Abra-Mulè OR, A TRUE HISTORY Of the Dethronement of MAHOMET IU.  
Written in French by M. Le Noble.  
Made English by J. P.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Clavel at the Peacock near St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet. 1696.   

To his most Serene Highness, Monseigneur the Prince of CONTI.  
Monseigneur,  
THe Unfortunate Abra-Mulè, beloved by two Sultan's and a Visir, yet so, that neither of the three could be happy in the enjoyment of her, is come into France, to unfold the secret Intrigues which her Beauty occasioned in the Seraglio, and which pulled down Mahomet from the Ottoman Throne.  
She begs to appear under the Auspexes of your Serene Highness, and she is in hopes, Sir, that a Prince, who together with all the Virtues of a perfect Hero, possesses all that Love is capable to inspire, will not refuse a Sultaness so amiable and so virtuous, the honour of his Protection. She flatters herself with it, Sir, and the troubles that overwhelm her will meet with a pleasing Consolation, if your serene Highness, while you recreate your wearied Thoughts in reading the fatal Success of a Tenderness so fatal as hers, afford it some little sense of your Compassion.  
But, Sir, Your serene Highness will not only behold in this short History the secret of an amorous Intrigue, you will see there the Events of War, which will be yet more pleasing to that undaunted Courage which renders you the Glory of your Country. This undaunted Courage, supported by all that can form an accomplished Hero, is the fire of that Royal Blood that runs in your Veins; an Emanation of the great Soul of that invincible Prince, that incomparable Condè, whom France beholds with so much pleasure revived in your virtues.  
Continue, Sir, continue to tread the steps of that Giant, and may that formidable arm of yours, the weight of which the Enemies of the State so often have felt, be one of the most firm supports of the first Monarchy in the World. My good Wishes follow you where ever you go, and the chiefest wish I make at present, while I take the liberty to offer you this little Piece, is, that so long as I live, I may be,  
Your Highness' most Humble and most Obedient, LE NOBLE.   

THE PREFACE.  
'TIS not to be imagined that this is a Romantic Adventure grounded upon mere Invention; for it is the real Truth of a secret Intrigue carried on in the Seraglio, which put Soliman upon attempting to set himself up in the room of his Brother, merely to gratify an amorous Passion which rendered him his Rival.  
I have writ nothing but what I had from the Memoirs of one of my intimate Friends, who accompanying M. Gerardin in his Embassy, and abiding with him a long time at the Port under Soliman's Reign, unravelled there the whole Secret of this Adventure, concerning which upon his Return, he delivered all the Informations into my hands, at the same time that upon what I had dived into by the Correspondencies which I held in several parts of Europe, I published those Dialogues which include an infinite number of Particulars, not to be met with in other Historians.  
This is therefore no chemerical Invention, but a true History; and if you take the pains to compare it with those that are more General, you will find that I am very exact in all the Circumstances of Public Events, and that I do but unfold the secret Reasons that caused 'em  
The Actions of Sovereigns are always divided into two parts; the one is the Public Event, which all the World knows, and which is the Subject of Gazettes, and the most part of public Histories; the other is that which they conceal under the Veil of their Politics; and those are the secret Motives of the Intrigues which cause those Events, and which are only known to, and revealed by those, who had some share in carrying on those Intrigues, or who by the penetration of their Genius, knowing one part, divine the t' other.  
For Example, we read every where of the taking of Buda by the Valour of Prince Charles of Lorraine, seconded by the Duke of Bavaria; that they carried the Place in view of an Army of Fourscore Thousand Men, Commanded by the Visir in person, who could not relieve it; but the Relations never tell ye, that the Conspiracy carried on by Prince Soliman, Siaous and Cuproli, who were plotting the Ruin of the Visir, hindered the Succours, and tied that Minister's Arm.  
In like manner we find in the Public History of Philip II. King of Spain, that he was two Years in Flanders, without ever returning into England to visit Queen Mary his Wife, not so much as during her mortal sickness, but we do not see what motives of Love and Jealousy set 'em at variance.  
Thus it may be said, that seeing Action is the Body, and that the motive is the soul of that Action, there are very few or no Historians, but what give us Bodies without Souls, while they never tell us the Motives which cause Princes to Act, and give Motion to their Intrigues.  
Which is the Reason that particular Histories are always more pleasing, and more profitable than those which are General: They are more pleasing, because there is more care taken to adorn 'em, and for that they mention those things which are not to be met with in others: And they are more profitable, because they are more precise in the Characters of Princes, and in the Private and Domestic Actions, which are more proper to instruct, than the general Relation of an Action, of which we know not the Motive nor the Causes.   

An Explication of the Turkish Terms contained in this History.  
SUltan. 
The Emperor of the Turks.  Sultaness Validè. 
The Sultaness, Mother of the Sultan.  Sultaness Asseki. 
The principal favourite Sultaness.  Grand Visir. 
Chief Minister of the Ottoman Empire.  Mufti. 
Chief Priest.  Iman. 
A Doctor, or Preacher of the Alcoran.  Dervis. 
A Turkish Monk.  Alcoran. 
The Mahometan's Bible.  Mosque. 
A Mahometan Temple.  Seraskier. 
A General of an Army.  Bassa. 
A Governor.  Kaimakan. 
High Marshal of the Household, and Governor of Constantinople.  Janissaries. 
The Turkish Infantry, the Sultan's Guards.  Aga. 
Colonel of the Janissaries.  Seraglio. 
The Sultan's Palace.  Kiaia. 
A Lieutenant.  Kisler Agasi. 
Chief of the black Eunuches, and superintendent of the Seraglio.  Kisler Kiasi. 
Deputy to the Kisler Agasi.  Grand Teftardar. 
Lord Treasurer.  Bostangi Bachi. 
Superintendent of the Sultan's Palaces, Gardens and Buildings, or chief Surveyor.  Bostangi. 
A Gardner.  Dragoman. 
An Interpreter.  Catacheriff. 
A Decree of the Sultan.  Fetfa. 
A decree of the Mufti.  Timar. 
A Feoffment for Life.    

Abra-Mulè: OR, THE HISTORY Of the Deposition of MAHOMET iv EMPEROR of the TURKS.  
The First Part.  
THE Revolution which happened in the Ottoman Empire, in the Month of November, by the Deposal of Sultan Mahomet, and the Advancement of Soliman his Brother to the Throne, is one of the greatest Changes that have fallen out in this Age; and of which the secret Circumstances that caused it, not dived into by many Persons, are most worthy to be known.  
The greatest part have attributed 'em only to the misfortunes of the Ottoman Arms, and to this Principle of the Musselmen's belief, that when Adversity attends a Man, 'tis an infallible sign of the Wrath of God, and of the contempt of their Prophet, and consequently that it is lawful to Sacrifice to the Public Good the Prince whom they believe to be the subject of that Celestial Anger.  
But though it must not be denied, but that the unlucky Conjunctures contributed very much to the Deposal of the Sultan, by reason of the pretences with which they were supplied; nevertheless, the Truth is, that Love was the secret cause, and that that same Love only made use of a pretence which had its rise from thence.  
However, before we enter into the particulars of this same extraordinary Story, it will be necessary for the better understanding of it, to give the Public a general Idea of the Ottoman Family at that time.  
Ibrahim, Emperor of the Turks, a Prince cruel even to Barbarism, was Strangled upon a Revolt of his Janissaries, and Dying, left three Sons; Mahomet, between Nine and Ten Years of Age, who succeeded him under the Regency of the Sultaness his Mother; Soliman, about a year Younger, and Achmet, who was not then above Four or Five Years Old, all three Born of different Sultanesses.  
Some there are who have asserted, that Mahomet was not an Ottoman: That the Sultaness only feigned herself with Child, that she might procure to herself the Title of Asseki, or Sultaness Mother of the Firstborn Prince: That he was the Child of a Jewish Woman that was brought to Bed in a Chamber near the Sultaness'; that the Infant was carried to her in a Basket of Flowers, and afterwards set up and owned by Her for a Child born of her own Body. The Author of the Ottoman Mirror publishes this Story. But it is neither credible, nor to be imagined, that a project of this Nature should be put in practice within the Seraglio; and if there had been the least Suspicion for a ground of this Fable, Sol●man, who dethroned him, would never have spared his life, nor the life of the Prince his Son, who at this day wears the Ottoman Diadem.  
That which might have been the occasion of this Fiction, might be this perhaps; that the Sultaness never had any other Children; that she was at continual Odds with Mahomet, when he reigned by himself; and for that she Protected the other two Princes against the Violences of her Son, every time that he went about to attempt their lives.  
Mahomet, for Stature, was somewhat Taller than the ordinary Height, well Proportioned, black Hair, little Eyes, but Quick, more ill Favoured then Comely; nimble in all the Exercises of the Body, Valiant, Courtly, Profuse, Magnificent, passionate in his Amours, a lover of Hunting even to Excess; an extraordinary discerner of Merit; but Rash, Obstinate, Ingrateful, and one that suffered himself to be very much governed by the Ministers of the Seraglio.  
Soliman was very Tall, Strait, Majestic, inclining to Fat, a pleasing Countenance, large and black Eyes, with a lively and fair Complextion; his Nose and Mouth admirably Shaped, the turn of his Countenance somewhat Oval, his Hands white and Fleshy. He was Nimble at all Exercises that required no great labour; he was naturally Melancholy, and full of Dissimulation; he spoke little; and whether it were out of Policy, or by Inclination, he devoted himself to the study of the Alcoran, which he unfolded like a Doctor. He was Generous, Crafty and Bold, with a Heart most tenderly inclining to Love; but he was one who had an admirable Gift at concealing a secret.  
As for Achmet, in regard he has no share in this History, 'tis needless to say any thing of him, only that Nature had deformed his Body, and that he retained something of his Father's Stupidity, but nothing of his Cruelty.  
The Janissaries in the fury of their Sedition, set Mahomet upon the Throne, and engaged him to give Order for putting his Father to Death. And for the Sultaness his Mother, she was one of the most beautiful Women in the World; a Circassion, but of mean Birth, and one who from a Slave had mounted to the highest degree of Female Glory, by means of a genius most sublime, and capable of governing a great Empire.  
To fix herself in her Authority, she thought it behoved her to advance to the Dignity of Grand Visir, such a person as should be beholding to her for his Fortune and Preferment; and knowing the Capacity, the Courage, and the Wit of Bassa Cuproli, who then lay loaden with Irons at the bottom of a Dungeon, she obtained his Release, conferred with him in Private, drew from him what Protestations and Assurances she pleased herself, and at the same time delivered to him the Seal of the Empire, and set him at the head of the Council, and the Ministry.  
His Government was Prosperous and Prudent, his Fidelity inviolable, his Services advantageous; and laden with Honours and Victories, by a strange fortune without example in the Ottoman. Empire; he had two Sons, and two Sons in Law, that succeeded him in his Employment.  
His Father was a French Renegado, born in Champagne, near Chalons, in a Village called Cuperli, from whence he took his Name, being a Sergeant in a Foot Company, and which he left to his Posterity. A certain Murder which he committed, enforced him to fly his Country, and the Bark to which he betook himself being taken by the Turkish Corsairs, he thought it more convenient to wear a Turban, then to see himself chained to the Oar; and being a handsome person, he was soon enroled among the Janissaries, among whom, having raised himself by his Valour to signal Employments, he obtained a Timar, or a proportion of Lands for Life, and spun so fair a Thread for himself, that by degrees he arrived to the highest place of the Empire. This is the truth, both of the Original and Name of the Cuprolis, and whatever is averred to the contrary is mere Fiction.  
The cruel Polities of the Ottomans was the reason that formerly the Sultan's always sacrificed the Blood of their Brothers to the security of their Government. But, the first Counsel which Cuproli gave the Sultaness Validè, that is to say, Mother, was carefully to preserve the two Princes, Soliman and Achmet, not only to prevent the Extinction of the Ottoman Blood, but out of a secret Aim which the Visir had to make a Bulwark for his own safety, both of the one and the other, and to have in his hands wherewith all to keep his Master in continual awe, in case that when he came to Rule by himself, he might be induced by some intrigue of the Seraglio, to deprive him of the chief Ministry.  
Thus it came to pass, that those two Princes were beholding to Cuproli for their lives, who by a marvellous Dexterity of Wit, being desirous to manage at a distance the several Humours both of Mahomet and Soliman, so ordered it, that his Eldest Son, who was about the Sultan's Age, was bred in his Company among the Children of Honour, and that the Youngest was nurtured in company with Soliman. I relate this particular circumstance, because it will prove serviceable to unfold the intrigue of this Revolution carried on by this Young Cuproli. And indeed Soliman from his Infancy contracted so strict a Friendship with him, and with Siaous, who was next him in the same Quality, that those two Persons were his most secret Confidents. But in regard that as well by Nature, as by the care that was taken to instruct him, he was become a Master in Dissimulation; this confidence was so well managed, that it never gave Mahomet any cause of Suspicion.  
After this general Idea, we are now to enter into the secret of the History.  
The great Cuproli being dead in the midst of his Triumphs, had for his Successor his Eldest Son, who was bred up with Mahomet, but he died within a short time after his Advancement.  
At that time the Ottoman Empire enjoyed a perfect Tranquillity, by virtue of a Truce that was signed by the Christian Princes. Mahomet also, by the Sultaness Asseki, had a Son, a handsome Young Gentleman, and of promising Hopes, about twenty Years of Age, and he quietly enjoyed the Fruit of his Victories which had acquired him Candie, Kaminiec, and some places in Hungary; so that he abandoned himself to the sports of Hunting, and the pleasures of Love, notwithstanding the raging jealousy of the Sultaness, who ofttimes broke his measures.  
But because it is the temper of some Men, that they cannot contain themselves when they are well, Kara Mustapha, whom he had made choice of for his Grand Visier, constrained him indiscreetly to break his Truce with the Emperor, and plunged him into a War no less fatal to him then unjust.  
The Truce was broken, Vienna Besieged; but at the same time that the Ottoman Puissance seemed ready to overturn the Western Empire, the God of Battle, who distributes Victory according to the decrees of his Providence, struck the Visir with a Spirit of Terror and Confusion; the Siege was raised by the assistance of the King of Poland, and the Valour and Conduct of Charles of Lorraine signalised all the following Campaigns with new Conquests.  
Mahomet, during his Misfortunes, remitted nothing of his sports; he had several Favourites, among the rest whom he honoured in a more particular manner, there was one Bassa, who was called by the Name of Soliman, and whom he had made Serasquiss, or General of his Arms, upon the Borders of Poland. He was about Thirty Years of Age, and it was a hard matter to meet with a more Graceful Person. He was a Man who had never a whit the less Valour for having been bred up in the soft pleasures of the Court. He was Tall, and his Beauty which was Masculine, and full of Fire, was seconded with a sparkling Wit, which no way lessened his Judgement; his undauntedness was proof against all Danger, and his Address imcomparable, in managing the Intrigues of the Seraglio, wherein he had for his principal and inviolable Friend, the Kisser Agasi.  
This Officer is an Officer of the greatest command and power in the Seraglio: He is a black Eunuch, and is the chief of all the Eunuches: To him belongs the superintendancy over all the Sultaness' Guards: Whatever concerns 'em depends upon his absolute Power; and it is a hard matter for a Woman to obtain or preserve the favour of the Sultan's, but by the intrigues of this Eunuch. He ruins, or becomes serviceable to those whom he has a mind to Favour, or Destroy. And from thence 'tis an easy thing to conceive what immense. Riches he heaps up by means of the Presents which he receives from the Sultanesses, who are sensible of his Kindness, or fear the Effects of his Ill-will; or from those, who by the assistance of his Credit aspire to great Employments. Lastly, his place is so considerable, that he has Six Hundred Horses kept for his service only at the charges of the State.  
Soliman undertook the Command of the Arms upon the Frontiers of Poland, at the beginning of the Campaign that was signalised by the Battle of Gran. At what time one of the principal Orders which he had to put in Execution, was to take his just measures for the conveyance of a considerable relief into Caminiec. To which purpose, he went himself one day at the head of two Hundred Horse, to view a narrow Lane through which the Convoy was to pass. But he was no sooner within sight of certain hollow ways; when he heard a great Noise of a sudden, when his Scouts brought him word that a body of four or five hundred Polonians had fallen upon two hundred Tartars that guarded the close Wagons.  
Soliman never stood to consider, but marching directly toward the Noise, fell with that Fury upon the Squadrons of the Enemy, that he broke 'em at the first Charge, slew a great number upon the place, while the rest being dispersed, made their escape to a Wood, whither he thought it not convenient to pursue 'em, but to make immediately up to the Wagons; where he heard the cries of certain persons in distress, and presently cast his Eye upon four Women, among which there was one in a Muscovite Habit that seemed to be not above Sixteen Years of Age, but so wonderfully Beautiful, and so accomplished in all outward Perfections, that he could not choose but behold her with astonishment.  
The Fright she had been in, the Emotion of her Spirits, which the Noise and Surprise of the Skirmish had occasioned within her, did but serve to redouble the lily whiteness and liveliness of her Complexion. Soliman, who was naturally Amorous, and who at that very instant felt in his Heart a more than ordinary Commotion, paid her all the respects that his Character would permit him, and which the excellency of her Beauty deserved. But if the Charms of this unknown person caused so great a surprise in Soliman, she became no less sensible, when she beheld the the goodly Aspect, the delicate Lineaments, and obliging Manners of her Preserver. He never left the Convoy till he had seen her safe beyond the narrow pass, and having seen her in the plain, he sent along with her fifty of his Horse for her greater Security, with Orders to the Commander of the Party, exactly to inform himself, who that assable Person was, whither she was Travelling, and where she was to make her stay.  
After this, Soliman, having acquitted himself of every thing that his duty required from him, returned to his Camp. But it was impossible for him to apply himself to any other thoughts then those which the Idea of the unknown Lady had imprinted in his Mind; and his restlessness caused him to expect with impatience the return of his Detachment, which at length arrived; and at the same time the Commander brought him an account, that the Lady, whom he had seen was called Abra-Mulè, taken about six years of Age, in an incursion made by the Tartars into Muscovis; that a rich Merchant of Samarcan had bred her up, and carefully preserved her for Ten Years together, and that he was travelling for Belgrade through Transilvania, in order to carry her to the Grand Visir, Karah Ibrahim, but according to all the conjectures by what he could draw from him, his design was only to get Letters of Favour from him, for admission to present her to the Sultan. That the Convoy and the Wagons stayed at Kolenko, a Castle seated within two miles of the Camp, and that they were resolved to stop there for one day, to recover the young Lady from the Disorder into which the Encounter with the Polonians had put her.  
Such was the Love that Soliman had conceived for this young Muscovite, that the first growth of it had made such a deep impression in his Heart, that the last part of this Relation was like a clap of Thunder to his Senses. In the midst of his first Thoughts, he persuaded himself, that being Master of the Armies through the whole extent of the Frontiers of Poland, and both Banks of the Niester, it would be easy for him to find pretences to stop the farther journey of the unknown Lady, and to prosper the attempts of his Love. But so soon as he considered, that she was designed for the Sultan, despair took possession of his Soul; nor could all his Wit imagine which way to flatter his Desires. In the midst of these Agitations he omitted nothing of his Duty, but having issued forth his necessary Orders, he was ready to retire into his Cabinet, that he might surrender himself with more Tranquillity to his amorous Contemplations, when word was brought him that the Tartarian Merchant desired to kiss his Hands.  
