ROYAL LOVES: OR, THE Unhappy Prince. A NOVEL.  
Written in French by a Person of Quality.  
Now rendered into English.  
LONDON: Printed for Robert Sollers, at the King's Arms and Bible in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1680.   

TO THE READER.  
THE Title-page to a Book, methinks, looks much-what like the Text before a Sermon, and, in its way, serves to the same end and purpose; viz. to let you know, in part, what is most probable to be your ensuing Entertainment: And (that I may keep faithful to the Metaphor I have now assumed) the Epistle that generally follows it, resembles that pretty kind of running Praeludium, which has such a jantee way with it of bringing you to the full body of the Discourse: So that should I have taken other reverse measures, and brought you clownishly to the close Treat, without this or the like previous Amusement, you'd have thought me fanatical, and perhaps then for ever I must have lain under your indignation.  
But I have so great a passion for your Content, that I would readily sacrifice the utmost of my endeavours to be pleasing and agreeable to you; and though peradventure I may not be so happy as to gain all your Favours, yet on the other hand I cannot imagine the Stars will run so counter to me, but that I shall meet with some of your kind Regards.  
To write you here a Panegyric on the History, and the great Adventures you shall meet with, may possibly give you a suspicion that the thing itself has but little worth in it; and therefore it stood in need of some such Varnish, to make it appear with the better colour & gloss: but as Tamburlaine was one of the greatest Princes upon Earth, it cannot be well supposed that any would dare to mention hi● name, without a great occasion of bringing in uncommon Accidents, such as were worthy to be joined to so illustrious a Character; and I will presume to say thus much of it: That the Subject before you, is of the nature of Beauty; which, though it may not have the power to effect an absolute Captivation, yet you will not be able to defend yourself from frequent and strange Surprises.  
I will not venture at more; for it is altogether unnecessary, in regard you would not believe me only upon my bare assertion, should I speak the highest things I could in its favour: nor can I blame you; for I should be loath to have my own judgement so in Fetters, as to be determined and concluded by any others private caprich of fancy: for (according to the old Proverb) My Mind to me a Kingdom is. Read then, and proportionably to your own satisfactions, entertain kind thoughts of  
Your most humble Servant.   

ROYAL LOVES: OR, The unhappy Prince. A NOVEL.  
WIth a great deal of Reason is Fortune made to stand upon a Globe, which is under an Impossibility of having any solid steadiness, being the first Principle of all Revolutions. We are furnished from Antiquity with several notable Examples of her capricious humour: The Rise of Monarchies, the Elevation of mean and obscure Persons to places of the highest rank and dignity; the downfall of an infinite number of Kings, and the ruin of Empires, are as so many signal Instances of her inconstancy. But because we will not absolutely rely upon those of the past distant Ages for the Justification of this Truth, we will make our Reflections upon Accidents less remote, and see in the misfortunes of Bajazet, with what Sovereignty she at pleasure does dispose of the Destiny of Mankind.  
Bajazet was of the Illustrious Blood of Ottoman; his Birth had exalted him to the Empire of the Turks, and his Valour was so bright, that it dazzled the Glory of those four great Princes who preceded him in it: He had almost brought Europe under his submission, as he had made all Asia tremble. His Laws were revered in the most remarkable Parts of the Earth; and never had any man acquired to himself a Renown more glorious.  
Tamburlaine, Emperor of the Tartars, put a stop to the course of this prosperity: he was of a low and obscure birth, but having with violence through the succour of Arms placed himself upon a Throne, which others with trembling ascended, his happy destiny surmounted that of Bajazet's; he triumphed over him, and at that time when he looked upon Europe and Asia, as easy conquests he desolated his Country, reduced his Family to a peregrine condition, and carried him Captive to Samarkand, which was Tamberlain's most beloved City, as being built by him. The Wife and Daughter of Bajazet were partakers of his misfortune; the former of whom died a little while after, but the Daughter, being, either more courageous or of a more robust and resolute Spirit, was better able to resist the attaques of Fortune, and became the admiration of the Tartars, as she had been of all those who had seen her in her Father's Palace.  
Themir, Tamberlain's Eldest Son, who was one of the first, felt the effect of this admiration: he had an absolute Empire over his Father's mind, and had abused it by his ill conduct, even to the banishing of Adanaxus from the Court, otherwise called the Prince of Tanaïs', his younger Brother; and he had improved this affection to a thousand cruelties against the unfortunate Bajazet: it was He, who had sacrificed in his sight the eldest and dearest of his Sons, ruined the famous City Sebastia, took away the Princess Asteria his Daughter from the Palace of Bursa, and without any pity abandoned all the Empire of that miserable Prince, to the violence of the Tartars.  
But Love punished him for all those Inhumanities', and his heart, as barbarous as it was, was sensible of the Charms of the fair Asteria, so that much against his will he did learn the use of sighs; and though they were prevented with too great outrages from being favourably regarded, yet his Rage to see himself despised by the generous, but resolute Princess, threw him into the last extremity of desperation.  
He was violent and furious in his Temper; and though he had been capable of Sentimenrs more moderate, yet the Princess was inspired with no mean and inconsiderable ones. He spoke as soon as he perceived himself pressed to it, but it was with so much boldness, that Asteria found she was coming under a new persecution, more afflictive and tormenting to her, than all the other: she answered the passionate Declarations of Themir with a disdainful, flerceness, which many times set him in such a heat and fury that cannot be expressed but with a great deal of difficulty. He imagined that Bajazet, whose courage was not rebated by his misfortunes, did fortify this aversion, and by a new piece of Injustice, removing him from his Daughter, he was shut up in a prison at a good distance from the Palace, and Asteria kept in her Apartment with a greater Guard than she had been before.  
This procedure gave an accession to the Princess' hatred, and enraged her more than ever, which made Themir become more furious. He went to visit Bajazet in his Prison, and endeavoured sometimes by entreaties, and sometimes by threaten, to bring him to a compliance; but having made an unprofitable attempt, he strait had recourse to the blind Friendship of his Father, and discovering his passion to him, and the fatal consequences that might attend it, he did so effectually prevail upon his tenderness, that he brought him to that pass of undertaking all things that might be for his satisfaction.  
He went then directly to Asteria's Apartment, with a resolution not to spare any means likely to make her flexible. He made her offers, entreaties, and from thence fell to reproaches, and still finding her constant in despising his gifts and injuries, he became so furious, that he thought he was obliged in point of honour to conquer her; and told her with an absolute imperious tone, that if she was resolved to persevere in her Obstinacy, he knew very well how to make her repent of it in the person of her Father.  
The Princess at those words was struck with a mortal terror; Do not invelope Bajazet in a Resistance where he is not at all concerned, said she to him, pouring down a torrent of tears; the Just refusal I make to marry the murderer of Ortobulus my Brother was inspired into me by my own resentments, which were every way legitimate, and if it merits any punishment, only I ought to suffer it. Leave the days of Bajazet to their Natural end, they cannot last very long, and no ways trouble the tranquillity of your Son; you ought to exercise your vengeance upon my life only, and it is against me that every thing proves an earnest solliciter to you. No, no, replied Tamburlaine, I know better how to choose my victims, and since for my Son's misfortunes, his days are fastened unto yours, you shall live, but you shall live to see that Father, who is so dear to you, expire in sufferings, and you shall never boast without a punishment, the having scorned the Alliance of the greatest Prince in the Earth. He went out as he ended those words; and the overwhelmed Princess fell into a dreadful swoon in the arms of her Woman, who had much ado to recover her from that weakness.  
The cruelty of Tamburlaine did not only consist in words, Asteria had order the next day to go to Bajazet's prison, and to dispose him for death, or for a marriage of her with Themir. Fatal Choice! for a Daughter who did so dearly love her Father, and detest that unworthy Lover! the sight of Bajazet had never been permitted her since their Separation; she had often demanded it, and would have given the best part of her blood to obtain it; but the fatal condition that was put upon it rendered it then insupportable to her, she resused to go, and resolved to do herself some violence, but at last considering that that Obstinacy might possibly hasten her Father's death, she obeyed, and suffered herself to be conducted, all overwhelmed in tears, to the place where they were to bring her; she found there the Turkish Emperor so changed that she received his embraces without being able to speak a word. Bajazet asked her what return had obliged the Tyrant to grant her to come and see him: the last of all his cruelties, Signior, said Asteria to him; the severest effect of his Injustices; in a word, what ever he has in the world that can be most tormenting to us. She then explained to him in a few words the sad mystery of her visit, and taking away from him all hope that Tamberlan could ever be made flexible, she gave him fully to know that there was nothing between a shameful and cruel death, and the marriage that was so much desired. Bajazet could not forbear sighing very often during her Discourse; and sometimes casting upon the Princess such looks as were full of pity, and then again throwing most fierce and disdainful Ones on those Tartars, who by the Emperor's order had waited on her. Tamberlane then must judge of my Sentiments by his own, said he to her, if he persuades himself that I am capable of betraying the blood and the memory of my Son, in joining you to his executioner: No, my dear Ortobulus, added he, lifting up his watery eyes to Heaven, your shade shall never blush at an action so little worthy him who had given you a Being: you judge well, Daughter, pursued he, to think that mine is hateful to me, and that in the deplorable estate to which I am reduced, I shall not make a great sacrifice to the Manes of Ortobulus, and to your repose, though I should abandon it to the cruelty of my Enemies: but, my Asteria, I will tell you more, and those Ministers of the horrid Acts of Tamburlaine, that do attend you, may report it to him; that though this Marriage might restore me to my highest Fortune, and I might hope from it for felicities as tranquil and untroubled as my destiny has been unconstant, yet faithful to the remembrance of my Son, and jealous of a glory, which all the prosperities of the Tartars cannot obscure, I would resist what he exacts from us with the same courage you see me now refuse it. Thus then, Signior, interrupted the Princess, you are resolved for a death that will expose me to all that can be imagined most bloody and dismal. Think, that for my despair, I may be able to survive you: that the weakness of my Sex does neither permit me to make such escapes, or go about such undertake, as if I had the strength of the contrary: that I shall always remain Tamberlain's Captive, and the victim of Themir's violences: and that through pity you own this conversation to the perils wherewith I am threatened: Think yourself, replied the Emperor, that you will become the companion of all my miseries; if you force me to prolong those days which the cruelty of my fate hath rendered but too long already: think, that after the loss of an Empire, and liberty, there is more weakness in supporting one's disgraces, than in seeing one's self sacrificed to them; and instead of exciting an unworthy pity which my glory would utterly disallow, do you remember you have your extraction from the most illustrious blood in the World, and so look upon my death as an action that will crown all the former ones of my life: I shall leave you Brothers, whom possibly the bounty of Heaven will regard and pity. My death will suffice to appease its anger, and from it you may receive assistances that will secure you from falling under those evils which so much disquiet you. Ah! Signior, answered Asteria, let us then jointly expect these Succours, for I will have none of them, if you do not likewise partake with me: Will you then marry Themir? Interrupted the Emperor coldly, will you resolve that the Ottoman shade shall reproach you for the shameful mingling the blood of Tamburlaine with his? I would have you live, Signior, cried the Princess out very grievously, or else I would die with you: At these words her Spirits failed her, which obliged them to carry her back to the Palace, without having made any conclusion: and though Bajazet was sensibly touched at her grief, yet did he see her go away without changing his Resolution in the least, and contenting himself in putting up vows to Heaven for her, he waited his death with that undauntedness, which is only the partage of great and generous Souls.  
Those, who had been witnesses of Asteria's visit, made a very faithful relation of it to Tamburlaine and Themir, without ever forgetting the obstinacy or the fierceness of Bajazet's answers. But yet they made some further efforts upon him, and the Princess, to obtain of them the consent they desired; but at last perceiving the more they were pressed to it, they more they shown their stubborness and resolution, the Ottoman Prince was taken from his Prison, and conducted to the place were Criminals were commonly put to death. All those Tartars, that made any profession of virtue, detested that action; Axalla, Tamberlain's favourite, and one who was greatly renowned for his extraordinary valour, used his utmost endeavours to prevent it; but the Prince had a greater influence upon his Father's spirit, and the unfortunate Bajazet was unworthily conducted to the Scaffold were he was condemned to lose his head.  
But how considerable soever the person was, yet was not this Imperial Majesty suffered to have any respect: he went to the fatal place, as if he was the meanest of all Mankind, without any thing to distinguish him besides his resolution, and an Air of greatness which it was impossible for all his miseries to despoil him of: he was sorrowful, but withal sedate; and if his eyes had not in them all that vigour and sprightliness as before, they lost not their vivacity from any prospect of fear or weakness. The houses were desolate, for all people, flocked to the place of execution; And that confusion having obliged a cavalier, who was just then arrived at Samarkand, to demand the cause of it of some Inhabitants; he no sooner understood it, but spurring on his Horse with all the violence imaginable to the Scaffold, he road through the throng, and came up close to it just in that particle of time, as they were going to put a period to the days of one of the greatest men in the World. His cries and name suspended that fatal blow: Hold, cried he out, it is Adanaxus, it is the son of Tamburlaine, who commands it of you. This Prince was dearly beloved by the Tartars, and they with an extreme affliction resented his absence; so that they solemnised his return with shouts of joy, which for some little time he gave way to; and then prayed the Soldiers, who assisted at that action, to stay till he had seen the Emperor before they proceeded any further. He ran to the Palace, where he gave an agreeable surprise, to those whom his absence had afflicted, and particularly to Axalla, who always had a most passionate love for him.  
Notwithstanding the difference Tamburlaine had put between his two Sons, the merit of Adanaxus disputed in his breast against the natural inclination he had for Themir, and his unexpected sight caused in him so sensible a joy, that it forced him to express it in a shower of Tears; the Prince received his embraces upon his knees, and continuing in this submissive posture, Signior, said he to him, you see again at your feet a rash man, who assured of your goodness is come to demand of you a favour of the last importance. 'Tis not the pardon of an absence which you have not approved, I am willing to be punished for it; but, Signior, it is the life of Bajazet, for which I am here upon my knees an humble solicitor of your generosity. 'Tis an Enemy of a famous name and of a blood that is illustrious, who is no longer in a condition to prove fatal to you, and whose precipitated loss may be a blemish to your reputation. Think Seignor, how happy it is to be in an estate to do favours of this kind to persons who have reigned gloriously, and who are depressed merely through the capriciousness of fortune. Consider, that of all virtues in Monarches, Clemency is the most glorious, and deserving praise: And at the name of a Son who conjures you to it, signalise yours in the favours of a great, though now a wretched Emperor.  
Those words of the Prince of Tanais did not less astonish Tamburlaine, than his return had affected him; he could not refrain commending within his breast the generosity of his Son; but the importance of his demand balanced this motion, and made him remain unresolved. If it was any thing persuasive to him, to see prostrate at his feet a Son worthy of esteem, and the uncertainty where he had passed his life rendered him yet more dear, yet Bajazet contemning and rebellious to his designs, kept up his indignation. You ought to let me resent the pleasure of seeing you again, said he to the Prince, without intermixing it with the trouble to demand of me a kindness which it is impossible for me to grant you: Bajazet has but too much deserved that death to which he is condemned, he is an insolent Captive, whose annoyance nothing is capable to maderate, who never speaks my name but with contempt, and who would not spare my life, if he had over it that power which I have over his. I have for a long time endured it, but now my patience is quite worn out, and there are so many reasons which authorise what I do, that I should be blamed of imprudence or weakness, should I act otherwise. Whatsoever reasons you are pleased to allege for his ruin, Signior, Answered Adanaxus, you yet have more to pardon him; The Example you will leave to posterity, the pleasure that comes from a good action, and your own glory, which would be deeply concerned in causing so great a Prince to fall, whom his severe destiny has delivered into your hands, aught to triumph over all those other considerations. Think, Signior, that Bajazet has not long since seen what you are at present, yet the fate of Arms is capricious, it may do again for him what it has done for you; and if you are out of a prospect of fearing; you have Sons, who may one day meet with Conquerors, and who may implore the same grace I now demand: Do not you then give an Example of inhumanity, but make some reflection upon the uncertainty of what future times may prove.  
