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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18472-8.txt b/18472-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fcf2693 --- /dev/null +++ b/18472-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2550 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the +Kofirans, by Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans + Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol + + +Author: Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon + + + +Release Date: May 30, 2006 [eBook #18472] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF +THE KOFIRANS*** + + +E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Labyrinths, Bill Tozier, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF THE KOFIRANS. + +Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol. + +With a Key. + + + + + + + +London: +Printed for G. Smith, near Temple-Bar. 1749. +[Price One Shilling and Sixpence.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +_The Bookseller, who has taken upon him to print this little Work, +having absolutely insisted upon my introducing it with a _Preface,_ +I was unwilling to refuse him so easy a Matter; and the rather as the +Omission might greatly prejudice it. He urged his Request, by saying, +that a _Preface_ was no less essential to a Book, than an _Exordium_ to +a Sermon. As few read the one, as listen to the other; however, if +either be wanting, the Performance is defective, and, is not so much as +thought worthy to be read in order to be censured. Nevertheless, what +can be said with Regard to a useless Discourse? Why, really, I think, it +is best to say nothing at all. This little Work places Truth in so just +a Light, that no Characters are wanting to point it out. But perhaps, +the real Truth may be amplified in it, and there may be Applications +made of it as false as injurious. This is what ought strongly to be +guarded against; and to this Purpose I sincerely declare, that I have +intermix'd nothing of my own in the Amours of _Zeokinizul:_ But, like a +faithful Translator, I have constantly kept close to _Krinelbol's_ +Manuscript. I have related the Facts just as he himself says they were +told him by the _Kofiran_ Nobility. This sincere Protestation, is all +that I can do, In order to remove any Suspicion of Interpolations. The +_Arabian_ Manuscript is still in my Possession, and if desired, shall be +printed. But I own, with Concern, that it is quite beyond my Power, to +procure such a Number of Types as will be requisite to give this +Satisfaction; therefore, let those who are willing and equal to such an +Expence, set the Printer to work. I promise to deliver him the +Manuscript on Demand. I cannot help thinking, but that the Malice of the +World is at its highest Pitch. Formerly People were overjoy'd at the +Certainty of the Antipodes; and to hear that the Inhabitants of those +Climates came nearest to us in Industry, and the Love of Arts and +Sciences; and that the Sun approached to, and receded from them, as it +does with Regard to us. In fine, that their Temperature, their Seasons, +their Manners, and Inclinations, were the same as our own. Yet, in this +my Endeavour to verify such a Resemblance, by Proofs extracted from +their own History, demonstrating by notorious and certain Facts that +they think and act just like ourselves, I shall be branded for an +Imposture; or some, who affect to be more sharp-sighted, will suspect +that under fictitious Names, I have represented Persons for whom my +Heart is filled with the most respectful Sentiments. Let this suffice, +as the shorter a _Preface_ is the better it is liked._ + + + + +THE AMOURS OF _ZEOKINIZUL_, + +King of the Kofirans. + + +After all the Labours and Attention of our best Academicians to form +just Plans, and draw complete Maps of the whole Terraqueous Globe, there +are many large Empires and powerful Nations, which their Enquiries have +not reached; so that they are not only ignorant of their Position, but +even of their Existence. Of this Number are the vast Dominions of the +King of the _Kofirans_, of which hitherto we have had not the least +Idea; and which probably would ever have continued unknown to us had not +an _Arabic_ Manuscript of the famous Traveller _Krinelbol_ luckily +fallen into my Hands. + +This illustrious Enquirer, of whom we have several Works, which +ostentatious Translators, on Account of their Excellency, have published +as their own, that he might not be misled by the various geographical +Descriptions of the Globe, determined to ground his Knowledge upon his +own Experience. With this rational View he left _Arabia Felix_, his +native Country, and travelled all over both _Asia_ and _Africa_. Always +careful to take an accurate View of every Thing which was worth being +seen or known, and making a judicious Collection of what was most +remarkable in the Customs and History of the Countries which he visited. +But a very small Part of his Collection has reached us. That we are so +unhappy as to have only mutilated and unsatisfactory Fragments of an +Author of such Veracity, and in such curious Matters, must be imputed to +the want of Printing in most of the eastern Nations, and the Ignorance +of this Traveller's Heirs. + +An Acquaintance of mine, who is extremely fond of Travelling, thinking +it would be a very acceptable Present, brought me these Sheets from +_Ispahan_, where they cost him twelve _Tomans_, that is between twenty +and thirty Pounds Sterling. I have translated it without either +diminishing, augmenting, or altering it in any one Particular. Only, +for the Reader's Convenience, I have expressed the Names of Posts and +Dignities in our Language, which in the Original were in _Arabic_, +keeping to it in the Appellations of Persons and Nations, out of regard +to historical Exactness. I do not in the least claim any Thanks or +Acknowledgements for my Trouble; the several Works of this Nature which +I have published producing in me an habitual Pleasure of employing my +Pen, for the Instruction and Entertainment of polite Readers. + +Possibly the whole Universe could not afford a more tranquil, happy +Kingdom than that of the _Kofirans_, would their Princes equitably sit +down contented with the Honours and Prerogatives with which they were +invested at their Institution, and not falsly imagine, that their +Grandeur and Glory consist in the Oppression of their Subjects; and +would they be watchful to entail the Harmony and due Subordination +betwixt the several Orders in their Government. Whereas for several +Centuries past, they have been labouring to erect an Arbitrary Power; +and the two last have taken large Steps towards this execrable End. + +_Zeoteirizul_, the First of the Two, was Son to the greatest King that +ever govern'd the _Kofirans_. Being scarcely eight Years old when the +Crown devolv'd to him by his Father's Death, his Mother seiz'd the Reins +of Government. This Princess who was a _Neitilene_ by Birth, was related +to the King of _Jerebi_. Secret History relates that, prompted by her +Ambition, she entered into a private Treaty with her Relation, her +Husband's most inveterate Enemy, and contrived his Murder, which was +unfortunately executed, to the great Loss and Grief of all true +_Kofirans_. What aggravates the Guilt is, that this worthy Prince was +stabb'd on the very Day of her Coronation, at a Juncture when he was +giving this flagitious Wretch the highest Mark of his Affection. + +No sooner was the Queen declared Regent of the Kingdom, but she bent all +her Endeavours to establish her Power by protracting the King's +Minority, as long as possible. She constantly amused the young Prince +with Toys and Triffles; she kept him in such Awe that he trembled at her +Appearance, and durst not refuse paying a blind Obedience to those whom +she had placed near him. But so short-sighted is human Artifice, that +what she imagined would be the Basis of her Power, was the very Thing +which overthrew it. A crafty _Mollak_ having insinuated himself into her +Confidence, made Use of it to gain that of the young King; and being too +sagacious a Politician not to foresee what he had to fear from this +enraged Woman, if he left her any Degree of Power or Opportunity of +hurting him, he compelled her to leave the Kingdom in a disgraceful +Manner; and by this successful Boldness, he became Master of the young +King, and the Depository of his Authority. His Pride, the general Vice +of his Order, made him take a Pleasure in humbling the Nobility. He +brought all Employments to depend upon the Court, and by this Means the +Persons of Quality to court the Minister's Favour, which effectually +exalted the Sovereign as much above them as he himself affected in all +Things to appear beneath him. + +This Management soon brought upon him the Hatred of the whole Nation; +but notwithstanding such a declared and general Hatred, he was succeeded +by another _Mollak_. He had the same Views as his Predecessor, tho' he +acted on different Maxims. And the former having succeeded in reducing +the first Order nearer the second, he was for bringing them both to an +Equality, and raising the third to a Level with them, by making all +Employments and Dignities venial; and, without any Regard to Merit, +constantly bestowing them on the highest Bidder. Thus, as the same Posts +and Honours were equally attainable by the Citizen and Gentleman, there +was no material Distinction betwixt them. The Government which had +flourished as Monarchical, was become an absolute Despotism. And whereas +the King in all important Transactions, was dependant on the Assembly of +the States, who were look'd upon as the Defenders and Interpreters of +the Laws; both Laws and States were now only mere Phantoms, which he +could raise or annihilate at his Pleasure. It is true, that this has +made the King of the _Kofirans_ the most powerful Monarch in the +Universe; but perhaps, it also makes the People the most miserable; +tho' an abject Veneration for their Kings will not permit them to own +their Slavery, or lament their Grievances. + +In order to the better Understanding of what I shall relate concerning +this Monarchy, it will not be an useless Digression to say something of +its Foundation, and gradual Increase to that Pitch of Glory to which it +was raised by the King who proceeded _Zeokinizul_. + +I am apt to believe, that when the divine Missionary offered up Paradise +to Men, as the Reward of their Belief and Obedience, he drew his Idea +from the Country of the _Kofirans_. The many Rivers which intermix their +Streams, maintain a perpetual Verdure in the Meadows; the Soil produces +all Sorts of Corn, useful Herbs and Fruits; and is so well cultivated, +that there are no more Woods than are necessary for Fewel and other +Uses. Its exquisite Wines, are little inferior to those of _Ghinoer_; +if it has but few Gold or Silver Mines, the Defect is abundantly +compensated by those of Iron, Copper, Tin, and the valuable Quarries of +Porcelaine, which abound throughout almost all the Provinces of this +delicious Kingdom. The Women are sprightly, witty, and chearful. The +Men, brave, industrious, laborious and addicted to Learning. Its +Situation is so very advantageous, that it is reckoned one of Nature's +Master-pieces. Its steep and lofty Clefts towards the Sea, secure this +charming Country from the Invasions of the King of the Island _Alniob_. +Its Ports are numerous, but so well fortified, as to be of the greatest +Advantage to the _Kofirans_. Another Side of this Country has +inaccessible Mountains, as a Fence against the King of _Jerebi_, and the +_Kam_ of _Vosaïe_. The River _Nhir_ is its Barrier against the +formidable Power of the Emperor of the _Maregins_. And, lastly, many +Cities of almost impregnable Strength, seem to defy the Attacks of the +_Junes_ Provinces, and the _Bapasis_. Such is the Situation and Quality +of the Kingdom of the _Kofirans_, being also blessed with a temperate +Climate, and an healthful Air. + +The People who are at present seated in this luxuriant Country, are not +its original Possessors. The first Colony settled here after the Deluge, +were so contented with the spontaneous Produce of its Fertility, that +they forbore to cultivate and improve it. This Moderation which, since +the Sin of _Sultan Adam_, has ceased to be a Virtue, so enervated their +Courage, that they became slothful and timorous. The _Manoris_, tho' +their own Country, wanted for nothing, envied the more fruitful +Possessions of their Neighbours, and invaded them Sword in Hand. The +_Goilaus_, who at that Time inhabited it, and whose Pleasures were +heightened by Liberty, made some Efforts to preserve that valuable +Blessing; but being not so vigorous as the Juncture required, they were +unsuccessful, and the Consequence of their Inactivity was Slavery. After +some Shews of Resistance, in which their Multitudes were easily defeated +by an handful of _Manoris_, they underwent the Fate of several other +Nations, whom this fierce People had reduced. + +However, by an Intercourse with the _Manoris_, they became sensible of +their wretched and disgraceful Condition. After they had been conquer'd, +they learned the Art of War from their Conquerors; who, also in a short +Time, declined from the Love of Glory, and a martial Spirit, that they +were no longer formidable but by their Numbers. They grew intoxicated +with Luxury, and run into Extremes opposite to their original Ferosity, +so as to become more despicable than those they had conquered. + +It was at this Time, that the _Nodais_, the _Guernonies_, the _Duesois_, +and the _Sokans_ issuing from the North of _Africa_, over-run their +finest Provinces. A Body of these Barbarians fell upon the Territories +of the _Goilaus_, and having forced them to share this delightful +Country, settled themselves there under the Name of _Kranfs_. These new +Conquerors were for some Time molested by the _Manoris_, but as Luxury +had brought their flourishing Empire to Decay, the _Kranfs_ forced them +to desist, and remained in quiet Possession of the _Goilaus_: + +I shall omit the first rude Ages, when these Conquerors train'd up to +the Licentiousness of War, were under no Regulation or Law, and whose +Towns, like those of other Nations, were only a confused Assemblage of +Huts. It is true, that there were Kings among them from their first +Settlement, but the Men thus dignified, were in Reality only Generals +elected out of the Troops, and whose Prerogative was limited to Military +Affairs. These Chiefs, whose Savageness was rather augmented by the +Power with which they were invested, made no Scruple to dispatch a +neighbouring Competitor with the Sword or Poison, and their History is +full of unnatural Instances, of Brothers stabbing Brothers, Subjects +poisoning their Sovereigns to usurp their dangerous Stations. + +The Religion of _Suesi_, which the fifth of their Kings embraced, tho' +its Maxims are far from countenancing Ambition and Murder, but entirely +adapted to the Welfare of Society; yet have been so perverted by the +Depravity of the _Faquirs_ and the _Imans_, as to be alledged in +Vindication of them, and have besides, set on Foot so many Cheats and +Errors, that the holy Books, _Bileb_ and _Liegnelau_ in their Purity, as +dictated by the divine Spirit to the Legislators, has been treated by +them with Contempt, as mutilated and inconsistent. In Defence of their +respective Notions, these People have engaged in furious Wars with each +other, and out of a Zeal for Religion, have assassinated several of +their Kings. The Times seem now more tranquil, and without any +Apprehension of such shocking Crimes. Their Faith is very different from +what it was, and the lower Sort of People, who alone adhere to the +Tenets of _Suesi_, are entirely recovered from that stupid Obedience +formerly paid to the _Pepa_, who, having made the World believe, that +the Keys of Paradise were in his Hands, required an implicit Compliance +with his Decrees, and be ready to second any Scheme of his Revenge or +Ambition, with their Lives and Fortunes. + +The Destruction of the Empire of the _Kofirans_, seems morally +impossible in its present confirm'd State. It has hitherto withstood +several violent Shocks from the Kings of _Jerebi and Alniob_, and the +Emperor of the _Maregins_, who were all its professed Enemies. +Especially the King of _Alniob_, who, taking Advantage of the Frenzy of +one of its Sovereigns, made such a Progress, as to wrest the Sceptre out +of his Hands; but the great _Zokitarezoul_, having compelled him to +renounce even the very Title, has brought all the others into Subjection +so as to acknowledge his Superiority over all the Sovereigns of +_Africa_. It is to this illustrious Monarch, that the Kingdom of the +_Kofirans_ owes its unparalleled Riches and Grandeur. His Courage and +good Fortune have reduced all his Enemies, his Liberality and Wisdom has +established Commerce, his good Sense has civilized it, and his +Successors must attribute the ardent Loyalty and Love of the _Kofirans_ +towards them, to the Plans and Labours of this Prince for the Happiness +and Glory of his Subjects. After having driven from the Throne of +_Jerebi_, a Family which had been an Enemy to his, placing one of his +Grandsons on it, he died covered with Glory, and left the Crown to his +great Grandson _Zeokinizul_, who is the particular Hero of this +History. + +This young Prince being the only Remains of a numerous Royal Family, was +the Darling of the great _Zokitarezoul_, who apprehending that he might +fall a Victim to the same untimely Fate which had laid so many of his +Descendants in their Graves, was not wanting to secure him by all +possible Precautions. Being persuaded, that the People loved him too +well to suffer any Infractions of his last Disposals, he made a Will; in +which he deprived the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, his Nephew, whose Ambition he +dreaded, of the Regency, in Favour of the _Kam_ of _Meani_, his natural +Son. The _Kam_ of _Anserol_ was highly exasperated at the Injury done +him; but being the greatest Politician of his Time, he took Care that +nothing should escape him at such a Crisis, which might increase the +Suspicions, and consequently the Precautions of his Enemies. It was not +till after the Death of _Zokitarezoul_, that he asserted his Claim. +Attended by a Multitude of his Adherents, he went to the _Pemenralt_, +which is a Phantom of the antient States. There feigning to submit his +Destiny to the Arbitration of that illustrious Senate, he set forth, and +urged his Claim with such a persuasive Eloquence, that the whole +Assembly unanimously annulled a Will, which deprived him of an Honour +that was his incontestable Right, and of a Trust for which he was +unexceptionably qualified. This so enraged his Enemies, that they forged +the vilest Scandals, in order to render him odious. They gave out, that +after having poisoned the chief Persons of the royal Blood, his chief +Aim was to take off his Pupil. Under pretence of such an Apprehension, +they proposed that the Lady of the _Bassa_ of _Ourtavan_ should take +care of the King, and taste of every kind of Food which was brought to +his Table. And soon after they were not wanting to alarm the People with +Reports, that his Victuals had been several Times poisoned. The great +Men of the Kingdom, whose Abilities the Regent never consulted, as being +himself equal to all the Difficulties of Government, enter'd into a +League against him, under Pretence of Concern for _Zeokinizul_, whose +Life they declar'd was in Danger. But the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, who was +too vigilant to be surprized, soon discovered the Plot, and having +secur'd the Leaders, he quench'd the Rebellion in the Blood of its +Contrivers. + +He did not give himself the Trouble of verbally refuting the Calumnies, +and Invectives, with which he was daily loaded, but took Care to +disprove them by his Conduct. The publick Finances had been quite +exhausted, during the last Years of the great _Zokitarezoul_, and he +took upon himself to restore them. It is true, that his Scheme ruined +some Families; but besides that their Number was but small, and their +Ruin rather owing to their inconsiderate Greediness, such a desperate +Distemper could not have been well removed by a softer Remedy. + +No sooner was _Zeokinizul_ of Age, but the _Kam_ delivered up to him the +Government of the Kingdom, which by his Care and Munificence, was the +Abode of the polite Arts, of which he had declared himself the +Protector. Nay more, he induced the young King to chuse himself a +Consort; and thus he refuted the base Views which his Enemies had +fathered on him. + +Scarce was this important Affair finished, when the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, +as if this World could afford no Addition to his Glory, died suddenly, +as he had always desired. His Enemies laid hold of this Circumstance, to +revile him, even in his Grave. They spread a Report, that his Intention +was to poison the King, by a Liquor which he was to drink along with +him, but that by a fortunate Mistake of the Cups, he had fallen the +Victim of his own Contrivance. The young King could not hear such +atrocious Insults without Horror. He threatened the severest Punishments +to any one who should dare to blacken the Character of this great +Prince, and he himself never mentioned his Name but with Words of the +highest Esteem, and the warmest Acknowledgment. + +The joyful _Kofirans_ promised themselves, from the hopeful Inclinations +of _Zeokinizul_, a Reign no less happy than the preceding; but by a +Fatality, not uncommon amongst them, the young Monarch was so fond of an +old _Mollak_, formerly his Tutor, of a very insinuating but hypocritical +Humility, that he entirely remitted to him the whole Management of his +Kingdom. This old Wretch, whose predominate Passion was Avarice, loaded +the People with Taxes. And as a War would not allow him to embezzle at +will the public Treasures, he never would enter into one unless utterly +impossible to be avoided. And then, with so much Niggardliness, and so +little Conduct, that he became the Scorn both of the Generals and the +Officers of State. Happy if he could have saved those vast Sums, or have +expended them in a manner suitable to the Honour of the Prince, and the +unbounded Zeal of his Subjects. But they were all in a short Time +squandered away, among Foreigners, who made him their constant Dupe. +Indeed, the best Schemes miscarried thro' his Sordidness, and yet with +all these Faults, he maintain'd his Ascendency over the Prince, so that +no Courtier dared utter any Complaint against him. + +_Zeokinizul_, whose whole Life was devoted to his Consort and his +Hunting, of both which he was equally fond, had only the Title and Pomp +of a King, for the _Mollak Jeflur_ had engrossed all the Authority, by +which Means he aggrandized his Family, promoted and enriched his +Creatures, and supplied the enormous Profusion of his Mistress the +Princess of _Ginarkan_, Spouse to a Prince of the Blood of _Vosaïe_. + +His selfish Love of Peace, could not, however, hinder his being involved +in an unavoidable War. + +_Sicidem_, grand _Kam_ of _Katenos_, among the Provinces of the +_Neitilanes_, dying without Issue, the Emperor of the _Maregins_ laid +Claim to his Succession. This Prince was already too powerful for the +King of the _Kofirans_ not to oppose this Addition to his Greatness. And +thus this ecclesiastical Statesman _Jeflur_, was brought under a +Necessity of employing his Master's Troops, in order to deprive him of +so rich an Inheritance. About this Time also, the Throne of _Goplone_, +of which his Father-in-Law had been dispossess'd, became vacant, and +_Zeokinizul_'s Honour required, that he should lay hold of this +Opportunity to restore him. After a fruitless Trial of all the peaceable +Ways of Bribery and Negotiation to compass his End, the _Mollak_ was at +last oblig'd to order the _Kofiran_ Troops to march. The first Body +marched towards the _Nhir_, to oppose the Emperor of the _Maregins_, the +second towards the Kingdom of _Goplone_, to impose upon them their +former Sovereign, and the third hastened into the Provinces of the +_Neitilanes_, to make sure of the Dominions of _Sicidem_. + +As this War was carried on only in _Zeokinizul_'s Name, and he did not +personally act in it, I shall omit its various Events, in Order to come +the sooner to what immediately relates to this young King. After the +loss of two Battles, and a strong City taken by the _Kofirans_, the +Emperor of the _Maregins_ was very glad to accept of a Peace, upon such +Conditions as were alone detrimental to his Allies. As a Satisfaction to +_Zeokinizul_'s Father-in-law for his Kingdom, which he relinquish'd to +another, he was allowed to retain the Title of King, and was made +actual Sovereign of the Province of _Reinarol_, which after his Death, +was by the Treaty to be annexed to the Kingdom of the _Kofirans_, and +the _Kam_ in exchange for this Cession, was invested with the Dominions +of _Sicidem_. Tho' this was an advantageous Peace to the Conquerors, yet +it was very short of what they might reasonably have expected, or at +least, if _Zeokinizul_ was so moderate as to be contented with such +small Matters, it behov'd his Minister to insist upon more important and +honourable Terms. However, the Glory of his Arms, was the continual +Topic to him; and this Prince by hearing of the Exploits of his Soldiers +so frequently extoll'd, began to give Signs of a martial Disposition. +His Genius now display'd itself, and instead of reigning ingloriously +only by a Minister, he shewed, that he would be in all Respects the +King. His Courtiers, who had always with Reluctance paid Obedience to +the Order of the haughty _Mollak_, applauded this generous Resolution, +while the crafty _Jeflur_ had the Mortification to see, that his +Ministry was going to be overturned, by the very Thing which he fancied +would have prolonged it. + +As this was a fatal Blow, so was he not wanting in his Endeavours to +ward it off. Accordingly he set all his Springs at Work, nor minded the +Guilt of any Measure if it had a promising Aspect. I question if an +Instance of such an hellish Contrivance, and so detestable a Scandal, +can be found in any History. A Man to whom a whole Kingdom had +committed its only Hope, a Man who had been chosen to rectify and refine +the Morals of its King, endeavours by all Means to corrupt them; and, +as a Return for the vast Favours received from him, he draws him in to +forfeit his Innocence, the Love of his Consort, and the Esteem of his +Subjects. + +_Zeokinizul_, as has been said, was passionately fond of the Queen his +Spouse, which guarded him against those Irregularities which stain'd the +Memory of the preceding Kings of the _Kofirans_. Yet these People being +of a volatile and fickle Humour, could not think, that a settled Love +afforded any Pleasure, and were continually wishing that their Sovereign +would commence an Intrigue with some Court Beauty. This unbecoming Wish +was pretended to proceed from a Regard for the Welfare and Glory of the +Nation. What, says they, shall our King always be tutor'd by _Mollaks_? +What signifies this Peace, which is only owing to the Weakness and +Pusillanimity of this set of Men, for we are oppressed with Taxes as +much as if we were engaged in a War with all the Powers of _Africa_? +Why does not our King shew some Spirit, and give into an Intrigue? An +ambitious Mistress would break these scandalous Fetters, and when he is +once his own Master, instead of this enervating Idleness, he would soon +find such Work for our Forces, as would enhance our Reputation, and +enlarge his Dominions. + +At this Rate the _Kofirans_ used to talk, and _Jeflur_ was no stranger +to it. But a clearer Insight into human Nature, made him conclude, that +tho' their Wishes were answered, it would be so far from producing the +desired Effect, that he laid it down as a Certainty, that a new Amour +would more and more indispose _Zeokinizul_ to State Affairs, and he +would quickly lay them aside as Embarasments, in order the more freely +to indulge his Passion. With this View, so far from censuring this +popular Desire, tho' it had neither Religion nor Laws on its Side, he +bent all his Thoughts to accomplish it. + +It was not any Beauty in the Queen which had attach'd her Consort to +her. For tho' she had not been one third older than himself, there was +nothing in her Face to strike the Affections of a Prince constantly +encircled with numberless Beauties, and whose Love they would have +accounted the highest Honour. The exact Return which he made to her Duty +and Tenderness, entirely flowed from this Prince's generous and grateful +Temper, and from his good and religious Heart. He had such a delicate +Sense of conjugal Duty, that he never fail'd shewing his Displeasure to +any Courtiers, who presumed to expatiate on the Charms of some _Houris_ +in his Capital, and once when _Kigenpi_, one of the _Methers_, or Lords +of his Bed-Chamber began to talk to him of a Person of incomparable +Beauty, he gave him no Answer, only asking him in a dry and scornful +Manner, whether she was handsomer than the Queen? + +This Coldness rendered it no easy Matter for the _Mollak_ to alienate +the Affections of _Zeokinizul_ from the Queen. But what are Churchmen +uncapable of? He changed his Measures, and determined to make the Queen +an Instrument to remove from herself a Spouse who loved her most +tenderly. He managed it in the following Manner. + +This Princess being born in a Country where the Religion of _Suesi_ is +directed by the _Pepa_, who stiles himself the Sovereign Arbitrator of +it, had imbibed a strong Prepossession for what in the Kingdom of the +_Kofirans_ is called Bigotry, or misplaced Devotion. The Customs and +religious Notions of this Nation, which were more free and rational than +in the Country of this Princess, had been a Constraint upon her +Inclination, without lessening her mistaken Austerity. It was on this +Side, that _Jeflur_ spread his Snares. He placed near the Queen a +_Dervise_, one of those sly finished Villains, who, being Masters of the +execrable Art of giving Sin an Appearance of Sanctity, instruct the +great ones, whose Favour they purchase at the most infamous Rate, how to +Sin without Guilt. This Traytor perform'd his Commission according to +_Jeflur_'s Desire. He was continually fomenting in the Heart of his over +pious Sovereign, the Excesses and fanatical Rants of his Order. He dwelt +on the inconceiveable Sweetness of an Intimacy with _Suesi_, who was +ever ready to communicate himself to such Souls as detach'd themselves +from sensual Pleasures. He magnified the great Merit of Fastings, +Prayers, and Austerities; and when he had rooted these Things in the +Heart of his credulous Proselyte, he proceeded to declare to her, that +Chastity was a Virtue absolutely necessary to merit the divine Favours; +strongly insisting, that this Chastity must be so refined and +abstracted, as not to be awed, or seduced by human Engagements. The +unhappy Queen, misled by the pathetic Discourse, and the feigned Piety +of the _Dervise_, greedily swallowed the Poison he was administring. She +passed whole Days and Nights in Prayer, and the Austerities of a false +Devotion, according to the Instructions of her infamous Director. Nor +was it long, before she attain'd the Height of that superstitious +Chastity which he required of her, and, imagining there was no stopping +in a Course which was to end so gloriously, she formed a Resolution, +in order to devote herself with the greater Fervour and Purity to the +heavenly Bridegroom which had been promised her, to separate herself +from the Embraces of a Spouse, to whom she was united by the most sacred +Ties, and endeared by the tenderest Affection. + +The young King who had been extremely uneasy for some Days at this +misterious Behaviour, grew highly offended, when upon asking the Queen +to comply with his Affection, he was repulsed, under the Pretence of +imaginary Dispositions, from which she was known to be entirely free. +However, so far from taking the Denial, it only made him more urgent; +at which the Queen to free herself from what she call'd her Consort's +Importunities, sent him Word, and confirm'd it herself, that an +incurable Disorder had rendered her unfit for the conjugal Functions. + +The Monarch was Thunderstruck at this. It threw him into such a +Melancholy, that he kept his Chamber for three Days. Even Hunting, which +had always been his favourite Diversion, seem'd to be banished from his +Thoughts. He never appeared in the Drawing-Room, and the most +distinguished Courtiers were oblig'd to put on a sorrowful Appearance +whenever they approached him. _Jeflur_ exulted at the Success of his +Scheme. He brib'd one of the Lords of the Bed-Chamber, whom the King +honoured with a particular Confidence, and having inform'd him what the +Arrow was which had pierced the King's Heart, he made him large Promises +if he could pluck it out. + +_Kelirieu_, for so was this Lord called, readily embraced the Proposal, +and sought for an Opportunity of being alone with his Master. Nor was he +long without it. One Day as _Zeokinizul_ was negligently leaning upon a +_Sopha_, involv'd in melancholy Thoughts on the Alteration of his +Spouse, the Lord came towards him, throwing himself at his Feet. + +Permit, said he, a faithful Subject, to presume to enquire into the +Secrets of your Highness. You know, Sire, my respectful Attachment to +your august Person. You also know, that your Glory and Satisfaction are +dearer to me than my very Life. Vouchsafe then, Sire, to disclose to me +the Cause of that Sorrow which incessantly preys upon you. Let the Heart +of a faithful Servant be the Depository of all your Disquietudes. +Possibly Means may be discover'd to mitigate them.--_Kelirieu_, +perceiving that his Discourse made no Impression upon the King, who +indeed continued in the same Posture, without seeming to give the least +Attention to it, proceeded thus. But, Sire, I see my Presumption offends +you. I have lost the Confidence of my Sovereign. It is enough, let your +Highness speak, and decide the Fate of a Subject, who is become hateful +to himself, by being hateful to you. + +The Firmness with which _Kelirieu_ pronounced these last Words, roused +the King from his Lethargy. No, my dear Friend, said he, raising him up, +I still love you, and the only Reason why I do not impart my Sorrows to +you, is, because they are without Remedy, and you would only have the +Trouble of knowing them, without the Power of redressing them.--The +Queen.--Ah! enquire no farther? I must either forfeit my everlasting +Happiness, or lose the Esteem of my Subjects. But I am fully determined, +there is no room for Hesitation, for I am unalterably fixed in my +Choice. Withdraw, and leave me to strengthen my Resolutions. + +_Kelirieu_ insisted no farther, but hastened to acquaint the _Mollak_, +that he had already search'd the King's Wound. And since, added he, +I have drawn out of his Heart the fatal Secret which was lodg'd in it, +I flatter myself, that in a short Time, I shall entirely complete the +Cure. 'Tis a good Step, replied _Jeflur_, to have comforted +_Zeokinizul_, but that is not enough. You must still induce him to +bestow his Heart upon the Person I shall name to you. Carry but this +Point, and I promise you a thousand _Tomans_ as the first Token of my +Acknowledgement. + +The King, in the mean Time, felt some Relief from the Confidence which +he had placed in _Kelirieu_. He looked for him all the Remainder of the +Day. But this Artful Mediator found Means to avoid a private Meeting. +Nor did he appear before his Master till after some Days, and the King +was obliged to send for him, and demand his immediate Attendance. No +sooner were they alone, but the King said, did I not tell you, my dear +_Kelirieu_, that my Sufferings were past Remedy, and that you would only +have the Grief of hearing them without having the Power of relieving +them? Sire, interrupted the crafty Courtier, with a bashful Air, I know +a Remedy, but I dare not mention it, and yet it is the only one +practicable. Ah! said the King, eagerly embracing him, declare it, and +tho' I should refuse to make use of it, yet I shall always acknowledge +myself oblig'd to your Zeal for the Discovery. Sire, replied _Kelirieu_, +one Woman is the Cause of your Highness's Melancholy, and another Woman +must be the Remedy. How dost thou dare to offer me such infamous +Advice, answer'd _Zeokinizul_ in a Rage, when I have already told you, +that I had rather perish than lose the Esteem of my Subjects? Must I, +being the Interpreter, and Protector of the Laws, only make a Parade of +my Prerogative, by licentiously violating them? + +I beseech your Highness to hear me, replied _Kelirieu_, not in the least +daunted at the King's Anger, I swear by your royal Head, that it was not +my Intention to offend you. But a too precipitate Construction of my +Advice has led you to resent it as base and criminal. But, Sire, can +your Highness harbour a Suspicion that _Kelirieu_ would offer to eclipse +your Glory? No, Heaven is my Witness, that I would rather die a thousand +Deaths. When I intimated to your Highness, that the Remedy of your +Sorrows was too be found only in the Conversation of Women, I meant no +other than what the Laws both human and divine admit of. And that as +Solitude only serves to augment your Grief, the entertaining Wit and +Sprightliness of the Fair Sex, in their Conversations, was the only +Antidote against your growing Affliction, in which a whole Nation +participates. + +There may be Danger in such a Step, replied the King, when once a Woman +has charmed the Mind, she soon makes her Way to the Heart, and since the +Queen has been pleased to return me mine, which I had so affectionately +given her, I will be always upon my Guard to keep it free and +insensible. + +And at the same Time he changed the Discourse, and soon after dismissed +his Confident, who was impatient till he had related his Progress to +_Jeflur_. The _Mollak_, embracing him a thousand Times, cried, thy +Services are inestimable, neither shall I be ungrateful. _Liamil_, Wife +to the _Bassa_ of the same Name, is she whom you are to propose to +_Zeokinizul_. _Kelirieu_ could not conceal his Surprise at her Name. + +How, says he to the Minister, can you conceive that he is to be +captivated by a Person of her Age? Would your _Holiness_ but reflect on +the Nature of _Zeokinizul_'s Scruples. It must be some enchanting Beauty +which can transport him to commit an Infidelity which he accounts no +small Crime. And you are for seducing him by _Liamil_, who has as few +Charms as any Court Lady, and who, besides, is under conjugal +Engagements. How shocking will the Idea of this complicated Guilt appear +to the Prince, who cannot bear the Thoughts of a single Infidelity? Ah! +learned _Mollak_, you require of me what is beyond my Power, and out of +the Course of Nature. Furnish me with a proper Instrument, let the +Person to be recommended be young, gay, handsome, and artful, and then I +will be answerable for the Success. + +Surely you must be very little acquainted with _Zeokinizul_, interrupted +the Minister, is it not apparent that this Prince, who has been used to +an antiquated Beauty, and was so excessively fond of her, will think +nothing lovely but as it resembles his Spouse? Besides, he will have no +Time to attend to the Suggestions of his Scruples. And _Liamil_'s small +Share of Beauty will prevent any Mistrust in him. I rely more upon her +Wit than on her personal Charms, in which she has few Equals, and that +is the Talent by which I suppose she shall commence the Intrigue; +Opportunity will forward it. Besides, do you think that I am so blind to +mine own Interest, as to provide _Zeokinizul_ with a young ambitious +Mistress, who will be for monopolizing the royal Favour, and never be +satisfied till she has grasp'd the Disposal of all Offices and Honours? +No, no, my dear _Kelirieu_, _Liamil_ is the Woman for the King, 'tis she +whom you must bring him to like, if you value my Friendship, and whose +Friendship can equal mine? Any other than she would give me too much +Umbrage for me to bear with it long. There is a Bill for a Thousand +_Tomans_, go and receive them at the Treasury. A thousand more shall +recompense your Success. + +_Jeflur_ was quite void of true Liberality, but this Matter concerned +him too nearly to lose such a dexterous Manager, who had taken it into +his Hands, by an unseasonable Parsimony. _Kelirieu_ appear'd the next +Day at the King's Levee, who took him into his Closet, and renewing +their last Conversation; what a feeble Remedy, says he, do you propose +for my violent Agitations! Such Sufferings as mine require something +more than Words. I know a Person, replied _Kelirieu_, whose Conversation +is so charming, that I am sure your Highness upon a Tryal, will be so +delighted with it, that it would recover your former Chearfulness. The +King seeming to question it, the Lord flew away to the Queen's +Apartment, to tell _Liamil_, that the King had sent for her. + +_Liamil_, full of Joy, as having already been instructed, made no less +Haste thither. But how was she surprised and mortified, when +_Zeokinizul_, having ask'd her what she wanted, view'd her for some Time +without speaking a Word more. Tho' she was prepared to act her Part, she +could not forbear blushing, tho' more out of Spite than Bashfulness. And +as she could not presume to speak first, after staying about a Quarter +of an Hour in the Apartment, she made a low Courtesy, and withdrew, full +of Confusion and Rancour. + +The _Mollak_, who was waiting for her Return, used his utmost to appease +her. Believe me, says he to her, _Zeokinizul_ is smitten, only allow him +Time to get the better of some troublesome Scruples, and every Thing +will be according to our Desires. And indeed, she was scarce out of +Sight, but _Zeokinizul_ was sorry for the cold Reception he had given +her. He blamed himself for his Incivility; and, to make her some Amends, +he went to the Queen's Apartment. Now was the critical Instant, the +decisive Moment for this Princess. Could she have suspended her +excessive Devotion to receive the King her Husband in a becoming Manner, +there had been an End of all _Jeflur_'s Schemes, and _Kelirieu_'s +thousand _Tomans_ had been saved to the Treasury; but her sending him +Word, that she begg'd his Highness would suffer her to finish her +Devotion before she waited on him, gave him Time enough to talk to +_Liamil_, who did not fail of exerting all her Talents, which charm'd +the King to that Degree, that he thought _Kelirieu_ had not exceeded in +his high Enconiums, the Wit and agreeable Qualities of this Lady. And +under Pretence of being extremely taken with her Conversation, he +desired her Company in his Closet that very Evening. + +_Jeflur_'s Exultations at hearing this News from _Liamil_, were beyond +all Description. He made her repeat the Oath, which she had at first +swore, never to require the Rights of the Favorite _Sultana_, but be +satisfied with the Honours of the Handkerchief. He drew her a Plan for +her Rule of Life, regulated her Behaviour to the Queen, and instructed +her in the King's Temper. In fine, he imitated the fond Mother, who, +upon her Daughters being soon to be delivered up to a Bridegroom, +prepares her for the Conflict, represents to her the Pleasures and +Sorrows attendant on the Marriage State, and instructs her how to +heighten the one, and alleviate the other. When he came to be alone, +he applauded his happy Choice, and really he never could have met with +a Person so fit for the Purpose, nor who would have submitted to his +Directions with less Ambition, and more Pliantness and Punctuality. + +Besides, her singular Wit, _Liamil_ had a Serenity of Temper which +excited Love, though she was in her thirty sixth Year. The Minister +before this, was under no Apprehension that she would fail in her Aim at +_Zeokinizul_'s Heart. The artificial Charms with which she concealed the +Loss, or want of natural ones, the exquisite Neatness and Elegancy of +her Dress, with the Gracefulness of her Deportment, rendered the +Conquest certain. Besides, it was no Novelty for a _Kofiran_ King to +keep a Mistress older than himself, and some have been even known to +retain the Affections from Father to Son, to the third Generation. + +_Liamil_ did not fail to keep so promising an Appointment. She found +_Zeokinizul_ expecting her, and tho' this Prince had prepared himself to +see her, he was as much disordered at the Sight of her, as he had been +in the Morning. _Liamil_ was oblig'd to furnish Talk, for _Zeokinizul_ +went no further than a reserv'd Complaisance; and after being a full +Hour by themselves, upon the Prince's signifying that he would be alone, +she left him, having only receiv'd eight or ten Answers, and those +rather civil than gallant. Who can conceive the Anguish of _Liamil_, +when she return'd to _Jeflur_? Wretch that I am, cried she, throwing +herself upon a _Sopha_, here her Sighs stopp'd her Voice, that she could +not proceed. _Jeflur_ was struck with Amazement, and knew not what to +think of such Emotions. He dried her Tears, he inlarged his Promises, +and particularly vowed he would make her rich Amends for the Vexation +she suffered on his Account. Let me alone, said she, at last, was it +not enough to make me marry a Man whom I hate, but must you also draw me +to love one who slights me? Yes, the King, with whose Love you flatter'd +me, slights me; I am come directly from his Closet, where I was with him +above an Hour; and so far from making Love to me, that he did not say +the least soft Thing. Is not this Coldness? Is not this slighting? Is +this all that raises such a Storm in this poor Bosom, replied _Jeflur_? +Did not I forewarn you, that _Zeokinizul_'s deep Sense of his Duty, +would make him be greatly upon the Reserve with you? And that you would +think him insensible, tho' he was only immerst in Thought? Why did not +you intice him? Come, come, be easy, I will engage to procure you +another private Meeting; but take Care not to act the Prude again so +unseasonably. Ply him with every alluring Art, and even make Use of a +fond Violence to make him yield. He is not to be treated like common +Lovers. These Injunctions cannot be disagreeable to you. _Zeokinizul_ is +perfectly handsome, and in the Prime of Life. You love him, and +therefore must leave no Means untry'd to secure his. + +_Liamil_ relish'd this judicious Lesson, and impatiently waited the +Performance of _Jeflur_'s Promise; and being resolv'd to make the utmost +Efforts to seduce _Zeokinizul_, she promised herself, that at the next +Meeting she should beat down all Resistance, and allure the King to +gratify her Desires. _Kelirieu_ soon brought it about, for the King +seeing nothing dangerous to his Freedom in _Liamil_, was easily +prevailed upon by the Entreaties of his Confident, to admit of another +Visit from her. Accordingly he sent her a Message to come in the Evening +to a certain Chamber in the Palace. It is easy to conceive how welcome +this Message was to her. She was there some Time before the King +appeared. The Apartment had but a dim Light; however, this rather +favoured than prejudiced _Liamil_, as her Wit was to kindle the first +Desires in _Zeokinizul_. Their Conversation must however, remain a +Secret, as neither of them has reveal'd it to any one. What is certain, +and also more important, is, that _Liamil_ so charm'd the King by her +lively Flights of Wit, heightened by an expressive Air, that he heard +her with more Pleasure than he had imagined, that the Inticements of +this Woman were too strong for his Virtue, and that at last, she +gradually drew him to a Couch, where he gave her the Pledges of his +Love, satisfied her longing Desires, and completed the _Mollak_'s +Stratagem. + +This first Step, at once put an End to all the King's Remorse and +Disquietude. He repeated several Times the Pleasure which his +experienced Mistress enhanced in such a Manner as his devout Consort was +a Stranger to, and at last left this fatal Chamber in such a Temper as +_Jeflur_ and _Kelirieu_ had been contriving; that is, passionately in +Love. Their Meetings were for some Times a Secret, but Passion soon grew +too vehement to be concealed. It became the common Talk of the +Courtiers, and at last it reached the Queen's Ear. But she, instead of +endeavouring to reclaim her Spouse by an endearing Carriage, and the +Ascendency which she had over him, gave herself up to a fruitless +Lamentation for his Misfortune, at the Feet of an Image of _Suesi_, and +this unseasonable Devotion deprived her of all Hopes of ever regaining +her Consort's Heart. _Liamil_'s Husband took upon him to resent his +Wife's Infidelity, upon which he receiv'd an Order never to have any +Commerce with her. Her Father, who was one of the most eminent _Bassas_ +in the Kingdom, began also to exclaim against it; but a Quantity of +_Tomans_ which he greatly wanted, effectually silenced him. Even +_Jeflur_ himself, in order to avoid Suspicion, openly censured the +King's Behaviour. The Monarch was offended at his Representations on so +delicate a Point, and sharply said, I have indeed made you Master of my +Kingdom, but I expect to be Master of myself. This Answer completed the +_Mollak_'s Design, and he took Care that it should not be lost to the +People. The general Displeasure which it gave, is hardly to be imagined. +The King's Amour, which had been so greatly desired, appearing to settle +_Jeflur_'s Power, was look'd upon in a very different Light. It was +look'd upon as an odious Adultery, an impious Commerce, which would pull +down divine Vengeance upon the Kingdom. Satires and Lampoons flew about +every where, in which both Lover and Mistress were so openly exposed, +that any one who was a Stranger to their Fickleness, and how suddenly +they pass from one Extreme to the other, would have been apprehensive +that the most dangerous Commotions were at hand. However, _Zeokinizul_ +was so charmed with _Liamil_, that he was continually with her. He +pitched upon the House of an old _Bassa_ of the first Rank, for the more +peaceable and secure Enjoyment of the Delights of his new Mistress. All +the Inventions of the most refined Luxury, were employed to add new +Incentives to Wantonness. The House seemed the very Residence of Love +and Delight. Every Thing in it declar'd the Elegance of the Mistress, +and the Magnificence of the Lover. Each succeeding Day brought with it +the most ravishing Scenes, without any Alarm or Disturbance. The old +_Bassa_ and his Family saw no more than the Prologue, only some few +Spectators of approved Discretion and Secrecy, were admitted to be +present at the Plot of the Play, but for the Conclusion, it was +privately transacted between the two chief Actors. + +It is a Saying of a great _Kofiran_ Poet, that Virtue is like a steep +Island, there is no setting Foot on it again when once one is out of it. +_Zeokinizul_ was a sad Instance of this. In the midst of these +delightful Meetings, which consisted entirely of Confidence, _Liamil_ +obtain'd Leave for one of her Sisters to be admitted. Imprudent +Creature! not to see that after she herself had stifled all Remorse in +her Lover's Heart, their being so nearly related would not be Proof +against Love, nor hinder her from becoming her Rival. This Lady, who +could not boast of more Beauty than her Sister, surpass'd her even in +Wit, and was possess'd of all the Arts and Qualities requisite in a +Favourite. She was as enterprizing as _Liamil_ was moderate; of +unbounded Ambition, haughty, revengeful, entirely bent on her own +Interest, and aiming at royal Favour only for its Advantages, such was +_Leutinemil_. She no sooner perceiv'd how easy it would be to supplant +her Sister, but she formed the Design, and _Zeokinizul_ who began to be +pall'd with the long Enjoyment of so indifferent a Mistress, was easily +inclin'd to vary the Object of his Love. He therefore commenced an Amour +with _Leutinemil_, but however, was far from discarding her Sister, his +View being only to sharpen his Appetite with Novelty, in order to return +with the greater Gust to his first Entertainment. Love is well known to +pay no Regard to the Tyes of Nature; _Liamil_ was so exasperated at +_Leutinemil_'s being her Rival, that she forgot she was her Sister. She +hastened to inform _Jeflur_, and to engage him to revenge her Quarrel. +The _Mollak_ was thunderstruck at this News, for such an Alteration in +the King had shipwreck'd all his Hopes. His two thousand _Tomans_ were +lost, and he seem'd on the Brink of his Ruin. In this Extremity he had +Recourse to _Kelirieu_. + +But it was no longer this Courtier's Interest to serve him. The two +thousand _Tomans_ were all he could get of the vast Riches which had +been promised him, and as _Liamil_ had shewn but little Concern for her +Friends, he sided with her Sister, who was like to prove a powerful +Benefactress to her Creatures. So that all the soothing Speeches of the +_Mollak_ made no Impression on him, neither was _Jeflur_ greatly +concerned at it; for, being long practised in Wickedness, he had already +discovered a Way to remove his Fears, without hazarding his _Tomans._ +Endeavour, says he to _Liamil_, to preserve those Remains of Favour +which the King still has for you. Be blind to those Fondnesses which so +deeply affect you; let not your Sister's Rivalship alarm you: I will +soon bring it to an End. Flatter _Zeokinizul_; I know him, Fondness and +Complaisance are the only Means to preserve his Heart. + +Pursuant to these Instructions of _Jeflur_, _Liamil_ so far from +troubling the King with Complaints, was more eager in her Caresses, and +the Prince overjoyed to Love and be beloved by two such easy and +unsuspecting Rivals, carried on with both of them an Amour, whose Guilt +seemed to make it the more delightful. _Leutinemil_ became with Child, +and as she protested that her Husband had no Share in her Pregnancy, it +must be attributed to _Zeokinizul_. _Jeflur_ was not at all disturbed at +it, he was only affraid of the Mother, and here was a favourable +Opportunity to dispatch her. + +She went her Time very happily, and was safely delivered. _Zeokinizul_ +paid her his Compliments in the most tender Terms; but a few Days +changed all this Joy into the deepest Sorrow. She was seiz'd with +violent Pains in her Breast, which were followed with such terrible +Convulsions, as, in a few Hours proved the Death of this unfortunate +Mother; nor could the Physicians, or at least they would not, declare +the real Cause of it. _Zeokinizul_ was so afflicted at this unexpected +Loss, that he intermitted every Pleasure and Diversion. _Liamil_ seemed +to indulge an excessive Grief on a double Account, and so artfully +concealed her Joy for her Rival's Death, that the compassionate King +dismist his Sorrows to put an End to hers. This Shew of Sympathy and +Tenderness in _Liamil_, imposed on many, and reunited _Zeokinizul_ to +her with more Fondness and Attachment than ever. + +Though he had a very important War upon his Hands, it did not divert him +from the Gratifications of Love; he left the entire Management of every +Thing to the _Mollak Jeflur_. The Welfare of his Troops and Glory of his +Arms were to depend on Generals of the Minister's Appointment, whose +Weakness and sordid Parsimony, occasioned several very ignominious +Miscarriages to the _Kofirans_. _Zeokinizul_ had such a paternal Love +for his People, that the Loss of a hundred thousand brave Soldiers, and +above seven Millions of _Tomans_ would have greatly afflicted him, had +his Passion for _Liamil_ left him any Freedom of Thought, but in her +Company, he was insensible to every other Concern. The disinterested +Fondness of this Favourite, who only loved the Lover in the King, must +have made her the happiest that ever was, if relying less on her Merit, +or warned by a recent Experience, she had guarded against some of her +own Sex, whom she must think envied her Elevation, and watch'd her Ruin; +but as an illusory Conceit that a Passion which had subsisted for many +Years, would never be extinguished, brought her into the very Misfortune +from which _Leutinemil_'s Death had delivered her. + +She had three Sisters still remaining, who all longed impatiently to +show themselves to their Sovereign, though they were none of Nature's +Master-pieces. Coquetry and something worse had always been hereditary +in this Family, who yet seem to have bewitch'd _Zeokinizul_. The eldest +of these three Sisters, was the Widow of a _Bassa_ of the second Rank, +she expected the Precedence as being a little more sprightly than the +others; and full of a high Conceit of her Desert, she depended on +keeping her Station long enough to put the others out of all Hopes. She +had a great deal of _Leutinemil_'s Temper, only still more Ambition. +There had formerly been a very close Intimacy betwixt her and +_Kelirieu_, and it is thought, that he espoused her Interests as much +through Gratitude, as Envy and Revenge to displace _Liamil_. + +Her continued Familiarity with _Zeokinizul_, had worn away even that +little Modesty which the most abandoned Prostitutes are seen to retain; +and having been long in Possession of his Spouse's Rights, she came to +look upon herself as such; and made no Scruple of seeing Company when +she was just coming from her Lover's Arms, and her Face full of the +Marks of his eager Caresses. I have been assured by several Noblemen, +that one Day she threw herself out of an Arbour, under Pretence of +avoiding _Zeokinizul_'s Embraces with her bare Breast and loose Hair, +and said to them, very unconcernedly, for God's Sake see how this +Fornicator has handled me. She had now lost all Relish for these +delightful Parties of Pleasure, whilst they were to be in private, and +was continually importuning her Lover to chuse a Set of Associates. +_Kelirieu_, to compass his own Aim, seconded the Favorite's Desire with +such flattering Stories, that his Master recommended to him the Care of +finding out some Persons of both Sexes who were fit to bear a Part in +these Festivals of _Bacchus_, and the _Cytherean_ Deity. The Confident +laid hold of this Opportunity at length, to gratify _Lenertoula_'s +Impatience to be introduced to the King. Her Sister _Liamil_, who had +entertained no Suspicion at her Punctuality in shewing herself at Court, +was as easy with Regard to her being admitted as one of the Guests. But +_Zeokinizul_ was not so indifferent about her, for he fell violently in +Love with her at her first Appearance. _Lenertoula_ observed him very +attentively, and artfully avoided any Steps which might give him Reason +to conclude, that she was his own. The Monarch was caught in the Snare, +and when she perceived the Force of his Love was equal to her Wish, she +declar'd to him the Conditions on which alone she would yield herself up +to his Embraces. _Zeokinizul_ could refuse her nothing. Rank, Titles, +Riches, all was laid at her Feet; and _Lenertoula_ being now in no +Danger of Disappointments, or at least in a Condition to support them, +was under no Apprehension of her Intrigues becoming publick. + +This second Act of Perfidiousness in her Sisters, fill'd _Liamil_ with +Rage. As she had imagined the King's Heart to be her Property by right +of Prescription, she bitterly reproach'd him for his Inconstancy. But +her Reign was over, for _Zeokinizul_ dismissed her coldly, without so +much as even debating the Matter with her, and within a few Hours, he +notified to her by one of his _Eunuchs_, that she should immediately +leave the Court. This was a Step of _Lenertoula_'s Policy. This new +Favourite, fearing lest her Sister, than whom none better knew the +King's Temper, might lay hold of one of his soft Moments, when he could +refuse nothing, to recover her Property. She objected some religious +Scruples which could not be satisfied but by removing _Liamil_. This +unfortunate Creature, who, after so long a Continuance in so high +Favour, had nothing left but the Sorrow for losing it, and the Shame of +having purchased it at the Price of her Honour, retired into a _Mosque_, +where she is said to have spent the Remainder of her Life in penitential +Devotions. I must, for my Part, be of Opinion, that her Grief was much +greater for the Loss of her Lover, than for having ever enjoy'd him. +However, tho' she had lost _Zeokinizul_'s Love, she felt his Generosity; +for he order'd all her Debts to be discharg'd, and settled on her a very +large Annuity. _Lenertoula_ was so fully satisfied by such evident +Proofs of her Sovereign's Love, that she now consented to make him +happy. The Monarch's Desires were heightened by Enjoyment, which was +recompenced with the Power of disposing, according to her Fancy, Titles, +Posts, and Monies; so that she greatly exceeded all her Predecessors in +an unbounded Authority. _Jeflur_ was now no longer in a Condition to +contrive her Fall, as he had that of _Leutinemil_. He was too much +shock'd at the Sight of his approaching End; for a few Days more were to +terminate his Greatness. He employed them in salutary Counsels to his +Master in Relation to the Government of his Dominions. Yet he persisted +in his Perfidy and Ingratitude towards his best Friends, even till his +last Moments, by alienating the King from a _Mollak_, whom he had often +promised to recommend for his Successor. This old Minister died +unlamented by all but the King, who being ignorant of his Incapacity and +Mismanagement, especially in the last three Years of his Life, shewed a +sincere Sorrow for him, and ordered a stately Monument to be erected to +his Memory, in the royal _Mosque_ of the Capital of the Kingdom. But +when after having declared, that he would admit of no prime Minister, +and began to govern himself, he plainly saw how unworthy _Jeflur_ had +been of the great Trust reposed in him, he no longer lamented him; but +not to carry his Resentment too far, he only countermanded his Orders +for the Monument, and left the Ashes of his ignorant and treacherous +_Visier_, to remain in the obscure Corner where they had been deposited. + +The Death of his Minister soon changed the Face of the whole Court. +_Zeokinizul_, who hitherto could not bear the least Application to +Business, now regularly shut himself up every Day for some Hours, +in order to consult Means to repair the Losses of the Nation, and +retrieve its Strength and Character. Now all Remembrance of its many +disheartening Miscarriages was soon lost in the Glory of his Conquests. +The chief Motive of this War, was to lessen the vast Acquisitions of the +Emperor of the _Maregins_. His Daughter the Queen of _Ghinoer_, who was +an aspiring, lofty, and resolute Princess, in contempt of the many +Treaties made to prevent it, insisted that her Sex did not exclude her +from inheriting all her Father's Dominions. Besides, an Army of tried +_Veterans_ which had served the late Emperor with so much Honour, her +heroic Courage, together with her extraordinary Beauty so universally +engaged the Hearts of her Subjects, that to a Man they offered to inlist +and support her Claim at all Events. _Zeokinizul_, very well knew, that +the Efforts of his whole Power would be requisite to humble such a +formidable Enemy; yet, had he not exerted himself above common +Measures, all would have been feeble and insufficient, on Account of the +Emptyness of the Treasury, the Decay of Trade, the Scarcity of Men, and +the Discontent of the People. To regain the Esteem of the _Kofirans_, +whom his Indolence, and the weak and wicked Ministration of _Jeflur_ had +alienated, he caused it to be declared, that he was resolved to head his +Army in Person: Surprising Turn, fortunate Instance of the Easiness and +Loyalty of his Subjects. All the King's Deviations, though of such bad +Consequences, were instantly forgotten. He had now been on the Throne +near thirty Years, yet they made this generous Change the Æra of his +Inauguration. Not a Murmur was heard, there was no longer any +Appearance, at least any Complaint of Distress. Old Noblemen came +with Pride from the farthest Provinces, to place their Sons in their +Sovereign's Houshold Troops. Farmers freely parted from their lusty +Children, though the helpful Companions of their Labours, and a part of +their last Farewel, was to fight manfully in the Presence of their King, +who so nobly would share in the Danger, for the Honour of the Nation. +In fine, _Zeokinizul_'s Amours, which had so greatly disgusted the +_Kofirans_, because they had been disappointed in the Effect they wish'd +and expected from them, were indifferent Matters to them, now he +manifested a Genius for Glory; instead of Ridicule and Invective about +his Irregularities, War was all the Subject of Discourse, and every one +according to the Fertility of his Invention, laid magnificent Schemes to +raise their King to an unparallell'd Glory. This general Complacency and +Zeal were duly reported to the King, who was not wanting to encourage so +good a Disposition; prompted by the Importance of answering their +endearing Idea of him, and verifying their Wishes, he shewed himself +such as really he was, but hitherto restrained and seduced by his crafty +_Visier_. Yet amidst these mighty Affairs, he was not totally diverted +from Love; for it never was held to be incompatible with the Desire of +Glory, and he always allotted his Time so properly, that neither of +these Passions encroached upon the other. His Fondness for _Lenertoula_ +did not slacken his Pursuit of Glory, it rather tended to animate and +increase it, she being exorbitantly ambitious, and esteeming her Lover's +Laurels her own; upon a Persuasion that her Grandeur would increase with +the King's Power; then her Pride could not bear the Thought that the +Queen of _Ghinoer_ and her Allies should prescribe Laws to a Prince, +whom she would have under no Controul but her own. + +The Magazines being at last formed, the Plan for the Campaign +determined, and the Troops at the general Rendezvous, _Zeokinizul_ set +out for the Army, which was to act against the _Bapasis_. Never did a +saved People shew greater Marks of Gratitude to a brave Father of his +Country at his Return from a dangerous War, than were shewn by the +affectionate _Kofirans_ to _Zeokinizul_, wherever he came. +_Lenertoula's_ accompanying him to the Army, seemed not to be minded. +The King, the King, was the Cry, and they would see nothing but the +King. + +This Ardour induced the King unalterably to persevere in his Resolution +of committing the Welfare of so loyal a People to none but himself, and +during the Remainder of his Reign, whenever he has been advised to ease +himself of the Fatigue of Government, by deputing some faithful and able +Minister, this has always been his generous Answer, "The _Kofirans_ Love +me so as to shed their Blood in my Cause, and they are so dear to me, +that I cannot do less in Return than to watch myself over their +Welfare." There was not, among all the Generals of the Age, one of more +Bravery and Experience than he whom _Zeokinizul_ had appointed to serve +under him. Tho' he was a Foreigner, he was not the less belov'd by the +_Kofirans_; for as he was perfectly acquainted with their Customs and +Temper, he modell'd his Behaviour accordingly. This great Man was famous +for Military Qualifications, only, if so noble an Excess may be term'd a +Fault, he was perhaps too brave. But this Intrepidity, which in any +other Country would have hindered his Preferment, promoted it among the +_Kofirans_, and raised his Character with that People, who are all Fire +and Spirit. His Name was _Vameric_. He has been reproached with +interrupting the Actions of this Campaign, which was not so glorious as +its Opening had promised. It is certain, that this General, to make +_Zeokinizul_ more in Love with War, and to animate him by great +Successes, had weakened the other Armies, the better to enable that +under his Command to perform some signal Exploits, which gave the Enemy +an Opportunity to make an unexpected Irruption. A strong Army of the +Queen of _Ghinoer_, forced the Passes of the _Nhir_, and penetrated into +a Province of the _Kofirans_. This Misfortune stopp'd _Zeokinizul_ in +the midst of his rapid Conquests. He chose about twenty eight, or thirty +thousand of his best Troops, which he would lead in Person, to reinforce +a small Number, who, being far inferior to the Enemy, had been obliged +to shelter themselves under a Fortress. To encourage these brave Men in +their long and painful Marches, he travelled at their Rate; but he had +no sooner reached a Town near the Place appointed for the Junction of +his Forces, when he was seized with a Distemper which had a fatal +Appearance. + +_Lenertoula_, who never would leave the Prince, was the Cause of it; for +how contrary to all Reason is it to attribute it to the Fatigue of the +March, _Zeokinizul_ having been inured to much greater in his continual +Huntings. As all the Courtiers in this Kingdom are Officers, and as the +Expedition these thirty thousand Soldiers were upon, required all their +Precaution and Activity, none but the Favourite was left for the Monarch +to divert himself with. But Conversation between two Lovers, who are +continually together, would soon become insipid, if they confined +themselves to common Topics. These Lovers were not so Phlegmatic, they +ardently repeated their Protestations to love each other with an eternal +Constancy. They mutually urged that the present Vehemence of their +Passions, was a Pledge of its unalterable Permanency. Then they +proceeded to sensible Proofs, and demonstrated, that the Conjunction of +two Bodies is an Emblem of the inseperable Union of two Souls. With +mutual Ardour, they repeated the Demonstration; till at last the +Demonstrator quite spent, sunk under the Fatigue of the Arguments. In +this Manner _Zeokinizul_ and _Lenertoula_ amused themselves, when he was +informed of the Barbarity with which his Enemies carried on the War in +his Country, at which he was deeply affected. The Impossibility of +quickly meeting them, made him very impatient; the Account of their +Forces added to this Uneasiness; in fine, Joy, Grief, Hope and Fear, +distracted his Heart, and the Shock of such opposite Motions was too +strong for his attenuated Body. A violent Disorder seiz'd upon his whole +Constitution, which was succeeded by such a Fever, whose first Symptoms +seem'd to presage Death. + +This melancholy News was soon spread over the whole Kingdom. The +_Kofirans_ seem'd quite stupified at it; they fell into an inexpressible +Grief and Consternation at the Thoughts of losing such a Sovereign, and +at such a Juncture. The Queen, who by this Time had seen her Folly, and +heartily repented of the superstitious Credulity, by which she had lost +the Embraces of a real Husband in seeking those of an imaginary one, +left her Palace, and, prompted by Grief and Love, flew to the sick King. +She was still in Hopes, that the Deity meant only to alarm the Nation; +and therefore she was for forwarding by her Presence, and deserving by +her kind Offices, the happy Return of his Affection, which she did not +doubt would be the Effect of this Correction. All the People used to +gather about the Governor of _Kofir_'s House, and flock to the Palace, +where Expresses arriv'd every Hour, shewing such Concern, that their +Fate seem'd to depend on the Death or Recovery of _Zeokinizul_. Never +was there such an universal Affliction; never was a Father more lamented +by affectionate Children. They looked at each other with Tears in their +Eyes, and could not speak for sighing. Paleness and Dejection sat on +every Countenance. The Artificers had no Heart to work. All Diversions +and Shews were suspended, and that vast and splendid City, which seemed +the Center of Gaiety and Pleasure, was now changed into a general Scene +of Silence and Melancholy. Yet it was observed, that the _Imans_ and +_Dervises_ did not in the least sympathize with this publick +Consternation. Some will be apt to imagine, that these pious Men had a +divine Intimation that the King would not die. But whoever knows them, +will much rather conclude, that, like Physicians who are never better +pleased than in Times of general Sickness, they only concealed a selfish +Joy under the Mask of an affected Calmness; and it is really scarce +credible what Advantage they drew from this public Calamity. The King, +being given over by the Physicians, seemed to be lost without miraculous +Relief from Heaven, and as the meanest of his Subjects was not wanting +in his Endeavours to procure it, so that _Sesems_, which in that Country +are Devotions of about a Quarter of an Hour, perform'd by the _Imans_, +are known to have risen to such an Extortion, as not to be said under +two _Tomans_ each. + +During the first Days of his Illness, _Lenertoula_ never left the royal +Patient's Bed, who also protested, that Death had nothing bitter to him, +but the leaving his Mistress and his Subjects. But no sooner was the +Monarch sensible of his desperate Condition, than a Cloud of awful Ideas +broke in upon his Mind. The Principles he had imbibed by Education, +revived in his Conscience. He reflected on all his Conduct to the +present Time, and the Thoughts of his being on the Point of passing into +another Life, impress'd on him strongly the Conditions on which his +Religion offers eternal Happiness. All _Kelirieu_'s Care to conceal +these penitential Dispositions, could not hinder their being known among +the Courtiers. The _Kam Kertras_, Grandson to the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, +late Regent, at the Instance of his Father, who was a very religious +Prince, resolv'd to make Use of them, in order to restore the Queen to +her Rights, and deprive the wicked _Lenertoula_ of her Usurpations. +Taking with him a _Mollak_, equally venerable for his Birth and Piety, +he went to the sick King's Apartment. _Kelirieu_ knowing how much it +concerned both him and her whom he served to hinder this Visit, dared to +refuse them Admittance, under Pretence that the King was going to sleep, +and would see no Body. Although the _Kam_ and the _Mollak_ plainly saw +through the Deceit, yet Regard to the melancholy Juncture, made them +quietly withdraw, in Hopes of a more lucky Opportunity, which yet they +never would have found, had they contented themselves with such Excuses. +They returned the same Day, and _Kelirieu_ gave them the same Answer, +which provoked the young Duke beyond Measure, being naturally very +fiery. What, said he, with a threatning Air, shall you, who are no +better than a Lacquey, dare to deny Admittance to your Master's nearest +Relation? and at once kick'd open the Door, and went forward into the +Apartment, followed by the _Mollak_. + +Upon _Zeokinizul_'s asking the Meaning of that Noise and Bustle, +_Kelirieu_, who had acted without any such Orders from him, durst not +make any Answer, but the young _Kam_, whose Heat was not over, gave the +King such an Account of it, as made him very angry; for he not only +condescended to ask the _Kam_'s Pardon, but forbad _Kelirieu_ his +Presence. The judicious _Mollak_ laid hold of that Instant to discourse +of the Concerns of his Conscience to the dying Monarch; and as his own +Reflections, had beforehand suggested preparative Ideas of it, he was +the sooner brought to the wished for Contrition and Repentance. + +The Behaviour of the _Mollak_ is certainly very praise-worthy, but it +would have been much more so, if after having, with a truly Apostolic +Zeal, pathetically represented to the Sovereign the Enormity of his +Crimes, the Certainty of his Death, and the Punishments to be dreaded +after such a licentious Life, he had stopp'd at bringing him to a due +Sense of Things, and strengthening him in such a pious Disposition, but +he shewed more Zeal than Discretion, for his Devotion being sharpened +with Resentment, made him imagine, that he was ruining _Lenertoula_ +beyond Retrieve; whereas he was, in Reality, doing nothing less than +paving the Way for her greater Exaltation, in Case the King recovered. + +Thus, under a Pretence that true Repentance required more than a +Detestation of what was past, and guarding against future Relapses, he +signified to _Zeokinizul_, that it was still his farther Duty to make +some signal Satisfaction for the Offence which he had given to the whole +Kingdom. That in order thereto, he must disapprove and abrogate all his +Grants and Favours to _Lenertoula_. _Zeokinizul_, who now was intent +only upon dying in the Religion of his Ancestors, pleasing his People, +and carrying their Esteem as well as their Grief with him to the Grave, +complied with all the _Mollak_'s Injunctions, ordered _Lenertoula_ to be +immediately dismissed the Court, with a Prohibition from ever appearing +in his Presence. + +Having thus settled all the Affairs of his Conscience, _Zeokinizul_ +became senseless, so that he was thought dead by all his Attendants. But +this sudden Alteration was the happy Crisis which saved his Life. During +this Interval of Inanition, the Mind recover'd its former Situation, and +freed itself from all its Anxieties. The Body performed its Functions, +and the Passages which all the Art of the Physicians could not relax, +opened of themselves, which was followed by such copious Evacuations as +saved the Patient. This joyful News spread itself rather quicker than +the other, so that it was as soon known at _Kofir_ that the King was out +of Danger, as that there was no Hopes of his Recovery. + +In the mean Time, the Queen arrived. She made Use of the _Mollak_'s +pious Impressions, and tho' her Austerities and Vexations, together with +her advanced Age, had rendered her no tempting Spouse, yet the kind and +grateful Monarch was so taken with her Tenderness and Diligence, that he +vowed, that from this Time his Heart should be her's, and her's alone. +But that Man knows himself but very little, when he is in Danger; and +that the Assurances of Amendment which he then makes, are weak and +transitory when he has recover'd his Health, is what the Sequel of this +History will abundantly demonstrate. + +_Zeokinizul_ was soon perfectly recovered, and then his Generals whose +Ardour had been restrain'd by Fear and Grief, soon made their Enemies +feel, that their King was restored to them, for they forced them to +repass the _Nhir_ with considerable Loss; and the most Skilful in +Military Affairs do not scruple to affirm, than if the _Kofirans_ had +not been headed by a General prudent even to a Fault, not so much as a +single Soldier would have been left to have given the Queen of _Ghinoer_ +an Account of their Expedition. This General so deficient in the ardent +Bravery of his Country, was call'd _Leosanil_; he was afterwards +disgraced, and though his Age was still fit for Military Functions, +he was taken into the Cabinet, which was a fitter Theatre for his +Abilities; for there being out of the Reach of Swords and Guns, and left +to undisturbed Reflection, his Advice and Schemes were of excellent +Service. I now shall leave _Zeokinizul_ in the pure Embraces of his +Consort, and preparing to besiege a Place of Strength, to follow +_Lenertoula_ in her Disgrace. + +She did not betray any great Confusion, when _Zeokinizul_'s harsh Order +was notified to her; but she little knew what she was to go through upon +the Road. She took a travelling Chariot, accompanied by her Sister, and +followed by a few Domestics. Here was an Instance of such Strokes with +which Fortune now and then seems to warn the Insolent and Ambitious. +After having led her Favorites to the Altars to be worshipped like petty +Deities, she afterwards drags them thither to be sacrificed like fatened +Victims. + +This Woman, who lately saw the most illustrious among the _Kofirans_ +cringe at her Feet, and practise the basest Submission to obtain only a +single Look, now sees herself exposed to the contemptuous Insults of the +very Meanest; the whole Nation combining to plant Daggers in her Heart +by their Reproaches and Shouts at her Downfal. It having been whispered +among the Country Folks, that _Lenertoula_ had occasioned the King's +Illness, and they being possess'd of a Notion, propagated by her +Enemies, that she had been bribed to poison the King, crowded all the +Roads in her Way, loading her with Curses and Invectives, threatning to +tear her to Pieces, had they not thought it would be a more galling +Punishment to her Pride, to let her pass on amidst the same Hisses and +Outrages of their Fellows, for above eighty Leagues successively. It was +next to a Miracle that she escaped with her Life, for she was put to all +Manner of Shifts and Precautions to deceive these furious Clowns who +vowed to revenge their King; whenever she came near any Town, she +stopp'd above half a League off, whilst one of her Out-riders went +before to take fresh Horses, and observe the Bye-roads, that thus she +might avoid the Tumults of the Inhabitants. At last she reach'd _Kofir_, +which she found disposed to receive her in the same rough Manner as the +Country had done. The whole Nation appeared determined against her. One +Day she happened, a little indiscretely, to take the Air in her Chariot, +while the Streets were full of People, who were celebrating the happy +Recovery of their King with all Kinds of Sports and Rejoicings. Possibly +she might flatter herself, that the easy _Kofirans_ seeing her appear +Abroad to join in the publick Festivity, would relinquish the Suspicions +they had harbour'd against her. But they were too inveterate, and the +Event was quite different, for had it not been for the Dexterity of her +Coachman, and the Swiftness of her Horses, she had infallibly fallen a +Victim to the Fury of the Populace. This hazardous Experience of their +Malice, brought her to lead a Life at _Kofir_ very different to her +Inclinations, being ashamed to shew herself in any Assembly, where she +must have been their Jest and Scorn, and much less daring to appear in +the public Walks. When she was not shut up in her Palace, she used to +amuse herself for a while in a Garden, which, tho' one of the finest in +all _Kofir_ was the least frequented. Here it was that such a mortifying +Accident befel her, as exceeded all the rest, and which sensibly shewed +her how low she was fallen from her former Grandeur. + +It was as follows: An Officer who, tho' her Relation, had not felt the +happy Influences of her Favour, because he never made himself known to +her, which renders his Impoliteness, I may even say, his Brutality +inexcusable, resolving to give the finishing Stroke to her Anguish. + +According to the gallant Custom of the _Kofirans_, he politely +approached towards _Lenertoula_, who was taking an Evening Walk, in +Company with her melancholy Sister, and wished for nothing more than for +a third Person to join them, whose Chearfulness might help to dissipate +the continual Gloominess of her Temper. After the first Compliments, +which are not short among this ceremonious People, the Gentleman +entertain'd the Ladies with the most refined Gallantry. He expressed +himself in so graceful and charming a Manner, that they were both +infinitely taken with his Conversation. _Lenertoula_, that he might talk +more at Ease, desired him to sit down by her upon a Bank of Turf, and +after some Questions on the Condition of his Fortune, offered him her +Services, if needful, for its Improvement. This Person, of all Men the +most rude and brutish, for he was insulting over the Disgrace of an +unfortunate Woman, who was extremely desirous of obliging him, and had +made him an Offer of an unusual Generosity. He gave her a full Answer to +the first Article. "I was a general Officer in the King's Army, said he +to her, where I served honourably for twenty Years. But having been +injured by the Ministry, I retired to my Estate, with which and some +small Marks of Distinction, which could not be denied my long Services, +I live contented." "But my Lord," interrupted _Lenertoula_, who was for +knowing how she stood in the Thoughts of People of Quality, "I am +surprized that you never address'd yourself to the Favourite, in order +to obtain, by Means of her Interests, the just Reward of your Services. +She took a Pleasure in countenancing Merit, and certainly such as yours +would have engag'd her Favour." "I, Madam," replied the Officer, with +Indignation, "should I make a Prostitute my Refuge? I am her Relation, +and it is the only Blot that I know of in our Family. I am too tender in +Point of Honour, to hold any Thing from the Hands of a Woman, who has so +notoriously trampled it under her Feet." At this _Lenertoula_ was indeed +as one thunder-struck. She endeavoured several Times to make some Reply +to this ungrateful Officer; but her Voice failed her. He left them, and +her Sister was obliged to call her Slaves to lead her to her Chariot, in +order to carry her back to her Palace. + +_Zeokinizul_, in the mean Time, had crowned his Campaign, by taking the +important Fortress he had besieged. His Soldiers encouraged by his +Presence, had at once surmounted Nature, Art, a severe Season, and the +Efforts of a numerous and brave Garison. Having now nothing to do but +repose himself under his Laurels, he returned towards his Capital. Then +it was that his Subjects, in an Extacy of Loyalty, were seen to prepare +him a Reception answerable to their Love, and present the most affecting +and pleasing Sight to the Eyes of a Monarch, who aimed more at reigning +over their Hearts, than subduing them by Fear. If the News of his +Sickness had dispirited them, the News of his Approach rejoiced them. +But when they came to see him, their Transports were beyond all +Description, their Eyes overflowed with Tears of Joy and Affection, +whilst the Sky rung with their Acclamations. How happy is such a King +amidst such a People, and how formidable when he heads them against +their Enemies! _Zeokinizul_ stayed three Days at _Kofir_, as a Testimony +of his Regard for this cordial People, who also to shew their Sense of +so much Condescension, and to celebrate his Return, invented Variety of +polite Entertainments. The King and People seemed to strive who should +be kindest, for he gave Orders, that all the Inhabitants without +Exception, should have Admittance into his Presence, that they might +feast themselves with the delightful Sight which they had so +affectionately desired. It is affirmed, that the Idea of his late +Danger, from which he was often told, that nothing less than a Miracle +delivered him, being still strong upon his Mind, he had a real +Tenderness for the Queen, whom he had restored to all her Rights. They +were more than once surprized in such Attitudes as clearly shewed their +Reconciliation. + +But how frail are Vows drawn from us only by Danger, how soon effaced by +Safety and Temptation! Scarce was _Zeokinizul_ returned to the Hurry, +Brilliancy, and Diversions of the Court, but those Impressions which it +was hoped would be as lasting as they were salutary, were by Degrees +soon dissipated. His Love for _Lenertoula_ appear'd to have been like a +sudden Fire, ready to burst out with greater Vehemence. At first he was +sorry for his using her so abruptly; than he began to frown on the +Advisers of her disgraceful Removal, and recall'd _Kelirieu_ and others +who had sided with his injured Favorite. _Kalontil_, Governor to the +Prince, the presumptive Heir of the Crown, was banished from Court, for +Reasons which were never thought fit to be made publick. Some imputed it +to his endangering his Pupil, by having brought him to his sick Father, +without any such order, and without Attendance. Others charge him with a +Project for aggrandizing himself upon the King's Death. But the most +knowing conclude, that he must have spoken ill of the Favorite, in order +to set the young Prince against her. _Zeokinizul_ seemed afterwards +mightily to affect Solitude, nor did even Hunting itself please him, +unless when he went without Company; which gave Occasion to suspect, +that there were some private Meetings carried on in order to a +Reconciliation with the Favourite, and to which _Kelirieu_ was only +privy. At last, weary of constraining his Temper, he complained openly +of the Abuse put upon him at a Time when he was incapable of Reflection, +and of the Indignity offered to his Honour, in urging him with terrible +Threatnings to disgracefully remove, and expose to Contempt and +Violences, a Person whose only Fault towards him was an Excess of Love. +He restored her to her Rank, Titles, and Privileges; but openly +declaring, that all this was only to prevent her former Commerce with +him proving her utter Ruin; for that he was determined not to keep her +any longer as a Mistress. Yet notwithstanding these Protestations, +private Measures were forming in order to procure as fond a +Reconciliation as ever. The Reality of these Assurances were soon +illustrated, when he broke the solemn Promise he had made to the +_Mollak_, and recall'd his dear _Lenertoula_. But this was too slender +a Reparation for what she had suffered. She required of _Zeokinizul_, +a more complete and signal Triumph. Immediately the pious, but +over-zealous _Mollak_ was dismissed the Court, and ordered to his +_Mosque_. A _Visier_ also whom the Favourite particularly hated, having +always opposed her Amour, was ordered personally to declare to her, that +_Zeokinizul_ again acknowledged her Mistress of his Heart, and only +waited her Orders, and a List of her Enemies, in order to revenge her to +the utmost. The _Visier_ obeyed; but at the same Time he took secure +Measures that he might not be upon the fatal List, and to prevent this +imperious Woman from abusing the King's Weakness, an infallible Poison +which he found Means to have given her, worked at the very Instant that +he went to perform his Commission. As she was soon violently seiz'd with +the Approaches of Death, it was believed by the Generality, who had no +Notion of foul Play, that _Lenertoula_ had been overcome by an Excess of +Joy, which is always more forcible than that of Grief, especially in +Women. Upon this Notion, a _Kofiran_ Wit made four Verses, which may be +thus rendered in _English_. + + _'Tis needless now my famous Blood to name, + This Act alone will immortalize my Fame. + My King, on gaining Life, return'd my Pow'r, + For which I dy'd his Glory to restore._ + +It was thought for a long Time, that this would prove an inconsolable +Loss to _Zeokinizul_. He seemed to have no Ease, no Satisfaction, but in +heaping Gifts and Favours on all _Lenertoula_'s Relations, to manifest +how dear she was to him. However, the Marriage of his only Son, to a +Daughter of the King of _Jerebi_, his Relation, the Magnificence and +Diversions at the Celebration of the Ceremony, and the Congratulations +from all Parts, at last gave a chearful Turn to his Disposition; and he +wisely began to think, that the Honours he conferr'd on the Sister of +his dear Mistress, besides sixteen thousand _Tomans_ which he gave to +her Husband; together with a tender Remembrance, which he vow'd always +to retain for her Ashes, was amply fulfilling all that the most tender +Passion could require. His Courtiers, who were surprised to see his +Heart continue for a Time disengag'd and inaccessible to any new +Passion, were in daily Expectation of seeing the Liberty which he had so +happily recovered, offered up to some youthful Beauty. But the Court +Ladies strove so eagerly for this Prize, that their over Forwardness +made him averse to having an Intrigue with any. They were ignorant that +Resistance inflames Desire, and he at that Time scorned Enjoyments too +easily procured. _Kelirieu_ in the mean Time grew uneasy at his Master's +Indifference, as it deprived him of the most substantial Emoluments of +his Post. He saw his Favours entirely depended on his being subservient +to the King's Pleasures, so that he spared for nothing in order to +restore that Employment which he had executed so much to his Master's +Satisfaction, and his own Advantage. The Nuptials of the young Prince +opened a Way to it. Nothing can equal the Joy, Magnificence, and +Splendour, which appeared on that Occasion. The City of _Kofir_ +distinguished itself above all others in the Kingdom; for as it has not +its equal for Largeness and Riches, so it surpassed them all in the +Eclat of its Zeal and Affection for the Royal Family. In twelve of the +most remarkable Parts of the City, there were large and superb Saloons, +where all without Distinction, were admitted to dance. There was a +Profusion of Refreshments of all Kinds. The best Musicians had Orders to +attend. The Sound of such an infinite Number of Instruments, accompanied +with harmonious Voices, added to the Murmurs of the Fountains of Wine +which were playing every where, inspired such a rapturous Gaiety to +numberless Crouds of People, that no Stranger, however, acquainted with +the Affairs of this Kingdom, could, at that Time of excessive Mirth, +have imagined, that it had for many Years been involved in a bloody and +expensive War. + +This Season of universal Joy, Love chose to captivate again +_Zeokinizul_, after such an Interval of boasted Liberty. The chief +Inhabitants of _Kofir_, who are a distinct Body from the Nobility, the +Magistracy, and the Citizens, had decorated in the most superb Manner +the Sessions House for a Ball, to which they invited the King and royal +Pair. Every one was admitted in their Mask Habits, to give the Citizens +an Opportunity of shewing their Wives the Magnificence, Gallantries, and +Diversions of the Court, which at other Times is out of their Power. +Accordingly _Zeokinizul_, attended by all his Courtiers, came to this +Ball, in Habits as strange as they were elegant. The Sight of such a +beautiful Assembly, struck him with a delightful Surprise. Here was no +painted Allurements, no artificial Charms, such as he was daily +conversant with in his Palace. All here was pure Nature, which seem'd to +have chosen this Day to present him with a Sight of her most beautiful +Productions. The Beauty, the Air, the Motion, and Youth of these lovely +Objects was so enchanting, that they looked like the heavenly _Houris_. +_Zeokinizul_ was enchanted at the Sight of such a brilliant Assembly, +his Eyes wandered from Beauty to Beauty, till they seemed at once to fix +on a young Lady of a distinguished Appearance. She was in the Habit of +an _Amazon_, with her Bow and Quiver hanging at her Shoulders. Her +flaxen Hair, which shone with Diamonds, floated in Ringlets, and her +charming Breast half naked, ravish'd the Sight. "Lovely Huntress," said +the Monarch, "unhappy those whom your Arrows pierce, their Wounds are +Mortal."---- This Speech gave the Charmer a fair Field for returning +such an Answer as might inflame _Zeokinizul_; but whether she did not +dream of such a Conquest, or Presence of Mind failed her, she ran and +hid herself among the Maskers. This Disappointment was in some Measure +relieved by a Company of twenty young Persons, who began a Dance, which +was much in Vogue at that Time, but first invented in the King of +_Alniob_'s Country. They perform'd it so gracefully, that he stood like +a Man deprived of his Senses. The Charms of each of these beautiful +Dancers, threw him into his first Hesitation, which would soon have been +ended, had any one of them uncovered her Face. It is past all Doubt, +that the Heart of _Zeokinizul_, which longed for an Object, would have +received the Impression with Transport. He went to one of the Ends of +the Saloon, where Women of an ordinary Rank were seated in a Kind of +Amphitheatre. Their Dress was in nothing inferior to those of a higher +Rank; and besides, they had those fresh healthful Countenances, which +being the Result of Temperance, and a plain Way of living, was not to be +found among the Quality. _Zeokinizul_ stood viewing them, but his Hour +was come. Love waited for him under a Mask, and she who wore it was now +going to let this mischievous Deity fly into _Zeokinizul_'s Heart. She +was a young Woman, of a brown Complexion, lately married to a freedman, +who having deserv'd his Master's Favour by nocturnal Services, had, +together with his Liberty, obtained a Post among those who robb'd the +Prince, and plunder'd the People. They are called _Omeriserufs_, or +Rogues of the second Class. She, whom Love had already appointed for +Favourite, under Pretence of pulling something out of her Pocket, dropt +her Handkerchief, and as it is said, purposely. _Zeokinizul_ hastily +took it up; and, as he could not reach her Seat, he toss'd it to her in +the most polite Manner. A confused Murmur immediately spread thro' the +Saloon, with these Words, _The Handkerchief is thrown_. The King was too +much taken up with viewing the Person to whom he had been so +complaisant, to take any Notice of such Whisperings. The Charms she +display'd in taking off her Mask, and her genteel Manner of her thanking +him for the Honour, fill'd him with such passionate Love, that he even +there gave her some Intimations how much he was taken with her Beauty. +After this Declaration, he soon left the Ball, for having received such +a Wound, he wanted to be in private with his Confident, in order to +consult about his new Love. _Kelirieu_ had already prevented his +Master's Orders, for as he narrowly watched him, he perceived which of +the Company had captivated him, and immediately informed himself of her +Rank and Condition. + +_Zeokinizul_ was transported with Joy at _Kelirieu_'s Report of his +Enquiries. He made himself sure, that the Husband of this young Person, +being one of those Set of Men, who Mind nothing but Riches, would not +only resign his conjugal Rights, but would even be brought to sollicit +his Spouse to resign herself up to the King's Embraces, and herein he +was not mistaken. But the Difficulty was to induce the Seller's Wife to +be a Party in such a scandalous Contract; for tho' she was of low +Extraction, she had an Elevation of Mind, a Purity of Virtue, which +would have done Honour to the highest. She could not indeed help being +inwardly pleased that she had tried her Charms with such Success upon +her Sovereign, and the dazzling Idea of beholding _Zeokinizul_ laying at +her Feet, all his Greatness and Power, her Husband made a _Bassa_ of the +second Rank, her Name exchanged for one of the most illustrious, were +Circumstances which the natural Desires in Women of shining even in the +smallest Matters, would not allow her to be insensible; yet this +Sensibility did not greatly hasten the Lover's Happiness; for, as her +Duty united her to a Husband, from whom her Inclinations alienated her, +she was for distinguishing herself from all that had gone before her, +and reducing the Monarch to go through the entire Play of Love. But such +a formal Method was insupportable to him, for being used to conquer upon +the very first Appearance of his Desire, his Heart was for some Time +distracted with strong Conflicts between Love and Resentment, without a +decisive Victory on either Side. Sometimes he looked upon the Resistance +of his new Mistress, as an insolent Affront to Majesty; at other Times +this same Resistance inflamed him the more, and he pleased himself with +the Thoughts of subduing that obstinate Virtue which she affected. All +_Kelirieu_'s Artifices were at an End, and when he was passionately +urg'd by the King, he was at a Loss for any farther Expedient. However, +in such a critical Juncture, he determined to make one last Effort, in +order to bring the beautiful _Vorompdap_ to his Lure, and if he fail'd, +to engage _Zeokinizul_ to forget her in the Arms of another, who knew +the true Value of a Monarch's Affections. + +Being persuaded that every Woman who has once listened to a Lover, +cannot bear the Thoughts of losing him, but makes Use of every Art in +order to fix his Constancy, he waited upon her in Person, and said, with +an Air of Concern, At last, charming _Kismare_, your Rigour has +disgusted the _Sultan_, so as to make him give over his Addresses. Weary +of the Delays and Obstacles you was constantly raising against his +Passion, he has offered it to another, notwithstanding all my Endeavours +to secure him, by the highest Praises of your Charms, and making your +very Resistance, a Motive for his farther Pursuits. A Person, not indeed +of your perfect Beauty, but of a more indulgent Temper, captivates this +Monarch, and I apprehend, that her obliging and artful Behaviour to her +Lover, will for ever deprive you of a Heart which you might have kept +at your Devotion. _Kelirieu_, whilst he was speaking, did not fail to +observe the young _Vorompdap_'s Countenance, and had the Pleasure of +discerning the Vexation which she strove in vain to conceal. She was +some Time without returning an Answer, but after composing herself, and +putting a good Air upon the Confusion which the Thoughts of a Rival had +excited, I could never have imagined, said she, with an affected +Indifference, which, however, could not deceive the artful _Kelirieu_, +No, I never could have imagined, that after so many Marks and +Protestations of a sincere Affection, _Zeokinizul_, could have deceived +me in such a Manner. However, I am free from the Reproaches of a +criminal Uneasiness to gratify his Desires. Charming _Kismare_, replied +_Kelirieu_, had you shewed the Compliance which is due to a Monarch's +Love, I presume to swear by his Head, that he would never have proved +inconstant. But no Lover, and especially a King, will ever be satisfied +with an ideal Love. Kindness cherishes the Flame, but Unkindness +quenches it. But if you have still any Value for _Zeokinizul_'s Heart, +you still may avert the Blow which seems to trouble you. I, replied she, +smartly, I, troubled at the King's Alteration! very far from it. On the +contrary, I bless interposing Heaven, that it happened before Gratitude +had prevail'd upon me to make him a Sacrifice of my Person, and, what is +still dearer, my Virtue. Alas! added she, sheding some Tears, which +flowed in Spite of her, that fatal Instant was drawing near. If it be +so, replied _Kelirieu_, I pity you for having undesignedly lost an +Enjoyment so necessary to your own Repose. For, added he, softly, I can +discover through all your Affectations, that you really love the King. +Your Heart is wounded, and only with-held by airy and unseasonable +Scruples. Well, yes, answered she, I do love him. I do not endeavour to +conceal it from you. Good God! what Woman in my Place could forbear. +But, how can I commit such a publick Adultery. A publick Adultery, +replied _Kelirieu_, with a seeming Amazement, what Blockhead has put +such Fancies into your Head. But this Crime so justly condemned both by +divine and human Laws, consists in the Injury done to a Man, whose Wife +against his Will, or without his Knowledge, admits a Gallant to her +Embraces? But, lovely _Kismare_, how different is your Case! Will not +your Husband quit all Pretentions to your Person? Has he not releas'd +you from the Vow of being only his? Since his Consent could unite you to +him, shall his positive Order be of less Validity to separate you from +him, and unite you to another; and that upon such an important Occasion, +when Riches, Titles, and Power are to reward his Cession, and your +Acquiescence? Believe me, charming _Vorompdap_, our _Imans_ have adapted +our Religion to their own Views and Passions, without Regard to that +genuine and perfect Model, the Will of God. The Vow of Celibacy, upon +which they value themselves, as renouncing Marriage, would be an +insupportable Yoke to them, it would be soon shaken of, were it not for +their Hopes, which indeed are too often verified, of taking Advantage of +the Misunderstandings betwixt the Husband and Wife, whose Bands they are +taught to believe indissoluble. It is on this Account, that they are +constantly magnifying Conjugal Duties, and lay so much Stress on their +punctual Observation. Consider only what is done in other Nations, +no less wise and religious than ourselves. Divorces among them are +permitted, as frequently essential to the well being of Society. That +sacred Book the _Liegnelau_, cannot be supposed to contradict and +overthrow the _Bileb_, of which it is in a great Measure the +Accomplishment, and _Suesi_ whom you worship, being the Messenger of the +great God, would not offer to abrogate his Institutions. Thus the Point +is clear, and now look upon yourself as a Woman who is about forming a +second Contract, being legally, religiously, and honourably discharged +from the former. _Zeokinizul_ is equally at Liberty, for the State and +Temper of the Queen invalidate their Marriage. So, that only a few +Formalities are wanting for your Union with the King, and you know, +Formalities among the more understanding Part of the World, are often +dispensed with, as tiresome rather than necessary. The Consent of both +Parties has always been the only Point insisted on as essential. + +These Proofs, which in the Mouth of a _Mollak_, would have been laugh'd +at, produced the designed Effect from _Kelirieu_. The young _Kismare_ +was shaken, but not overthrown by them; she still insisted against +plunging herself into such shocking Scandal. This seemed a very slender +Objection to _Kelirieu_, who immediately replyed to it. Consider, says +he, the _Kams_ of _Meani_ and _Tesoulou_, do they bear any Marks of +their Mother's Scandal? Was a great Monarch's Love accounted a Disgrace +to a beautiful Lady? If you was acquainted with the first Ages of our +Monarchy, you would be satisfied, that they never made any Difference +between the Children of Love, and those born in lawful Marriage, as the +_Imans_ are pleased to call it. A King at your Feet, Courtiers waiting +respectfully on your Orders, a Nation's Treasure at your Disposal, can +there be Contempt and Scandal amid such Advantages? Do not alarm your +Mind with Monsters of your own forming, only for the Sake of opposing +them. Consent to make _Zeokinizul_ happy, and I will lay him at your +Feet, more deeply in Love than ever. These Representations made a strong +Impression upon the young Favourite, whom the Eloquence of her own Heart +had already half convinced. She still stood upon some Punctilio's; but +when _Kelirieu_, which was his last Resource, intimated to her the +Danger which might accrue to her Husband from her Obstinacy, this drew +from her an absolute Consent. This last Circumstance was certainly the +best adapted to fix her; for the new _Kismare_, like all the rest of his +Fraternity, was making the most of his Time in the Management of the +Finances, and relying on his Spouse's Favour, he