Roxana was to paſs by that Summer-Houſe returning, ſhe caſt her Eye that way, and perceived the Paper, which gave her the curioſity of ſtepping in, and taking of it up; ſhe opened, and read it, and was no leſs ſurprized at that than ſhe had been at the Flowers removal, which made her to haſten the more to the Houſe to be better inform'd of thoſe Myſteries, if ſhe could poſſible; not without great reflection on the whole. Being got in, the firſt thing ſhe did was to enquire of her Father whether he had employed any body ſince her abſence to work in the Garden? He told her no, and that he had not ſeen any perſon appear in it beſides the old Gardner, ſince her going to the Sultana's, though he had walk'd in it more than uſually, ſince he had been detain'd at home by the Janiſaries Tumults, and that as far as he could ſee in her Nurcery over the Quick-ſet, he had not perceiv'd any body. She, after this anſwer made as ſtrict an enquiry as ſhe could poſſible of all the Servants and Slaves, one by one; threatning ſome, and making fair promiſes to others, if they would diſcover who had been in her Privy-Garden ſince three or four days; but all to no purpoſe, none could inform her; Whereupon ſhe reſolv'd to ſet a Watch for ſome nights, to ſurprize any perſon that ſhould come over the Walls, and have them brought to examination. But all was to no effect. In the mean time, Ibrahim was not wanting in ſending forth his Scout in the night, to learn how things were: Moretto was told that Roxana was ſenſible that during her abſence, ſome body had got into her Garden, but which way ſhe knew not, but upon ſuſpicion that is could not be without the old Gardner's knowledge, though he could not be brought to confeſs any thing, ſhe had cauſed her Father to turn him away, who had readily complyed with his Daughters deſires in a buſineſs of that nature; that they were now in want of a Gardner, and if he would offer himſelf, and were expert at it, he might eaſily get the place, which was worth looking after.

Moretto having had theſe Informations, deſired the Fellow to propoſe him the next day for Gardner, which the other having promiſed to do, he returned to his Maſter, full freighted with all this good News.

Ibrahim, who expected his return with the impatiency of a Lover, was glad to ſee him, and more too, when he heard all the ſtory, and that there was not the leaſt diſtruſt from his Houſe and Garden; but above all, when Moretto told him, that with his leave, if his Maſter thought he could do him any ſervice in it, he believ'd that he could be taken as Gardiner into Roxana's Father's Houſe, in the place of the old Gardner that had been diſplac'd, upon Roxana's Suſpitions. I'll give thee leave, reply'd Ibrahim, and charge thee moſt ſtrictly alſo, not to loſe ſo good and great an Opportunity of ſerving me, which if thou doſt honeſtly, I ſhall not only ſet thee free, but ſhall alſo prefer thee to ſome handſome Employment anſwerable to thoſe great Services which thou ſhalt render me; but thou muſt firſt get me in all manner of proviſion for a Week, and then go and engage thy ſelf to that Service, from which I expect ſuch great advantages, as it may be contrived betwixt thee and me, but be thou ſure ſtill to engage induſtriouſly Roxana as ſhe paſſes by thee in ſome diſcourſe, upon thy particular skill in the raiſing of Flowers, that ſhe may, if poſſible, have a fancy to thy Service, or at leaſt to ſome of thy advice; and obſerve exactly all her actions and her words, that thou mayeſt give me a faithful account of them. Thus was Moretto ſent to get in Proviſions after which he went to learn of his Friend, what hopes he had of his getting him into that Family; It is your fault, if you get not in this very day, ſaid the Friend, I have propoſed the matter; it is hearkned unto, eſpecially by Roxana, who has commanded me to bring you to her Father ſo ſoon as I ſaw you next, therefore come in with me, and I will ſhew you to our Maſter, who is now walking in the Garden. So ſaid, ſo done; And Aladin did ſo well like of Moretto's perſon, promiſes of performance, and brisk anſwers, that he immediately ſent for Roxana, and told her, he had met with a Gardner, who, he fancied to be more skilful than or • inary in his Art, wherefore he deſign'd to retain him, and that if ſhe deſired it, he ſhould alſo have an Eye over her Garden. This did Moretto readily offer to do, pretending extraordinary skill, in the raiſing of Flowers from ſeeds; ſhe anſwer'd, that ſhe wanted no body for that work, but that having a deſign to remove ſome Flowers on the ſhady ſide of the Garden, ſeeing that thoſe did ſo well that had been already remov'd there ſhe knew not how, ſhe would therefore employ him in ſtirring up the Earth, and fitting it for the Tranſplantation. Moretto was not wanting in preſently informing them of the great Art he had in preparing of Earth, ſo that no Vermin nor Weeds ſhould moleſt the Plants. After which Aladin and Roxana retir'd; and Moretto fell to work in the Garden.