Tamburlaine began to stagger at the pressing Reasons of the young Prince of Tanaïs', he revolved in his mind the circumstances of Bajazet's fate, what he had been, what he was, and considering that he himself was risen from a mean fortune to one of the most glorious conditions of life, and that he might by some return or other fall into the last of miseries, even that in which he saw his Enemy. You have conquered me, Prince, said he to his Son, the tenderness I have for you carries me above my resentment, and in a day that Heaven sends me a Son which I have lamented, it is just I grant you something may testify how acknowledging I am: Let Bajazet live, I am willing to consent to it, but my Son, you must endeavour to overcome his pride, and make, if possible, an unjust Princess compliant, whom the condition of a Captive, my entreaties, my offers, the love and submissions of Themir, have not been able to get her consent to marry him, and if you are as sensible of my satisfaction as I am of yours, order it so that the consent of Bajazet to this marriage, be the reward of that life you render to him. Adanaxus understood by that discourse, that Themir's love for Asteria was the cause of that cruelty that Tamburlaine was going to commit, and overjoyed that it was revealed to him, he made what hast he could to prevent its being effected.  
He got himself upon the scaffold, where Bajazet with an unshaken constancy did wait his doom. He cut the Rope that tied that Prince his hands, and saluting him with as much respect as if Bajazet had been upon the Ottoman Throne. Receive, Signior, said he to him, this service from a man, who happy as he esteems himself in rendering it to you, would not at the price of all his blood but have done it, and who would give a thousand lives such as his if he had them, to make you forget the necessity that obliged him to give you so shameful a mark of that esteem and considetation he has for you.  
Adanaxus had a charming Mien, and delivered his words with an action so tender and generous, that Bajazet was more enamoured with his sight than with that life he had conserved to him. He regarded him with all the attention possible to be given to a discourse so extraordinary, and as if his misfortune had not wrought any alteration upon his spirit. Although my life be given me upon condition, said he to him, and by it I prolong those evils which I should be glad to put a period to yet I receive it from you without a difficulty, and the condition in which I am, does not keep me from being sensible of this obligation, the transcendent virtue you discover does already interess me in what concerns you, and I receive no small consolation in that I have furnished you with a means of giving such remarkable proofs, of it. Let us go, Prince, pursued he, holding out his hand to him, let us return from the Scaffold to the Prison, and there wait for the last decrees of heaven: You shall see me again, Asteria, added he, drying up some tears, which the remembrance of that Princess drew from his eyes, you shall see me again, if that tender love of yours for a miserable Father, has not made it fatal to you.  
Whilst the people by their cries were applauding the generosity of Adanaxus and the safety of Bajazet, he was reconducted to his prison, and the Prince of Tanaïs' having given orders for all things that might sweeten it to him, returned to the Palace. He there met with Themir, who complemented him, but with so much coldness and indifference, that one might visibly observe in it the remains of that old hatred that had obliged Adanaxus to leave Tartary. He was extremely troubled to find him still so implacable, but as he did not intent to make a long stay at Samarkand, being called elsewhere by powerful reasons, he resolved for some time to bear with the injustices of his Brother; and after he had spent part of the Evening with Tamburlaine, he withdrew to his Apartment with Axalla, in a transport of joy, that he had relieved Bajazet from so ignominious a death.  
As soon as they were without witnesses, they began to speak to one another in their usualway of an open freedom: There had continually been between them a very strict bond of friendship, and though Axalla's age was already advanced, he was of such a sweet and obliging temper, that persons of all Ages were infinitely taken with his company, and he was not less charming in his conversation, than was his valour to be feared when ever he came into the Field. Adanaxus asked him a thousand questions, both about the war, and indeed every thing else he thought himself ignorant of; Axalla gave him a particular account of all things, and struck him with a horror for the inhuman actions of Themir, especially for the death of young Ortobulus, whom with his own hand he had cruelly murdered, after a battle where that young Prince had done immortal actions, and from whence he went out so wounded, that he might have expected the succour of a generous Enemy, with a great deal of more reason than the death he had received.  
Adanaxus was enraged at that cruel piece of barbarity, but passing from discourses of war to those of love, Axalla who had a most infinite respect for Asteria, by having sometimes the privilege of seeing her, gave a most noble Character to Adanaxus of all those charms that rendered her adorable. She had so many, and they were so advantageously represented by Axalla, that he was surprised not to find in the Prince the least motion of curiosity, and blamed him for his too great indifference for Ladies. You deceive yourself, Axalla, replied the Prince of Tanais, sighing as he spoke, that Sex has too great an Empire over me, and my heart could speak to you more justly than any tongue, of the sensible proof I have made of it. 'Tis neither any contempt nor any fear of Asteria's charms, that keeps me from having a curiosity to see them: I honour beauty wherever I see it, and am too much prevented by another object, to have any fear of that of the Princess, but I am not willing to present before her the Son of a man who within this hour would have robbed her of her Father's life, as also the brother of him that murdered Ortobulus. I will, if possible, during that little stay I shall make at Samarkand, act with some profit for his repose, and endeavour before I see her, by my services to efface whatsoever the names of Tartar, of the Son of Tamburlaine, and of the Brother of Themir might have, that is detestable to her. What Signior, said Axalla, are you in pain whilst you continue here, that you talk of your removal? and have you given us a sense of the joy of your return, only that we should have the greater grief to think of your departure? When you shall have heard the reasons of it, replied Adanaxus, you will confess they are not unlawful, but that it is necessary for my repose to go from Samarkand. You know Signior, replied Axalla, the passionate interest I have taken all my life for your concerns, and I am in an earnest impatience to have your reasons told me, therefore I shall be infinitely obliged to you, if you will give me some small account of them. That I can do very easily, replied the Prince, we are here alone, and this Relation will not be long. Then beginning with some particularities a little more remote,  

The History of Prince Adanaxus.  
YOu are not ignorant, said he to his friend, of the reason that obliged me to leave Tartary, the violences of Themir against my most innocent actions, the indulgence the Emperor shown to his proceed, and the fear of not being in a continual power to support them without doing things of a dangerous consequence; All that, I say, you know as well as myself, and made me indeed resolve, among strangers to seek out a more happy life than that I enjoyed in my own Country.  
I parted from Samarkand without any retinue, concealing my true name under that of Arsanes, and not designing to tarry in any place, but where I might acquire some glory, I visited all Asia without finding the employment I sought for. After that I passed into Europe, which I knew to be more oppressed with war, and I arrived there at a time that Bajazet's forces were just sinking under the Grecian Empire. I knew Tamburlaine had a most invincible hatred for the Ottomans, and that all the Tartars had the like affections, and though I found them unjust, yet to do nothing that might one day reproach me, I cast myself into the Emperor Paleologus his party, who made head against the Turks on the side of Thrace, whilst those two Sons Andronicus and Emanuel defended other Provinces. My first essay was very favourable to my reputation, and without any ambition of being thought a Hero, I may affirm to you Axalla, that my actions began to make the name of Arsanes eminently considerable. The Emperor gave me many signal testimonies of his esteem, and finding himself in a danger out of which I had the fortune to disengage him, he made a public acknowledgement of the service I did him, and would not permit me to be absent from him.  
We had a pretty equal success in both Armies, the battles were so much favoured by the season, but Winter coming on we were obliged to give our Troops some rest: The Turk retired into his Country, and Paleologus went back again to Constantinople, where his Sons were ordered to meet him. We arrived there nevertheless a Month before them: the Court was very glorious, the Empress, besides her two daughters, Eudoxia and Leonida, had about her person a great many others, as considerable by their birth, as they were most killingly fair to all their beholders. Mine were dazzled with them without being wounded, and heaven which had other persecutions in reserve for me, in this occasion rendered love unpowerful. The grateful Emperor did very obligingly sound my Elegy to all the world, and unknown as I was at Constantinople, I bore there a quality but little different to that I ought to have been in. Because the war was in no likelihood to be concluded, I was willing to spend some time at the Court, receiving there a thousand civilities from the Emperor, the Princesses, and from the most considerable among the Grecians.  
A few days after our arrival, the Emperor received the news that the Princes had defeated a party of the Ottomans, and taken a good number of them prisoners, but that which qualified the joy of this good success, was that among those prisoners there was a Lady so beautiful, that it was reported Andronicus was become passionately in love with her. Paleologus who was sufficiently acquainted with the  humour of his Son, and who knew very well that he had no moderation in him, when ever he had a mind to any thing, did much fear the consequences of this passion, and as soon as Andronicus and the prisoners were arrived, he perceived his fear was too legitimate. When first the report came to us of that love, I condemned the frailty and easiness of that Prince's heart, and the inequality of his choice. But Axalla, I was punished likewise by the same fate, for I no sooner had cast my eyes upon her who had conquered him, but I felt the kindle of an ardour in me, which fully assured me that I was fallen into the same condition. Axalla, what all the beauties of Greece had not the power to do, was in one moment effected by a Fair unknown: the fatigue of a great journey and the grief of her captivity, could not render her less beautiful to my eyes. Her paleness appeared to me to be infinitely charming, and the indifference which in that condition she shown to gain any victories, rendered her in my opinion more deserving to conquer all. Many hearts were forced to submit to her powers as well as mine, and Neris, (for so the Captive was called) in a short time became the charm of all Paleologus's Courtiers, as she was the object of jealousy among all the Grecian Ladies.  
As soon as I perceived my love, and was out of all hopes to overcome it, I found myself the Rival of Andronicus, I was one unknown, he was the Emperor's Son and could pretend to all things, where I could hope for nothing; but as repute and fortune do not always contribute to the felicity of Lovers, but it is love and the disposition of hearts which does determine it, I resolved to conceal mine and thought I might succeed better by that discretion than by a public declaration which possibly might be a means to remove me from the adorable Neris.  
You may very well conceive, Axalla, that that procedure so contrary to my wishes, did not give me a small affliction, my passion increased every day and my mind was divided between the necessity of being silent and that of speaking, so that I could not resolve with myself which to incline to, my reason made me fly that which a violent inclination compelled me to look after, maugre all its politics. My eyes sometimes were not so circumspect as they ought to have been, and when by accident they were cast upon those of Neris, they made her a thousand declarations, but whether she did not understand them, or whether she was afraid to do it, those dumb discourses were very short and withal but seldom.  
In the mean time Andronicus conjured the Emperor by all the entreaties and submissions imaginable, that might persuade a Father to resign Neris to his love. The inequality of Fortune, he said, was sufficiently recompensed by the merit of Noris; and besides her beauty which was extreme surprising, she abounded with so many charms both in her wit and humour, that the Prince thought he had a sufficient Authority openly to make this demand; the Emperor acknowledged all the advantage of Neris; and he had a very high esteem for her, and in his breast did not absolutely condemn the Sentiments of Andronicus; but having more profitable Alliances in his eye, for the good of the Empire: and the calamities wherewith Greece was menaced, not being able to be avoided, but by the support of a puissance which might oppose the Ottoman Forces; he endeavoured to divert his Son by policies of State; but seeing him uncapable of them, he, like an absolute Father, forbade him ever to speak to him any further about the marriage: this prohibition increased the fierceness of Andronicus; and made him to answer the Emperor in terms that were little respectful, and from that time he laboured to put himself into a condition to be only dependent upon himself.  
Things were in these circumstances for two Months, and the Princes stayed well near three at Constantinople, before I had ever spoke to Neris any otherwise then in general conversation. It was hard to meet with occasions of speaking to her in private, and I durst not openly seek them; but an accident presented one to me, which I did not in the least expect, and which you may well imagine I did not fail to make use of.  
I was walking one Morning in the Palace Gardens, where commonly I was wont to reflect upon my adventures, and for that purpose I sought out the most solitary places to walk in. I found Neris in one of them that was least frequented; and besides the ravishing surprise her sight gave me, I had a greater to see her in such a place, and at such a time. O Axalla, how beautiful did she appear to me, and in what a transport was I at my good fortune? One might observe in her complexion a kind of blushing freshness, like to that which is borrowed from Sleep; the undress she was then in presented to one's eye a thousand Beauties which most commonly she kept concealed. And the trouble she had upon her when she saw me, gave me a pretty kind of an I do not know what timidity, which rendered me more passionate and hardy. I cannot tell whether she took notice of it, or whether it was only in civility that she judged it convenient to withdraw, but she had done so, if I had not stayed her. Ah, fair Neris, said I to her, do not carry away with you all the delicacies of these places; But suffer an unfortunate stranger to enjoy by your presence those he never thought to meet with. Neris seemed astonished at my discourse, and looking with her face towards the ground; A miserable Captive, said she, is a very unfit person to contribute to the delights of any place, and in a conversation so languishing as yours you will but throw away that time, which you may employ to a much better purpose. Would to Heaven, Madam, replied I, I could give all that of my life, and withal you would permit it, I would never elsewhere seek a satisfaction which only you can procure me. Such an earnestness you now express would be altogether new, answered she very negligently, and you would have much a do to persuade me into a faith that you had so passionate a one for that which till now appeared to me very indifferent to you. I confess, replied I, without presuming to dive into what might oblige Neris to speak so, I took upon me an Indifference absolutely repugnant to those sentiments that were real in me: But, Madam, the movements of the Heart, and those of the countenance do not always run parallel, and if you please to have that goodness to distinguish them, I could very well justify that indifference whereof you accuse me. I accuse you of nothing, interrupted Neris very briskly, and perceive your indifference is less criminal, than perhaps would be a closer application, but whatsoever your movements are, the calamities I endure do not give me the liberty to concern myself about them, and the unhappiness of my life is so great, that it does not permit me to think of things wherein I have no Interest. Ah! Madam, cried I to myself, in a transport of passion, you never had a greater in any heart in the World than you have in mine: there is none so absolutely devoted to you, and though you seem to set so light by it, there shall never be any capable to give you the services that this shall undertake for you. I have made it my great care and business to conceal what I discover to you now, that so I might not expose myself to the fury of a Rival, who at Constantinople is more powerful than I am, and who I fear has enough to countermand my staying in it; but since my fate gives me this opportunity to speak to you without any witnesses, suffer me to explain, Madam, and to tell you, though I appear here unknown yet your condition might be as happy with Arsanes as with the Son of the Emperor of Greece. All the while I was speaking, Neris' eyes were fixed on mine, and in spite of all her reservedness, I knew by her blushing, by her silence, and by a joy that seemed full of fear, which at last appeared in her face, she wished there might be no untruth in what I had said. One must love very passionately to penetrate into all these things, but I did not lose any one circumstance of them and making an happy application of them to myself, I became thereby both more Eloquent, and hardy. I made use of that time that Neris was silent to give her an account of the birth of my passion, and did it with so much sincerity that I began to make her believe it. She said nothing to me at that time, for the coming in of some persons obliged her to retire: But I could very well guess it by the looks she gave me; and I flattered myself with this thought, that when one has the art to persuade well, one is not very far from that of pleasing well too.  
From that time I had my eyes more languishing upon her, Neris accustomed herself to their language, and sometimes likewise hers in her surprise made me such Discourses as were very obliging; afterwards I found out several ways to renew the conversation in the Garden, where I spoke in such a tender and pressing manner, that I brought Neris to a compliance of receiving the offer of my love: the first mark she gave me of her esteem, was her making me the confident of her thoughts, she confessed she had a natural aversion for Andronicus, that his greatness and his fortune were not capable of shaking her, and though he should be possessor of Paleologus' Throne, he should never be dearer to her heart, nor more agreeable to her eyes. I answered Neris, that I was afraid this aversion was general for all men: and she made me to understand by a sigh, one half of which her Modesty deprived me of, that in her breast the Fate of Andronicus did not determine that of the rest of Mankind. I did whatever I could to improve the discourse, and to find out what her fortune was: But all I could learn from her was that she was born in the heart of Africa, of a quality sufficiently illustrious, and that she had been taken by the Pirates, and afterwards sold to those whom Andronicus had taken prisoners.  
My passion every day grew more violent, and I wished from my soul that Heaven would be pleased to find out a way for me to show it to Neris by some extraordinary service: but that was difficult to bring about in a Foreign Court, where I was without any power. My destiny was so favourable to me as to overcome that difficulty, and you shall hear of an adventure which you could never have imagined.  
The preoccupation of Andronicus seemed to increase by the resistance that was made against it, and the Emperor not knowing any further what means to use to remove it, thought that absence only could do the business, and that he was obliged by necessity to deprive the Prince of an object that became fatal to the repose of a State. He had not very specious pretence publicly to put that design into execution, and indeed I know not when he would have had one, if being conscious as he was of the violent humour of his Son, he had adventured to serve himself with any, which made him resolve that Neris should be privately carried away, and that free liberty should be given her to go where she pleased.  