was above taking proper +Precautions to conceal or palliate his Imbezzlements. _Kelirieu_ took +Care to fill _Vorompdap_ with Apprehensions, that _Zeokinizul_ would +infallibly call him to an Account, the most favourable Consequence +whereof, would be a Confiscation of all his Substance. It was then high +Time to come to a Resolution. Thus _Kelirieu_ happily completed his +Negotiation. And having appointed the Time and Place for the first +Interview, he hastened, flushed with Joy, to congratulate his Master on +this Victory, which was the more delightful, as it had been attended +with such a Train of Difficulties. + +In the mean Time this new Intrigue, no more than the former, could not +diminish _Zeokinizul_'s strict Attention to the several Exigencies of +the State. His wise Orders had been so exactly executed throughout his +Empire, that his Armies were fit for Action even before the Spring. He +headed in Person the most considerable, which was destined for the +Conquest of the _Bapasis_, being still commanded by the brave _Vameric_, +whose prudent Conduct towards the End of the last Campaign had been +admired by his very Enemies. The Favourite followed the King as +_Lenertoula_ had done, whom she certainly equalled both in Love and +Honour. The Campaign was opened with the Siege of a Town which the great +_Zeokitarezul_ had fortified at a prodigious Expence, which, besides a +strong regular Wall and Outworks, had a Citadel which was accounted by +the Connoisseurs, a Master-piece of Fortification. It must have been +even an unsurmountable Barrier to the _Kofirans_, in case they reduced +the City. With this View their Attacks were carried on with all +imaginary Vigour. On the other Hand, this Place being as it were the Key +of the Country, the Keeping of it was of such Importance to the Enemies +of _Zeokinizul_, that they resolv'd to hazard every Thing in order to +its Relief. The King of _Alniob_, the Provinces _Junet_, and the Queen +of _Ghinoer_, Sovereign of the _Bapasis_, joined all their Forces, of +which the chief Command was conferr'd on the _Kam_ of _Lundamberk_, +youngest Son to the King of _Alniob_, a Prince of a martial Disposition, +and of the greatest Bravery. His Ardour for Glory made him long to +encounter the King of the _Kofirans_, and his only Son, a young Prince +of the greatest Expectations, who could forsake the Embraces of a +youthful Bride, to attend his Father, and learn the Art of War under +_Vameric_, in the midst of Fatigues and Dangers. The Impetuosity of the +_Kam_ of _Lundamberk_, would not allow him to conform to the wise +Counsels of the experienced Generals of his Army, who were for delaying +the Battle 'till he had got the Advantage of the Ground, as he was +inferiour to them in Numbers. He would not be ruled by their +Representations, but, led on by his evil Genius, he came and offered +Battle to _Zeokinizul_, whose Forces were already come out of their +Lines, and drawn up in order to receive him. + +As these Sheets bear the Title of the Amours of _Zeokinizul_, I may +perhaps be censured for giving a Detail of a Battle which seems quite +foreign to this Work; but as it occasioned several Vexations to the +Favourite, and having been omitted by every other Writer, I believe the +Reader will not be displeased at my relating such Particulars as have +come to my Knowledge. + +There was great Fault found with _Vameric_'s Dispositions. It was +reported, that he was so full of the Victory, that he took not the +least Care to secure a Retreat. Behind his Lines was a large River +call'd the _Tueska_, over which he had laid but one Bridge, which, in +Case of a Defeat, must infallibly have broken down with the Weight of +the flying Troops; the Consequence of which must have been their total +Destruction. All this is a known and undeniable Truth. But _Vameric_ was +acquainted with the Spirit of the Nation which he commanded. He knew +that they would not fly before all the Forces in the World, when they +were fighting in their King's Presence. Then, what Occasion was there +for Bridges to favour a Retreat, when every single Man was resolv'd to +die, or conquer? Besides in one Night's Time he had cast up three +Trenches, of which the two first were sufficient to defend them against +the first Attack of the Enemy, which is always the most violent. The +third would be an impenetrable Defence against their weak and broken +Forces. Another considerable Advantage was, the dividing the Army into +small Bodies, which must extremely harass the Enemy, as they must be +under a Necessity of attacking but one at a Time. Whatever Confidence +_Zeokinizul_ reposed in _Vameric_, he would share both in the Command +and Danger. This hazardous Circumstance threw the Favourite into +inexpressible Agonies. But neither her Tears nor her Intreaties, so +prevalent at all other Times, were unable to restrain the resolute +Monarch. He and his Son were present during the whole Action, and in so +much Danger, that several were killed near them. At last, Victory +declared itself in his Favour, and the young Prince of _Alniob_, tho' he +exerted the utmost Courage and was seconded with an intrepid Valour, by +his Soldiers, who loved him entirely, was obliged to retreat. But tho' +this young Lion was defeated, he still struck his Enemies with Terror, +for after such an Experience of his Valour, they apprehended that he +would next Day renew the Action, which he certainly would have done, had +it not been for the Opposition of his Generals. + +_Zeokinizul_, after the Victory, applied himself to shew the Conquered +how highly he esteemed their Courage. It was ordered, that the same Care +should be taken of their wounded, as of his own Soldiers. The imprudent +and scandalous Report of some barbarous Orders issued by the Prince of +_Alniob_, in Case of his Success, made not the least Impression on this +magnanimous King, and all _Africa_ joined in owning that the _Kam_ of +_Lundamberk_ and his Allies, could not have a more worthy Conqueror than +_Zeokinizul_. The Congratulations of his dear _Kismare_ were still +wanting, to complete the Joy and Honours of this Victory. He hastened, +transported with Love, to lay his Laurels at her Feet, and tell her +that he was animated by her charming Idea, in the midst of all the +Horrors of the Battle. Here was a fresh and very worthy Motive to +increase her Tenderness towards him. But, who can know a Woman? This +Instant was to be the Period of it, or at least to put it to a severe +Trial. + +A young Prisoner, one of the most illustrious of the Nobility of +_Alniob_, having desired Admittance to _Zeokinizul_, was introduced to +him in his Tent, where he was sitting with the Favourite. She was struck +at the Sight of him, as indeed there never was any Man fitter to make a +Woman unfaithful, and justify her Infidelity. His Mein and Air spoke the +Hero, and his Address to the Monarch declared, that his Sentiments were +answerable. "Sire, said he, all our Efforts have not hindered Victory +from declaring itself for you. Tho' I can no longer continue fighting +with my brave Fellow-Soldiers, I could wish not to remain among mine +Enemies. Your Highness is no Stranger to Love, and it is that which +calls me back to my own Country. Be pleased therefore, to grant me +Permission to return, which will not a little augment your Glory, that I +shall there appear in Chains instead of those Trophies which I hop'd to +have adorn'd my Return." The majestic Air with which this young +Warriour delivered himself, moved _Zeokinizul_, who immediately +answered, "You are at full Liberty to depart, and may Love do you more +Justice than Fortune." This Generosity of _Zeokinizul_, was planting a +Dagger in the Favourite's Heart, who had already conceived too great a +Passion for the Prisoner, to consent so readily to his Departure. Her +Passion hindered her from reflecting on the Consequences which might +flow from it, and turning towards the Monarch, she said, "Sire, let not +your extreme Generosity betray your Interest. When this young Warriour +is again among his Countrymen, he may engage them to come and attack you +a second Time. He has seen"---- "Be it so, Madam," interrupted +_Zeokinizul_, "I can never have too many Opportunities of making +Heroes." She blush'd at this Answer, and _Kelirieu_, who perceived it, +readily guessing that the Departure of this young Prisoner was not +agreeable to her Inclinations, laid hold of the Opportunity of +_Zeokinizul_'s going out to give some Orders, of offering her his +Service. "Madam, said he, if I am not mistaken, I apprehend this young +Prisoner has renewed in your Mind some painful Idea; be pleased to +disclose the Secret to me, you shall find I will prove a faithful +Servant, devoted to all your Views and Inclinations. Is it your Pleasure +that this Prisoner should go or Stay? I will find a Method of making +him consent to either, as you shall direct." "Ah, let him go replied +she, my dear _Kelirieu_, let him go, his Presence is so dangerous, that +any longer Stay would, I fear, make me become ungrateful and faithless +to my generous Prince. How charming he is! did you ever before see so +graceful a Person? How serene and noble is his Deportment, in the midst +of Misfortunes! However, possibly as a Prisoner, he may stand in need of +Money, go and offer him these two hundred Pieces of Gold, that he may +return to his Country in a Manner suitable to his Rank and Merit, and +bring me back an Account in what Manner he received them." + +_Kelirieu_ was of such a restless Vivacity, that he could not be +contented without Intrigues, which made him eagerly apply himself to +forming another. Having found out the fortunate Prisoner, he put the +Purse into his Hands with these Words. "Virtue, my Lord, is equally +cherished by both Sexes among us, and as a Proof of it, here are two +hundred Pieces of Gold, which you are desired to accept of from a very +beautiful Lady." "I should be unworthy the least of her Thoughts, +replied the Prisoner, were I to refuse her Favour, which this Juncture +has render'd necessary. If her Name be not a Secret, I would beg the +Favour of you, my Lord, to introduce me, that I might pay my +Acknowledgements to this generous Lady." "She would, perhaps ask you for +something more, replied _Kelirieu_." "Ah, returned the Stranger, that is +not in my Power to grant. As I have not seen her, I can, without the +least Affront to her Beauty, preserve my Heart for the present dear +Possessour of it. Be pleased then, my Lord, to tell her, that I depart +full of the warmest Gratitude; and, since I am so fortunate as to have +the illustrious _Kam_ of _Kelirieu_ in my Interest, I beg him to be +assured, that upon my Return into my Country, as it is my highest Duty, +so it shall be my first Care, to make suitable Returns for his +Generosity to a Stranger, whom his polite Behaviour entirely frees from +the Meanness of receiving a Favour, which he would have refused from any +other Hand." _Kelirieu_, perceiving he entirely mistook his Intentions, +did not think proper to explain himself, and after taking his Leave, he +returned to make a Report to the Favourite of his unlucky Commission. +She was piqued at his Refusal, but making a Virtue of Necessity, she +endeavoured to efface the sudden Impression which he had made upon her +Heart. Fruitless Endeavours, his Idea was always present to her +Imagination. Neither Gratitude to the King, Diversions, nor Resentment, +could remove it, 'till by a most fortunate Accident, this haughty Rebel +became her Admirer, which soon terminated in the Gratification of her +Desires. But as the History of this Amour has no necessary Connection +with that which I am writing, I shall leave the several Incidents with +which it was attended, to be taken Notice of by some other Writer, only +observing, that this young _Alniobian_ returning some Years after, into +the Country of the _Kofirans_, it was his Fortune to be united for ever +to his generous Benefactress, whom the Death of her Husband, and +_Zeokinizul_'s Indifference, left at her own Disposal. This Prince +perceived some Alterations in the Favourite, which were at first +excused, under Pretence of some feign'd Indispositions, and the Monarch +was so easy as to take her Word without any farther Examination into the +Truth of her Excuses. + +At the End of the Campaign, _Zeokinizul_ return'd to his Palace, +to exchange the Fatigues of War, for the Embraces of Love, and make +Preparations for new Conquests, if his Enemies should reject the Peace +which he had offered them, on such equitable Conditions as contained +nothing of the Haughtiness of a Conqueror. The King's Presence brought +back to the Court all the Pleasures and Diversions, of which there had +been no Appearance during his Expedition. There was nothing but Balls, +Feasts, and magnificent Parties of Pleasure. His Fondness would not +allow him at any Time to be long absent from his Favourite. He +endeavoured by every Token of Affection to convince her that she had +found the Means to fix his Heart unalterably, and this might have been +really the Case, had he been taken up continually with Affairs of the +War, so as to have had but a small Portion of Time for his Pleasures. +But this not being the Season for Military Operations allowed him too +much Time for Indulgence, and the Monarch's Heart was not to be fixed by +any single Passion. The beautiful _Vorompdap_ exerted herself to the +utmost, in order to prolong the Continuance of her Reign; but this was +the very Occasion of her Overthrow. + +The Daughter of one of the first Noblemen of the Kingdom appear'd at +Court. This angelic Creature had spent the first Years of her Youth in a +_Mosque_ of holy Women, who, to make themselves amends for the Vow they +have taken to renounce the World, employ themselves in breeding up young +Ladies according to its current Maxims, and most fashionable Practices. +There was no beholding her youthful Charms, tho' not yet arrived at +their full Perfection, without Admiration. A _Bassa_ of the first Rank, +thought her entirely deserving of his Homage. Accordingly he paid his +Addresses to her, and in a short Time was so happy as to gain her +Consent. Some weighty Motives however, oblig'd them to keep their +Intimacy private; but Love cannot be conceal'd, Discretion and +Tenderness being seldom found together. _Zeokinizul_ perceiv'd that the +young _Bassa_, who till then had talked loudly against Love, was become +more pensive than usual. He himself had too much Experience not to guess +the Source of this Alteration. He mildly banter'd him upon it, and +diverted himself with raillying him for a Sensibility, which he often +had boasted he would ever resist. There was no Way for the young _Bassa_ +to make the King give over these stinging Ironies, but by discovering +his Passion. The Excess of his Love made him unhappily Eloquent in the +Description of its charming Object. _Zeokinizul_, was inflamed by such a +beautiful Description; and, having designedly provoked him, by saying, +that as the Picture was drawn by the Pencil of a Lover, he suspected the +Likeness; the imprudent _Bassa_ forgot to whom he was speaking, and how +reserv'd he ought to have been with a Prince of such amorous +Disposition, he offered to justify all he had said of his Mistress. This +was the very Thing _Zeokinizul_ wanted. The Offer was agreed to, and +this enchanting Object brought into his Presence. The King no sooner saw +her, but he loved her. The Idea of a Rival so dearly loved, did not +occasion any Despair in the King of being happy; and, as a King makes +Love in a different Manner from a Subject, instead of making his +Mistress forget the young _Bassa_ by Presents, and other Endearments, +he made Use of his Prerogative, by sending him away on an honourable +Pretence. He also took sure Measures to deprive him of the melancholy +Comfort of taking his Leave of her, and to prevent those two Lovers from +maintaining their mutual Affections by a Correspondence of Letters, +which would confirm _Nasica_ (for so was this adorable Lady called) in +rejecting his Passion. At hearing of the _Bassa_'s Departure, her Heart +immediately became a Prey to Grief, Jealousy and Resentment; and +imputing his Conduct to his Indifference, she resolv'd to banish him +from her Remembrance, or if this was impossible, yet, at least, she +would appear to have done so. _Zeokinizul_, was soon informed of the +disorder'd State of her Mind. Few Confidents are to be found, who can +withstand the Solicitations of a King. She whom _Nasica_ had chosen, was +one of the weakest. She discover'd to the King, the Rise, Increase, and +several other Circumstances of her Mistress's Love for the young +_Bassa_, and gave him a full Account of the Grief and Resentment she had +shewn at his unexpected Departure. + +In order to give these Emotions Time to arrive at such a Height, as to +subdue Love, _Zeokinizul_ very carefully avoided speaking one Word to +_Nasica_ of his Passion for her. However, as often as he happen'd to +see her, he never fail'd passing a Compliment upon her Beauty, but it +was always with such Calmness and Moderation, as was so far from being +thought to proceed from Love, that it was only accounted a proper +Complaisance in the Prince, who was willing to do Justice to such a +celebrated Beauty. The young _Bassa_, being ignorant that his Letters +were intercepted, had wrote several in so soft and persuasive a Style, +as to alarm _Zeokinizul_, and make him redouble his Precautions to +prevent any of them from falling into the Hands of those to whom they +were directed. But the Confidence he had of his Mistress's Affection, +not allowing him to suspect that _Nasica_ could prove faithless, began +to think that some third Person interposed in their Correspondence. +After having long consider'd who could be this jealous Rival who thus +deprived him of his only remaining Comfort, his Suspicions fell upon his +Master. When he called to Mind the Suddenness of his being sent away in +an Affair which required no such Haste, it was but too evident, and his +Doubts increased to a Certainty. His whole Dangers and Misfortunes +immediately presented themselves to his View. He was not ignorant that +it was an unpardonable Crime to be a Rival to his Monarch, had his Love +been unsuccessful; what then could be expected, when his Happiness was +the sole Obstacle to his Sovereign's Love? However, not valuing his +Disgrace, provided his Mistress continued faithful, he wrote her a +Letter in the most moving Terms, representing to her, that a Crown ought +to come in no Competition with Love; that it was the Heart only which +ought to engage a Lady, who has a true Sense of that delicate Passion; +that upon this Principle he yielded the Preference to _Zeokinizul_, if +his Love was more pure, more respectful, or more perfect than his own. +This Letter was committed to an old Servant, in whom he placed the +greatest Confidence; but the Misfortune was, that this Slave's good +Qualities were mixed with several Vices, and particularly Drunkenness. +Being come to a Place where he was to change his Horse, he resolved to +rest himself a while, and empty some Bottles. This was the very Place +where the Spies of his Master's Rival used to intercept his Letters. +They knew by his Habit, that he belonged to the young _Bassa_, which was +enough to make them mistrust him. They went up to him, and after some +Excuses for their Freedom, invited him to drink of their Liquor. One of +them offer'd to bear him Company as far as _Kofir_, as he was going to +that City. The Slave overjoy'd at meeting with a Fellow Traveller, and +relying on the Swiftness of his Horse, staid here longer than he ought. +The Wine overpower'd him, and his artful Companion plying him with +Bumpers, soon disabled him from going any farther. The Sot fell asleep, +his Pockets were searched, and the Letter was known by the Direction to +be one of those which they were order'd to intercept. One of them +immediately set out to carry it to him who had appointed the Ambuscade, +and he flew to deliver it to _Zeokinizul_. As the young _Bassa_ appeared +to know who was his Rival, suitable Measures were to be taken, and such +an Answer sent to him as might throw him into Despair, and make him +abandon a Passion which was now become dangerous. That it might have the +better Effect, _Nasica_'s Hand was exactly imitated, and every +discouraging Argument forcibly urged. This counterfeited Letter gave him +to understand, in the Name of his Mistress, that a crowned Lover being +more acceptable to her than a private Subject, she strictly commanded +him never to write, or speak one Word more of his presumptuous Passion. + +This little Artifice proved of very happy Consequence to _Zeokinizul_. +The young _Bassa_, who had a most respectful Regard for him, thought it +became him to return Contempt for Contempt. His Answer was carefully +deliver'd to the King, who could not but be highly pleased that the +Credulity of his Rival should promote his Love. To complete his +Satisfaction, he ordered a Letter to be writ to _Nasica_, in which her +Lover freely exhorts her to take him for a Patern, and make another +Choice. All these Batteries being so well disposed, _Zeokinizul_ began +to think of disclosing himself. He gave a Ball to his whole Court, +in order to favour his Design, at which all the Ladies having an +Opportunity of entertaining themselves with their favourite Diversions +were highly delighted, and full of Gaiety. _Nasica_ alone, seem'd +insensible in the midst of all these Entertainments. She retired at a +Distance to avoid the Conversation of the gallant Nobility. The soft +Languor of her Eyes sufficiently declar'd the Sorrow of her Heart, and +that the proper Person was wanting to dissipate it. _Zeokinizul_, chose +this Time to begin his Addresses. Charming _Nasica_, says he, his Eyes +sparkling with Love, what Disquietudes are those to which you seem to +abandon yourself. Is there any Mortal so happy as to cause them? I do +not think, Sire, return'd she, that what your Highness calls +Disquietudes in me, can Interest you so far as to ask me the Occasion of +them.---- Ah, Gods! not be interested, replied the transported Monarch, +can you doubt of it, have not my Countenance, my Eyes, even my very +Silence, which I have respectfully observ'd till now, have not all these +informed you, that my Happiness entirely depends on your Repose and +Contentment. Let not the charming _Nasica_ be angry, continued he, +perceiving, that she heard him with Resentment, I love you indeed, but +my Passion is so pure, so submissive, that it can give no just Offence +to your severe Vertue. I little imagined, interrupted she, that all +these splendid Entertainments of the Court concealed any Design of +throwing me into such alarming Apprehensions. Alarming Apprehensions! +replied the King, is it then Matter of Grief to the loveliest Person now +present, that her Charms have captivated her Sovereign? Yes, Sire, +replied _Nasica_, resolutely, your Highness can only offer me a guilty +Passion, and I would incur your utmost Displeasure, I would die, rather +than condescend to it. Judge yourself, Sire, whether I have not Cause to +be alarmed. But no, my Fears are too hasty. The great _Zeokinizul_ is +too just and generous to harbour a Thought of disgracing a Family which +has always served him with Zeal and Honour, and it was merely to try his +Subject, that he has demean'd himself to offer such Discourse to her. +Immediately making a respectful Courtesy, she returned to the Circle of +the Ladies. + +_Zeokinizul_, was not a little piqued at the Manner in which _Nasica_ +had received the Declaration of his Love. He expected that Modesty and +Reservedness would have been her only Defence, and that, at least, she +would have spared reproaching him with such disagreeable Truths. After +having for a long Time watched all Opportunities of seeing and speaking +to her, finding himself disappointed and rejected, he lost all Patience, +so as not to care whether his Addresses to her were heard by the whole +Court, or not. One Day, as she was talking with the Ladies of Honour in +the Queen's Anti-Chamber, he came to her. A proper Respect made them all +withdraw, and the Monarch laid hold of this Occasion to renew his +Protestations. But all his ardent Entreaties had no more Success than +his first Declaration. _Nasica_'s Modesty disengaged her with Honour +from so delicate a Situation. _Zeokinizul_ admired her Constancy, and +tho' he despair'd of ever gaining her, yet he could not prevail upon +himself to give over seeing her. + +In the mean Time, the young _Bassa_'s Resentment began to subside, and +he became sensible, that what he had mistaken for Indifference, was only +Love disguised and agitated with the most cruel Disquietude for the Fate +of his dear _Nasica_. This State of Anxiety grew insupportable, he would +be informed of the Truth at any Rate, and being at a Loss whom to trust, +since the most faithful of his Slaves had fail'd of reaching _Nasica_'s +House, he resolv'd to go thither in Person. All the Dangers which he ran +in disobeying his Sovereign's Orders, were too weak a Check for his +Passion, and he set out with a Willingness to perish, provided he could +once more throw himself at the Feet of the Object of his Love. After +many Hazards of being known and stopp'd, tho' under a Disguise, he +happily arrived at _Kofir_. But after a few Days employ'd in contriving +Means for an Interview with his Mistress, whom he had informed of his +Arrival, by a Letter convey'd to her by an old Governess, which +contain'd a Vindication of himself as well as his Surprise at her +Behaviour, he was known, and immediately surrounded by the Spies, placed +by the King to watch him, and whose Diligence was to be highly rewarded. +He stood upon his Defence, but being over-power'd, he was carried to one +of the Court Prisons. _Zeokinizul_, whose Passion had stifled his +natural Sentiments of Humanity, was pleased to hear that his Rival lay +in Chains. His Disobedience to the Royal Orders afforded a specious +Pretence for putting him to Death, and the King's Heart was immediately +inclined to such a cruel Expedient; but how was he struck, when +_Nasica_, being inform'd of the dreadful Condition of her Lover, threw +herself at his Feet all in Tears, conjuring him that the same Stroke +might put an End to both their unfortunate Lives. Let him live, Sire, +cried she, mournfully, or order that Death may unite us both in the +Grave. If your Highness be offended at the Refusal of my Heart, it was +no longer mine, Love having disposed of it in Favour of the unhappy +_Bassa_, who is now to fall your Victim. But his Views were honourable, +nor were mine less innocent. Let your Highness pronounce the Decree of +his Destiny, mine is inseperably annexed to it whatever it be. + +_Zeokinizul_ was moved with such exalted Virtue, and being naturally +tender and compassionate, he was grieved at seeing the Afflictions of +two Lovers whom he himself had render'd unhappy. A Ray of Wisdom opened +his Eyes, and restored him to himself. He raised up _Nasica_, and gave +Orders himself for the Preparations of her Marriage with the young +_Bassa_, who afterwards became one of his chief Favourites. + +So difficult an Act of Justice against himself, is one of the most +glorious Periods of this Monarch's Reign. His Love for _Nasica_ settled +in a tender Friendship for this virtuous Lady, and soon after taking a +Disgust at the Commerce of Women, he fixed a Resolution to abandon it +entirely. His People became his whole Care. They adored him for the +Wisdom and Goodness of his Administration during the Remainder of his +Reign, which was much shorter than they desired. He endeavoured by his +Instructions and Examples, to leave in his Son a worthy Successor, whose +Virtues might keep up a lasting Idea of him. Such noble Cares were not +disappointed, for the Name of the great _Zeokinizul_, and the +illustrious Heir of his Crown, will be held in immortal Remembrance +among the grateful _Kofirans_. + + + + +A KEY + +For the better understanding the Amours of Zeokinizul. + + +Anagrams. French. English. + +Africa Europe Europe +Alniob Albion _ou_ Angleterre Albion _or_ England +Alnobiens Albioniens _ou_ Anglois Albionians _or_ English +Anserol (_Kam_) Duc d'Orleans Duke of Orleans +Bapasis Païs-Bas Low Countries. +Bileb Bible +Duesois Suedois Swedes +Ghinoer Hongrie Hungary +Ginarkan Carignan +Goilaus Gaulois Gaules +Goplone Pologne Poland +Guernonies Norvegiens Norwegians +Houris Dames Ladies +Jeflur Fleury +Jerebi Iberie _ou_ Espagne Iberia _or_ Spain +Imans Prêtres Priests +Junes Provinces Provinces-Unies United-Provinces +Kalontil Chatillon +Kam Duc _ou_ Prince Duke _or_ Prince +Katenos Toscane Tuscany +Kelirieu Richelieu +Kertras Chartres +Kigenpi Pequigny +Kismar Marquis Marquis +Kismare Marquise Marchioness +Kofir Paris +Kofirans François French +Kranfs Francs Franks +Lenertoula La Tournelle +Leosanil Noailles +Leutinemil Vintimille +Liamil Mailly +Liegnelau l'Evangile the Gospel +Lundamberk Cumberland +Manoris Romains Romans +Maregins Germains _ou_ Allemand Germans +Meani du Maine +A Mollak, le Cardinal Richelieu + p. 4. +Another Mollak, le Card. Mazarin + p. 5. +An old Mollak, le Card. Fleury + pag. 13. +Mollak, l'Evêque de Soissons the Bishop of Soissons + p. 49, and 50. +Mosque Couvent Convent +Neitilane Italienne Italian +Nhir Rhin Rhine +Nodais Danois Danes +Omeriseroufs Sousfermiers +d'Ourtavan Vantadour +Pamenralt Parlement +Pepa le Pape the Pope +Reinarol Lorraine +Sesems Messes Masses +Sicidem Medicis +Sokans Saxons +Suesi Jesus +Tesoulou Toulouse +Vameric Maurice, _Comte de Saxe_ +A Visir, p. 9. _le Comte de_ Maurepas +Vorompdap Pompadour +Vosaïe Savoïe Savoy +Zeoteirizul Louis treize Lewis the XIII. +Zokitarezoul Louis quatorze Lewis the XIV. +Zeokinizul Louis quinze Lewis the XV. + + +_FINIS._ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF +THE KOFIRANS*** + + +******* This file should be named 18472-8.txt or 18472-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/7/18472 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans</p> +<p> Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol</p> +<p>Author: Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon</p> +<p>Release Date: May 30, 2006 [eBook #18472]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF THE KOFIRANS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Labyrinths, Bill Tozier,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>THE<br /> +AMOURS<br /> +OF<br /> +<i>ZEOKINIZUL</i>,</h1> + +<h2>King of the <span class="smcap">Kofirans</span>.</h2> + +<h3>Translated from the <i>Arabic</i> of the famous Traveller <i>Krinelbol</i>.</h3> + +<h3>With a KEY.</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 220px;"> +<img src="images/azillus001.jpg" width="100" height="80" alt="Pattern" title="Pattern" /> +</div> + +<p align="center"><i>LONDON</i>:</p> + +<p align="center">Printed for <span class="smcap">G. Smith</span>, near <i>Temple-Bar</i>. 1749.</p> + +<p align="center">[Price One Shilling and Sixpence.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p><i>The Bookseller, who has taken upon him to print this little Work, +having absolutely insisted upon my introducing it with a</i> Preface, <i>I +was unwilling to refuse him so easy a Matter; and the rather as the +Omission might greatly prejudice it. He urged his Request, by saying, +that a</i> Preface <i>was no less essential to a Book, than an</i> Exordium <i>to +a Sermon. As few read the one, as listen to the other; however, if +either be wanting, the Performance is defective, and, is not so much as +thought worthy to be read in order to be censured. Nevertheless, what +can be said with Regard to a useless Discourse? Why, really, I think, it +is best to say nothing at all. This little Work places Truth in so just +a Light, that no Characters are wanting to point it out. But perhaps, +the real Truth may be amplified in it, and there may be Applications +made of it as false as injurious. This is what ought strongly to be +guarded against; and to this Purpose I sincerely declare, that I have +intermix'd nothing of my own in the Amours of</i> Zeokinizul: <i>But, like a +faithful Translator, I have constantly kept close to</i> Krinelbol<i>'s +Manuscript. I have related the Facts just as he himself says they were +told him by the</i> Kofiran <i>Nobility. This sincere Protestation, is all +that I can do, In order to remove any Suspicion of Interpolations. The</i> +Arabian <i>Manuscript is still in my Possession, and if desired, shall be +printed. But I own, with Concern, that it is quite beyond my Power, to +procure such a Number of Types as will be requisite to give this +Satisfaction; therefore, let those who are willing and equal to such an +Expence, set the Printer to work. I promise to deliver him the +Manuscript on Demand. I cannot help thinking, but that the Malice of the +World is at its highest Pitch. Formerly People were overjoy'd at the +Certainty of the Antipodes; and to hear that the Inhabitants of those +Climates came nearest to us in Industry, and the Love of Arts and +Sciences; and that the Sun approached to, and receded from them, as it +does with Regard to us. In fine, that their Temperature, their Seasons, +their Manners, and Inclinations, were the same as our own. Yet, in this +my Endeavour to verify such a Resemblance, by Proofs extracted from +their own History, demonstrating by notorious and certain Facts that +they think and act just like ourselves, I shall be branded for an +Imposture; or some, who affect to be more sharp-sighted, will suspect +that under fictitious Names, I have represented Persons for whom my +Heart is filled with the most respectful Sentiments. Let this suffice, +<!-- Page 1 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span> +as the shorter a</i> Preface <i>is the better it is liked.</i></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/azillus002.jpg" width="300" height="110" alt="Pattern" title="Pattern" /> +</div> + +<h1>THE AMOURS OF <i>ZEOKINIZUL</i>,</h1> + +<h2>King of the <span class="smcap">Kofirans</span>.</h2> + +<p><img src="images/azillus003.jpg" alt="A" width="100" height="100" align="left" title="A" /> +fter all the Labours and Attention of our best +Academicians to form just Plans, and draw complete Maps of the whole +Terraqueous Globe, there are many large Empires and powerful Nations, +which their Enquiries have not reached; so that they are not only +ignorant of their Position, but even of their Existence. Of this Number +<!-- Page 2 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +are the vast Dominions of the King of the <i>Kofirans</i>, of which hitherto +we have had not the least Idea; and which probably would ever have +continued unknown to us had not an <i>Arabic</i> Manuscript of the famous +Traveller <i>Krinelbol</i> luckily fallen into my Hands.</p> + +<p>This illustrious Enquirer, of whom we have several Works, which +ostentatious Translators, on Account of their Excellency, have published +as their own, that he might not be misled by the various geographical +Descriptions of the Globe, determined to ground his Knowledge upon his +own Experience. With this rational View he left <i>Arabia Felix</i>, his +native Country, and travelled all over both <i>Asia</i> and <i>Africa</i>. Always +careful to take an accurate View of every Thing which was worth being +seen or known, and making a judicious Collection of what was most +remarkable in the Customs and History of the Countries which he visited. +But a very small Part of his Collection has reached us. That we are so +unhappy as to have only mutilated and unsatisfactory Fragments of an +Author of such Veracity, and in such curious Matters, must be imputed to +the want of Printing in most of the eastern Nations, and the Ignorance +of this Traveller's Heirs.</p> + +<p>An Acquaintance of mine, who is extremely fond of Travelling, thinking +it would be a very acceptable Present, brought me these Sheets from +<i>Ispahan</i>, where they cost him twelve <i>Tomans</i>, that is between twenty +and thirty Pounds Sterling. I have translated it without either +diminishing, augmenting, +<!-- Page 3 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +or altering it in any one Particular. Only, +for the Reader's Convenience, I have expressed the Names of Posts and +Dignities in our Language, which in the Original were in <i>Arabic</i>, +keeping to it in the Appellations of Persons and Nations, out of regard +to historical Exactness. I do not in the least claim any Thanks or +Acknowledgements for my Trouble; the several Works of this Nature which +I have published producing in me an habitual Pleasure of employing my +Pen, for the Instruction and Entertainment of polite Readers.</p> + +<p>Possibly the whole Universe could not afford a more tranquil, happy +Kingdom than that of the <i>Kofirans</i>, would their Princes equitably sit +down contented with the Honours and Prerogatives with which they were +invested at their Institution, and not falsly imagine, that their +Grandeur and Glory consist in the Oppression of their Subjects; and +would they be watchful to entail the Harmony and due Subordination +betwixt the several Orders in their Government. Whereas for several +Centuries past, they have been labouring to erect an Arbitrary Power; +and the two last have taken large Steps towards this execrable End.</p> + +<p><i>Zeoteirizul</i>, the First of the Two, was Son to the greatest King that +ever govern'd the <i>Kofirans</i>. Being scarcely eight Years old when the +Crown devolv'd to him by his Father's Death, his Mother seiz'd the Reins +of Government. This Princess who was a <i>Neitilene</i> by Birth, was related +to the King of +<!-- Page 4 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +<i>Jerebi</i>. Secret History relates that, prompted by her +Ambition, she entered into a private Treaty with her Relation, her +Husband's most inveterate Enemy, and contrived his Murder, which was +unfortunately executed, to the great Loss and Grief of all true +<i>Kofirans</i>. What aggravates the Guilt is, that this worthy Prince was +stabb'd on the very Day of her Coronation, at a Juncture when he was +giving this flagitious Wretch the highest Mark of his Affection.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the Queen declared Regent of the Kingdom, but she bent all +her Endeavours to establish her Power by protracting the King's +Minority, as long as possible. She constantly amused the young Prince +with Toys and Triffles; she kept him in such Awe that he trembled at her +Appearance, and durst not refuse paying a blind Obedience to those whom +she had placed near him. But so short-sighted is human Artifice, that +what she imagined would be the Basis of her Power, was the very Thing +which overthrew it. A crafty <i>Mollak</i> having insinuated himself into her +Confidence, made Use of it to gain that of the young King; and being too +sagacious a Politician not to foresee what he had to fear from this +enraged Woman, if he left her any Degree of Power or Opportunity of +hurting him, he compelled her to leave the Kingdom in a disgraceful +Manner; and by this successful Boldness, he became Master of the young +King, and the Depository of his Authority. His Pride, the general Vice +of his Order, made him take a Pleasure +<!-- Page 5 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +in humbling the Nobility. He +brought all Employments to depend upon the Court, and by this Means the +Persons of Quality to court the Minister's Favour, which effectually +exalted the Sovereign as much above them as he himself affected in all +Things to appear beneath him.</p> + +<p>This Management soon brought upon him the Hatred of the whole Nation; +but notwithstanding such a declared and general Hatred, he was succeeded +by another <i>Mollak</i>. He had the same Views as his Predecessor, tho' he +acted on different Maxims. And the former having succeeded in reducing +the first Order nearer the second, he was for bringing them both to an +Equality, and raising the third to a Level with them, by making all +Employments and Dignities venial; and, without any Regard to Merit, +constantly bestowing them on the highest Bidder. Thus, as the same Posts +and Honours were equally attainable by the Citizen and Gentleman, there +was no material Distinction betwixt them. The Government which had +flourished as Monarchical, was become an absolute Despotism. And whereas +the King in all important Transactions, was dependant on the Assembly of +the States, who were look'd upon as the Defenders and Interpreters of +the Laws; both Laws and States were now only mere Phantoms, which he +could raise or annihilate at his Pleasure. It is true, that this has +made the King of the <i>Kofirans</i> the most powerful Monarch in the +Universe; but perhaps, it also makes the People the most miserable; +<!-- Page 6 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +tho' an abject Veneration for their Kings will not permit them to own +their Slavery, or lament their Grievances.</p> + +<p>In order to the better Understanding of what I shall relate concerning +this Monarchy, it will not be an useless Digression to say something of +its Foundation, and gradual Increase to that Pitch of Glory to which it +was raised by the King who proceeded <i>Zeokinizul</i>.</p> + +<p>I am apt to believe, that when the divine Missionary offered up Paradise +to Men, as the Reward of their Belief and Obedience, he drew his Idea +from the Country of the <i>Kofirans</i>. The many Rivers which intermix their +Streams, maintain a perpetual Verdure in the Meadows; the Soil produces +all Sorts of Corn, useful Herbs and Fruits; and is so well cultivated, +that there are no more Woods than are necessary for Fewel and other +Uses. Its exquisite Wines, are little inferior to those of <i>Ghinoer</i>; if +it has but few Gold or Silver Mines, the Defect is abundantly +compensated by those of Iron, Copper, Tin, and the valuable Quarries of +Porcelaine, which abound throughout almost all the Provinces of this +delicious Kingdom. The Women are sprightly, witty, and chearful. The +Men, brave, industrious, laborious and addicted to Learning. Its +Situation is so very advantageous, that it is reckoned one of Nature's +Master-pieces. Its steep and lofty Clefts towards the Sea, secure this +charming Country from the Invasions of the King of the Island <i>Alniob</i>. +Its Ports are numerous, but so +<!-- Page 7 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +well fortified, as to be of the greatest +Advantage to the <i>Kofirans</i>. Another Side of this Country has +inaccessible Mountains, as a Fence against the King of <i>Jerebi</i>, and the +<i>Kam</i> of <i>Vosaïe</i>. The River <i>Nhir</i> is its Barrier against the +formidable Power of the Emperor of the <i>Maregins</i>. And, lastly, many +Cities of almost impregnable Strength, seem to defy the Attacks of the +<i>Junes</i> Provinces, and the <i>Bapasis</i>. Such is the Situation and Quality +of the Kingdom of the <i>Kofirans</i>, being also blessed with a temperate +Climate, and an healthful Air.</p> + +<p>The People who are at present seated in this luxuriant Country, are not +its original Possessors. The first Colony settled here after the Deluge, +were so contented with the spontaneous Produce of its Fertility, that +they forbore to cultivate and improve it. This Moderation which, since +the Sin of <i>Sultan Adam</i>, has ceased to be a Virtue, so enervated their +Courage, that they became slothful and timorous. The <i>Manoris</i>, tho' +their own Country, wanted for nothing, envied the more fruitful +Possessions of their Neighbours, and invaded them Sword in Hand. The +<i>Goilaus</i>, who at that Time inhabited it, and whose Pleasures were +heightened by Liberty, made some Efforts to preserve that valuable +Blessing; but being not so vigorous as the Juncture required, they were +unsuccessful, and the Consequence of their Inactivity was Slavery. After +some Shews of Resistance, in which their Multitudes were easily defeated +by an handful of <i>Manoris</i>, they underwent the Fate of several +<!-- Page 8 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +other +Nations, whom this fierce People had reduced.</p> + +<p>However, by an Intercourse with the <i>Manoris</i>, they became sensible of +their wretched and disgraceful Condition. After they had been conquer'd, +they learned the Art of War from their Conquerors; who, also in a short +Time, declined from the Love of Glory, and a martial Spirit, that they +were no longer formidable but by their Numbers. They grew intoxicated +with Luxury, and run into Extremes opposite to their original Ferosity, +so as to become more despicable than those they had conquered.</p> + +<p>It was at this Time, that the <i>Nodais</i>, the <i>Guernonies</i>, the <i>Duesois</i>, +and the <i>Sokans</i> issuing from the North of <i>Africa</i>, over-run their +finest Provinces. A Body of these Barbarians fell upon the Territories +of the <i>Goilaus</i>, and having forced them to share this delightful +Country, settled themselves there under the Name of <i>Kranfs</i>. These new +Conquerors were for some Time molested by the <i>Manoris</i>, but as Luxury +had brought their flourishing Empire to Decay, the <i>Kranfs</i> forced them +to desist, and remained in quiet Possession of the <i>Goilaus</i>:</p> + +<p>I shall omit the first rude Ages, when these Conquerors train'd up to +the Licentiousness of War, were under no Regulation or Law, and whose +Towns, like those of other Nations, were only a confused Assemblage of +Huts. It is true, that there were Kings among them from their first +Settlement, but the Men thus dignified, were in +<!-- Page 9 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +Reality only Generals +elected out of the Troops, and whose Prerogative was limited to Military +Affairs. These Chiefs, whose Savageness was rather augmented by the +Power with which they were invested, made no Scruple to dispatch a +neighbouring Competitor with the Sword or Poison, and their History is +full of unnatural Instances, of Brothers stabbing Brothers, Subjects +poisoning their Sovereigns to usurp their dangerous Stations.</p> + +<p>The Religion of <i>Suesi</i>, which the fifth of their Kings embraced, tho' +its Maxims are far from countenancing Ambition and Murder, but entirely +adapted to the Welfare of Society; yet have been so perverted by the +Depravity of the <i>Faquirs</i> and the <i>Imans</i>, as to be alledged in +Vindication of them, and have besides, set on Foot so many Cheats and +Errors, that the holy Books, <i>Bileb</i> and <i>Liegnelau</i> in their Purity, as +dictated by the divine Spirit to the Legislators, has been treated by +them with Contempt, as mutilated and inconsistent. In Defence of their +respective Notions, these People have engaged in furious Wars with each +other, and out of a Zeal for Religion, have assassinated several of +their Kings. The Times seem now more tranquil, and without any +Apprehension of such shocking Crimes. Their Faith is very different from +what it was, and the lower Sort of People, who alone adhere to the +Tenets of <i>Suesi</i>, are entirely recovered from that stupid Obedience +formerly paid to the <i>Pepa</i>, who, having made the World believe, +<!-- Page 10 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +that +the Keys of Paradise were in his Hands, required an implicit Compliance +with his Decrees, and be ready to second any Scheme of his Revenge or +Ambition, with their Lives and Fortunes.</p> + +<p>The Destruction of the Empire of the <i>Kofirans</i>, seems morally +impossible in its present confirm'd State. It has hitherto withstood +several violent Shocks from the Kings of <i>Jerebi and Alniob</i>, and the +Emperor of the <i>Maregins</i>, who were all its professed Enemies. +Especially the King of <i>Alniob</i>, who, taking Advantage of the Frenzy of +one of its Sovereigns, made such a Progress, as to wrest the Sceptre out +of his Hands; but the great <i>Zokitarezoul</i>, having compelled him to +renounce even the very Title, has brought all the others into Subjection +so as to acknowledge his Superiority over all the Sovereigns of +<i>Africa</i>. It is to this illustrious Monarch, that the Kingdom of the +<i>Kofirans</i> owes its unparalleled Riches and Grandeur. His Courage and +good Fortune have reduced all his Enemies, his Liberality and Wisdom has +established Commerce, his good Sense has civilized it, and his +Successors must attribute the ardent Loyalty and Love of the <i>Kofirans</i> +towards them, to the Plans and Labours of this Prince for the Happiness +and Glory of his Subjects. After having driven from the Throne of +<i>Jerebi</i>, a Family which had been an Enemy to his, placing one of his +Grandsons on it, he died covered with Glory, and left the Crown to his +great Grandson <i>Zeokinizul</i>, +<!-- Page 11 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +who is the particular Hero of this +History.</p> + +<p>This young Prince being the only Remains of a numerous Royal Family, was +the Darling of the great <i>Zokitarezoul</i>, who apprehending that he might +fall a Victim to the same untimely Fate which had laid so many of his +Descendants in their Graves, was not wanting to secure him by all +possible Precautions. Being persuaded, that the People loved him too +well to suffer any Infractions of his last Disposals, he made a Will; in +which he deprived the <i>Kam</i> of <i>Anserol</i>, his Nephew, whose Ambition he +dreaded, of the Regency, in Favour of the <i>Kam</i> of <i>Meani</i>, his natural +Son. The <i>Kam</i> of <i>Anserol</i> was highly exasperated at the Injury done +him; but being the greatest Politician of his Time, he took Care that +nothing should escape him at such a Crisis, which might increase the +Suspicions, and consequently the Precautions of his Enemies. It was not +till after the Death of <i>Zokitarezoul</i>, that he asserted his Claim. +Attended by a Multitude of his Adherents, he went to the <i>Pemenralt</i>, +which is a Phantom of the antient States. There feigning to submit his +Destiny to the Arbitration of that illustrious Senate, he set forth, and +urged his Claim with such a persuasive Eloquence, that the whole +Assembly unanimously annulled a Will, which deprived him of an Honour +that was his incontestable Right, and of a Trust for which he was +unexceptionably qualified. This so enraged his Enemies, that they forged +the vilest Scandals, in order +<!-- Page 12 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +to render him odious. They gave out, that +after having poisoned the chief Persons of the royal Blood, his chief +Aim was to take off his Pupil. Under pretence of such an Apprehension, +they proposed that the Lady of the <i>Bassa</i> of <i>Ourtavan</i> should take +care of the King, and taste of every kind of Food which was brought to +his Table. And soon after they were not wanting to alarm the People with +Reports, that his Victuals had been several Times poisoned. The great +Men of the Kingdom, whose Abilities the Regent never consulted, as being +himself equal to all the Difficulties of Government, enter'd into a +League against him, under Pretence of Concern for <i>Zeokinizul</i>, whose +Life they declar'd was in Danger. But the <i>Kam</i> of <i>Anserol</i>, who was +too vigilant to be surprized, soon discovered the Plot, and having +secur'd the Leaders, he quench'd the Rebellion in the Blood of its +Contrivers.</p> + +<p>He did not give himself the Trouble of verbally refuting the Calumnies, +and Invectives, with which he was daily loaded, but took Care to +disprove them by his Conduct. The publick Finances had been quite +exhausted, during the last Years of the great <i>Zokitarezoul</i>, and he +took upon himself to restore them. It is true, that his Scheme ruined +some Families; but besides that their Number was but small, and their +Ruin rather owing to their inconsiderate Greediness, such a desperate +Distemper could not have been well removed by a softer Remedy. +<!-- Page 13 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>No sooner was <i>Zeokinizul</i> of Age, but the <i>Kam</i> delivered up to him the +Government of the Kingdom, which by his Care and Munificence, was the +Abode of the polite Arts, of which he had declared himself the +Protector. Nay more, he induced the young King to chuse himself a +Consort; and thus he refuted the base Views which his Enemies had +fathered on him.</p> + +<p>Scarce was this important Affair finished, when the <i>Kam</i> of <i>Anserol</i>, +as if this World could afford no Addition to his Glory, died suddenly, +as he had always desired. His Enemies laid hold of this Circumstance, to +revile him, even in his Grave. They spread a Report, that his Intention +was to poison the King, by a Liquor which he was to drink along with +him, but that by a fortunate Mistake of the Cups, he had fallen the +Victim of his own Contrivance. The young King could not hear such +atrocious Insults without Horror. He threatened the severest Punishments +to any one who should dare to blacken the Character of this great +Prince, and he himself never mentioned his Name but with Words of the +highest Esteem, and the warmest Acknowledgment.