Mursa, for that was the name of the Tartar was no sooner arrived at Kolenko, but after he had taken all the requisite Precautions for the security of his Company, he bethought himself, that it not only behoved him to pay his acknowledgement to the Seraskier, but that he might obtain from his generosity Letters of Recommendation to the Visir, and the Kisler Agasi, with passports requisite for the crossing of Transilvania; and to the end that his Compliments and his Presents might be the more graciously accepted, he would needs have 'em accompanied with a few lines from Abra-Mulè, and a present in her Name.  
Upon the proposal which he made the fair Muscovite, she fell into a Disorder, which might have easily unravelled the thoughts of her Heart, had not the Merchant attributed to her modesty the ruddy Blushes that spread themselves in her Cheeks. Soliman's victorious Merit, at the first sight, had cast into her Soul the Sparkles of a Passion, which the condition she was in, commanded her to stifle. On the other side it was no small pleasure to her, that it was in her power to oblige him to renew her in his Memory, by means of an opportunity, that put neither her Chastity nor her Modesty in any hazard; only she was afraid lest her Heart should dictate too much to her Pen. This combat suspended her Resolution. But at length Mursa, who was to her instead of a Father, pressing her with the Authority of a Master, she took her Pen and wrote the following Lines.  
Abra-Mulè to Soliman Bassa, Seraskier.  
I Am too much beholding to your Valour, not to join my particular acknowledgement with that of Mursa's; I obeyed him with delight. I could willingly desire, Sir, you could but apprehend to what a degree this Obligation is engraved in my Soul: the remembrance of it shall be Eternal. But in regard I have only good wishes, wherewith to acknowledge so generous a service, they will never be to my satisfaction, till Heaven has bestowed upon you all the Happiness which you deserve, and which I wish you.  
ABRA-MULE.  
This Letter she accompanied with a rich Scan of Gold Tissu, Embroidered with Pearl, the work of her own hands. Mursa also took along with him a magnificent Turban, and with twenty Horse arrived at the Seraskier's Camp.  
'Tis no hard matter to imagine how much to his satisfaction he was received. Mursa gave Soliman to understand that Abra-Mulè was the Daughter of a Boyar or Muscovite Nobleman whose name was Mulè-Alexowitz, who being too confident of maintaining his Ground against an Inundation of Tartars into his Castle of Sinolo seated upon the Frontiers, had the misfortune to be taken by storm, to have all that he ha● plundered, burnt or put to the Sword; that th● Boyar himself was slain in the first heat of the onset; that a common Tartar having his Scimitar lifted up to Massacre Abra-Mulè, an Officer compassionating the tender Beauty of the Infant, stopped his Arm; that the same Officer took her as part of his share, and sold her to himself; that she was bred up with his Daughter, and that her Beauty every day increasing, and being arrived at an accomplished perfection, he designed to make a present of it to the Sultan; that he had already written to the same purpose, both to Kara Ibrahim, the Grand Visir, and to the Kisler Agasi, who had returned him favourable answers, with orders to set forward with all speed; that he was expected at Adrianople, where the Sultan intended to spend the Summer; and that he made all the haste that possibly he could. That his Instructions were to receive Orders from the Visir at Belgrade, and lastly that he besought Soliman to second him yet farther with his Letters of Recommendation.  
This Recical not a little perplexed the Seraskier, and his Grief would have more loudly manifested itself, had not Abra-Mulè's Letter somewhat calmed his Sorrows. What an unexpected joy! What Agitations did he not feel within his throbbing Heart! though it contained no more than a bare Compliment, he thought he discovered somethings in it that flattered both his Imagination and his Love. He kindly accepted the presents, promised Mursa whatever he demanded; and while his attendants were entertaining the Merchant with usual Refreshments, he betook himself to his Cabinet, and returned the following answer more circumspect out of Policy, than his Love would otherwise have prompted him to make.  
Soliman Seraskier to the incomparable Abra-Mulè.  
THE little service which my good Fortune gave me an opportunity to perform, did not deserve so great a Recompense as that which I receive from the fairest and most amiable person in the World. I will give myself the true delight of coming myself to thank you for so much goodness so little expected, and to offer you whatever lies within my power. I hope then, to let you understand, that there cannot be any person more devoted to your service then is  
Soliman.  
The Seraskier delivered this Letter open to Mursa, and told him withal, that since he was to stay a whole day at Kolenco, he would be there upon the morrow, on purpose with a small entertainment to alleviate the hardships he had suffered in a toilsome Journey: That it was the least he could do to wait upon a Person designed for his Master's Embraces; in the mean time he would take care for the making ready such Orders, as should render more supportable the fatigues of their ensuing Travels.  
Mursa departed very well satisfied, and Soliman retiring, took his Letter, and read it over and over again, and kissing it as often as he cast his eyes upon it, Can it be possible fair Abra, said he, that the Remembrance of Soliman should ever be eternal in thy Memory? But, answered he to himself, to what purpose would that Remembrance serve, but to render me more miserable! Stifle thy Love unfortunate Soliman, thou wouldst dispute thy Right in Abra with any other but thy Sultan; but in contesting with thy Master, there is nothing that can flatter thy hope. Stifle then, this Love, before it gets too powerful a Dominion over thee.  
After this, he walked to and fro in a profound silence, till at length his Passion getting the upper hand. Well! said he, What signifies it? Maugre my despair, can I prevail upon myself to say I will not Love her? No, no,— I will love her— and make known to her the Passion which she has kindled in my Heart: What is to be done, should she by chance love me? But Oh— that's the Question. A thousand Accidents, which I foresee not, may favour the success of my Love. The Kister Agasi is my sure Friend, he is the Master of the Seraglio: Mahomet loves me; nor is it a new thing for the Sultan's to honour their Favourites with Wives out of their Seraglio: The Sultaness Asseki is jealous: Mahomet may be hindered from fixing his Affection upon Abra. Lastly, there is nothing but what my be hoped for from Time, and my Intrigues.  
With these Chimeras he flattered his Passion, and then revolving in his memory the same Thoughts over and over again, he considered, that before he let himself lose to these Imaginations it was to be presupposed that he was beloved by Abra, and after he had been sometime reflecting upon this, at length he resolved to try whither he could gain her, and then to carry on his Intrigues, as Accidents and Opportunities should offer.  
Having spent the night in these restless Expostulations of his contending thoughts, he sent his Servants the next morning to Kolenco to make ready, with all the magnificence that possible could be, the Entertainment which he had premeditated: he apparelled himself as sumptuously as possibly he could, girded his Vest with the Scarf that Abra had presented him, put on Mursa's Turban, and accompanied with eight or ten of the principal Officers of his Army, to the end his Journey might be the less suspected, or rather that it might be looked upon as a piece of Honour paid the Sultan, he arrived at Kolenco.  
The Collation was Superb; the Dances after the Turkish manner; Wrestling, Racing, and the rest of the Divertisments were successfully performed; and toward Sunset a Promenade in a little Grove served for an Interval, in expectation of the Fireworks that were to enlighten the first Appearances of darkness.  
Soliman could not till then meet with an Opportunity to discourse Abra; but then he gave her his hand; and while the Officers made their several Applications to other Women, the whole Company perceived themselves near the Entrance into a long green Arbour. Soliman led in the young Muscovite; and Mursa, who had given her Directions to request something of the Seraskier, which he durst not presume to ask himself, kept his post, out of respect, at the entrance into the Arbour, and his Example obliging all the rest to separate themselves, some one way, some another, Soliman caused Abra to seat herself upon a Bank of Turf, and perceiving that though he might be seen, he could not be heard by the Merchant, he thought it behoved him not to lose an Opportunity so favourable to his Passion. Presently therefore with a low Voice, and a passionate and tender Look.  
Fair Abra, said he, how dear has my good Fortune cost me! that I should have the pleasure to come to your Relief, but that that same succour should prove the only occasion of my Torments. I ought indeed, to bury 'em in silence from ye; the Respect which your Eyes Imprint, the Grandeur to which you are designed, and my duty to the Sultan, all these Considerations should lock up my Tongue, but my Love o'rerules me. Perhaps I may never have but this moment of my life to let you know it. But though I were sure it would prove my Ruin, I could not resolve with myself to lose so happy a Minute,  
Abra, who till then had never perceived in all the Seraskier's Conduct, other then respectful Wariness, by means of which he had understood so well to conceal the Sentiments which he revealed to her, did not expect so lively a Declaration of his Love. Wherefore, as much inclined as her heart might be to please itself with the thoughts of being beloved by a Person whom she found to be altogether Admirable, yet was she tossed with a most terrible Combat between the Pleasure of knowing the effect of her Charms, and the fear of explaining herself upon a subject of which she herself was so sensible.  
A sudden Blush redoubled the Luster of her Complexion; she cast her Eyes upon the ground, for fear they should betray the trouble of her mind, and with the same restriction upon her Voice.  
Heaven, Sir, said she, does not consult our Hearts to regulate our Destinies. I am a Victine Sacrificed to the interest of a Tartar; would you hinder me from suffering myself to be led without murmuring to the Altar? Alas, as free a Woman as I shall enter into the Seraglio, I shall endure perhaps but too much pain to see myself the slave of false Grandeur that will signify nothing to one that contemns it as I do; and would you labour to redouble the Torments that are preparing for me in that place?  
Ah, Madam, replied Soliman, did you look upon as a surplusage of pains what I have said to ye, how happy should I be; since than I might hope that my Love would make some impression in your Heart, The word is slipped from my Mouth, and I can no longer hold my Tongue. I love ye Madam, I Adore ye, I Burn, but with a Fire that never can be extinguished. Ah, Madam, what is there that I would not strive to merit, so that I might not be indifferent to your Affection!  
Here Soliman stopped, but finding that Abra continued silent, and that with her Eyes fixed upon the Ground, she seemed to be in a kind of uncertainty what answer to return; Speak, fairest Abra, continued he, speak, or give me my Death's wound, and perceiving some Tears drop from her Eyes, yes, charming Abra, repeated he, I love ye beyond all that man can Love, I Adore ye: Can you look with indifferency upon a Passion so tender and so lively?  
Ah, Sir, answered the Muscovite, with a sigh that she could nor restrain, had your Passion been indifferent to me, I should have told ye but too much ere now. I never had so great a dread, added she, of being sacrificed to the Passions of an unknown person, as since I know that man of all the world most worthy to possess my heart. I now have said too much, Sir, but time which is to you so Precious, and your Eternal Separation make me forget myself, and put me quite to Shame. I Blush for my Weakness, in not being able to conceal the Triumph of your Merit. However, Sir, abuse not this my Weakness, it has betrayed me. But since Heaven has surrounded this Passion with an invincible Obstacle, let us stifle it in its Birth, and let not this secret be known to ye, for any other reason then to forger it.  
Who I? Madam, replied Soliman, I must then forget the only thing that can procure my Happiness. If Heaven obstructs the accomplishment of my desires, at least it shall not hinder me from easing my Torments with the pleasure of knowing that your Heart is not insensible of my Love. Leave the rest to time, to my Fortune, and to my Industry. I shall be at Adrianople after the Campaign is over; trust to the Kisler Agasi, I will instruct him what he is to do in my behalf, and confide in the inviolable fidelity of Soliman.  
And you; Sir, since your Merit has forced me to betray the impression which it has made in my heart, assure yourself that it shall be my chief delight to prefer you before all the Crowns of the Earth; and that all my Consolation in the Horrors of my close confinement shall be to find that you are constant.  
The fear of rendering suspicious a longer Discourse made Abra rise. The Seraskier led her by the hand, they rejoined Mursa, and all the company being come together, they went to the Banks of a River, upon which there were prepared a great many Fireworks; while a magnificent Collation under a stately open Tent by the River side concluded the Divertisements.  
Soliman departed a thousand times more enamoured then at his first Arrival; and the next morning Mursa continued his Journey, having obtained of the Seraskier whatever he could desire. But if he travelled with contentment, the nearer he advanced to his journeys End, the more mortal was Abra's Grief for the remoteness of a Separation, so much the more dreadful to her, because she could not foresee any means or way by which she should ever meet again with the person who already she loved so tenderly, and with such a sincere Passion.  
'Twas no hard matter soon to perceive the Melancholy that began to weaken her, and which was ascribed to the fatigues of a long Journey. But her slave Sarai, who had always attended her as a Governess, penetrated into the true reason of it; and in regard she lay by her side, her Sighs could not escape her. She also observed, that ever since the morning of her departure from Kolenco, she had in the Agitations of her Dreams several times repeated the Name of Soliman, so that having a singular kindness for this Amiable Virgin, and on the other side the merit of the Seraskier, and his Generosity having an influence upon her Mind, she ventured to push her Penetration a little farther, and to seek some remedy for the pains her Mistress endured.  
With this purpose the Night following when they were alone, and that she heard her Sigh more violently, she drew near her Bed, and embracing her, I love ye tenderly, my dear Abra, said she, I love ye tenderly, and will you conceal any longer from me what I already know too well? Open yourself to me, and expect from my Fidelity and my Discretion whatever my zeal can offer ye.  
Abra, surprised at this Discourse, answered only with a Sigh. But Sarai embraced her more closely, and conjured her with so much importunity, and after such an affectionate manner, to trust her with what she could no longer conceal from her, that at length Abra, melting into Tears laid open her Heart. Sarai on the other side, promised her all assistance, and assured her, that if she had a thousand Lives, she would venture 'em all to make her happy.  
From that very moment Abra appeared more blithe, as if by entrusting her secret, she had discharged herself of some weighty Burden. And in regard that Soliman sought always imaginable with safety to convey his mind in writing to Abra, Sarai spared him the fruitless trouble which he put himself to, while he thought to accomplish his desires by any other assistance than hers.  
A correspondence of that Importance hazarded the Life both of the one and the other, and therefore to avoid all Danger, it was agreed, that the Seraskier's Letters should be so contrived, as if he had an Affection for Zaid, who was Sarai's Niece, and Beautiful beside, and that Sarai herself should write Abra's Letters, in Zaids' Name. The intercourse was thus settled upon the third day after the Separation of the two Lovers, and the first Letter that Abra received from the Seraskier, contained these kind Expressions.  
Soliman to Zaid.  
TO Love every day, to be sensible of the still remote Separation from us of what we love much more than ourselves, and not to know whether ever she shall meet again; what an Affliction, Adorable Zaid, what Torments are these! But it would be much more cruel, if at the same time I should have any reason to doubt the Sincerity of your Words. Remember the promise you have made me, and be assured, that if I love you more than it is possible for all other men together to do, my Fidelity is equal to my Love, and that nothing shall ever change the Heart of  
SOLIMAN.  
Abra received this Billet from Sarai's Hands, and Dictated to her the following Answer.  
Zaid to Soliman Seraskier.  
MY Aunt delivered me your Letter, which has afforded me the only Pleasure I have had since I lost the sight of your Person. What sorrows do those Minutes cost me every day, which once enjoyed are now no more to be expected! Yet is it written in Heaven that they shall ne'er return! Love, Sir, Love on; but let your Love be ne'er so true, be assured it equals not my love for you, and if your Fidelity be in Violable, my Constancy shall be Eternal. Pity my Fate, and think often of  
ZAID.  
These Letters were attended by some others; and in regard that Soliman in his second testified a great desire to see Abra once again, Sarai's Advice was that she should fain herself sick, to the end they might be forced to stop in a kind of a Castle seated upon the Edge of a Forest. The measures taken by Sarai were put in Execution, and the Seraskier being fully informed of Sarai's contrivance, he took Post by the means of laid Horses; and under pretences which he never wanted, arrived at the place appointed; where he disguised himself in the Habit of a Dervis, or one of the Turkish Priests; in great Veneration among those People, and particularly thought to be endued with a power to cure all sorts of Sickness by reading in private certain Chapters of the Koran, laid upon the head of the sick Person. Sarai therefore had prepared all things ready for the Applications of the Dervis to Abra's Distemper, and the superstitious Mursa was fallen into the snare, so that 'twas no hard matter to introduce Soliman under that disguise, which Mursa so little suspected, that seeing him coming at a Distance, he fell with his Face upon the Ground, and made all his Servants do as much, while the counterfeit Saint past forward with a great Koran, which he held open, and resting upon his Forehead, as upon a Desk, to the end he might the better hid his Face.  
Soliman being thus entered into Abra's Chamber, thought it not convenient to spend his time in reading the Koran, but throwing himself at Abra's Knees, and embracing 'em, who would have thought, said he, fair Abra, who would have thought that I should ever have been so happy to see you again.  
Abra, that she might oblige him to a posture more becoming his Grandeur, seated herself upon a Couch that was close by; but Soliman still continuing with one Knee upon the Ground, and perceiving that Saria was retired to have an Eye at the Door, he took both her hands between his own, and continuing his Discourse. No, No, Madam, No, said he, I no longer question your Love, since without any he●●ation or scruple you have ventured all to afford me this alleviation of my Pains. Ah, Madam, what a Pleasure it it, what a Satisfaction to me to see you once again! Sir, replied Abra, if the Pleasure of seeing what we love be to be measured by love, your Joy is not superior to mine. But with what bitternesses is this secret Pleasure intermixed, when we consider that 'tis but for a Moment, which will be attended with a long and perhaps perpetual Separation.  
Hope better Madam, replied Soliman, and since our Prophet himself affords me this day by the help of this Disguise, an Opportunity of seeing you, be assured that he approves our Fires, and that he will direct us to find our which way to enjoy our Affection with more freedom. I come here chief to instruct ye what measures are to be taken, to prevent our being exposed to the Sultan's passions. To which purpose here is a Letter to the Kisler Agasi, which Sarai shall take care to deliver him, before he receives those wherewith Mursa is entrusted; and provided you can but preserve me your heart till I return to Adrianople, and that the Kisler does but prevent your being seen by Mahomet, I will set all Engines at work, and I presume so much upon his Highness' favour, that I despair not to obtain you as his own gift.  
If it only depends upon my Constancy, said Abra, to avoid the Sultan, and enjoy your Love, you may rely upon me, Sir, that nothing shall be wanting on my part to prosper the success of your Passion: But take care, Sir, that I may not be deprived in the Seraglio of the comfort of having my faithful Sarai about me; my Heart is in her hands, and she will be of great Use to us.  
This, replied Soliman, is one of the principal Motives of my Letter: for I do not discover to the Kister the secret of so dangerous a Passion. I refer that till we come to discourse together: But I send to him only to do me those Kindnesses, which I can only expect from his Industry in favouring my desires. He is Master of the Seraglio; he shall keep Sarai with ye, no doubt of it; and he shall do nothing without consulting her. And to the end, that by knowing what I have written, you may the better be able to understand how to govern your Affairs, here is a Copy of it. Abra took the Copy, and calling Sarai, read the following Lines.  
Soliman Seraskier to the Illustrious Isouf Kisler Agasi.  
YOur Mightiness will receive by the Tartarian Merchant Mursa Letters of Recommendation, to the end the Present which he designs to his Highness of the Noble and Virtuous Slave Abra-Mulè, may be the more graciously accepted. You have always found me to be your Friend; and I know the Reasons of your being supported by the Favour of the Sultaness Asseki, which obliges me, as a Confident, to admonish you not to be too forward in exposing this new Comer to the Sultan's view till I return to Adrianople, at what time I will inform you of every thing. In the mean time fail not to let Sarai continue with her; to the end she may be serviceable to you, in calming Abra's impatience to arrive at that Honour to which Karah Ibrahim's Cabal designs her. The Advice is of great Importance, therefore despise it not.  
