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

The Queen Alcidiana to the stranger Polexander.

YOu aske my pardon for your taking Armes for me; but it is I that should demand it from you, since my interests have •…•…o often made you run the hazard of your life. But you are too generous to suffer Alcidiana to put her selfe into the state of a Petitioner; and she is not so void of reason to condemne a valour which hath made her triumph over her enemies. Enjoy in peace the glory you have gotten since you have neglected all other advantages; and doe not beleeve that Alcidiana shall be alwaies so unfortunate, but that she may as much oblige you as you have her now engaged.

Polexander had no sooner ended the repetition of this letter, but that his sighs pres∣sing on one another, almost tooke away his breathing; and if the particularities which Pallantus had learned him, had not given him some strength to support that violent fit of love and sorrow, he had infallibly been suffocated. At last, his sighs made themselves way, and issuing one after another gave him the liberty of speech. Presently he looked on Pallantus, and witnessing to him a joy mixt with sadnesse, and a troubled and un∣quiet satisfaction: is it possible said he, Pallantus, that he which hath received so great a testimony of Alcidiana's goodnesse, can live after the sentence of death which she hath pronounced against him? It must be possible to him, answered Pallantus, and reserving himselfe for some unknowne happinesse, that he judge of Alcidiana's intentions with the same reverence and feare that a religious soule should have for the will of heaven. But keep your ward you gave me Polexander, and suspend your contents and vexati∣ons till I have ended that which I know of the thoughts of my faire Princesse. Polex∣ander casting downe his eyes, and even not daring to speake a word, witnessed that he had a perfect resignation for those things that concerned the honour of Alcidiana. Pallantus admired this incomparable submission, and thus continued his discourse: The Queen had no sooner given Amintha the letter you repeated to me, but she thought she had done an act that was not equivalent with the others of her life. She sent me to runne after her confident with a command to come to her instantly. Amintha obeyed; but Alcidiana was not satisfied with it, for you had already received her letter, and wit∣nessed by your answer, that it was a farre greater fortune to you then Sisiphus Principa∣lity, Alcidiana not daring to make shew but of one part of her displeasure, shee was so much a shamed of what she had done. I would (said she to Amintha) that I had added the halfe of my Crowne to the Principality of Sysiphus, so that Polexander had not the letter which you have made me write to him, I know sufficiently (replied Amintha) the obedience, that Prince is ready to yeeld to your Majesties commands, to assure you that if you thinke him not worthy to keep so pretious a thing, he will come and throw himselfe at your feet to beseech you to take it againe, and call backe those favours

which you have too liberally communicated to him. The remedy (answered Alcidi∣ana) which you propose to me may well cure the wound I have given my selfe, but it can never take away the scarre. I would say that you might well get mee the Letter which Polexander hath received from me, but it is not in your power to make it so that he hath not had it. I feare not his vanity, but his memory, and whilest that hath a being yet should I not be freed of my feare, though I had that which you might pro∣mise me. Let him enjoy then that acknowledgment of the services he hath done mee, and hence forward let us have no more commerce with him, then with Spanyards and other strangers, which some tempest or chance hath sometimes throwne on our Coastes. You were then by this command, as it were, buried in the memories of those that loved you. But it was only in shew, for in effect you lived there in spight of all Inhibitions.

Alcidiana first violating her Lawes, entertayned her selfe with you alone; and thinking to remove out of her fancy and Idea that discontented her not but in that it seemed too pleasing to her; perceived not that her thoughts and the intention of her thought were directly contra•…•…y. At the same (as you know) the winning Cephalus Prince of the blo•…•…d of Alcidiana, and her publique adorer, proclaimed a Turney, to which your courage and judgement, furnished you with that admirable meanes, by which, it was permitted you to fight with Cephalus without offending Alcidiana. You conserv'd •…•…o him the honour, which your incomparable dexterity, or to speake more conformably to your passion and my duty, which the weakenesse of Cephalus might have made him lose. This new victory brought new disquiets on the Queene, and made her knowe that it was in vaine for her to essay to acquit her selfe towards you. The very evening that the justs ended, she shut her up with Amintha, and beginning a∣new what a moneth of silence had interrupted. See us now (said she) in worse case then before. I thought Polexander had beene in my debt, and I finde my selfe behinde∣hand with him, more then I am able to pay him. Were I answerable for no more then for my kingdome and liberty, I have both to give him satisfaction: But since hee hath preserved to me the honour which rash Cephalus had hazarded, can I acknowledge that great service but by the thinge it selfe which he hath preserved? And if that must be, what will become of the wretched Alcidiana? Canst thou live deprived of that glory which thy predecessors left thee, and which thou maist say without boasting, was gotten thee by the practise of all the virtues? Amintha seeing the Princesse griefe to be so excessive that it drew teares from her eyes, was very much moved at it, and forget∣ting your interests for those of her good Mistresse. Your Majesty (said she) must not any longer suffer a sicknesse which insensibly gets on the hea•…•…t, and may become dead∣ly if in time there be not applied to it fire and sword. I was the first that neglected it, since I thought it not considerable, but now I know its greatnesse, and foresee what may ensue, I am the first that runne for remedies, and throwing my selfe at the feete of your Majesty, humbly to beseech you to employ all and not to reject the most violent.