</p> + +<p>The joyful <i>Kofirans</i> promised themselves, from the hopeful Inclinations +of <i>Zeokinizul</i>, a Reign no less happy than the preceding; but by a +Fatality, not uncommon amongst them, the young Monarch was so fond of an +old <i>Mollak</i>, formerly his Tutor, of a very insinuating but hypocritical +Humility, that he entirely remitted to him the whole Management +<!-- Page 14 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +of his +Kingdom. This old Wretch, whose predominate Passion was Avarice, loaded +the People with Taxes. And as a War would not allow him to embezzle at +will the public Treasures, he never would enter into one unless utterly +impossible to be avoided. And then, with so much Niggardliness, and so +little Conduct, that he became the Scorn both of the Generals and the +Officers of State. Happy if he could have saved those vast Sums, or have +expended them in a manner suitable to the Honour of the Prince, and the +unbounded Zeal of his Subjects. But they were all in a short Time +squandered away, among Foreigners, who made him their constant Dupe. +Indeed, the best Schemes miscarried thro' his Sordidness, and yet with +all these Faults, he maintain'd his Ascendency over the Prince, so that +no Courtier dared utter any Complaint against him.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i>, whose whole Life was devoted to his Consort and his +Hunting, of both which he was equally fond, had only the Title and Pomp +of a King, for the <i>Mollak Jeflur</i> had engrossed all the Authority, by +which Means he aggrandized his Family, promoted and enriched his +Creatures, and supplied the enormous Profusion of his Mistress the +Princess of <i>Ginarkan</i>, Spouse to a Prince of the Blood of <i>Vosaïe</i>.</p> + +<p>His selfish Love of Peace, could not, however, hinder his being involved +in an unavoidable War.</p> + +<p><i>Sicidem</i>, grand <i>Kam</i> of <i>Katenos</i>, among the Provinces of the +<i>Neitilanes</i>, dying without +<!-- Page 15 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +Issue, the Emperor of the <i>Maregins</i> laid +Claim to his Succession. This Prince was already too powerful for the +King of the <i>Kofirans</i> not to oppose this Addition to his Greatness. And +thus this ecclesiastical Statesman <i>Jeflur</i>, was brought under a +Necessity of employing his Master's Troops, in order to deprive him of +so rich an Inheritance. About this Time also, the Throne of <i>Goplone</i>, +of which his Father-in-Law had been dispossess'd, became vacant, and +<i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Honour required, that he should lay hold of this +Opportunity to restore him. After a fruitless Trial of all the peaceable +Ways of Bribery and Negotiation to compass his End, the <i>Mollak</i> was at +last oblig'd to order the <i>Kofiran</i> Troops to march. The first Body +marched towards the <i>Nhir</i>, to oppose the Emperor of the <i>Maregins</i>, the +second towards the Kingdom of <i>Goplone</i>, to impose upon them their +former Sovereign, and the third hastened into the Provinces of the +<i>Neitilanes</i>, to make sure of the Dominions of <i>Sicidem</i>.</p> + +<p>As this War was carried on only in <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Name, and he did not +personally act in it, I shall omit its various Events, in Order to come +the sooner to what immediately relates to this young King. After the +loss of two Battles, and a strong City taken by the <i>Kofirans</i>, the +Emperor of the <i>Maregins</i> was very glad to accept of a Peace, upon such +Conditions as were alone detrimental to his Allies. As a Satisfaction to +<i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Father-in-law for his Kingdom, which he relinquish'd to +another, he was allowed to retain +<!-- Page 16 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +the Title of King, and was made +actual Sovereign of the Province of <i>Reinarol</i>, which after his Death, +was by the Treaty to be annexed to the Kingdom of the <i>Kofirans</i>, and +the <i>Kam</i> in exchange for this Cession, was invested with the Dominions +of <i>Sicidem</i>. Tho' this was an advantageous Peace to the Conquerors, yet +it was very short of what they might reasonably have expected, or at +least, if <i>Zeokinizul</i> was so moderate as to be contented with such +small Matters, it behov'd his Minister to insist upon more important and +honourable Terms. However, the Glory of his Arms, was the continual +Topic to him; and this Prince by hearing of the Exploits of his Soldiers +so frequently extoll'd, began to give Signs of a martial Disposition. +His Genius now display'd itself, and instead of reigning ingloriously +only by a Minister, he shewed, that he would be in all Respects the +King. His Courtiers, who had always with Reluctance paid Obedience to +the Order of the haughty <i>Mollak</i>, applauded this generous Resolution, +while the crafty <i>Jeflur</i> had the Mortification to see, that his +Ministry was going to be overturned, by the very Thing which he fancied +would have prolonged it.</p> + +<p>As this was a fatal Blow, so was he not wanting in his Endeavours to +ward it off. Accordingly he set all his Springs at Work, nor minded the +Guilt of any Measure if it had a promising Aspect. I question if an +Instance of such an hellish Contrivance, and so detestable a Scandal, +can be found in any History. A Man to whom a whole Kingdom +<!-- Page 17 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +had +committed its only Hope, a Man who had been chosen to rectify and refine +the Morals of its King, endeavours by all Means to corrupt them; and, as +a Return for the vast Favours received from him, he draws him in to +forfeit his Innocence, the Love of his Consort, and the Esteem of his +Subjects.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i>, as has been said, was passionately fond of the Queen his +Spouse, which guarded him against those Irregularities which stain'd the +Memory of the preceding Kings of the <i>Kofirans</i>. Yet these People being +of a volatile and fickle Humour, could not think, that a settled Love +afforded any Pleasure, and were continually wishing that their Sovereign +would commence an Intrigue with some Court Beauty. This unbecoming Wish +was pretended to proceed from a Regard for the Welfare and Glory of the +Nation. What, says they, shall our King always be tutor'd by <i>Mollaks</i>? +What signifies this Peace, which is only owing to the Weakness and +Pusillanimity of this set of Men, for we are oppressed with Taxes as +much as if we were engaged in a War with all the Powers of <i>Africa</i>? Why +does not our King shew some Spirit, and give into an Intrigue? An +ambitious Mistress would break these scandalous Fetters, and when he is +once his own Master, instead of this enervating Idleness, he would soon +find such Work for our Forces, as would enhance our Reputation, and +enlarge his Dominions.</p> + +<p>At this Rate the <i>Kofirans</i> used to talk, and <i>Jeflur</i> was no stranger +to it. But a clearer +<!-- Page 18 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +Insight into human Nature, made him conclude, that +tho' their Wishes were answered, it would be so far from producing the +desired Effect, that he laid it down as a Certainty, that a new Amour +would more and more indispose <i>Zeokinizul</i> to State Affairs, and he +would quickly lay them aside as Embarasments, in order the more freely +to indulge his Passion. With this View, so far from censuring this +popular Desire, tho' it had neither Religion nor Laws on its Side, he +bent all his Thoughts to accomplish it.</p> + +<p>It was not any Beauty in the Queen which had attach'd her Consort to +her. For tho' she had not been one third older than himself, there was +nothing in her Face to strike the Affections of a Prince constantly +encircled with numberless Beauties, and whose Love they would have +accounted the highest Honour. The exact Return which he made to her Duty +and Tenderness, entirely flowed from this Prince's generous and grateful +Temper, and from his good and religious Heart. He had such a delicate +Sense of conjugal Duty, that he never fail'd shewing his Displeasure to +any Courtiers, who presumed to expatiate on the Charms of some <i>Houris</i> +in his Capital, and once when <i>Kigenpi</i>, one of the <i>Methers</i>, or Lords +of his Bed-Chamber began to talk to him of a Person of incomparable +Beauty, he gave him no Answer, only asking him in a dry and scornful +Manner, whether she was handsomer than the Queen? +<!-- Page 19 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>This Coldness rendered it no easy Matter for the <i>Mollak</i> to alienate +the Affections of <i>Zeokinizul</i> from the Queen. But what are Churchmen +uncapable of? He changed his Measures, and determined to make the Queen +an Instrument to remove from herself a Spouse who loved her most +tenderly. He managed it in the following Manner.</p> + +<p>This Princess being born in a Country where the Religion of <i>Suesi</i> is +directed by the <i>Pepa</i>, who stiles himself the Sovereign Arbitrator of +it, had imbibed a strong Prepossession for what in the Kingdom of the +<i>Kofirans</i> is called Bigotry, or misplaced Devotion. The Customs and +religious Notions of this Nation, which were more free and rational than +in the Country of this Princess, had been a Constraint upon her +Inclination, without lessening her mistaken Austerity. It was on this +Side, that <i>Jeflur</i> spread his Snares. He placed near the Queen a +<i>Dervise</i>, one of those sly finished Villains, who, being Masters of the +execrable Art of giving Sin an Appearance of Sanctity, instruct the +great ones, whose Favour they purchase at the most infamous Rate, how to +Sin without Guilt. This Traytor perform'd his Commission according to +<i>Jeflur</i>'s Desire. He was continually fomenting in the Heart of his over +pious Sovereign, the Excesses and fanatical Rants of his Order. He dwelt +on the inconceiveable Sweetness of an Intimacy with <i>Suesi</i>, who was +ever ready to communicate himself to such Souls as detach'd themselves +from sensual Pleasures. He magnified +<!-- Page 20 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +the great Merit of Fastings, +Prayers, and Austerities; and when he had rooted these Things in the +Heart of his credulous Proselyte, he proceeded to declare to her, that +Chastity was a Virtue absolutely necessary to merit the divine Favours; +strongly insisting, that this Chastity must be so refined and +abstracted, as not to be awed, or seduced by human Engagements. The +unhappy Queen, misled by the pathetic Discourse, and the feigned Piety +of the <i>Dervise</i>, greedily swallowed the Poison he was administring. She +passed whole Days and Nights in Prayer, and the Austerities of a false +Devotion, according to the Instructions of her infamous Director. Nor +was it long, before she attain'd the Height of that superstitious +Chastity which he required of her, and, imagining there was no stopping +in a Course which was to end so gloriously, she formed a Resolution, in +order to devote herself with the greater Fervour and Purity to the +heavenly Bridegroom which had been promised her, to separate herself +from the Embraces of a Spouse, to whom she was united by the most sacred +Ties, and endeared by the tenderest Affection.</p> + +<p>The young King who had been extremely uneasy for some Days at this +misterious Behaviour, grew highly offended, when upon asking the Queen +to comply with his Affection, he was repulsed, under the Pretence of +imaginary Dispositions, from which she was known to be entirely free. +However, so far from taking the Denial, it only made him +<!-- Page 21 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +more urgent; +at which the Queen to free herself from what she call'd her Consort's +Importunities, sent him Word, and confirm'd it herself, that an +incurable Disorder had rendered her unfit for the conjugal Functions.</p> + +<p>The Monarch was Thunderstruck at this. It threw him into such a +Melancholy, that he kept his Chamber for three Days. Even Hunting, which +had always been his favourite Diversion, seem'd to be banished from his +Thoughts. He never appeared in the Drawing-Room, and the most +distinguished Courtiers were oblig'd to put on a sorrowful Appearance +whenever they approached him. <i>Jeflur</i> exulted at the Success of his +Scheme. He brib'd one of the Lords of the Bed-Chamber, whom the King +honoured with a particular Confidence, and having inform'd him what the +Arrow was which had pierced the King's Heart, he made him large Promises +if he could pluck it out.</p> + +<p><i>Kelirieu</i>, for so was this Lord called, readily embraced the Proposal, +and sought for an Opportunity of being alone with his Master. Nor was he +long without it. One Day as <i>Zeokinizul</i> was negligently leaning upon a +<i>Sopha</i>, involv'd in melancholy Thoughts on the Alteration of his +Spouse, the Lord came towards him, throwing himself at his Feet.</p> + +<p>Permit, said he, a faithful Subject, to presume to enquire into the +Secrets of your Highness. You know, Sire, my respectful Attachment to +your august Person. You also know, that your Glory and Satisfaction +<!-- Page 22 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +are +dearer to me than my very Life. Vouchsafe then, Sire, to disclose to me +the Cause of that Sorrow which incessantly preys upon you. Let the Heart +of a faithful Servant be the Depository of all your Disquietudes. +Possibly Means may be discover'd to mitigate them.—<i>Kelirieu</i>, +perceiving that his Discourse made no Impression upon the King, who +indeed continued in the same Posture, without seeming to give the least +Attention to it, proceeded thus. But, Sire, I see my Presumption offends +you. I have lost the Confidence of my Sovereign. It is enough, let your +Highness speak, and decide the Fate of a Subject, who is become hateful +to himself, by being hateful to you.</p> + +<p>The Firmness with which <i>Kelirieu</i> pronounced these last Words, roused +the King from his Lethargy. No, my dear Friend, said he, raising him up, +I still love you, and the only Reason why I do not impart my Sorrows to +you, is, because they are without Remedy, and you would only have the +Trouble of knowing them, without the Power of redressing them.—The +Queen.—Ah! enquire no farther? I must either forfeit my everlasting +Happiness, or lose the Esteem of my Subjects. But I am fully determined, +there is no room for Hesitation, for I am unalterably fixed in my +Choice. Withdraw, and leave me to strengthen my Resolutions.</p> + +<p><i>Kelirieu</i> insisted no farther, but hastened to acquaint the <i>Mollak</i>, +that he had already search'd the King's Wound. And since, added he, I +have drawn out of his Heart the +<!-- Page 23 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +fatal Secret which was lodg'd in it, I +flatter myself, that in a short Time, I shall entirely complete the +Cure. 'Tis a good Step, replied <i>Jeflur</i>, to have comforted +<i>Zeokinizul</i>, but that is not enough. You must still induce him to +bestow his Heart upon the Person I shall name to you. Carry but this +Point, and I promise you a thousand <i>Tomans</i> as the first Token of my +Acknowledgement.</p> + +<p>The King, in the mean Time, felt some Relief from the Confidence which +he had placed in <i>Kelirieu</i>. He looked for him all the Remainder of the +Day. But this Artful Mediator found Means to avoid a private Meeting. +Nor did he appear before his Master till after some Days, and the King +was obliged to send for him, and demand his immediate Attendance. No +sooner were they alone, but the King said, did I not tell you, my dear +<i>Kelirieu</i>, that my Sufferings were past Remedy, and that you would only +have the Grief of hearing them without having the Power of relieving +them? Sire, interrupted the crafty Courtier, with a bashful Air, I know +a Remedy, but I dare not mention it, and yet it is the only one +practicable. Ah! said the King, eagerly embracing him, declare it, and +tho' I should refuse to make use of it, yet I shall always acknowledge +myself oblig'd to your Zeal for the Discovery. Sire, replied <i>Kelirieu</i>, +one Woman is the Cause of your Highness's Melancholy, and another Woman +must be the Remedy. How dost thou dare to offer me such infamous +<!-- Page 24 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +Advice, answer'd <i>Zeokinizul</i> in a Rage, when I have already told you, +that I had rather perish than lose the Esteem of my Subjects? Must I, +being the Interpreter, and Protector of the Laws, only make a Parade of +my Prerogative, by licentiously violating them?</p> + +<p>I beseech your Highness to hear me, replied <i>Kelirieu</i>, not in the least +daunted at the King's Anger, I swear by your royal Head, that it was not +my Intention to offend you. But a too precipitate Construction of my +Advice has led you to resent it as base and criminal. But, Sire, can +your Highness harbour a Suspicion that <i>Kelirieu</i> would offer to eclipse +your Glory? No, Heaven is my Witness, that I would rather die a thousand +Deaths. When I intimated to your Highness, that the Remedy of your +Sorrows was too be found only in the Conversation of Women, I meant no +other than what the Laws both human and divine admit of. And that as +Solitude only serves to augment your Grief, the entertaining Wit and +Sprightliness of the Fair Sex, in their Conversations, was the only +Antidote against your growing Affliction, in which a whole Nation +participates.</p> + +<p>There may be Danger in such a Step, replied the King, when once a Woman +has charmed the Mind, she soon makes her Way to the Heart, and since the +Queen has been pleased to return me mine, which I had so affectionately +given her, I will be always upon my Guard to keep it free and +insensible. +<!-- Page 25 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>And at the same Time he changed the Discourse, and soon after dismissed +his Confident, who was impatient till he had related his Progress to +<i>Jeflur</i>. The <i>Mollak</i>, embracing him a thousand Times, cried, thy +Services are inestimable, neither shall I be ungrateful. <i>Liamil</i>, Wife +to the <i>Bassa</i> of the same Name, is she whom you are to propose to +<i>Zeokinizul</i>. <i>Kelirieu</i> could not conceal his Surprise at her Name.</p> + +<p>How, says he to the Minister, can you conceive that he is to be +captivated by a Person of her Age? Would your <i>Holiness</i> but reflect on +the Nature of <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Scruples. It must be some enchanting Beauty +which can transport him to commit an Infidelity which he accounts no +small Crime. And you are for seducing him by <i>Liamil</i>, who has as few +Charms as any Court Lady, and who, besides, is under conjugal +Engagements. How shocking will the Idea of this complicated Guilt appear +to the Prince, who cannot bear the Thoughts of a single Infidelity? Ah! +learned <i>Mollak</i>, you require of me what is beyond my Power, and out of +the Course of Nature. Furnish me with a proper Instrument, let the +Person to be recommended be young, gay, handsome, and artful, and then I +will be answerable for the Success.</p> + +<p>Surely you must be very little acquainted with <i>Zeokinizul</i>, interrupted +the Minister, is it not apparent that this Prince, who has been used to +an antiquated Beauty, and was so excessively fond of her, will think +nothing lovely but as it resembles his Spouse? Besides, he will have no +Time to attend to the +<!-- Page 26 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +Suggestions of his Scruples. And <i>Liamil</i>'s small +Share of Beauty will prevent any Mistrust in him. I rely more upon her +Wit than on her personal Charms, in which she has few Equals, and that +is the Talent by which I suppose she shall commence the Intrigue; +Opportunity will forward it. Besides, do you think that I am so blind to +mine own Interest, as to provide <i>Zeokinizul</i> with a young ambitious +Mistress, who will be for monopolizing the royal Favour, and never be +satisfied till she has grasp'd the Disposal of all Offices and Honours? +No, no, my dear <i>Kelirieu</i>, <i>Liamil</i> is the Woman for the King, 'tis she +whom you must bring him to like, if you value my Friendship, and whose +Friendship can equal mine? Any other than she would give me too much +Umbrage for me to bear with it long. There is a Bill for a Thousand +<i>Tomans</i>, go and receive them at the Treasury. A thousand more shall +recompense your Success.</p> + +<p><i>Jeflur</i> was quite void of true Liberality, but this Matter concerned +him too nearly to lose such a dexterous Manager, who had taken it into +his Hands, by an unseasonable Parsimony. <i>Kelirieu</i> appear'd the next +Day at the King's Levee, who took him into his Closet, and renewing +their last Conversation; what a feeble Remedy, says he, do you propose +for my violent Agitations! Such Sufferings as mine require something +more than Words. I know a Person, replied <i>Kelirieu</i>, whose Conversation +is so charming, that I am sure your Highness upon a +<!-- Page 27 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +Tryal, will be so +delighted with it, that it would recover your former Chearfulness. The +King seeming to question it, the Lord flew away to the Queen's +Apartment, to tell <i>Liamil</i>, that the King had sent for her.</p> + +<p><i>Liamil</i>, full of Joy, as having already been instructed, made no less +Haste thither. But how was she surprised and mortified, when +<i>Zeokinizul</i>, having ask'd her what she wanted, view'd her for some Time +without speaking a Word more. Tho' she was prepared to act her Part, she +could not forbear blushing, tho' more out of Spite than Bashfulness. And +as she could not presume to speak first, after staying about a Quarter +of an Hour in the Apartment, she made a low Courtesy, and withdrew, full +of Confusion and Rancour.</p> + +<p>The <i>Mollak</i>, who was waiting for her Return, used his utmost to appease +her. Believe me, says he to her, <i>Zeokinizul</i> is smitten, only allow him +Time to get the better of some troublesome Scruples, and every Thing +will be according to our Desires. And indeed, she was scarce out of +Sight, but <i>Zeokinizul</i> was sorry for the cold Reception he had given +her. He blamed himself for his Incivility; and, to make her some Amends, +he went to the Queen's Apartment. Now was the critical Instant, the +decisive Moment for this Princess. Could she have suspended her +excessive Devotion to receive the King her Husband in a becoming Manner, +there had been an End of all <i>Jeflur</i>'s Schemes, and <i>Kelirieu</i>'s +thousand <i>Tomans</i> had been saved to +<!-- Page 28 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +the Treasury; but her sending him +Word, that she begg'd his Highness would suffer her to finish her +Devotion before she waited on him, gave him Time enough to talk to +<i>Liamil</i>, who did not fail of exerting all her Talents, which charm'd +the King to that Degree, that he thought <i>Kelirieu</i> had not exceeded in +his high Enconiums, the Wit and agreeable Qualities of this Lady. And +under Pretence of being extremely taken with her Conversation, he +desired her Company in his Closet that very Evening.</p> + +<p><i>Jeflur</i>'s Exultations at hearing this News from <i>Liamil</i>, were beyond +all Description. He made her repeat the Oath, which she had at first +swore, never to require the Rights of the Favorite <i>Sultana</i>, but be +satisfied with the Honours of the Handkerchief. He drew her a Plan for +her Rule of Life, regulated her Behaviour to the Queen, and instructed +her in the King's Temper. In fine, he imitated the fond Mother, who, +upon her Daughters being soon to be delivered up to a Bridegroom, +prepares her for the Conflict, represents to her the Pleasures and +Sorrows attendant on the Marriage State, and instructs her how to +heighten the one, and alleviate the other. When he came to be alone, he +applauded his happy Choice, and really he never could have met with a +Person so fit for the Purpose, nor who would have submitted to his +Directions with less Ambition, and more Pliantness and Punctuality.</p> + +<p>Besides, her singular Wit, <i>Liamil</i> had a Serenity of Temper which +excited Love, +<!-- Page 29 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +though she was in her thirty sixth Year. The Minister +before this, was under no Apprehension that she would fail in her Aim at +<i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Heart. The artificial Charms with which she concealed the +Loss, or want of natural ones, the exquisite Neatness and Elegancy of +her Dress, with the Gracefulness of her Deportment, rendered the +Conquest certain. Besides, it was no Novelty for a <i>Kofiran</i> King to +keep a Mistress older than himself, and some have been even known to +retain the Affections from Father to Son, to the third Generation.</p> + +<p><i>Liamil</i> did not fail to keep so promising an Appointment. She found +<i>Zeokinizul</i> expecting her, and tho' this Prince had prepared himself to +see her, he was as much disordered at the Sight of her, as he had been +in the Morning. <i>Liamil</i> was oblig'd to furnish Talk, for <i>Zeokinizul</i> +went no further than a reserv'd Complaisance; and after being a full +Hour by themselves, upon the Prince's signifying that he would be alone, +she left him, having only receiv'd eight or ten Answers, and those +rather civil than gallant. Who can conceive the Anguish of <i>Liamil</i>, +when she return'd to <i>Jeflur</i>? Wretch that I am, cried she, throwing +herself upon a <i>Sopha</i>, here her Sighs stopp'd her Voice, that she could +not proceed. <i>Jeflur</i> was struck with Amazement, and knew not what to +think of such Emotions. He dried her Tears, he inlarged his Promises, +and particularly vowed he would make her rich Amends for the Vexation +she suffered on his Account. +<!-- Page 30 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +Let me alone, said she, at last, was it +not enough to make me marry a Man whom I hate, but must you also draw me +to love one who slights me? Yes, the King, with whose Love you flatter'd +me, slights me; I am come directly from his Closet, where I was with him +above an Hour; and so far from making Love to me, that he did not say +the least soft Thing. Is not this Coldness? Is not this slighting? Is +this all that raises such a Storm in this poor Bosom, replied <i>Jeflur</i>? +Did not I forewarn you, that <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s deep Sense of his Duty, +would make him be greatly upon the Reserve with you? And that you would +think him insensible, tho' he was only immerst in Thought? Why did not +you intice him? Come, come, be easy, I will engage to procure you +another private Meeting; but take Care not to act the Prude again so +unseasonably. Ply him with every alluring Art, and even make Use of a +fond Violence to make him yield. He is not to be treated like common +Lovers. These Injunctions cannot be disagreeable to you. <i>Zeokinizul</i> is +perfectly handsome, and in the Prime of Life. You love him, and +therefore must leave no Means untry'd to secure his.</p> + +<p><i>Liamil</i> relish'd this judicious Lesson, and impatiently waited the +Performance of <i>Jeflur</i>'s Promise; and being resolv'd to make the utmost +Efforts to seduce <i>Zeokinizul</i>, she promised herself, that at the next +Meeting she should beat down all Resistance, and allure the King to +gratify her Desires. <i>Kelirieu</i> soon +<!-- Page 31 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +brought it about, for the King +seeing nothing dangerous to his Freedom in <i>Liamil</i>, was easily +prevailed upon by the Entreaties of his Confident, to admit of another +Visit from her. Accordingly he sent her a Message to come in the Evening +to a certain Chamber in the Palace. It is easy to conceive how welcome +this Message was to her. She was there some Time before the King +appeared. The Apartment had but a dim Light; however, this rather +favoured than prejudiced <i>Liamil</i>, as her Wit was to kindle the first +Desires in <i>Zeokinizul</i>. Their Conversation must however, remain a +Secret, as neither of them has reveal'd it to any one. What is certain, +and also more important, is, that <i>Liamil</i> so charm'd the King by her +lively Flights of Wit, heightened by an expressive Air, that he heard +her with more Pleasure than he had imagined, that the Inticements of +this Woman were too strong for his Virtue, and that at last, she +gradually drew him to a Couch, where he gave her the Pledges of his +Love, satisfied her longing Desires, and completed the <i>Mollak</i>'s +Stratagem.</p> + +<p>This first Step, at once put an End to all the King's Remorse and +Disquietude. He repeated several Times the Pleasure which his +experienced Mistress enhanced in such a Manner as his devout Consort was +a Stranger to, and at last left this fatal Chamber in such a Temper as +<i>Jeflur</i> and <i>Kelirieu</i> had been contriving; that is, passionately in +Love. Their Meetings were for some Times a Secret, but Passion soon grew +too vehement to be concealed. +<!-- Page 32 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +It became the common Talk of the +Courtiers, and at last it reached the Queen's Ear. But she, instead of +endeavouring to reclaim her Spouse by an endearing Carriage, and the +Ascendency which she had over him, gave herself up to a fruitless +Lamentation for his Misfortune, at the Feet of an Image of <i>Suesi</i>, and +this unseasonable Devotion deprived her of all Hopes of ever regaining +her Consort's Heart. <i>Liamil</i>'s Husband took upon him to resent his +Wife's Infidelity, upon which he receiv'd an Order never to have any +Commerce with her. Her Father, who was one of the most eminent <i>Bassas</i> +in the Kingdom, began also to exclaim against it; but a Quantity of +<i>Tomans</i> which he greatly wanted, effectually silenced him. Even +<i>Jeflur</i> himself, in order to avoid Suspicion, openly censured the +King's Behaviour. The Monarch was offended at his Representations on so +delicate a Point, and sharply said, I have indeed made you Master of my +Kingdom, but I expect to be Master of myself. This Answer completed the +<i>Mollak</i>'s Design, and he took Care that it should not be lost to the +People. The general Displeasure which it gave, is hardly to be imagined. +The King's Amour, which had been so greatly desired, appearing to settle +<i>Jeflur</i>'s Power, was look'd upon in a very different Light. It was +look'd upon as an odious Adultery, an impious Commerce, which would pull +down divine Vengeance upon the Kingdom. Satires and Lampoons flew about +every where, in which both Lover and Mistress were so +<!-- Page 33 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +openly exposed, +that any one who was a Stranger to their Fickleness, and how suddenly +they pass from one Extreme to the other, would have been apprehensive +that the most dangerous Commotions were at hand. However, <i>Zeokinizul</i> +was so charmed with <i>Liamil</i>, that he was continually with her. He +pitched upon the House of an old <i>Bassa</i> of the first Rank, for the more +peaceable and secure Enjoyment of the Delights of his new Mistress. All +the Inventions of the most refined Luxury, were employed to add new +Incentives to Wantonness. The House seemed the very Residence of Love +and Delight. Every Thing in it declar'd the Elegance of the Mistress, +and the Magnificence of the Lover. Each succeeding Day brought with it +the most ravishing Scenes, without any Alarm or Disturbance. The old +<i>Bassa</i> and his Family saw no more than the Prologue, only some few +Spectators of approved Discretion and Secrecy, were admitted to be +present at the Plot of the Play, but for the Conclusion, it was +privately transacted between the two chief Actors.</p> + +<p>It is a Saying of a great <i>Kofiran</i> Poet, that Virtue is like a steep +Island, there is no setting Foot on it again when once one is out of it. +<i>Zeokinizul</i> was a sad Instance of this. In the midst of these +delightful Meetings, which consisted entirely of Confidence, <i>Liamil</i> +obtain'd Leave for one of her Sisters to be admitted. Imprudent +Creature! not to see that after she herself had stifled all Remorse in +her Lover's Heart, +<!-- Page 34 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +their being so nearly related would not be Proof +against Love, nor hinder her from becoming her Rival. This Lady, who +could not boast of more Beauty than her Sister, surpass'd her even in +Wit, and was possess'd of all the Arts and Qualities requisite in a +Favourite. She was as enterprizing as <i>Liamil</i> was moderate; of +unbounded Ambition, haughty, revengeful, entirely bent on her own +Interest, and aiming at royal Favour only for its Advantages, such was +<i>Leutinemil</i>. She no sooner perceiv'd how easy it would be to supplant +her Sister, but she formed the Design, and <i>Zeokinizul</i> who began to be +pall'd with the long Enjoyment of so indifferent a Mistress, was easily +inclin'd to vary the Object of his Love. He therefore commenced an Amour +with <i>Leutinemil</i>, but however, was far from discarding her Sister, his +View being only to sharpen his Appetite with Novelty, in order to return +with the greater Gust to his first Entertainment. Love is well known to +pay no Regard to the Tyes of Nature; <i>Liamil</i> was so exasperated at +<i>Leutinemil</i>'s being her Rival, that she forgot she was her Sister. She +hastened to inform <i>Jeflur</i>, and to engage him to revenge her Quarrel. +The <i>Mollak</i> was thunderstruck at this News, for such an Alteration in +the King had shipwreck'd all his Hopes. His two thousand <i>Tomans</i> were +lost, and he seem'd on the Brink of his Ruin. In this Extremity he had +Recourse to <i>Kelirieu</i>.</p> + +<p>But it was no longer this Courtier's Interest to serve him. The two +thousand <i>Tomans</i> were all he could get of the vast Riches +<!-- Page 35 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +which had +been promised him, and as <i>Liamil</i> had shewn but little Concern for her +Friends, he sided with her Sister, who was like to prove a powerful +Benefactress to her Creatures. So that all the soothing Speeches of the +<i>Mollak</i> made no Impression on him, neither was <i>Jeflur</i> greatly +concerned at it; for, being long practised in Wickedness, he had already +discovered a Way to remove his Fears, without hazarding his <i>Tomans.</i> +Endeavour, says he to <i>Liamil</i>, to preserve those Remains of Favour +which the King still has for you. Be blind to those Fondnesses which so +deeply affect you; let not your Sister's Rivalship alarm you: I will +soon bring it to an End. Flatter <i>Zeokinizul</i>; I know him, Fondness and +Complaisance are the only Means to preserve his Heart.</p> + +<p>Pursuant to these Instructions of <i>Jeflur</i>, <i>Liamil</i> so far from +troubling the King with Complaints, was more eager in her Caresses, and +the Prince overjoyed to Love and be beloved by two such easy and +unsuspecting Rivals, carried on with both of them an Amour, whose Guilt +seemed to make it the more delightful. <i>Leutinemil</i> became with Child, +and as she protested that her Husband had no Share in her Pregnancy, it +must be attributed to <i>Zeokinizul</i>. <i>Jeflur</i> was not at all disturbed at +it, he was only affraid of the Mother, and here was a favourable +Opportunity to dispatch her.</p> + +<p>She went her Time very happily, and was safely delivered. <i>Zeokinizul</i> +paid her his Compliments in the most tender Terms; but a +<!-- Page 36 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +few Days +changed all this Joy into the deepest Sorrow. She was seiz'd with +violent Pains in her Breast, which were followed with such terrible +Convulsions, as, in a few Hours proved the Death of this unfortunate +Mother; nor could the Physicians, or at least they would not, declare +the real Cause of it. <i>Zeokinizul</i> was so afflicted at this unexpected +Loss, that he intermitted every Pleasure and Diversion. <i>Liamil</i> seemed +to indulge an excessive Grief on a double Account, and so artfully +concealed her Joy for her Rival's Death, that the compassionate King +dismist his Sorrows to put an End to hers. This Shew of Sympathy and +Tenderness in <i>Liamil</i>, imposed on many, and reunited <i>Zeokinizul</i> to +her with more Fondness and Attachment than ever.</p> + +<p>Though he had a very important War upon his Hands, it did not divert him +from the Gratifications of Love; he left the entire Management of every +Thing to the <i>Mollak Jeflur</i>. The Welfare of his Troops and Glory of his +Arms were to depend on Generals of the Minister's Appointment, whose +Weakness and sordid Parsimony, occasioned several very ignominious +Miscarriages to the <i>Kofirans</i>. <i>Zeokinizul</i> had such a paternal Love +for his People, that the Loss of a hundred thousand brave Soldiers, and +above seven Millions of <i>Tomans</i> would have greatly afflicted him, had +his Passion for <i>Liamil</i> left him any Freedom of Thought, but in her +Company, he was insensible to every other Concern. The disinterested +Fondness of this Favourite, who +<!-- Page 37 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +only loved the Lover in the King, must +have made her the happiest that ever was, if relying less on her Merit, +or warned by a recent Experience, she had guarded against some of her +own Sex, whom she must think envied her Elevation, and watch'd her Ruin; +but as an illusory Conceit that a Passion which had subsisted for many +Years, would never be extinguished, brought her into the very Misfortune +from which <i>Leutinemil</i>'s Death had delivered her.</p> + +<p>She had three Sisters still remaining, who all longed impatiently to +show themselves to their Sovereign, though they were none of Nature's +Master-pieces. Coquetry and something worse had always been hereditary +in this Family, who yet seem to have bewitch'd <i>Zeokinizul</i>. The eldest +of these three Sisters, was the Widow of a <i>Bassa</i> of the second Rank, +she expected the Precedence as being a little more sprightly than the +others; and full of a high Conceit of her Desert, she depended on +keeping her Station long enough to put the others out of all Hopes. She +had a great deal of <i>Leutinemil</i>'s Temper, only still more Ambition. +There had formerly been a very close Intimacy betwixt her and +<i>Kelirieu</i>, and it is thought, that he espoused her Interests as much +through Gratitude, as Envy and Revenge to displace <i>Liamil</i>.</p> + +<p>Her continued Familiarity with <i>Zeokinizul</i>, had worn away even that +little Modesty which the most abandoned Prostitutes are seen to retain; +and having been long in Possession of his Spouse's Rights, she came to +look upon +<!-- Page 38 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +herself as such; and made no Scruple of seeing Company when +she was just coming from her Lover's Arms, and her Face full of the +Marks of his eager Caresses. I have been assured by several Noblemen, +that one Day she threw herself out of an Arbour, under Pretence of +avoiding <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Embraces with her bare Breast and loose Hair, +and said to them, very unconcernedly, for God's Sake see how this +Fornicator has handled me. She had now lost all Relish for these +delightful Parties of Pleasure, whilst they were to be in private, and +was continually importuning her Lover to chuse a Set of Associates. +<i>Kelirieu</i>, to compass his own Aim, seconded the Favorite's Desire with +such flattering Stories, that his Master recommended to him the Care of +finding out some Persons of both Sexes who were fit to bear a Part in +these Festivals of <i>Bacchus</i>, and the <i>Cytherean</i> Deity. The Confident +laid hold of this Opportunity at length, to gratify <i>Lenertoula</i>'s +Impatience to be introduced to the King. Her Sister <i>Liamil</i>, who had +entertained no Suspicion at her Punctuality in shewing herself at Court, +was as easy with Regard to her being admitted as one of the Guests. But +<i>Zeokinizul</i> was not so indifferent about her, for he fell violently in +Love with her at her first Appearance. <i>Lenertoula</i> observed him very +attentively, and artfully avoided any Steps which might give him Reason +to conclude, that she was his own. The Monarch was caught in the Snare, +and when she perceived the Force of his Love was equal to her Wish, +<!-- Page 39 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +she +declar'd to him the Conditions on which alone she would yield herself up +to his Embraces. <i>Zeokinizul</i> could refuse her nothing. Rank, Titles, +Riches, all was laid at her Feet; and <i>Lenertoula</i> being now in no +Danger of Disappointments, or at least in a Condition to support them, +was under no Apprehension of her Intrigues becoming publick.</p> + +<p>This second Act of Perfidiousness in her Sisters, fill'd <i>Liamil</i> with +Rage. As she had imagined the King's Heart to be her Property by right +of Prescription, she bitterly reproach'd him for his Inconstancy. But +her Reign was over, for <i>Zeokinizul</i> dismissed her coldly, without so +much as even debating the Matter with her, and within a few Hours, he +notified to her by one of his <i>Eunuchs</i>, that she should immediately +leave the Court. This was a Step of <i>Lenertoula</i>'s Policy. This new +Favourite, fearing lest her Sister, than whom none better knew the +King's Temper, might lay hold of one of his soft Moments, when he could +refuse nothing, to recover her Property. She objected some religious +Scruples which could not be satisfied but by removing <i>Liamil</i>. This +unfortunate Creature, who, after so long a Continuance in so high +Favour, had nothing left but the Sorrow for losing it, and the Shame of +having purchased it at the Price of her Honour, retired into a <i>Mosque</i>, +where she is said to have spent the Remainder of her Life in penitential +Devotions. I must, for my Part, be of Opinion, that her Grief was +<!-- Page 40 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +much +greater for the Loss of her Lover, than for having ever enjoy'd him. +However, tho' she had lost <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Love, she felt his Generosity; +for he order'd all her Debts to be discharg'd, and settled on her a very +large Annuity. <i>Lenertoula</i> was so fully satisfied by such evident +Proofs of her Sovereign's Love, that she now consented to make him +happy. The Monarch's Desires were heightened by Enjoyment, which was +recompenced with the Power of disposing, according to her Fancy, Titles, +Posts, and Monies; so that she greatly exceeded all her Predecessors in +an unbounded Authority. <i>Jeflur</i> was now no longer in a Condition to +contrive her Fall, as he had that of <i>Leutinemil</i>. He was too much +shock'd at the Sight of his approaching End; for a few Days more were to +terminate his Greatness. He employed them in salutary Counsels to his +Master in Relation to the Government of his Dominions. Yet he persisted +in his Perfidy and Ingratitude towards his best Friends, even till his +last Moments, by alienating the King from a <i>Mollak</i>, whom he had often +promised to recommend for his Successor. This old Minister died +unlamented by all but the King, who being ignorant of his Incapacity and +Mismanagement, especially in the last three Years of his Life, shewed a +sincere Sorrow for him, and ordered a stately Monument to be erected to +his Memory, in the royal <i>Mosque</i> of the Capital of the Kingdom. But +when after having declared, that he would admit of no prime Minister, +and began to +<!-- Page 41 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +govern himself, he plainly saw how unworthy <i>Jeflur</i> had +been of the great Trust reposed in him, he no longer lamented him; but +not to carry his Resentment too far, he only countermanded his Orders +for the Monument, and left the Ashes of his ignorant and treacherous +<i>Visier</i>, to remain in the obscure Corner where they had been deposited.</p> + +<p>The Death of his Minister soon changed the Face of the whole Court. +<i>Zeokinizul</i>, who hitherto could not bear the least Application to +Business, now regularly shut himself up every Day for some Hours, in +order to consult Means to repair the Losses of the Nation, and retrieve +its Strength and Character. Now all Remembrance of its many +disheartening Miscarriages was soon lost in the Glory of his Conquests. +The chief Motive of this War, was to lessen the vast Acquisitions of the +Emperor of the <i>Maregins</i>. His Daughter the Queen of <i>Ghinoer</i>, who was +an aspiring, lofty, and resolute Princess, in contempt of the many +Treaties made to prevent it, insisted that her Sex did not exclude her +from inheriting all her Father's Dominions. Besides, an Army of tried +<i>Veterans</i> which had served the late Emperor with so much Honour, her +heroic Courage, together with her extraordinary Beauty so universally +engaged the Hearts of her Subjects, that to a Man they offered to inlist +and support her Claim at all Events. <i>Zeokinizul</i>, very well knew, that +the Efforts of his whole Power would be requisite to humble such a +formidable Enemy; yet, had he not exerted himself +<!-- Page 42 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +above common +Measures, all would have been feeble and insufficient, on Account of the +Emptyness of the Treasury, the Decay of Trade, the Scarcity of Men, and +the Discontent of the People. To regain the Esteem of the <i>Kofirans</i>, +whom his Indolence, and the weak and wicked Ministration of <i>Jeflur</i> had +alienated, he caused it to be declared, that he was resolved to head his +Army in Person: Surprising Turn, fortunate Instance of the Easiness and +Loyalty of his Subjects. All the King's Deviations, though of such bad +Consequences, were instantly forgotten. He had now been on the Throne +near thirty Years, yet they made this generous Change the Æra of his +Inauguration. Not a Murmur was heard, there was no longer any +Appearance, at least any Complaint of Distress. Old Noblemen came with +Pride from the farthest Provinces, to place their Sons in their +Sovereign's Houshold Troops. Farmers freely parted from their lusty +Children, though the helpful Companions of their Labours, and a part of +their last Farewel, was to fight manfully in the Presence of their King, +who so nobly would share in the Danger, for the Honour of the Nation. In +fine, <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Amours, which had so greatly disgusted the +<i>Kofirans</i>, because they had been disappointed in the Effect they wish'd +and expected from them, were indifferent Matters to them, now he +manifested a Genius for Glory; instead of Ridicule and Invective about +his Irregularities, War was all the Subject of Discourse, and +<!-- Page 43 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +every one +according to the Fertility of his Invention, laid magnificent Schemes to +raise their King to an unparallell'd Glory. This general Complacency and +Zeal were duly reported to the King, who was not wanting to encourage so +good a Disposition; prompted by the Importance of answering their +endearing Idea of him, and verifying their Wishes, he shewed himself +such as really he was, but hitherto restrained and seduced by his crafty +<i>Visier</i>. Yet amidst these mighty Affairs, he was not totally diverted +from Love; for it never was held to be incompatible with the Desire of +Glory, and he always allotted his Time so properly, that neither of +these Passions encroached upon the other. His Fondness for <i>Lenertoula</i> +did not slacken his Pursuit of Glory, it rather tended to animate and +increase it, she being exorbitantly ambitious, and esteeming her Lover's +Laurels her own; upon a Persuasion that her Grandeur would increase with +the King's Power; then her Pride could not bear the Thought that the +Queen of <i>Ghinoer</i> and her Allies should prescribe Laws to a Prince, +whom she would have under no Controul but her own.</p> + +<p>The Magazines being at last formed, the Plan for the Campaign +determined, and the Troops at the general Rendezvous, <i>Zeokinizul</i> set +out for the Army, which was to act against the <i>Bapasis</i>. Never did a +saved People shew greater Marks of Gratitude to a brave Father of his +Country at his Return from a dangerous War, than were shewn by +<!-- Page 44 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +the +affectionate <i>Kofirans</i> to <i>Zeokinizul</i>, wherever he came. +<i>Lenertoula</i>'s accompanying him to the Army, seemed not to be minded. +The King, the King, was the Cry, and they would see nothing but the +King.</p> + +<p>This Ardour induced the King unalterably to persevere in his Resolution +of committing the Welfare of so loyal a People to none but himself, and +during the Remainder of his Reign, whenever he has been advised to ease +himself of the Fatigue of Government, by deputing some faithful and able +Minister, this has always been his generous Answer, "The <i>Kofirans</i> Love +me so as to shed their Blood in my Cause, and they are so dear to me, +that I cannot do less in Return than to watch myself over their +Welfare." There was not, among all the Generals of the Age, one of more +Bravery and Experience than he whom <i>Zeokinizul</i> had appointed to serve +under him. Tho' he was a Foreigner, he was not the less belov'd by the +<i>Kofirans</i>; for as he was perfectly acquainted with their Customs and +Temper, he modell'd his Behaviour accordingly. This great Man was famous +for Military Qualifications, only, if so noble an Excess may be term'd a +Fault, he was perhaps too brave. But this Intrepidity, which in any +other Country would have hindered his Preferment, promoted it among the +<i>Kofirans</i>, and raised his Character with that People, who are all Fire +and Spirit. His Name was <i>Vameric</i>. He has been reproached with +interrupting the Actions of this Campaign, which was not so glorious +<!-- Page 45 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +as +its Opening had promised. It is certain, that this General, to make +<i>Zeokinizul</i> more in Love with War, and to animate him by great +Successes, had weakened the other Armies, the better to enable that +under his Command to perform some signal Exploits, which gave the Enemy +an Opportunity to make an unexpected Irruption. A strong Army of the +Queen of <i>Ghinoer</i>, forced the Passes of the <i>Nhir</i>, and penetrated into +a Province of the <i>Kofirans</i>. This Misfortune stopp'd <i>Zeokinizul</i> in +the midst of his rapid Conquests. He chose about twenty eight, or thirty +thousand of his best Troops, which he would lead in Person, to reinforce +a small Number, who, being far inferior to the Enemy, had been obliged +to shelter themselves under a Fortress. To encourage these brave Men in +their long and painful Marches, he travelled at their Rate; but he had +no sooner reached a Town near the Place appointed for the Junction of +his Forces, when he was seized with a Distemper which had a fatal +Appearance.</p> + +<p><i>Lenertoula</i>, who never would leave the Prince, was the Cause of it; for +how contrary to all Reason is it to attribute it to the Fatigue of the +March, <i>Zeokinizul</i> having been inured to much greater in his continual +Huntings. As all the Courtiers in this Kingdom are Officers, and as the +Expedition these thirty thousand Soldiers were upon, required all their +Precaution and Activity, none but the Favourite was left for the Monarch +to divert himself with. But Conversation +<!-- Page 46 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +between two Lovers, who are +continually together, would soon become insipid, if they confined +themselves to common Topics. These Lovers were not so Phlegmatic, they +ardently repeated their Protestations to love each other with an eternal +Constancy. They mutually urged that the present Vehemence of their +Passions, was a Pledge of its unalterable Permanency. Then they +proceeded to sensible Proofs, and demonstrated, that the Conjunction of +two Bodies is an Emblem of the inseperable Union of two Souls. With +mutual Ardour, they repeated the Demonstration; till at last the +Demonstrator quite spent, sunk under the Fatigue of the Arguments. In +this Manner <i>Zeokinizul</i> and <i>Lenertoula</i> amused themselves, when he was +informed of the Barbarity with which his Enemies carried on the War in +his Country, at which he was deeply affected. The Impossibility of +quickly meeting them, made him very impatient; the Account of their +Forces added to this Uneasiness; in fine, Joy, Grief, Hope and Fear, +distracted his Heart, and the Shock of such opposite Motions was too +strong for his attenuated Body. A violent Disorder seiz'd upon his whole +Constitution, which was succeeded by such a Fever, whose first Symptoms +seem'd to presage Death.</p> + +<p>This melancholy News was soon spread over the whole Kingdom. The +<i>Kofirans</i> seem'd quite stupified at it; they fell into an inexpressible +Grief and Consternation at the Thoughts of losing such a Sovereign, and +at +<!