The history of Polexander in five bookes / done into English by VVilliam Browne, Gent. ...

The last Resolution.

IT must be so. I am resolved of it, audacious Stranger. Thou shalt out of my memo∣ry as well as of my Territories. The more thou hast sought for occasions to appeare amiable, the more cause hast thou given me to make thee hated. I hate thee because I have run the hazard to love thee. I wish that an eternall punishment avenge me of the crime thou wouldst have committed. The Sentence, for it is pronounced; Traytor as he is; Hee shall not vaunt unpunished, to have essayed by virtue of his submissions and services, to establish his dangerous Tyrrany.

Thou mightst well doubt (unhappy Polexander cryd our Heroë;) that the last calme, should be followed by a great tempest. Thou hast not long time sayled, but to be ship wrack'd, and the end of thy Navigation must be that of thy hopes. Deli∣berate no longer, after thy condemnation; leave to live in leaving to hope. Yet not so. Preserve thy life, since thy divine Alcidiana wills, that thou indure as much as thou art capable to suffer.

When Polexander had shut up the table booke, and made a new reflection on his fortune, he knew but too well that Alcidiana's last Sentments—had ruined the little hope which the former had given him. He turned his eyes pittifully on Pallan∣tus redilivering his booke, and would signifie unto him the excesse of his despaire. But Pallantus prevented him, and sayd, he wonder'd infinitely that he would per∣severe to afflict himselfe amidst so many causes of joy. Ah Pallantus (answered the Prince) I know tis too much honour for me to be remembred in any way whatsoe∣ver by Alcidiana. My Judgement avowes it, but my passion will not. I have such desires as perpetually struggle with my reason, and when I would force them not to go beyond the limitts she prescribes them, they boldly take armes against us both, and their insolencyes go so farre, that they even think to doe us a great favour when they use us but as slaves. Teach me (dear Pallantus) what my reason and I should do to get us the Mastery since thou wilt not have us give way to their tyranny. Per∣sever in that feare and adoration which till now you have witnessed for Alcidiana (answered Pallantus.) Be not weary of suffering; and leave to your desires that ab∣solute Empyre they have usurp'd over your reason. They will be of a different nature from ordinary desires, if time, opposition, and despaire do not weaken their impe∣tuosity. Ah! Remedyes more cruell and insupportable then the ill it selfe (saide Polexander)! Am I brought to that extremity to make use of you? yes insensible friends, I receive and imbrace you, since you are so happy to have the resentments of Alcidiana for the Authors of your being. Pallantus, heere imposing him silence: Be pleas'd (sayd he) that I end the history of your disfavours, and that finally I banish you from the place wherein is inclos'd all your hopes and happinesses. Polexander replying nothing gave occasion to the faire slave to continue thus his discourse: Your sorrow, solitude, and your complaints having too long lasted for your quiet; Amin∣tha resolv'd to have pitty on you, and to redeeme you from you despaire by false hopes. You followed her advice, and suffring your selfe to be easily perswaded to what you so extreamly desired; you began againe your illustrious and magnificent way of living, whereby you had acquir'd the affections of the most part of Alcidiana's