The honour I have to be intrusted with your secrecies, forbids mee to have other consideration then of you, and I cannot bee silent without sinning against that Sove∣raigne lawe, which commands me to expose my life for the safety of your Majesty. The innocent and faire Alcidiana hearing Amintha speake so seriously, thought her self ill of some ex•…•…reame dangerous sicknesse; and feare which commonly accompanies ig∣norance, bringing on her extraordinary troubles and disquiets, shee fell on Aminthaes neck, wet her face with her teares, and conjured her by her friendshippe to give her such advice as might be most safe for her. Heale said she a malady of which in some sort you have beene the cause. I finde it more troublesome then grievous, but you know it better then I, and I had rather trust my selfe to your experience then to mine owne feelings. Let us therefore be industrious Amintha in a businesse so urgent, and not putting off our cure to the succour that may come with time, let us try all those meanes that heaven hath put into our power. Amintha judging, by this discourse, that the Queene knew nothing at all of her sicknesse, or to speake more truly that she had no o∣ther ill, but that which was begot by that high and imperious humor in which she was

bred, saw well that it was not necessary to urge your depart, nor to make your stay suspected. She therefore insensibly diverted Alcidianaes feares and resolutions, and repenting what her affection had made her say against you, assured the Princesse that you had not undertaken to combat with Cephalus, but with the same intention that he had done the justs: that was, you had a resolution to make your skill and gallantrie appeare, and not to engage the honour of the Princesse. And that you expected no o∣ther repute then that which is gotten by the like exercises. Cephalus (said shee) had published that you were the fairest Princesse in the World. Hee tooke armes to main∣taine it against all those that professe to love what is fayre. Polexander would rayse the price upon him more then he. He therefore maintained against him, his armes in his hand, that you were yet somewhat more then the other imagined, and the successe of the justs hath made it seene that his proposition was true. What doe you thinke Madam, that you owe him for it? Nothing, but what the Sunne owes them that call him the Author of life, the Father of light, and the fayrest of all inannimate Creatures.

If Polexander had beene suddainly changed into some other, and become so vaine to looke for a reward after this last Combat; it should be then from the truth which he hath defended and not from you that he was to expect it. Set your minde then at rest, and driving farre from your fayre Soule those thoughts that disturbe it, hold it for an infallibility that your Majesty cannot be beholding to any one, since the honour to serve you is so great a recompence to those that doe it, that they are payd for all their services, even before they have begun them. The Queene whose extreme youth could not afford her those experiments that Amintha had gathered by the benefit of more yeeres, felt her selfe no lesse peacefull and at rest after the second discourse of her Con∣fident, then the first had put her out of order. She then rested her minde in its first seate, and retayning no other thoughts for you then she had for other Princes, was glad to giue you occasion to abide in her Court, and by your presence, obliege her people to stifle for ever all causes of revolting. After that resolution two or three moneths slid away, during which time you had often the honour to see the Queene, and obtayned by your submission and respects, the liberty to talke with her. This happinesse had la∣sted longer with you, if you had had the power to conceale yet your designe and pas∣sion. But this pleasant commerce broke off by the Petition you made her, to be recei∣ved into the number of her slaves. I shall remember as long as I live the speech that the knowing Radiotez made to the Princesse to dispose her to bee gracious unto you. He seemed to love you well, since his cleere judgement that made him penetrate into things the most hidden, being as it were veyled by the excesse of his love; made him not perceive your intention, but did the utmost of his wit and esoquence to force Alci∣diana to put you amongst her flaves. There is no condition (said hee) in Polexander that should obliege your Majesty to deny him the chaynes he requesteth. He is young, fayre, valiant, and wise: and those were the foure qualities that the late King your fa∣ther desired in those that should be chosen to enter into your Majesties particular ser∣vice. You will say he is a Prince, and a stranger: but after the examples of Orantus and Pallantus, who are French-men of Don Ferdinand a Spanyard, and of the Infant Cleonida Prince of Portugall, your Majesty cannot with justice refuse the humble sup∣plication of Polexander, under pretext that he is a Prince and a stranger. On the con∣trary these two titles, joyned with the considerations that you have to esteeme him, ought to be powerfull enough to make you dispence with the force of Lawes, if there were any that should forbid you to receive for your slaves Princes and Strangers. Thinke with your selfe, that all Rebells and Ambitious are not dead with Syzip•…•…s. That there may occasions arise wherein your Majesty may have neede of personages extreamly faithfull, and as farre generous; and in whom will you finde more loyaltie and valour, then in him that offers himselfe to enter into your service, and by conse∣quence not to be able ever to be absent from your person, nor bee separated from that which concernes you?