After the reading of this Letter, Soliman instructed Abra and Sarai, in all the secret Intrigues of the Seraglio, and how it behoved 'em to manage their Affairs; so that they might be able to second whatever he sent to the Kisler. After this, two the Lovers fell into private discourse, wherein they omitted nothing to give each other reciprocal Marks of their most tender and ardent Passion. At length the time which the Dervis usually employ with their sick Patients being almost spent, and the fatal Moment of Separation approaching, Abra took out of a little Trunk three of her own Portraitures, and requested Soliman to make choice of one. He took that which he thought most like her, and at the same time Abra threw the other two into the fire.  
What d' ye do, Madam, cried Soliman, why d' ye so profusely destroy the Images of Nature's Masterpiece. In regard I have but one Heart, replied Abra, and that never any Person in the World shall enjoy it but yourself, for whom would you have me preserve those other Portraitures? I offer 'em up to that which I give you, and which I beg you to keep; as I sacrifice all the rest of the Earth to the only Love I have for Soliman.  
The Seraskier admired the Delicacy of Abra's Heart, and kissing the Hand from which he received the Portraiture, how sweet a thing it is, Madam, said he, how sweet a thing it is to be beloved after so tender and delicate a manner. I accept this precious pledge of your Love, I will preserve it till Death, and it shall be a perpetual Testimony of my Constancy. After this the Seraskier took leave of Abra, who could not restrain her Tears, and at the same time taking his Head between her Arms, and pressing it close to her Bosom, she gave him a kiss upon the Forehead, and then permitted him to take the same liberty upon each hand. Which done, Soliman risen up, and after he had prevailed with Sarai to accept a magnificent present in Jewels, he left the Chamber with the same Ceremony as he entered in, Mursa attending him with a great Train to the Gate of the Castle. Abra recovered her Health; the Reputation of this Dervis was spread abroad, and Soliman quitting his Religious Habit, took Post again, and returned to the Army.  
Mursa extremely satisfied with the pretended Miracle of the Koran, which redoubled his Superstition, departed the next morning, proceeding prosperously in his journey, while Abra comforted herself in Sarai's Bosom, with reading the Letters ●●ich she received from time to time directed to Zaid, and spending some nights in returning answers to 'em.  
They crossed Transilvania, travelling easy Journeys, and Michael Abaffi defraying their charges all along; and being arriyed at Belgrade, at a time when Karah Ibrahim was there, obtained Mursa from him, whatever Letters of Recommendation he desired. At length he got to Adrianople, where the Sultan had been since the Spring, that he might be ne'er at hand to issue forth his orders for the motion of his Troops, and that he might be the more punctually informed of every thing that fell out.  
Sarai, whose Diligence inclined her to spare for nothing, and who understood, that in the Seraglio all things were moved by the Springs of many, was no sooner arrived there, but she won the heart of the Kislers first Dragoman, or Interpreter, and caused Soliman's Letter to be delivered to that powerful Eunuch, before Mursa had made any progresses toward his obtaining Audience. The Kisler being thus anticipated, kept the Tartar above two Months before he suffered Abra to be introduced into the Seraglio; besides, that he found a way to bring her in undressed, and among a Huddle of eight or ten others which various Bassa's had sent, and made choice of a day that the Sultan was vexed and out of humour upon the receipt of some ill News; so that Mohomet being taken up with the troublesome Consultations, wherein the taking of Neuhansal had engaged the whole Divan, together with the raising of the Siege of Gran, which the Turks had fruitlessly attempted, and the loss of a Battle fought within two Leagues of that place, and being more over continually besieged by the Sultaness Asseki, and Abra never seeking to expose herself, it was no difficult thing for the Kisler to put her into an Apartment out of the way, and keep her out of Mahomet's Eye.  
But if Abra avoided the sight, and consequently the love of the Sultan, till the end of the Campaign, she found herself exposed to another Amour, which though at first it appeared less dangerous, yet the Consequences of it were most terribly fatal.  
Mahomet kept his Brothers under a kind of Confinement, where nevertheless they had freedom enough. He forced 'em to attend him in all his Progresses, and they were then in the Seraglio at Adrianople served as Princes in their several Apartments; and the Sultan who would not deprive 'em of their Pleasures, but was unwilling however they should have any Children, took care that they should not be suffered to come at any Women, but such as were past Child bearing; yet that they should provide for 'em the handsomest that could be found out at those years.  
Prince Soliman, who, as I have said, was a handsome person, notwithstanding he seemed so addicted to the study of the Koran, was of an amorous Complexion, and was not satisfied with the superannuated Mistresses with which they endeavoured to amuse him. He was wily, and full of dissimulation, and having acquired a perfect confidence with an Elderly Woman, called Marama, who was imposed upon him for one of his Bedfellows, he had so much influence over her, as to engage her to supply him by dextrous Intrigues, with younger pastimes than those to which he was forced to confine himself, and she had already succeeded in several Negotiations that required a most nice conduct.  
She had her Appartiment in the same Gallery where Abra had hers; and in regard she was extremely Insinuating, full of Flattery, together with an Anticipating and frolic Wit, she soon struck in with the young Muscovite, and fastened herself to her in a strict familiarity, which their near Nighbourhood allowed of, and which the Kisler favoured, to the end she might be taken up with divertisements, that might hinder her from thinking of the Sultan.  
Marama had no sooner knit the knot of this familiarity, but having found out that Abra had no ambitious design of making herself known to the Sultan, it came into her Head to intrigue her with Soliman. To which purpose she made such a lively Description of the young Muscovite to the youthful Prince, that without any trouble she infused into him a violent desire to see her; and on the other side, she made use of all her Wit in magnifying to Abra the merits of Soliman.  
Now to create an opportunity for the Prince to satisfy his Eyes with the sight of an Object which she had painted to him adorned with so many Accomplishments, she obtained leave of the Kisler to give a Collation to five or six of her Friends in the Sultaness' Validès private Garden, and she so ordered her Business, as to engage Abra to be one of her Guests.  
The Collation was served up at the end of an Alley that was overlooked by a Cross-bared window of Soliman's appartiment, who from thence had a full view of the Muscovite, whom he found infinitely more beautiful than Marama had set her forth to be; and of a sudden fell so violently in love with her, that his dear confident coming in the Evening to visit him, he shut himself up with her, and closely embracing her, I am a dead Man, my dear Marama, said he, if you afford not some assuagement to that love which you have kindled, and which can only be expected from your address and diligence.  
This Relief replied Marama, depends not upon me; I have found the way to bless your Eyes with an Object that most deserves the love of the greatest Prince in the World. This is but the first step; it behoves me now to sound her Heart, which seems to me but very indifferent as to all sorts of Pleasures, and less inclined to love then any other Passion. But the main difficulty is for you to see her, and speak to her. However leave that to Time and my Diligence, and be assured that I shall omit nothing to bring it to pass.  
This Promise something quieted Soliman's first Disturbances; he relied upon Marama's cunning, and in the mean time not believing that a Woman of the Seraglio could hold out against the Love of an Ottoman Prince, He flattered his Passion with that success which was at a great distance from him.  
In the mean time Marama united herself more closely to the young Muscovite, and by her Assiduities she also insinuated herself into Sarai's Confidence, and at length she carried herself so pliant, that Abra who sought only for Pastimes to conceal and assuage her Anxieties, could not live without her company.  
When she found herself so well settled in a heart which she thought void of Love, she attempted to infuse that Passion by a general discourse of the pleasures that attended the Union of two Persons in a charming Affection. Abra listened to her, and seemed to give Credit to her discourse, because that all she said to her flattered her Inclinations for the Seraskier: And Marama, who was persuaded she had made some Impression upon her Soul, imagined that nothing remained for her to do, but only by some Artifice to get Soliman and Abra together, which she thought might be easily brought to pass.  
The body of the Building wherein were the Appartiments of Abra, Marama, and a great number of other Women, was directly opposite to that wherein the Princes were lodged; and to prevent their Communication, and seeing one another, a very thick and high Wall divided the Court, by which they were separated.  
The body of the Building wherein were the Appartiments of Abra, Marama, and a great number of other Women, was directly opposite to that wherein the Princes were lodged; and to prevent their Communication, and seeing one another, a very thick and high Wall divided the Court, by which they were separated.  
Amurath, who built those two Structures, or Piles of Lodgings, to be himself in the one with the favourite Sultaness, and to lodge the most beautiful Women of his Seraglio in the other, had contrived a private little Gallery under Ground, whereby he might pass from one Building to the other, and avoid the jealous Eyes of the Sultaness when he had a mind to visit his other Women. The Entrance into that Gallery jutted upon the Apartment possessed by Prince Soliman, and led to Marama's Cabinet; but two Doors a long time since made up prohibited the use of it.  
To attempt the opening of a place in the Seraglio closed up, was a Crime sufficient to awaken Mahomet's jealousy, and to hazard Soliman's life: But in regard it was the only way that Marama could think of, she furnished herself with Irons, and false Keys, requisite to make a Breach, and when all things were ready prepared, and concerted with Soliman, she engaged Abra to come to her Chamber, and while her Slaves kept Sarai in a pleasing Chat, she led her alone into her Cabinet.  
Soliman got through, and had hid himself behind the hanging that hung before the Outlet of the Gallery: At what time Marama having seated Abra upon a heap of Cushions covered over with a Carpet, entertained her with high Applauses of the marvellous lustre of her Beauty, the brightness of her Eyes, the whiteness of her Skin, and all her other Charms; and after that, shifting her Discourse, she fell to talk of Prince Soliman, and cried up his Merits to the Skies; insomuch that the portraiture that she gave of him seeming to have a fair resemblance of the Air, the lovely Mien, and Lineaments of the Seraskier, the poor betrayed Lady, out of an innocent openness of heart, gave herself the liberty to signify, that if the sight of the Prince had not been forbidden by the strict Rules of the Seraglio, her Curiosity might have been prevailed upon to see him.  
Upon those words, Soliman, who thought he had met with the Minute proper to make his Appearance, bolted of a sudden from behind the Hanging, and falling upon one Knee at Abra's feet, with his Eyes fixed upon hers, which she cast toward the ground in a deep surprise, that rendered her Immovable, Madam, said he, behold a Prince that burned with impatience to behold the most wonderful of all perfections that ever Nature produced, and who is come to prostrate his Heart at your feet, and put his Life in your hands.  
Abra who could not recover herself from her Astonishment, durst not cast an Eye upon Soliman; but upon Marama she threw a look that seemed at once both to reproach her Treachery, and bemoan the trouble into which she had plunged her. A Ruddiness more than ordinary spread itself upon her Cheeks, her whole Body trembled, and not knowing what course to take under a Circumstance so little expected, she stood in a profound silence, when Soliman resuming his first Addresses, I see, Madam, said he, I see, that the Happiness I have had, for the sight of you, to surmount those Obstacles that would have appeared invincible to any other Love but that which I have for yourself, offends ye; but impute to the power of your Charms, and the tenderness of my heart, this Crime that has affrighted ye, and which you will pardon me, when you consider that no man living can behold those Eyes without adoring 'em.  
Abra, who during this disorder, felt her anger augment as her astonishment began to quit her, cast a smart look upon Soliman, and at the same time turning again her Eyes away from him, Sir, said she, did you only expose my life by an Enterprise so dangerous both for you and Marama, you should not have seen me tremble. But Sir, what is't you aim at by an Undertaking no less fruitless than rash and indiscreet? I am not ignorant of the full extent of your Merit, and I pay it the real homage of my Esteem: But if you have forced those Obstacles that forbade you the sight of me, there yet remains others far more invincible, that forbidden my heart to entertain a Passion that must never enter there.  
Oh, Madam, were the Sultan so happy as to have touched your heart, I might justly fear the meeting with an invincible Obstacle to my Love; but since I know that he has never cast his Eyes upon you, and that you yourself are careful to avoid his sight, what Obstacle can the Love of a Prince, who adores ye, meet with in a heart so free as yours? A Prince, who would sacrifice the whole Earth to the satisfaction of infusing into your Soul the smallest Passion for him.  
Prince, replied Abra, whatever liberty Mahomet gives my heart, you will not find it less insensible than if he had the sole possession of it. Stifle therefore a Love that may precipitate ye into a thousand dismal Inconveniencies, I am not ignorant of the danger to which, at this Instant, you have exposed yourself; nor has the surprise into which you have put me; or my indignation to see myself thus betrayed by Marama so clouded my Reason, as not to consider what I have to do. I esteem and respect ye, Sir, too much to deny ye my silence for the security of your head. Be gone Sir, and do not ruin yourself for the sake of an Amour, where there is no probability of success.  
You may, Madam, never have any Affection for me, but I can never cease to have a Love for you. If my pure Flames offend ye, here's my head, deliver it up to my Brother to punish the Presumption of my Adoration.  
Sir, said Abra, a heart like mine, never seeks Revenge, and the Injuries done by Love are always excusable, nor will I revenge myself of that which yours has done me, but in labouring to extinguish it: I also pardon Marama's Treachery, for the sake of her friendship for you. Require of my heart all the Esteem that is due to a Prince of extraordinary Merit: 'Tis your due, and I pay it freely. But require not a Love from a heart that is not at Liberty, and which it would be therefore in vain to importune.  
Though this same mildness that Abra showed was only an effect of her Prudence and Discretion, yet Soliman, who easily flattered himself in his pleasures, vainly imagined that the reason why she so willingly consented by her silence to conceal an Attempt so criminal, was only because his Love and his Character had made the first Impressions in her heart; and judging that he had done enough for the first meeting, in having shown himself in person, and declared his Love, he wittily turned the Discourse upon other things more general, and after he had stayed sometime in the Cabinet, he took his leave.  
So soon as he was gone, Marama, who had the same thoughts as he, presently began to put Abra upon a new Discourse of the Prince's love, imagining that she would open her Mind with more freedom to her: But she was soon convinced, by the Reproaches of her Infidelity, and the smart Answers which she made her, that that there was nothing less in her heart then those Inclinations wherewith Soliman flattered himself; and that if she intended to make any farther progresses toward the vanquishing her Indifferency, or to preserve the familiarity she had with her, it behoved her either not to say a word more of that Amour, or else to make use of Artifices more nice and delicate.  
While this Intrigue, which in the Conclussion proved so fatal to Mahomet was taking root in the Seraglio, the end of an Unsuccessful Campaign redoubled the Sultan's Anxieties.  
Prince Charles of Lorraine had the year before undertaken the siege of Buda; but the jealousy of his Enemies which he had in the Emperor's Council, and who envied those Honours which eclipsed their own, caused the Miscarriage of that Enterprise, by maliciously keeping from him those Supplies which were most necessary for the Attacque of so important a Place, and the subsistence of his Men. So that wanting every thing, and not being able to hinder Cheitan Bassa, Serakeire of the Armies in Hungary from relieving it, he was forced to raise his siege.  
Enraged at the Success of his Enemy's Malice, the next year he took more certain Measures, to the end he might not be exposed to the same Inconveniencies, and opened a Glorious Campaign with the siege of Neuhansel.  
The Vizir Karah Ibrahim, who rather chose to employ the Valour of other men, then to act himself, and who from Belgrade issued forth all his Orders to all the Armies, in hopes to make a Diversion, laid siege to Gran. But in regard the Turks found more resistance there then they expected, after they had wasted twelve days in vain they raised their siege, and joined all their Forces under Cheitan Serakier, to oppose Prince Charles, who without discontinuing the siege Newhansel, marched directly with the Body of his Army to decide the destiny of the Campaign by the fate of a Battle.  
The Armies came in view of each other within three Leagues of Gran, there being nothing between 'em but a Morass, which could not be crossed but through narrow Passes at a distance one from the other; besides that the Cheitan had sixty thousand Men; so that Prince Charles, who had not above forty five, thought it would be a rash attempt to pass the Morass in view of the Enemy, and within the reach of their shot, to attack 'em in their Entrenchemnt. He therefore tried whether he could engage 'em to pass it first themselves, which it was not difficult to do by two Stratagems. The one by spreading a false report, that his Army was reduced to forty thousand Men; and the other, by feigning a precipitate and false retreat.  
This double Stratagem succeeded to a wonder: for the Turks observing the motion of that feigned retreat, passed the Morass in the night time. But then Prince Charles who marched slowly, understanding they were got over, faced about, Embattell'd his Army, and having given the left wing to the Elector of Bavaria, and taking the right himself, advanced toward the Enemy.  
The Onset was Vigorous on the Turks side, who thought they had been marching to a Victory, not to a Combat. They charged the two Wings three times, and the Principal weight of their Strength falling upon the Right Wing where the Princes of Conti and Roche sur Yon fought as Volunteers at the Head of Lanthiers' Squadron, the  steadiness of these Princes rendered ineffectual the enemy's Efforts, and their undaunted Valour contributed not a little to the winning of the Battle.  
The sight was long and Obstinate on the Turks side, who gave ground, and rallied as often as they were broken, and returning to the Charge, endeavoured still to Flank the right Wing, where lay the main strength of the Battle; but at length the Elector of Bavaria, after he had first broken and dispersed all that stood before him, fell with his left Wing upon the Turks, and put 'em into such a general Confusion, that being every where Broken they betook themselves to flight, and repassed the Morass, beyond which they were still pursued with the Loss of Ten thousand men, and not daring to stay in their Entrenchments, never thought themselves safe till they were got under the Cannon of Buda.  
After this great Victory, Newhansel was taken by Storm, and the Emperor carried his Victorious Arms as far as the Drove, ruining the Bridge of Esseck, and by taking a good Number of other Places, put the Divan into such a Consternation, that upon the false Information of Karah Ibrahim, whose ill Conduct and Cowardice had not a little contributed to the Misfortunes of this Campaign, and who was a Mortal Enemy to the famous Count Tekeli, they blindly took a Resolution to seize upon that Count at Waradin; and to have him carried laden with Fetters to Adrianople. Which completed the Ruin of the Turks affairs in Hungary.  
Karah Ibrahim soon after attended upon the Sultan, and finding him incensed at the Misfortunes of the Campaign, that he might turn the Effects of his Anger upon some other Head, so dextrously laid the Cause of all the Summer's ill success upon the ill Conduct of the Seraskier Cheitan, that Mahomet, who was naturally ungrateful, forgetting the Signal Services which he had done him both in Poland, and the Relief of Buda, ordered him to lose his head, which was publicly put in Execution.  
By his Death the Employment of Seraskier of the Hungarian Armies became Vacant; and for the supplying it, the Sultan cast his Eyes upon the Seraskier Soliman, whom we left upon the Frontiers of Poland, and who had promised the fair Abra, that after the end of the Campaign he would be at Adrianople.  
He had performed his Duty with so much conduct and valour, that all the Efforts of the Polanders proved abortive, and that notwithstanding all their Opposition, he had supplied Caminiec with a considerable Convoy. But notwithstanding his Assiduity in the performance of his Duty and his Vigilance, which carried him where ever his Presence might be useful, he took his times, by Sarai's Address, and the assistance of some Eunuches of the Seraglio, whom she had won to her side, to let the fair Muscovite frequently hear from him, while on the other side he received from her no less obliging Marks of her fidelity.  