subjects. She understood of your returne, and wanting sufficient knowledge of world∣ly affaires to judge of the •…•…rue cause of your change; she called for Amintha to discourse with her about it. I thought (said she) that having hitherto made a particular pro∣fession of friendshipp with Polexander; you are not ignorant of those causes which he hath had heretofore to afflict himselfe, and those he hath now to rejoyce in. I honour Polexander (replied Amintha) but I have no part in his trust. Yet not so that I am ignorant of that which your Majesty desires to know. His griefe and joy are too publick to make a secret of them. Every one speakes of it, and if it be not known to your Majesty, you are without doubt the onely person in your Kingdome that is ignorant of it. But to give it you, it behooves (if you please) to think it fit that I pronounce to you a word which to you is very odious. Alcidiana, confident of A∣mintha's discretion told her, that she might speake; since your Majesty commanded me (replyed Amintha) I will tell you that Polexander is in love. The Queen was surprised with that word, and so surprised that she could not refrayne from blushing. But loath to rest mute on that occasion; is it possible (sayd she) to Amintha, that a spirit so strong as Polexander should be capable of so extreame a weaknesse? 'Tis possible Madam, answerd Amintha, and your Majesty would have the pleasure to know the cause aswell as the effects of this passion, you will be confirmd in that true opinion, that love is nothing but blindnesse and folly. Stenelica who hath nothing left ei•…•…her of youth or beauty is the cause of Polexanders vexations. He adores her, loves h•…•…r, burnes for her, and is desperate when he cannot see her: and as his dispaire comes from the rigours of Stenelica, his contentments likewise proceed from the favours he receives thence. But that which is most strange is, there passeth not a day but he w•…•…ites to her, and in such humble and passionate termes, as if he writ to the fairest Princesse in the world. A•…•…cidiana tooke no pleasure in this jesting, and you went neere to lose the good opinion she had of you, even by that which you had plotted with Amintha to get you into it. Polexander bindes me to returne to my first opinion (sayd she) to her Confident. Truely Nature and Radiotez have not deceiv'd me, when they assured me, that men were full of imperfections, and how those which had been estem'd freest from deserts and neerest approaching to a divine condition, had by diverse actions of their lives made it appeare they were truely men subject as the meanest to the most low and ridiculous extravagancies. Amintha saw well that twas nothing to the purpose to prosecute what she had begun, she therefore put it off to another time, and applying her selfe to the Queenes humour, did so well by her colloguing and wit, that in lesse then eight dayes wrought in Alcidiana an extreame desire to see the letters you had written to Stenelica. Pre∣sently she shew'd her aboue fifty, and wou•…•…d have given her a great many more, but that she was wearyed with your supposed extravagancyes. Stenelica punctually receyved two or three a daye and assoone as she had them, had order to bring them to the Queene. Five or six moneths slid away, yet the Queene discovered not the mystery of your Letters, nor of your maskes and turnaments. But by little and little her understanding comming on with her age, and her seventeenth yeere instructing her in that which the former sixteene were ignorant of; she made long and deepe reflections on all that you had done since you came into her Territories, and by those things con∣jectured that infallibly Stenelica was but the pretext and coverture of a more high affe∣ction. This thought engaged her to reade all your Letters over againe. But scarce had she read the first, when she saw her selfe so lively pictured, that she called her blinde for being so long from discovering it. Streight an indignation for being deceived by A∣mintha, made her cast by all the eff•…•…ction she bore her, and made her resolve to punish you both for one crime, whereof she judg'd you were equally guilty. And not to defer her vengeance, she called for Stenelica, and shutting themselves in her owne Closet, and accommodating her selfe to the weakenesse of that poore Soule, hardly reasonable; told her, that she understanding how Polexander writ to her only to passe away his time; she would not have her to be any longer the object of his sport and jeasting. I command you therefore (said she) to receive no more of his Letters, nor any more to endure hiscompany. 'Tis a shame for one of your age and condition to lose your time

in the fopperies of youth. Breake absolutely the commerce you have with this stranger; burne all his letters, send him back his Jewells, and suffer him not to talke to you any more; hearken to none that comes from him, and above all converse with Amintha as with your greatest enemy. The Queene was not thus contented to cut from that meanes of expressing your affection: But she would take from you all others, and pu∣nish you and your complic•…•… for your temerity. She therefore remo•…•…ved from her or∣dinary place of abiding, and went to that stately Castle which the King her Father built on a point of Land that lookes toward your fortunate Islands. All the Court followed her in that Journey, and Amintha with the rest; though she tooke notice of a visible diminution in her favour.

My faire Princesse had not beene above foure or five dayes in that faire Pallace, when fortune willing to obliege her by your losse, stirred up that disorder which drew you from the Inaccessible Island.