-- Page 47 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +such a Juncture. The Queen, who by this Time had seen her Folly, and +heartily repented of the superstitious Credulity, by which she had lost +the Embraces of a real Husband in seeking those of an imaginary one, +left her Palace, and, prompted by Grief and Love, flew to the sick King. +She was still in Hopes, that the Deity meant only to alarm the Nation; +and therefore she was for forwarding by her Presence, and deserving by +her kind Offices, the happy Return of his Affection, which she did not +doubt would be the Effect of this Correction. All the People used to +gather about the Governor of <i>Kofir</i>'s House, and flock to the Palace, +where Expresses arriv'd every Hour, shewing such Concern, that their +Fate seem'd to depend on the Death or Recovery of <i>Zeokinizul</i>. Never +was there such an universal Affliction; never was a Father more lamented +by affectionate Children. They looked at each other with Tears in their +Eyes, and could not speak for sighing. Paleness and Dejection sat on +every Countenance. The Artificers had no Heart to work. All Diversions +and Shews were suspended, and that vast and splendid City, which seemed +the Center of Gaiety and Pleasure, was now changed into a general Scene +of Silence and Melancholy. Yet it was observed, that the <i>Imans</i> and +<i>Dervises</i> did not in the least sympathize with this publick +Consternation. Some will be apt to imagine, that these pious Men had a +divine Intimation that the King would not die. But whoever knows them, +will much rather conclude, +<!-- Page 48 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +that, like Physicians who are never better +pleased than in Times of general Sickness, they only concealed a selfish +Joy under the Mask of an affected Calmness; and it is really scarce +credible what Advantage they drew from this public Calamity. The King, +being given over by the Physicians, seemed to be lost without miraculous +Relief from Heaven, and as the meanest of his Subjects was not wanting +in his Endeavours to procure it, so that <i>Sesems</i>, which in that Country +are Devotions of about a Quarter of an Hour, perform'd by the <i>Imans</i>, +are known to have risen to such an Extortion, as not to be said under +two <i>Tomans</i> each.</p> + +<p>During the first Days of his Illness, <i>Lenertoula</i> never left the royal +Patient's Bed, who also protested, that Death had nothing bitter to him, +but the leaving his Mistress and his Subjects. But no sooner was the +Monarch sensible of his desperate Condition, than a Cloud of awful Ideas +broke in upon his Mind. The Principles he had imbibed by Education, +revived in his Conscience. He reflected on all his Conduct to the +present Time, and the Thoughts of his being on the Point of passing into +another Life, impress'd on him strongly the Conditions on which his +Religion offers eternal Happiness. All <i>Kelirieu</i>'s Care to conceal +these penitential Dispositions, could not hinder their being known among +the Courtiers. The <i>Kam Kertras</i>, Grandson to the <i>Kam</i> of <i>Anserol</i>, +late Regent, at the Instance of his Father, who was a very religious +Prince, resolv'd to make Use of +<!-- Page 49 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +them, in order to restore the Queen to +her Rights, and deprive the wicked <i>Lenertoula</i> of her Usurpations. +Taking with him a <i>Mollak</i>, equally venerable for his Birth and Piety, +he went to the sick King's Apartment. <i>Kelirieu</i> knowing how much it +concerned both him and her whom he served to hinder this Visit, dared to +refuse them Admittance, under Pretence that the King was going to sleep, +and would see no Body. Although the <i>Kam</i> and the <i>Mollak</i> plainly saw +through the Deceit, yet Regard to the melancholy Juncture, made them +quietly withdraw, in Hopes of a more lucky Opportunity, which yet they +never would have found, had they contented themselves with such Excuses. +They returned the same Day, and <i>Kelirieu</i> gave them the same Answer, +which provoked the young Duke beyond Measure, being naturally very +fiery. What, said he, with a threatning Air, shall you, who are no +better than a Lacquey, dare to deny Admittance to your Master's nearest +Relation? and at once kick'd open the Door, and went forward into the +Apartment, followed by the <i>Mollak</i>.</p> + +<p>Upon <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s asking the Meaning of that Noise and Bustle, +<i>Kelirieu</i>, who had acted without any such Orders from him, durst not +make any Answer, but the young <i>Kam</i>, whose Heat was not over, gave the +King such an Account of it, as made him very angry; for he not only +condescended to ask the <i>Kam</i>'s Pardon, but forbad <i>Kelirieu</i> his +Presence. The judicious <i>Mollak</i> laid hold +<!-- Page 50 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +of that Instant to discourse +of the Concerns of his Conscience to the dying Monarch; and as his own +Reflections, had beforehand suggested preparative Ideas of it, he was +the sooner brought to the wished for Contrition and Repentance.</p> + +<p>The Behaviour of the <i>Mollak</i> is certainly very praise-worthy, but it +would have been much more so, if after having, with a truly Apostolic +Zeal, pathetically represented to the Sovereign the Enormity of his +Crimes, the Certainty of his Death, and the Punishments to be dreaded +after such a licentious Life, he had stopp'd at bringing him to a due +Sense of Things, and strengthening him in such a pious Disposition, but +he shewed more Zeal than Discretion, for his Devotion being sharpened +with Resentment, made him imagine, that he was ruining <i>Lenertoula</i> +beyond Retrieve; whereas he was, in Reality, doing nothing less than +paving the Way for her greater Exaltation, in Case the King recovered.</p> + +<p>Thus, under a Pretence that true Repentance required more than a +Detestation of what was past, and guarding against future Relapses, he +signified to <i>Zeokinizul</i>, that it was still his farther Duty to make +some signal Satisfaction for the Offence which he had given to the whole +Kingdom. That in order thereto, he must disapprove and abrogate all his +Grants and Favours to <i>Lenertoula</i>. <i>Zeokinizul</i>, who now was intent +only upon dying in the Religion of his Ancestors, pleasing his People, +and carrying their Esteem as well as their +<!-- Page 51 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +Grief with him to the Grave, +complied with all the <i>Mollak</i>'s Injunctions, ordered <i>Lenertoula</i> to be +immediately dismissed the Court, with a Prohibition from ever appearing +in his Presence.</p> + +<p>Having thus settled all the Affairs of his Conscience, <i>Zeokinizul</i> +became senseless, so that he was thought dead by all his Attendants. But +this sudden Alteration was the happy Crisis which saved his Life. During +this Interval of Inanition, the Mind recover'd its former Situation, and +freed itself from all its Anxieties. The Body performed its Functions, +and the Passages which all the Art of the Physicians could not relax, +opened of themselves, which was followed by such copious Evacuations as +saved the Patient. This joyful News spread itself rather quicker than +the other, so that it was as soon known at <i>Kofir</i> that the King was out +of Danger, as that there was no Hopes of his Recovery.</p> + +<p>In the mean Time, the Queen arrived. She made Use of the <i>Mollak</i>'s +pious Impressions, and tho' her Austerities and Vexations, together with +her advanced Age, had rendered her no tempting Spouse, yet the kind and +grateful Monarch was so taken with her Tenderness and Diligence, that he +vowed, that from this Time his Heart should be her's, and her's alone. +But that Man knows himself but very little, when he is in Danger; and +that the Assurances of Amendment which he then makes, are weak and +transitory when he has recover'd his Health, +<!-- Page 52 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +is what the Sequel of this +History will abundantly demonstrate.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i> was soon perfectly recovered, and then his Generals whose +Ardour had been restrain'd by Fear and Grief, soon made their Enemies +feel, that their King was restored to them, for they forced them to +repass the <i>Nhir</i> with considerable Loss; and the most Skilful in +Military Affairs do not scruple to affirm, than if the <i>Kofirans</i> had +not been headed by a General prudent even to a Fault, not so much as a +single Soldier would have been left to have given the Queen of <i>Ghinoer</i> +an Account of their Expedition. This General so deficient in the ardent +Bravery of his Country, was call'd <i>Leosanil</i>; he was afterwards +disgraced, and though his Age was still fit for Military Functions, he +was taken into the Cabinet, which was a fitter Theatre for his +Abilities; for there being out of the Reach of Swords and Guns, and left +to undisturbed Reflection, his Advice and Schemes were of excellent +Service. I now shall leave <i>Zeokinizul</i> in the pure Embraces of his +Consort, and preparing to besiege a Place of Strength, to follow +<i>Lenertoula</i> in her Disgrace.</p> + +<p>She did not betray any great Confusion, when <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s harsh Order +was notified to her; but she little knew what she was to go through upon +the Road. She took a travelling Chariot, accompanied by her Sister, and +followed by a few Domestics. Here was an Instance of such Strokes with +which Fortune +<!-- Page 53 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +now and then seems to warn the Insolent and Ambitious. +After having led her Favorites to the Altars to be worshipped like petty +Deities, she afterwards drags them thither to be sacrificed like fatened +Victims.</p> + +<p>This Woman, who lately saw the most illustrious among the <i>Kofirans</i> +cringe at her Feet, and practise the basest Submission to obtain only a +single Look, now sees herself exposed to the contemptuous Insults of the +very Meanest; the whole Nation combining to plant Daggers in her Heart +by their Reproaches and Shouts at her Downfal. It having been whispered +among the Country Folks, that <i>Lenertoula</i> had occasioned the King's +Illness, and they being possess'd of a Notion, propagated by her +Enemies, that she had been bribed to poison the King, crowded all the +Roads in her Way, loading her with Curses and Invectives, threatning to +tear her to Pieces, had they not thought it would be a more galling +Punishment to her Pride, to let her pass on amidst the same Hisses and +Outrages of their Fellows, for above eighty Leagues successively. It was +next to a Miracle that she escaped with her Life, for she was put to all +Manner of Shifts and Precautions to deceive these furious Clowns who +vowed to revenge their King; whenever she came near any Town, she +stopp'd above half a League off, whilst one of her Out-riders went +before to take fresh Horses, and observe the Bye-roads, that thus she +might avoid the Tumults of the Inhabitants. At last she reach'd <i>Kofir</i>, +which she found disposed to +<!-- Page 54 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +receive her in the same rough Manner as the +Country had done. The whole Nation appeared determined against her. One +Day she happened, a little indiscretely, to take the Air in her Chariot, +while the Streets were full of People, who were celebrating the happy +Recovery of their King with all Kinds of Sports and Rejoicings. Possibly +she might flatter herself, that the easy <i>Kofirans</i> seeing her appear +Abroad to join in the publick Festivity, would relinquish the Suspicions +they had harbour'd against her. But they were too inveterate, and the +Event was quite different, for had it not been for the Dexterity of her +Coachman, and the Swiftness of her Horses, she had infallibly fallen a +Victim to the Fury of the Populace. This hazardous Experience of their +Malice, brought her to lead a Life at <i>Kofir</i> very different to her +Inclinations, being ashamed to shew herself in any Assembly, where she +must have been their Jest and Scorn, and much less daring to appear in +the public Walks. When she was not shut up in her Palace, she used to +amuse herself for a while in a Garden, which, tho' one of the finest in +all <i>Kofir</i> was the least frequented. Here it was that such a mortifying +Accident befel her, as exceeded all the rest, and which sensibly shewed +her how low she was fallen from her former Grandeur.</p> + +<p>It was as follows: An Officer who, tho' her Relation, had not felt the +happy Influences of her Favour, because he never made himself known to +her, which renders his Impoliteness, I may even say, his Brutality +inexcusable, +<!-- Page 55 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +resolving to give the finishing Stroke to her Anguish.</p> + +<p>According to the gallant Custom of the <i>Kofirans</i>, he politely +approached towards <i>Lenertoula</i>, who was taking an Evening Walk, in +Company with her melancholy Sister, and wished for nothing more than for +a third Person to join them, whose Chearfulness might help to dissipate +the continual Gloominess of her Temper. After the first Compliments, +which are not short among this ceremonious People, the Gentleman +entertain'd the Ladies with the most refined Gallantry. He expressed +himself in so graceful and charming a Manner, that they were both +infinitely taken with his Conversation. <i>Lenertoula</i>, that he might talk +more at Ease, desired him to sit down by her upon a Bank of Turf, and +after some Questions on the Condition of his Fortune, offered him her +Services, if needful, for its Improvement. This Person, of all Men the +most rude and brutish, for he was insulting over the Disgrace of an +unfortunate Woman, who was extremely desirous of obliging him, and had +made him an Offer of an unusual Generosity. He gave her a full Answer to +the first Article. "I was a general Officer in the King's Army, said he +to her, where I served honourably for twenty Years. But having been +injured by the Ministry, I retired to my Estate, with which and some +small Marks of Distinction, which could not be denied my long Services, +I live contented." "But my Lord," interrupted <i>Lenertoula</i>, who was for +knowing +<!-- Page 56 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +how she stood in the Thoughts of People of Quality, "I am +surprized that you never address'd yourself to the Favourite, in order +to obtain, by Means of her Interests, the just Reward of your Services. +She took a Pleasure in countenancing Merit, and certainly such as yours +would have engag'd her Favour." "I, Madam," replied the Officer, with +Indignation, "should I make a Prostitute my Refuge? I am her Relation, +and it is the only Blot that I know of in our Family. I am too tender in +Point of Honour, to hold any Thing from the Hands of a Woman, who has so +notoriously trampled it under her Feet." At this <i>Lenertoula</i> was indeed +as one thunder-struck. She endeavoured several Times to make some Reply +to this ungrateful Officer; but her Voice failed her. He left them, and +her Sister was obliged to call her Slaves to lead her to her Chariot, in +order to carry her back to her Palace.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i>, in the mean Time, had crowned his Campaign, by taking the +important Fortress he had besieged. His Soldiers encouraged by his +Presence, had at once surmounted Nature, Art, a severe Season, and the +Efforts of a numerous and brave Garison. Having now nothing to do but +repose himself under his Laurels, he returned towards his Capital. Then +it was that his Subjects, in an Extacy of Loyalty, were seen to prepare +him a Reception answerable to their Love, and present the most affecting +and pleasing Sight to the Eyes of a Monarch, +<!-- Page 57 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +who aimed more at reigning +over their Hearts, than subduing them by Fear. If the News of his +Sickness had dispirited them, the News of his Approach rejoiced them. +But when they came to see him, their Transports were beyond all +Description, their Eyes overflowed with Tears of Joy and Affection, +whilst the Sky rung with their Acclamations. How happy is such a King +amidst such a People, and how formidable when he heads them against +their Enemies! <i>Zeokinizul</i> stayed three Days at <i>Kofir</i>, as a Testimony +of his Regard for this cordial People, who also to shew their Sense of +so much Condescension, and to celebrate his Return, invented Variety of +polite Entertainments. The King and People seemed to strive who should +be kindest, for he gave Orders, that all the Inhabitants without +Exception, should have Admittance into his Presence, that they might +feast themselves with the delightful Sight which they had so +affectionately desired. It is affirmed, that the Idea of his late +Danger, from which he was often told, that nothing less than a Miracle +delivered him, being still strong upon his Mind, he had a real +Tenderness for the Queen, whom he had restored to all her Rights. They +were more than once surprized in such Attitudes as clearly shewed their +Reconciliation.</p> + +<p>But how frail are Vows drawn from us only by Danger, how soon effaced by +Safety and Temptation! Scarce was <i>Zeokinizul</i> returned to the Hurry, +Brilliancy, and Diversions +<!-- Page 58 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +of the Court, but those Impressions which it +was hoped would be as lasting as they were salutary, were by Degrees +soon dissipated. His Love for <i>Lenertoula</i> appear'd to have been like a +sudden Fire, ready to burst out with greater Vehemence. At first he was +sorry for his using her so abruptly; than he began to frown on the +Advisers of her disgraceful Removal, and recall'd <i>Kelirieu</i> and others +who had sided with his injured Favorite. <i>Kalontil</i>, Governor to the +Prince, the presumptive Heir of the Crown, was banished from Court, for +Reasons which were never thought fit to be made publick. Some imputed it +to his endangering his Pupil, by having brought him to his sick Father, +without any such order, and without Attendance. Others charge him with a +Project for aggrandizing himself upon the King's Death. But the most +knowing conclude, that he must have spoken ill of the Favorite, in order +to set the young Prince against her. <i>Zeokinizul</i> seemed afterwards +mightily to affect Solitude, nor did even Hunting itself please him, +unless when he went without Company; which gave Occasion to suspect, +that there were some private Meetings carried on in order to a +Reconciliation with the Favourite, and to which <i>Kelirieu</i> was only +privy. At last, weary of constraining his Temper, he complained openly +of the Abuse put upon him at a Time when he was incapable of Reflection, +and of the Indignity offered to his Honour, +<!-- Page 59 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +in urging him with terrible +Threatnings to disgracefully remove, and expose to Contempt and +Violences, a Person whose only Fault towards him was an Excess of Love. +He restored her to her Rank, Titles, and Privileges; but openly +declaring, that all this was only to prevent her former Commerce with +him proving her utter Ruin; for that he was determined not to keep her +any longer as a Mistress. Yet notwithstanding these Protestations, +private Measures were forming in order to procure as fond a +Reconciliation as ever. The Reality of these Assurances were soon +illustrated, when he broke the solemn Promise he had made to the +<i>Mollak</i>, and recall'd his dear <i>Lenertoula</i>. But this was too slender a +Reparation for what she had suffered. She required of <i>Zeokinizul</i>, a +more complete and signal Triumph. Immediately the pious, but +over-zealous <i>Mollak</i> was dismissed the Court, and ordered to his +<i>Mosque</i>. A <i>Visier</i> also whom the Favourite particularly hated, having +always opposed her Amour, was ordered personally to declare to her, that +<i>Zeokinizul</i> again acknowledged her Mistress of his Heart, and only +waited her Orders, and a List of her Enemies, in order to revenge her to +the utmost. The <i>Visier</i> obeyed; but at the same Time he took secure +Measures that he might not be upon the fatal List, and to prevent this +imperious Woman from abusing the King's Weakness, an infallible Poison +which +<!-- Page 60 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +he found Means to have given her, worked at the very Instant that +he went to perform his Commission. As she was soon violently seiz'd with +the Approaches of Death, it was believed by the Generality, who had no +Notion of foul Play, that <i>Lenertoula</i> had been overcome by an Excess of +Joy, which is always more forcible than that of Grief, especially in +Women. Upon this Notion, a <i>Kofiran</i> Wit made four Verses, which may be +thus rendered in <i>English</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>'Tis needless now my famous Blood to name,<br /> +This Act alone will immortalize my Fame.<br /> +My King, on gaining Life, return'd my Pow'r,<br /> +For which I dy'd his Glory to restore.</i></p></div> + +<p>It was thought for a long Time, that this would prove an inconsolable +Loss to <i>Zeokinizul</i>. He seemed to have no Ease, no Satisfaction, but in +heaping Gifts and Favours on all <i>Lenertoula</i>'s Relations, to manifest +how dear she was to him. However, the Marriage of his only Son, to a +Daughter of the King of <i>Jerebi</i>, his Relation, the Magnificence and +Diversions at the Celebration of the Ceremony, and the Congratulations +from all Parts, at last gave a chearful Turn to his Disposition; and he +wisely began to think, that the Honours he conferr'd on the Sister of +his dear Mistress, besides sixteen +<!-- Page 61 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +thousand <i>Tomans</i> which he gave to +her Husband; together with a tender Remembrance, which he vow'd always +to retain for her Ashes, was amply fulfilling all that the most tender +Passion could require. His Courtiers, who were surprised to see his +Heart continue for a Time disengag'd and inaccessible to any new +Passion, were in daily Expectation of seeing the Liberty which he had so +happily recovered, offered up to some youthful Beauty. But the Court +Ladies strove so eagerly for this Prize, that their over Forwardness +made him averse to having an Intrigue with any. They were ignorant that +Resistance inflames Desire, and he at that Time scorned Enjoyments too +easily procured. <i>Kelirieu</i> in the mean Time grew uneasy at his Master's +Indifference, as it deprived him of the most substantial Emoluments of +his Post. He saw his Favours entirely depended on his being subservient +to the King's Pleasures, so that he spared for nothing in order to +restore that Employment which he had executed so much to his Master's +Satisfaction, and his own Advantage. The Nuptials of the young Prince +opened a Way to it. Nothing can equal the Joy, Magnificence, and +Splendour, which appeared on that Occasion. The City of <i>Kofir</i> +distinguished itself above all others in the Kingdom; for as it has not +its equal for Largeness and Riches, so +<!-- Page 62 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +it surpassed them all in the +Eclat of its Zeal and Affection for the Royal Family. In twelve of the +most remarkable Parts of the City, there were large and superb Saloons, +where all without Distinction, were admitted to dance. There was a +Profusion of Refreshments of all Kinds. The best Musicians had Orders to +attend. The Sound of such an infinite Number of Instruments, accompanied +with harmonious Voices, added to the Murmurs of the Fountains of Wine +which were playing every where, inspired such a rapturous Gaiety to +numberless Crouds of People, that no Stranger, however, acquainted with +the Affairs of this Kingdom, could, at that Time of excessive Mirth, +have imagined, that it had for many Years been involved in a bloody and +expensive War.</p> + +<p>This Season of universal Joy, Love chose to captivate again +<i>Zeokinizul</i>, after such an Interval of boasted Liberty. The chief +Inhabitants of <i>Kofir</i>, who are a distinct Body from the Nobility, the +Magistracy, and the Citizens, had decorated in the most superb Manner +the Sessions House for a Ball, to which they invited the King and royal +Pair. Every one was admitted in their Mask Habits, to give the Citizens +an Opportunity of shewing their Wives the Magnificence, Gallantries, and +Diversions of the Court, which at other Times is out of their Power. +Accordingly +<!-- Page 63 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +<i>Zeokinizul</i>, attended by all his Courtiers, came to this +Ball, in Habits as strange as they were elegant. The Sight of such a +beautiful Assembly, struck him with a delightful Surprise. Here was no +painted Allurements, no artificial Charms, such as he was daily +conversant with in his Palace. All here was pure Nature, which seem'd to +have chosen this Day to present him with a Sight of her most beautiful +Productions. The Beauty, the Air, the Motion, and Youth of these lovely +Objects was so enchanting, that they looked like the heavenly <i>Houris</i>. +<i>Zeokinizul</i> was enchanted at the Sight of such a brilliant Assembly, +his Eyes wandered from Beauty to Beauty, till they seemed at once to fix +on a young Lady of a distinguished Appearance. She was in the Habit of +an <i>Amazon</i>, with her Bow and Quiver hanging at her Shoulders. Her +flaxen Hair, which shone with Diamonds, floated in Ringlets, and her +charming Breast half naked, ravish'd the Sight. "Lovely Huntress," said +the Monarch, "unhappy those whom your Arrows pierce, their Wounds are +Mortal."—— This Speech gave the Charmer a fair Field for returning +such an Answer as might inflame <i>Zeokinizul</i>; but whether she did not +dream of such a Conquest, or Presence of Mind failed her, she ran and +hid herself among the Maskers. This Disappointment was in some Measure +relieved by a Company of +<!-- Page 64 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +twenty young Persons, who began a Dance, which +was much in Vogue at that Time, but first invented in the King of +<i>Alniob</i>'s Country. They perform'd it so gracefully, that he stood like +a Man deprived of his Senses. The Charms of each of these beautiful +Dancers, threw him into his first Hesitation, which would soon have been +ended, had any one of them uncovered her Face. It is past all Doubt, +that the Heart of <i>Zeokinizul</i>, which longed for an Object, would have +received the Impression with Transport. He went to one of the Ends of +the Saloon, where Women of an ordinary Rank were seated in a Kind of +Amphitheatre. Their Dress was in nothing inferior to those of a higher +Rank; and besides, they had those fresh healthful Countenances, which +being the Result of Temperance, and a plain Way of living, was not to be +found among the Quality. <i>Zeokinizul</i> stood viewing them, but his Hour +was come. Love waited for him under a Mask, and she who wore it was now +going to let this mischievous Deity fly into <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Heart. She +was a young Woman, of a brown Complexion, lately married to a freedman, +who having deserv'd his Master's Favour by nocturnal Services, had, +together with his Liberty, obtained a Post among those who robb'd the +Prince, and plunder'd the People. They are called <i>Omeriserufs</i>, or +Rogues of the second Class. She, whom Love had already appointed for +<!-- Page 65 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +Favourite, under Pretence of pulling something out of her Pocket, dropt +her Handkerchief, and as it is said, purposely. <i>Zeokinizul</i> hastily +took it up; and, as he could not reach her Seat, he toss'd it to her in +the most polite Manner. A confused Murmur immediately spread thro' the +Saloon, with these Words, <i>The Handkerchief is thrown</i>. The King was too +much taken up with viewing the Person to whom he had been so +complaisant, to take any Notice of such Whisperings. The Charms she +display'd in taking off her Mask, and her genteel Manner of her thanking +him for the Honour, fill'd him with such passionate Love, that he even +there gave her some Intimations how much he was taken with her Beauty. +After this Declaration, he soon left the Ball, for having received such +a Wound, he wanted to be in private with his Confident, in order to +consult about his new Love. <i>Kelirieu</i> had already prevented his +Master's Orders, for as he narrowly watched him, he perceived which of +the Company had captivated him, and immediately informed himself of her +Rank and Condition.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i> was transported with Joy at <i>Kelirieu</i>'s Report of his +Enquiries. He made himself sure, that the Husband of this young Person, +being one of those Set of Men, who Mind nothing but Riches, would not +only resign his conjugal Rights, but would even be brought to sollicit +his +<!-- Page 66 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Spouse to resign herself up to the King's Embraces, and herein he +was not mistaken. But the Difficulty was to induce the Seller's Wife to +be a Party in such a scandalous Contract; for tho' she was of low +Extraction, she had an Elevation of Mind, a Purity of Virtue, which +would have done Honour to the highest. She could not indeed help being +inwardly pleased that she had tried her Charms with such Success upon +her Sovereign, and the dazzling Idea of beholding <i>Zeokinizul</i> laying at +her Feet, all his Greatness and Power, her Husband made a <i>Bassa</i> of the +second Rank, her Name exchanged for one of the most illustrious, were +Circumstances which the natural Desires in Women of shining even in the +smallest Matters, would not allow her to be insensible; yet this +Sensibility did not greatly hasten the Lover's Happiness; for, as her +Duty united her to a Husband, from whom her Inclinations alienated her, +she was for distinguishing herself from all that had gone before her, +and reducing the Monarch to go through the entire Play of Love. But such +a formal Method was insupportable to him, for being used to conquer upon +the very first Appearance of his Desire, his Heart was for some Time +distracted with strong Conflicts between Love and Resentment, without a +decisive Victory on either Side. Sometimes he looked upon the Resistance +of his new Mistress, as an insolent Affront to Majesty; at other +<!-- Page 67 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +Times +this same Resistance inflamed him the more, and he pleased himself with +the Thoughts of subduing that obstinate Virtue which she affected. All +<i>Kelirieu</i>'s Artifices were at an End, and when he was passionately +urg'd by the King, he was at a Loss for any farther Expedient. However, +in such a critical Juncture, he determined to make one last Effort, in +order to bring the beautiful <i>Vorompdap</i> to his Lure, and if he fail'd, +to engage <i>Zeokinizul</i> to forget her in the Arms of another, who knew +the true Value of a Monarch's Affections.</p> + +<p>Being persuaded that every Woman who has once listened to a Lover, +cannot bear the Thoughts of losing him, but makes Use of every Art in +order to fix his Constancy, he waited upon her in Person, and said, with +an Air of Concern, At last, charming <i>Kismare</i>, your Rigour has +disgusted the <i>Sultan</i>, so as to make him give over his Addresses. Weary +of the Delays and Obstacles you was constantly raising against his +Passion, he has offered it to another, notwithstanding all my Endeavours +to secure him, by the highest Praises of your Charms, and making your +very Resistance, a Motive for his farther Pursuits. A Person, not indeed +of your perfect Beauty, but of a more indulgent Temper, captivates this +Monarch, and I apprehend, that her obliging and artful Behaviour to her +Lover, will for ever deprive +<!-- Page 68 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +you of a Heart which you might have kept +at your Devotion. <i>Kelirieu</i>, whilst he was speaking, did not fail to +observe the young <i>Vorompdap</i>'s Countenance, and had the Pleasure of +discerning the Vexation which she strove in vain to conceal. She was +some Time without returning an Answer, but after composing herself, and +putting a good Air upon the Confusion which the Thoughts of a Rival had +excited, I could never have imagined, said she, with an affected +Indifference, which, however, could not deceive the artful <i>Kelirieu</i>, +No, I never could have imagined, that after so many Marks and +Protestations of a sincere Affection, <i>Zeokinizul</i>, could have deceived +me in such a Manner. However, I am free from the Reproaches of a +criminal Uneasiness to gratify his Desires. Charming <i>Kismare</i>, replied +<i>Kelirieu</i>, had you shewed the Compliance which is due to a Monarch's +Love, I presume to swear by his Head, that he would never have proved +inconstant. But no Lover, and especially a King, will ever be satisfied +with an ideal Love. Kindness cherishes the Flame, but Unkindness +quenches it. But if you have still any Value for <i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Heart, +you still may avert the Blow which seems to trouble you. I, replied she, +smartly, I, troubled at the King's Alteration! very far from it. On the +contrary, I bless interposing Heaven, that it happened before Gratitude +<!-- Page 69 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +had prevail'd upon me to make him a Sacrifice of my Person, and, what is +still dearer, my Virtue. Alas! added she, sheding some Tears, which +flowed in Spite of her, that fatal Instant was drawing near. If it be +so, replied <i>Kelirieu</i>, I pity you for having undesignedly lost an +Enjoyment so necessary to your own Repose. For, added he, softly, I can +discover through all your Affectations, that you really love the King. +Your Heart is wounded, and only with-held by airy and unseasonable +Scruples. Well, yes, answered she, I do love him. I do not endeavour to +conceal it from you. Good God! what Woman in my Place could forbear. +But, how can I commit such a publick Adultery. A publick Adultery, +replied <i>Kelirieu</i>, with a seeming Amazement, what Blockhead has put +such Fancies into your Head. But this Crime so justly condemned both by +divine and human Laws, consists in the Injury done to a Man, whose Wife +against his Will, or without his Knowledge, admits a Gallant to her +Embraces? But, lovely <i>Kismare</i>, how different is your Case! Will not +your Husband quit all Pretentions to your Person? Has he not releas'd +you from the Vow of being only his? Since his Consent could unite you to +him, shall his positive Order be of less Validity to separate you from +him, and unite you to another; and that upon such an important Occasion, +when Riches, Titles, and +<!-- Page 70 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +Power are to reward his Cession, and your +Acquiescence? Believe me, charming <i>Vorompdap</i>, our <i>Imans</i> have adapted +our Religion to their own Views and Passions, without Regard to that +genuine and perfect Model, the Will of God. The Vow of Celibacy, upon +which they value themselves, as renouncing Marriage, would be an +insupportable Yoke to them, it would be soon shaken of, were it not for +their Hopes, which indeed are too often verified, of taking Advantage of +the Misunderstandings betwixt the Husband and Wife, whose Bands they are +taught to believe indissoluble. It is on this Account, that they are +constantly magnifying Conjugal Duties, and lay so much Stress on their +punctual Observation. Consider only what is done in other Nations, no +less wise and religious than ourselves. Divorces among them are +permitted, as frequently essential to the well being of Society. That +sacred Book the <i>Liegnelau</i>, cannot be supposed to contradict and +overthrow the <i>Bileb</i>, of which it is in a great Measure the +Accomplishment, and <i>Suesi</i> whom you worship, being the Messenger of the +great God, would not offer to abrogate his Institutions. Thus the Point +is clear, and now look upon yourself as a Woman who is about forming a +second Contract, being legally, religiously, and honourably discharged +from the former. <i>Zeokinizul</i> is equally at Liberty, for the State and +<!-- Page 71 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +Temper of the Queen invalidate their Marriage. So, that only a few +Formalities are wanting for your Union with the King, and you know, +Formalities among the more understanding Part of the World, are often +dispensed with, as tiresome rather than necessary. The Consent of both +Parties has always been the only Point insisted on as essential.</p> + +<p>These Proofs, which in the Mouth of a <i>Mollak</i>, would have been laugh'd +at, produced the designed Effect from <i>Kelirieu</i>. The young <i>Kismare</i> +was shaken, but not overthrown by them; she still insisted against +plunging herself into such shocking Scandal. This seemed a very slender +Objection to <i>Kelirieu</i>, who immediately replyed to it. Consider, says +he, the <i>Kams</i> of <i>Meani</i> and <i>Tesoulou</i>, do they bear any Marks of +their Mother's Scandal? Was a great Monarch's Love accounted a Disgrace +to a beautiful Lady? If you was acquainted with the first Ages of our +Monarchy, you would be satisfied, that they never made any Difference +between the Children of Love, and those born in lawful Marriage, as the +<i>Imans</i> are pleased to call it. A King at your Feet, Courtiers waiting +respectfully on your Orders, a Nation's Treasure at your Disposal, can +there be Contempt and Scandal amid such Advantages? Do not alarm your +Mind with Monsters of your own forming, only for the Sake of opposing +<!-- Page 72 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +them. Consent to make <i>Zeokinizul</i> happy, and I will lay him at your +Feet, more deeply in Love than ever. These Representations made a strong +Impression upon the young Favourite, whom the Eloquence of her own Heart +had already half convinced. She still stood upon some Punctilio's; but +when <i>Kelirieu</i>, which was his last Resource, intimated to her the +Danger which might accrue to her Husband from her Obstinacy, this drew +from her an absolute Consent. This last Circumstance was certainly the +best adapted to fix her; for the new <i>Kismare</i>, like all the rest of his +Fraternity, was making the most of his Time in the Management of the +Finances, and relying on his Spouse's Favour, he was above taking proper +Precautions to conceal or palliate his Imbezzlements. <i>Kelirieu</i> took +Care to fill <i>Vorompdap</i> with Apprehensions, that <i>Zeokinizul</i> would +infallibly call him to an Account, the most favourable Consequence +whereof, would be a Confiscation of all his Substance. It was then high +Time to come to a Resolution. Thus <i>Kelirieu</i> happily completed his +Negotiation. And having appointed the Time and Place for the first +Interview, he hastened, flushed with Joy, to congratulate his Master on +this Victory, which was the more delightful, as it had been attended +with such a Train of Difficulties.</p> + +<p>In the mean Time this new Intrigue, no more than the former, could not +diminish +<!-- Page 73 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +<i>Zeokinizul</i>'s strict Attention to the several Exigencies of +the State. His wise Orders had been so exactly executed throughout his +Empire, that his Armies were fit for Action even before the Spring. He +headed in Person the most considerable, which was destined for the +Conquest of the <i>Bapasis</i>, being still commanded by the brave <i>Vameric</i>, +whose prudent Conduct towards the End of the last Campaign had been +admired by his very Enemies. The Favourite followed the King as +<i>Lenertoula</i> had done, whom she certainly equalled both in Love and +Honour. The Campaign was opened with the Siege of a Town which the great +<i>Zeokitarezul</i> had fortified at a prodigious Expence, which, besides a +strong regular Wall and Outworks, had a Citadel which was accounted by +the Connoisseurs, a Master-piece of Fortification. It must have been +even an unsurmountable Barrier to the <i>Kofirans</i>, in case they reduced +the City. With this View their Attacks were carried on with all +imaginary Vigour. On the other Hand, this Place being as it were the Key +of the Country, the Keeping of it was of such Importance to the Enemies +of <i>Zeokinizul</i>, that they resolv'd to hazard every Thing in order to +its Relief. The King of <i>Alniob</i>, the Provinces <i>Junet</i>, and the Queen +of <i>Ghinoer</i>, Sovereign of the <i>Bapasis</i>, joined all their Forces, of +which the +<!-- Page 74 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +chief Command was conferr'd on the <i>Kam</i> of <i>Lundamberk</i>, +youngest Son to the King of <i>Alniob</i>, a Prince of a martial Disposition, +and of the greatest Bravery. His Ardour for Glory made him long to +encounter the King of the <i>Kofirans</i>, and his only Son, a young Prince +of the greatest Expectations, who could forsake the Embraces of a +youthful Bride, to attend his Father, and learn the Art of War under +<i>Vameric</i>, in the midst of Fatigues and Dangers. The Impetuosity of the +<i>Kam</i> of <i>Lundamberk</i>, would not allow him to conform to the wise +Counsels of the experienced Generals of his Army, who were for delaying +the Battle 'till he had got the Advantage of the Ground, as he was +inferiour to them in Numbers. He would not be ruled by their +Representations, but, led on by his evil Genius, he came and offered +Battle to <i>Zeokinizul</i>, whose Forces were already come out of their +Lines, and drawn up in order to receive him.</p> + +<p>As these Sheets bear the Title of the Amours of <i>Zeokinizul</i>, I may +perhaps be censured for giving a Detail of a Battle which seems quite +foreign to this Work; but as it occasioned several Vexations to the +Favourite, and having been omitted by every other Writer, I believe the +Reader will not be displeased at my relating such Particulars as have +come to my Knowledge.</p> + +<p>There was great Fault found with <i>Vameric</i>'s Dispositions. It was +reported, that +<!-- Page 75 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +he was so full of the Victory, that he took not the +least Care to secure a Retreat. Behind his Lines was a large River +call'd the <i>Tueska</i>, over which he had laid but one Bridge, which, in +Case of a Defeat, must infallibly have broken down with the Weight of +the flying Troops; the Consequence of which must have been their total +Destruction. All this is a known and undeniable Truth. But <i>Vameric</i> was +acquainted with the Spirit of the Nation which he commanded. He knew +that they would not fly before all the Forces in the World, when they +were fighting in their King's Presence. Then, what Occasion was there +for Bridges to favour a Retreat, when every single Man was resolv'd to +die, or conquer? Besides in one Night's Time he had cast up three +Trenches, of which the two first were sufficient to defend them against +the first Attack of the Enemy, which is always the most violent. The +third would be an impenetrable Defence against their weak and broken +Forces. Another considerable Advantage was, the dividing the Army into +small Bodies, which must extremely harass the Enemy, as they must be +under a Necessity of attacking but one at a Time. Whatever Confidence +<i>Zeokinizul</i> reposed in <i>Vameric</i>, he would share both in the Command +and Danger. This hazardous Circumstance threw the Favourite into +inexpressible Agonies. But neither her Tears nor her Intreaties, +<!-- Page 76 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +so prevalent at all other Times, were unable to restrain the resolute +Monarch. He and his Son were present during the whole Action, and in so +much Danger, that several were killed near them. At last, Victory +declared itself in his Favour, and the young Prince of <i>Alniob</i>, tho' he +exerted the utmost Courage and was seconded with an intrepid Valour, by +his Soldiers, who loved him entirely, was obliged to retreat. But tho' +this young Lion was defeated, he still struck his Enemies with Terror, +for after such an Experience of his Valour, they apprehended that he +would next Day renew the Action, which he certainly would have done, had +it not been for the Opposition of his Generals.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i>, after the Victory, applied himself to shew the Conquered +how highly he esteemed their Courage. It was ordered, that the same Care +should be taken of their wounded, as of his own Soldiers. The imprudent +and scandalous Report of some barbarous Orders issued by the Prince of +<i>Alniob</i>, in Case of his Success, made not the least Impression on this +magnanimous King, and all <i>Africa</i> joined in owning that the <i>Kam</i> of +<i>Lundamberk</i> and his Allies, could not have a more worthy Conqueror than +<i>Zeokinizul</i>. The Congratulations of his dear <i>Kismare</i> were still +wanting, to complete the Joy and Honours of this Victory. He hastened, +transported +<!-- Page 77 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +with Love, to lay his Laurels at her Feet, and tell her +that he was animated by her charming Idea, in the midst of all the +Horrors of the Battle. Here was a fresh and very worthy Motive to +increase her Tenderness towards him. But, who can know a Woman? This +Instant was to be the Period of it, or at least to put it to a severe +Trial.</p> + +<p>A young Prisoner, one of the most illustrious of the Nobility of +<i>Alniob</i>, having desired Admittance to <i>Zeokinizul</i>, was introduced to +him in his Tent, where he was sitting with the Favourite. She was struck +at the Sight of him, as indeed there never was any Man fitter to make a +Woman unfaithful, and justify her Infidelity. His Mein and Air spoke the +Hero, and his Address to the Monarch declared, that his Sentiments were +answerable. "Sire, said he, all our Efforts have not hindered Victory +from declaring itself for you. Tho' I can no longer continue fighting +with my brave Fellow-Soldiers, I could wish not to remain among mine +Enemies. Your Highness is no Stranger to Love, and it is that which +calls me back to my own Country. Be pleased therefore, to grant me +Permission to return, which will not a little augment your Glory, that I +shall there appear in Chains instead of those Trophies which I hop'd to +have adorn'd my Return." The majestic Air with which this young +<!-- Page 78 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +Warriour delivered himself, moved <i>Zeokinizul</i>, who immediately +answered, "You are at full Liberty to depart, and may Love do you more +Justice than Fortune." This Generosity of <i>Zeokinizul</i>, was planting a +Dagger in the Favourite's Heart, who had already conceived too great a +Passion for the Prisoner, to consent so readily to his Departure. Her +Passion hindered her from reflecting on the Consequences which might +flow from it, and turning towards the Monarch, she said, "Sire, let not +your extreme Generosity betray your Interest. When this young Warriour +is again among his Countrymen, he may engage them to come and attack you +a second Time. He has seen"——"Be it so, Madam," interrupted +<i>Zeokinizul</i>, "I can never have too many Opportunities of making +Heroes." She blush'd at this Answer, and <i>Kelirieu</i>, who perceived it, +readily guessing that the Departure of this young Prisoner was not +agreeable to her Inclinations, laid hold of the Opportunity of +<i>Zeokinizul</i>'s going out to give some Orders, of offering her his +Service. "Madam, said he, if I am not mistaken, I apprehend this young +Prisoner has renewed in your Mind some painful Idea; be pleased to +disclose the Secret to me, you shall find I will prove a faithful +Servant, devoted to all your Views and Inclinations. Is it your Pleasure +that this Prisoner should go or Stay? +<!-- Page 79 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +"I will find a Method of making +him consent to either, as you shall direct." "Ah, let him go replied +she, my dear <i>Kelirieu</i>, let him go, his Presence is so dangerous, that +any longer Stay would, I fear, make me become ungrateful and faithless +to my generous Prince. How charming he is! did you ever before see so +graceful a Person? How serene and noble is his Deportment, in the midst +of Misfortunes! However, possibly as a Prisoner, he may stand in need of +Money, go and offer him these two hundred Pieces of Gold, that he may +return to his Country in a Manner suitable to his Rank and Merit, and +bring me back an Account in what Manner he received them."</p> + +<p><i>Kelirieu</i> was of such a restless Vivacity, that he could not be +contented without Intrigues, which made him eagerly apply himself to +forming another. Having found out the fortunate Prisoner, he put the +Purse into his Hands with these Words. "Virtue, my Lord, is equally +cherished by both Sexes among us, and as a Proof of it, here are two +hundred Pieces of Gold, which you are desired to accept of from a very +beautiful Lady." "I should be unworthy the least of her Thoughts, +replied the Prisoner, were I to refuse her Favour, which this Juncture +has render'd necessary. If her Name be not a Secret, I would beg the +Favour of you, +<!-- Page 80 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +"my Lord, to introduce me, that I might pay my +Acknowledgements to this generous Lady." "She would, perhaps ask you for +something more, replied <i>Kelirieu</i>." "Ah, returned the Stranger, that is +not in my Power to grant. As I have not seen her, I can, without the +least Affront to her Beauty, preserve my Heart for the present dear +Possessour of it. Be pleased then, my Lord, to tell her, that I depart +full of the warmest Gratitude; and, since I am so fortunate as to have +the illustrious <i>Kam</i> of <i>Kelirieu</i> in my Interest, I beg him to be +assured, that upon my Return into my Country, as it is my highest Duty, +so it shall be my first Care, to make suitable Returns for his +Generosity to a Stranger, whom his polite Behaviour entirely frees from +the Meanness of receiving a Favour, which he would have refused from any +other Hand." <i>Kelirieu</i>, perceiving he entirely mistook his Intentions, +did not think proper to explain himself, and after taking his Leave, he +returned to make a Report to the Favourite of his unlucky Commission. +She was piqued at his Refusal, but making a Virtue of Necessity, she +endeavoured to efface the sudden Impression which he had made upon her +Heart. Fruitless Endeavours, his Idea was always present to her +Imagination. Neither Gratitude to the King, Diversions, nor Resentment, +could remove it, 'till by a most +<!-- Page 81 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +fortunate Accident, this haughty Rebel +became her Admirer, which soon terminated in the Gratification of her +Desires. But as the History of this Amour has no necessary Connection +with that which I am writing, I shall leave the several Incidents with +which it was attended, to be taken Notice of by some other Writer, only +observing, that this young <i>Alniobian</i> returning some Years after, into +the Country of the <i>Kofirans</i>, it was his Fortune to be united for ever +to his generous Benefactress, whom the Death of her Husband, and +<i>Zeokinizul</i>'s Indifference, left at her own Disposal. This Prince +perceived some Alterations in the Favourite, which were at first +excused, under Pretence of some feign'd Indispositions, and the Monarch +was so easy as to take her Word without any farther Examination into the +Truth of her Excuses.</p> + +<p>At the End of the Campaign, <i>Zeokinizul</i> return'd to his Palace, to +exchange the Fatigues of War, for the Embraces of Love, and make +Preparations for new Conquests, if his Enemies should reject the Peace +which he had offered them, on such equitable Conditions as contained +nothing of the Haughtiness of a Conqueror. The King's Presence brought +back to the Court all the Pleasures and Diversions, of which there had +been no Appearance during his Expedition. There was nothing but Balls, +Feasts, and magnificent Parties of Pleasure. +<!-- Page 82 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +His Fondness would not +allow him at any Time to be long absent from his Favourite. He +endeavoured by every Token of Affection to convince her that she had +found the Means to fix his Heart unalterably, and this might have been +really the Case, had he been taken up continually with Affairs of the +War, so as to have had but a small Portion of Time for his Pleasures. +But this not being the Season for Military Operations allowed him too +much Time for Indulgence, and the Monarch's Heart was not to be fixed by +any single Passion. The beautiful <i>Vorompdap</i> exerted herself to the +utmost, in order to prolong the Continuance of her Reign; but this was +the very Occasion of her Overthrow.