It was an easy matter for him to effect it, & Princes do not want persons, who, without examining the commands they give them, do blindly run to perform all their Orders. The design was told them, and the hour stated; and Neris was taken from her Apartment, about the middle of the night, and making her to cross the Palace-Gardens, she was conducted to the seaside which ran by them, where waited a Vessel ready to set sail for the first port dependant upon any other Prince. Neris is Naturally of an even and well balanced temper, and not easily carried out to make any out-cries or rude efforts. But as she thought her Ravishers were employed by the Prince, she threatened them with the Emperor's Authority, and presented to them the injustice they committed upon the person of a Captive, who was then without any to defend her; those words reached a place where very frequently I used to spend the best part of the night in walking, I presently knew it to be Neris' voice, and finding them going to use some violence to her: No, Madam, said I, putting my hand to my sword, you shall not be taken away before my Face, and though I be single in your defence, yet possibly I may behave myself with success enough to make these rash men repent they ever undertook such an Enterprise; those fellows laughed at the threats I made them, and dividing themselves, one part of their company to engage with me, whilst the rest were to carry Neris away, they did what they could to get to their Boat. But, Axalla, one is not sensible of any danger when one is employed in the preserving of the object of our devoted Love. I laid down two of the Villains at my Feet with the first passes I made, and so clearing my way to Neris, with a reverse blow, I struck off the man's Arm who held her, and gave her the liberty of saving herself by running through the Garden. Those persons who were ordered to carry her away, without making any great attempt upon my life, left me to run after her, and by that means rescued me from a danger, in which I should otherwise most certainly have fell. I pursued them, and forcing them to turn and engage with me; I had received two dangerous wounds, before some of the Emperor's Guards, who were got thither by Neris' outcries came to my Succour, and knowing me to be highly in the favour of their Master, they obliged those that resisted me to betake themselves to their heels; they would not have fled, had they dared to discover themselves, for they were Messengers of an Order that was sufficiently warrantable, but they were sworn to secrecy till they had got her to Sea, and they judged it better for them to acquaint the Emperor with what had happened, than to run the hazard of publishing what they had such a strict charge to conceal.  
I lost so much blood, that my strength was quite gone, and I fell at Neris' Feet in a trance: but yet my weakness did not prevent me from hearing the obliging complaints she made against Fate, and the affliction wherewith she did accuse herself for my misfortune; she herself endeavoured what she could to stop my bleeding, but the pleasure I resented in perceiving Neris to take such pains, made my blood gush out with greater violence, so that all thought it would prove fatal to me; they reconducted me to my Apartment, and Neris was led by Andronicus unto hers, who was come thither at the noise he heard of her being taken away; He bewailed me, protested solemnly he would be revenged on the Author of that bold attempt, and Neris, ignorant all this while of the truth, demanded the next day justice of the Emperor for it in her name and mine. He was obliged either to grant it her, or publicly to justify the procedure, and not daring to take the latter course, through the fear he was in of his Sons furious transports, he sent one of his principal Officers to declare to me the mystery of that Enterprise, and to testify to me the grief he was in, that she should be the occasion of my loss of so much blood: the same Officer was ordered to discourse with me about the means of imposing silence upon Neris, and of stifling the business; she believes herself mightily obliged to you, said the Gentleman to me, and at the first word will put it up, if you will but advise her to it. Counsel her not any farther to search into the business, but let her understand that possibly a greater noise would bring along with it but more troublesome consequences.  
I knew what I had to say to Neris, and was not in a power to hid any thing from her; but that so I might have some pretence for seeing her without being under any suspicion; I promised to obey the Emperor's will, and that procured me many a happy hour with the fair Neris by way of visit to me.  
She acquainted me how that since that accident Andronicus, fearing lest any other should be strongly pressing her to marry, assured her he had found out a way to marry her himself in spite of the Emperor; you may very well imagine what Counsel I gave her, and what discourses Love put into my head. My prayers and protestations rendering her more opposite to the desires of Andronicus, did likewise render my Rival's passion more impetuous. She grew into a fury; and one day among the rest, after some propositions more pressing yet than ordinary, he made her know, she was to fear the worst that could be from his violence, and that he was now weary of using only his Entreaties and Submissions. I began then to leave my Chamber, and went to make my first devoirs to the Empress, where I met with Neris going out of the Princes' Apartment, and knew by the sadness of her Countenance, that her breast laboured under a very great affliction: the Prince was just gone from making those threaten to her which I have told you of: her heart was almost dead with fear, and her eyes ready to burst into a shower of tears: what has happened to you, Madam, said I to her? your eyes reveal something that is fatal to my love, and if my jealousies be just, though altogether weak, and a stranger as I am here in this place; yet you shall see I'll make my vengeance be dreaded by them. I can easily judge what you can do by that which you have done already, answered Neris to me; But, Arsanes, all your generosity cannot hinder me from Andronicus his persecutions. He continues his addresses to me to marry him, and now threatens to use his power, if he finds not his Love sufficient. Ah! Madam, said I, interrupting her, in a great passion, and how do you receive his threats? As a person, pursued Neris, who imagines nothing can be more cruel than for ever to be engaged to a man whom I cannot love. Ah! Madam, continued I, you shall never then be engaged to him, rely upon the word and conduct of a Prince, who in any other place than Constantinople, would not submit either to the Son of the Emperor of Greece, or to any other Prince in the world. Have Courage, Madam, take elsewhere upon you a quality more conformable to your merit, than that of a Captive; the Sea and my valour shall find us ways for it, by conducting you either to the place of your Birth, or to such retreats as shall be far enough from Andronicus his attempts upon you: be not afraid of my Love, it is extreme indeed, but my respect is extreme likewise: You shall find in me a passionate Guide to whom the person is sacred, and a Defender, who will sacrifice his fortune and his life to your safety. Neris harkened to me with a great deal of indulgence, and testified to me by her looks the acknowledgement of her heart; but yet I could not persuade her to it; therefore I thought my true name might have a greater influence over her than my words, and acquainted her with it: but it would put me to a great deal of pains to express to you the trouble that this Declaration gave her.  
She looked upon me a good while, as if she had not known me, blushed, sighed, was speechless, and indeed all her Actions showed me the confusion so great a surprise put her into. However she assured me, that being fully persuaded of the reality of my discourse, she would have a grateful sense of my offers, which should be as lasting as her life: but the more considerable I became to her she had the less desire to hazard so great a Prince. I neither forgot to make use of Oaths, or Prayers, to conquer those Scruples, and to oblige her to remove from Constantinople, but all my efforts were insignificant: she alleged to me reasons of respect, to which for fear of displeasing her, I was forced to submit; and leaving me, as if she was fearful, she might in her turn be vanquished: do not join yourself to my misfortunes, Signior, said she to me, perhaps fate will not distinguish you from Neris, and you may fall into such evil circumstances, as may make me to despair that I was the cause of them.  
I would have followed her to entreat her not to harbour such a sear, and to assure her that in what soever place her fortune should conduct her, I would inseparately wait upon her: but the Empress crossing the place where we were, to go to the Walks, perceived me, and having called to me, obliged me to attend her.  
In the mean time Andronicus was not Idle; he had in part discovered the cause of Neris' being carried away, and believing he might do what he had a mind to against a Father who was resolved to deprive him of the sight of his Mistress: he got together a good number of lusty resolute young Fellows, & made a dangerous Insurrection. The Emperor resisted it as well as he could, and I was so fortunate at that time, not to be a little profitable to him. Andronicus was taken, and added the shame of being overcome, to that of having made an attempt upon the Crown, and the life of his Father. The older and more experienced of the Emperor's Council, were for having him to spend the remainder of his days in prison; Prince Emanuel, being of a most admirable sweet disposition, opposed that advice, and with some advantages he might hope to have over the unfortunate Andronicus, he did so ingeniously work upon the Emperor's Spirit, that after the first heats of resentment were over, he received the Rebel's pardon, and promised him to forget the Crime.  
But he had more need to repent of that too great clemency of his; Andronicus did not appear submissive but to get his liberty, which he no sooner obtained, but he made a new insurrection, and as you have heard, almost brought the Grecian Empire to its last destruction. I could not engage myself in these dissorders, I had in the former been so much concerned as I have told you; but scarce had they begun to break out, but Neris disappeared at Constantinople, without any bodies being able to discover either the reason of her departure, or the place where she had chosen her retreat. At first I accused the Emperor for having caused her to be carried away a second time; and besides my grief I made to him a confession of my Love, and I conjured him to tell me where I should find what he had conveyed away from me: But he solemnly protested he knew nothing of her slight. I could not turn my suspicions upon Andronicus, for he was almost driven to desperation at it, and from that accident derived the chief pretence of his revolt. All hope then abandoned me. but only that of searching myself for her, which made me prepare to do it in all the corners of the Earth; but I was surprised by a violent Fever, which kept me languishing very near two Months at Constantinople. The emperor had given them orders to pursue his ungrateful Son, and to make him fly where he might never hear of him again. prince Emanuel had command of the Army, and as I extremely honoured him, I should have been exceeding glad to have kept him company; but the Remembrance of Neris was so much upon my Spirits, that I could not think of doing any thing, but to go and find her out. I parted from Constantinople, after I had complemented the Empress, and embarked myself to pass into Africa, where according to what Neris had told me, I hoped I should hear some news of her. I will not tell you how oft I exposed myself to death, how many dangers I ran, sometimes beaten by tempests, sometimes assaulted by Pirates; how many Countries I have seen, almost unknown to Mankind, with a thousand other circumstances of my voyage, they would make my relation too prolix: Let it suffice I tell you that I have learned no news of Neris, and that her absence serves only to augment my passion. After I had spent four Years unprofitably I came again into Asia, I understood the great revolutions that had happened there, the downfall of the Ottoman Empire, and the captivity of the dreadful Bajazet; I must acknowledge, Axalla, I could not keep myself from pitying him, and knowing Tamberlain's humour, I did fear what has come to pass, and what I have been so happy to prevent: the thoughts of it made me tremble again, and how unjust soever the Emperor had been to me, yet did Love infuse something in him of a paternal tenderness: I came back with all the hast I could to Samarkand, where I arrived just in sufficient time to prevent the misfortune which would never have given me any comfort. You have now in a few words a very faithful account of the estate of my life, if you have at any time been sensible of the power of Love, you may judge, Axalla, if any thing be capable to give me a repose, so long as I shall hear nothing concerning Neris.  
The Prince of Tanaïs' having left off speaking, Axalla told him for his consolation all that he could think was able to make any impression on his spirit. It was late  they parted, and the Inquietudes of Adanaxus being renewed by the recital he had made, caused him to pass the night away in the greatest sorrow imaginable.  
In the mean time the Princess Asteria had very deeply resented the Joy of Bajazet's safety, the succour he had received came from a very dear hand, and the Prince, ignorant of his happiness, had no mind to foresee that the daughter of the Turkish Emperor was the same person he had loved under the name of Neris in the Court of Paleologus, and whom he still loved with so violent a passion. The report of Adanaxus' return had no sooner came to the ears of the Ottoman Princess, but all her grief for him was suspended. She loved this young Prince as much as her virtue could permit her, he had a very tender place in her remembrance, and she could not without a transport hear he had been preserved in so tedious a Voyage; but when to this news was joined the service he had lately rendered her in the person of Bajazet, her joy became so powerful, that she could no longer keep it concealed in her breast. She did imagine he knew her for Neris, and her return into Bursa was with too much noise not to have been published in Greece, she flattered herself with the thoughts that he still loved her, since he came so far, and that too to give her so eminent an instance of it: and looking out Axalla, who, as she had observed, frequently did visit him, she ingenuously confessed she had an extreme kindness for the Prince, and most passionately complained to him that he had not given her the means to tell him herself how grateful a sense she had of the service he had done her. I know so perfectly the character of your Soul, Madam, replied Axalla, that I foresaw that gratitude, before it was possible for me to see the effects of it; and I would fain have obliged the Prince to do what you desire: But as he is endued with a sincerity beyond example, he acknowledged to me the unwillingness he had to present before your eyes a Prince, who cannot be innocent in your account since he is the Son of Tamburlaine, and the Brother of Themir: Asteria grew pale at these words, and giving them a cruel explication, she fancied the Interests of blood had absolutely stifled those of Love, and that Neris was no longer charming to Adanaxus, since he knew her to be the daughter of Bajazet. But yet she pretended something else was the cause of her trouble, and the rest of the conversation was spent in general compliments and civilities. But as soon as Axalla was retired, she called a Woman, who had accompanied her in All her misfortunes, and from whom none of her thoughts were a reserve. Ah, Xaira, said she to her, what have I learned? Alas, in vain I flattered myself with the thoughts of being beloved by Adanaxus at his return, and hoped to see him again with the same transports which he expressed when I was at Constantinople. He was only concerned for my Father out of generosity, Neris was not in the least the occasion of that adventure, and far from doing any meritorious service to me, and expecting any recompense from it, he came not to see me, but to prefer the duty of the Son of Tamburlaine to those of the passionate Arsanes. Alas! Xaira, how criminal is my weakness rendered, and how good would it be for me to follow that example he set before me, if I was capable of intimating it. I had in my misfortunes the comfort to believe he did not any ways contribute to them, they were less afflictive to me, and in a time when Heaven had taken all things from me, I flattered myself with the thoughts that he reserved for me a heart which I had no less an esteem for, then for the Empire of Bajazet. But I have lost it, Xaira, that heart which was so dear to me, that I gave it all my own; Adanaxus will not belly the cruelty of the blood of Tamburlaine, and more barbarous than our Tyrants, he procures the sorrowful Asteria a misfortune which all the cruelties of the Emperor of the Tartars were not able alone to give her. I do declare the punishment of it by the criminal remembrance I have conserved of a Man, who has only testified to me an inconstant affection, and by the weakness which forces me still so deeply to resent his levity.  
Xaira interrupted the Princess by endeavouring to comfort her, and told her all she thought was capable to make her doubt her misfortune, or to reinforce her courage; but she gave no great heed to her, but abandoning herself wholly to her error, she cast a thousand reproaches upon the young Prince, whilst he, blindly carried away with the desire of finding out his Neris, was preparing for a second Voyage all the Earth over, and found a great deal of difficulty to give his generosity a few day's rest at Samarkand.  
Themir had seen him arrive there with an enraged mind, and could not suffer him to continue in it without giving him some Testimonies of it. He had flattered himself with the hopes that he should never have seen him again, and perceiving he was not returned, but only to preserve a victim from the effect of his vengeance, he was continually pressing Tamburlaine to put the conditions in execution, upon which he had granted to the Prince the life of Bajazet, or else to have him reconducted to the Scaffold from whence he had been taken.  
Tamburlaine persecuted on the one hand with the solicitations of his Son, and excited on the other hand by his own natural cruelties, commanded Prince Adanaxus to go visit the Turkish Emperor and to employ the credit which so strict an obligation had given him with him, to obtain Asteria of him. But though Adanaxus was fully persuaded that he should never bring Bajazet's Spirit to a compliance to such a demand, yet he owed so much obedience to Tamburlaine as this came to. He went then to the prison where Asteria's Father was, with a resolution to use all the honourable means he could to gain him to it, and to make him consider after all, that the quality of being Empress of the Tartars was not a thing for a Captive Princess to contemn.  
Though Bajazet's life was only conditional, the service he had received from the Prince of Tanaïs', had wrought in him all the effect it could do upon a mind that is truly grateful: he had none of those barbarous blindnesses that lessen the value of civilities done to a person, and then confound them with injuries. It was not from the hands of Adanaxus that the effects of his misfortune did proceed; he knew him not but by a considerable service he had done him, and he received his visit with a great deal of satisfaction. Signior, said Adanaxus to him, after they had ended their first compliments, if it had pleased Heaven to have seconded my vows, I would have rendered you my submissions in a place more worthy of you than this is, but since my good inclinations prove weak, and maugre all my entreaties, you are still a prisoner. I am come to offer you all that may contribute to make this place less grievous to you. Signior, answered Bajazet, according to the fashion I now lead my life, it very little concerns me in what place I spend it, for all are equal to me in Tamberlain's Dominions. But do not think, Signior, that this indifference extends its self even to what I owe you, and that it extenuates any thing of my obligations to you. I am neither forgetful of the valour, manner, or circumstances of it: For I protest to you my greatest affliction is that I am not in a capacity of testifying to you my real resentments: I have done so little, Signior, replied the Prince of Tanaïs', in comparison of the reparation I own you, that it deserves not your remembrance; but as nothing is so afflictive to those who love and are acquainted with glory, as to see such a person as you in fetters, I would willingly do so much as may make my intentions pass for effects. If you have any concern for the repose of those who are likewise joined with you in your misfortune, Signior, you ought to be more pitiful to yourself, and consider on the means that are offered you to get out of this place. Pardon me, if knowing, as I do, your just aversion for Themir, I presume once more to propose him to you for the Princess your Daughter. In a more happy time I should not do this outrage to the hatred which exasperates you; but the pressing necessity of your Affairs, the continual fears in which you put Asteria, all that which threatens you, and what may happen are such powerful reasons, as I am forced to speak to you of it. I am sensible that Themir, is accused of many crimes, and I cannot own that he is not guilty as to your particular: but, Signior, the love he bears the Princess may render him more reasonable, he would not be the first whom this passion should have changed, and what speaks more in his favour than all things else is, that there is not any thing to which upon Themir's consideration Tamburlaine cannot be obliged. I confess, Signior, it is a hard thing to conquer one's self in matters of such importance as this; but what cannot the courage of Bajazet do? If I could tell any other means how to deliver you out of this place, I would not have proposed this to you. Ah! would to Heavens, that in contempt of Themir's repose, and of my own life, I could imagine any any other way; I would not balance the electing of it; but Signior, nothing but this remains, of consenting to the Marriage of Asteria, and therefore I would conjure you to make some reflections upon it.  