At length, as soon as possibly he could, he arrived at Adrianople, and was received by the Sultan, as one who had the greatest share in his favour, and who alone of all his Generals during the Campaign had prevented the Misfortunes of ill Success.  
So soon as he alighted he had a long and private conference with the Sultan, touching the General State of Affairs, and in regard he was a particular Friend of Count Tekeli's, he visibly made appear the false Steps which they had made, who counselled his Arrest; and from this Accident passing to the Grand Visir's Conduct, who was the Author of that pernicious Advice, he so sensibly made out all his Mistakes, that Mahomet, in whose favour that Minister began already to totter, was absolutely determined to degrade him, and at the same time to satisfy the favourable Inclinations which he had always had for Soliman; so that the Seal of the Empire was soon after taken from Karah Ibrahim, and given to Soliman, who was declared Grand Visir.  
Yet did he not rejoice at his Exaltation so much for any other reason, as that he now hoped that Mahomet's favour would not refuse him the happiness which he far more desired; seeing that if the Sultan's did not sometimes disdain to give their own Daughters to their Grand Visirs, he might well obtain a Stranger taken out of the Seraglio. But he thought it not convenient to be too hasty, before he had taken his right measures; he considered with himself that in the New dignity which he held, and which would fasten the Kisler Agasi more closely to his Fortunes, he might discover to him his love for Abra, and that it behoved him to make, use of the Industry and Assistance of that Eunuch, as well as his own Credit to obtain the main Aim of his Intentions, and to give the Sultan some notice of it before hand, so soon as an Opportunity offered.  
Abra received the News at once both of the Arrival of her dear Soliman, and of his Advancement to the chief Dignity in the Empire, and Sarai it was who brought her the Intelligence into her Cabinet.  
Now tho' she had been informed that he would be in a short time at Adrianople, nevertheless because the reiterated Orders of the Sultan had precipitated his Journey, he prevented the time which he had perfix'd, and this was that which made her more sensible of the joyful news which she received from her dear Confident. She was in hopes she should have heard from him the same day; but he could not withdraw himself from the Importunate Throngs that crowded to load him with their Homages; nor could he quit the Urgency of those pressing Orders wherein he spent the rest of the day, and good part of the night.  
At length being with a world of trouble disengaged from so many slaves, the Adorers of his Fortune, about midnight he detained the Kisler Agasi with him, and took him into his private Cabinet, under pretence of most Important Orders which he had to impart to him.  
After they had paid to each other what was due to a long and reciprocal Friendship, the Kisler gave Soliman an Account of the Artifices which he had been forced to make use of, to hinder Mahomet from the sight of Abra, and the precautions which he used every day, to make the best of the warning he had given him in his Letter, but that things could not long remain in the same posture, unless recourse were had to other ways more hazardous. For that within a few days the Sultanesses Festival was to be kept, and that day all the Women of the Seraglio appeared in the private Mosque, with the Habits and Ornaments which the Sultan ordered to be distributed among 'em.  
This news was no way pleasing to the Visir, however it did not put him quite out of those hopes wherewith he flattered himself; so that at length; after repeated Expressions of the Sincerity of his Affection, he opened his Heart to the Kisler, told him he was passionately in love with Abra, and that she corresponded with his Affection.  
The Kisler, surprised at the acknowledgement of so bold a Passion, remained for some time without answering and gave the Visir to understand, that the Entrusting him with such a Secret had put him into a strange Consternation. Nevertheless, after he had considered a while, and recovering himself of a sudden, Sir, said he, the more dangerous the Trial is upon which you put my Friendship, the more I am assured of yours. You are not ignorant to what a dreadful danger you expose me, but since we have begun, it behoves us to make an end. Should I go about to repair the Crime I am guilty of in the eye of the Sultan, I should become an Offender in respect of my Friend, and yet not cease to be the same in respect of my Sovereign. And therefore depend upon my Fidelity, as I depend upon your prudence.  
Upon those words the Visir embraced the Kisler, and imparted to him his design to obtain Abra, by begging her of the Sultan. Ah, Sir, said the Kisler, would you ruin yourself and me too? The Sultan's will sooner part with their own Daughters, than the meanest slave in the Sarraglio; because their Daughters are Burdens to 'em, which they would willingly be rid of, and for that by bestowing 'em upon their wealthy Ministers, they sell 'em the Honour of that Alliance, or make use of it as a snare to sacrifice 'em to their Avarice. But Mahomet, jealous of every Woman that he keeps in his Seraglio, would look upon the Gift of one of his Woman, as a most sensible loss, and therefore since Abra has an Affection for ye, and will not refuse to corresponded with our Contrivances, we must seek which way to take some safer methods. After this they proposed to themselves several intrigues, but came to no resolution, only referring all things to time, to chance, and their own diligence, for the carrying on so nice an Enterprise, the Kisler retired. But the Visir could not think of taking any repose till he had writ to his dearest Abra; when at the very time that he was going about it, an Eunuch brought him a Billet, which after he had opened it, he found to be Sarai's Hand, who only wrote what her Mistress dictated, and read the following lines.  
The Loyal One to the Only One.  
I know ye to be near me, and laden with the Favours of Fortune; this might be sufficient to satisfy the Transports of my Joy, did not my Love desire something else. When the distance of whole Provinces separated us, 'twas less cruel to me to endure your absence, but the nearer you are, the more painful is it to me, to find myself deprived of the pleasure of your Presence. I have heard no news of you: Ambition has robbed my Love of one whole day: 'Tis too too long; but I expect ye, that I may seal your Pardon. Sarai, who better than myself understands the Condition of my Heart, will give you an Account of it; and you will then find that you have no reason to complain, not so much as of one of all those Minutes which I wast remotely distant from you. If you love me, do something that is impossible, to come and see the  
Loyal One.  
Notwithstanding the Visir was overjoyed upon the receipt of this Letter from Abra, yet was he no less perplexed to find out a way to get into her Appartiment, but in regard he put his whole confidence in the Address and Friendship of the Kisler Agasi, he flattered himself that he should accomplish his design; and with these hopes, he took his Pen, and returned the following Answer, with which he entrusted the same Eunuch,  
THE Favours I have received from Fortune, have not prevailed upon my Heart to lose a moment of my wanted exactness in thinking upon you. They would have been more acceptable to me, if the load of troublesome Affairs would have suffered me to satisfy the impatience of my Love. The Honour which the Sultan has conferred upon me, pleases me no otherwise then as it flatters my hopes. I have seen my Friend; there is nothing which I have not attempted to fulfil your Orders. Love me, think upon me, and live for my sake, as for your sake lives the  
Only One.  
But while Mahomet's Favour raised the Visir to the highest pinnacle of Fortune, and that Soliman met in Abra's Constancy, with all that his Love could wish for from a Heart entirely devoted to him, Prince Soliman still flattered himself that by Marama's Intrigues he should at length gain the heart of the young Muscovite.  
To which purpose that crafty Female-friend, having concerted with the Prince what Methods to take, lived with Abra under the greatest circumspection imaginable; and ever since the Interview in her Cabinet, which had not the success which she expected, she observed her with a wonderful attention; and in regard she had a piercing wit, and a smooth insinuating way to dive into the most hidden Folds of the heart; she perceived that the young Muscovite was not without some inward disquiet, and rightly judged, that such disquiet could not proceed from any other occasion then Love.  
These Thoughts she imputed to Prince Soliman, and in regard Mistrust is inseparable from Love, and that the twitches of Jealousy do but serve to inflame a Heart the more, he found himself, by this Information, jealous without an Object, and more enamoured than he was before; and in the midst of these Agitations that inspired his Jealousy, he would needs put Pen to Paper, and accordingly wrote the following Billet.  
Prince Soliman to the Divine Abra.  
THE fear of offending ye, more powerful over my Heart, then that of losing my Life, has hindered me from seeking any farther Opportunity to pay you a second Visit. You will not Love me, you say, but your Insensibility will not always oblige me not to Love you. I repeat it then, divine Abra, that I adore ye, but with a Passion so lively, and so violent, that 'tis impossible your Heart should be insensible of it, were it free from all other Engagement. If a Rival be the Obstacle you meant, it shall not be so invincible as you say it is, since there is no Love but what must give way to that, which he till death will have for ye, who writes himself  
Prince Soliman.  
Marama undertook the delivery of this Letter, and judging well that Abra would refuse to receive it from her hands, she thought it the best way to call to her assistance Natural Curiosity. And therefore she made her a visit on purpose, and in the midst of a world of pleasant and divertising discourse, having found a way to slide the Billet under Abra's Toylet, so soon as she had done she withdrew, and left her to herself in hopes that the next day, by the effect of that Letter she might read in her Countenance whether her heart were engaged or no.  
In the mean time the Visir went to the Kisler, and showed him Abra's Letter; and pressed him with so much earnestness to procure him admittance in her Appartiment, of which he was the Absolute Master, that at length in despite of all the Hazard which the Eunuch ran, after he had considered the most proper ways to put in Execution so perilous an Attempt, seeing the Visir had but little Beard, he carried him into his Cabinet, ordered him to rub his face and hands with Ethiopian Blacking, and putting him in an Eunuch's Habit, he feigned to make a private Visit in the women's Appartiments, and to that purpose demanded all the Lamps in the Galleries to be put out, and with a Darklanthorn accompanied only with the Visir in disguise, he made as if he looked into other Appartiments in his way, and at length chopped into Abra's, who was just going to undress herself.  
Though Abra might have some apprehension of the Truth, yet seeing the Kisler with a black Eunuch enter at such an unseasonable hour of the Night, her surprise not permitting her to recollect who the Black Eunuch should be, she thought at first that the Chief Minister of the Sultan's Pleasures had been come by his Order to fetch her away, and expose her to his Passion; so that in the sudden Tumult which that surprise had raised in her heart, of which she was not then the Mistress, she swooned away in Sarai's Arms.  
They laid her upon the Bed; and the Kisler commanding the rest of the Slaves to quit the Room, went to work together with the Visir to recover her out of her fainting fit, when Sarai, who held Abra's Head, and took the Visir for one of Kisler's Eunuches, bid him fetch a Gold Bottle of Cordial water, that stood upon the Dressing Table; which the Visir readily did, and at the same time seeing a Billet lying by the Bottle, slipped it into his Bosom. After this Abra recovered her Spirits, and the Kisler understanding the Reason of her swooning gave her to understand in two words how much she was deceived; and then discovering to her who the person was in a habit that so ill became him, he retired with Sarai, to the farther end of the Room, that the two Lovers might have the more liberty to entertain each other.  
How did they power forth their Hearts to one another! What Reciprocal Tendernesses! What Assurances of Fidelity! What Tortures of Minds to contrive which way to arrive at that happy Union which equally they Both desired. At length after a thousand Oaths and Protestations to love each other till death, and Measures taken to prevent her appearing at the Sultaness' Feast, the Kisler admonished 'em, that without extraordinary danger they could not stay any longer.  
The Visir delayed as long as possibly he could the cruel moment of their Separation, but at length taking both Abra's hands, and fixing his Lips upon 'em he took his leave of her and departed. The Kisler carried him back to his Lodging, he quitted his Disguise, embraced the Kisler, and retired to his own Home.  
But under what a strange surprise was the astonished Lover, when opening the Billet which he found upon Abra's Toylet, he found that it came from Prince Soliman; that he was not only in love with Abra, but that he had seen her, that he had wrought himself into such a Confidence with her as to send her Letters, and that which seemed more Cruel to him was, that Abra had told him no thing of it; so that her Silence appeared to him a Mystery that created in him a most furious Jealousy.  
He read the Letter over and over again, and tho' it plainly showed him that Abra had never Corresponded with his Rival's Passion, nevertheless, in regard the Prince had an outward Merit which was taking, that it was certain he had seen her, he attributed that which was only an effect of prudence to the wavering of a shaken Heart.  
Is this, said he, in a terrible Agony of mind, is this the fidelity which the Ingrateful has sworn to me with so many Oaths! If her heart be so impenetrable to the Passion of this Prince, why did she not let me know it! At those words, whatever the fury of jealousy could suggest to a mistrustful Love, and which believed itself to be offended crowded into his thoughts: And he was about to have ruined his Rival by revealing his attempt to the Sultan. But besides that it was his Interest to conceal Abra from him, he had a heart too Great and Generous to do any thing that was base and treacherous. To Impart it to the Kisler, was to create a most terrible Confusion in the Seraglio, and in all the Ottoman Family; and to dissemble his Resentment with Abra, was to favour the Projects and Contrivances of his Rival; to make known his jealousy to her, was to charge her with a piece of Infidelity of which perhaps she might not be guilty; and to accuse himself of a Curiosity, no no less indiscreet than Inconsiderate. At last all these Irresolutions ended in sending to the Kisler to let Sarai have the Liberiy to wait upon him.  
Marama, who had a vigilant eye upon every thing that passed in the Muscovites Appartiment, knew that the Kisler had been there, and not doubting but it was to prepare her to see the Sultan, she was alarmed for the Prince's sake, and restless to know the fate of her Billet she went the next morning to Abra's Appartiment. At what time the secret which she imparted to her of the Kisler's Visit, confirmed her the more in her first Conjectures; and for her better satisfaction, she cunningly dropped into a discourse about Prince Soliman, but finding that Abra returned her no Answer, by which she could apprehend that she had ever seen his Letter, she presently began to think, that it might have lit into the Kisler's hands.  
The Dread of this, constrained her to open her mind to Abra, and frankly to ask her whither she had seen what Soliman had wrote to her. Abra, surprised, and falling into the same Dread, blushed and looked pale, both at the same time; and having assured Marama that she never saw any thing, the Billet was sought for up and down to no purpose, so that the Prince's Witty Procuress being quite overcome with her fears and Grief could not refrain from sending forth a loud Cry, and looking upon Abra with an Eye of Consternation, Ah, Madam said she, Prince Soliman is sacrificed to Mahomet's fury, the Kisler, of whom you say not a word to me, and who came that night to your Appartiment to prepare you for the Passion of his Master, has the Letter without doubt, if you conceal yourself from my Sincerity, you are agreed with the Sultan, and Soliman is ruined; but if the Kisler has got the Letter, and you know nothing of it, you are also ruined as well as the Prince.  
You do me wrong, said Abra, I am not guilty of betraying the Prince, since you know that my silence buried the dangerous attempt he made to see me. As for the Kisler's visit, It hought myself not bound to give any Body an account of it; I have no Correspondence with the Sultan; and therefore if I am ruined, and the Prince too, by the surprise of his Letter, he must impute it to the imprudence of the Person that ventured it. But let happen what will, you will do me a kindness, to dissuade the Prince to desist the putting of me to any farther trouble to no purpose.  
Abra and Marama were under equal Agitatinos' of mind, but the one and the other being persuaded that the Letter had lit into the Kisler's hands, they expected some terrible disorder about it. The rest of their Discourse was no way divertizing; and the Passion she saw Abra in, besides those other Anxieties that were plainly perceptible in her Visage, caused the other presently to imagine, that since the Kisler Agasi's Visit was not upon the Sultan's Account, he was setting some other Important Engine of Love at Work, which rendered Abra so inaccessible to the Prince.  
She retired therefore, but with a Resolution to watch all Abra's Motions so narrowly, that it should be impossible for her not to discover the Correspondence. Abra, on the other side, having called Sarai to her, gave her a full account of all her grievances; she informed her of Prince Soliman's Passion which her prudence had concealed from her, and laid open to her her Disquiet for the loss of the Billet. But at the same time that these discourses put 'em into most dreadful Agonies, their terrors were yet more augmented by the Arrival of a Black Eunuch, who brought Sarai an Order from the Kisler, to attend him at his Appartiment.  
This was only to send her privately to the Visir, who stayed for her, and no sooner saw her, but casting a look full of Fire and Indignation upon her; Very well Sarai, said he, you are then in a confederacy with Abra to betray me. Prince Soliman is in Love with her, he Visits her, he writes to her, and you from whom I expect an Account of all these things, you see me at her Appartiment, and conceal this Infidelity from me.  
Sarai answered the Visir with all the prudence and Modesty that such a nice Justification required: But when Sarai, going about to clear Abra, assured him, that our of her singular discretion, she never had made known to her the Addresses of Prince Soliman, till she came to be disturbed for the loss of the Billet. How! cruel Sarai, said the Visir, what is that thou tell'st me? Did Abra conceal from thee the Prince's love? Had not that Love made some Impression in her heart, would she have ever concealed it from thee? Abra does not yet perhaps correspond with the Prince's Affection, but who can assure me she will not yield at last, since she is so willing to carry it on at the beginning; who shall assure me that her heart does not already begin to waver, since her Silence tells my jealousy what ever I can prognosticate of most Funest and fatal to me?  
Sarai lest nothing omitted that lay in her power to calm a mind that she saw turmoiled with all that the most restless Suspicions, and the most piercing Pains have in 'em of tumultuous and tempestuous. However 'twas impossible, upon the first sight, to reduce him to a perfect Tranquillity. Nevertheless she left him in a Condition, so as to wish that he might be absolutely convinced of Abra's Innocence: He told her, 'twas he himself who had lit upon the Letter, that the Kisler knew nothing of it; and that he was so generous, that tho' he were betrayed, he would not for the satisfaction of his Revenge, make a base and treacherous use of what his Curiosity, perhaps too Indiscreet, had put into his hands.  
Abra was under Mortal fears, when Sarai returned and came to give her an Account of what the Visir had said. But she was almost at her wit's end that he had lit upon Soliman's Letter. So that whatever danger would have befallen the Prince or Her, had the Kisler found the Letter, she would have been more contented rather to have perished, then to have given her Lover any Ground for those Suspicions he had of her.  
Her Grief and Vexation for this Accident caused such a Commotion in her Veins, as cast her into a Violent fever; so that she took her Bed, nor would she suffer Sarai to stir from the Bed side, to the end she might be some Consolation of her Pains, by sharing with her in her Tears.  
In the mean time night was come; and Marama with a wonderful Exactness had a watchful Eye upon every thing that passed in the Muscovites Appartiment, and in regared she durst not confide in any Body but herself, but yet avoided all discovery, she took the Habit of one of her Slaves, and sat upon a Bench not above two or three Paces from Abra's Door.  
The Lamps were not as yet lighted in the Galleries of the Seraglio, and it began already to be so dark, that there was no distinguishing colours, when she saw an Eunuch, who stopping about ten paces from her, clapped with one of his hands upon the other. Marama, who made no question but this was some concerted Signal, did the same; and at the same time the Eunuch coming up to her, Who's there, said he, Sohema? Yes, said Marama. Here then, replied the Eunuch, carry this Letter to Sarai, and at the same time putting the Billet into her Hands, he vanished. On the other side, Marama returned to her Appartiment, and opening the Letter read the following lines.  
The Only One to the Faithless One  
COuld I have thought it possible that I should ever have given you this Name! The more I seek for Terms proper to Express the Excess of my Grief, the fewer can I meet with; and the more I desire to excuse the Infidelity, the less I find you Innocent. 'Tis not the Quality of my Rival that terrifies me, 'tis the little assurance I have of your heart, since you have seen Prince Soliman, and that you have concealed from me, Your Love, your Interview, and his Letter. You will be offended perhaps at my presumption, in taking it off your Toylet, but all things are lawful for a Love so violent and jealous as mine. Would to God you were as Innocent as Sarai would make me believe. She will give ye an Account of my discretion, and thence you may judge, that what ever wounds you give my heart, I shall never cease to love ye.  
