perillous the more glorious the Achievement of the thing would be that he was ready to assist him with Men Arms Ammunition and Money with Vessels to transport them over into Leridan where he thought it the most convenient to begin by the total suppression of all his Mahometan Subjects through the aid and assistance of those Forces which were all Halists under the Conduct of his Lieutenant Clorinet In fine he said so much to Amurat and did so subtly disguise his Designs to him under