Amintha (as you know) was stolne away one night by Pirates, which the winde had driven neere to the Queenes Pallace. As soone as she heard newes of this rape, she shewed a great deale of sorrow, though she had great cause to be glad of it. And I ve∣rily beleeve that (by her selfe) she gave the heavens and fortune thankes, that they had evenged her, and she had no hand in it; and that she was wonderfully well satisfied, to see the offenders punished without her being forced to any violence. She caused two ships to be made ready, and armed to pursue the Pirates that had stolne Amintha, and as she would have had them set sayle, it was told her, that in the very instant wherein the Lady was surprised, you had cast your selfe into a barke which by chance you found rea∣dy at the foote of the Castle, and that without doubt you had already overtaken the Pi∣rates. Alcidiana seeing herselfe so fully and quietly avenged, caused her two ships to put off, to give to all the Court an opinion contrary to her meanings, and in this manner, she put a period to all her cares and perturbations. Be pleased to let me imitate so great an example, and that finishing my discourse as I begun it, I may tell you, that your de∣spaire is unjust, and you are an ill esteemer of your good fortune, since you acknow∣lede not the greatnesse of it, not only to have obliged the prime Princesse of the world, to except you with that generall indifferency which she hath for all men, but to have made it appeare by publique testimonialls, that you have beene able to make her capa∣ble of passiō. Flattering Pallantus (cryd Polexander in interrupting him) how thou canst abuse thy Eloquence, and disguise by thy smooth and winning tearms a rigour which is insupportable. Tell me not that I have made thy Queene capable of passion: Say she hates me, and not being able to endure my presence, hath banished me from a place whereto she knowes well it is altogether impossible for me to returne. But what do'st thou abominable and sacriligious Polexander? Darest thou murmure against that wis∣dome, that doth nothing but with justice, though it be not according to thy wishes? Respect, respect the arme that darts the thunder at thee; and receiving Alcidiana's stripes with a benediction, make all the world know that there are no felicities like those of suffering much for her. Polexander ended this speech with sighes, and being risen, began to walke with a g•…•…eat pace without hearkning to any thing that Pallantus advised him for his comfort and ease. Their converse had not ended but with the day, if Zelmatida by chance had not met them in their way, and obliged them to returne to the Fort. They retired thither all three together, and gave the rest of the day to Bajazet and Iphidamantus. Pallantus, that would not stay any longer in that place, tooke his leave that same Evening, and promised Polexander that in his return from Africa, he would passe by the Canaryes. Polexander left him not tell he imbarked, and when he saw he must needes be gone, remember (deare Pallan•…•…s, s•…•…id t•…•… Prince, imbracing him) that those consolations thou wouldest give me, have increased my dispaire; and if ever thy good fortune bring thee back to the place, where thy divine Mistris reign∣eth: Tell her, thou hast seene the deplorable Polexander at the point to finish by some new kinde of death, the incredible torments, that her absence throwes on him. That is not it which you have promised me (replide Pallantus) neither expect that I will ever speake of you to my faire Mistris, if you doe not persever in the resolution to suffer for her. I will then (said our Heroë) since tis for her glory, and preserving my selfe even

in the height of my torments. I will hazard nothing but what I shall be inforced by the just desire of reseeing that incomparable Marvell. Polexander after he had spoake thus, imbraced Pallantus againe, and giving him the last farewell, returned to the three Princes that staied in the Isle. Much adoe he had to remaine the rest of the day with them. He spoake of nothing but of going away, and asking sometimes Iphidamantus, and otherwhiles Zelmatida, what they intended to doe, would willingly have left them both in the comp•…•…y of Bajazet. But Zelmatida whose griefes made him as full of an∣guish as Polexander, intreated him to be received as a companion of his fortune, and that he would obtaine his liberty from Bajazet; speake no more of liberty, (said the illustrious Corsary to him) twere to offend the friendship we have begun, to use tearms which are not practised but amongst enemies. Know then, you are free, if I be so, and though it be very distastfull to me to lose so deare company; yet preferring your con∣tent b•…•…fore mine owne, I yeeld to your separation. But (added he) addressing himselfe to Polexander as well as to Zelmatida, doe not leave me alone in my affliction, and since Iphidamantus hath no passion that presseth him, intreat for me that he will vouchsafe to abide here, that by his presence I may preserve to me a part of your selfe. Iphidaman∣tus, who among these so sensible and despairing Lovers, seemed content and unpassio∣nate: Stood not to be intreated, neither by his brother nor Zelmatida, to grant Baja∣zet what he requested: But (saide he) since there is (or ought to be) charity in those that are in health, to be industrious for the cure of such sick persons, that are not altoge∣ther desperate: 'Tis just, that I forsake Polexander and Zelmatida to abide with Baja∣zet. This last hath great wounds, but they are not incurable, and by consequence, time and remedies are not lost in assisting him. But for you two (said he, turning himselfe to his brother and Zelmatida) there is no helpe at all for you, but in the speedy losing your selves. Go then, generous, afflicted men, goe search for shipwracks, precipices, poy∣sons, and death. This discourse ended: The foure Princes often imbraced one another, and gave so equall thankes, that it had beene very hard to know who were those that had obliged or those that received the obligation. After these compliments, succeeded the protestations of their eternall friendship, and reciprocall promises, to let one ano∣ther know of their affaires as often as they had meanes. Polexander and Zelmatida un∣willing to depart without paying their Hostes, sent two chaines of Diamonds, and two of Emeraulds to the Corsaries; and by that Present, left with them a more advantage∣ous opinion of their merits, then the miracles of their valour had beene able to make them conceive. Bajazet forgot not that he owed his life to Diceus, but gave him a tri∣angle of three Dimonds which the Portingalls valued at more then a hundred thousand crownes. These liberalities ended, the foure Princes at last tooke leave of each other. I∣phidamantus aboade with Bajazet, Polexander and Zelmatida being shipped in one same vessell, began a voyage wherein they proposed to themselves none other end, but the continuation of their afflictions.