Marama did not know the Visir's hand; but discovering by the Letter, that Abra was in Love, and that she was beloved, and that that same Lover had been introduced into her Appartiment by the Kisler himself, she rightly judged that it must needs be a person of the Highest Quality.  
She could not inform Prince Soliman that evening of an Adventure that so nearly concerned him; but the next Morning she failed not to be with him. But it was a double Astonishment to him to understand that he had a Rival, whose Credit extended so far as to give him Admission into the Seraglio; and that it was in the power of that Rival, having his Letter, to incense the Sultan to his Ruin.  
A thousand different thoughts presented themselves all at once to his mind; but none but only such as appeared no less Terrible to threaten his Life then his Love. He knew not the Visir's hand, but Mustapha Cuproli, who arrived about two days before from Chio, of which Island, and of the rest of the Archipelago, he was Bassa, being come to pay him a Visir, He showed him some lines of the Letter, and asked him whether he knew the Hand. As well as my own, replied Cuproli, 'tis the Visir Soliman's: Nor Can any Body know it better, because he was Kiaia to my Brother Cuproli Oglou, when he was Visir; and for that at that time I had great Correspondencies with him.  
The Knowledge of his Rival's Quality redoubled Prince Soliman's Vexation, and his Grief with all. Cuproli was Witty, Ambitious, Bold Intreaguing, Undaunted, a great Captain, and Soliman's Intimate Friend. He had married his Sister to Siaous Bassa, General of the spahis; and in regard that Cuproli had been the Son and Brother of two Visirs, nothing could beat it out of his Head▪ but that that same preferment was due to him; nor was there any one who was advanced to that Dignity, but he became his Mortal Enemy at the same time, and whose downfall he did not wish in hopes of having his Turn.  
These Ambitious thoughts he never concealed from Soliman, and the Prince was so far from condemning 'em, that he flattered 'em, and assisted him under hand, in hopes that if Cuproli should obtain the Chief Ministry of the Empire, he might prove a favourable Support to his Affairs.  
With a mind thus disposed and inflamed with jealousy against the Grand Visir, he carried Cuproli into his Closet, and shutting himself up alone with him, Do you love me so well Cuproli, said He, as that I may rely upon your Fidelity? There is nothing, answered Cuproli, that I would not undertake, to assure ye that I am less my own then I am yours. The Sultan has made choice of a Visir, replied the Prince, and Favour only has exalted Bassa Soliman to a Dignity which is your Due; he is the most Intimate of my Brother's Favourites; but he hates me, and my life is not safe so long as he Governs the Empire; we must find out a way to ruin him in the good Opinion of the Sultan, and that the Dignity wherewith he has honoured him, may prove as fatal to him, as to those that preceded him. Unite you Friends, and Siaous's, to the end they may concur in a Design, which will secure me from a Death which otherwise I certainly foresee, and which will remove the Obstacle to the Fortune you deserve.  
What you say, replied Cuproli, is conformable to the Inclinations of my heart; but 'tis no easy thing to bring this Enterprise to pass: nor is there any way to succeed in it, but by Contrivances managed at a distance. So soon as I have sounded Siaous, I'll give ye an Account what Course is to be followed.  
Soliman thought it sufficient to incense Cuproli with the consideration of his fortune, and the concern he had for the Life of a Prince his friend; and that there was no need of imparting to him the secret of his Amour, which would have only served to have rendered his Proposals more suspected, as proceeding more from Interest.  
Cuproli conferred with Siaous, and they both concluded, that 'twas not possible directly to attack the Visir by any open Attempts, to exclude him from the Grand Seignior's Affection; for he loved him too well, and therefore that would be to ruin themselves; but that it behoved 'em so to order it, during the whole Campaign, as to frustrate all his Designs, and to render all his Undertake so successless, that his Misfortunes might work him into Disgrace. That every thing seemed to favour 'em in this Contrivance, seeing the Visir had proposed Cuproli to Command the Armies in Hungary; for which reason it was that Mahomet had sent for him from Chio; and that for his part he could not be dispensed with, because he Commanded all the spahis, which rendered him absolute Arbitrator of the success of all such Battles as should happen to be fought.  
Things being thus resolved between Siaous and Cuproli, and the time for entering into the Field approaching, the Sultan hastened, and indeed anticipated the Departure of the Visir, and obliged him to be with all speed at Belgrade, that he might issue forth all requisite Orders for drawing the Army together.  
In the mean time the Fever that seized Abra proved to be of long continuance and dangerous. The Visir also, not having received any Answer of the Letter which he had written, began more and more to suspect the worst: He was therefore desirous to be better satisfied by Sarai, who informed him, that never any such Billet was brought to Abra's Appartiment. Upon that the Eunuch was sent for, who affirmed that he gave it to Sohema; but Sohema denying the matter, it was judged that the Letter had been intercepted, and Sarai charged Marama with the Treachery. But because the Visir would not that the Kisler should be informed of Soliman's being in Love with Abra, for fear it should come to the Sultan 's Ear, he thought it sufficient to obtain that Favour from the Master of the Eunuches, that Marama should be removed to an Appartiment out of the way.  
The Kisler also did him the kindness to introduce him a second time into Abra's chamber disguised in a Physician's habit, to the end he might obtain his satisfaction from herself; which absolutely dissipated all his Jealousies, and which much more conduced to the Recovery of her Health, then if he had been a real Artist.  
'Twas the next day after he had received this Satisfaction that the Sultan Commanded him to departed for Belgrade, and to draw together the most powerful Army that possibly he could to oppose the Enemy's Designs and Resolutions, as Fame had given it out, to besiege Buda.  
'Tis well known that the Visir did all he could to persuade the Sultan to go in Person into Hungary, and take upon him the Command of the Army; insomuch that 'twas the wonder of the whole Port, that he should desire the presence of a Person, who would but lessen and eclipse his Power. But it was the effect of Jealousy and his fear, lest Mahomet, during his Absence, should happen to cast his Eyes upon Abra, the Consequences of which might prove fatal to his Love. Whereas the Sultan carrying his Brothers along with him, it would have delivered him from that disquiet which Prince Soliman's Passion caused within him.  
But Mahomet thought it not convenient to hazard his Person, considering the Condition of his Affairs. So that the Visir being obliged to a hasty departure, could not have the pleasure of bidding his dear Muscovite farewel, and therefore instead of taking his personal leave, he was forced to content himself with writing the following Letter to pay her that Homage.  
SOLIMAN Visir to his Dear ABRA.  
A Hasty Order forces my Departure, and I am going to endeavour to render myself as worthy of your Esteem, as I am persuaded of your Love. How tedious does this Campaign seem to me already, and with what Unwillingness should I act, did I not know that you would Love me less, if I had less a Love for Honour: If you keep your word, no Rival will be the better for my Absence. Afford me the Consolation of frequent understanding the Condition of your Heart, and be assured, that nothing shall ever abate the Love of  
Soliman Visir.  
The care for the safe delivery of this Letter, was the last which he took at Adrianople; and being thus departed in order perform his Duty, within a few days after the Sultan removed to Constantinople, with his two Brothers, and all the Train of his Seraglio.  
The End of the First Part.   

Abra-Mulè: OR, THE HISTORY Of the Deposition of MAHOMET iv EMPEROR of the TURKS.  
The Second Part.  
THE Vizir marched long marches directly to Belgrade, and the farther his Marches removed him from her, the more he felt his heart oppressed with the burden of his sighs. What ever Confidence he had in the Assurances that Abra had given him of an inviolable Fidelity, Prince Soliman's Love galled him, and the great difficulty always to conceal that Beauty from the Sultan's Eyes made his Love tremble.  
On the other side Prince Soliman, whose Passion was no less violent than unfortunate, found himself o'er whelmed with an infinite number of threatening Difficulties: He saw that Abra's heart was no way touched with his Love, that it was prepossessed with the Merits of a belov'd Rival; that this Rival was in great Power, and the Favourite of a distrustful Brother, and that the Kisler was deep in his Intrigue, that Marama was become suspected, and for that reason all access to the fair Muscovite was forbid her; that the Resolutions of Siaous and Cuproli would perhaps become useless to him through the tediousness of Execution, that Mahomet might fall in Love with Abra, and in the midst of these Reflections he saw nothing but grounds of Fear and Dispair.  
'Twas at the beginning of May that Mahomet, with all his Court, arrived within sight of Constantinople. The weather was the most lovely in the world, and the Bostangi Bassa had taken care to dress up the pleasant Gardens of the Seraglio, and set 'em out with all the Beauty and Politeness that their Master could desire.  
The Prospect of these Gardens is wonderful to those that come to Constantinople by Water; more especially that same admirable Terrafs, which Achmet caused to be raised for a Walk for the Sultanesses, and which surpasses all the magnificence that can be imagined enchanting the Eyes with the sight of it. To devertise himself with so delicious a Prospect, Mahomet having lain by the Sea side about three Leagues from Constantinople, embarked together with the Sultaness Asseki, in a light Saique, magnificently adorned, and steered by the Bostangi Bassa. The rest of the Women, and Persons belonging to the Court, were distributed into smaller, but very neat Barges. And thus the floating and magnificent Court rowed toward the Haven which is formed by a little Bay, made in the likeness of a Canal, at the foot of the Seraglio.  
They were just entering into it, when a terrible Tempest rising of a sudden caused so great a Disorder among the Barges, and made such a confusion, that there was no longer any Order to be observed. The Sultan's Bark put in first▪ and set him a shore, while the rest confusedly crowding together fell foul one upon another, and one of them which carried the Women had the misfortune to over-set. As for the Seamen they took care for no Body but themselves, leaving the Women to perish▪ when Prince Soliman, who was in the next Bark to that which had miscarried, not only encouraged the Seamen with large promises of Reward, to secure the poor Women in distress, but to enliven 'em by his Example, threw himself into the Water and luckily took one by the Hair, as she was just going to sink, and recovering his own Bark, by the help of his slaves, got her out of the danger.  
The Disorder which this unexpected Accident had caused, the motion of the Waves, the darkness of the gloomy Wether, would not permit the Prince to know at first the Person to whom he had lent his Assistance. But how strangely astonished, How overjoyed! when he understood, that but for him the fair Abra had been swallowed up by the merciless Waves. She was fallen into a Swoon, and whatever they could do, she did not recover her Senses till the Prince was landed, and had got her ashore.  
Then it was that she opened her Eyes, and calling to mind what had befallen her, her first care was to ask for her dear Sarai: The Seamen had had the good luck to save her, and the greatest part of the rest; but Sarai who thought Abra lost, was fallen into fainting Fits, from which she could not recover: However there was a necessity of carrying her to her Mistress let her Condition be what it would, in regard that nothing but her own Eyes could assure her of the Life of so dear a Confident. It would have been Imprudence for Soliman to have troubled her with his Love, considering the condiction she was in, and therefore he thought it sufficient not to quit her till he had caused her, together with Sarai, to be carried into one of the Bostangi's Lodgings, which was opposite to the nearest Gate; from whence the Kisler Agasi, who was informed of the Accident, took care to have her removed to the Appartiment which he had appointed for her.  
This Adventure, which one would have thought should have been favourable to Soliman begat him new Vexations, because that what ever care the Kisler took to stifle the noise of it, the Bostangi, to whose Lodging she was first brought, informed the Bostangi Bachi, and gave him a wonderful description of the Muscovite's Beauty, whose Name the Sultan bade hardly heard of, that that same great Officer, who was deeply concerned in his Master's pleasures, was not only contented to give him a Relation of the Accident, but aggravated with so much Vehemency what he had heard, that the Sultan the same Evening demanded an Account of her from the Kisler Agasi  
The Eunuch, who saw himself upon the brink of the fatal Moment which he had always dreaded, and who kept himself prepared for all Accidents, answered the Sultan, without lessening or magnifying the Sultan's beauty, that she kept her Bed, in so weak a Condition, and brought so low, by the Terror of the Affright into which the danger she had escaped had cast her, that he knew not whether she would live or no; that nothing but Rest for some time could recover her, and that so soon as she should be in a Condition to enjoy the Honour of appearing before his Highness, he would not fail to come and receive his Orders, and yield him Obedience. The Sultan being satisfied with the Kisler's Answer, commanded him to take particular care of her, added two thousand Asper's a day to her former Allowance, and Ordered his chief Physican Sedekias, a Jew, to visit her, and give him an Account of her.  
The Kisler Agasi having warded off this first Blow had the leisure to see Abra, as he did forthwith, under pretence to give her notice of the Sultan's Generosity, but indeed to consult together what Methods were requisite to make herself appear to Sedekias' more sick than she was, and to drill out a counterfeit Distemper, till they could think of some other Intrigue to fend off she Blow: And in the mean time he wrote to the Visir, and gave him a full Account of the Accident, with all its Circumstances.  
'Twas no hard matter to amuse the Sultan for above a Month, and till he received the News, that the Siege of Buda was fully resolved upon in a Council of War which the Emperor held at Neustadt, and that Prince Charles, and the Elector of Bavaria, were upon their march at the head of Fourscore Thousand Men, in order to sit down before the place: That the Governor of the Town, who was a resolute Renegado, had already burnt Pest, that he might have nothing else to do, but to mind the Defence of Buda, and that there was nothing wanting for a vigorous resistance.  
The Emperor's Attempt upon that Place, which bade proved unsuccessful two Years before, the new Fortifications of the Town, the numerous Garrison, the vast Stores of Ammunition and Provision, and the Confidence he had in the Valour of Visir Soliman, who was able to draw together above a hundred Thousand Men to relieve it; all these things were great Assistances to set the Sultan's Heart at rest, and made him give himself up to his Pleasures with as much security, as if he had been reposing in the Arms of a profound Peace. Therefore in regard he daily pressed the Kisler to hasten the the pleasure which be expected from the Muscovite, and it being impossible any longer to fain a continuation of the Sickness, the Eunuch, who found he could no longer delay the presenting her before the Sultan, thought it high time to awaken the Jealousy of the Sultaness Asseki, so that she being privately made acquainted with the Diversion that was preparing to interrupt her Pleasures, all Engines might be set at work to thwart, the new Desires that now inflamed the lustful Mahomet.  
In the mean time, Soliman, who flattered himself that so considerable a piece of Service as he had done the Muscovite, deserved a favourable Acknowledgement of his Love, burned with impatience to give her a Visit: But the familiarity which Marama had with her was broken off, and all that she could learn by means of her Slaves was this, that a long Ague had attended the Accident that befell her, and that she kept her Bed very much, so that there was no coming at her, and all that the crafty Procuress could agitate by her Artifices was to corrupt one of Abra's slaves, and engage her to slide a Letter into her Mistress' hands, yet so as that she should not discover by what hand it came. This Marama make known to Soliman, who unwilling to lose the Opportunity, put Pen to Paper, and gave the Billet to his Confident.  
The Slave whom she had won, and well instructed, discharged her Trust with so much dexterity, that Abra found the Billet in her Bosom, not knowing who had been so bold as to put it there, and not able to withstand her Curiosity, she opened it, and read the following Lines.  
Prince Soliman to the Divine Abra.  
A Lover whose Happiness it was to wrest you from the Jaws of Death, labours under most mortal disquiets, because he can hear nothing of a life more precious to him them his own. What fatal destiny so order it, Divine Abra, that you are as invisible to my Eyes, as your heart is impenetrable to my Love. How happy is the Visir, Madam, and how do I envy the good Fortune of my Rival! He enjoys you, though never so remote, while I am only near you, to feel with so much the more grief the weight of your insensibility. Nevertheless, I adore ye, as little Compassion as you have upon the Pains which you cause me to suffer; and how severe soever you are, you only shall possess a Heart which will ever be at your Devotion, while lives▪  
Prince Soliman.  
Abra owed her life to the Prince, and nothing grieved her more than that she was beholding to him; seeing that her heart being absolutely the Visir's, she could not pay to his Rival all that acknowledgement which he expected for so great a piece a Service. Her acknowledgement therefore went no farther, then only to pity him for throwing away his Affection upon an object that could not admit it. But after she had read a second time that part of the Letter which gave her to understand that the Visirs being in love with her, was not unknown to the Prince, it struck her with a more than extraordinary Grief; and not doubting but it was the letter which had been intercepted in the Gallery, the consideration of that infused into her a Detestation of such a paltry Trick, and that Detestation of the fact, soon turned to a hatred of the Person; for that being persuaded that since the Visir and he both knew themselves to be Rivals, they could not but hate each other, her heart never wavered which side to take. So that Seliman's Billet was so far from moving Abra's heart, that it did but inspire her with hatred, tell than she never had for the Prince, and that she might not undergo the same Reproaches which the Visir had made her upon her first silence, the first time she wrote she sacrificed to his view this Letter from her Rival.  
This was the Posture of Affairs at Constantinople, while other intrigues were in Agitation at Belgrade. Siaous and Cuproli Bassa's, who were the most signalised for their Valour and Conduct, had as I have already said, devoted themselves to serve Prince Soliman's Passion by the ruin of the Visir. Finding therefore that Buda was besieged, and that the Visir had given out Orders for the drawing together a numerous Army, with a design to relieve the place, they resolved by all manner of Artifices to prevent the succour of it, and rather so to order it that the Visir should lose a Battle, then have the Honour of saving it; not questioning but a loss of that importance would be attended with the Downfall, and perhaps the Death of that Minister. Nevertheless the better to conceal their correspondence, and not to endanger both their Heads, at one time, in the hazards which this conspiracy might produce, they thought it convenient that Siaous, who had a great Reputation among the Soldiers should remain in the Army, and that Cuproli, who had accepted the command of the Dardanells, which is an Employment of great Trust, should keep his post there, where he might so much the more effectually make use of his power to detain or divert the Succour and Subsistance of the Armies. On the other side, Prince Charles of Lorraine, being desirous to take all the precautions imaginable that might conduce toward the success of his Enterprise, thought it convenient that Michael Abaffi, Prince of Transilvania, should be constrained to declare himself for the Emperor, to the end the Turks might be deprived of the subsistances which they drew from him as their Tributary; and to the end, that at the same time they might act in the Upper Hungary, and by keeping Tecekly in play, prevent his joining the Ottoman Army.  
The Visir, who foresaw the consequence of these two designs, did two things in hopes to disappoint 'em. In the first place he ordered Sultan Galga and the Bassa, with all speed to unite their forces with Takelis, in order to make a powerful diversion in the Upper Hungary, and at the same time to defend the Passes of Transilvania.  
Siaous began the Execution of his Conspiracy with his thwarting the prudent contrivances of the Visir, and having at the same time engaged the Bassa of Walachia in his intrigue, 'twas no hard matter for the Imperialists to beat the Ottoman Troops that showed themselves upon the frontiers of Transilvania. They made themselves masters of Hermansbourg, forced Abaffi to break with the Turks, and reinforced with his Troops, fell upon the Tartars, forsaken by the Bassa of Walachia, so that by this first blow of Siaous's intreaguing Treachery, the Visir found himself at the beginning of the Campaign deprived of that subsistence he was wont to have out of Transilvania, and upon which he relied; and at the same time bereft of that Advantage which he expected from his projected Diversion in Hungary.  