Prince, answered Bajazet, coldly, I do not doubt but that you would serve with zeal all those who could any ways move your pity, since I have made such a convincing experience of it; but I am both surprised and afflicted, that after you have treated me like a Prince, and have set some value upon the actions of my life, you look upon me as the slave of Tamburlaine. Do not you judge of my Sentiments by my misfortunes, it is not in the power of chains and fetters to make me forget my name, nor can any torments debase the mind of a Prince who has prescribed Laws to the Ottoman Empire, and has been the destiny of many others. You do not possibly know, that this Themir, which you offer to me for a Son in Law, is the Author of all my sufferings; that it was his criminal hand, that basely before mine eyes did spill the blood whom I entirely loved, whose virtues promised an endless happiness to my life, and whom I saw expire by his sword without being able to give him any Succour. Ah! Signior, if you believe me to have any valour and resolution, judge by the tears that this remembrance fetches from me, unto what excess my indignation swells. 'Tis one of Themir's most bloody outrages, but it is not the only One, Bursa pillaged; Sebastia destroyed; my Children become Fugitives; my Wife, oppressed with the rigours of her captivity, dead; Asteria's imprisonment; my own, and the treatments I have met with in it, are as so many effects of his furies: and ah! would you have me, Signior, renounce my hatred in favour of an Enemy who has so well deserved it? No, no, let Tamburlaine look to his own Rights, and give me leave to enjoy the freedom of my breast; it is a comfort to me in my misfortunes to think that this liberty cannot be ravished from me, but that I can without any remorse or scruple wish to see Tartary o'rwhelmed with Enemies that may be merciless; Samarkand abandoned to flames and pillage; Themir to serve as a victim to the cruelties of a mutinous people; and Tamburlaine to follow the Chariot of a Conqueror, as little generous as himself. My liberty possibly may be too great, Signior, but I cannot dissemble my thoughts, and indeed, it is that sincerity which obliges me to assure you, that if Heaven would be favourable to my desires, I would do no less for your fortune than I would for my vengeance; for I have a very valuable esteem for your merit, and do conserve in me a heart that is not unsensible of my obligation to you. I am too much indebted to your goodness myself, replied Adanaxus, for putting so high a value upon services that are so inconsiderable; and give me leave to answer you with the same liberty, there is not any thing I would refuse to do to deserve it. But, Signior, must I renounce the hopes of obtaining any thing from you? consult a little the necessity of the time, and do some violence upon yourself to escape the fatal consequences that may attend your refusal: the present time is so wretched that it puts me into a capacity of dreading the future, interrupted Bajazet, and there is nothing that we need to fear, when we have only a life to look after, which derives all its troubles and torments from the length of it. But, Signior, that I may not be reproached for slighting your negotiation, and that I may let you know how dear I account your kindnesses to me; let Themir restore me my liberty; let him leave me to enjoy the wrecks of my fortune with some equality; in a word, let him follow the example of your generosity, and then I will hearken to his Propositions; but a heart like mine knows not how to yield to any thing, when I am in chains, and I have a soul too resolute, to give to the least of my Actions an appearance of a base and cowardly constraint.  
Adanaxus found so much of the Hero in Bajazet's discourse, that he could not answer him any further; only he assured him he would employ his utmost power to incline Tamburlaine to grant him the liberty he demanded; and so immediately went to find out the Emperor his Father, to whom he forgot nothing that might any ways be conducive to bring things to such a conclusion; but the Proposition was not received, nor indeed so much as harkened to.  
What, said Tamburlaine to him, when possibly by a Sentiment that discovers too much of humanity, I do consent that Themir should marry the Daughter of the Captive Bajazet, do I not bestow upon him a Grace that is sufficiently considerable? He would fain prescribe me Laws in my Empire, and get to himself a liberty, who has cost me so many thousand men: No, no, so easy a compliance would load me with an Eternal shame; and all Asia▪ would call me to an Account for so important a prisoner: Let him perish, since he is resolved on't, and let Themir, to render himself happy, make use of the Rights and Privileges of his Victory. We have too much neglected them, and the resolute Bajazet thinks to prevail upon the Remonstrances of our weakness. Adanaxus was very much troubled at this Determination; and though Tamberlain-was resolved to have him execute it, and also forbade the Young Prince to bring him back so much as the least resistance to it, yet could he not forbear making some unprofitable entreaties: but at last he was commanded to pursue it so absolutely, that he was forced to do it, and he retired into his Apartment, as much afflicted at Bajazet's unhappiness, as if he had known the secret Interest he ought to take in it.  
In the mean time Asteria entered into the Chamber of this illustrious Prisoner. Adanaxus had obtained their liberty of seeing one another; he said that those Interviews might be conducive to the happy success of his Negotiation; and the Princess having heard that the Prince had been long in discourse with the Turkish Emperor, came to know the subject of it.  
Ah! Daughter, said Bajazet, as soon as he saw her, how opportunely do you come to console me under that vast accession of grief which I have now received. Prince Adanaxus to whom I am redevable for my life; and who has prevented my having for him so high an esteem, is joined to our Tyrants for my persecution, and has made such discourses to me, which coming from him are more insupportable, than all that Tamburlaine, or Themir were ever able to invent. Adanaxus persecute you, Signior, interrupted Asteria, after a languishing manner! yes, he does, but in so handsome a fashion, pursued Bajazet, that in appearance I have no cause to reproach him for it; he speaks to me in the behalf of Themir, and seems to propose him to me as the means of facilitating my liberty; but all things well considered, it is still to make an attempt upon the just motions of my hatred, and this proceeding is more afflictive to me, coming from a Man to whom I am so much obliged, then if it had come from my most irreconcilable enemies.  
The Princess was so disturbed at Bajazet's discourse, that she was at a loss how to return any answer to it; she sighed, and in spite of all opposition she could not refrain shedding some tears, to which the Turkish Emperor gave such an explication, as they did not deserve; but, Daughter, pursued he, looking upon her very steadfastly, I perceive this greatly afflicts you; would you have forgot what you own to the resentments of your Father, and to the blood of Ortobulus, and should the Tartar Prince have come to speak to me at your entreaty? at mine? Just Heavens! cried the sorrowful Princess: Ah! Signior, you penetrate into the sentiments of my breast greatly to my disadvantage, to think I am in the least capable to engage Adanaxus to speak in Themir's favour, how you o'rwhelm me with joy, my Child, added Bajazet, in giving me this protestation, let it be to you an indispensable Law; and because possibly we may not always enjoy this liberty of conversing together, observe diligently this I am going to say, that what violence soever is used against me, do not you betray any weakness at it; prefer this charge of mine to all that a paternal affection can inspire you with: be you generous by my example, and give up your life with mine, if it be necessary, rather than betray my just resentments against Themir.  
The Princess presently promised the Emperor her Father what he had exacted from her obedience; the disinteressed Love of the Prince of Tanaïs' had given her a real tenderness: she had not the power to defend herself from being in love with a person who was so worthy of her kindness; and being sensible by a cruel experience, that though he should deserve it less, she could not get him from her breast, she withdrew to her own Apartment so drowned in sorrow, and filled with despite, that she had almost resolved upon some actions that would have been unworthy both of her moderation and courage. She made Xaira to be called, to whom she recited all that Bajazet had told her, and accompanying her discourse with a thousand reproaches against her faithless adorer, she stirred up so much pity in her woman, that she appeared as much afflicted as the Princess. He is unfaithful, this Arsanes, said she to her, who seemed so little capable of infidelity; he betrays both his oaths, and my hopes, and not only forgets the Love he promised Neris, but he would with his own hands deliver her into those of an unworthy Rival. Ah! Xaira, how treacherous is the Sex of Men, how fatal is that of ours, and how wretched and little experienced do we discover ourselves, when we believe any thing that Mankind tells us? Xaira made her no answer but with her tears, which were mingled with those of the Princess, but fate was preparing for them occasions of grief that were more legitimate, and they ought to have reserved those they then shed for a more pressing opportunity.  
Bajazet was Master of the motions of his Soul, and kept them from breaking out by any action contrary to his constancy; but he could not prevent the impression they made upon his health. The Prince of Tanais his visit had extremely troubled him; that of Asteria had much increased it, and all this succeeding the preparatory of an unworthy punishment, and of a long retinue of miseries, made him fall into a sickness which he no sooner felt coming upon him, but he judged it would be his mortal one. If he was affected with it, it was only with joy; and the violence of his distemper did not in the least deprive him of his reason, for he perceived with pleasure by the diminution of his health, that his sufferings were now ready to take their leave of him, and to end with his life. Yet he lay languishing many days; but finding himself almost at his last period, he ordered that Asteria should be called; and the Princess observing in his countenance the infallible presages of his death, fell into such an agony of grief, that it wanted but little to cast her into the resembling condition. The dying Emperor endeavoured as well as he could to comfort her; he commanded her to receive the assistances of the Prince of Tanaïs', as from the only person could give her such as were generous, and disinteressed; and being desirous to engage that Prince not to betray his confidence in him; he sent to beg of him the favour to come unto his prison. The Prince would not have stayed for this Entreaty, if he had not apprehended his visit might be troublesome: he went to him in all haste, and Bajazet reaching out his hands to him; merciful death is now going to free me from the Tyranny of Tamburlaine, Signior, said he to him, and I on a sudden feel that fate is robbing him of the pleasure to bring me new persecutions, or to exercise his generosity, if ever he should be made capable of it. I should look upon this so much longed for moment without any trouble, if I did not apprehend it would prove fatal to the unfortunate Asteria; and that having no longer the resolution of her Father to support her, she will fall into a misery that will be more dreadful to her than the most shameful death in the world. Relieve me, Signior, from this fear, and please to give me your promise to protect a deplorable Princess, whom at my death I commit into your hands. Captivity, death, and the other caprices of fortune have not yet been capable to render Bajazet a suppliant; but a paternal affection has greater influence than all these things, and you see me with tears beseeching you to defend Asteria against the violence of Themir. She is prudent and courageous; but she is young, and my Child, promise me, Signior, that she shall have your pity, and that in her you will consider the remains of a precious blood, that will owe all her glory to you, if you afford it a generous succour against the violence of her Tyrants.  
Adanaxus was so moved by Bajazet's discourse, that he could not refrain his tears; he would not have balanced giving him all the promises he was able to exact, if he had not apprehended himself too weak to make them good; and this Impuissance rendering him somewhat reserved; Bajazet, though he knew himself sufficiently generous, suffered himself to be surprised with some little diffidence, and ordered the Princess to be called, that she might endeavour to bring Adanaxus to a determination by her presence, or to give her stricter orders than yet she had received. She had heard the Prince of Tanaïs' was with the Emperor, and wavering between a secret desire of seeing him again, and an enraged passion she thought he justly deserved, she had passed away the time of Bajazet's conversation with him in such disquietudes as can never fully be expressed: there were still some marks of her trouble upon her countenance, and the tears she was so prodigal of at her Father's sickness, had made her eyes all red, as they had put an extreme paleness into her face; but yet this change made her not unknown to the eyes of the Tartar Prince, he came up three or four steps to her, and his surprise not permitting him to come any farther, he stopped and became : and found himself at that juncture of time capable of doing nothing but giving her his most languishing regards. He at last pronounced the Name of Neris many times over, with such remarkable demonstrations of Love, that Asteria was almost certain of her error, and became as weak as Adanaxus. The Turkish Emperor looking upon them with as great an astonishment as sensibility, was going to demand of them the reason of their so strange surprise, but he was prevented by the coming in of Prince Themir.  
Possibly he hoped, that as the extremity of his sickness did render him more weak, it likewise would make him more complying, and he came to make his last essay to conquer his valiant resolution: but it seemed to have an accession by the sight of Themir; and Bajazet imagining that that Prince came but to tyrannize over the last moments of his life, was so seized with rage and horror, that he fell into mortal convulsions. The Princess ran to him almost distracted with grief, and the Prince of Tanaïs' making an effort upon himself to secure a man who was become so dear to him, sent for all Tamberlain's Physicians, though their art to him was unprofitable. Bajazet gave them no other signs of life, but by his looks, which though dying, yet expressed the horror he had for Themir; and expiring in the Arms of the afflicted Asteria, she had reason enough to make her reproaches against Themir, for that his visit had some minutes sooner hastened the death of the unfortunate Bajazet.  
She did not conceal from him this new cause of her resentment; but forcing away those Sobs which hindered her Speech; Go on, Barbarian, said she to him, expose me still to thy sight for some time, and by that excess of thy cruelty join the miserable Asteria to the Emperor her Father, and to Prince Ortobulus. Those words having struck Prince Adanaxus to the Soul, he went to conjure Themir to render himself sensible, now it was in his power, and to grant to the tears of Asteria some hours of solitude. But Themir too much hated his Brother, and had observed him to be too favourably distinguished by the Turkish Emperor, and his Daughter, to receive his Counsels with any patience. I did not come hither, said he very fiercely to him, to receive any advice from you; and I can scarcely apprehend the motive of this confidence, though I would instantly punish the Author of it, if I did not observe in it some circumstances which I would examine before ever I did inflict that punishment. Adanaxus found himself no longer to be in a suffering humour, and since he knew his Neris was Asteria, he quickly perceived in Themir such qualities that might make him dispense with his wont moderation. What would be a boldness in Another, said he to him, must be called by another name in the Prince of Tanaïs'; and if till now the respect I owed to the Emperor has constrained me to some observances; even that respect obliges me to defend in my person the honour of his blood, and to prevent the doing any outrage to it. Themir stormed at those big words he said to him, and but that Axalla very fortunately came in, the presence of the Princess would not have been powerful enough to have kept the two Brothers from a bloody engagement: but that Illustrious Favourite making use of the power he had over the spirit of Adanaxus, to oblige him to withdraw, and the extreme affliction that Asteria was in, having at last constrained Themir to leave her to her repose, this difference was suspended, and Axalla ran to advertise the Emperor of it, that so he might put his Authority in force to make an absolute accommodation between them.  
But on the other hand the proud Themir was no sooner got to the Palace, but he caused Odmar to be sought for: This person had been Governor of the Prince of Tartary, of a wicked and pernitions spirit, and a barbarous humour, and who had inspired into him by a dangerous education, those violences and furious resolutions, which made him capable of so many cruelties, and he would lay his contrivances with so much artifice and security, that though he had been of his blood, they could not have more resembled those of Odmar. As he was Themir's only confident, it was in the Counsels of a man so capable as he was to give him such as were conformable to the violent transports he was at that time in, that that Prince was so earnest to have him found out, that he might be relieved from the trouble that possessed him, whilst the afflicted Asteria poured out a flood of tears for her Father's death, in her Apartment of the Palace, whither she had been reconducted; and Axalla, who found the Emperor engaged with some of his Nobles about very important Affairs, could not say any any thing to him of the Princess; but being by his Orders commanded to attend him, Adanaxus was deprived of the consolations that that Prince might give him, and of learning from him the truth of her adventure, and his coming again to know that Asteria proved to be his Neris.  
The End of the First Part of Asteria.   

ASTERIA, OR TAMBURLAINE. A NOVEL.  
The Second PART.  
THe First Counsels that Odmar gave Themir, after he had understood what had passed in Bajazet's prison, were to search into the Sentiments which induced the Prince of Tanaïs' to be so sensible of his loss, and Asteria's grief; and what made him so fierce in his Answers; and pressing Themir with an opinion that they might possibly proceed from Love, he instilled into him a hatred against the young Prince, which proved the occasion of a very violent jealousy.  