Alcidiana interrupting Radiotez: Father (said shee) I pretend not to overcome you eyther by virtue of my Eloquence or reasons. I know too well your abilities to

contest with you; but I may gaine by my obstinacy what I cannot by my perswasions, I beleeve with you, that all things concurre to give Polexander a place amongst my Slaves; but at the same time I know not what interiour motion forbids me to receive him. Let it suffice that I keepe him in my service by his owne worthinesse, It is need∣lesse that hee should bee engaged eyther by his particular vowes, or his publique fetters.

The good Radiotez, had nothing to reply to this answere, and was enforced to carry you the news of this misterious refusall. I know with what griefe you heard it, and the resolutions you tooke thereupon, but if you had beene lesse blinded by your passion, you might have seene through that apparant disgrace, how reall and great the favours were that she gave you cause to hope for. This is but to tell you of things without art or dis∣sembling; Alcidiana had some particular good will towards you. I have already told you, that men should not pretend to the glory of her love. I repeate it not to anger you, but for an advertisement, not to promise your selfe any other recompence for your ser∣vice then the happinesse to have done it for the most deserving Princesse in the world. It may be you will aske me how I know that Alcidiana hath no inclination to you, and why I conjecture that her troubles, melancholy, and disquiets (which are infallible signes of Love in all other women) are not so in that Princesse, you may learne it from the writing tables where of I late spoke to you. Many moneths passed after you had lost the hope to be one of the Queenes sl•…•…ves; and the splendour and joy of your justs, your Masques and other matches had been passed over by the sadnesse of your thoughts, more black then the mourning you have taken: When Amintha discovered that Alci∣diana had not altogether blotted you out of her memory. You remember the strange accident that betided her in the Forrest of White-Hindes. Her hunting Chariot was violently drawne a way by the wildnesse of her horses, and happily overturned some twenty paces from a precipice, whither they were running to cast a way all. You found the Queene as dead, so violent was her fall, and so made her to be carried to the Pallace. Amintha had not so ill fortune; she was hurt, but it had not taken her sences from her. By chance, as she arose, she found a payre of writing tables covered with Diamonds, and having never seene them with the Queene, did not imagine that they were hers. She put them up and car•…•…ied them to the Pallace with her Mistresse. After the Princesse was come to her selfe, and had assured all about her that she had no hurt: Amintha withdrew to her lodging, and meditating long time on your complaints, on your swounding, and the desperatenesse you shewed for the death of Alcidiana, she remem∣bred the table-booke which she had found, and desirous to see if there were nothing within that might tell her the name of the person that had lost it: Shee was informed by the first leafe, finding ther a peece of limming representing a Phoenix which is (as you know) Alcidianaes device. But I shall doe better to shew you the very tables, then to tell you the secrets contayned in it.

And in saying so, Pallantus drew them out of his pocket, and delivering them into the hands of our Heroë, tooke a picture of Alcidiana, which hee alwaies carried with him, and kept his eyes fixed on it whilest Polexander abode consulting with leaves more misterious then those of the antient Sybills. The first thing this Lover did after he had received that fatall booke, was, to kisse the rich covering, and to intimate by the respect he bore to the outside of the Temple, how great the veneration was where∣withall he came neere to the divinity that was therein worshipped. Hee opened the Tables, and presently met with the lymming which Pallantus spoke of. Hee saw that unparrallelld Bird, that owes not his byrth to any but it selfe, to dispute beauty with the Sun himselfe, and oppose to the beames of that starre, the golden fethers where with it was crowned. The Word that was added to so fayre a body, had an exceeding grace in his owne language. See how ours hath wrongd it in the explication. My life shall exceede my byrth. After that Polexander had well considered this Device, and searched over all, whither there were not some Cypher or Character from whence he might draw any cause of consolation, he turned the leafe, and in the three following read the words that follow.