</p> + +<p>The Daughter of one of the first Noblemen of the Kingdom appear'd at +Court. This angelic Creature had spent the first Years of her Youth in a +<i>Mosque</i> of holy Women, who, to make themselves amends for the Vow they +have taken to renounce the World, employ themselves in breeding up young +Ladies according to its current Maxims, and most fashionable Practices. +There was no beholding her youthful Charms, tho' not yet arrived at +their full Perfection, without Admiration. A <i>Bassa</i> of the first Rank, +thought her entirely deserving of his Homage. Accordingly he paid his +Addresses to her, and in a short Time was so happy as to gain her +Consent. Some weighty Motives however, oblig'd +<!-- Page 83 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +them to keep their +Intimacy private; but Love cannot be conceal'd, Discretion and +Tenderness being seldom found together. <i>Zeokinizul</i> perceiv'd that the +young <i>Bassa</i>, who till then had talked loudly against Love, was become +more pensive than usual. He himself had too much Experience not to guess +the Source of this Alteration. He mildly banter'd him upon it, and +diverted himself with raillying him for a Sensibility, which he often +had boasted he would ever resist. There was no Way for the young <i>Bassa</i> +to make the King give over these stinging Ironies, but by discovering +his Passion. The Excess of his Love made him unhappily Eloquent in the +Description of its charming Object. <i>Zeokinizul</i>, was inflamed by such a +beautiful Description; and, having designedly provoked him, by saying, +that as the Picture was drawn by the Pencil of a Lover, he suspected the +Likeness; the imprudent <i>Bassa</i> forgot to whom he was speaking, and how +reserv'd he ought to have been with a Prince of such amorous +Disposition, he offered to justify all he had said of his Mistress. This +was the very Thing <i>Zeokinizul</i> wanted. The Offer was agreed to, and +this enchanting Object brought into his Presence. The King no sooner saw +her, but he loved her. The Idea of a Rival so dearly loved, did not +occasion any Despair in the King of being happy; and, as a King makes +Love in a different Manner from a Subject, instead +<!-- Page 84 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +of making his +Mistress forget the young <i>Bassa</i> by Presents, and other Endearments, he +made Use of his Prerogative, by sending him away on an honourable +Pretence. He also took sure Measures to deprive him of the melancholy +Comfort of taking his Leave of her, and to prevent those two Lovers from +maintaining their mutual Affections by a Correspondence of Letters, +which would confirm <i>Nasica</i> (for so was this adorable Lady called) in +rejecting his Passion. At hearing of the <i>Bassa</i>'s Departure, her Heart +immediately became a Prey to Grief, Jealousy and Resentment; and +imputing his Conduct to his Indifference, she resolv'd to banish him +from her Remembrance, or if this was impossible, yet, at least, she +would appear to have done so. <i>Zeokinizul</i>, was soon informed of the +disorder'd State of her Mind. Few Confidents are to be found, who can +withstand the Solicitations of a King. She whom <i>Nasica</i> had chosen, was +one of the weakest. She discover'd to the King, the Rise, Increase, and +several other Circumstances of her Mistress's Love for the young +<i>Bassa</i>, and gave him a full Account of the Grief and Resentment she had +shewn at his unexpected Departure.</p> + +<p>In order to give these Emotions Time to arrive at such a Height, as to +subdue Love, <i>Zeokinizul</i> very carefully avoided speaking one Word to +<i>Nasica</i> of his Passion for her. However, as often as he +<!-- Page 85 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +happen'd to +see her, he never fail'd passing a Compliment upon her Beauty, but it +was always with such Calmness and Moderation, as was so far from being +thought to proceed from Love, that it was only accounted a proper +Complaisance in the Prince, who was willing to do Justice to such a +celebrated Beauty. The young <i>Bassa</i>, being ignorant that his Letters +were intercepted, had wrote several in so soft and persuasive a Style, +as to alarm <i>Zeokinizul</i>, and make him redouble his Precautions to +prevent any of them from falling into the Hands of those to whom they +were directed. But the Confidence he had of his Mistress's Affection, +not allowing him to suspect that <i>Nasica</i> could prove faithless, began +to think that some third Person interposed in their Correspondence. +After having long consider'd who could be this jealous Rival who thus +deprived him of his only remaining Comfort, his Suspicions fell upon his +Master. When he called to Mind the Suddenness of his being sent away in +an Affair which required no such Haste, it was but too evident, and his +Doubts increased to a Certainty. His whole Dangers and Misfortunes +immediately presented themselves to his View. He was not ignorant that +it was an unpardonable Crime to be a Rival to his Monarch, had his Love +been unsuccessful; what then could be expected, when his Happiness was +the sole +<!-- Page 86 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +Obstacle to his Sovereign's Love? However, not valuing his +Disgrace, provided his Mistress continued faithful, he wrote her a +Letter in the most moving Terms, representing to her, that a Crown ought +to come in no Competition with Love; that it was the Heart only which +ought to engage a Lady, who has a true Sense of that delicate Passion; +that upon this Principle he yielded the Preference to <i>Zeokinizul</i>, if +his Love was more pure, more respectful, or more perfect than his own. +This Letter was committed to an old Servant, in whom he placed the +greatest Confidence; but the Misfortune was, that this Slave's good +Qualities were mixed with several Vices, and particularly Drunkenness. +Being come to a Place where he was to change his Horse, he resolved to +rest himself a while, and empty some Bottles. This was the very Place +where the Spies of his Master's Rival used to intercept his Letters. +They knew by his Habit, that he belonged to the young <i>Bassa</i>, which was +enough to make them mistrust him. They went up to him, and after some +Excuses for their Freedom, invited him to drink of their Liquor. One of +them offer'd to bear him Company as far as <i>Kofir</i>, as he was going to +that City. The Slave overjoy'd at meeting with a Fellow Traveller, and +relying on the Swiftness of his Horse, staid here longer than he ought. +The Wine overpower'd him, and his artful +<!-- Page 87 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +Companion plying him with +Bumpers, soon disabled him from going any farther. The Sot fell asleep, +his Pockets were searched, and the Letter was known by the Direction to +be one of those which they were order'd to intercept. One of them +immediately set out to carry it to him who had appointed the Ambuscade, +and he flew to deliver it to <i>Zeokinizul</i>. As the young <i>Bassa</i> appeared +to know who was his Rival, suitable Measures were to be taken, and such +an Answer sent to him as might throw him into Despair, and make him +abandon a Passion which was now become dangerous. That it might have the +better Effect, <i>Nasica</i>'s Hand was exactly imitated, and every +discouraging Argument forcibly urged. This counterfeited Letter gave him +to understand, in the Name of his Mistress, that a crowned Lover being +more acceptable to her than a private Subject, she strictly commanded +him never to write, or speak one Word more of his presumptuous Passion.</p> + +<p>This little Artifice proved of very happy Consequence to <i>Zeokinizul</i>. +The young <i>Bassa</i>, who had a most respectful Regard for him, thought it +became him to return Contempt for Contempt. His Answer was carefully +deliver'd to the King, who could not but be highly pleased that the +Credulity of his Rival should promote his Love. To complete his +Satisfaction, he ordered a Letter to be writ to <i>Nasica</i>, in +<!-- Page 88 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +which her +Lover freely exhorts her to take him for a Patern, and make another +Choice. All these Batteries being so well disposed, <i>Zeokinizul</i> began +to think of disclosing himself. He gave a Ball to his whole Court, in +order to favour his Design, at which all the Ladies having an +Opportunity of entertaining themselves with their favourite Diversions +were highly delighted, and full of Gaiety. <i>Nasica</i> alone, seem'd +insensible in the midst of all these Entertainments. She retired at a +Distance to avoid the Conversation of the gallant Nobility. The soft +Languor of her Eyes sufficiently declar'd the Sorrow of her Heart, and +that the proper Person was wanting to dissipate it. <i>Zeokinizul</i>, chose +this Time to begin his Addresses. Charming <i>Nasica</i>, says he, his Eyes +sparkling with Love, what Disquietudes are those to which you seem to +abandon yourself. Is there any Mortal so happy as to cause them? I do +not think, Sire, return'd she, that what your Highness calls +Disquietudes in me, can Interest you so far as to ask me the Occasion of +them.—— Ah, Gods! not be interested, replied the transported Monarch, +can you doubt of it, have not my Countenance, my Eyes, even my very +Silence, which I have respectfully observ'd till now, have not all these +informed you, that my Happiness entirely depends on your Repose and +Contentment. Let not the charming <i>Nasica</i> be angry, continued he, +perceiving, +<!-- Page 89 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +that she heard him with Resentment, I love you indeed, but +my Passion is so pure, so submissive, that it can give no just Offence +to your severe Vertue. I little imagined, interrupted she, that all +these splendid Entertainments of the Court concealed any Design of +throwing me into such alarming Apprehensions. Alarming Apprehensions! +replied the King, is it then Matter of Grief to the loveliest Person now +present, that her Charms have captivated her Sovereign? Yes, Sire, +replied <i>Nasica</i>, resolutely, your Highness can only offer me a guilty +Passion, and I would incur your utmost Displeasure, I would die, rather +than condescend to it. Judge yourself, Sire, whether I have not Cause to +be alarmed. But no, my Fears are too hasty. The great <i>Zeokinizul</i> is +too just and generous to harbour a Thought of disgracing a Family which +has always served him with Zeal and Honour, and it was merely to try his +Subject, that he has demean'd himself to offer such Discourse to her. +Immediately making a respectful Courtesy, she returned to the Circle of +the Ladies.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i>, was not a little piqued at the Manner in which <i>Nasica</i> +had received the Declaration of his Love. He expected that Modesty and +Reservedness would have been her only Defence, and that, at least, she +would have spared reproaching him with such disagreeable Truths. After +having for a long Time watched all Opportunities +<!-- Page 90 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +of seeing and speaking +to her, finding himself disappointed and rejected, he lost all Patience, +so as not to care whether his Addresses to her were heard by the whole +Court, or not. One Day, as she was talking with the Ladies of Honour in +the Queen's Anti-Chamber, he came to her. A proper Respect made them all +withdraw, and the Monarch laid hold of this Occasion to renew his +Protestations. But all his ardent Entreaties had no more Success than +his first Declaration. <i>Nasica</i>'s Modesty disengaged her with Honour +from so delicate a Situation. <i>Zeokinizul</i> admired her Constancy, and +tho' he despair'd of ever gaining her, yet he could not prevail upon +himself to give over seeing her.</p> + +<p>In the mean Time, the young <i>Bassa</i>'s Resentment began to subside, and +he became sensible, that what he had mistaken for Indifference, was only +Love disguised and agitated with the most cruel Disquietude for the Fate +of his dear <i>Nasica</i>. This State of Anxiety grew insupportable, he would +be informed of the Truth at any Rate, and being at a Loss whom to trust, +since the most faithful of his Slaves had fail'd of reaching <i>Nasica</i>'s +House, he resolv'd to go thither in Person. All the Dangers which he ran +in disobeying his Sovereign's Orders, were too weak a Check for his +Passion, and he set out with a Willingness to perish, provided he could +once +<!-- Page 91 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +more throw himself at the Feet of the Object of his Love. After +many Hazards of being known and stopp'd, tho' under a Disguise, he +happily arrived at <i>Kofir</i>. But after a few Days employ'd in contriving +Means for an Interview with his Mistress, whom he had informed of his +Arrival, by a Letter convey'd to her by an old Governess, which +contain'd a Vindication of himself as well as his Surprise at her +Behaviour, he was known, and immediately surrounded by the Spies, placed +by the King to watch him, and whose Diligence was to be highly rewarded. +He stood upon his Defence, but being over-power'd, he was carried to one +of the Court Prisons. <i>Zeokinizul</i>, whose Passion had stifled his +natural Sentiments of Humanity, was pleased to hear that his Rival lay +in Chains. His Disobedience to the Royal Orders afforded a specious +Pretence for putting him to Death, and the King's Heart was immediately +inclined to such a cruel Expedient; but how was he struck, when +<i>Nasica</i>, being inform'd of the dreadful Condition of her Lover, threw +herself at his Feet all in Tears, conjuring him that the same Stroke +might put an End to both their unfortunate Lives. Let him live, Sire, +cried she, mournfully, or order that Death may unite us both in the +Grave. If your Highness be offended at the Refusal of my Heart, it was +no longer mine, Love having disposed of it in Favour of the unhappy +<i>Bassa</i>, who is now to fall your Victim. But his Views were honourable, +nor were +<!-- Page 92 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +mine less innocent. Let your Highness pronounce the Decree of +his Destiny, mine is inseperably annexed to it whatever it be.</p> + +<p><i>Zeokinizul</i> was moved with such exalted Virtue, and being naturally +tender and compassionate, he was grieved at seeing the Afflictions of +two Lovers whom he himself had render'd unhappy. A Ray of Wisdom opened +his Eyes, and restored him to himself. He raised up <i>Nasica</i>, and gave +Orders himself for the Preparations of her Marriage with the young +<i>Bassa</i>, who afterwards became one of his chief Favourites.</p> + +<p>So difficult an Act of Justice against himself, is one of the most +glorious Periods of this Monarch's Reign. His Love for <i>Nasica</i> settled +in a tender Friendship for this virtuous Lady, and soon after taking a +Disgust at the Commerce of Women, he fixed a Resolution to abandon it +entirely. His People became his whole Care. They adored him for the +Wisdom and Goodness of his Administration during the Remainder of his +Reign, which was much shorter than they desired. He endeavoured by his +Instructions and Examples, to leave in his Son a worthy Successor, whose +Virtues might keep up a lasting Idea of him. Such noble Cares were not +disappointed, for the Name of the great <i>Zeokinizul</i>, and the +illustrious Heir of his Crown, will be held in immortal Remembrance +among the grateful <i>Kofirans</i>. +<!-- Page 93 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A KEY</h2> + +<h3>For the better understanding the<br /> +Amours of <span class="smcap">Zeokinizul</span>.</h3> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" width="80%" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="A Key"> +<tr><td align='left'><h2><span class="smcap">Anagrams.</span></h2></td> +<td align='left'><h2><span class="smcap">French.</span></h2></td> +<td align='left'><h2><span class="smcap">English.</span></h2></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Africa</td> +<td align='left'>Europe</td> +<td align='left'>Europe</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Alniob</td> +<td align='left'>Albion <i>ou</i> Angleterre</td> +<td align='left'>Albion <i>or</i> England</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Alnobiens</td> +<td align='left'>Albioniens <i>ou</i> Anglois</td> +<td align='left'>Albionians <i>or</i> English</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Anserol (<i>Kam</i>)</td> +<td align='left'>Duc d'Orleans</td> +<td align='left'>Duke of Orleans</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bapasis</td> +<td align='left'>Païs-Bas</td> +<td align='left'>Low Countries.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bileb</td> +<td align='left'>Bible</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Duesois</td> +<td align='left'>Suedois</td> +<td align='left'>Swedes</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ghinoer</td> +<td align='left'>Hongrie</td> +<td align='left'>Hungary</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ginarkan</td> +<td align='left'>Carignan</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Goilaus</td> +<td align='left'>Gaulois</td> +<td align='left'>Gaules</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Goplone</td> +<td align='left'>Pologne</td> +<td align='left'>Poland</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Guernonies</td> +<td align='left'>Norvegiens</td> +<td align='left'>Norwegians</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Houris</td> +<td align='left'>Dames</td> +<td align='left'>Ladies</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jeflur</td> +<td align='left'>Fleury</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jerebi</td> +<td align='left'>Iberie <i>ou</i> Espagne</td> +<td align='left'>Iberia <i>or</i> Spain</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Imans</td> +<td align='left'>Prêtres</td> +<td align='left'>Priests</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Junes Provinces</td> +<td align='left'>Provinces-Unies</td> +<td align='left'>United-Provinces</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> +<!-- Page 94 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>Kalontil</td> +<td align='left'>Chatillon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kam</td> +<td align='left'>Duc <i>ou</i> Prince</td> +<td align='left'>Duke <i>or</i> Prince</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Katenos</td> +<td align='left'>Toscane</td> +<td align='left'>Tuscany</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kelirieu</td> +<td align='left'>Richelieu</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kertras</td> +<td align='left'>Chartres</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kigenpi</td> +<td align='left'>Pequigny</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kismar</td> +<td align='left'>Marquis</td> +<td align='left'>Marquis</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kismare</td> +<td align='left'>Marquise</td> +<td align='left'>Marchioness</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kofir</td> +<td align='left'>Paris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kofirans</td> +<td align='left'>François</td> +<td align='left'>French</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kranfs</td> +<td align='left'>Francs</td> +<td align='left'>Franks</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lenertoula</td> +<td align='left'>La Tournelle</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Leosanil</td> +<td align='left'>Noailles</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Leutinemil</td> +<td align='left'>Vintimille</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Liamil</td> +<td align='left'>Mailly</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Liegnelau</td> +<td align='left'>l'Evangile</td> +<td align='left'>the Gospel</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lundamberk</td> +<td align='left'>Cumberland</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Manoris</td> +<td align='left'>Romains</td> +<td align='left'>Romans</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Maregins</td> +<td align='left'>Germains <i>ou</i> Allemand</td> +<td align='left'>Germans</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Meani</td> +<td align='left'>du Maine</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Mollak,</td> +<td align='left'>le Cardinal Richelieu</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">p. 4.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Another Mollak,</td> +<td align='left'>le Card. Mazarin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">p. 5.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An old Mollak,</td> +<td align='left'>le Card. Fleury</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">pag. 13.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mollak,</td> +<td align='left'>l'Evêque de Soissons</td> +<td align='left'>the Bishop of Soissons</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">p. 49, and 50.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mosque</td> +<td align='left'>Couvent</td> +<td align='left'>Convent</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Neitilane</td> +<td align='left'>Italienne</td> +<td align='left'>Italian</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nhir</td> +<td align='left'>Rhin</td> +<td align='left'>Rhine</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nodais</td> +<td align='left'>Danois</td> +<td align='left'>Danes</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Omeriseroufs</td> +<td align='left'>Sousfermiers</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>d'Ourtavan</td> +<td align='left'>Vantadour</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pamenralt</td> +<td align='left'>Parlement</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pepa</td> +<td align='left'>le Pape</td> +<td align='left'>the Pope</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reinarol</td> +<td align='left'>Lorraine</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sesems</td> +<td align='left'>Messes</td> +<td align='left'>Masses</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sicidem</td> +<td align='left'>Medicis</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sokans</td> +<td align='left'>Saxons</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Suesi</td> +<td align='left'>Jesus</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tesoulou</td> +<td align='left'>Toulouse</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> +<!-- Page 95 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>Vameric</td> +<td align='left'>Maurice, <i>Comte de Saxe</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Visir, p. 9.</td> +<td align='left'><i>le Comte de</i> Maurepas</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vorompdap</td> +<td align='left'>Pompadour</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vosaïe</td> +<td align='left'>Savoïe</td> +<td align='left'>Savoy</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Zeoteirizul</td> +<td align='left'>Louis treize</td> +<td align='left'>Lewis the XIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Zokitarezoul</td> +<td align='left'>Louis quatorze</td> +<td align='left'>Lewis the XIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Zeokinizul</td> +<td align='left'>Louis quinze</td> +<td align='left'>Lewis the XV.</td></tr> +</table></div> +<h2><i>FINIS.</i></h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/azillus004.jpg" width="200" height="140" alt="pattern" title="pattern" /> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF THE KOFIRANS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18472-h.txt or 18472-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/7/18472">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/4/7/18472</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans + Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol + + +Author: Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon + + + +Release Date: May 30, 2006 [eBook #18472] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF +THE KOFIRANS*** + + +E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Labyrinths, Bill Tozier, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF THE KOFIRANS. + +Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol. + +With a Key. + + + + + + + +London: +Printed for G. Smith, near Temple-Bar. 1749. +[Price One Shilling and Sixpence.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +_The Bookseller, who has taken upon him to print this little Work, +having absolutely insisted upon my introducing it with a _Preface,_ +I was unwilling to refuse him so easy a Matter; and the rather as the +Omission might greatly prejudice it. He urged his Request, by saying, +that a _Preface_ was no less essential to a Book, than an _Exordium_ to +a Sermon. As few read the one, as listen to the other; however, if +either be wanting, the Performance is defective, and, is not so much as +thought worthy to be read in order to be censured. Nevertheless, what +can be said with Regard to a useless Discourse? Why, really, I think, it +is best to say nothing at all. This little Work places Truth in so just +a Light, that no Characters are wanting to point it out. But perhaps, +the real Truth may be amplified in it, and there may be Applications +made of it as false as injurious. This is what ought strongly to be +guarded against; and to this Purpose I sincerely declare, that I have +intermix'd nothing of my own in the Amours of _Zeokinizul:_ But, like a +faithful Translator, I have constantly kept close to _Krinelbol's_ +Manuscript. I have related the Facts just as he himself says they were +told him by the _Kofiran_ Nobility. This sincere Protestation, is all +that I can do, In order to remove any Suspicion of Interpolations. The +_Arabian_ Manuscript is still in my Possession, and if desired, shall be +printed. But I own, with Concern, that it is quite beyond my Power, to +procure such a Number of Types as will be requisite to give this +Satisfaction; therefore, let those who are willing and equal to such an +Expence, set the Printer to work. I promise to deliver him the +Manuscript on Demand. I cannot help thinking, but that the Malice of the +World is at its highest Pitch. Formerly People were overjoy'd at the +Certainty of the Antipodes; and to hear that the Inhabitants of those +Climates came nearest to us in Industry, and the Love of Arts and +Sciences; and that the Sun approached to, and receded from them, as it +does with Regard to us. In fine, that their Temperature, their Seasons, +their Manners, and Inclinations, were the same as our own. Yet, in this +my Endeavour to verify such a Resemblance, by Proofs extracted from +their own History, demonstrating by notorious and certain Facts that +they think and act just like ourselves, I shall be branded for an +Imposture; or some, who affect to be more sharp-sighted, will suspect +that under fictitious Names, I have represented Persons for whom my +Heart is filled with the most respectful Sentiments. Let this suffice, +as the shorter a _Preface_ is the better it is liked._ + + + + +THE AMOURS OF _ZEOKINIZUL_, + +King of the Kofirans. + + +After all the Labours and Attention of our best Academicians to form +just Plans, and draw complete Maps of the whole Terraqueous Globe, there +are many large Empires and powerful Nations, which their Enquiries have +not reached; so that they are not only ignorant of their Position, but +even of their Existence. Of this Number are the vast Dominions of the +King of the _Kofirans_, of which hitherto we have had not the least +Idea; and which probably would ever have continued unknown to us had not +an _Arabic_ Manuscript of the famous Traveller _Krinelbol_ luckily +fallen into my Hands. + +This illustrious Enquirer, of whom we have several Works, which +ostentatious Translators, on Account of their Excellency, have published +as their own, that he might not be misled by the various geographical +Descriptions of the Globe, determined to ground his Knowledge upon his +own Experience. With this rational View he left _Arabia Felix_, his +native Country, and travelled all over both _Asia_ and _Africa_. Always +careful to take an accurate View of every Thing which was worth being +seen or known, and making a judicious Collection of what was most +remarkable in the Customs and History of the Countries which he visited. +But a very small Part of his Collection has reached us. That we are so +unhappy as to have only mutilated and unsatisfactory Fragments of an +Author of such Veracity, and in such curious Matters, must be imputed to +the want of Printing in most of the eastern Nations, and the Ignorance +of this Traveller's Heirs. + +An Acquaintance of mine, who is extremely fond of Travelling, thinking +it would be a very acceptable Present, brought me these Sheets from +_Ispahan_, where they cost him twelve _Tomans_, that is between twenty +and thirty Pounds Sterling. I have translated it without either +diminishing, augmenting, or altering it in any one Particular. Only, +for the Reader's Convenience, I have expressed the Names of Posts and +Dignities in our Language, which in the Original were in _Arabic_, +keeping to it in the Appellations of Persons and Nations, out of regard +to historical Exactness. I do not in the least claim any Thanks or +Acknowledgements for my Trouble; the several Works of this Nature which +I have published producing in me an habitual Pleasure of employing my +Pen, for the Instruction and Entertainment of polite Readers. + +Possibly the whole Universe could not afford a more tranquil, happy +Kingdom than that of the _Kofirans_, would their Princes equitably sit +down contented with the Honours and Prerogatives with which they were +invested at their Institution, and not falsly imagine, that their +Grandeur and Glory consist in the Oppression of their Subjects; and +would they be watchful to entail the Harmony and due Subordination +betwixt the several Orders in their Government. Whereas for several +Centuries past, they have been labouring to erect an Arbitrary Power; +and the two last have taken large Steps towards this execrable End. + +_Zeoteirizul_, the First of the Two, was Son to the greatest King that +ever govern'd the _Kofirans_. Being scarcely eight Years old when the +Crown devolv'd to him by his Father's Death, his Mother seiz'd the Reins +of Government. This Princess who was a _Neitilene_ by Birth, was related +to the King of _Jerebi_. Secret History relates that, prompted by her +Ambition, she entered into a private Treaty with her Relation, her +Husband's most inveterate Enemy, and contrived his Murder, which was +unfortunately executed, to the great Loss and Grief of all true +_Kofirans_. What aggravates the Guilt is, that this worthy Prince was +stabb'd on the very Day of her Coronation, at a Juncture when he was +giving this flagitious Wretch the highest Mark of his Affection. + +No sooner was the Queen declared Regent of the Kingdom, but she bent all +her Endeavours to establish her Power by protracting the King's +Minority, as long as possible. She constantly amused the young Prince +with Toys and Triffles; she kept him in such Awe that he trembled at her +Appearance, and durst not refuse paying a blind Obedience to those whom +she had placed near him. But so short-sighted is human Artifice, that +what she imagined would be the Basis of her Power, was the very Thing +which overthrew it. A crafty _Mollak_ having insinuated himself into her +Confidence, made Use of it to gain that of the young King; and being too +sagacious a Politician not to foresee what he had to fear from this +enraged Woman, if he left her any Degree of Power or Opportunity of +hurting him, he compelled her to leave the Kingdom in a disgraceful +Manner; and by this successful Boldness, he became Master of the young +King, and the Depository of his Authority. His Pride, the general Vice +of his Order, made him take a Pleasure in humbling the Nobility. He +brought all Employments to depend upon the Court, and by this Means the +Persons of Quality to court the Minister's Favour, which effectually +exalted the Sovereign as much above them as he himself affected in all +Things to appear beneath him. + +This Management soon brought upon him the Hatred of the whole Nation; +but notwithstanding such a declared and general Hatred, he was succeeded +by another _Mollak_. He had the same Views as his Predecessor, tho' he +acted on different Maxims. And the former having succeeded in reducing +the first Order nearer the second, he was for bringing them both to an +Equality, and raising the third to a Level with them, by making all +Employments and Dignities venial; and, without any Regard to Merit, +constantly bestowing them on the highest Bidder. Thus, as the same Posts +and Honours were equally attainable by the Citizen and Gentleman, there +was no material Distinction betwixt them. The Government which had +flourished as Monarchical, was become an absolute Despotism. And whereas +the King in all important Transactions, was dependant on the Assembly of +the States, who were look'd upon as the Defenders and Interpreters of +the Laws; both Laws and States were now only mere Phantoms, which he +could raise or annihilate at his Pleasure. It is true, that this has +made the King of the _Kofirans_ the most powerful Monarch in the +Universe; but perhaps, it also makes the People the most miserable; +tho' an abject Veneration for their Kings will not permit them to own +their Slavery, or lament their Grievances. + +In order to the better Understanding of what I shall relate concerning +this Monarchy, it will not be an useless Digression to say something of +its Foundation, and gradual Increase to that Pitch of Glory to which it +was raised by the King who proceeded _Zeokinizul_. + +I am apt to believe, that when the divine Missionary offered up Paradise +to Men, as the Reward of their Belief and Obedience, he drew his Idea +from the Country of the _Kofirans_. The many Rivers which intermix their +Streams, maintain a perpetual Verdure in the Meadows; the Soil produces +all Sorts of Corn, useful Herbs and Fruits; and is so well cultivated, +that there are no more Woods than are necessary for Fewel and other +Uses. Its exquisite Wines, are little inferior to those of _Ghinoer_; +if it has but few Gold or Silver Mines, the Defect is abundantly +compensated by those of Iron, Copper, Tin, and the valuable Quarries of +Porcelaine, which abound throughout almost all the Provinces of this +delicious Kingdom. The Women are sprightly, witty, and chearful. The +Men, brave, industrious, laborious and addicted to Learning. Its +Situation is so very advantageous, that it is reckoned one of Nature's +Master-pieces. Its steep and lofty Clefts towards the Sea, secure this +charming Country from the Invasions of the King of the Island _Alniob_. +Its Ports are numerous, but so well fortified, as to be of the greatest +Advantage to the _Kofirans_. Another Side of this Country has +inaccessible Mountains, as a Fence against the King of _Jerebi_, and the +_Kam_ of _Vosaie_. The River _Nhir_ is its Barrier against the +formidable Power of the Emperor of the _Maregins_. And, lastly, many +Cities of almost impregnable Strength, seem to defy the Attacks of the +_Junes_ Provinces, and the _Bapasis_. Such is the Situation and Quality +of the Kingdom of the _Kofirans_, being also blessed with a temperate +Climate, and an healthful Air. + +The People who are at present seated in this luxuriant Country, are not +its original Possessors. The first Colony settled here after the Deluge, +were so contented with the spontaneous Produce of its Fertility, that +they forbore to cultivate and improve it. This Moderation which, since +the Sin of _Sultan Adam_, has ceased to be a Virtue, so enervated their +Courage, that they became slothful and timorous. The _Manoris_, tho' +their own Country, wanted for nothing, envied the more fruitful +Possessions of their Neighbours, and invaded them Sword in Hand. The +_Goilaus_, who at that Time inhabited it, and whose Pleasures were +heightened by Liberty, made some Efforts to preserve that valuable +Blessing; but being not so vigorous as the Juncture required, they were +unsuccessful, and the Consequence of their Inactivity was Slavery. After +some Shews of Resistance, in which their Multitudes were easily defeated +by an handful of _Manoris_, they underwent the Fate of several other +Nations, whom this fierce People had reduced. + +However, by an Intercourse with the _Manoris_, they became sensible of +their wretched and disgraceful Condition. After they had been conquer'd, +they learned the Art of War from their Conquerors; who, also in a short +Time, declined from the Love of Glory, and a martial Spirit, that they +were no longer formidable but by their Numbers. They grew intoxicated +with Luxury, and run into Extremes opposite to their original Ferosity, +so as to become more despicable than those they had conquered. + +It was at this Time, that the _Nodais_, the _Guernonies_, the _Duesois_, +and the _Sokans_ issuing from the North of _Africa_, over-run their +finest Provinces. A Body of these Barbarians fell upon the Territories +of the _Goilaus_, and having forced them to share this delightful +Country, settled themselves there under the Name of _Kranfs_. These new +Conquerors were for some Time molested by the _Manoris_, but as Luxury +had brought their flourishing Empire to Decay, the _Kranfs_ forced them +to desist, and remained in quiet Possession of the _Goilaus_: + +I shall omit the first rude Ages, when these Conquerors train'd up to +the Licentiousness of War, were under no Regulation or Law, and whose +Towns, like those of other Nations, were only a confused Assemblage of +Huts. It is true, that there were Kings among them from their first +Settlement, but the Men thus dignified, were in Reality only Generals +elected out of the Troops, and whose Prerogative was limited to Military +Affairs. These Chiefs, whose Savageness was rather augmented by the +Power with which they were invested, made no Scruple to dispatch a +neighbouring Competitor with the Sword or Poison, and their History is +full of unnatural Instances, of Brothers stabbing Brothers, Subjects +poisoning their Sovereigns to usurp their dangerous Stations. + +The Religion of _Suesi_, which the fifth of their Kings embraced, tho' +its Maxims are far from countenancing Ambition and Murder, but entirely +adapted to the Welfare of Society; yet have been so perverted by the +Depravity of the _Faquirs_ and the _Imans_, as to be alledged in +Vindication of them, and have besides, set on Foot so many Cheats and +Errors, that the holy Books, _Bileb_ and _Liegnelau_ in their Purity, as +dictated by the divine Spirit to the Legislators, has been treated by +them with Contempt, as mutilated and inconsistent. In Defence of their +respective Notions, these People have engaged in furious Wars with each +other, and out of a Zeal for Religion, have assassinated several of +their Kings. The Times seem now more tranquil, and without any +Apprehension of such shocking Crimes. Their Faith is very different from +what it was, and the lower Sort of People, who alone adhere to the +Tenets of _Suesi_, are entirely recovered from that stupid Obedience +formerly paid to the _Pepa_, who, having made the World believe, that +the Keys of Paradise were in his Hands, required an implicit Compliance +with his Decrees, and be ready to second any Scheme of his Revenge or +Ambition, with their Lives and Fortunes. + +The Destruction of the Empire of the _Kofirans_, seems morally +impossible in its present confirm'd State. It has hitherto withstood +several violent Shocks from the Kings of _Jerebi and Alniob_, and the +Emperor of the _Maregins_, who were all its professed Enemies. +Especially the King of _Alniob_, who, taking Advantage of the Frenzy of +one of its Sovereigns, made such a Progress, as to wrest the Sceptre out +of his Hands; but the great _Zokitarezoul_, having compelled him to +renounce even the very Title, has brought all the others into Subjection +so as to acknowledge his Superiority over all the Sovereigns of +_Africa_. It is to this illustrious Monarch, that the Kingdom of the +_Kofirans_ owes its unparalleled Riches and Grandeur. His Courage and +good Fortune have reduced all his Enemies, his Liberality and Wisdom has +established Commerce, his good Sense has civilized it, and his +Successors must attribute the ardent Loyalty and Love of the _Kofirans_ +towards them, to the Plans and Labours of this Prince for the Happiness +and Glory of his Subjects. After having driven from the Throne of +_Jerebi_, a Family which had been an Enemy to his, placing one of his +Grandsons on it, he died covered with Glory, and left the Crown to his +great Grandson _Zeokinizul_, who is the particular Hero of this +History. + +This young Prince being the only Remains of a numerous Royal Family, was +the Darling of the great _Zokitarezoul_, who apprehending that he might +fall a Victim to the same untimely Fate which had laid so many of his +Descendants in their Graves, was not wanting to secure him by all +possible Precautions. Being persuaded, that the People loved him too +well to suffer any Infractions of his last Disposals, he made a Will; in +which he deprived the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, his Nephew, whose Ambition he +dreaded, of the Regency, in Favour of the _Kam_ of _Meani_, his natural +Son. The _Kam_ of _Anserol_ was highly exasperated at the Injury done +him; but being the greatest Politician of his Time, he took Care that +nothing should escape him at such a Crisis, which might increase the +Suspicions, and consequently the Precautions of his Enemies. It was not +till after the Death of _Zokitarezoul_, that he asserted his Claim. +Attended by a Multitude of his Adherents, he went to the _Pemenralt_, +which is a Phantom of the antient States. There feigning to submit his +Destiny to the Arbitration of that illustrious Senate, he set forth, and +urged his Claim with such a persuasive Eloquence, that the whole +Assembly unanimously annulled a Will, which deprived him of an Honour +that was his incontestable Right, and of a Trust for which he was +unexceptionably qualified. This so enraged his Enemies, that they forged +the vilest Scandals, in order to render him odious. They gave out, that +after having poisoned the chief Persons of the royal Blood, his chief +Aim was to take off his Pupil. Under pretence of such an Apprehension, +they proposed that the Lady of the _Bassa_ of _Ourtavan_ should take +care of the King, and taste of every kind of Food which was brought to +his Table. And soon after they were not wanting to alarm the People with +Reports, that his Victuals had been several Times poisoned. The great +Men of the Kingdom, whose Abilities the Regent never consulted, as being +himself equal to all the Difficulties of Government, enter'd into a +League against him, under Pretence of Concern for _Zeokinizul_, whose +Life they declar'd was in Danger. But the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, who was +too vigilant to be surprized, soon discovered the Plot, and having +secur'd the Leaders, he quench'd the Rebellion in the Blood of its +Contrivers. + +He did not give himself the Trouble of verbally refuting the Calumnies, +and Invectives, with which he was daily loaded, but took Care to +disprove them by his Conduct. The publick Finances had been quite +exhausted, during the last Years of the great _Zokitarezoul_, and he +took upon himself to restore them. It is true, that his Scheme ruined +some Families; but besides that their Number was but small, and their +Ruin rather owing to their inconsiderate Greediness, such a desperate +Distemper could not have been well removed by a softer Remedy. + +No sooner was _Zeokinizul_ of Age, but the _Kam_ delivered up to him the +Government of the Kingdom, which by his Care and Munificence, was the +Abode of the polite Arts, of which he had declared himself the +Protector. Nay more, he induced the young King to chuse himself a +Consort; and thus he refuted the base Views which his Enemies had +fathered on him. + +Scarce was this important Affair finished, when the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, +as if this World could afford no Addition to his Glory, died suddenly, +as he had always desired. His Enemies laid hold of this Circumstance, to +revile him, even in his Grave. They spread a Report, that his Intention +was to poison the King, by a Liquor which he was to drink along with +him, but that by a fortunate Mistake of the Cups, he had fallen the +Victim of his own Contrivance. The young King could not hear such +atrocious Insults without Horror. He threatened the severest Punishments +to any one who should dare to blacken the Character of this great +Prince, and he himself never mentioned his Name but with Words of the +highest Esteem, and the warmest Acknowledgment. + +The joyful _Kofirans_ promised themselves, from the hopeful Inclinations +of _Zeokinizul_, a Reign no less happy than the preceding; but by a +Fatality, not uncommon amongst them, the young Monarch was so fond of an +old _Mollak_, formerly his Tutor, of a very insinuating but hypocritical +Humility, that he entirely remitted to him the whole Management of his +Kingdom. This old Wretch, whose predominate Passion was Avarice, loaded +the People with Taxes. And as a War would not allow him to embezzle at +will the public Treasures, he never would enter into one unless utterly +impossible to be avoided. And then, with so much Niggardliness, and so +little Conduct, that he became the Scorn both of the Generals and the +Officers of State. Happy if he could have saved those vast Sums, or have +expended them in a manner suitable to the Honour of the Prince, and the +unbounded Zeal of his Subjects. But they were all in a short Time +squandered away, among Foreigners, who made him their constant Dupe. +Indeed, the best Schemes miscarried thro' his Sordidness, and yet with +all these Faults, he maintain'd his Ascendency over the Prince, so that +no Courtier dared utter any Complaint against him. + +_Zeokinizul_, whose whole Life was devoted to his Consort and his +Hunting, of both which he was equally fond, had only the Title and Pomp +of a King, for the _Mollak Jeflur_ had engrossed all the Authority, by +which Means he aggrandized his Family, promoted and enriched his +Creatures, and supplied the enormous Profusion of his Mistress the +Princess of _Ginarkan_, Spouse to a Prince of the Blood of _Vosaie_. + +His selfish Love of Peace, could not, however, hinder his being involved +in an unavoidable War. + +_Sicidem_, grand _Kam_ of _Katenos_, among the Provinces of the +_Neitilanes_, dying without Issue, the Emperor of the _Maregins_ laid +Claim to his Succession. This Prince was already too powerful for the +King of the _Kofirans_ not to oppose this Addition to his Greatness. And +thus this ecclesiastical Statesman _Jeflur_, was brought under a +Necessity of employing his Master's Troops, in order to deprive him of +so rich an Inheritance. About this Time also, the Throne of _Goplone_, +of which his Father-in-Law had been dispossess'd, became vacant, and +_Zeokinizul_'s Honour required, that he should lay hold of this +Opportunity to restore him. After a fruitless Trial of all the peaceable +Ways of Bribery and Negotiation to compass his End, the _Mollak_ was at +last oblig'd to order the _Kofiran_ Troops to march. The first Body +marched towards the _Nhir_, to oppose the Emperor of the _Maregins_, the +second towards the Kingdom of _Goplone_, to impose upon them their +former Sovereign, and the third hastened into the Provinces of the +_Neitilanes_, to make sure of the Dominions of _Sicidem_. + +As this War was carried on only in _Zeokinizul_'s Name, and he did not +personally act in it, I shall omit its various Events, in Order to come +the sooner to what immediately relates to this young King. After the +loss of two Battles, and a strong City taken by the _Kofirans_, the +Emperor of the _Maregins_ was very glad to accept of a Peace, upon such +Conditions as were alone detrimental to his Allies. As a Satisfaction to +_Zeokinizul_'s Father-in-law for his Kingdom, which he relinquish'd to +another, he was allowed to retain the Title of King, and was made +actual Sovereign of the Province of _Reinarol_, which after his Death, +was by the Treaty to be annexed to the Kingdom of the _Kofirans_, and +the _Kam_ in exchange for this Cession, was invested with the Dominions +of _Sicidem_. Tho' this was an advantageous Peace to the Conquerors, yet +it was very short of what they might reasonably have expected, or at +least, if _Zeokinizul_ was so moderate as to be contented with such +small Matters, it behov'd his Minister to insist upon more important and +honourable Terms. However, the Glory of his Arms, was the continual +Topic to him; and this Prince by hearing of the Exploits of his Soldiers +so frequently extoll'd, began to give Signs of a martial Disposition. +His Genius now display'd itself, and instead of reigning ingloriously +only by a Minister, he shewed, that he would be in all Respects the +King. His Courtiers, who had always with Reluctance paid Obedience to +the Order of the haughty _Mollak_, applauded this generous Resolution, +while the crafty _Jeflur_ had the Mortification to see, that his +Ministry was going to be overturned, by the very Thing which he fancied +would have prolonged it. + +As this was a fatal Blow, so was he not wanting in his Endeavours to +ward it off. Accordingly he set all his Springs at Work, nor minded the +Guilt of any Measure if it had a promising Aspect. I question if an +Instance of such an hellish Contrivance, and so detestable a Scandal, +can be found in any History. A Man to whom a whole Kingdom had +committed its only Hope, a Man who had been chosen to rectify and refine +the Morals of its King, endeavours by all Means to corrupt them; and, +as a Return for the vast Favours received from him, he draws him in to +forfeit his Innocence, the Love of his Consort, and the Esteem of his +Subjects. + +_Zeokinizul_, as has been said, was passionately fond of the Queen his +Spouse, which guarded him against those Irregularities which stain'd the +Memory of the preceding Kings of the _Kofirans_. Yet these People being +of a volatile and fickle Humour, could not think, that a settled Love +afforded any Pleasure, and were continually wishing that their Sovereign +would commence an Intrigue with some Court Beauty. This unbecoming Wish +was pretended to proceed from a Regard for the Welfare and Glory of the +Nation. What, says they, shall our King always be tutor'd by _Mollaks_? +What signifies this Peace, which is only owing to the Weakness and +Pusillanimity of this set of Men, for we are oppressed with Taxes as +much as if we were engaged in a War with all the Powers of _Africa_? +Why does not our King shew some Spirit, and give into an Intrigue? An +ambitious Mistress would break these scandalous Fetters, and when he is +once his own Master, instead of this enervating Idleness, he would soon +find such Work for our Forces, as would enhance our Reputation, and +enlarge his Dominions. + +At this Rate the _Kofirans_ used to talk, and _Jeflur_ was no stranger +to it. But a clearer Insight into human Nature, made him conclude, that +tho' their Wishes were answered, it would be so far from producing the +desired Effect, that he laid it down as a Certainty, that a new Amour +would more and more indispose _Zeokinizul_ to State Affairs, and he +would quickly lay them aside as Embarasments, in order the more freely +to indulge his Passion. With this View, so far from censuring this +popular Desire, tho' it had neither Religion nor Laws on its Side, he +bent all his Thoughts to accomplish it. + +It was not any Beauty in the Queen which had attach'd her Consort to +her. For tho' she had not been one third older than himself, there was +nothing in her Face to strike the Affections of a Prince constantly +encircled with numberless Beauties, and whose Love they would have +accounted the highest Honour. The exact Return which he made to her Duty +and Tenderness, entirely flowed from this Prince's generous and grateful +Temper, and from his good and religious Heart. He had such a delicate +Sense of conjugal Duty, that he never fail'd shewing his Displeasure to +any Courtiers, who presumed to expatiate on the Charms of some _Houris_ +in his Capital, and once when _Kigenpi_, one of the _Methers_, or Lords +of his Bed-Chamber began to talk to him of a Person of incomparable +Beauty, he gave him no Answer, only asking him in a dry and scornful +Manner, whether she was handsomer than the Queen? + +This Coldness rendered it no easy Matter for the _Mollak_ to alienate +the Affections of _Zeokinizul_ from the Queen. But what are Churchmen +uncapable of? He changed his Measures, and determined to make the Queen +an Instrument to remove from herself a Spouse who loved her most +tenderly. He managed it in the following Manner. + +This Princess being born in a Country where the Religion of _Suesi_ is +directed by the _Pepa_, who stiles himself the Sovereign Arbitrator of +it, had imbibed a strong Prepossession for what in the Kingdom of the +_Kofirans_ is called Bigotry, or misplaced Devotion. The Customs and +religious Notions of this Nation, which were more free and rational than +in the Country of this Princess, had been a Constraint upon her +Inclination, without lessening her mistaken Austerity. It was on this +Side, that _Jeflur_ spread his Snares. He placed near the Queen a +_Dervise_, one of those sly finished Villains, who, being Masters of the +execrable Art of giving Sin an Appearance of Sanctity, instruct the +great ones, whose Favour they purchase at the most infamous Rate, how to +Sin without Guilt. This Traytor perform'd his Commission according to +_Jeflur_'s Desire. He was continually fomenting in the Heart of his over +pious Sovereign, the Excesses and fanatical Rants of his Order. He dwelt +on the inconceiveable Sweetness of an Intimacy with _Suesi_, who was +ever ready to communicate himself to such Souls as detach'd themselves +from sensual Pleasures. He magnified the great Merit of Fastings, +Prayers, and Austerities; and when he had rooted these Things in the +Heart of his credulous Proselyte, he proceeded to declare to her, that +Chastity was a Virtue absolutely necessary to merit the divine Favours; +strongly insisting, that this Chastity must be so refined and +abstracted, as not to be awed, or seduced by human Engagements. The +unhappy Queen, misled by the pathetic Discourse, and the feigned Piety +of the _Dervise_, greedily swallowed the Poison he was administring. She +passed whole Days and Nights in Prayer, and the Austerities of a false +Devotion, according to the Instructions of her infamous Director. Nor +was it long, before she attain'd the Height of that superstitious +Chastity which he required of her, and, imagining there was no stopping +in a Course which was to end so gloriously, she formed a Resolution, +in order to devote herself with the greater Fervour and Purity to the +heavenly Bridegroom which had been promised her, to separate herself +from the Embraces of a Spouse, to whom she was united by the most sacred +Ties, and endeared by the tenderest Affection. + +The young King who had been extremely uneasy for some Days at this +misterious Behaviour, grew highly offended, when upon asking the Queen +to comply with his Affection, he was repulsed, under the Pretence of +imaginary Dispositions, from which she was known to be entirely free. +However, so far from taking the Denial, it only made him more urgent; +at which the Queen to free herself from what she call'd her Consort's +Importunities, sent him Word, and confirm'd it herself, that an +incurable Disorder had rendered her unfit for the conjugal Functions. + +The Monarch was Thunderstruck at this. It threw him into such a +Melancholy, that he kept his Chamber for three Days. Even Hunting, which +had always been his favourite Diversion, seem'd to be banished from his +Thoughts. He never appeared in the Drawing-Room, and the most +distinguished Courtiers were oblig'd to put on a sorrowful Appearance +whenever they approached him. _Jeflur_ exulted at the Success of his +Scheme. He brib'd one of the Lords of the Bed-Chamber, whom the King +honoured with a particular Confidence, and having inform'd him what the +Arrow was which had pierced the King's Heart, he made him large Promises +if he could pluck it out. + +_Kelirieu_, for so was this Lord called, readily embraced the Proposal, +and sought for an Opportunity of being alone with his Master. Nor was he +long without it. One Day as _Zeokinizul_ was negligently leaning upon a +_Sopha_, involv'd in melancholy Thoughts on the Alteration of his +Spouse, the Lord came towards him, throwing himself at his Feet. + +Permit, said he, a faithful Subject, to presume to enquire into the +Secrets of your Highness. You know, Sire, my respectful Attachment to +your august Person. You also know, that your Glory and Satisfaction are +dearer to me than my very Life. Vouchsafe then, Sire, to disclose to me +the Cause of that Sorrow which incessantly preys upon you. Let the Heart +of a faithful Servant be the Depository of all your Disquietudes. +Possibly Means may be discover'd to mitigate them.