Prince Charles laid Siege to Buda with Forty Thousand Foot, and Twenty Thousand Horse, Sixty great Pieces of Cannon, and forty Mortars; and Abdi Bassa, the Renegado, left nothing omitted that a prudent, undaunted, and accomplished Governor could do for the preservation of a place that was furnish with a Garrison of Ten Thousand Men, and all things necessary for a long defence.  
On the other side, the Trenches and Attacks were carried on with all the Vigour and all the Art imaginable; the Sallies were frequent and terrible, and it cost the Germans a world of Blood, before they got to the body of the place.  
In the mean time the Grand Visir gave out Orders every way for the rendevouzing an Army sufficient to raise the Siege, and manger all the secret Obstacles that he met with, but of which he knew not the reason, having mustered together an Army which he thought sufficient to decide the fortune of Buda by a Battle, he crossed the Theysse. But they still foundered his purposes with so many new oppositions, that he was no sooner got over the Bridge of Esseck, towards the end of July, but Buda, after a close Siege of six weeks, began to be very much distressed.  
Nevertheless he surmounted all these difficulties, and about the beginning of August advanced within five Leagues of the Lines, and encamped upon the rising Grounds adjoining to the Danaw. Now in regard that Abdi Bosha had sent intelligence, that his frequent Sallies had extremely weakened his Garrison, and promised him to hold out all the rest of the Campaign, provided he might be reinforced with fresh supplies of Men, the Visir commanded the Seraskier to force his way, and put in a Relief of two Thousand Janissaries.  
To this purpose the Seraskier set forward with six Thousand Foot and three Thousand spahis, which made up a body to defend the two Thousand Janissaries. Their intention was to force the Imperialist's Quarter, while Adbi made a Sally upon the Bavarians, and by that means to throw in two Thousand men into the Town. But Siaous having found a way, by means of a Deserter, to inform Prince Charles of all these designs, he sent forth a numerous Body to meet the Enemy without the Lines. The Combat was smart and cruel; the number of the slain on both sides was very great; the Turks no sooner broken, but rallied again, perhaps they would have forced their passage, if the Spabis, whose Officers observed the private motions of Siaous, had not forsaken the Janissaries; so that the Infantry being left alone and attacqned on every side, could no longer defend themselves against fresh Troops that poured in upon 'em, and the Visir not being able to come to a general Decision, among the Mountains where his Enemies lay entrenched, the Seraskier was routed, his Infantry broken, almost all the Janissaries slain, not one being able to get into the place.  
The Visir enraged at this Repulse, and desirous to put all to the venture in order to force the Enemy's lines, called a Council of War; where Siaous, who cunningly carried on his Intrigue, feigned at first to applaud the Visir's Resolution, and threw upon the Seraskier all the blame of the success; but then his own Creatures which he had ready prepared starting contrary Sentiments, supported by reasons that appeared extremely plausible, he turned o' their side, and drew the rest of the Officers after him. Nevertheless, in despite of their Advice, the Visir would follow his own judgement, and got every thing in a readiness to fall upon the Enemy next Morning. But then Siaous raised a kind of Sedition among the spahis, so that the Visir fearing to be set upon himself in the heat of the Tumult, pulled down his Tents and removed three Leagues farther.  
He thought by this means to have calmed their Fury, and proposing the same thing a second time, he saw 'twas impossible to overcome the resistance of the Bassa's. So that all he could do, in the height of his Vexation was, to pull thirty Thousand Ducats out of a little Chest, and tell 'em to two Thousand Janissaries, who for the sake of that sum, primised to lose their lives every man, or to get into the Town.  
They marched in the Night time, seconded by a part of the Army, and fell upon the Quarter of the brandenburgh's and Croates with so much fury, that they made all give ground before 'em, and had not the vigilance of Prince Charles put a stop to it, the Succour had infallibly cut their way through; but he having drawn up his whole Army in Battalia, after a bloody slaughter, the Turks were repulsed, by reason that eight thousand spahis refused to obey the Visir's Orders; so that of two Thousand there were not above four Hundred Janissaries that could force their way over the bodies of the slain into the Town, the rest being all devoured by the Sword.  
But this Disobedience of the spahis remained not unpunished; for the Visir having caused some of the most Mutinous to be emplaed, he called another Council, and told 'em, that he did not call 'em to deliberate, but to show 'em the Sultan's Order, which was, rather to venture all than lose Buda; and that a Moor having swum the River had brought him Letters from Abdi to let him know that he could hold out but a very few days longer.  
Having dismissed this Council, he caused his Army to march, and reapproached the Lines, and having drawn up his Army in Battallia, ready to fall on, he detached a thousand spahis, two thousand Janissaries, and two thousand Tartars to begin a false attaque on the Imperialists side, while he fell upon the Bavarians Quarter with the body of the Army.  
Prince Charles, being well informed of the Visir's design, displayed his Courage, his Wisdom and Experience to a Miracle. The false attack was so violent, and the medley so hot, that the Prince had his Camp Adjutant slain close by him; the besieged also made a vigorous Sally. But Prince Charles had ordered every thing with so much prudence and foresight, that the Turks were repulsed with great loss, at the same time that they who began the false attack were beaten and disperssed. So that the Visir, who at that very moment was about to have fallen upon the Bavarians, found such a Panic fear among his men, because they saw the Count of Schaffemberg's Volant Camp pass the Danaw Bridge, that ' was impossible for him to command the Obedience of the Soldiers; insomuch that he was constrained to retire without making any farther attempt.  
This last Blow put him into a Fury, and therefore discovering that the two Bassa's who commanded the false attack, had not done their duty, he commanded their Heads to be struck off, and to repair his losses, he sent to an Aga, who commanded six thousand Janissaries at Esseck, to join him with all speed; and to other Bassa's he sent Orders to spare him what men they could.  
But while he was preparing for new Efforts, Prince Charles, perceiving the Breaches open and level enough for a general Assault, he stormed the Town in three several places; the Renegat Abdi was killed upon the Breach, and the place carried, and nothing escaped the Sword of the victorious Soldiers, but what the generosity of the Princes could save from their Fury.  
The Visir, at his Wit's end for the loss of so important a place, retired under the Guns of Esseek, and there without passing the Drove, entrenched himself. Prince Charles followed him, but could not force him to a Battle, which would have been a vain thing against a victorious Army. Therefore he kept himself close in his Entrenchments, where he had the misfortune to receive the News of the loss of Segeden, and some other places of less consequence; but at length repassing the Drove in his Return to Belgrade, the Imperialists burned the Bridge of Esleck, and so ended the most glorious of all Prince Charles' Campaigns.  
In the mean time the sad tidings of the loss of Buda, and other places, were carried to Constantinople; which wrought upon the People the full effect that Prince Soliman, Siaous and Cuproli desired. But the Visir was too well fixed in the Sultan's favour, not to find him graciously inclined to hear his justifications; which was the only Consolation left him in the heap of his Afflictions; for that while he lay at Belgrade, he understood by Letters from the Kisler, that the Sultan had seen Abra, and that he was desperately in love with her; nevertheless, that the fair Muscovite was resolved to be constant to him, though Mahomet had ordered her to be removed into the Seraglio of Chalcedon, called the Seraglio of Looking Glasses; however in regard the Sultan did not prosecute his Amours like a Turk, but as a courtly and generous Prince, he did not believe that Mahomet would seek to enjoy her against her will, but that he would make use of his Courtship to win her Affection.  
Let us therefore leave the Visir a while at Belgrade, settling Affairs in the best method he could, and making all the hast his business would permit to return and give the Sultan an Account of a Campaign, the ill success of which he was sure could not be imputed to his ill Conduct; and let us see how things were carried at Constantinople between Abra, Mahomet and Soliman.  
The Sultan, who before he had seen the young Muscovite, but barely upon the relation of the Bostangi Bachi, had placed her by an augmentation of her Pension in the Rank of his Favourites, pressed the Kisler to satisfy his amorous Impatience; so that the Eunuch after long delays, which tended only to give motion to the Jealousy of the Sultaness Asseki, could no longer defer fulfilling the Duty of his Employment; and therefore he told the Sultan that Abra being in perfect health was now in a Condition to appear, and that the next morning she would be walking upon the Sultanesses Terrace.  
The Eunuch however was so crafty, that he would not permit any more than eight or ten to walk along with her, who being every one of 'em exquisite Beauties, he was in hopes that such a dazzle might puzzle the Sultan's heart, and cause an amorous diversion. He also obliged 'em to add to their natural Charms whatever Artifice could procure, while Abra, who had no designs of conquest, appeared with all the carelessness that modesty and decency would permit her.  
However he could not so order it, but that the Sultan found her much more assable than all the rest, who would have been much more willing to have answered his desires. After a turn upon the Terrace, which was only spent in general converse, and in expressing his surprise at the sight of so much Beauty, and his Astonishment that he had not seen nor taken notice of her at her first Entrance into the Seraglio; they walked down into the Garden of Fountains, where a noble Collation was prepared in a Grotto, adorned with Coral and Mother of Pearl, and wherein the Water sported after a thousand delightful manners. After this Entertainment, Mahomet, who had not till then applied himself particularly to the Muscovite, took her from the rest of the Women, who retired, and leading her into a green Arbour, he declared to her those Motions, to which he imagined she would not have testified the least coyness.  
But he was strangely surprised to find in her that coldness and indifferency, which he least expected; however he imputed it to that awe which the Majesty of a Sultan might imprint in her upon the first sight; and therefore being endued with a Noble and Courtly mind, he forbore to press her, in hopes that the pleasures he should receive from the hands of Love, would be infinitely more sweet than those for which he was beholding to his Power and Authority.  
The next morning at the time that Abra risen, the Kisler attended by six Eunuches entered her Chamber, and kneeling with one knee kissed a gold Box enriched with Diamonds, which he held between both his hands, and without speaking a Word set it upon her Toylet, and at the same time the six Eunuches, who had every one a Basket of Gold Filagreene, with a Present in each, set down the six Baskets by Abra, and after a profound Bow retired, leaving the Kisler alone with her. Abra, who understood well enough the meaning of all this Serraglio-Mummerie, could not forbear weeping, and casting a sorrowful Eye vyon the Kisler: Must it then be, dear Agasi, said she, must it then be, that this Evening my heart and the Visir's must receive their death's wound from your hand.  
I betray not, said the Kisler, neither your Love, nor the sincere friendship I have for the Vizir, I only discharge the indispensable Duty of my Employment, wherein if I should fail, I should disable myself from serving ye.  
Ah, what service can you do me, cruel Agasi, replied Abra, when you have once delivered me over to the Sultan. As a slave, replied the Kisler, I own my Obedience to the Sultan, and as a Friend my Service to the Visir, and I fulfil both these Duties, by telling you in favour of his Highness, that if Ambition could tempt ye, and that you could but conform to the Sultan's Love, there would be nothing wanting to the Grandeurs which he has designed you. But if your Love be still more prevalent on your heart then these ambitious Prospects, I must tell you also in his behalf, that you have no more to do but to persist in your Coldness for Mahomet: I know him: he loves to be beholding to his Merit and his Passion, and not to his Power, nor does his Presumption ever call violence to the succour of his lust, he will try always of persuasion to gain your affection, but he will never proceed to constraint; act according to these Instructions, and trust the best Friend the Visir has.  
Ah, dear Agasi, replied Abra, you restore me to Life, and never doubt but I will rather lose it a Thousand times then prove unfaithful to your Friend. I must also acknowledge to you, that since I have heard what you have said to me, 'tis something of a Pleasure to me to see myself beloved by the Sultan, because it affords me a pleasing Opportunity to sacrifice to the Visir all Mahomet's Grandeur. May nothing Extinguish so noble a flame, replied the Kisler; but it will be necessary, Madam, added he, that you read the Sultan's Letter, and that I carry him your Answer. 'Tis in that Box. Abra opened the Box; and found a Letter Written in Purple Characters upon White Taffeta, Embroidered with Gold, and folded up in a Handkerchief of most Delicate Workmanship, where after she had opened it, she read the following Expressions.  
Sultan Mahomet To the Sultaness Abra Mulè. May the Prophet cover ye with all manner of Prosperities.  
MY Pen gives you this August Title, before I have obtained that you should receive it from the Hands of Love. That Love which I have conceived for you is equal to your Beauty, and it is sufficient to tell ye, that since there never was a Beauty ty so accomplished, my Love shall solely act to merit yours; your Coldness tells me that you know the Extent of your Charms, and that they are of a high Value, when they make a Sultan sigh; but my acknowledgement shall no less Esteem the Sight which you shall spare to  
Mahomet Sultan.  
Would to Heaven, said Abra, that Mahomet would be as good as his word, and that he would keep within the Bounds which he prescribes himself. But, added she, casting a wishful look upon the Kisler, is there no way to be dispensed with from writing to him? That would be the way, replied the Kisler to ruin all: Nor dare I look the Sultan in the Face unless I carry him your Answer. Thereupon Abra set Pen to Paper and wrote the following Billet to Mahomet.  
Abra Mulè to Sultan Mahomet.  
AMong so many Slaves who aspire to nothing more than the favours which your Highness is pleased profusely to bestow upon me, why Sir, do you design. 'em for a Heart that is not capable to make a suitable Return? I see the Character of a Virtue so magnanimous dazlingly shining in the Letter wherewith you have honoured me, that I pity your Love for the Unfortunate Choice it has made. Spare me Sir, the sorrow for being ungrateful, and be contented with the most profound Esteem that Womankind can have for a most Generous Monarch, and suffer to be at quiet the Heart of the Insensible  
Abra Mulè.  
The Sultan, who valued himself for being an Artist in the Curiosities of Courtship, found something in this Billet wherewith to flatter himself, that this same first Reluctancy was only an artificial Slight to inflame his Passion so much the more. And therefore he undertook to vanquish it by regular Attacks; and his first care was to conceal from the Sultaness, the Methods which his Love should oblige him to take.  
On the other side Prince Soliman, having received no answer to his Billet, sought all the ways imaginable to see Abra. She was accustomed to walk in a private Garden, which consisted only of a Bowling green, and a Labyrinth of Palisado's. Soliman therefore had screwed himself into the Friendship of one of the Bostangi's that were wont to work there; and by him it was, that he was informed of her frequent walking there.  
The Prince under pretence of a bare Curiosity, made so many Presents and Promises to this old Bostangi, that he consented to furnish him with a Habit of his Companions, and to let him into the Garden after the Hour of third Prayers, provided he hid himself in a nick or hollow Seat which he fitted for him, in the body of one of the Palisado's of the Labyrinth; assuring him that that was the part of the Garden which Abra most usually frequented.  
This contrivance was put in execution to Soliman's wish: Abra failed not to come, and after she had taken a Turn in the Bowling-Green, she entered into the centre of the Ladyrinth, where she sat down, together with her Confident, upon a Bank of Turf, which adjoined to the Receptacle of the Fountain.  
She had received the Evening before a very tender Letter from the Sultan, and fearing least at length he should come to exert his Love like a Tyrant, she chose this time to condole her Misfortunes in Sarai's Company, and to impart her Sorrows to her for the ill success of the Visir.  
No sooner were they sat down, but Abra, continuing the Discourse which they had had before, Be you judge, dear Sarai, said she, whether it be possible for a Woman to be exposed to greater Misfortunes. 'Tis not anough that Heaven has destmed me to Love the Visir to that degree that nothing can be more beloved; that this Love was not inspired into me till I was sacrificed to dismal Slavery; that the Visir, notwithstanding his Valour and Conduct has miscarried in all his Erterprises; that his Misfortunes expose him to the Murmurs of the People, and perhaps to the Sultan's frowns; but that still to the heap of my Misfortunes and my Sorrows for his ill success, I must be yet more afflicted with the troublesome Passion of Prince Soliman; and then to the accomplishment of my Afflictions, the Sultan has seen me, and is in Love with me.  
What was then Prince Soliman's astonishment and grief may readily be conjectured. He found his Love disarmed, the Visir beloved, and as a surplusage of Afflictions he perceived he had a new and more dangerous Rival, the Sultan himself. While his heart lay drowned in these deep inundations of Dispair and Grief, Sarai pursuing the Discourse, Heaven usually reserves, said she, her greatest-Misfortunes for the greatest Souls. But what reason have you to make such loud Complaints? You love, and are beloved; may not the Visir's Courage recover his Misfortunes; the Sultan loves him, and excuses him already: And what need Prince Soliman disturb ye, considering how little you esteem his love, and his want of power to molest ye: As for the Sultan, you know he scorns to make any Attempts upon your heart, but by ways of Love. And therefore never abandon yourself to the agitations of a Despair, that proceeds rather from Imagination then any real Grounds.  
Ah! dear Sarai, my Passion is mounted to that degree, that if the Visir cannot find a means to release me from this slavery, or that the Sultan's Lust transports him to the least violence, a Dagger shall punish my heart for all the Vexations it has put me to. Alas! Into what seas of Grief will it not plunge the Visir? What Jealousies and Fears will overwhelm him, when he understands that Mahomet is his Rival, he that was so vehemently jealous of Prince Soliman? Nevertheless, said Sarai, I never perceived that you had the least spark of love for that Prince. Who I, replied Abra, I knew the worth of Prince Soliman, I could not blame his Passion for me; I admired the excess of it, that caused him to expose his head, that he might discover it to me; besides that I am so unfortunate to owe my Life to his preservation; all this might prevail something o'er a heart that was not prepossessed. But mine is not my own, nothing can deprive his Rival of it; and seeing then they must hate each other, seeing they know themselves to be Rivals judge thou how hateful that Prince must be to me, and how careful I ought to be to avoid his company.  
How extraordinary soever Soliman's trouble might be, this Confession however left him some room to flatter his hopes, and imagining that the Opportunity might be favourable to some new Effort, he was about to show himself from the Palisado, when a great noise gave him to understand that the Sultan was approaching. The Sultan took a turn or two, and being informed that Abra was in the Labyrinth, thither he went: She risen up, but Mahomet engaged her to reseat herself upon a Bank of Turfs, so near to Soliman, that he might be almost heard to breath. Mahomet sat down by her, and they had a long and courtly Conference together, which terminated on the Sultan's part only in amorous Importunities, and in respectful and modest denials on Abra's side. At length the Sultan risen up, gave his hand to the fair Muscovite, and having led her to the Garden door, he went off through another with the Bostangi Bassa, to communicate some Intelligence to him which he had received.  
It may be easily imagined in what condition Prince Soliman was, and what various Agitations turmoiled his heart. How! said he, have I two Rivals at one time? One of which is beloved, and the other has all the freedom imaginable to declare his Passion, and is able to make himself happy when ever he pleases to make use of his Power, while she is insensible of my flames, and it is my Misfortune that I cannot meet with an Opportunity to make known my noble fires. No— 'tis impossible for me to continue under such a sultry Violence, nor to suffer the felicity of two Rivals both at one time.  
He was then labouring under the Tumults of his thoughts, and left his station possessed with as much fury as Love: but in regard the Bostangi, who had placed him in his convenience was without, he was obliged to stay till the dusk of the Evening began to confound the sight, and render the Objects of it less discernible, and then he made a shift to eseape; but he could not do it so dextrously, but one of the Bostangi Bassa's Eunuches perceived that a Man had hid himself in the Lybyrinth while the Sultan was there, of which the Sultan was informed; and though it could not be discovered who the Person was who had ventured to that degree, yet in regard that Love is always ingenious to afflict itself, it soon came into Mahomet's head, that Abra's coldness to him must needs be the effect of some mysterious Love; that his assiduity to get into the Labyrinth was the Effect of that Love, that it must be some unknown Lover that had been so daring, and never suspecting the Prince his Brother, he resolved to prevent the Consequences of such an Intrigue, and to that purpose ordered the Kisler the same day to carry Abra over the straight of Chalcedon, and shut her up in the Seraglio of Looking-glasses.  