They fell presently upon their search, and as nothing was difficult to them, they made the next day all those come before them, who had attended Bajazet in in his sickness; and the least promise of a Prince, who was able to do all things, made them affirm that before Themir came into the room, the Turkish Emperor, and Adanaxus frequently fling themselves into one another's embraces; at the sight of Asteria the Prince of Tanaïs' seemed extraordinarily surprised, and had often called her by another Name then that they knew her by: there was nothing more needful to persuade suspicious spirits, than that the acquaintance of the Princess and Adanaxus was not of a new foundation, but there was a particular understanding and intrigue between them. In Themir's first rage, he thought upon nothing, but stabbing his Brother before Asteria's face; but Odmar, who was more prudent in his cruelty, convinced him that it would be a great deal better to destroy such an Enemy with more safety, and less noise.  
Themir too much relied upon Odmar's advice, not to submit himself to it; and fearing lest the Prince of Tanais should find out some way to see the Princess, he was resolved to take the surest measures he could to prevent him in it: and addressing himself to the Emperor, he told him, that Asteria being deprived of having any further fears for her Father, might be contriving now how to make her escape, and therefore it would be requisite to have her Guards doubled, and not to permit any body to make her any Visits. Tamburlaine presently consented to that new precaution, and made Themir Master of that affair, who immediately commanded an Officer to go and double Asteria's Guard, and to forbid any entrance into her Apartment besides himself; the Officer obeyed him, but as he was coming up to the Princess' Chamber, he met Adanaxus, who was just joined with Axalla, as he was coming from it; the sight of the Guards made the Prince question the truth of it; he presently asked them what was the occasion of their being in that place; and having learned it, his first choler had e'en almost proved fatal to them. He had laid his hand upon his Cimetar, but the prudent Axalla representing to him the necessity he had to suffer Themir freely to act his pleasure, through his want of power to oppose him in it with success, and that by such a violent procedure he might possibly lose the means of being serviceable to the Princess with the Emperor, who was so strangely fond on Themir, that he looked upon him as one, whom he had not the power to deny any thing. Adanaxus was persuaded by him, contenting himself with a deep sigh; he was just going to give Axalla an account of his acquaintance with Asteria; not having as yet met with any convenient opportunity to do it, as also of the design he had to go and aggravate to Tamburlaine the cruelties that were used against an illustrious, and a miserable Princess, when he perceived Themir coming towards him, whose impatience of knowing whether his Orders were put in execution had caused him to be upon the back of the Guards; they looked upon one another with eyes that no whit discovered the relation that was between them, and Themir beginning the discourse in a very opprobrious and scornful manner; have you been consoling Asteria after the Death of Bajazet, said he to him? and may we hope that the acknowledgement she owes you will be any obligation to make her satisfy the Emperor's pleasure and my desires? you express your desires by violences so outrageous to a generous breast, replied Adanaxus, that I can scarce believe they can be favourably heard: and the negotiations I have undertaken in your favour are too ill grounded to give you any hopes of their happy success; the endeavours you use in explaining them, answered Themir, do contribute much to the rendering of them unprofitable, and I have great obligations to you which I am sufficiently informed of, we may one day discourse of them more openly, added he, with a furious look; in the mean time, I shall go and know of the Princess what you have done for me. As he ended those words, he turned towards Asteria's Apartment, and Axalla got the Prince of Tanaïs' away, for fear lest at the return some other discourses more fierce and bitter should make them proceed to worse actions.  
I will leave you near Asteria, said Adanaxus to him, when they were got to another place. You are just now come from her, have you not procured some abatement of her grief? or does she still abandon herself to it with the same violence? I did not entertain her long, replied Axalla; but, Signior, since you are pleased to speak of Asteria, preferably to what we may say of Themir, give me leave to take notice, that you seem to be very sensible of her misfortunes, and the scruple you made of seeing her has not been able to stand against the first moments of her sight. Ah! dear Axalla, answered the Prince, it is not from to day that her sight has had its effect upon my heart, and to tell you in one word the most surprising thing that ever you have heard; that Asteria whom you see at Samarkand, is the same Neris to whom I did devote myself in the Court of the Grecian Emperor. What? Signior, interrupted Axalla, can it be true you tell me? and has the Daughter of Bajazet before this last Captivity felt the miseries of a former one? Alas, answered Adanaxus, it is but too certain for my repose: yes, Axalla, it is the Father of Neris, to whom Tamburlaine has procured all these misfortunes; I am of that blood which is so justly hateful to her; but what heightens my affliction to the last extremity, is that I have made use of all my Rhetoric to get her to be delivered over to the barbarous Themir; and she may suspect me of having preferred a base and unworthy complaisance for the desires of of my Father, to that fidelity which is redevable from me to her.  
Axalla could scarce recover himself out of this surprise, and any other besides the Prince would have had a difficult task to convince him of the reality of what he then heard; but his sincerity not leaving in him any room to doubt of so extraordinary a truth, and foreseeing the disorders that this accident was likely to bring into the Imperial House of Tartary. Ah! Signior, said he to the Prince with grief, how fatal is this Neris to those States where her destiny has conducted her, and how cruel a way does she take to revenge Bajazet of the rigours of his captivity: let us not think of the revenges she may exercise over the Children of Tamburlaine, answered Adanaxus, and reflect upon nothing but how to make her know the real sentiments of Arsanes: If I did follow my transports, I should endeavour to find at her feet either my death or justification; but yet I am not less respectful than she is cruel; my sight would possibly trouble her and yet I study the tranquillity of her life: go then, and see her, I conjure you, you are now acquainted with our Interests; improve those of the passionate Adanaxus; the tears that Neris sheds, have not concealed her anger from me, and whether she considers me as the son of the Tyrant, or as a Lover that is unworthy of her, it is most certain that she endeavours to shun me.  
So far as Axalla durst venture himself in the favour of Adanaxus, being more generous than he was politic, he made him a promise to do whatsoever he desired; whereupon the Prince reassumed some hopes, but they were cruelly abused; when Axalla told him, that having been to see Asteria, his entrance into her apartment had been refused him. This indignity was very outrageous to such a person as he was; but he presently understood that this was an effect of Themir's precautions, and of Odmar's counsels; and the only thing he then could do, was to advise the Prince to patience; but yet it was not in his power to keep him from making his complaints to the Emperor of the severities that were used to Asteria.  
Signior said he to him, Bajazet is dead; there only now remains a fair young Princess in your setters, whose Eminence and Sex should make you dispense with suffering her to feel the weight of them; yet, Signior, after the death of a Father whom she so dearly loved, in a time that she is capable of nothing but tears; her guards are doubled, she is reduced to seek her consolation in her grief, and you use such rigorous and cruel securities, as if she was capable of troubling your Empire, or of teating your Conquests from you: and what opinion of the Tartars will this treatment cause all the rest of the World to have, Signior? they will take us to be Barbarians, and that not without reason; a little more mildness would make them frame more advantageous Idèas of us, and the Princess Asteria would have the less to suffer, and the less to complain of. I do not mean Asteria shall play the Tyrant here, answered Tamburlaine, nor do I think a Conqueror who has destined her for his Son, ought not to give any advantageous Ideas of his clemency. You are convinced of her hatred for Themir, as likewise of what she is able to make him undertake to shun it; it is that consideration which makes me permit those precautions he has taken; if she was less violent, I would command you to go and see her, and indeavonr to persuade her, but you are the Son of Tamburlaine, and that is sufficient to keep her from harkening to you. The Prince would fain have returned his Father an answer, and possibly would have acquainted him with the reason of his being so sensible of Asteria's captivity, but the Emperor did not give him time to do it, but went out about some important affair. Adanaxus clearly perceived that he could not change the face of things, and therefore retired with his mind full of a thousand bloody imaginations.  
In those measures the Artificious Odmar had caused Themir to take, there was not a word mentioned of Adanaxus, for fear it might be thought it was a result of his hatred, and of their first fall out: and Odmar, who was continually improving himself in the favour of the Prince of Tanaïs', that so he might prevent appearances, would not at all be seen in the matter, but contented himself with secretly making the dangerous poison to work of which his breast was so full: He sought out whatsoever might discover to him the intrigue between Asteria, and Prince Adanaxus, and the effect did so abundantly recompense his cares, that by seducing two of the domestics, he came to understand that they had their first acquaintance at Constantinople, and that Adanaxus had not run through so many remote places as they had followed him to, but only to find her out. Odmar overjoyed at this new assurance, confirmed Themir that his brother was now his Rival, and redoubled a rage in him, the effects of which were prevented by those very reasons before mentioned.  
In this manner two Months were spent, Themir daily proved Asteria's persecutor which made her lead a life suitable to the grief she had upon her, Adanaxus was perpetually languishing for her, and the Emperor suffered all things to run which way was most agreeable to the Son whom he little better than adored.  
One night, when Adanaxus could take no repose, he went out of his own apartment into a great long Tierrace, full the length of Tamberlain's palace; the Princess' chamber joined to it, and it was to be near it at least that he chose that place to pass away his hours of inquietude: The Moon shone very bright, and the Prince of Tanaïs' had no sooner leaned himself against one of the Balisters that encompassed the Terrace, but turning his head at the noise of some sighs he heard emitted near him, he perceived a Lady whom he immediately knew to be the Princess: her guards, less severe than their Master, permitted her that liberty, which she only made use of in the night, and she had so little a desire of discovering herself to him, that she did whatever she could to prevent his seeing of her: Not that she did not know Adanaxus, but to prevent her error, she was going to deprive him of her company. But the Prince did not give her time to do it; he came, and threw himself at her feet, and kept her by an amorous violence; notwithstanding all her endeavours to get away from him. 'Tis true her heart did not absolutely give way to those resentments; but a motion more powerful than despite, pleading in Adanaxus' favour, did somewhat qualify an anger that could not withstand the imperious force of Love, and made that innocent joy prevail of seeing a person dearly beloved after so long and tedious an absence; the Prince was offering several times to speak, without being able to find expressions: this silence was looked upon by Asteria as a Remorse, though she found herself disposed to pardon him if he was truly penitent, yet she had no mind to make a present discovery of her weakness to him; what transports do bring you again to Asteria's feet, said she to him, is it in favour of Themir that you come with this submission, and do you address yourself to me, as to the unfortunate Bajazet, to desire my hand for the murderer of my Brother? This reproach gave the Prince of Tanais some new hopes, and as jealousy is not a work of indifference, he thought if that was the real cause of Asteria's anger, he ought not to believe it invincible. I do not lie at your feet as Themir's protector, Madam, replied he, it is my Love, which absence and time has not the power to diminish, that has brought me hither again: And if I have demanded the daughter of the Turkish Emperor for the Son of Tamburlaine, it was through my ignorance that his Asteria was my adorable Neris. Did not you know it, interrupted the Princess, have you been the only person in Paleologus' Court, who has been ignorant of it? my return to Bursia made a sufficient noise to be publicly known; and I am assured there is not one that dwells at Constantinople, who has not heard that Neris was Bajazet's daughter. Ah! Madam, replied the Prince, do you think your loss permitted me to wait patiently at Constantinople, for the effects wherewith it must needs be attended, and do you believe, Adanaxus, who had endeavoured to make you understand how absolutely he was at your devotion, could after your departure with any quietness live in a City where only your fair eyes had the power to keep him? Ah Neris, how injurious is this suspicion, and how ill a character have you framed of my Love, if you have been capable of any? being overwhelmed with grief for your absence, I could not find any Asylum for my despair, but was forced to bear it with that ardour, which is inseparable from the most passionate adorers over unknown Seas, and through the deserts of Africa, and without ever being frightened at a thousand deaths which were daily present to my eyes, I still continued my wand'ring, and guided only by my grief, even to that moment in which my destiny proved so happy as to bring me to you again; and yet you have accused me for having unworthily heard news of you in Paleologus his Palace, and possibly upon that reflection have hated me. What, interrupted Asteria once more, is it possible that you should not have had any knowledge of the truth of my condition? No, Madam, pursued Adanaxus, I have heard nothing but what has preserved me in my errors; as soon as ever you disappeared, a violent, as well as hasty seizure reduced my life almost to its last period; and I was yet languishing under that distemper, when I embarked to find you out through all the places of the World. Remember, cruel Asteria, the confidence you made me, and judge whether I ought to look for you in Bursa, whom I thought in Egypt, in Mauritania, in Ethiopia, or in any other part of afric, could I inform myself of Bajazet's daughter, when I was running after an African Lady, and could I, to say no more, be in that remission you suspected me of, since I gave you what reserve all the movements of my life, and all the affections of a heart, which you have wronged by your mistrustfulness?  
The Princess harkened to Adanaxus his Justification with all that content and satisfaction which the certainty of a happiness that one desires and hopes for could produce. I confess, said she to him, when he had done speaking, my suspicions have been unjust; but, Signior, consider whither I could do less, having such probabilities of the truth of your desertion, I was persuaded you must needs know me, and at a time wherein as much a Son of Tamburlaine, and Brother of Themir as you were, I looked upon you still no otherwise then as a Prince that was very dear to me, then as a Man in whom the blood of our Tyrants did strike no horror in me; you came back to Samarkand, you did to speak the truth, do a great service for Bajazet, but you refused to see me; and went to demand me of my Father for one that was a Barbarian, whom I have a thousand reasons to detest; was not all this enough to alarm my tenderness, can you find any thing in my resentment to complain of, if you consider the cause of it, had not an indifference after such an occasion been more injurious for you, than the anger which I have not been able to conceal? Yes, Madam, answered the Prince of Tanaïs', you have too many reasons to look upon me as guilty, and I have a thousand more to be eternally sensible of your favour and goodness: But my Princess, ought I not to fear that those great Events which have astonished all the earth, those tears and sufferings which mine have procured to you, the outrages you have received from them, and the persecution you are still exposed to besides this birth which I own to Tamburlaine, should change my destiny, and keep me from finding in Asteria the Adorable Neris? Signior, pursued she, Asteria will always have the same esteem for you as the Slave of Paleologus had, and she is already sufficiently indebted to you not any longer to conceal from you, that you have had as great a share in her tears, as the effects of that fortune which has authorised the shedding of them, as the deaths, the Prisons, and the ruin of a glorious Empire have sometimes given to other remembrances; and I confess, that even in this moment I am now speaking to you, all my sorrow is removed by the joy of my finding you according to my desires. I should be ungrateful, cried the Prince, if I would not sacrifice my whole life to testify my acknowledgements of your favours, and indeed what is there I ought not do to render myself worthy of the glorious esteem of my Princess! I am convinced you deserve more, pursued Asteria, and the kindness I have for you is no less redevable to your merit then your services; but, Signior, how different is our destiny at Samarkand from what it was at Constantinople, every thing went opposite to the desires of Andronicus, and here all things contribute to those of Themir; the Emperor bears him out in hiscruelty; the People applaud his crimes; and I have nothing but my hatred to stand by me. You make nothing then of my Love, pursu'ed the Prince, do you think that shall be idle whilst Themir is so active? Pray, Madam, judge more kindly of it, it cannot be either weak or fearful, since it is inspired by you and the zeal of it will not suffer any thing to be difficult, to give you a discovery of its ardour, yes, Madam, whilst I enjoy my life, I will be an invincible obstacle to the vows and protestations of Themir; I know very well there's no way in the World which he will not attempt to take it from me; but if the Tartars fear him, without vanity I may say they love me; the Emperor may in little time be less blind, and more reasonable, and with some help possibly I may e'er long present to my Princess a more happy condition, then that I am as yet constrained to see her languish in. This hope has no prospect of likelihood in it, replied Asteria, and how favourable soever Tamburlaine may be to you when those changes shall come upon him, as you fancy; yet he will never be favourable enough to give the preference of Themir: and than what designs will not your Brother contrive against your life? He is cruel, ambitious, violent, and what is more, Adanaxus, he is jealous, he knows that we have formerly been acquainted, though by what means, it has yet been impossible for me to learn. But I will assure you since my Father's death he hath given me such Intimations of it, as I've but too plainly understood. Fear nothing from it, Madam, answered the Prince of Tanaïs', I am no longer that weak and diffident Adanaxus, whom the domineering carriage of an elder Brother did formerly send away from Samarkand, I am now a passionate Lover, that will defend what he adores against all the attacks of an insulting and audacious Rival, I will firmly maintain by my courage the glorious ambition of deserving you; and when it shall be employed for that honour there is not any danger that can shock the resolution of Adanaxus.  
The Prince would have held the conversation longer, but that Asteria, who was fearful of being surprised entreated him to retire, but not without a mutual promise of loving one another, in spite of all the oppositions that might combat with their passion. Adanaxus spent the rest of the night in a joy he had never before resented: Nothing more could be desired from Asteria, and if Themir did prove his persecution, the trouble was not weighty enough to balance the pleasure he had in thinking how tender he was in the affections of his Princess: but whilst he was thus diverting himself with the pleasantness of his thoughts, his destiny was cruelly preparing for him new traverses.  