--_Kelirieu_, +perceiving that his Discourse made no Impression upon the King, who +indeed continued in the same Posture, without seeming to give the least +Attention to it, proceeded thus. But, Sire, I see my Presumption offends +you. I have lost the Confidence of my Sovereign. It is enough, let your +Highness speak, and decide the Fate of a Subject, who is become hateful +to himself, by being hateful to you. + +The Firmness with which _Kelirieu_ pronounced these last Words, roused +the King from his Lethargy. No, my dear Friend, said he, raising him up, +I still love you, and the only Reason why I do not impart my Sorrows to +you, is, because they are without Remedy, and you would only have the +Trouble of knowing them, without the Power of redressing them.--The +Queen.--Ah! enquire no farther? I must either forfeit my everlasting +Happiness, or lose the Esteem of my Subjects. But I am fully determined, +there is no room for Hesitation, for I am unalterably fixed in my +Choice. Withdraw, and leave me to strengthen my Resolutions. + +_Kelirieu_ insisted no farther, but hastened to acquaint the _Mollak_, +that he had already search'd the King's Wound. And since, added he, +I have drawn out of his Heart the fatal Secret which was lodg'd in it, +I flatter myself, that in a short Time, I shall entirely complete the +Cure. 'Tis a good Step, replied _Jeflur_, to have comforted +_Zeokinizul_, but that is not enough. You must still induce him to +bestow his Heart upon the Person I shall name to you. Carry but this +Point, and I promise you a thousand _Tomans_ as the first Token of my +Acknowledgement. + +The King, in the mean Time, felt some Relief from the Confidence which +he had placed in _Kelirieu_. He looked for him all the Remainder of the +Day. But this Artful Mediator found Means to avoid a private Meeting. +Nor did he appear before his Master till after some Days, and the King +was obliged to send for him, and demand his immediate Attendance. No +sooner were they alone, but the King said, did I not tell you, my dear +_Kelirieu_, that my Sufferings were past Remedy, and that you would only +have the Grief of hearing them without having the Power of relieving +them? Sire, interrupted the crafty Courtier, with a bashful Air, I know +a Remedy, but I dare not mention it, and yet it is the only one +practicable. Ah! said the King, eagerly embracing him, declare it, and +tho' I should refuse to make use of it, yet I shall always acknowledge +myself oblig'd to your Zeal for the Discovery. Sire, replied _Kelirieu_, +one Woman is the Cause of your Highness's Melancholy, and another Woman +must be the Remedy. How dost thou dare to offer me such infamous +Advice, answer'd _Zeokinizul_ in a Rage, when I have already told you, +that I had rather perish than lose the Esteem of my Subjects? Must I, +being the Interpreter, and Protector of the Laws, only make a Parade of +my Prerogative, by licentiously violating them? + +I beseech your Highness to hear me, replied _Kelirieu_, not in the least +daunted at the King's Anger, I swear by your royal Head, that it was not +my Intention to offend you. But a too precipitate Construction of my +Advice has led you to resent it as base and criminal. But, Sire, can +your Highness harbour a Suspicion that _Kelirieu_ would offer to eclipse +your Glory? No, Heaven is my Witness, that I would rather die a thousand +Deaths. When I intimated to your Highness, that the Remedy of your +Sorrows was too be found only in the Conversation of Women, I meant no +other than what the Laws both human and divine admit of. And that as +Solitude only serves to augment your Grief, the entertaining Wit and +Sprightliness of the Fair Sex, in their Conversations, was the only +Antidote against your growing Affliction, in which a whole Nation +participates. + +There may be Danger in such a Step, replied the King, when once a Woman +has charmed the Mind, she soon makes her Way to the Heart, and since the +Queen has been pleased to return me mine, which I had so affectionately +given her, I will be always upon my Guard to keep it free and +insensible. + +And at the same Time he changed the Discourse, and soon after dismissed +his Confident, who was impatient till he had related his Progress to +_Jeflur_. The _Mollak_, embracing him a thousand Times, cried, thy +Services are inestimable, neither shall I be ungrateful. _Liamil_, Wife +to the _Bassa_ of the same Name, is she whom you are to propose to +_Zeokinizul_. _Kelirieu_ could not conceal his Surprise at her Name. + +How, says he to the Minister, can you conceive that he is to be +captivated by a Person of her Age? Would your _Holiness_ but reflect on +the Nature of _Zeokinizul_'s Scruples. It must be some enchanting Beauty +which can transport him to commit an Infidelity which he accounts no +small Crime. And you are for seducing him by _Liamil_, who has as few +Charms as any Court Lady, and who, besides, is under conjugal +Engagements. How shocking will the Idea of this complicated Guilt appear +to the Prince, who cannot bear the Thoughts of a single Infidelity? Ah! +learned _Mollak_, you require of me what is beyond my Power, and out of +the Course of Nature. Furnish me with a proper Instrument, let the +Person to be recommended be young, gay, handsome, and artful, and then I +will be answerable for the Success. + +Surely you must be very little acquainted with _Zeokinizul_, interrupted +the Minister, is it not apparent that this Prince, who has been used to +an antiquated Beauty, and was so excessively fond of her, will think +nothing lovely but as it resembles his Spouse? Besides, he will have no +Time to attend to the Suggestions of his Scruples. And _Liamil_'s small +Share of Beauty will prevent any Mistrust in him. I rely more upon her +Wit than on her personal Charms, in which she has few Equals, and that +is the Talent by which I suppose she shall commence the Intrigue; +Opportunity will forward it. Besides, do you think that I am so blind to +mine own Interest, as to provide _Zeokinizul_ with a young ambitious +Mistress, who will be for monopolizing the royal Favour, and never be +satisfied till she has grasp'd the Disposal of all Offices and Honours? +No, no, my dear _Kelirieu_, _Liamil_ is the Woman for the King, 'tis she +whom you must bring him to like, if you value my Friendship, and whose +Friendship can equal mine? Any other than she would give me too much +Umbrage for me to bear with it long. There is a Bill for a Thousand +_Tomans_, go and receive them at the Treasury. A thousand more shall +recompense your Success. + +_Jeflur_ was quite void of true Liberality, but this Matter concerned +him too nearly to lose such a dexterous Manager, who had taken it into +his Hands, by an unseasonable Parsimony. _Kelirieu_ appear'd the next +Day at the King's Levee, who took him into his Closet, and renewing +their last Conversation; what a feeble Remedy, says he, do you propose +for my violent Agitations! Such Sufferings as mine require something +more than Words. I know a Person, replied _Kelirieu_, whose Conversation +is so charming, that I am sure your Highness upon a Tryal, will be so +delighted with it, that it would recover your former Chearfulness. The +King seeming to question it, the Lord flew away to the Queen's +Apartment, to tell _Liamil_, that the King had sent for her. + +_Liamil_, full of Joy, as having already been instructed, made no less +Haste thither. But how was she surprised and mortified, when +_Zeokinizul_, having ask'd her what she wanted, view'd her for some Time +without speaking a Word more. Tho' she was prepared to act her Part, she +could not forbear blushing, tho' more out of Spite than Bashfulness. And +as she could not presume to speak first, after staying about a Quarter +of an Hour in the Apartment, she made a low Courtesy, and withdrew, full +of Confusion and Rancour. + +The _Mollak_, who was waiting for her Return, used his utmost to appease +her. Believe me, says he to her, _Zeokinizul_ is smitten, only allow him +Time to get the better of some troublesome Scruples, and every Thing +will be according to our Desires. And indeed, she was scarce out of +Sight, but _Zeokinizul_ was sorry for the cold Reception he had given +her. He blamed himself for his Incivility; and, to make her some Amends, +he went to the Queen's Apartment. Now was the critical Instant, the +decisive Moment for this Princess. Could she have suspended her +excessive Devotion to receive the King her Husband in a becoming Manner, +there had been an End of all _Jeflur_'s Schemes, and _Kelirieu_'s +thousand _Tomans_ had been saved to the Treasury; but her sending him +Word, that she begg'd his Highness would suffer her to finish her +Devotion before she waited on him, gave him Time enough to talk to +_Liamil_, who did not fail of exerting all her Talents, which charm'd +the King to that Degree, that he thought _Kelirieu_ had not exceeded in +his high Enconiums, the Wit and agreeable Qualities of this Lady. And +under Pretence of being extremely taken with her Conversation, he +desired her Company in his Closet that very Evening. + +_Jeflur_'s Exultations at hearing this News from _Liamil_, were beyond +all Description. He made her repeat the Oath, which she had at first +swore, never to require the Rights of the Favorite _Sultana_, but be +satisfied with the Honours of the Handkerchief. He drew her a Plan for +her Rule of Life, regulated her Behaviour to the Queen, and instructed +her in the King's Temper. In fine, he imitated the fond Mother, who, +upon her Daughters being soon to be delivered up to a Bridegroom, +prepares her for the Conflict, represents to her the Pleasures and +Sorrows attendant on the Marriage State, and instructs her how to +heighten the one, and alleviate the other. When he came to be alone, +he applauded his happy Choice, and really he never could have met with +a Person so fit for the Purpose, nor who would have submitted to his +Directions with less Ambition, and more Pliantness and Punctuality. + +Besides, her singular Wit, _Liamil_ had a Serenity of Temper which +excited Love, though she was in her thirty sixth Year. The Minister +before this, was under no Apprehension that she would fail in her Aim at +_Zeokinizul_'s Heart. The artificial Charms with which she concealed the +Loss, or want of natural ones, the exquisite Neatness and Elegancy of +her Dress, with the Gracefulness of her Deportment, rendered the +Conquest certain. Besides, it was no Novelty for a _Kofiran_ King to +keep a Mistress older than himself, and some have been even known to +retain the Affections from Father to Son, to the third Generation. + +_Liamil_ did not fail to keep so promising an Appointment. She found +_Zeokinizul_ expecting her, and tho' this Prince had prepared himself to +see her, he was as much disordered at the Sight of her, as he had been +in the Morning. _Liamil_ was oblig'd to furnish Talk, for _Zeokinizul_ +went no further than a reserv'd Complaisance; and after being a full +Hour by themselves, upon the Prince's signifying that he would be alone, +she left him, having only receiv'd eight or ten Answers, and those +rather civil than gallant. Who can conceive the Anguish of _Liamil_, +when she return'd to _Jeflur_? Wretch that I am, cried she, throwing +herself upon a _Sopha_, here her Sighs stopp'd her Voice, that she could +not proceed. _Jeflur_ was struck with Amazement, and knew not what to +think of such Emotions. He dried her Tears, he inlarged his Promises, +and particularly vowed he would make her rich Amends for the Vexation +she suffered on his Account. Let me alone, said she, at last, was it +not enough to make me marry a Man whom I hate, but must you also draw me +to love one who slights me? Yes, the King, with whose Love you flatter'd +me, slights me; I am come directly from his Closet, where I was with him +above an Hour; and so far from making Love to me, that he did not say +the least soft Thing. Is not this Coldness? Is not this slighting? Is +this all that raises such a Storm in this poor Bosom, replied _Jeflur_? +Did not I forewarn you, that _Zeokinizul_'s deep Sense of his Duty, +would make him be greatly upon the Reserve with you? And that you would +think him insensible, tho' he was only immerst in Thought? Why did not +you intice him? Come, come, be easy, I will engage to procure you +another private Meeting; but take Care not to act the Prude again so +unseasonably. Ply him with every alluring Art, and even make Use of a +fond Violence to make him yield. He is not to be treated like common +Lovers. These Injunctions cannot be disagreeable to you. _Zeokinizul_ is +perfectly handsome, and in the Prime of Life. You love him, and +therefore must leave no Means untry'd to secure his. + +_Liamil_ relish'd this judicious Lesson, and impatiently waited the +Performance of _Jeflur_'s Promise; and being resolv'd to make the utmost +Efforts to seduce _Zeokinizul_, she promised herself, that at the next +Meeting she should beat down all Resistance, and allure the King to +gratify her Desires. _Kelirieu_ soon brought it about, for the King +seeing nothing dangerous to his Freedom in _Liamil_, was easily +prevailed upon by the Entreaties of his Confident, to admit of another +Visit from her. Accordingly he sent her a Message to come in the Evening +to a certain Chamber in the Palace. It is easy to conceive how welcome +this Message was to her. She was there some Time before the King +appeared. The Apartment had but a dim Light; however, this rather +favoured than prejudiced _Liamil_, as her Wit was to kindle the first +Desires in _Zeokinizul_. Their Conversation must however, remain a +Secret, as neither of them has reveal'd it to any one. What is certain, +and also more important, is, that _Liamil_ so charm'd the King by her +lively Flights of Wit, heightened by an expressive Air, that he heard +her with more Pleasure than he had imagined, that the Inticements of +this Woman were too strong for his Virtue, and that at last, she +gradually drew him to a Couch, where he gave her the Pledges of his +Love, satisfied her longing Desires, and completed the _Mollak_'s +Stratagem. + +This first Step, at once put an End to all the King's Remorse and +Disquietude. He repeated several Times the Pleasure which his +experienced Mistress enhanced in such a Manner as his devout Consort was +a Stranger to, and at last left this fatal Chamber in such a Temper as +_Jeflur_ and _Kelirieu_ had been contriving; that is, passionately in +Love. Their Meetings were for some Times a Secret, but Passion soon grew +too vehement to be concealed. It became the common Talk of the +Courtiers, and at last it reached the Queen's Ear. But she, instead of +endeavouring to reclaim her Spouse by an endearing Carriage, and the +Ascendency which she had over him, gave herself up to a fruitless +Lamentation for his Misfortune, at the Feet of an Image of _Suesi_, and +this unseasonable Devotion deprived her of all Hopes of ever regaining +her Consort's Heart. _Liamil_'s Husband took upon him to resent his +Wife's Infidelity, upon which he receiv'd an Order never to have any +Commerce with her. Her Father, who was one of the most eminent _Bassas_ +in the Kingdom, began also to exclaim against it; but a Quantity of +_Tomans_ which he greatly wanted, effectually silenced him. Even +_Jeflur_ himself, in order to avoid Suspicion, openly censured the +King's Behaviour. The Monarch was offended at his Representations on so +delicate a Point, and sharply said, I have indeed made you Master of my +Kingdom, but I expect to be Master of myself. This Answer completed the +_Mollak_'s Design, and he took Care that it should not be lost to the +People. The general Displeasure which it gave, is hardly to be imagined. +The King's Amour, which had been so greatly desired, appearing to settle +_Jeflur_'s Power, was look'd upon in a very different Light. It was +look'd upon as an odious Adultery, an impious Commerce, which would pull +down divine Vengeance upon the Kingdom. Satires and Lampoons flew about +every where, in which both Lover and Mistress were so openly exposed, +that any one who was a Stranger to their Fickleness, and how suddenly +they pass from one Extreme to the other, would have been apprehensive +that the most dangerous Commotions were at hand. However, _Zeokinizul_ +was so charmed with _Liamil_, that he was continually with her. He +pitched upon the House of an old _Bassa_ of the first Rank, for the more +peaceable and secure Enjoyment of the Delights of his new Mistress. All +the Inventions of the most refined Luxury, were employed to add new +Incentives to Wantonness. The House seemed the very Residence of Love +and Delight. Every Thing in it declar'd the Elegance of the Mistress, +and the Magnificence of the Lover. Each succeeding Day brought with it +the most ravishing Scenes, without any Alarm or Disturbance. The old +_Bassa_ and his Family saw no more than the Prologue, only some few +Spectators of approved Discretion and Secrecy, were admitted to be +present at the Plot of the Play, but for the Conclusion, it was +privately transacted between the two chief Actors. + +It is a Saying of a great _Kofiran_ Poet, that Virtue is like a steep +Island, there is no setting Foot on it again when once one is out of it. +_Zeokinizul_ was a sad Instance of this. In the midst of these +delightful Meetings, which consisted entirely of Confidence, _Liamil_ +obtain'd Leave for one of her Sisters to be admitted. Imprudent +Creature! not to see that after she herself had stifled all Remorse in +her Lover's Heart, their being so nearly related would not be Proof +against Love, nor hinder her from becoming her Rival. This Lady, who +could not boast of more Beauty than her Sister, surpass'd her even in +Wit, and was possess'd of all the Arts and Qualities requisite in a +Favourite. She was as enterprizing as _Liamil_ was moderate; of +unbounded Ambition, haughty, revengeful, entirely bent on her own +Interest, and aiming at royal Favour only for its Advantages, such was +_Leutinemil_. She no sooner perceiv'd how easy it would be to supplant +her Sister, but she formed the Design, and _Zeokinizul_ who began to be +pall'd with the long Enjoyment of so indifferent a Mistress, was easily +inclin'd to vary the Object of his Love. He therefore commenced an Amour +with _Leutinemil_, but however, was far from discarding her Sister, his +View being only to sharpen his Appetite with Novelty, in order to return +with the greater Gust to his first Entertainment. Love is well known to +pay no Regard to the Tyes of Nature; _Liamil_ was so exasperated at +_Leutinemil_'s being her Rival, that she forgot she was her Sister. She +hastened to inform _Jeflur_, and to engage him to revenge her Quarrel. +The _Mollak_ was thunderstruck at this News, for such an Alteration in +the King had shipwreck'd all his Hopes. His two thousand _Tomans_ were +lost, and he seem'd on the Brink of his Ruin. In this Extremity he had +Recourse to _Kelirieu_. + +But it was no longer this Courtier's Interest to serve him. The two +thousand _Tomans_ were all he could get of the vast Riches which had +been promised him, and as _Liamil_ had shewn but little Concern for her +Friends, he sided with her Sister, who was like to prove a powerful +Benefactress to her Creatures. So that all the soothing Speeches of the +_Mollak_ made no Impression on him, neither was _Jeflur_ greatly +concerned at it; for, being long practised in Wickedness, he had already +discovered a Way to remove his Fears, without hazarding his _Tomans._ +Endeavour, says he to _Liamil_, to preserve those Remains of Favour +which the King still has for you. Be blind to those Fondnesses which so +deeply affect you; let not your Sister's Rivalship alarm you: I will +soon bring it to an End. Flatter _Zeokinizul_; I know him, Fondness and +Complaisance are the only Means to preserve his Heart. + +Pursuant to these Instructions of _Jeflur_, _Liamil_ so far from +troubling the King with Complaints, was more eager in her Caresses, and +the Prince overjoyed to Love and be beloved by two such easy and +unsuspecting Rivals, carried on with both of them an Amour, whose Guilt +seemed to make it the more delightful. _Leutinemil_ became with Child, +and as she protested that her Husband had no Share in her Pregnancy, it +must be attributed to _Zeokinizul_. _Jeflur_ was not at all disturbed at +it, he was only affraid of the Mother, and here was a favourable +Opportunity to dispatch her. + +She went her Time very happily, and was safely delivered. _Zeokinizul_ +paid her his Compliments in the most tender Terms; but a few Days +changed all this Joy into the deepest Sorrow. She was seiz'd with +violent Pains in her Breast, which were followed with such terrible +Convulsions, as, in a few Hours proved the Death of this unfortunate +Mother; nor could the Physicians, or at least they would not, declare +the real Cause of it. _Zeokinizul_ was so afflicted at this unexpected +Loss, that he intermitted every Pleasure and Diversion. _Liamil_ seemed +to indulge an excessive Grief on a double Account, and so artfully +concealed her Joy for her Rival's Death, that the compassionate King +dismist his Sorrows to put an End to hers. This Shew of Sympathy and +Tenderness in _Liamil_, imposed on many, and reunited _Zeokinizul_ to +her with more Fondness and Attachment than ever. + +Though he had a very important War upon his Hands, it did not divert him +from the Gratifications of Love; he left the entire Management of every +Thing to the _Mollak Jeflur_. The Welfare of his Troops and Glory of his +Arms were to depend on Generals of the Minister's Appointment, whose +Weakness and sordid Parsimony, occasioned several very ignominious +Miscarriages to the _Kofirans_. _Zeokinizul_ had such a paternal Love +for his People, that the Loss of a hundred thousand brave Soldiers, and +above seven Millions of _Tomans_ would have greatly afflicted him, had +his Passion for _Liamil_ left him any Freedom of Thought, but in her +Company, he was insensible to every other Concern. The disinterested +Fondness of this Favourite, who only loved the Lover in the King, must +have made her the happiest that ever was, if relying less on her Merit, +or warned by a recent Experience, she had guarded against some of her +own Sex, whom she must think envied her Elevation, and watch'd her Ruin; +but as an illusory Conceit that a Passion which had subsisted for many +Years, would never be extinguished, brought her into the very Misfortune +from which _Leutinemil_'s Death had delivered her. + +She had three Sisters still remaining, who all longed impatiently to +show themselves to their Sovereign, though they were none of Nature's +Master-pieces. Coquetry and something worse had always been hereditary +in this Family, who yet seem to have bewitch'd _Zeokinizul_. The eldest +of these three Sisters, was the Widow of a _Bassa_ of the second Rank, +she expected the Precedence as being a little more sprightly than the +others; and full of a high Conceit of her Desert, she depended on +keeping her Station long enough to put the others out of all Hopes. She +had a great deal of _Leutinemil_'s Temper, only still more Ambition. +There had formerly been a very close Intimacy betwixt her and +_Kelirieu_, and it is thought, that he espoused her Interests as much +through Gratitude, as Envy and Revenge to displace _Liamil_. + +Her continued Familiarity with _Zeokinizul_, had worn away even that +little Modesty which the most abandoned Prostitutes are seen to retain; +and having been long in Possession of his Spouse's Rights, she came to +look upon herself as such; and made no Scruple of seeing Company when +she was just coming from her Lover's Arms, and her Face full of the +Marks of his eager Caresses. I have been assured by several Noblemen, +that one Day she threw herself out of an Arbour, under Pretence of +avoiding _Zeokinizul_'s Embraces with her bare Breast and loose Hair, +and said to them, very unconcernedly, for God's Sake see how this +Fornicator has handled me. She had now lost all Relish for these +delightful Parties of Pleasure, whilst they were to be in private, and +was continually importuning her Lover to chuse a Set of Associates. +_Kelirieu_, to compass his own Aim, seconded the Favorite's Desire with +such flattering Stories, that his Master recommended to him the Care of +finding out some Persons of both Sexes who were fit to bear a Part in +these Festivals of _Bacchus_, and the _Cytherean_ Deity. The Confident +laid hold of this Opportunity at length, to gratify _Lenertoula_'s +Impatience to be introduced to the King. Her Sister _Liamil_, who had +entertained no Suspicion at her Punctuality in shewing herself at Court, +was as easy with Regard to her being admitted as one of the Guests. But +_Zeokinizul_ was not so indifferent about her, for he fell violently in +Love with her at her first Appearance. _Lenertoula_ observed him very +attentively, and artfully avoided any Steps which might give him Reason +to conclude, that she was his own. The Monarch was caught in the Snare, +and when she perceived the Force of his Love was equal to her Wish, she +declar'd to him the Conditions on which alone she would yield herself up +to his Embraces. _Zeokinizul_ could refuse her nothing. Rank, Titles, +Riches, all was laid at her Feet; and _Lenertoula_ being now in no +Danger of Disappointments, or at least in a Condition to support them, +was under no Apprehension of her Intrigues becoming publick. + +This second Act of Perfidiousness in her Sisters, fill'd _Liamil_ with +Rage. As she had imagined the King's Heart to be her Property by right +of Prescription, she bitterly reproach'd him for his Inconstancy. But +her Reign was over, for _Zeokinizul_ dismissed her coldly, without so +much as even debating the Matter with her, and within a few Hours, he +notified to her by one of his _Eunuchs_, that she should immediately +leave the Court. This was a Step of _Lenertoula_'s Policy. This new +Favourite, fearing lest her Sister, than whom none better knew the +King's Temper, might lay hold of one of his soft Moments, when he could +refuse nothing, to recover her Property. She objected some religious +Scruples which could not be satisfied but by removing _Liamil_. This +unfortunate Creature, who, after so long a Continuance in so high +Favour, had nothing left but the Sorrow for losing it, and the Shame of +having purchased it at the Price of her Honour, retired into a _Mosque_, +where she is said to have spent the Remainder of her Life in penitential +Devotions. I must, for my Part, be of Opinion, that her Grief was much +greater for the Loss of her Lover, than for having ever enjoy'd him. +However, tho' she had lost _Zeokinizul_'s Love, she felt his Generosity; +for he order'd all her Debts to be discharg'd, and settled on her a very +large Annuity. _Lenertoula_ was so fully satisfied by such evident +Proofs of her Sovereign's Love, that she now consented to make him +happy. The Monarch's Desires were heightened by Enjoyment, which was +recompenced with the Power of disposing, according to her Fancy, Titles, +Posts, and Monies; so that she greatly exceeded all her Predecessors in +an unbounded Authority. _Jeflur_ was now no longer in a Condition to +contrive her Fall, as he had that of _Leutinemil_. He was too much +shock'd at the Sight of his approaching End; for a few Days more were to +terminate his Greatness. He employed them in salutary Counsels to his +Master in Relation to the Government of his Dominions. Yet he persisted +in his Perfidy and Ingratitude towards his best Friends, even till his +last Moments, by alienating the King from a _Mollak_, whom he had often +promised to recommend for his Successor. This old Minister died +unlamented by all but the King, who being ignorant of his Incapacity and +Mismanagement, especially in the last three Years of his Life, shewed a +sincere Sorrow for him, and ordered a stately Monument to be erected to +his Memory, in the royal _Mosque_ of the Capital of the Kingdom. But +when after having declared, that he would admit of no prime Minister, +and began to govern himself, he plainly saw how unworthy _Jeflur_ had +been of the great Trust reposed in him, he no longer lamented him; but +not to carry his Resentment too far, he only countermanded his Orders +for the Monument, and left the Ashes of his ignorant and treacherous +_Visier_, to remain in the obscure Corner where they had been deposited. + +The Death of his Minister soon changed the Face of the whole Court. +_Zeokinizul_, who hitherto could not bear the least Application to +Business, now regularly shut himself up every Day for some Hours, +in order to consult Means to repair the Losses of the Nation, and +retrieve its Strength and Character. Now all Remembrance of its many +disheartening Miscarriages was soon lost in the Glory of his Conquests. +The chief Motive of this War, was to lessen the vast Acquisitions of the +Emperor of the _Maregins_. His Daughter the Queen of _Ghinoer_, who was +an aspiring, lofty, and resolute Princess, in contempt of the many +Treaties made to prevent it, insisted that her Sex did not exclude her +from inheriting all her Father's Dominions. Besides, an Army of tried +_Veterans_ which had served the late Emperor with so much Honour, her +heroic Courage, together with her extraordinary Beauty so universally +engaged the Hearts of her Subjects, that to a Man they offered to inlist +and support her Claim at all Events. _Zeokinizul_, very well knew, that +the Efforts of his whole Power would be requisite to humble such a +formidable Enemy; yet, had he not exerted himself above common +Measures, all would have been feeble and insufficient, on Account of the +Emptyness of the Treasury, the Decay of Trade, the Scarcity of Men, and +the Discontent of the People. To regain the Esteem of the _Kofirans_, +whom his Indolence, and the weak and wicked Ministration of _Jeflur_ had +alienated, he caused it to be declared, that he was resolved to head his +Army in Person: Surprising Turn, fortunate Instance of the Easiness and +Loyalty of his Subjects. All the King's Deviations, though of such bad +Consequences, were instantly forgotten. He had now been on the Throne +near thirty Years, yet they made this generous Change the AEra of his +Inauguration. Not a Murmur was heard, there was no longer any +Appearance, at least any Complaint of Distress. Old Noblemen came +with Pride from the farthest Provinces, to place their Sons in their +Sovereign's Houshold Troops. Farmers freely parted from their lusty +Children, though the helpful Companions of their Labours, and a part of +their last Farewel, was to fight manfully in the Presence of their King, +who so nobly would share in the Danger, for the Honour of the Nation. +In fine, _Zeokinizul_'s Amours, which had so greatly disgusted the +_Kofirans_, because they had been disappointed in the Effect they wish'd +and expected from them, were indifferent Matters to them, now he +manifested a Genius for Glory; instead of Ridicule and Invective about +his Irregularities, War was all the Subject of Discourse, and every one +according to the Fertility of his Invention, laid magnificent Schemes to +raise their King to an unparallell'd Glory. This general Complacency and +Zeal were duly reported to the King, who was not wanting to encourage so +good a Disposition; prompted by the Importance of answering their +endearing Idea of him, and verifying their Wishes, he shewed himself +such as really he was, but hitherto restrained and seduced by his crafty +_Visier_. Yet amidst these mighty Affairs, he was not totally diverted +from Love; for it never was held to be incompatible with the Desire of +Glory, and he always allotted his Time so properly, that neither of +these Passions encroached upon the other. His Fondness for _Lenertoula_ +did not slacken his Pursuit of Glory, it rather tended to animate and +increase it, she being exorbitantly ambitious, and esteeming her Lover's +Laurels her own; upon a Persuasion that her Grandeur would increase with +the King's Power; then her Pride could not bear the Thought that the +Queen of _Ghinoer_ and her Allies should prescribe Laws to a Prince, +whom she would have under no Controul but her own. + +The Magazines being at last formed, the Plan for the Campaign +determined, and the Troops at the general Rendezvous, _Zeokinizul_ set +out for the Army, which was to act against the _Bapasis_. Never did a +saved People shew greater Marks of Gratitude to a brave Father of his +Country at his Return from a dangerous War, than were shewn by the +affectionate _Kofirans_ to _Zeokinizul_, wherever he came. +_Lenertoula's_ accompanying him to the Army, seemed not to be minded. +The King, the King, was the Cry, and they would see nothing but the +King. + +This Ardour induced the King unalterably to persevere in his Resolution +of committing the Welfare of so loyal a People to none but himself, and +during the Remainder of his Reign, whenever he has been advised to ease +himself of the Fatigue of Government, by deputing some faithful and able +Minister, this has always been his generous Answer, "The _Kofirans_ Love +me so as to shed their Blood in my Cause, and they are so dear to me, +that I cannot do less in Return than to watch myself over their +Welfare." There was not, among all the Generals of the Age, one of more +Bravery and Experience than he whom _Zeokinizul_ had appointed to serve +under him. Tho' he was a Foreigner, he was not the less belov'd by the +_Kofirans_; for as he was perfectly acquainted with their Customs and +Temper, he modell'd his Behaviour accordingly. This great Man was famous +for Military Qualifications, only, if so noble an Excess may be term'd a +Fault, he was perhaps too brave. But this Intrepidity, which in any +other Country would have hindered his Preferment, promoted it among the +_Kofirans_, and raised his Character with that People, who are all Fire +and Spirit. His Name was _Vameric_. He has been reproached with +interrupting the Actions of this Campaign, which was not so glorious as +its Opening had promised. It is certain, that this General, to make +_Zeokinizul_ more in Love with War, and to animate him by great +Successes, had weakened the other Armies, the better to enable that +under his Command to perform some signal Exploits, which gave the Enemy +an Opportunity to make an unexpected Irruption. A strong Army of the +Queen of _Ghinoer_, forced the Passes of the _Nhir_, and penetrated into +a Province of the _Kofirans_. This Misfortune stopp'd _Zeokinizul_ in +the midst of his rapid Conquests. He chose about twenty eight, or thirty +thousand of his best Troops, which he would lead in Person, to reinforce +a small Number, who, being far inferior to the Enemy, had been obliged +to shelter themselves under a Fortress. To encourage these brave Men in +their long and painful Marches, he travelled at their Rate; but he had +no sooner reached a Town near the Place appointed for the Junction of +his Forces, when he was seized with a Distemper which had a fatal +Appearance. + +_Lenertoula_, who never would leave the Prince, was the Cause of it; for +how contrary to all Reason is it to attribute it to the Fatigue of the +March, _Zeokinizul_ having been inured to much greater in his continual +Huntings. As all the Courtiers in this Kingdom are Officers, and as the +Expedition these thirty thousand Soldiers were upon, required all their +Precaution and Activity, none but the Favourite was left for the Monarch +to divert himself with. But Conversation between two Lovers, who are +continually together, would soon become insipid, if they confined +themselves to common Topics. These Lovers were not so Phlegmatic, they +ardently repeated their Protestations to love each other with an eternal +Constancy. They mutually urged that the present Vehemence of their +Passions, was a Pledge of its unalterable Permanency. Then they +proceeded to sensible Proofs, and demonstrated, that the Conjunction of +two Bodies is an Emblem of the inseperable Union of two Souls. With +mutual Ardour, they repeated the Demonstration; till at last the +Demonstrator quite spent, sunk under the Fatigue of the Arguments. In +this Manner _Zeokinizul_ and _Lenertoula_ amused themselves, when he was +informed of the Barbarity with which his Enemies carried on the War in +his Country, at which he was deeply affected. The Impossibility of +quickly meeting them, made him very impatient; the Account of their +Forces added to this Uneasiness; in fine, Joy, Grief, Hope and Fear, +distracted his Heart, and the Shock of such opposite Motions was too +strong for his attenuated Body. A violent Disorder seiz'd upon his whole +Constitution, which was succeeded by such a Fever, whose first Symptoms +seem'd to presage Death. + +This melancholy News was soon spread over the whole Kingdom. The +_Kofirans_ seem'd quite stupified at it; they fell into an inexpressible +Grief and Consternation at the Thoughts of losing such a Sovereign, and +at such a Juncture. The Queen, who by this Time had seen her Folly, and +heartily repented of the superstitious Credulity, by which she had lost +the Embraces of a real Husband in seeking those of an imaginary one, +left her Palace, and, prompted by Grief and Love, flew to the sick King. +She was still in Hopes, that the Deity meant only to alarm the Nation; +and therefore she was for forwarding by her Presence, and deserving by +her kind Offices, the happy Return of his Affection, which she did not +doubt would be the Effect of this Correction. All the People used to +gather about the Governor of _Kofir_'s House, and flock to the Palace, +where Expresses arriv'd every Hour, shewing such Concern, that their +Fate seem'd to depend on the Death or Recovery of _Zeokinizul_. Never +was there such an universal Affliction; never was a Father more lamented +by affectionate Children. They looked at each other with Tears in their +Eyes, and could not speak for sighing. Paleness and Dejection sat on +every Countenance. The Artificers had no Heart to work. All Diversions +and Shews were suspended, and that vast and splendid City, which seemed +the Center of Gaiety and Pleasure, was now changed into a general Scene +of Silence and Melancholy. Yet it was observed, that the _Imans_ and +_Dervises_ did not in the least sympathize with this publick +Consternation. Some will be apt to imagine, that these pious Men had a +divine Intimation that the King would not die. But whoever knows them, +will much rather conclude, that, like Physicians who are never better +pleased than in Times of general Sickness, they only concealed a selfish +Joy under the Mask of an affected Calmness; and it is really scarce +credible what Advantage they drew from this public Calamity. The King, +being given over by the Physicians, seemed to be lost without miraculous +Relief from Heaven, and as the meanest of his Subjects was not wanting +in his Endeavours to procure it, so that _Sesems_, which in that Country +are Devotions of about a Quarter of an Hour, perform'd by the _Imans_, +are known to have risen to such an Extortion, as not to be said under +two _Tomans_ each. + +During the first Days of his Illness, _Lenertoula_ never left the royal +Patient's Bed, who also protested, that Death had nothing bitter to him, +but the leaving his Mistress and his Subjects. But no sooner was the +Monarch sensible of his desperate Condition, than a Cloud of awful Ideas +broke in upon his Mind. The Principles he had imbibed by Education, +revived in his Conscience. He reflected on all his Conduct to the +present Time, and the Thoughts of his being on the Point of passing into +another Life, impress'd on him strongly the Conditions on which his +Religion offers eternal Happiness. All _Kelirieu_'s Care to conceal +these penitential Dispositions, could not hinder their being known among +the Courtiers. The _Kam Kertras_, Grandson to the _Kam_ of _Anserol_, +late Regent, at the Instance of his Father, who was a very religious +Prince, resolv'd to make Use of them, in order to restore the Queen to +her Rights, and deprive the wicked _Lenertoula_ of her Usurpations. +Taking with him a _Mollak_, equally venerable for his Birth and Piety, +he went to the sick King's Apartment. _Kelirieu_ knowing how much it +concerned both him and her whom he served to hinder this Visit, dared to +refuse them Admittance, under Pretence that the King was going to sleep, +and would see no Body. Although the _Kam_ and the _Mollak_ plainly saw +through the Deceit, yet Regard to the melancholy Juncture, made them +quietly withdraw, in Hopes of a more lucky Opportunity, which yet they +never would have found, had they contented themselves with such Excuses. +They returned the same Day, and _Kelirieu_ gave them the same Answer, +which provoked the young Duke beyond Measure, being naturally very +fiery. What, said he, with a threatning Air, shall you, who are no +better than a Lacquey, dare to deny Admittance to your Master's nearest +Relation? and at once kick'd open the Door, and went forward into the +Apartment, followed by the _Mollak_. + +Upon _Zeokinizul_'s asking the Meaning of that Noise and Bustle, +_Kelirieu_, who had acted without any such Orders from him, durst not +make any Answer, but the young _Kam_, whose Heat was not over, gave the +King such an Account of it, as made him very angry; for he not only +condescended to ask the _Kam_'s Pardon, but forbad _Kelirieu_ his +Presence. The judicious _Mollak_ laid hold of that Instant to discourse +of the Concerns of his Conscience to the dying Monarch; and as his own +Reflections, had beforehand suggested preparative Ideas of it, he was +the sooner brought to the wished for Contrition and Repentance. + +The Behaviour of the _Mollak_ is certainly very praise-worthy, but it +would have been much more so, if after having, with a truly Apostolic +Zeal, pathetically represented to the Sovereign the Enormity of his +Crimes, the Certainty of his Death, and the Punishments to be dreaded +after such a licentious Life, he had stopp'd at bringing him to a due +Sense of Things, and strengthening him in such a pious Disposition, but +he shewed more Zeal than Discretion, for his Devotion being sharpened +with Resentment, made him imagine, that he was ruining _Lenertoula_ +beyond Retrieve; whereas he was, in Reality, doing nothing less than +paving the Way for her greater Exaltation, in Case the King recovered. + +Thus, under a Pretence that true Repentance required more than a +Detestation of what was past, and guarding against future Relapses, he +signified to _Zeokinizul_, that it was still his farther Duty to make +some signal Satisfaction for the Offence which he had given to the whole +Kingdom. That in order thereto, he must disapprove and abrogate all his +Grants and Favours to _Lenertoula_. _Zeokinizul_, who now was intent +only upon dying in the Religion of his Ancestors, pleasing his People, +and carrying their Esteem as well as their Grief with him to the Grave, +complied with all the _Mollak_'s Injunctions, ordered _Lenertoula_ to be +immediately dismissed the Court, with a Prohibition from ever appearing +in his Presence. + +Having thus settled all the Affairs of his Conscience, _Zeokinizul_ +became senseless, so that he was thought dead by all his Attendants. But +this sudden Alteration was the happy Crisis which saved his Life. During +this Interval of Inanition, the Mind recover'd its former Situation, and +freed itself from all its Anxieties. The Body performed its Functions, +and the Passages which all the Art of the Physicians could not relax, +opened of themselves, which was followed by such copious Evacuations as +saved the Patient. This joyful News spread itself rather quicker than +the other, so that it was as soon known at _Kofir_ that the King was out +of Danger, as that there was no Hopes of his Recovery. + +In the mean Time, the Queen arrived. She made Use of the _Mollak_'s +pious Impressions, and tho' her Austerities and Vexations, together with +her advanced Age, had rendered her no tempting Spouse, yet the kind and +grateful Monarch was so taken with her Tenderness and Diligence, that he +vowed, that from this Time his Heart should be her's, and her's alone. +But that Man knows himself but very little, when he is in Danger; and +that the Assurances of Amendment which he then makes, are weak and +transitory when he has recover'd his Health, is what the Sequel of this +History will abundantly demonstrate. + +_Zeokinizul_ was soon perfectly recovered, and then his Generals whose +Ardour had been restrain'd by Fear and Grief, soon made their Enemies +feel, that their King was restored to them, for they forced them to +repass the _Nhir_ with considerable Loss; and the most Skilful in +Military Affairs do not scruple to affirm, than if the _Kofirans_ had +not been headed by a General prudent even to a Fault, not so much as a +single Soldier would have been left to have given the Queen of _Ghinoer_ +an Account of their Expedition. This General so deficient in the ardent +Bravery of his Country, was call'd _Leosanil_; he was afterwards +disgraced, and though his Age was still fit for Military Functions, +he was taken into the Cabinet, which was a fitter Theatre for his +Abilities; for there being out of the Reach of Swords and Guns, and left +to undisturbed Reflection, his Advice and Schemes were of excellent +Service. I now shall leave _Zeokinizul_ in the pure Embraces of his +Consort, and preparing to besiege a Place of Strength, to follow +_Lenertoula_ in her Disgrace. + +She did not betray any great Confusion, when _Zeokinizul_'s harsh Order +was notified to her; but she little knew what she was to go through upon +the Road. She took a travelling Chariot, accompanied by her Sister, and +followed by a few Domestics. Here was an Instance of such Strokes with +which Fortune now and then seems to warn the Insolent and Ambitious. +After having led her Favorites to the Altars to be worshipped like petty +Deities, she afterwards drags them thither to be sacrificed like fatened +Victims. + +This Woman, who lately saw the most illustrious among the _Kofirans_ +cringe at her Feet, and practise the basest Submission to obtain only a +single Look, now sees herself exposed to the contemptuous Insults of the +very Meanest; the whole Nation combining to plant Daggers in her Heart +by their Reproaches and Shouts at her Downfal. It having been whispered +among the Country Folks, that _Lenertoula_ had occasioned the King's +Illness, and they being possess'd of a Notion, propagated by her +Enemies, that she had been bribed to poison the King, crowded all the +Roads in her Way, loading her with Curses and Invectives, threatning to +tear her to Pieces, had they not thought it would be a more galling +Punishment to her Pride, to let her pass on amidst the same Hisses and +Outrages of their Fellows, for above eighty Leagues successively. It was +next to a Miracle that she escaped with her Life, for she was put to all +Manner of Shifts and Precautions to deceive these furious Clowns who +vowed to revenge their King; whenever she came near any Town, she +stopp'd above half a League off, whilst one of her Out-riders went +before to take fresh Horses, and observe the Bye-roads, that thus she +might avoid the Tumults of the Inhabitants. At last she reach'd _Kofir_, +which she found disposed to receive her in the same rough Manner as the +Country had done. The whole Nation appeared determined against her. One +Day she happened, a little indiscretely, to take the Air in her Chariot, +while the Streets were full of People, who were celebrating the happy +Recovery of their King with all Kinds of Sports and Rejoicings. Possibly +she might flatter herself, that the easy _Kofirans_ seeing her appear +Abroad to join in the publick Festivity, would relinquish the Suspicions +they had harbour'd against her. But they were too inveterate, and the +Event was quite different, for had it not been for the Dexterity of her +Coachman, and the Swiftness of her Horses, she had infallibly fallen a +Victim to the Fury of the Populace. This hazardous Experience of their +Malice, brought her to lead a Life at _Kofir_ very different to her +Inclinations, being ashamed to shew herself in any Assembly, where she +must have been their Jest and Scorn, and much less daring to appear in +the public Walks. When she was not shut up in her Palace, she used to +amuse herself for a while in a Garden, which, tho' one of the finest in +all _Kofir_ was the least frequented. Here it was that such a mortifying +Accident befel her, as exceeded all the rest, and which sensibly shewed +her how low she was fallen from her former Grandeur. + +It was as follows: An Officer who, tho' her Relation, had not felt the +happy Influences of her Favour, because he never made himself known to +her, which renders his Impoliteness, I may even say, his Brutality +inexcusable, resolving to give the finishing Stroke to her Anguish. + +According to the gallant Custom of the _Kofirans_, he politely +approached towards _Lenertoula_, who was taking an Evening Walk, in +Company with her melancholy Sister, and wished for nothing more than for +a third Person to join them, whose Chearfulness might help to dissipate +the continual Gloominess of her Temper. After the first Compliments, +which are not short among this ceremonious People, the Gentleman +entertain'd the Ladies with the most refined Gallantry. He expressed +himself in so graceful and charming a Manner, that they were both +infinitely taken with his Conversation. _Lenertoula_, that he might talk +more at Ease, desired him to sit down by her upon a Bank of Turf, and +after some Questions on the Condition of his Fortune, offered