The Eunuch could not avoyed the putting this Order in Execution, tho' it grieved him to the Soul, and broke all the measures he had taken to serve the Visir: for that being obliged to remain in the Grand Seraglio near Mahomet's Person, the Seraglio of Looking-Glasses was governed by the Kisler Kiasi, who is a kind of Deputy to the Kisler Agasi; and because not being able to go thither, but when he was ordered by the Sultan to attend him, Abra was now destitute of the Consolation and Advice which he was wont to give her. So that all the good he could do her was only to place such Slaves about her as she desired, and Eunuches for whose fidelity he could be answerable.  
In the mean time Constantinople was all in an Uproar, by reason of the continual bad Tidings that followed one another of the Misfortunes of the Campaign; and Siaous's and Cuproli's Friends spread abroad Reports so disadvantageous to the Visir's Conduct, that he was become the Object of the People's Aversion and Scorn.  
But when the Prince understood by Marama, that the Sultan had removed Abra, and put her into the Seraglio of Chalcedon, and had caused her to take upon her the name of Sultaness, his jealousy made him believe that she had Surrender'd to the Love of this new Rival, and his despair not being able to imagine any other way to enjoy her, but by making himself Master of his Brother's Throne, from that very Moment he took a Resolution to pull down his Brother, and to take the Advantage of the Conjuncture to dispose the exasperated minds of the People to Revolt.  
His Mysterious applying himself to the study of the Alcoran, had made him take particular care always to insinuate himself into the Friendship of the Mufti's, who are the Sovereign Pontiffs of the Law, and to be in a Continual familiarity with the Imans, who are the Preachers that hold forth in the Mosques, and with all the Mahometan Clergy; by which means he had gained their Hearts by the affected shows of a superstitious Devotion, and by the Liberality of his Alms of which he made them the trusties; so that 'twas no hard thing for him to incense those senseless Ecclesiastics, and put 'em upon railing publicly against the Authors of all the Disorders in the Empire, under pretence of Preaching Repentance to the People.  
From the Abuse of this false Zeal, it was that the first Inclinations to Revolt, 'slid themselves into Malcontented Breasts. But Mischief was yet a great way off, and therefore before they could fall upon the Person of the Sultan, there was a necessity of ruining the Visir, who was his Zealous Favourite, and who possessed the hearts of the Principal Officers of the Empire.  
The Prince was therefore persuaded that the loss of Buda, that the victorious Progresses of the Christians, even to the Bridge of Esseck, and that the Murmurs of the People against his Chief Minister, would wean the Sultan's Affection from him. But he was surprised when he saw the Visir arrived at Constantinople, with a Writing signed by all the Principal Officers of the Army, and Siaous himself, who was forced to swim with the stream, for fear of Discovering his Intentions, and that this Writing was an Encomium of the Visir's Conduct, prudence and Courage, and which justified him in every particular that could be Objected against him.  
The Sultan, who had always had a kindness for him, was overjoyed that his Soldiers gave his Favourite so advantageous a Testimony: He received him with open Arms; and ordered him to hasten more powerful Preparations, that he might the next Campaign repair the Misfortunes which were not to be imputed to any defect in Him.  
Prince Soliman, who began to buckle the Spurs of his Ambition with the Impetuous desires of his Love, and who by the loss of one of his Rivals, was desirous to hasten the downfall of the other, finding that whatever Siaous and Cuproli had done during the Campaign proved fruitless, laboured under unimaginable Vexations. Siaous and Cuproli were arrived at Constantinople, and Prince Soliman so ordered it, as to meet 'em both in a place, whither he came to 'em in disguise.  
Presently the Prince told 'em, that after what they had done the last Campaign, things were reduced to that Extremity, that either they must ruin the Vizir, or expect all three to perish by the Bowstring; that there was no time to be lost; that since the Loss of Buda, of such Importance to the Empire, wrought no effect upon the Sultan, but that his Minion was still as much in favour as ever, there was but one way to succeed, which was to make themselves absolute Masters of the Army; that they should cause 'em to revolt in the midst of the Campaign, and oblige 'em to demand the Head of the Grand Visir, and of all his principle Friends; Seeing then, that the Sultan afraid of himself, would be forced to sacrifice him to his own Security; and that then the Seal of the Empire could fall into no other hands, but either Siaous's or Cuprolis.  
The two Bassa's acknowledged that the Prince spoke nothing but what was reason, however they did not yet penetrate into all his Designs; and Soliman, like a crafty Politician, was desirous to render 'em still more Guilty before he imparted to 'em the last Crime they were to commit. All this while they followed the Interests of their own Ambition, and as the first steps they had made engaged them to push forward the ruin of the Visir, or else patiently to submit to their own destruction, they promised Soliman to go on with the project, of which he had given the draught.  
The favourable reception which the Sultan gave the Visir, and the augmentation of his Power and his Credit did not abate his deadly Afflictions, to find that his Master was his formidable Rival, in whose power it was to make him happy. Nor was the Kisler any longer able to give him the Opportunities of seeing his beloved Mistress. All that he could do, was cunningly to convey his Billets to her by Saria's means, and the fidelity of the Eunuches which he had placed about her. So that the Visir having no other consolation left, desired his friend to get the following Letter delivered to her.  
The Unfortunate to his dear Unfortunate.  
BY what Cruelty of Fate, my Dear Abra, must I be the most unhappy of your Lovers, when I am the most be loved! You refuse the Sultan's Vows, but he has the pleasure of seeing you when he pleases; and if he be not the most happy, yet he may be so when ever he has a mind to it. Prince Soliman may comfort himself for your indifferency, with the pleasure that he had to save your life; only the unfortunate Visir, as much beloved as he is, can neither see you, nor pay you any service. The Sultan continues his favours to me. Alas! Let him take 'em from me, and restore me the Blessing of which he has deprived me; all his Empire is not worth a sigh from your Lips. If you love me still, you will judge of my Sorrows by your own Grief; they are deadly, if Heaven does not furnish me with some Expedient to break your Chains.  
The Kisler caused this Letter to be faithfully delivered: In the mean time the Sultan, maugre all the Vigilancy of the jealous Sultaness, found out pretences to go to Chalcedon. For the murmurs of the People, and the insolent Harangues of the Imans, afforded him enough; and therefore feigning not to be safe in Constantinople, he frequently crossed the Straight, and to give the more colour to his Pretences, he many time held the Divan in the Seraglio of Looking-Glasses, and then he ordered the Visir to attend him.  
One Evening that he went thither with his chief Ministers, and that they two were just entering into his Cabinet to prepare what was fit to be propounded the next day to the Divan, they were amazed to hear the loud Cries and Skreekes of Women quite through the Galleries, at what time they were informed that a sudden Fire was broken forth in the Body of the Building, and that the Flames besieged the principal appartiment on every side, which was the appartiment where the Sultan had placed his fair Muscovite; so that hastening thither, together with the Visir and their Train, they found the Conflagration so violent, that neither Slaves nor Eunuches durst venture through to secure the Women who were in extreme Danger.  
The Sultan's Voice and his Orders encouraged 'em, but the Visir understanding which was Abra's Appartiment, was the first that flew to her Aid; and having sought and found her alone in a Swoon in her Chamber, he took her in his Arms, and seeing that the violence of the Flames had seized that part at which he entered, he made his may through Clouds of Smoke, and through another Gallery which led to an Appartiment a good way from the Fire.  
The Sultan, who neither saw the Visir return, nor knew what was become of Abra, thought her lost, and displayed his Sorrow at a more than usual Rate; some Women that were saved could tell no tidings of her; neither could Sarai her self make any Discovery, who was not with her Mistress when the Fire broke out.  
In the mean time, Abra being carried to the furthest end of that Appartiment, which the Tumult had quite Emptied, recovered her Spirits, and found herself in the Visir's Arms. However she was still in an Amazement, nor could she apprehend the meaning of such a surprising Adventure. But the Visir, who was not willing to lose so precious an Opportunity, threw himself at her Feet, and Embracing her with no less Ardour than Respect; Ah, Madam, said he, you behold once more your Unfortunate Lover; Heaven could not remove the Obstacles that rendered you invisible, but by exposing your life to the most dreadful of all Dangers; nothing but a miraculous accident could afford me this opportunity of seeing you. Lucky Danger! Favourable Meeting! But may I know, Madam, whither your heart be as constant as mine: I was afraid of a Rival who had no power; but Fate has found me out another who can do whatever he pleases; have I no cause to fear neither his Love, nor his Power?  
His Empire, answered Abra, may be absolute over every thing else, but o'er my heart. But as for my heart, I preserve it for yourself till Death, and I will lose a thousand Lives, before I prove unfaithful to you. But, Sir, will you suffer me to perish in his Fetters, are they so invincible that you cannot release me?  
Ah, Madam, replied the Visir, there is not any Reason, or danger that can hinder me from doing it, if it be your desire, and this is the most favourable opportunity in the world if you can resolve to make use of it. The whole Seraglio is in an upproar, the Sultan will believe ye lost in the Flames, stay but a minute here, and I'll go fetch one of my white Eunuches Habits, and set ye out of the Seraglio, through the door of one of the Gardens, of which I have the Key; for the rest never trouble yourself, Love, Prudence and Opportunities will direct us.  
How odd and dangerous soever this proposal appeared, such was the cruel Condition that Abra was in, that without any more ado she accepted the offer. The Visir was soon furnished with the Habit he desired, and having disguised her, he let her out at the Garden Door, and delivered her into the charge of one of his most faithful Eunuches, who not knowing who she was, but taking her for some new Eunuch that had been presented to his Master, put her into a little Fisher Boat with a disign to land her in Constantinople.  
The Visir, having thus entrusted his Treasure to the Fidelity of that Slave, went to attend the Sultan, a thousand accidents presenting themselves for pretences to excuse his Absence. Mahomet was at his wit's end; though the Fire was quite Extinguished, by leaving the Flames to feed upon the grand Appartiment, while they stopped it from going any farther, by pulling down some building between that and the rest of the Seraglio; but search was made for the Muscovite in every corner, so that at length the Sultan gave her over for lost; and that which confirmed him the more in that Opinion was, that after the Fire was put out, they found the remainders of five or six Bodies.  
In the mean time, Abra's Vessel rowed directly to Constantinople by the bright Rays of the Moon, and she flattered herself that she should now soon enjoy the only Person whom she Loved above all the World; but there is nothing more to be wondered at then the Fantastic changes of Fortune.  
The News of the Fire in the Seraglio of Looking-Glasses was brought to the chief Sultaness about Midnight; therefore because she kept the chiefest part of her Treasure there, and for that she knew besides that the Sultan was gone thither, these two disturbing reasons obliged her to send for the Kisler, and take her Saick immediately, with orders to cross the Water to Chalcedon. But no sooner had she put to Sea, but by the dawning light of day, they discovered a little Fisher Boat making for the European shore; upon which the Sultaness who was willing to hear News, constrained the Visir's slave to come aboard her Vessel. Presently she asked him several Questions, and finding him tripping in his Answers, she sent for the White Eunuch, with whom he said he was entrusted.  
No sooner was he come into the Cabin in Disguise, but the Kisler, who accompanied the Sultaness knew Abra notwithstanding her disguise; and the Asseki, charmed with the Beauty of the Eunuch, declared that she would keep him to attend upon her. But the Kisler being a man of a cunning, sharp and present Wit, and quickly conceiving that Abra had made her escape by some contrivance of the Visirs, he knew that if the Sultaness should carry her back to Chalcedon, 'twould be the ruin of both the two Lovers, and therefore never hesitating what course to take, he put all the People out of the Cabin, excepting the White Eunuch, and that done, the Kesler taking Abra by the hand, and squeezing it in his own to prevent surprise, he looked upon the Sultaness, and putting the Question to her as it were in jest, may a man rely upon ye, Madam, should he trust ye with a secret which you would be glad to know? I had thought, replied the Sultaness you had known me better than to doubt it. Upon your word then, Madam, I must put so much confidence in you, as to let you understand that this fair Eunuch is the lovely Muscovite with whom the Sultan is so desperately in love, but who no less obstinately refuses to correspond with his Amour. I find she has taken her opportunity in the confusion caused by the Fire to get away. Would you, Madam, carry her back to Mahomet whom she avoids, and who without question hunts after her in a thousand disquiets of mind? My duty indeed requires that I should seize her, and deliver her back into his hands; but I am too much your friend to take that course. 'Tis for you, Madam, to do as you think sitting; and if you will take the Advice of a Slave, that is solely devoted to your interests, I would not have ye let go this happy opportunity that Heaven has put into your hands; you may at once deliver yourself from the fears of so amiable a Rivaless, and at the same time release her from all her Pains. Bury this important secret in a profound silence, and content yourself with allowing her a safe sanctuary from the Sultan's Passion, which at length perhaps may cool and return to its first object.  
The Asseki, confirmed by Abra's confession, who instead of revealing to her the secret of the Visir, gave her to understand, that she had of her own head made her escape from the Sultan, embraced her, and promised her all manner of favour and security, and by concert with the Kisler, sent her to Constantinople, to a place where she was absolute Mistress, and where she kept her concealed under an unknown Name. However she pursued her first intentions, went to Chalcedon, and returned with the Sultan, who was more perplexed for the loss of Abra, then for all his other misfortunes. On the other side, the Kisler informed the Visir of what had befallen the Muscovite, which pierced him to the Soul, finding that he had lost her again, tho' he thought himself a competent gainer in having released her from slavery to the Sultan.  
During these amorous motions, the preparations for the Campaign were carried on might and main, and the Visir left nothing omitted that lay in his Power to put himself into such a condition that he might repair his losses; while Siaous and Cuproli prepared the minds of the Soldiers every where for mutiny, instilling it into their heads, neither to have any confidence in the Grand Visir, which is the Soul of obedience, nor any esteem for him, which preserves respect.  
The Visir stayed but a while at Constantinople, for the Sultan obliged him to hasten away for Belgrade; and this it was that occasioned the report, as if he never had been there. His first care was to repair the Bridge of Esseck, notwithstanding those difficulties which appeared unsurmountable; and soon after he put himself at the head of his Army.  
On the other side Prince Charles, and the Duke of Bavaria, having rendezvoused together above Sixty Thousand Men, advanced at the head of 'em, and resolved to decide the Fate of the Campaign by a pitched Battle, and to that purpose crossed the Drove. But the Vizir, who had been more speedy in his march then they expected, came and Encamped with Fourscore Thousand men in view of the Christian Army; and in regard he understood perfectly well how to make choice of his Ground, he had got the Drove upon the right, a Forest upon his left, Esseck in his rear, and an entrenchment in front, fortified with a double Moat forty foot wide, and a double Rank of Palisado's: So that he forced Prince Charles, after some Rude Encounters, to retreat for want of Provision. But he made his Retreat in so good Order, that he repassed the Drove in view of the Enemy without the least disturbance, and Encamped within a league of Mohatz.  
The Visir, flattered with this first Advantage, and desirous to make the best of it, past the Drove, and being posted between Esseck and Darda, sent out numerous detachments to harrass the Christian Army. As for his own Camp, he had entrenched it with a Palisadoed moat which secured his Front, he had Esseck in his rear, from whence he was plentifully supplied with Provisions, the Danaw, and Impassable Morasses secured his Right Wing, and his Left was covered with a Wood, by the side of which lay a long Morass; so that it was a difficult thing for Prince Charles to venture the forcing his Camp without hazarding the loss of his whole Army.  
Therefore he made use of all manner of stratagems and motions, to try whether he could draw the Visir from his Post, and bring him to a General Battle. But he, who found himself better supplied with Provisions then the Imperialists, sought to ruin 'em by frequent Skirmishes, and therefore keeping close in his Camp, sent out Parties continually to disturb the Enemy's Foragers, or to attack 'em in their Movements.  
But all this while he was ignorant of what Siaous was plotting in his Camp, in Conjunction with Bassa Yeghen, a Man Daring, of a Turbulent and Seditious Spirit and the Visir's particular Enemy, insolent in his language, but Eloquent, gifted in persuasion, and who by his familiar deportment had gained great Credit with the Soldiery. Their Design was to force the Visir to a Battle, and so to order their Affairs that he might lose it, that it might serve for a pretence for the Soldiers to revolt.  
All things being thus concluded, upon the 12th. of August Prince Charles, feigning a Retreat passed a narrow Lane full of Hedges that covered his March, and gave orders for his Army to embattel in the Plain of Siclos. The Visir having Intelligence of this General motion of the Christian Army, sent away some considerable Bodies to follow 'em, and fall upon their Rear commanded by the Elector of Bavaria. The Bassa of Arabia also was ordered with one part of the Army to second the Detachments. But Siaous who judged the Opportunity proper for his design, presently put the Soldiers into such a fit of Murmuring, as if their General had deprived 'em of a certain Victory, that the Visir finding that the Bassa acting beyond his Orders, marched on with the Detachments, and not being able to restrain the Heat of the Soldiers, drew his whole Army out of their Entrenchments, and advanced directly toward the Impe●ialists in Battle array.  
The Vanguard of the Turks overtook the Rear of the Christians, before they had passed the narrow Lane; so that the whole stress of the first Charge fell upon the Elector of Bavaria. However, having gained the rising Ground designed him for his Post, in despite of all the Enemy's Efforts, he stood firm, and Prince Charles reinforced him with the second Line of the Vanguard, to prevent the Enemies Charging him either in Flank or Rear.  
The Turks charged him with great fury, and he withstood 'em with no less prudence then undaunted Bravery, and venturing in the hottest of the Enemies firing, he was wounded in the left hand with a Musket Bullet.  
In the mean time Prince Charles, who was advanced a great way farther, thought it convenient to draw the Enemy into the Plain, where they might have more Room for Action, and secure one another with more Freedom. This caused the Elector to quit his Ground, tho' Skirmishing all the while, so that his Rearguard made the Left Wing equal with the Right, which Prince Charles Commanded.  
Presently the whole Army of the Turks appeared in Battle array, and the Princes who had now what they wished for charged 'em on all sides: The Insidels also fell on with great Fury, and at first had some considerable Advantage, having routed the Croates, and almost cut in pieces Comercy's Regiment; and the success of the Banttel had been very dubious, had not the spahis by the contrivance and treachery of Siaous, Yeghen, and the Bassa of Arabia, left the Janissaries that fought against the Duke of Bavaria, who taking his advantage of that disorder, fell upon the Infantry opposite to him with an extraordinary fury. However, the Janissaries instead of being broken, retired in good order as far as their Entrenchments, where at first they fell a firing at a prodigious rate, but not being seconded by the Horse, they betook themselves to flight, and this Rout of the Turks Right Wing striking a Terror into the Left, the Disorder became General, the whole Army was denfeated, and the Camp. taken and pilladged; at what time the Vizir retreating of Esseck, and having rallied his scattered Troops, found he had lost above Twenty thousand Men.  