Themir now no longer doubted Adanaxus being his Rival, both what Odmar had drawn from some of his own Servants, and the other Circumstances in Bajazet's Prison, made it clear to him; but still as Odmar was never without his spies, for he employed I know not how many creatures for that purpose, he presently heard of the interview in in the Terrace, and the two lovers who thought they had had no other witnesses of their conversation than the Night and their love, were both seen and heard. Themir was even ready to burst with rage at it, Odmar likewise was put into a strange fury, and after a long times consideration about what was most convenient to be done, the advice was that Adanaxus should be permitted to make an attempt that might be more convincing, that so they may demand reason of the Emperor: But Odmar, pursued Themir, to what end should we give him farther time, for him to do me more outrages, are not the affronts he has done me already great enough? No Signior, added Odmar, all that you can do at present, will neither re-establish your repose nor the safety of your love: But urge the Emperor to put Asteria into your possession, since you are so desirous to be united to her. Ah, but what shall we do with Adanaxus, interrupted the cruel Themïr? What Signior, answered Odmar, what other Princes do that are enraged with those things which prove their trouble, leave to me the concern of his destiny, it shall be such as shall be worthy of his boldness, Well then, pursued Themir, i'll rest upon your advice, and demand of the Emperor the last sureties of his love.  
At these words Themir went to find out Tamburlaine, but as he was coming into the Terrace where the Prince of Tanais had entertained Asteria, he perceived him at the other end of it, the sight of Adanaxus, and the place where he thought he had so lately met with a very sensible outrage inflamed his fury; he straight forgot Odmar's advice, and fancying his Brother was only walking there to see the Princess, he made up to him with a precipitation that argued his impatience: The young Prince very prudently shunned him, perceiving his rage: But Themïr observing it; Stay, said he to him, and give me an account of the reasons that make you look after my Captive, and of those secret plots you have laid to night against me. Speak with more respect of so great a Princess, as you think worthy to be made your Spouse, replied Adanaxus, looking upon him very fiercely, and consider that you demand a satisfaction from a man that owes you none, and who is not now in a humour to give you any. What, cried Themir, do you think to brave me after you have offended me, or do you imagine that my resentment will spare you? I have suffered so much from your pride, pursued Adanaxus, as I am resolved to bear with it no longer: who has given you the privilege of commanding a person over whom you have no other advantage than what the name of Elder Brother affords you, that you think to make yourself his Master or Emperor? I ought not to give you an account any other ways, than in sacrificing you to my vengeance, interrupted Themir, putting his hand upon his sword, and I own myself that sacrifice upon too many reasons: A very weighty blow was the consequence of Themir's words, which hit upon Adanaxus' shoulder, who avoiding the second, put himself into a posture of defence and would have done it in such a manner as would have been fatal to Themir, if Axalla with some other Tartars of quality, brought thither by the noise they made, had not come and slung themselves between them. Themir was so base as to strike the Prince of Tanaïs' in the arms of those that held him, but seeing it was impossible for him to satisfy his revenge; Your indiscreet zeal deprives my resentments of a victim I am going now to demand of the Emperor, said he to those that kept him off from the Prince. Away he went as soon as he had spoke these words, and Adanaxus continuing the discourse, You will not, pursued he, let him come before the Emperor, without giving me the liberty of going to defend myself? We will follow you thither if you please, Signior, replied Axalla: Let us go then, continued the Prince, who came to Tamburlaine almost as soon as Themir. Immediately the Emperor cast his eyes upon the blood that ran from the wounds of the young Prince, and he was not so little in his affections, as to behold it without a trouble: what blood is that which runs down your , Adanaxus, said he to him, It is mine, answered the Prince of Tanaïs' very modestly: From whom comes this, pursued the Emperor, with looks that sufficiently denoted the passion he was in? Is there any in Samareanda that dares lift up his hand against you? Yes, Signior, interrupted the violent Themir, there are those that would give him death if you did not hinder them, and in it give him that punishment he deserves, in affronting me with so much boldness as he has done: I have a thousand things to accuse him, he has done me secret offences, and when I would have had him given me an account why he did so, with scorn he answered me. As for my discourse, said Adanaxus, it has been a great deal more moderate than it ought, and as for my action, I believe I could defend a life; for which the Emperor still reserves some kindness.  
Tamburlaine then knew with an excess of grief, that his Sons found it difficult to vanquish that violent antipathy which had disunited them, since that six years' absence had not wrought any change upon them. Though he did in his heart condemn Themir, and render justice to the discretion of Adanaxus, yet he had such a tender love for the former, as to sacrifice all his equity to him, and desiring to reconcile them, Heaven, said he to them, surely has not brought you together, to engage you in new quarrels, which are so hateful to it: Shall I never see you in that happy state of friendship, which would render your lives and my repose pleasant to me? shall it be in a continual uneasieness by your divisions? Adanaxus, said he to the young Prince, do something to please me, testify to Themir that you are sorry for the outrage you have done him: And, you pursued he, addressing himself to the other, receive the submission of your Brother as becomes you: No Signior, interrupted Themir, just as Adanaxus, who had resolved to sacrifice his resentment to the commands of the Emperor, was going to obey him; I will not pardon him, but let him know by the vengeance you own me, that he is not to go unpunished who will dare to offend him that has the advantage of being your eldest Son. Whatever dispositions the Emperor of the Tartars had to favour Themir, yet this violent procedure was very displeasing to him: You may be sure I would punish Adanaxus if he were criminal, replied he, but I do not see he is so, for having defended a life which you assaulted, without considering that he is my Son as well as you, and if the privilege of birth has given you some advantages, that ought not to make any difference between you in my breast, do not you give me the disquiet of seeing you rebellious to my will: Submit yourself to it Prince, since I command it you. I must acknowledge my trouble, Signior, in that I cannot be so obedient as I ought, pursued Themir, but the crime of Adanaxus then will have very strange consequences: you owe to my repose and possibly to my life what I now demand of you: and since you refuse it me I find that I am less happy than I thought myself to be, and that my loss would not be very considerable to you. He went out at those words, and Tamburlaine who loved him more dearly than all the world, (though he learned the truth of what had passed from other faithful persons and from Axalla, in whom he reposed his greatest confidence,) commanded Adanaxus to do what he could to get the friendship of his Brother. If Asteria he grateful, added he, you have a sure way to appease the resentment of the cruel Themir, Bajazet is no longer in a condition to impose any laws upon her, intercede for your Brother, and do your endeavours to overcome an unjust aversion: She ought to esteem you and credit you, after what you have done for her; and if you can incline her to be favourable to Themir, you will engage him to your friendship and to clemency, and you will procure me a repose, which it is impossible for me to enjoy, so long as you are disunited.  
The Prince of Tanais found in himself no disposition to give him that obedience he desired: There were within him such obstacles against it as were not to be vanquished, and perceiving the Emperor fixed upon the happiness of Themir, he went away from him, resolving rather to perish, than to see Neris in the power of a Rival, and of such a one whom she mortally hated.  
But whilst by the diligence and care of Axalla, who waited on him, the Surgeons applied their remedies to his wounds, Themir was only breathing out revenge: how he might destroy Adanaxus was the only thing he had been employed about since he had left the Emperor, and he was no less studious how he might sacrifice his brother to his implacable hatred, than to possess himself of Asteria in spite of all right or reason. Tamburlaine had put a kind of equality betwixt them, which made him almost mad, and in the sury he was then in, not Tamburlaine himself was secure from the horror of his designs, he forgot that his Father had ever had any  weaknesses for any besides himself, and whatsoever he had done like an unjust man or like one enraged, was a pure effect of his blind passion, the Prince of Tanaïs' had offended him and went unpunished, he could not digest the outrage, and it was in the Arms of his dear Odmar, that he went to seek out his cruel consolations. I am betrayed, Odmar, said he to him, Adanaxus triumphs over the weakness of the Emperor, and he is ceased to be what heretofore he was. I thought it was sufficient to make my complaints, to have my revenge granted, and that Tamburlaine would have abandoned that Rival to the safety of my repose. But I am Victim on the account of love, and if I give him time to gain upon that Spirit which is already wavering betwixt us, I may also be the victim on that of nature. But Odmar, he must perish, it must be all his blood that must satisfy my despair, and assure my pretensions. Well, Signior, he shall perish interrupted Odmar, with that fury that ordinarily follows the resolution of great crimes, and we will sacrifice to your repose a victim that is so much your due: Let us have an ungrateful captive, and if it be necessary let us carry your revenge even to Tamburlaine, do you dissemble and leave to me the care of managing the rest. Adanaxus must needs fall under the designs that I have laid, and that love which so much crosses yours, must be the occasion of his ruin. I will cause him to be suspected by the Emperor for making an attempt upon his Throne and upon his Life, and invelop him in the horrors of a crime of which I shall not find it difficult to contrive sufficient probabilities. Tamburlaine is jealous of his glory, and of the Sovereign Authority. Adanaxus shall die hated by his father, his Ruin shall appear legitimate, you shall enjoy the tranquillity that that can procure you, and if the Emperor by an unheard of inconstancy, protects him and abandons you, you shall then break out, the revolt will be permitted you and it may be something more. But Prince, pursued Odmar, perceiving Themir to grow pale, you change colour what makes you to despair, does nature still seem to work in you? Ah! think that Adanaxus is beloved by the ungrateful Asteria, and that he may yet usurp the power and influence you have got over the Emperor's mind, to stir you up to a revenge that is legitimate.  
These fatal counsels which flattered Themir's fury, began to work a calm upon his spirit, he resolved to feign obedience to the commands of Tamburlaine, whilst Odmar was laying his designs, and the Emperor at last taking that dissimulation for a sincere return, forgot the disquiets that their enmity had raised in him.  
But whilst Themir, whose jealousy still kept up his cruel humour, hid his bloody intentions under indifferent appearances, the Princess Asteria had some secret fore-notices of it. She was not ignorant of what the unmerciful Prince was capable, and when Odmar was labouring the performance of his horrible designs, she trembled for the Prince whom they threatened. At first the joy of finding Adanaxus faithful again was resented without having any thing to trouble it, but representing to herself to what perils his love exposed him; Alas! said she, if the Prince of Tanaïs' came back to Samarkand, but to serve as a Victim to the cruelties of Themir, wherefore has he justified himself? I was not any whit concerned in his life, so long as I doubted his heart; but he is innocent, and now my tenderness makes me sensible of all that interesses him, Ah! Themir, spare his blood, if you have any consideration for my life, or at least complete all thy crimes by the death of Asteria.  
The Princess made not these complaints upon light and trivial conjectures, Themir was not reserved enough punctually to observe the silence that Odmar imposed upon him; and being transported by his choler, when he was with the Princess, he gave her by his threatening very great suspicions of some bloody enterprise.  
Time made his intentions break forth, Odmar gave out such orders as were very faithfully executed, and they laboured night and day to make the Prince suspected by the Emperor. The weakness he had for Themir, was not the only one of which he was capable; whatsoever concerned his authority, was very afflicting to him, and he was jealous of it after an extraordinary manner, Odmar had found some persons, whom the hopes of raising their fortunes had made his creatures, and caused several hints to be given to Tamburlaine, which all agreed in the main, yet they came from different persons. His quality of being Governor to Themir and those places of eminence he was in, made him greatly honoured among the Tartars, and having spent his whole life in Cabals, and by a tedious consultation thought upon all things that made to his advantage, and was pleasing to him, it was not difficult for him to hit upon such treasons as he had contrived against him, and to gain persons of the same constitutions and temper as he was: at by his wicked and malicious orders, the first thing that shocked Tamberlain's spirit, and that submitted reason and truth to the weakness of fear, was a person's telling him that Adanaxus had held very blamable correspondencies with Bajazet: Which was presently backed with another's acquainting him, that being most passionately in love with his Daughter, he had returned to Samarkand only to quit him from his fetters; that he had several times made an attempt upon the fidelity of the Ottoman Prince's Guards to procure his escape; that he sided with his Sons, in the design of coming to seek their revenge of him; that to that purpose he held secret Intelligences with the Tartars, and that an Intestine War joined to the former fury of the Turks rallied by Bajazet's Sons, might produce very great changes in his Empire. To these false conjectures were added the reasons of Adanaxus' extraordinary Rhetoric and earnestness to save Bajazet from his deserved punishment, and of his care and pains to render the irksomeness of his prison as pleasant to him as he could: besides they refreshed the Emperor's memory with the excess of grief the Prince had discovered at Bajazet's death; his private conference in the night on the terrace with Asteria, the difference that had been between him and Themir and in a word all things that might put an evil interpretation upon the actions of the innocent Prince of Tanaïs', Tamburlaine, who upon the like occasion would have lost all affections for Themir, presently emptied his breast of all for Adanaxus, and not being capable of examining any thing, he ordered that Odmar should be found out, to whom he told all that this treacherous base man knew a great deal better than himself; and after a great many threats, the cruel Tartar vehemently uttered against the young Prince, he commanded him to go and secure Adanaxus' person, and to carry him to the Tower of Samarkand. Pardon me, Signior, answered the dissembling Odmar, if I beg of you not to lay this command upon me, how criminal soever the Prince of Tanaïs' is, he is the Emperor's Son, and the Brother of an illustrious Prince, whom I have had the honour to bring up; and I don't find myself powerful enough to go and be the pronouncer of his misfortune. I have a horror for his wicked designs, as I have pity for his Youth. You are his Father, Signior, use some endeavours upon that occasion and try your utmost efforts to moderate your resentments, the perfidious wretch spoke after this manner, being very well persuaded that Tamburlaine was too deeply prepossessed with his fear to hearken to him. What Odmar, said he to him, do you advise me to an Indulgence which will it may be both cost me my Empire and my life? Your pity is unjust, and I cannot too severely punish the ambitious Adanaxus: but yet I will not constrain you; but Calih, continued he, perceiving the Captain of his Guards coming in, shall be charged with the Commissions that you refuse. In short, he appointed Calib, who being much about the same humour with Odmar, went presently to the apartment of the Prince of Tanais with a considerable Number of the Emperor's Guards.  
He was alone when Calib came in, for Axalla had just before left him; his love, his justification, and his quarrel with Themir was for several hours the Subjects of their discourse; and he was still reflecting upon what they had said, when he perceived Calib coming in, what would you have, said the Prince to him not very well knowing him? Your Sword, Signior, replied Calib, which the Emperor commands you to put into my hands, and to go along with me to the Tower of Samarkand: As I had never been wont to receive the honour of any visits from Calib, answered Adanaxus, I thought at first he only came thither to make me some extraordinary compliments, shall I not see the Emperor continued he, and will you tell me nothing of my crime? I have no further orders, Signior, replied Calib, then to conduct you to the Tower: and for the satisfaction you desire of me, I must confess I was never made a Confident of the secrets of my Master. You act discreetly, replied the Prince; here Calib, take the Sword that you demand of me, the name of the Emperor shall make me at any time render my arms; let us go to the Tower you are to conduct me to; if I ever do come out of it, I will not forget that you were my guide thither, and besides will be mindful of your discretion. Calib returned him no answer, because that Adanaxus just then went out. They were to cross the great terrace to go into one of the Courts of the Palace where the Chariot waited that was to carry him. Asteria was leaning at her Chamber-Window, and thinking on the Prince of Tanaïs', just as he saw him in the midst of Tamberlain's Guards without his Sword, though she had been fancying him a thousand times in that posture before then, yet was not her surprise less great; she gave a horrible shriek, which obliged the Prince to cast his eyes that way, and he had no sooner done so, but he perceived her sinking into the arms of Xaira. The news of his misfortune would have been a great deal less dreadful to her then this accident proved: He used all his Oratory to persuade Calib to permit him the favour of going to his Princess; but whether through fear or cruelty, the Tartar would not consent to it: but he was obliged to go to the Tower without any more delay, where he was shut up. As soon as he was come thither, they took care to redouble Asteria's Guards; and besides the affliction she was in, to know that her servant was become a Prisoner, she was deprived of the consolation of having daily intelligence from him, being afforded no other company but that of Themirs of all the Servants she had at Samarkand.  