him her +Services, if needful, for its Improvement. This Person, of all Men the +most rude and brutish, for he was insulting over the Disgrace of an +unfortunate Woman, who was extremely desirous of obliging him, and had +made him an Offer of an unusual Generosity. He gave her a full Answer to +the first Article. "I was a general Officer in the King's Army, said he +to her, where I served honourably for twenty Years. But having been +injured by the Ministry, I retired to my Estate, with which and some +small Marks of Distinction, which could not be denied my long Services, +I live contented." "But my Lord," interrupted _Lenertoula_, who was for +knowing how she stood in the Thoughts of People of Quality, "I am +surprized that you never address'd yourself to the Favourite, in order +to obtain, by Means of her Interests, the just Reward of your Services. +She took a Pleasure in countenancing Merit, and certainly such as yours +would have engag'd her Favour." "I, Madam," replied the Officer, with +Indignation, "should I make a Prostitute my Refuge? I am her Relation, +and it is the only Blot that I know of in our Family. I am too tender in +Point of Honour, to hold any Thing from the Hands of a Woman, who has so +notoriously trampled it under her Feet." At this _Lenertoula_ was indeed +as one thunder-struck. She endeavoured several Times to make some Reply +to this ungrateful Officer; but her Voice failed her. He left them, and +her Sister was obliged to call her Slaves to lead her to her Chariot, in +order to carry her back to her Palace. + +_Zeokinizul_, in the mean Time, had crowned his Campaign, by taking the +important Fortress he had besieged. His Soldiers encouraged by his +Presence, had at once surmounted Nature, Art, a severe Season, and the +Efforts of a numerous and brave Garison. Having now nothing to do but +repose himself under his Laurels, he returned towards his Capital. Then +it was that his Subjects, in an Extacy of Loyalty, were seen to prepare +him a Reception answerable to their Love, and present the most affecting +and pleasing Sight to the Eyes of a Monarch, who aimed more at reigning +over their Hearts, than subduing them by Fear. If the News of his +Sickness had dispirited them, the News of his Approach rejoiced them. +But when they came to see him, their Transports were beyond all +Description, their Eyes overflowed with Tears of Joy and Affection, +whilst the Sky rung with their Acclamations. How happy is such a King +amidst such a People, and how formidable when he heads them against +their Enemies! _Zeokinizul_ stayed three Days at _Kofir_, as a Testimony +of his Regard for this cordial People, who also to shew their Sense of +so much Condescension, and to celebrate his Return, invented Variety of +polite Entertainments. The King and People seemed to strive who should +be kindest, for he gave Orders, that all the Inhabitants without +Exception, should have Admittance into his Presence, that they might +feast themselves with the delightful Sight which they had so +affectionately desired. It is affirmed, that the Idea of his late +Danger, from which he was often told, that nothing less than a Miracle +delivered him, being still strong upon his Mind, he had a real +Tenderness for the Queen, whom he had restored to all her Rights. They +were more than once surprized in such Attitudes as clearly shewed their +Reconciliation. + +But how frail are Vows drawn from us only by Danger, how soon effaced by +Safety and Temptation! Scarce was _Zeokinizul_ returned to the Hurry, +Brilliancy, and Diversions of the Court, but those Impressions which it +was hoped would be as lasting as they were salutary, were by Degrees +soon dissipated. His Love for _Lenertoula_ appear'd to have been like a +sudden Fire, ready to burst out with greater Vehemence. At first he was +sorry for his using her so abruptly; than he began to frown on the +Advisers of her disgraceful Removal, and recall'd _Kelirieu_ and others +who had sided with his injured Favorite. _Kalontil_, Governor to the +Prince, the presumptive Heir of the Crown, was banished from Court, for +Reasons which were never thought fit to be made publick. Some imputed it +to his endangering his Pupil, by having brought him to his sick Father, +without any such order, and without Attendance. Others charge him with a +Project for aggrandizing himself upon the King's Death. But the most +knowing conclude, that he must have spoken ill of the Favorite, in order +to set the young Prince against her. _Zeokinizul_ seemed afterwards +mightily to affect Solitude, nor did even Hunting itself please him, +unless when he went without Company; which gave Occasion to suspect, +that there were some private Meetings carried on in order to a +Reconciliation with the Favourite, and to which _Kelirieu_ was only +privy. At last, weary of constraining his Temper, he complained openly +of the Abuse put upon him at a Time when he was incapable of Reflection, +and of the Indignity offered to his Honour, in urging him with terrible +Threatnings to disgracefully remove, and expose to Contempt and +Violences, a Person whose only Fault towards him was an Excess of Love. +He restored her to her Rank, Titles, and Privileges; but openly +declaring, that all this was only to prevent her former Commerce with +him proving her utter Ruin; for that he was determined not to keep her +any longer as a Mistress. Yet notwithstanding these Protestations, +private Measures were forming in order to procure as fond a +Reconciliation as ever. The Reality of these Assurances were soon +illustrated, when he broke the solemn Promise he had made to the +_Mollak_, and recall'd his dear _Lenertoula_. But this was too slender +a Reparation for what she had suffered. She required of _Zeokinizul_, +a more complete and signal Triumph. Immediately the pious, but +over-zealous _Mollak_ was dismissed the Court, and ordered to his +_Mosque_. A _Visier_ also whom the Favourite particularly hated, having +always opposed her Amour, was ordered personally to declare to her, that +_Zeokinizul_ again acknowledged her Mistress of his Heart, and only +waited her Orders, and a List of her Enemies, in order to revenge her to +the utmost. The _Visier_ obeyed; but at the same Time he took secure +Measures that he might not be upon the fatal List, and to prevent this +imperious Woman from abusing the King's Weakness, an infallible Poison +which he found Means to have given her, worked at the very Instant that +he went to perform his Commission. As she was soon violently seiz'd with +the Approaches of Death, it was believed by the Generality, who had no +Notion of foul Play, that _Lenertoula_ had been overcome by an Excess of +Joy, which is always more forcible than that of Grief, especially in +Women. Upon this Notion, a _Kofiran_ Wit made four Verses, which may be +thus rendered in _English_. + + _'Tis needless now my famous Blood to name, + This Act alone will immortalize my Fame. + My King, on gaining Life, return'd my Pow'r, + For which I dy'd his Glory to restore._ + +It was thought for a long Time, that this would prove an inconsolable +Loss to _Zeokinizul_. He seemed to have no Ease, no Satisfaction, but in +heaping Gifts and Favours on all _Lenertoula_'s Relations, to manifest +how dear she was to him. However, the Marriage of his only Son, to a +Daughter of the King of _Jerebi_, his Relation, the Magnificence and +Diversions at the Celebration of the Ceremony, and the Congratulations +from all Parts, at last gave a chearful Turn to his Disposition; and he +wisely began to think, that the Honours he conferr'd on the Sister of +his dear Mistress, besides sixteen thousand _Tomans_ which he gave to +her Husband; together with a tender Remembrance, which he vow'd always +to retain for her Ashes, was amply fulfilling all that the most tender +Passion could require. His Courtiers, who were surprised to see his +Heart continue for a Time disengag'd and inaccessible to any new +Passion, were in daily Expectation of seeing the Liberty which he had so +happily recovered, offered up to some youthful Beauty. But the Court +Ladies strove so eagerly for this Prize, that their over Forwardness +made him averse to having an Intrigue with any. They were ignorant that +Resistance inflames Desire, and he at that Time scorned Enjoyments too +easily procured. _Kelirieu_ in the mean Time grew uneasy at his Master's +Indifference, as it deprived him of the most substantial Emoluments of +his Post. He saw his Favours entirely depended on his being subservient +to the King's Pleasures, so that he spared for nothing in order to +restore that Employment which he had executed so much to his Master's +Satisfaction, and his own Advantage. The Nuptials of the young Prince +opened a Way to it. Nothing can equal the Joy, Magnificence, and +Splendour, which appeared on that Occasion. The City of _Kofir_ +distinguished itself above all others in the Kingdom; for as it has not +its equal for Largeness and Riches, so it surpassed them all in the +Eclat of its Zeal and Affection for the Royal Family. In twelve of the +most remarkable Parts of the City, there were large and superb Saloons, +where all without Distinction, were admitted to dance. There was a +Profusion of Refreshments of all Kinds. The best Musicians had Orders to +attend. The Sound of such an infinite Number of Instruments, accompanied +with harmonious Voices, added to the Murmurs of the Fountains of Wine +which were playing every where, inspired such a rapturous Gaiety to +numberless Crouds of People, that no Stranger, however, acquainted with +the Affairs of this Kingdom, could, at that Time of excessive Mirth, +have imagined, that it had for many Years been involved in a bloody and +expensive War. + +This Season of universal Joy, Love chose to captivate again +_Zeokinizul_, after such an Interval of boasted Liberty. The chief +Inhabitants of _Kofir_, who are a distinct Body from the Nobility, the +Magistracy, and the Citizens, had decorated in the most superb Manner +the Sessions House for a Ball, to which they invited the King and royal +Pair. Every one was admitted in their Mask Habits, to give the Citizens +an Opportunity of shewing their Wives the Magnificence, Gallantries, and +Diversions of the Court, which at other Times is out of their Power. +Accordingly _Zeokinizul_, attended by all his Courtiers, came to this +Ball, in Habits as strange as they were elegant. The Sight of such a +beautiful Assembly, struck him with a delightful Surprise. Here was no +painted Allurements, no artificial Charms, such as he was daily +conversant with in his Palace. All here was pure Nature, which seem'd to +have chosen this Day to present him with a Sight of her most beautiful +Productions. The Beauty, the Air, the Motion, and Youth of these lovely +Objects was so enchanting, that they looked like the heavenly _Houris_. +_Zeokinizul_ was enchanted at the Sight of such a brilliant Assembly, +his Eyes wandered from Beauty to Beauty, till they seemed at once to fix +on a young Lady of a distinguished Appearance. She was in the Habit of +an _Amazon_, with her Bow and Quiver hanging at her Shoulders. Her +flaxen Hair, which shone with Diamonds, floated in Ringlets, and her +charming Breast half naked, ravish'd the Sight. "Lovely Huntress," said +the Monarch, "unhappy those whom your Arrows pierce, their Wounds are +Mortal."---- This Speech gave the Charmer a fair Field for returning +such an Answer as might inflame _Zeokinizul_; but whether she did not +dream of such a Conquest, or Presence of Mind failed her, she ran and +hid herself among the Maskers. This Disappointment was in some Measure +relieved by a Company of twenty young Persons, who began a Dance, which +was much in Vogue at that Time, but first invented in the King of +_Alniob_'s Country. They perform'd it so gracefully, that he stood like +a Man deprived of his Senses. The Charms of each of these beautiful +Dancers, threw him into his first Hesitation, which would soon have been +ended, had any one of them uncovered her Face. It is past all Doubt, +that the Heart of _Zeokinizul_, which longed for an Object, would have +received the Impression with Transport. He went to one of the Ends of +the Saloon, where Women of an ordinary Rank were seated in a Kind of +Amphitheatre. Their Dress was in nothing inferior to those of a higher +Rank; and besides, they had those fresh healthful Countenances, which +being the Result of Temperance, and a plain Way of living, was not to be +found among the Quality. _Zeokinizul_ stood viewing them, but his Hour +was come. Love waited for him under a Mask, and she who wore it was now +going to let this mischievous Deity fly into _Zeokinizul_'s Heart. She +was a young Woman, of a brown Complexion, lately married to a freedman, +who having deserv'd his Master's Favour by nocturnal Services, had, +together with his Liberty, obtained a Post among those who robb'd the +Prince, and plunder'd the People. They are called _Omeriserufs_, or +Rogues of the second Class. She, whom Love had already appointed for +Favourite, under Pretence of pulling something out of her Pocket, dropt +her Handkerchief, and as it is said, purposely. _Zeokinizul_ hastily +took it up; and, as he could not reach her Seat, he toss'd it to her in +the most polite Manner. A confused Murmur immediately spread thro' the +Saloon, with these Words, _The Handkerchief is thrown_. The King was too +much taken up with viewing the Person to whom he had been so +complaisant, to take any Notice of such Whisperings. The Charms she +display'd in taking off her Mask, and her genteel Manner of her thanking +him for the Honour, fill'd him with such passionate Love, that he even +there gave her some Intimations how much he was taken with her Beauty. +After this Declaration, he soon left the Ball, for having received such +a Wound, he wanted to be in private with his Confident, in order to +consult about his new Love. _Kelirieu_ had already prevented his +Master's Orders, for as he narrowly watched him, he perceived which of +the Company had captivated him, and immediately informed himself of her +Rank and Condition. + +_Zeokinizul_ was transported with Joy at _Kelirieu_'s Report of his +Enquiries. He made himself sure, that the Husband of this young Person, +being one of those Set of Men, who Mind nothing but Riches, would not +only resign his conjugal Rights, but would even be brought to sollicit +his Spouse to resign herself up to the King's Embraces, and herein he +was not mistaken. But the Difficulty was to induce the Seller's Wife to +be a Party in such a scandalous Contract; for tho' she was of low +Extraction, she had an Elevation of Mind, a Purity of Virtue, which +would have done Honour to the highest. She could not indeed help being +inwardly pleased that she had tried her Charms with such Success upon +her Sovereign, and the dazzling Idea of beholding _Zeokinizul_ laying at +her Feet, all his Greatness and Power, her Husband made a _Bassa_ of the +second Rank, her Name exchanged for one of the most illustrious, were +Circumstances which the natural Desires in Women of shining even in the +smallest Matters, would not allow her to be insensible; yet this +Sensibility did not greatly hasten the Lover's Happiness; for, as her +Duty united her to a Husband, from whom her Inclinations alienated her, +she was for distinguishing herself from all that had gone before her, +and reducing the Monarch to go through the entire Play of Love. But such +a formal Method was insupportable to him, for being used to conquer upon +the very first Appearance of his Desire, his Heart was for some Time +distracted with strong Conflicts between Love and Resentment, without a +decisive Victory on either Side. Sometimes he looked upon the Resistance +of his new Mistress, as an insolent Affront to Majesty; at other Times +this same Resistance inflamed him the more, and he pleased himself with +the Thoughts of subduing that obstinate Virtue which she affected. All +_Kelirieu_'s Artifices were at an End, and when he was passionately +urg'd by the King, he was at a Loss for any farther Expedient. However, +in such a critical Juncture, he determined to make one last Effort, in +order to bring the beautiful _Vorompdap_ to his Lure, and if he fail'd, +to engage _Zeokinizul_ to forget her in the Arms of another, who knew +the true Value of a Monarch's Affections. + +Being persuaded that every Woman who has once listened to a Lover, +cannot bear the Thoughts of losing him, but makes Use of every Art in +order to fix his Constancy, he waited upon her in Person, and said, with +an Air of Concern, At last, charming _Kismare_, your Rigour has +disgusted the _Sultan_, so as to make him give over his Addresses. Weary +of the Delays and Obstacles you was constantly raising against his +Passion, he has offered it to another, notwithstanding all my Endeavours +to secure him, by the highest Praises of your Charms, and making your +very Resistance, a Motive for his farther Pursuits. A Person, not indeed +of your perfect Beauty, but of a more indulgent Temper, captivates this +Monarch, and I apprehend, that her obliging and artful Behaviour to her +Lover, will for ever deprive you of a Heart which you might have kept +at your Devotion. _Kelirieu_, whilst he was speaking, did not fail to +observe the young _Vorompdap_'s Countenance, and had the Pleasure of +discerning the Vexation which she strove in vain to conceal. She was +some Time without returning an Answer, but after composing herself, and +putting a good Air upon the Confusion which the Thoughts of a Rival had +excited, I could never have imagined, said she, with an affected +Indifference, which, however, could not deceive the artful _Kelirieu_, +No, I never could have imagined, that after so many Marks and +Protestations of a sincere Affection, _Zeokinizul_, could have deceived +me in such a Manner. However, I am free from the Reproaches of a +criminal Uneasiness to gratify his Desires. Charming _Kismare_, replied +_Kelirieu_, had you shewed the Compliance which is due to a Monarch's +Love, I presume to swear by his Head, that he would never have proved +inconstant. But no Lover, and especially a King, will ever be satisfied +with an ideal Love. Kindness cherishes the Flame, but Unkindness +quenches it. But if you have still any Value for _Zeokinizul_'s Heart, +you still may avert the Blow which seems to trouble you. I, replied she, +smartly, I, troubled at the King's Alteration! very far from it. On the +contrary, I bless interposing Heaven, that it happened before Gratitude +had prevail'd upon me to make him a Sacrifice of my Person, and, what is +still dearer, my Virtue. Alas! added she, sheding some Tears, which +flowed in Spite of her, that fatal Instant was drawing near. If it be +so, replied _Kelirieu_, I pity you for having undesignedly lost an +Enjoyment so necessary to your own Repose. For, added he, softly, I can +discover through all your Affectations, that you really love the King. +Your Heart is wounded, and only with-held by airy and unseasonable +Scruples. Well, yes, answered she, I do love him. I do not endeavour to +conceal it from you. Good God! what Woman in my Place could forbear. +But, how can I commit such a publick Adultery. A publick Adultery, +replied _Kelirieu_, with a seeming Amazement, what Blockhead has put +such Fancies into your Head. But this Crime so justly condemned both by +divine and human Laws, consists in the Injury done to a Man, whose Wife +against his Will, or without his Knowledge, admits a Gallant to her +Embraces? But, lovely _Kismare_, how different is your Case! Will not +your Husband quit all Pretentions to your Person? Has he not releas'd +you from the Vow of being only his? Since his Consent could unite you to +him, shall his positive Order be of less Validity to separate you from +him, and unite you to another; and that upon such an important Occasion, +when Riches, Titles, and Power are to reward his Cession, and your +Acquiescence? Believe me, charming _Vorompdap_, our _Imans_ have adapted +our Religion to their own Views and Passions, without Regard to that +genuine and perfect Model, the Will of God. The Vow of Celibacy, upon +which they value themselves, as renouncing Marriage, would be an +insupportable Yoke to them, it would be soon shaken of, were it not for +their Hopes, which indeed are too often verified, of taking Advantage of +the Misunderstandings betwixt the Husband and Wife, whose Bands they are +taught to believe indissoluble. It is on this Account, that they are +constantly magnifying Conjugal Duties, and lay so much Stress on their +punctual Observation. Consider only what is done in other Nations, +no less wise and religious than ourselves. Divorces among them are +permitted, as frequently essential to the well being of Society. That +sacred Book the _Liegnelau_, cannot be supposed to contradict and +overthrow the _Bileb_, of which it is in a great Measure the +Accomplishment, and _Suesi_ whom you worship, being the Messenger of the +great God, would not offer to abrogate his Institutions. Thus the Point +is clear, and now look upon yourself as a Woman who is about forming a +second Contract, being legally, religiously, and honourably discharged +from the former. _Zeokinizul_ is equally at Liberty, for the State and +Temper of the Queen invalidate their Marriage. So, that only a few +Formalities are wanting for your Union with the King, and you know, +Formalities among the more understanding Part of the World, are often +dispensed with, as tiresome rather than necessary. The Consent of both +Parties has always been the only Point insisted on as essential. + +These Proofs, which in the Mouth of a _Mollak_, would have been laugh'd +at, produced the designed Effect from _Kelirieu_. The young _Kismare_ +was shaken, but not overthrown by them; she still insisted against +plunging herself into such shocking Scandal. This seemed a very slender +Objection to _Kelirieu_, who immediately replyed to it. Consider, says +he, the _Kams_ of _Meani_ and _Tesoulou_, do they bear any Marks of +their Mother's Scandal? Was a great Monarch's Love accounted a Disgrace +to a beautiful Lady? If you was acquainted with the first Ages of our +Monarchy, you would be satisfied, that they never made any Difference +between the Children of Love, and those born in lawful Marriage, as the +_Imans_ are pleased to call it. A King at your Feet, Courtiers waiting +respectfully on your Orders, a Nation's Treasure at your Disposal, can +there be Contempt and Scandal amid such Advantages? Do not alarm your +Mind with Monsters of your own forming, only for the Sake of opposing +them. Consent to make _Zeokinizul_ happy, and I will lay him at your +Feet, more deeply in Love than ever. These Representations made a strong +Impression upon the young Favourite, whom the Eloquence of her own Heart +had already half convinced. She still stood upon some Punctilio's; but +when _Kelirieu_, which was his last Resource, intimated to her the +Danger which might accrue to her Husband from her Obstinacy, this drew +from her an absolute Consent. This last Circumstance was certainly the +best adapted to fix her; for the new _Kismare_, like all the rest of his +Fraternity, was making the most of his Time in the Management of the +Finances, and relying on his Spouse's Favour, he was above taking proper +Precautions to conceal or palliate his Imbezzlements. _Kelirieu_ took +Care to fill _Vorompdap_ with Apprehensions, that _Zeokinizul_ would +infallibly call him to an Account, the most favourable Consequence +whereof, would be a Confiscation of all his Substance. It was then high +Time to come to a Resolution. Thus _Kelirieu_ happily completed his +Negotiation. And having appointed the Time and Place for the first +Interview, he hastened, flushed with Joy, to congratulate his Master on +this Victory, which was the more delightful, as it had been attended +with such a Train of Difficulties. + +In the mean Time this new Intrigue, no more than the former, could not +diminish _Zeokinizul_'s strict Attention to the several Exigencies of +the State. His wise Orders had been so exactly executed throughout his +Empire, that his Armies were fit for Action even before the Spring. He +headed in Person the most considerable, which was destined for the +Conquest of the _Bapasis_, being still commanded by the brave _Vameric_, +whose prudent Conduct towards the End of the last Campaign had been +admired by his very Enemies. The Favourite followed the King as +_Lenertoula_ had done, whom she certainly equalled both in Love and +Honour. The Campaign was opened with the Siege of a Town which the great +_Zeokitarezul_ had fortified at a prodigious Expence, which, besides a +strong regular Wall and Outworks, had a Citadel which was accounted by +the Connoisseurs, a Master-piece of Fortification. It must have been +even an unsurmountable Barrier to the _Kofirans_, in case they reduced +the City. With this View their Attacks were carried on with all +imaginary Vigour. On the other Hand, this Place being as it were the Key +of the Country, the Keeping of it was of such Importance to the Enemies +of _Zeokinizul_, that they resolv'd to hazard every Thing in order to +its Relief. The King of _Alniob_, the Provinces _Junet_, and the Queen +of _Ghinoer_, Sovereign of the _Bapasis_, joined all their Forces, of +which the chief Command was conferr'd on the _Kam_ of _Lundamberk_, +youngest Son to the King of _Alniob_, a Prince of a martial Disposition, +and of the greatest Bravery. His Ardour for Glory made him long to +encounter the King of the _Kofirans_, and his only Son, a young Prince +of the greatest Expectations, who could forsake the Embraces of a +youthful Bride, to attend his Father, and learn the Art of War under +_Vameric_, in the midst of Fatigues and Dangers. The Impetuosity of the +_Kam_ of _Lundamberk_, would not allow him to conform to the wise +Counsels of the experienced Generals of his Army, who were for delaying +the Battle 'till he had got the Advantage of the Ground, as he was +inferiour to them in Numbers. He would not be ruled by their +Representations, but, led on by his evil Genius, he came and offered +Battle to _Zeokinizul_, whose Forces were already come out of their +Lines, and drawn up in order to receive him. + +As these Sheets bear the Title of the Amours of _Zeokinizul_, I may +perhaps be censured for giving a Detail of a Battle which seems quite +foreign to this Work; but as it occasioned several Vexations to the +Favourite, and having been omitted by every other Writer, I believe the +Reader will not be displeased at my relating such Particulars as have +come to my Knowledge. + +There was great Fault found with _Vameric_'s Dispositions. It was +reported, that he was so full of the Victory, that he took not the +least Care to secure a Retreat. Behind his Lines was a large River +call'd the _Tueska_, over which he had laid but one Bridge, which, in +Case of a Defeat, must infallibly have broken down with the Weight of +the flying Troops; the Consequence of which must have been their total +Destruction. All this is a known and undeniable Truth. But _Vameric_ was +acquainted with the Spirit of the Nation which he commanded. He knew +that they would not fly before all the Forces in the World, when they +were fighting in their King's Presence. Then, what Occasion was there +for Bridges to favour a Retreat, when every single Man was resolv'd to +die, or conquer? Besides in one Night's Time he had cast up three +Trenches, of which the two first were sufficient to defend them against +the first Attack of the Enemy, which is always the most violent. The +third would be an impenetrable Defence against their weak and broken +Forces. Another considerable Advantage was, the dividing the Army into +small Bodies, which must extremely harass the Enemy, as they must be +under a Necessity of attacking but one at a Time. Whatever Confidence +_Zeokinizul_ reposed in _Vameric_, he would share both in the Command +and Danger. This hazardous Circumstance threw the Favourite into +inexpressible Agonies. But neither her Tears nor her Intreaties, so +prevalent at all other Times, were unable to restrain the resolute +Monarch. He and his Son were present during the whole Action, and in so +much Danger, that several were killed near them. At last, Victory +declared itself in his Favour, and the young Prince of _Alniob_, tho' he +exerted the utmost Courage and was seconded with an intrepid Valour, by +his Soldiers, who loved him entirely, was obliged to retreat. But tho' +this young Lion was defeated, he still struck his Enemies with Terror, +for after such an Experience of his Valour, they apprehended that he +would next Day renew the Action, which he certainly would have done, had +it not been for the Opposition of his Generals. + +_Zeokinizul_, after the Victory, applied himself to shew the Conquered +how highly he esteemed their Courage. It was ordered, that the same Care +should be taken of their wounded, as of his own Soldiers. The imprudent +and scandalous Report of some barbarous Orders issued by the Prince of +_Alniob_, in Case of his Success, made not the least Impression on this +magnanimous King, and all _Africa_ joined in owning that the _Kam_ of +_Lundamberk_ and his Allies, could not have a more worthy Conqueror than +_Zeokinizul_. The Congratulations of his dear _Kismare_ were still +wanting, to complete the Joy and Honours of this Victory. He hastened, +transported with Love, to lay his Laurels at her Feet, and tell her +that he was animated by her charming Idea, in the midst of all the +Horrors of the Battle. Here was a fresh and very worthy Motive to +increase her Tenderness towards him. But, who can know a Woman? This +Instant was to be the Period of it, or at least to put it to a severe +Trial. + +A young Prisoner, one of the most illustrious of the Nobility of +_Alniob_, having desired Admittance to _Zeokinizul_, was introduced to +him in his Tent, where he was sitting with the Favourite. She was struck +at the Sight of him, as indeed there never was any Man fitter to make a +Woman unfaithful, and justify her Infidelity. His Mein and Air spoke the +Hero, and his Address to the Monarch declared, that his Sentiments were +answerable. "Sire, said he, all our Efforts have not hindered Victory +from declaring itself for you. Tho' I can no longer continue fighting +with my brave Fellow-Soldiers, I could wish not to remain among mine +Enemies. Your Highness is no Stranger to Love, and it is that which +calls me back to my own Country. Be pleased therefore, to grant me +Permission to return, which will not a little augment your Glory, that I +shall there appear in Chains instead of those Trophies which I hop'd to +have adorn'd my Return." The majestic Air with which this young +Warriour delivered himself, moved _Zeokinizul_, who immediately +answered, "You are at full Liberty to depart, and may Love do you more +Justice than Fortune." This Generosity of _Zeokinizul_, was planting a +Dagger in the Favourite's Heart, who had already conceived too great a +Passion for the Prisoner, to consent so readily to his Departure. Her +Passion hindered her from reflecting on the Consequences which might +flow from it, and turning towards the Monarch, she said, "Sire, let not +your extreme Generosity betray your Interest. When this young Warriour +is again among his Countrymen, he may engage them to come and attack you +a second Time. He has seen"---- "Be it so, Madam," interrupted +_Zeokinizul_, "I can never have too many Opportunities of making +Heroes." She blush'd at this Answer, and _Kelirieu_, who perceived it, +readily guessing that the Departure of this young Prisoner was not +agreeable to her Inclinations, laid hold of the Opportunity of +_Zeokinizul_'s going out to give some Orders, of offering her his +Service. "Madam, said he, if I am not mistaken, I apprehend this young +Prisoner has renewed in your Mind some painful Idea; be pleased to +disclose the Secret to me, you shall find I will prove a faithful +Servant, devoted to all your Views and Inclinations. Is it your Pleasure +that this Prisoner should go or Stay? I will find a Method of making +him consent to either, as you shall direct." "Ah, let him go replied +she, my dear _Kelirieu_, let him go, his Presence is so dangerous, that +any longer Stay would, I fear, make me become ungrateful and faithless +to my generous Prince. How charming he is! did you ever before see so +graceful a Person? How serene and noble is his Deportment, in the midst +of Misfortunes! However, possibly as a Prisoner, he may stand in need of +Money, go and offer him these two hundred Pieces of Gold, that he may +return to his Country in a Manner suitable to his Rank and Merit, and +bring me back an Account in what Manner he received them." + +_Kelirieu_ was of such a restless Vivacity, that he could not be +contented without Intrigues, which made him eagerly apply himself to +forming another. Having found out the fortunate Prisoner, he put the +Purse into his Hands with these Words. "Virtue, my Lord, is equally +cherished by both Sexes among us, and as a Proof of it, here are two +hundred Pieces of Gold, which you are desired to accept of from a very +beautiful Lady." "I should be unworthy the least of her Thoughts, +replied the Prisoner, were I to refuse her Favour, which this Juncture +has render'd necessary. If her Name be not a Secret, I would beg the +Favour of you, my Lord, to introduce me, that I might pay my +Acknowledgements to this generous Lady." "She would, perhaps ask you for +something more, replied _Kelirieu_." "Ah, returned the Stranger, that is +not in my Power to grant. As I have not seen her, I can, without the +least Affront to her Beauty, preserve my Heart for the present dear +Possessour of it. Be pleased then, my Lord, to tell her, that I depart +full of the warmest Gratitude; and, since I am so fortunate as to have +the illustrious _Kam_ of _Kelirieu_ in my Interest, I beg him to be +assured, that upon my Return into my Country, as it is my highest Duty, +so it shall be my first Care, to make suitable Returns for his +Generosity to a Stranger, whom his polite Behaviour entirely frees from +the Meanness of receiving a Favour, which he would have refused from any +other Hand." _Kelirieu_, perceiving he entirely mistook his Intentions, +did not think proper to explain himself, and after taking his Leave, he +returned to make a Report to the Favourite of his unlucky Commission. +She was piqued at his Refusal, but making a Virtue of Necessity, she +endeavoured to efface the sudden Impression which he had made upon her +Heart. Fruitless Endeavours, his Idea was always present to her +Imagination. Neither Gratitude to the King, Diversions, nor Resentment, +could remove it, 'till by a most fortunate Accident, this haughty Rebel +became her Admirer, which soon terminated in the Gratification of her +Desires. But as the History of this Amour has no necessary Connection +with that which I am writing, I shall leave the several Incidents with +which it was attended, to be taken Notice of by some other Writer, only +observing, that this young _Alniobian_ returning some Years after, into +the Country of the _Kofirans_, it was his Fortune to be united for ever +to his generous Benefactress, whom the Death of her Husband, and +_Zeokinizul_'s Indifference, left at her own Disposal. This Prince +perceived some Alterations in the Favourite, which were at first +excused, under Pretence of some feign'd Indispositions, and the Monarch +was so easy as to take her Word without any farther Examination into the +Truth of her Excuses. + +At the End of the Campaign, _Zeokinizul_ return'd to his Palace, +to exchange the Fatigues of War, for the Embraces of Love, and make +Preparations for new Conquests, if his Enemies should reject the Peace +which he had offered them, on such equitable Conditions as contained +nothing of the Haughtiness of a Conqueror. The King's Presence brought +back to the Court all the Pleasures and Diversions, of which there had +been no Appearance during his Expedition. There was nothing but Balls, +Feasts, and magnificent Parties of Pleasure. His Fondness would not +allow him at any Time to be long absent from his Favourite. He +endeavoured by every Token of Affection to convince her that she had +found the Means to fix his Heart unalterably, and this might have been +really the Case, had he been taken up continually with Affairs of the +War, so as to have had but a small Portion of Time for his Pleasures. +But this not being the Season for Military Operations allowed him too +much Time for Indulgence, and the Monarch's Heart was not to be fixed by +any single Passion. The beautiful _Vorompdap_ exerted herself to the +utmost, in order to prolong the Continuance of her Reign; but this was +the very Occasion of her Overthrow. + +The Daughter of one of the first Noblemen of the Kingdom appear'd at +Court. This angelic Creature had spent the first Years of her Youth in a +_Mosque_ of holy Women, who, to make themselves amends for the Vow they +have taken to renounce the World, employ themselves in breeding up young +Ladies according to its current Maxims, and most fashionable Practices. +There was no beholding her youthful Charms, tho' not yet arrived at +their full Perfection, without Admiration. A _Bassa_ of the first Rank, +thought her entirely deserving of his Homage. Accordingly he paid his +Addresses to her, and in a short Time was so happy as to gain her +Consent. Some weighty Motives however, oblig'd them to keep their +Intimacy private; but Love cannot be conceal'd, Discretion and +Tenderness being seldom found together. _Zeokinizul_ perceiv'd that the +young _Bassa_, who till then had talked loudly against Love, was become +more pensive than usual. He himself had too much Experience not to guess +the Source of this Alteration. He mildly banter'd him upon it, and +diverted himself with raillying him for a Sensibility, which he often +had boasted he would ever resist. There was no Way for the young _Bassa_ +to make the King give over these stinging Ironies, but by discovering +his Passion. The Excess of his Love made him unhappily Eloquent in the +Description of its charming Object. _Zeokinizul_, was inflamed by such a +beautiful Description; and, having designedly provoked him, by saying, +that as the Picture was drawn by the Pencil of a Lover, he suspected the +Likeness; the imprudent _Bassa_ forgot to whom he was speaking, and how +reserv'd he ought to have been with a Prince of such amorous +Disposition, he offered to justify all he had said of his Mistress. This +was the very Thing _Zeokinizul_ wanted. The Offer was agreed to, and +this enchanting Object brought into his Presence. The King no sooner saw +her, but he loved her. The Idea of a Rival so dearly loved, did not +occasion any Despair in the King of being happy; and, as a King makes +Love in a different Manner from a Subject, instead of making his +Mistress forget the young _Bassa_ by Presents, and other Endearments, +he made Use of his Prerogative, by sending him away on an honourable +Pretence. He also took sure Measures to deprive him of the melancholy +Comfort of taking his Leave of her, and to prevent those two Lovers from +maintaining their mutual Affections by a Correspondence of Letters, +which would confirm _Nasica_ (for so was this adorable Lady called) in +rejecting his Passion. At hearing of the _Bassa_'s Departure, her Heart +immediately became a Prey to Grief, Jealousy and Resentment; and +imputing his Conduct to his Indifference, she resolv'd to banish him +from her Remembrance, or if this was impossible, yet, at least, she +would appear to have done so. _Zeokinizul_, was soon informed of the +disorder'd State of her Mind. Few Confidents are to be found, who can +withstand the Solicitations of a King. She whom _Nasica_ had chosen, was +one of the weakest. She discover'd to the King, the Rise, Increase, and +several other Circumstances of her Mistress's Love for the young +_Bassa_, and gave him a full Account of the Grief and Resentment she had +shewn at his unexpected Departure. + +In order to give these Emotions Time to arrive at such a Height, as to +subdue Love, _Zeokinizul_ very carefully avoided speaking one Word to +_Nasica_ of his Passion for her. However, as often as he happen'd to +see her, he never fail'd passing a Compliment upon her Beauty, but it +was always with such Calmness and Moderation, as was so far from being +thought to proceed from Love, that it was only accounted a proper +Complaisance in the Prince, who was willing to do Justice to such a +celebrated Beauty. The young _Bassa_, being ignorant that his Letters +were intercepted, had wrote several in so soft and persuasive a Style, +as to alarm _Zeokinizul_, and make him redouble his Precautions to +prevent any of them from falling into the Hands of those to whom they +were directed. But the Confidence he had of his Mistress's Affection, +not allowing him to suspect that _Nasica_ could prove faithless, began +to think that some third Person interposed in their Correspondence. +After having long consider'd who could be this jealous Rival who thus +deprived him of his only remaining Comfort, his Suspicions fell upon his +Master. When he called to Mind the Suddenness of his being sent away in +an Affair which required no such Haste, it was but too evident, and his +Doubts increased to a Certainty. His whole Dangers and Misfortunes +immediately presented themselves to his View. He was not ignorant that +it was an unpardonable Crime to be a Rival to his Monarch, had his Love +been unsuccessful; what then could be expected, when his Happiness was +the sole Obstacle to his Sovereign's Love? However, not valuing his +Disgrace, provided his Mistress continued faithful, he wrote her a +Letter in the most moving Terms, representing to her, that a Crown ought +to come in no Competition with Love; that it was the Heart only which +ought to engage a Lady, who has a true Sense of that delicate Passion; +that upon this Principle he yielded the Preference to _Zeokinizul_, if +his Love was more pure, more respectful, or more perfect than his own. +This Letter was committed to an old Servant, in whom he placed the +greatest Confidence; but the Misfortune was, that this Slave's good +Qualities were mixed with several Vices, and particularly Drunkenness. +Being come to a Place where he was to change his Horse, he resolved to +rest himself a while, and empty some Bottles. This was the very Place +where the Spies of his Master's Rival used to intercept his Letters. +They knew by his Habit, that he belonged to the young _Bassa_, which was +enough to make them mistrust him. They went up to him, and after some +Excuses for their Freedom, invited him to drink of their Liquor. One of +them offer'd to bear him Company as far as _Kofir_, as he was going to +that City. The Slave overjoy'd at meeting with a Fellow Traveller, and +relying on the Swiftness of his Horse, staid here longer than he ought. +The Wine overpower'd him, and his artful Companion plying him with +Bumpers, soon disabled him from going any farther. The Sot fell asleep, +his Pockets were searched, and the Letter was known by the Direction to +be one of those which they were order'd to intercept. One of them +immediately set out to carry it to him who had appointed the Ambuscade, +and he flew to deliver it to _Zeokinizul_. As the young _Bassa_ appeared +to know who was his Rival, suitable Measures were to be taken, and such +an Answer sent to him as might throw him into Despair, and make him +abandon a Passion which was now become dangerous. That it might have the +better Effect, _Nasica_'s Hand was exactly imitated, and every +discouraging Argument forcibly urged. This counterfeited Letter gave him +to understand, in the Name of his Mistress, that a crowned Lover being +more acceptable to her than a private Subject, she strictly commanded +him never to write, or speak one Word more of his presumptuous Passion. + +This little Artifice proved of very happy Consequence to _Zeokinizul_. +The young _Bassa_, who had a most respectful Regard for him, thought it +became him to return Contempt for Contempt. His Answer was carefully +deliver'd to the King, who could not but be highly pleased that the +Credulity of his Rival should promote his Love. To complete his +Satisfaction, he ordered a Letter to be writ to _Nasica_, in which her +Lover freely exhorts her to take him for a Patern, and make another +Choice. All these Batteries being so well disposed, _Zeokinizul_ began +to think of disclosing himself. He gave a Ball to his whole Court, +in order to favour his Design, at which all the Ladies having an +Opportunity of entertaining themselves with their favourite Diversions +were highly delighted, and full of Gaiety. _Nasica_ alone, seem'd +insensible in the midst of all these Entertainments. She retired at a +Distance to avoid the Conversation of the gallant Nobility. The soft +Languor of her Eyes sufficiently declar'd the Sorrow of her Heart, and +that the proper Person was wanting to dissipate it. _Zeokinizul_, chose +this Time to begin his Addresses. Charming _Nasica_, says he, his Eyes +sparkling with Love, what Disquietudes are those to which you seem to +abandon yourself. Is there any Mortal so happy as to cause them? I do +not think, Sire, return'd she, that what your Highness calls +Disquietudes in me, can Interest you so far as to ask me the Occasion of +them.---- Ah, Gods! not be interested, replied the transported Monarch, +can you doubt of it, have not my Countenance, my Eyes, even my very +Silence, which I have respectfully observ'd till now, have not all these +informed you, that my Happiness entirely depends on your Repose and +Contentment. Let not the charming _Nasica_ be angry, continued he, +perceiving, that she heard him with Resentment, I love you indeed, but +my Passion is so pure, so submissive, that it can give no just Offence +to your severe Vertue. I little imagined, interrupted she, that all +these splendid Entertainments of the Court concealed any Design of +throwing me into such alarming Apprehensions. Alarming Apprehensions! +replied the King, is it then Matter of Grief to the loveliest Person now +present, that her Charms have captivated her Sovereign? Yes, Sire, +replied _Nasica_, resolutely, your Highness can only offer me a guilty +Passion, and I would incur your utmost Displeasure, I would die, rather +than condescend to it. Judge yourself, Sire, whether I have not Cause to +be alarmed. But no, my Fears are too hasty. The great _Zeokinizul_ is +too just and generous to harbour a Thought of disgracing a Family which +has always served him with Zeal and Honour, and it was merely to try his +Subject, that he has demean'd himself to offer such Discourse to her. +Immediately making a respectful Courtesy, she returned to the Circle of +the Ladies. + +_Zeokinizul_, was not a little piqued at the Manner in which _Nasica_ +had received the Declaration of his Love. He expected that Modesty and +Reservedness would have been her only Defence, and that, at least, she +would have spared reproaching him with such disagreeable Truths. After +having for a long Time watched all Opportunities of seeing and speaking +to her, finding himself disappointed and rejected, he lost all Patience, +so as not to care whether his Addresses to her were heard by the whole +Court, or not. One Day, as she was talking with the Ladies of Honour in +the Queen's Anti-Chamber, he came to her. A proper Respect made them all +withdraw, and the Monarch laid hold of this Occasion to renew his +Protestations. But all his ardent Entreaties had no more Success than +his first Declaration. _Nasica_'s Modesty disengaged her with Honour +from so delicate a Situation. _Zeokinizul_ admired her Constancy, and +tho' he despair'd of ever gaining her, yet he could not prevail upon +himself to give over seeing her. + +In the mean Time, the young _Bassa_'s Resentment began to subside, and +he became sensible, that what he had mistaken for Indifference, was only +Love disguised and agitated with the most cruel Disquietude for the Fate +of his dear _Nasica_. This State of Anxiety grew insupportable, he would +be informed of the Truth at any Rate, and being at a Loss whom to trust, +since the most faithful of his Slaves had fail'd of reaching _Nasica_'s +House, he resolv'd to go thither in Person. All the Dangers which he ran +in disobeying his Sovereign's Orders, were too weak a Check for his +Passion, and he set out with a Willingness to perish, provided he could +once more throw himself at the Feet of the Object of his Love. After +many Hazards of being known and stopp'd, tho' under a Disguise, he +happily arrived at _Kofir_. But after a few Days employ'd in contriving +Means for an Interview with his Mistress, whom he had informed of his +Arrival, by a Letter convey'd to her by an old Governess, which +contain'd a Vindication of himself as well as his Surprise at her +Behaviour, he was known, and immediately surrounded by the Spies, placed +by the King to watch him, and whose Diligence was to be highly rewarded. +He stood upon his Defence, but being over-power'd, he was carried to one +of the Court Prisons. _Zeokinizul_, whose Passion had stifled his +natural Sentiments of Humanity, was pleased to hear that his Rival lay +in Chains. His Disobedience to the Royal Orders afforded a specious +Pretence for putting him to Death, and the King's Heart was immediately +inclined to such a cruel Expedient; but how was he struck, when +_Nasica_, being inform'd of the dreadful Condition of her Lover, threw +herself at his Feet all in Tears, conjuring him that the same Stroke +might put an End to both their unfortunate Lives. Let him live, Sire, +cried she, mournfully, or order that Death may unite us both in the +Grave. If your Highness be offended at the Refusal of my Heart, it was +no longer mine, Love having disposed of it in Favour of the unhappy +_Bassa_, who is now to fall your Victim. But his Views were honourable, +nor were mine less innocent. Let your Highness pronounce the Decree of +his Destiny, mine is inseperably annexed to it whatever it be. + +_Zeokinizul_ was moved with such exalted Virtue, and being naturally +tender and compassionate, he was grieved at seeing the Afflictions of +two Lovers whom he himself had render'd unhappy. A Ray of Wisdom opened +his Eyes, and restored him to himself. He raised up _Nasica_, and gave +Orders himself for the Preparations of her Marriage with the young +_Bassa_, who afterwards became one of his chief Favourites. + +So difficult an Act of Justice against himself, is one of the most +glorious Periods of this Monarch's Reign. His Love for _Nasica_ settled +in a tender Friendship for this virtuous Lady, and soon after taking a +Disgust at the Commerce of Women, he fixed a Resolution to abandon it +entirely. His People became his whole Care. They adored him for the +Wisdom and Goodness of his Administration during the Remainder of his +Reign, which was much shorter than they desired. He endeavoured by his +Instructions and Examples, to leave in his Son a worthy Successor, whose +Virtues might keep up a lasting Idea of him. Such noble Cares were not +disappointed, for the Name of the great _Zeokinizul_, and the +illustrious Heir of his Crown, will be held in immortal Remembrance +among the grateful _Kofirans_. + + + + +A KEY + +For the better understanding the Amours of Zeokinizul. + + +Anagrams. French. English. + +Africa Europe Europe +Alniob Albion _ou_ Angleterre Albion _or_ England +Alnobiens Albioniens _ou_ Anglois Albionians _or_ English +Anserol (_Kam_) Duc d'Orleans Duke of Orleans +Bapasis Pais-Bas Low Countries. +Bileb Bible +Duesois Suedois Swedes +Ghinoer Hongrie Hungary +Ginarkan Carignan +Goilaus Gaulois Gaules +Goplone Pologne Poland +Guernonies Norvegiens Norwegians +Houris Dames Ladies +Jeflur Fleury +Jerebi Iberie _ou_ Espagne Iberia _or_ Spain +Imans Pretres Priests +Junes Provinces Provinces-Unies United-Provinces +Kalontil Chatillon +Kam Duc _ou_ Prince Duke _or_ Prince +Katenos Toscane Tuscany +Kelirieu Richelieu +Kertras Chartres +Kigenpi Pequigny +Kismar Marquis Marquis +Kismare Marquise Marchioness +Kofir Paris +Kofirans Francois French +Kranfs Francs Franks +Lenertoula La Tournelle +Leosanil Noailles +Leutinemil Vintimille +Liamil Mailly +Liegnelau l'Evangile the Gospel +Lundamberk Cumberland +Manoris Romains Romans +Maregins Germains _ou_ Allemand Germans +Meani du Maine +A Mollak, le Cardinal Richelieu + p. 4. +Another Mollak, le Card. Mazarin + p. 5. +An old Mollak, le Card. Fleury + pag. 13. +Mollak, l'Eveque de Soissons the Bishop of Soissons + p. 49, and 50. +Mosque Couvent Convent +Neitilane Italienne Italian +Nhir Rhin Rhine +Nodais Danois Danes +Omeriseroufs Sousfermiers +d'Ourtavan Vantadour +Pamenralt Parlement +Pepa le Pape the Pope +Reinarol Lorraine +Sesems Messes Masses +Sicidem Medicis +Sokans Saxons +Suesi Jesus +Tesoulou Toulouse +Vameric Maurice, _Comte de Saxe_ +A Visir, p. 9. _le Comte de_ Maurepas +Vorompdap Pompadour +Vosaie Savoie Savoy +Zeoteirizul Louis treize Lewis the XIII. +Zokitarezoul Louis quatorze Lewis the XIV. +Zeokinizul Louis quinze Lewis the XV. + + +_FINIS._ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF +THE KOFIRANS*** + + +******* This file should be named 18472.txt or 18472.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/7/18472 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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