Siaous would not let this Opportunity slip, which he had taken so much pains to bring about; so that the Mutiny began with the Quarrels between the spahis and the Janissaries; but they being soon reunited, vented all their fury in Murmurs against the Visir; who not understanding whence the mischief proceeded, thought to have appeased 'em, by distributing among 'em all the Money he had. But the poison was too well prepared, and had spread itself too far; so that the minds of the Soldiers being more and more envenomed, their Clamours augmented, while the Imperialists prosecuting their Victory, made themselves Masters of Esseck, and the Passage of Drove. Nor was Siaous contented with stirring up the Soldiers to murmur, but incensing them to an open Revolt, put himself at the Head of 'em, and Yeghen had the boldness to enter the Visir's Tent, and demand in the Name of the Army the Seals of the Empire, and Mahomet's Standard, declaring, they were resolved no longer to obey him.  
This Insolence producing a great Uproar, the Visir made his escape, got by water to Belgrade, and thence posted to Constantinople, to give the Sultan an Account of the Campaign, Siaous's Treacheries, and the Condition of the Army.  
The Visir having thus withdrawn himself, Siaous became Master of the Army, and deputed six Officers to demand, in the Name of the Soldiers, the Heads of the Vizir, and of all his principal Friends, of which they drew up a List. The Vizir being informed of these furious Proceed, sent the Seals of the Empire to the Grand Teffterdar, for him to deliver 'em into the Sultan's hands, and with only one slave stole privately into Constantinople, and went to the Kiamakan's House, where the Kisler came to him, and assured him, in the Sultan's Name, that neither his Misfortunes, nor the Mutinies of the Soldiers, had shaken his Favour; that he loved him; that he pitied him, and that he was not only resolved to see him, but to defend him against the fury of the Revolters.  
However, nothstanding all the weight of these Misfortunes with which the Vizer seemed to be overwhelmed, he had still his thoughts fixed upon the fair Muscovite.  
We gave an Account, how some few days before the departurte of the Vizir for Belgrade, she fell into the Hands of the Sultaness Asseki; but the Vizir was so far from being able to get to her in the place, where she was kept concealed, and under another Name, that he could hardly procure the delivery of a Letter to her; nor had he received any from her, though the Kisler had had credit enough to keep Sarai about her still.  
However he understood by a Eunuch, that the Sultan knew very well that she was not burnt in the fire, and that he had private Intelligence that she had made her escape out of the Seraglio of Looking-Glasses; nevertheless that he knew not who had contributed to her escape, and that all the Diligence he had used to find out the Place of her Retirement had proved fruitless. That Prince Soliman had been better informed; for that Marama who held her Correspondencies every where, had dived into the Secret out of a Conceit she had that her escape was a stroke of the Sultaness' jealousy, and that upon that discovery she was negotiatiog with the Sultaness Asseki; with whom she had entrusted the secret of Prince Soliman's Love, and had put it into her head that the only way to deprive Mahomet of her was to deliver her up to his Brother.  
This drove the Visir to his Wit's end, to see the utter Ruin of his Fortune and his Love both at one time: However the Kisler carried him privately to the Sultan, who received him tenderly, and assured him not only of the continuance of his favour, but of his Protection against the Fury of his Enemies.  
In the mean time the Commanders from the Army arrived, and Mutaferaka, the chief of 'em, an intimate friend of Siaous's, after he had privately conferred with Soliman hautily demanded an Audience, which the Sultan would fain have refused him.  
He declared, that the Soldiers, having found that the Visir Soliman was not able to command 'em, would no longer obey him, that they demanded him Head, and the Heads of the Kaymakan Redgeb, the Grand Teftarder, the Kisler Agasi, with the heads of several Others, of which he delivered a List in writing: That while they received his Highness' Orders they had made choice of Siaous for their Captain, a person of accomplished Experience, and Zeal for the good of the Empire; that they hoped the Sultan would approve their Choice, and would send him the Ensigns of an Employment which he merited by his Services and his Fidelity.  
But this Insolence of the Army which went about to give Laws to their Sovereign, shook not Mahomet's Resolutions as yet, for he thought by distributing Money among the Soldiers to appease their fury; and they who either shared in his growing Troubles, or feared the Consequences of the mutiny, readily contributed to the raising a considerable Summ. The Sultaness Asseki gave two Thousand Purses, of five hundred Crowns each; the Kisler Agasi furnished almost as much, and others proportionably: But the minds of the Soldiers were too much exasperated; they took the Money indeed, but it was all thrown away to no purpose.  
The Mutiny therefore growing more outrageous, and Siaous and Yeghen being Masters of the Army, and in Constantinople, where Soliman caused the Directors of the Mosques to act their Parts, and the Sultan remaining Obstinate, and resolving rather to lose all, then deliver up the Visir to the Mercy of his Enemies, bethought himself of taking another Course; which was to degrade the Visir and the Caimacan, and to confer the Employment of the first upon Siaous, and upon Cuproli his Brother in Law the place which the latter held; imagining that the Ambition of the Ringleaders being satisfied, the tumults would cease.  
With these hopes, he sent for Cuproli from the Dardanells, and made him Caimacan, instead of Redgeb, and dispatched away the Seal of the Empire and Mahoment's Standared to Siaous; but he declared he would never consent to the death of Officers whom he esteemed both Loyal and faithful.  
So soon as Cuproli saw himself advanced to the second place in the Empire, he had a private Conference with Soliman, and then it was that the Prince descovered to him his design to make himself Master of the Empire, which till then he had always kept concealed in his Breast. Now in regard it was the Interest of this New Caimacan and Siaous, who found the power in their hands to attempt what they pleased, to correspond with the ambitious Designs of Prince Soliman, he found Cuproli inclined to second his desires, and undertook for Siaous, that he should concur with 'em in the Accomplishment of their wishes.  
Things being in this Confusion, and Mahomet still resolved not to abandon the Visir to the Rage of the mutinous Soldiers, had caused him to resolve upon a safe Course, which was to withdraw himself from the impetuosity of their Hatred, by retiring to the Prontiers of Persia, and there to stay till Affairs might recover a new face, and furnish him with a favourable Opportunity to regain his Reputation.  
This was concluded between 'em, and ready to have been put in Execution: But the Visir, who in the midst of his Misfortunes could not forget his Dearest Abra, desired the Kisler that he would engage himself to procure the delivery of but one more short Letter to her, and afford that last comfort to a Friend whom perhaps he might never see again.  
The Kisler moved with compassion of his Friends overwhelming Misfortunes, would not refuse him that last favour; so that being entrusted with the Letter, he gave it into the hands of an Eunuch, who was wont to carry others of the same nature to Sarai. But a most cruel Destiny, and unexpected accident hindered it from falling into the hands of that beloved Confident. For the Eunuch gave the Letter to another slave, who seeing Sarai in the arms of Death, and believing there was some secret in the Gold Box, wherein the Letter was enclosed, her curiosity made her open it, and understanding by the reading of it, that the unknown person whom she served was that Abra, for whose loss the Sultan was so extremely troubled, she thought the discovery of such a secret would raise her Fortune, and therefore being introduced into Mahomet's presence, she delivered the Box into his Hands; at what time the Sultan having opened it, read the following words.  
Soliman Visir to the Faithful Abra.  
HEaven has overwhelmed me with misfortunes; it only raised me to the highest Pinnacle of Honour to precipitate me thence. But, my dear Abra, all my Afflictions would signify little to me in comparison of the loss of your heart. If you continue faithful to the most unfortunate of Men, or if you withstand the Sultan's Power, from whose Embraces I have so luckily wrested ye, and to the troublesome Passion of that other Rival, who as is reported, is labouring to purchase ye from the Sultaness, I shall look upon it as the Consolation of all my Misfortunes. I am going a long journey, and I carry along with me, the dear Picture which you gave me. I kiss it a thousand times a day; and speak to it what I cannot speak to yourself. Love me, pity me, and be assured, that the last sigh of faithful Soliman will be for faithful Abra.  
Never was surprise to be compared with that of the Sultan's; and never did so violent a Fury seize the heart of a Lover enraged, and a Master betrayed. He made a considerable present to the slave, and being exactly informed of every thing, and understanding that the Letter passed through the Kisler's hand, he bid her be silent, and so dismissed her.  
No sooner was he alone by himself, but with a fuming Indignation sparkling in his Eyes, and looking a second time upon the Letter, the Traitors shall die, cried he, with a sigh of high displeasure. How! a Favourite, upon whom I have heaped my Favours, is it he that rends from my Bosom the Person whom I adore! An Infamous Eunuch, who my Bounty has raised from the Chains of Thraldom to excessive Power and Wealth betrays me in my own Seraglio, and in concert together both the one and the other make me their sport, while I hazard the loss of my Diadem to protect 'em from the fury of their Enemies. 'Tis too hard on my side, but they shall perish both.  
Afterwards he racked his Brains, to penetrate who might be his other Rival. He knew the Sultaness could easily resolve him, but he was loath to mention the matter to her. But at length after the first commotions of his Fury were over, he gave Orders to seize the Visir, the Kisler Agasi, and all the rest whom the Soldiers demanded, as Victims to the tranquillity of the Empire.  
He ordered Abra's Picture to be brought him, which was found about the Visir in a little Case, and which he wore upon his heart; the sight of the Picture redoubled his inward Vexations, and the fire of his Anger o'er ruling his Friendship which he thought abused by the foulest of all acts, Ingratitude, he resolved the Visirs Ruin. Nevertheless he was willing that the victim which he offered to his Love, should be looked upon as an oblation sacrificed to the public good. To which purpose calling a Divan, wherein the new Caimacan Cuproli presided, he decreed the Death of the Visir, the Kisler Agasi, and of all the rest whose Heads the Soldiers demanded, who under Yeghen, followed by Siaous, were marching with all speed toward Constantinople.  
This decree was put in Execution the same day upon the Visir; and the Sultan would needs have him tortured, to make him discover who was that other Lover mentioned in his Letter; but his generosity would not permit him to make any Confession: So that after he had suffered the Rack, he was strangled in the Seraglio, and his Head sent to the Soldiers; and to give 'em entire satisfaction he ordered the Kisler Agasi, the Caimacan Redgeb, the Grand Teftardar, and all the other unfortunate Objects of their Fury to be delivered up in Chains to their Fury, who no sooner appeared before the Army, but they were cut in pieces with a more than barbarous Inhumanity.  
The Army had already past through Adrianople, and were still advancing, while the Sultan who thought he had fully satisfied 'em by this Bloody Sacrifice, was desirous that his Love should in some measure reap the Fruit of what he had done; to which purpose the New Agasi took away Abra from the Sultaness, and shut her up again in the Seraglio of Chalcedon, whither he went to Visit her, showed her her Picture, together with the Visir's last Letter, and upbraided her with all the severest Reproaches that she could expect from an enraged Sultan, and a furious Lover.  
During this cruel Catastrophe, Prince Soliman saw his ambitious Aims advancing toward their Accomplishment. The Visir, and all his principle Friends, most Loyal to the Sultan, were now cut off. Siaous and Cuproli possessed the two chiefest employments in the Empire, the Old Musti was changed, and a new one put in by Cuproli, and the Imans still heated the People, and supplied 'em with fuel to feed the Flames of premeditated Revolt; but all this while he missed the satisfaction of his Love, in regard the Sultan having broken all his private Measures with the Sultaness, had got Abra into his own Possession; so that he saw no other way to wrest her from his Embraces, but by ascending his Throne, and making himself Lord of his Seraglio.  
Every day brought some new Persons over to his Party, and Cuproli, who by virtue of his employment presided in the Divan, in the Visir's Absence had gained by his Artifices the new Kisler Agasi, whose Assistance was very necessary in case there should be any Tumult in the Seraglio.  
The Prince therefore finding Abra forced away by the Sultan into a new Captivity, was afraid lest he should make use of violence to procure the Satisfaction of his Love; and this it was which engaged him to precipitate the Execution of his Design, for which he had all along taken his Measures with Cuproli, who was well convinced that Siaous and he enjoyed their Employments only by virtue of that Force which had wrested the Grant of 'em from the Sultan, and that they could not preserve 'em but by placing Soliman upon the Throne.  
By this time the Army that still marched forward under Yeghen, was not above two days March from Constantinople, and Siaous followed with the Main Body, and the better to conceal his Design, feigned a Quarrel with him, but their common Aim was the Deposal of a Master whom they had offended, and who could never have a real Affection for 'em. As for Cuproli, he had made all the Provision that could be for the execution of the Enterprise, as well in the Serraglios and his preparations of the Mufti.  
Soliman therefore, for the sake of his Amour, desirous to hasten the Business, went to Cuproli, laid open to him the bottom of his Heart, and his Passion for Abra, and gave him moreover to understand, that in placing him upon the Throne they fulfilled the Importunities of his ambition, but did nothing for the Repose of his Mind, which depended upon the Enjoyment of Abra, and preventing Mahomet's Passion from offering Vielence to her.  
She was in the Seraglio of Looking-Glasses deeply plunged in sorrow and Affliction, nor could she reflect upon the unhappy Fate of her dear Visir, strangled by the order of his Rival, in whose power she was, without abandoning herself to all that Rage and Despair could inspire of most Dismal and Mournful. She had seen her Picture in the Sultan's Hands, which he had not showed her, had it not been to triumph the more barbarously over the Ruin of his Rival. By that, and by the Visir's letter, she knew that the Discovery of his Love was the only cause of his death and her Grief being so much the more bitter, by reason that death had deprived her of her dear Confident, nothing but only the Resolution she had taken to revenge herself upon Mahomet, had put a stop to the dire Effects of her own Despair.  
In the mean time, the new Kisler Agasi having Engaged himself in Soliman's interests, and being informed of his Amours, offered himself to speak to the Muscovite in his behalf, and after he had discoursed her in private, he found her highly incensed against Mahomet; and therefore to excite her the more willingly to correspond with Solimons' Passion, he thought it proper to impart to her the inclinations of the great Officers of the Empire, to set Soliman upon the Throne.  
Upon this Discovery, Abra who breathed nothing but Revenge, put the Kisler in some hopes, that so soon as Prince Soliman had satisfied her Revenge upon the Sultan's barbarous Cruelty, she would be more inclined to favour his Passion.  
The Kisler gave Prince Soliman an account of this seeming Compliance; and that was enough to make him seek all ways to hasten that Revolution, which he thought the only means to arrive at Abra's Heart. In the mean time he deemed it necessary to assure her, by a Billet under his hand, that there was nothing which he would not willingly undertake, or endeavour to bring to pass, so he might deserve her Love.  
Now in regard that Mahomet had placed a very faithful Slave to attend upon Abra, that she might have a watchful Eye upon all her Actions, this Billet fell unhappily into the Sultan's Hands, who by that means found out who was that same formidable Rival whom the Visir never would confess; so that he no sooner had read it, but without any deliberation he determined a speedy Revenge.  
'Twas Night, and therefore only attended with two of his Guards, he took his Arms, and flew to Soliman's Appartiment with a furious Precipitancy, in hopes to sacrifice him with his own hand to the atonement of his Rage.  
Nor is there any question but he had succeeded in his Project, had not Cuprilo and the Kisler Agasi, by taking true measures to prevent whatever might disappoint their designs, and by giving forth all necessary Orders to secure the life of him they looked upon already as their Sovereign, frustrated the Effects of his Fury.  
The Eunuches who guarded Soliman, defended the first door of his Appartiment, but Mahomet himself who fell upon 'em with more than ordinary fury, after he had killed one and wounded two more, had forced the first door, and without doubt had beat down the second, had not the Kisler Agasi hastened to the noise, with a Company of armed Eunuches, who fell upon Mahomet's Guards, and constrained 'em to stand upon their own defence.  
The Sultan enraged to see the Agasi in Arms against his Person, laid about him with his Scimitar upon the Eunuches, well seconded by his Guards, so that the Combat was beginning to be somewhat bloody, at what time the Bostangi Bachi arrived with a good number of armed Bostangi's. Mahomet thinking he had been come to his assistance, ordered him to seize the Kisler, and to put all the Eunuches to the Sword; but the Bostangi, who was one of Soliman's Creatures, looking fiercely upon the Sultan, We no longer Acknowledge your Commands, said he, Your Life depends upon that Brother, who you are going basely to Assassinate. The Sultan was so surprised at these insolent Words, that he stood like a Statue, while his Guards betaking themselves to flight, left him in the Power of the Bostangi, who caused his Attendants to surround him, and after he had seized and disarmed him, carried him to his Appartiment, where he was locked up under a strong Guard.  
In the mean time the Kisler carried the Princes into the old Seraglio, and Cuproli having assembled the Mufti, together with the Principal Officers in Mosque of Sta Sophia before day, there the Mahometan Pontiff signed the Fetfa for the Deposal of Mahomet.  
This first Ceremony being over, Cuproli repaired to the old Seraglio, caused Soliman to be placed upon a kind of a Throne, and having proclaimed him Sultan, was the first himself that paid him Homage. After this, they referred it to his pleasure to dispose of Mahomet's Destiny, who thought it sufficient to shut him up during the Remainder of his days.  
His Ambition being thus satisfied, the only thing he applied his Mind to next, was to gratify his Love. To which purpose he commanded the Kisler Agasi to repair with all speed to Chalcedon, and bring away the Sultaness Abra; whom he declared his Asseki, and to deliver her a Letter which he wrote to her in the following Terms.  
Sultan Soliman to the Sultaness Asseki, Abra-Mulè.  
YOU are revenged, fair Abra, Mahomet is punished, and I am upon the Throne; the Only reason I attempted to ascend it, was only to make you the Mistress of my Empire, as you are of my heart. Come then and satisfy the Impatience of my Love, and enjoy all the Grandeurs you deserve. Your Word is a sufficient Pledge for the Pleasures I expect from you, and for that which you ought to take, in being the Only Sultaness of  
Sultan Soliman.  
Abra joyfully received the news which the Kisler brought her, that she was revenged upon Mahomet; but in regard she was not ignorant that the Visir's Misfortunss had been the Effect of a Conspiracy between Siaous, Cuproli, and Soliman, and consequently that the Prince was the real Author of his death, she abhorred him with the utmost Hatred that an Injured heart could be capable of.  
Therefore she listened very heedfully to the Kisler, read Soliman's Letter, and then fixing her Eyes upon the Eunuch, Never, said she, did Woman Love a man with that Fervency and Fidelity as I loved the Visir; for his sake I disdained and contemned all the Advantages wherewith Mahomet could flatter my Ambition; nor have I less despised Prince Soliman's vehement Passion. Mahomet put to death my Lover and I am revenged, but the Disaster that befell that Lover was the Workman ship of Sultan Soliman's artifices, and I have not a Heart so base and treacherous to seek my Revenge upon his person, by foul and ignominious means, with which a counterfeit Affection might furnish me, so that not being able to punish him any other way, then by wresting myself from the Embraces of his Passion, you shall tell him how I corresponded with his Love. And having pronounced these last words; she drew forth a dagger which she held concealed under her upper Garment, and stabbing herself through the heart fell dead at the Kisler's feet.  
Such was the dismal Catastrophe of Abra-Mulè's Amours; so fatal to the Ottoman Empire, and to three Unfortunate Lovers. The Visir, whom she loved, was strangled; Mahomet lost his Empire, and Soliman fell into such a terrible fit of Melancholy and dozing Vexation, that he only languished upon the Throne in a profound and continual Pensiveness, the cause of which few persons knew; and at length, falling into a kind of insensibility of every Thing, excess of inward Grief, that never left him, brought him to his end.  
The END.