The Prince of Tanaïs' his being carried to prison occasioned a very considerable noise in Tamberlain's Court; he was generally beloved, and his destiny was in a high degree lamented, and amongst the most grave and sober sort of persons, there were but few of them who would not with all their Souls have done his virtue justice: But there was nothing to be done in his favour the zeal of his friends was now unprofitable to him, and against both the commands and the pleasure of the Emperor, the generous Axalla, as being the most persuaded of Adanaxus' innocence, became the most sensible of his misfortune: he saw no likelihood of undeceiving a weak Father, so great a Lover of his fortune, and prevented by Impostors, who too well knew his humours and his fears, and had managed their business with a great deal of prudence and safety; but however he went to see the Emperor and to speak to him concerning the Prince, but he was presently commanded silence; and judging that he might endanger himself to be suspected, and consequently to lose his liberty, if he spoke any more to a Man, who by his transport had made himself uncapable of understanding reason, he retired with an extreme regret but as he did not so much fear his disgrace any otherwise then as it might give him an absolute defeat from being any longer in a condition of serving Adanaxus, he made it his business to gain over to him the gallantest persons of the Court, that he likewise might have a party to speak in the favour of Adanaxus, and labour his justification, and try if they could not in time melt down Tamberlain's heart into some tenderness for his captived Son.  
In the mean time Themir was triumphing; Odmar's projects met with such successful beginnings, that he could not but expect the consequenses of them would be resembling: The Emperor would hearken to nothing but the counsels of his Rage and Error, and the ruin of the Prince of Tanaïs' appearing now past all prevention unto the contrivers of it, his barbarous Brother was before hand pleasing himself with the agreeable thoughts of it; and his hopes buoying him up, with such a delightful flattery, he went directly to Asteria, whom he found in a condition conformable to her grief. But in spite of all her tears and heaviness, (more charming then ever yet she had appeared to the sight of Themir) her eyes, which an extraordinary paleness rendered languishing, were notwithstanding full of a Majestic choler; she was then sitting upon a Couch, and without ever rising off it, she thus addressed her discourse: Are you come, said she to him, to make your boast that you have reduced Adanaxus to a Prison, as a new instance of you cruelty? Is he only guilty because he has with pity resented the unhappinesses of Bajazet? And as this compassion obliges me to have a resembling interest for him, should you have proved false to you furious transports upon my consideration; if you had spared him? I ought to have done that which you reproach me for, answered the unjust Prince of Tartary, and this Rival sufficiently deserves my hatred, since I owe your aversion to him. You only owe it to your crimes, interrupted Asteria, to those barbarous sentiments which have made you find such sweetness in the death of Ortobulus, in the ruin of my Mother, in the loss of Bajazet, in my captivity, and in a word in all your unworthy threaten of me. Thus Madam, replied Themir, you impute all the events of fate to me, and I am culpable still, because Adanaxus conspires against the Emperor. I shall not go about to justify myself any longer to you; but fear lest you do not quite exhaust my patience; such a haughty pride does not always meet with submissive Souls, and since I have suffered so much from your ingratitude, I may very lawfully make use of my rights and privileges. I understand your menaces, pursued the Princess; but since I have nothing more to fear for Bajazet, they have not the power to frighten me: consider, Heaven sometimes puts bounds to its anger, it is not always deaf to the prayers of the unfortunate and miserable, but does reserve still its thunders for the punishments of Tyrants. You ought then to make a Trial, answered Themir, how far one may go without its succour and to begin to make a more profitable use of my Authority. I confess I am tired out with those tedious and servile respects I have paid you, and in a short time, you shall either consent to my desires, or else not be in a condition to bring any obstacle to them. He went away as he ended those words; and though they had struck a terror into the Princess' soul, yet it was no small relief to her to see the Barbarian go out of her room, and leave her the liberty of finding consolations in her constancy against all the afflictions she was overwhelmed with.  
Axalla, and his friends did incessantly labour to put a stop to the most pressing of them, they examined with all the care they could, when were those moments that the Emperor found in his breast any return of tenderness for his young Son, at last they began to find him in a humour to hearken to what might be said in his favour, than it was they conjured him to make a solid reflection upon Adanaxus' carriage, and what severity soever he resolved to use against him, he could not find any of his actions , and deserving condemnation: his moderation in the unworthy treatments of Themir, his submission to the commands of the Emperor, and particularly to the last he had received from him, coming again into his memory, he began to fear he had acted with too much precipitation; and reproaching himself for it as a default of paternal love, he perceived himself in one of those inquietudes which ordinarily do usher in a deep repentance. He was as soon come to himself as he had been provoked, being incapable of himself to be carried out to any great violences, but subject to a credulity which made him often take Chimeras for truths, and the wicked and poisonous counsels of flatterers for a sincere zeal. These kind of humours almost continually go from one extremity to the other, Tamburlaine passed from that so favourably for the Prince of Tanaïs', that he could not take any comfort in his being so much enraged against him. I have been too cruel said he in those reflections, to condemn Adanaxus upon discourses which I've not given him time to oppose and answer: Those accusers, may not they be deceived in what they charge him with, and is his justification impossible? Weak Prince, continued he, search into the procedures of your Son with more mildness and tranquillity; what, would you sacrifice him to your fears, and possibly to your errors? Consider that a Prince elevated upon the Throne of Asia ought to prevent accidents with a greater moderation; have you seen Adanaxus in the troops of Bajazet during that absence which has deprived you of him? Has fame, that publishes all things, ever told you any thing of him that you have need to complain of? and in the extremity to which Bajazet was reduced when Adanaxus arrived at Samarkand, can you find any probability that his return was designed by the Ottoman Prince, or by his daughter? He saw him not but by thy orders, and did not obtain his life but by arguments very advantageous to thy glory, and which it was impossible for thee not to yield to. Those very arguments which have convinced me, become now thy crimes, thou wouldst make him suffer punishment for having persuaded thee to be generous. No Tamburlaine, do not thou become the talk or rather the horror of the world by such an action, but seek the innocency of thy Son and not his ruin, and if he be deeply smitten with the charms of that beauty, so fatal to the repose of thy blood, content thyself in bringing despair to his affection by giving that Asteria to Themir.  
This change of the Emperor was soon observed, by the friends and persecutors of the Prince of Tanaïs': Odmar was quite enraged at it, and did not doubt but that the love and care of Axalla did much contribute to it, he would with all his soul have destroyed him with Adanaxus, but how ruinously ingenious his envy and revenge were, it could do nothing against Axalla's glory, and he was obliged to confine his rage only in seeking out ways he thought might be most fit and proper to counterplot him, in hindering the justification of Adanaxus.  
In the mean time Tamburlaine came more and more to himself, and was considering among all those that were about him, who should be the man he had best pitch upon to be sent to examine the Prince of Tanais, and from his mouth to be informed when and how he got his acquaintance with Bajazet and Asteria: after a great deal of balancing upon the election, he concluded that Talmis should be the man, one who was of a considerable eminence about him, he was endowed with a great deal of wit and honesty, Tamburlaine knew Adanaxus had a high esteem and service for him, and Talmis appearing more fit than any other to take upon him such an office, and to discharge it with honour, received the commands of the Emperor, and performed them with as much justice as zeal. He went to the young Prince, and addressing himself with all that respect which was due to the Son of the Emperor, he humbly beseeched him not to take it ill, if he propounded some questions to him that he had in commission from his Father. Adanaxus satisfied with his submission, frankly told him all he had before acquainted Axalla with, and afterwards his surprise, when at the death of Bajazet he knew his Asteria again for Neris: Talmis being informed of the truth, made a very faithful recital of all the circumstances to the Emperor, and fortified them with arguments that were so powerful for the innocence of the Prince, that Tamburlaine was more than half persuaded of them, but yet he thought it prudence to see whether the Princess and Adanaxus would be found in the same story. He went to her Apartment early the next morning, and after he had excused himself for the unseasonableness of the hour he had chosen; Madam, said he to her, I am not of right to flatter myself with the thoughts of obtaining any grace from you, yet I am come to demand one of you, upon which all my tranquillity does depend. The Princess thought that Tamburlaine was come again to be solicitous for Themir, and therefore looking on him very steadfastly, It is not likely in good earnest, replied she, you should effect a thing that the death of Bajazet has not been able to make me resolve upon. 'Tis not that now which brings me to you, pursued the Emperor, I only am come to demand of you how Adanaxus began his acquaintance with you, what correspondence Bajazet had with him, and what intelligences he may still have with your Brothers; and I swear to you, that were he convicted of a thousand designs either upon my Empire or my life, Adanaxus should find his pardon from your confession, and that I will sacrifice my most just resentments to your sincerity. Though the Princess could not much believe Tamberlain's discourse, yet because she had nothing to hazard in telling him the truth, she made him the very same relation as the Prince had done before to Talmis: but indeed if she did pass over her tender affections to him, it was easily discoverable, that she did it through modesty. It is sufficient Madam, said the Emperor to her when she had done speaking, I will keep my word with you, and set Adanaxus' Prison wide open to you. You will do him justice, answered Asteria, and his innocence is manifest enough to oblige you to restore him his liberty.  
These stories agreeing together wrought a calm upon a great part of Tamberlain's troubles, the sincerity of the Princess he himself discovered, Talmis▪ was no way suspected by him, and nothing now remained but only to confound the accusers of Adanaxus, the Emperor was just going to send for them when he saw Odmar coming up to him: The feigned compassion he shown for the unhappiness of the Prince of Tanaïs', made Tamburlaine believe he would receive abundance of joy at the appearances of his justification. Odmar, said he to him, the pity you have testified for my Son, and which I condemned in you was just: all things persuade me that he is not guilty, and you have appeared so sensible of his misfortune, that you cannot but receive as great a satisfaction to learn the happy success of it. This was a thunderclap that made the perfidious Odmar think it would have struck him dead upon the spot, but as he was the best man in the world to manage a dissimulation, he concealed his trouble and confessed that he was over joyed at this resolution. He asked the Emperor whence it proceeded, and by what means he came to be informed of the Prince's innocence. Tamburlaine with all the obliging civility imaginable, gave him an exact account of it, and continuing to entertain him with the same confidence; It is necessary, added he, that those who have been the cause of Adanaxus' disgrace, should be examined before him, and that their punishment should revenge his glory, if he was not found guilty of any crime; make them to be sought out Odmar, they are known to you, and I myself will examine the source and progress of this calumny. Signior, answered Odmar, so hasty a procedure will go near to exasperate them, therefore let us manage the business with more secrecy, and if you please to take my advice, do not discover your thoughts, one word is enough to alarm them, and their flight will defeat you of the revenge you may take, it will be hard for me to get them together, and bring them here upon other pretences, give me only time to bring this to pass, and in the mean while conserve against the Prince Adanaxus, all the appearances of your first anger. This precaution seemed reasonable to the Emperor, he embraced Odmar, and entrusting him with the conduct of this affair, he put a stop to the discovery he so much desired.  
As soon as Odmar was gone from him, he gave his rage the full swinge, and after he had examined whatsoever might put things into disorder again, and make the accusations seem probable, he saw every way so many things to confound him, and so little security, that he thought he could not do better than to send away the informers. As they had done nothing without his orders, he immediately took this precaution, and sent them from Samarkand the same night, and having given them time enough to advance their flight, he went to find out the Emperor, with a grief and perplexity in his face so admirably counterfeited that it appeared natural. I saw sufficiently, Signior, said he to him, that there was but one word necessary to render your intentions public, and to counterplot your absolute satisfaction: I have been in vain looking out for those whom I was charged to bring before you: they are fled, so that none of them are to be found in Samarkand. Well then, answered the Emperor, this flight does fully convince me of the innocence of Adanaxus. If he had been guilty, his enemies would have stayed without ever fearing any thing of the event of this business: Yet Odmar, we had best send so many in pursuance after them, that we may from some of them hear what is become of those fugitives. Yes, Signior, answered the faithless Tartar, that is but requisite, and that I will labour with all the care I can. In short, he sent out several persons, but he knew very well which way to send them so that they should never be the wiser: But yet all this could not be managed without some noise: the friends of the Prince of Tanaïs' had great resentments of joy at it, and Axalla, who only was cautious of himself upon the consideration of Adanaxus, saw now that it was time to complete his happiness, and addressed himself to the Emperor to solicit him for it: The Emperor presently yielded, and commanded him to go to the Tower, and bring the Prince from it: This was a very pleasing order to a person who had so tender a passion for him as Axalla had; he accepted of it with transport, and after he had continued with the Emperor a little while longer, to take away the relics of his inquietude, he ran with the resembling fury of a Lover to his dear Adanaxus. Though the Prince could not expect any thing that might be fatal from Axalla, yet he had a thousand dismal Ideas in his fancy when he saw him: Must I then die, my dear Axalla, said he to him embracing him, and are you come to be a companion of my misfortune? No Signior, answered Axalla, I come to restore you liberty, which only your virtue and the justice of the Emperor has given you. He then acquainted himwith the change of his condition, the weak effort his enemies had made against him, and the Prince uncertain of the consequences which that might occasion, appeared unshaken, he went towards the Palace, informing himself by the way of Asteria, and he had the joy to know by the acclamations of the people, that they had been as sensible of his imprisonment, as they were of his liberty.  
When he came up to the Emperor he threw himself at his fear, which action made him blush through confusion, as it did also cause him to sigh through repentance. Adanaxus, said he to him, after he had done embracing him, I have not done any thing against you which I am not resolved to repair, and as I no longer doubt but that the crimes you have been accused of are only forged, so I would already have revenged you of those who were the inventors of them, if they were not got out of the reach of my anger: To be plain with you, I am sufficiently sensible of your innocence, for it I have believed my tender affections to you, and you are also redevable for one part of your justification to the Princess Asteria. You have the freedom to go and pay her your acknowledgements for it, and judge of the return of my friendship, by this first effect of my indulgence. Adanaxus blushed to hear his Princess named; and it was not difficult for Tamburlaine to interpret the emotion; but after he had learned from the Prince's mouth, the same things that Talmis had reported to him; You have a Rival in Themir, said he to him, whose pretensions are strengthened upon my promises, and whom I cannot deny my protection against your flame, though I know that you have the advantage of a longer service, as well as of the gratitude of the Princess: But Adanaxus, is it not possible to conquer yourself, and by a generous effort— Signior, cried the Prince, if I were unfaithful to Asteria, I could become so to you: He that can prove a Traitor to his love will never have any great considerations for nature, and I should render myself worthy of your Chains, if I were capable of doing the least effort to break those of the Princess.  
As the young Prince ended these words, Themir entered; his paleness expressed the despair he was in, and the looks he darted upon Adanaxus, sufficiently testified that his Soul was full of a thousand bloody resolutions. Tamburlaine seemed as if he did not mind them, and asked him if he came to share in his brother's joy to which he returned no answer, and the Emperor according to his usual complaisance, not being willing to press him any farther, contented himself in giving to the Prince of Tanaïs' the caresses that were due to him, and publicly protested that there were not any punishments which those who had unjustly accused him, ought not to expect.  
As soon as Adanaxus had the freedom to retire, he took the benefit of that the Emperor had given him, to see Asteria, and the jealous looks of Themir were not powerful enough to prevent him from it. It would be very hard to tell, which of the two were the most sensible of the pleasure they resented in seeing one another again: Silence and sighs are the first marks of those kind of joys, and there is more said in an amorous trouble and confusion, than in a set and orderly discourse. Oh, how eloquent were the eyes of Adanaxus then, and how attentive were those of the Princess to hearken to them? As he entered he fling himself at her feet, and after he had been there a good while, without her having the least power to make him rise, at last, Madam, said he to her, the great mystery of my love is known to the Emperor, this knowledge has not hindered my liberty, and I am come to pay you my acknowledgements for having procured it me. What an honourable satisfaction is it to me to see myself prostrate at your feet, and not to owe it to any thing but yourself. You owe me nothing for having done justice to a truth which was profitable to you, interrupted the Princess, and though I should not have this testimony to your services, my heart would have compelled me to render it you. Is it possible for me to forget, without the last ingratitude, that you have been prodigal of your blood for Neris, treated a wretched Unknown like a Princess, run through Seas and Land to seek me out, and have done so many generous services for the unfortunate Bajazet? You set too high a value upon those that are so little deserving, replied Adanaxus, but as for me my Princess, what do I not owe you, to suffer at your feet the Son of Tamburlaine and the Brother of Themir? I do not confound the vices of Themir with your virtues, replied Asteria, nor your services with the outrages that have been done me; and if I do hate your Brother as one that is worthy of my aversion, I love you, Signior, because you deserve to be beloved, and because Bajazet has not imposed upon me such laws as are contrary to the sentiments of my breast. You see now my fears were but too well grounded, and you ought not to doubt but that the misfortune you have escaped was a design of the Prince of Tartar●● for the future take more precautions against him, let the Emperor know it was Themir that would have ruined you. Alas Madam, answered the Prince, the Empire that my Brother has over the mind of Tamburlaine makes your commands be extremely difficult, none can accuse him without rendering himself at the same time suspected by the Emperor, and to testify the least suspicion against him would be to prove my own destroyer. And what will you do then pursued Asteria? Adore you, my Princess, interrupted Adanaxus with a melting fervency beyond expression, and this devotion shall be the glorious employment of my life. Your sidelity is dear to me, replied she, but in this present occasion it is not sufficient for me, and if you love me you must think upon some way to conserve yourself, and what would you do yourself, Madam, added the Prince, I would replied Asteria, despise Themir unto my last breath, render by my resistance all his pretensions useless, and though I would not do it for myself, believe me I would do it for you. Ah Madam, cried the Prince of Tanaïs': ought I to be afraid of any thing after this glorious assurance? Alas, Signior, answered Asteria, this assurance as sincere as it is, can it do any thing against Irons, Prisons, Impostors, and to conclude, against all the other ways that Themir is able to make use of to destroy you? Can my affection render you immortal, and am I more certain of your life, because I love you? Give me the satisfaction to see you mistrust all things, and then I shall value whatever you do to put yourself in a condition that may secure you from your enemies. Yes Madam, pursued Adanaxus, I will obey, I will be careful of my life, I will foresee, if it be possible, the designs that may be hatched against me, and I will forget nothing that may make me capable of deserving the favours of my charming Princess.  
At the end of these discourses, and some others much resembling them, Adanaxus, who since he found that his Neris was Asteria, had never met with an opportunity to demand of her those adventures of hers that he was ignorant of; burning with an earnest impatience of knowing them, conjured her to give him a Relation of them which she presently consented to, and thus began her discourse.   

The History of the Princess Asteria.  
WHen Andronicus defeated the Turks who were to be my guide, I was going from Bursa to Sebastia to meet my Mother, who was to pass the Winter with the Emperor; our Troops were on the side of Thrace, Bajazet had designs upon Constantinople, and it was not believed that in the Winter Paleologus his Sons, hardened by the little opposition they found, would venture to go into the lesser Asia; but in their way they took us; I concealed my name, not knowing into what hands I was fallen; but having learned it was in Andronicus', and afterwards understood his sentiments for me, I made it my particular business to keep it from being known, and through the natural aversion I had for him; and the fear of seeing Paleologus approve of his Son's Love and of being the victim of a peace between the two Empires; it fell out very luckily for me that I did so, the Emperor of Greece would not authorise an alliance unknown, and in all probability unequal; which gave me a very sensible joy, because my hatred for Andronicus augmented as soon as ever I had a sight of you. I quickly perceived how my heart pleaded in your favour by the trouble and melancholiness I resented, when I beheld you render your submissions with too much assiduity to the Princess of Greece: and time, and your procedure having assured me of your heart, I blushed sometimes to think I was the daughter of Bajazet, and that when I with scorn refused the vows of Andronicus, I harkened with pleasure to those of one unknown: but that confusion produced no effects which were not favourable to you. I told you nothing of my true birth, not so much out of any mistrustfulness, as out of a certain scruple I then had: I was very desirous to know whether you had only a kindness for my person; but I did it out of policy, after you had told me yours. I was not ignorant of Tamberlain's hatred to the Ottomans: and fearing lest your sentiments should resemble his, I made that a secret to you, the reserve of which I thought I sufficiently recompensed by my weakness for you. I began in the mean time not to be in a power to be silent to you, but had infallibly told you all, if Andronicus had but for some days suspended the design he had been meditating since the unhappy success of his enterprise at Constantinople; but he made me be carried away then when I thought least of it, and those fellows more hardy and resolute than those of the Emperor, embarked me in a Vessel, which in a short time brought us to a very strange and lovely House, which they were assured of. At first I accused the Emperor for this second carrying me away, but I was undeceived, when Andronicus reduced to his flight by the wicked success of those unfaithful enterprises of his against his Father, came to find me in the place where I had been conducted: I was fearful of all things from the violences of a desperate and furious Spirit; and therefore to inspire him with a greater respect than I thought he might have had to one unknown, I told him I was daughter to the Emperor of the Turks: This news appeared to him to be much to his advantage, and he imagined that in restoring me to Bajazet, he might not only obtain me from him, but he might with greater facility conquer his Father's Empire, in promising to share it with me. He then acquainted me with his design, and desired me to consider of it as an effect of the passion he had to please me. You may easily believe that the hopes of returning to Bajazet made me resolve upon some complaisance: at last we arrived at Bursa, and we were received there with all the joy that could be inspired into the Emperor, and my Mother, by the return of a daughter whose loss they had bewailed: The Grecian Prince had very extraordinary honours passed upon him, but when he explained his Intentions to Bajazet and that he perceived him much averse to favour them, he fell to reproaches and from thence to threats, which had but too bloody effects. He went in great fury from Bursa, and marched towards his Father's Army, which he found driven back by the valour of Ortobulus, who had the command of ours in the Emperor's absence, even within sight of Constantinople. He made his peace by a thousand submissions, related his adventures, and seeing the Greeks every way weakened, he himself secretly laboured the relieving of the Tartars. Tamburlaine solicited by Andronicus, and jealous of Bajazet's glory whom he hated, got together all the forces of Asia, and brought where ever he went both horror and desolation. At last this Tamburlaine famous by our disgraces, and eminent by our misfortunes, without any pity burnt our Cities, sacrificed our people, and reduced, by that fatal success that did attend him, a Prince who was seen ready to share almost the World, with the rest of the Princes, to that deplorable condition into which he is fallen.  
Whilst these evils were happening, notwithstanding my grief I did not lose the remembrance of Adanaxus, nor forget the cares of informing myself of him. I was confirmed of your absence, and was persuaded that you must needs learn who I was, I did imagine you had not gone from Tamburlaine, but only to escape fight with my Father, and this very thought gave me a great consolation: at last Signior, Bursa was ravaged, afterwards Sebastia, Themir haled us from the Palace, and made us take this voyage to Asia, where we were seen to follow the Chariot of that cruel Conqueror; and which cost my Mother her life. Our captivity preceded that of Bajazet's some few days, and I have often heard him say, that being overwhelmed with a mortal grief, after Ortobulus' misfortune whom Themir had massacred before his eyes, and the loss of the last battle, having suffered his Horses to carry him up and down without any design or hope through unknown deserts. He met with a Shepherd, who was all alone by the side of a River pleasing himself with playing some rural airs upon his Oaten pipe, the Emperor looked upon him a long time admiring at the sweetness of his condition, and then sighing: Oh! Too happy Shepherd, said he to him, how worthy is thy state of envy, to have nothing to spend but thy days, which bloody ambition never crosses; Bajazet's calamities will furnish you with matter for your Songs, and you may hereafter in your pitiful Numbers say, unfortunate Prince thou shalt never more see thy delightful Sebastia, nor thy dear Ortobulus. This Shepherd with the sight and words of the Emperor, oftered him his little cottage, but that retreat was not very long serviceable to him. Themir by his inquisition for him quickly resembled his fate to that of ours. She ended this discourse with a thousand tears, which made Adanaxus repent that he had been the unhappy cause of them, and after he had employed some time in drying them up, he left her, to teturn to the Emperor.  
In the mean time Odmar was flattering the transports of Themir with the hopes of a more successful crime, and promised him the ruin of Adanaxus with very powerful assuranses, and counselled him to go once more, and make his last efforts to Asteria. Signior, said he to the Emperor, I've now dispensed with all that has hitherto made me support the contempts of Asteria, will you give me your consent to impose upon her inclinations to make me happy, for I do not think you will authorise Adanaxus to thwart my pretensions, and especially upon the account of Asterïa, whom I may call my conquest, by the blood she cost me whilst he abandoned you. Indeed I have no intention to prefer Adanaxus to you, answered the Emperor, but you have your liberty to satisfy your Love. But Son, are you steadfastly resolved to marry a Maid that cannot love you, who will look upon you as her Tyrant in your most pleasing moments, and become a torment to your Life. India, China, Egypt, Arabia, have Princesses, who will procure us such alliances as may be advantageous, and who are blest with charms, if Fame may be believed: You will bring to yourself a more quiet happiness, and the daughter of Bajazet will see her folly punished by a contempt she will repent she had ever merited. No, Signior replied Themir, I will have no other happiness then that I demand of you. Well then added Tamburlaine, give her some days respite to her mourning. Signior, interrupted Themir, Asteria will never soften by time, and it is unprofitable to throw it away. I will not prescribe you any long time, pursued the Emperor, and then you shall have all my Authority. Themir complied with the Emperor and by an affected kind of submission got himself commended for it. He presently went to fling himself at the feet of Asteria; and Adanaxus being a greater persecution to him then his love, he sought out Odmar, who advised him to give the Prince of Tanaïs' the liberty of seeing the Princess for some few days, that so he may be deprived of it for ever.  
Adanaxus did not trouble himself about forming of bloody designs, but employing all his desires to his Love, one obliging word from the Princess did move him more than the possession of an Empire could have done.  
He spent one evening with her with as much sweetness and tranquillity, as if he had neither had Rivals nor enemies, and was taking his leave of her with the ravishing joy of a successful Lover, when he heard a crying in the Palace, that the Prince of Tanaïs' was dead. It is impossible to express Asteria's resentments at these pitiful cries, Adanaxus was so newly gone from her that she had not had the time to undress herself since that separation, and to hear his death proclaimed, struck her with an astonishment that gave her almost a mortal paleness, and she fell into a swoon that held her so long, as made her women believe she was quite expired.  
The cries increased up and down the Palace, Tamburlaine was frighted at it, and Axalla enraged at the cruel destiny of so young a Prince, ran to the place where the massacred body lay (which was at the foot of a pair of Stairs that led to Asteria's Apartment.) He embraced it all bloody as it was, but it was not long e'er by the light of several Flambeaus that the Servants brought, he discovered that the person departed was Themir and not Adanaxus: Oh how great was Axalla's joy? What was the surprise of Odmar in beholding his dear hopes in the condition he thought the Prince of Tanaïs' had been. The Emperor was also come to this place, and by his transports testified, how cruelly the loss of a Son so tenderly beloved, was like to be revenged. Adanaxus came thither too at the same time, and troubled at Themir's fate; how excusable soever he would have been; if he had not bewailed it. Ah! Signior, said he to Tamburlaine, whosoever is the murderer of my Brother, he shall only die by my hands. 'Tis I, interrupted Odmar, with an undaunted resolution, 'tis I who have given to the unfortunate Themir, that destiny which I only designed for thee: and when I thought thy death certain, I myself was the publisher of it by my outcries. I saw you go to Asteria's Apartment, and having long since resolved thy destruction, I waited here to sacrifice thee, to give a pleasing surprise to Themir by the noise of thy death, my first designs not having been successful, I would not owe the execution of this last to any other hand; than mine own: but fortune has proved base to me, and betrayed my intentions, and Themir who in all likelihood would have prevented me with resembling one's, is now unfortunately fallen under the horror of my stabs. Odmar spoke like a man despairing, who only owed his unhappiness to his crimes; and perceiving the astonishment that every body was in by his discourse, gave him opportunity to pursue it. Themir was wicked through my care to make him so; continued he, for finding dispositions in him conformable to my desires, I made it my business to improve the malignity of them: He was absolutely mine and I was ambitious to see him have the Empire, but Tamburlaine, be not surprised with so blind a passion, but render justice to nature; for Themir was my Son, and in the first days of your own, your absence during the war of China, and the residence of your Queen at Cambalu, favouring my ambition, I very happily made an exchange of them: your young Prince died naturally in the exile to which I had sent him, and mine enjoying his place, would, had it not been for this fatal accident, have reigned over the Tartars: He was ignorant of his birth, and I had used my utmost industry, and address to make him dear to you, and Adanaxus to meet with your hatred, or at least your indifference, whom I looked upon as the only obstacle that could trouble me. But yet after the precaution of so many years, and the flattering Ideas I fed myself withal, I have inhumanely deprived myself of him, these are the effects of unconstant fortune, she yet demands one more, and he who has not trembled to reach the heart of his Son, ought not to have any pity for his own. At those words he ran a poniard up into his body, and then throwing himself upon that of Themir, he there expired in a moment. The death and the last words of Odmar produced new causes of astonishment, Tamburlaine had not the power to recover himself out of his, to think that he had given the whole Empire of his Soul to an impostor, who had committed so many injustices against him, and caused the ruin of his true Son. This dreadful accident which was so great a justification to the Prince of Tanaïs', obliged the Emperor to make him a public reparation for what was past, and not being able to tarry any longer in a place that was floating with such odious blood, he retired to his Apartment, and the generous Adanaxus after he had ordered that the wretched Bodies should be buried, returned to the Princess, not doubting but that the report of his death had sufficiently alarmed her.  
He found her in that dismal swoon she fell into at the first outcry. Just Heavens, cried he, seeing her in that condition, shall I never enjoy a happiness without such afflicting allays, those tears and the name of the Princess which he several times repeated, began to make her come to herself. Asteria at last opened her eyes, and casting them upon Adanaxus; Ah! Signior, said she to him, is it you I behold? Yes, Madam, replied the Prince, Themir has met with that destiny which was prepared for me, Ortobulus is revenged, I am without a Rival, I now need not fear any other to persecute me, and for my greater joy, that Themir, who was so odious to my Princess by too powerful reasons, was not of the blood of Adanaxus. The Prince of Tanaïs' who perceived Asteria, began to gather strength by the joy he had inspired into her at the Relation, gave her a true and full account of all the circumstances, and passages of it, how he had escaped death in passing through the Terrace.  
The rest of the Night passed in confusion, Asteria beheld her affection innocent, the murderer of Ortobulus was not her Lover's Brother, and with a greater ease and tranquillity than ever, enjoyed the pleasure of seeing herself beloved by him.  
This accident divested Tamburlaine of that cruel Mien he had before, and which made him be looked upon with so much fear; now all his severity with Themir had its sepulture; his eyes lost their fury; and put a very pleasing sweetness on his face, and all those whom the address and subtlety of Odmar, and his complaisances for Themir, had removed from his esteem, received then fresh assurances of it from him.  
As Adanaxus only now took up all his thoughts, he minded nothing but how to complete his happiness. He went to visit Asteria, testified to her the sincere grief he had at the afflictions he had procured her, restored her all the conquests he had made in her Father's Kingdom, to dispose of how she pleased, and offered her the Crown of the Tartars with Adanaxus. It was not possible that such a proffer as this could be displeasing to the Princess, She loved the Prince of Tanaïs', Bajazet had given him his esteem, and she thought she could not do any wrong to his memory in marrying him; but as he had left her Brothers, she acquainted the Emperor that she could not dispose of herself without their allowance. This reason appeared to him but just and equitable, he ordered Alizanes and Calixtus two illustrious Tartars, to go and find them out. The impatience of Adanaxus made some little murmur at it, but he was necessitated to submit to the Princess. Bajazet's Sons were found on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, rallying by the help of their Neighbours such forces, they thought might be sufficient to go out against Tamburlaine. The Letters of Asteria and the conquests which were restored, put an end to that design; they now were thinking only how to raise up the Throne of Bajazet; which Mahomet the youngest of those Sons some few years after the death of the other, brought again to its first splendour. The Tartars returned, having managed their negotiation with success, Adanaxus' love was authorized, and the marriage of Asteria recompensed his fidelity in the great City of Samarkand, where they passed away their days in a lasting happiness, after so many long and tedious persecutions.  
FINIS.    

Books Printed for and are to be sold by Robert Sollers at the flying Horse, in St. Paul's Church yard.  
SErmons preached upon several occasions before the King at Whitehal. By the right reverend Father in God, John Wilkins, late Lord Bishop of Chester, to which is added a Discourse concerning the Beauty of providence by the same Author.  
Syncrisis or the most natural and easy Method of learning Latin by comparing it with English. Together with the holy History of Scripture War: Or the sacred art Military-Illustrated in fourteen copper Plates: With the rude translation opposite for the exercise of those that begin to make Latin, by E. Coles.  
Nugae venales or the Complaisant Companion: Being new Jests Domestic and foreign, Bulls, Rodomantad's pleasant Novels and Miscellanies.  
The Miss Displayed with all her Wedding Arts and Circumventions in which Historical Narration are detested, her selfish Contrivances, Modest pretences, and subtle stratagems.  
A Present for a Papist: Or the Life and Death of Pope Joan. Plainly proving out of the Printed Copies, and Manuscripts of Popish writers and others, that a Woman called Joan, was really Pope of Rome; and was there delivered of a Bastard Son in the open street as she went in Solemn procession  
The Life and Death of Alexander the Great,