In the Evening, Moretto took the pretence of g ing to fetch ſome Linnen, that he might l • w • he liberty of giving his Maſ •• an Account of h •• good S •• ceſs; he told him all that had paſſed, and that he did not deſpair of finding opportunities to ſerve him to ſome good purpoſe. They took their meaſures accordingly, and that they might have a correſpondency together without ſuſpicion; they agreed upon this following expedient. Moretto could not write, but read very well his Maſter's Writing; Ibrahim therefore was to write what he deſi • 'd to know; which he was to faſten to a ſtone, and this Stone he was to throw in Aladin's Garden, preſently after he had made a certain noiſe, and which was to be anſwer'd by Moretto's ſtriking upon his Spade, with the Inſtrument that he uſed to clean it with, which was the ſign he was at hand to receive the Meſſage; that Moretto having taken it up, and read the Contents, he ſhould fling over a white Stone for the Affirmative, and a black ſtone when it was in the Negative. This Intreague went on very currant for three or four days, during which, Ibrahim did often ſee Roxana in her Garden; but one day Ibrahim having heard the Signal, and caſting the Stone ſhort, ſo that it fell on this ſide the Quick-ſet Hedge in Roxana's Garden, the door of it being ſhut, and not knowing which way to come at it, he at laſt ſought ſo long, that he ſound in a Corner next to the Wall at the foot of the Quickſet, a ſpace which was more thin than the reſt, he went to work about it, having firſt looked about whether the Coaſt was clear, and with his Knife having made himſelf a paſſage, which he induſtriouſly covered without and within, with the Branches which he had left to that purpoſe, he got into Roxana's Garden, took up the Stone, and could not forbear running haſtily to the Hole in the Wall, to ſee whether he could ſee or ſpeak with his Maſter; by good Fortune his Maſter was on the Watch, and hearing a noiſe he went to the peep-hole, where he ſaw his Moretto, who told him of the occaſion of his coming, which was to advertiſe him that he ſhould throw the Stones far enough, for fear that at ſome time or other he ſhould be diſcover'd going to fetch them, through the hole he had made in the Quickſet. Ibrahim had ſo many Queſtions to make to Moretto, that it kept him ſo long in the Garden, that he heard a noiſe at the entry of it. It was Roxana, who, ſooner than her uſual hour, was come with a deſign to take Moretto into her Garden with her, and ſhew him, what ſhe would have him to do; he heard her ſpeak to her Woman, and by the Voice, judged they were drawing nearer to the place where he was. Ibrahim did not know what to adviſe him to he • idding him go hide himſelf in the Summerhouſe, which Moretto would have done, but beginning to perceive their Cloaths, he could not recover that place without •• ing diſcovered, at laſt being preſt to it, he fell a digging, and minded them not. Roxana was wonderfully ſurpriz'd, when ſhe firſt perceiv'd this new Gardner at work in her Garden, ſhe came up to him, and asked him how he came there, and who had ſet him to work? he reſolutely made anſwer, that finding the door open, and having heard her ſay, That ſhe deſign'd to have the reſt of her Flowers remov'd to that ſide of the Garden, he had taken the boldneſs to ſtep in, and to ſhut the Door after him; and that when he was in, he could not forbear trying the goodneſs of the Earth with his Spade, that he might give her an account of it. The readi s of the Anſwer, and the boldneſs with which it was given, did incline Roxana to believe the Story • be true: wherefore having check'd her Maid for having not ſhut the Garden Door when they went laſt out of it; to which, the Maid proteſted, ſhe thought ſhe had; gave Moretto her Inſtructions. And then ſhe went into the Summer-Houſe, where Ibrahim, who was ſtill upon the watch, did ſee her pull out a Paper, which ſhe read very attentively; which done, Ibrahim heard her ſay, It is ſtrange that I cannot learn who wrote this Paper, and by what means it was convey'd here? it ſpeaks as if it came from one who knew my very thoughts. As if, Madam, the perſon had heard what you had ſpoken the day before, ſaid the Maid, when you ask'd me my thoughts on the Bridegroom? Prithee what did I ſay, reply'd Roxana? That you could not fancy ſuch a Man, Madam, anſwer'd the Maid, and then, continu'd ſhe, you gave ſuch a Picture of an Hero, as ſcarce could ever be found in any Romance. I humbly conceive, Madam, that the Author of thoſe Verſes aims at that, when he ſays, that even our Great Prophet was not ſo qualified, as you require your Lover ſhould be; and certainly, Madam, he that wrote thoſe Lines had a world of Love, at leaſt he expreſſes much of Paſſion, and if his other qualities anſwer that, though he ſhould not be ſo perfectly accompliſh'd in beauty and ſhape as you would deſire; he doubtleſs might merit much. Hold, not ſo faſt, reply'd Roxana, if you would not have me believe you had an hand in the conveyance of the Paper here, and are become his Advocate: If I were Madam, though I proteſt I am all Ignorance in this Myſtery, reply'd the Maid, if his good Meen, his Birth, his Riches, his Courage cannot be queſtion'd that dares lift up his thoughts to you; if, in a word all other things anſwer'd the Greatneſs of his Soul, would you be angry I ſhould ſerve a Perſon that ſhould expreſs ſo much Love for you, Madam, whoſe happineſs I wiſh for above my own. But what doſt thou know, reply'd Roxana, but that he counterfeits, and that his Body is as counterfeited as his Mind? But if otherwiſe, reply'd the Maid? well Madam, give me leave to wiſh for your Content, that he were as I fancy him, and that you could be ſatisfy'd of that with your own eyes. Thou ſpeakeſt of impoſſibilities, reply'd Roxana, 'twas eaſie to have this Paper conveyed here, but a man cannot ſo eaſily convey himſelf; beſides, it were beyond, what my Condition would permit me to allow of, without the higheſt reſentment imaginable. Yet a Letter of Submiſſion and of Love from ſuch a perſon would not deſtroy you, Madam, reply'd the Maid. But how ſhould I know ſtill whether all the reſt did anſwer to that Love, or whether that Love was not meerly pretended to make him ſport withal? Then Madam, ſaid the Maid, he would be the worſt of men, and I ſhould be ſorry of ever having harbour'd one good thought of him in my Opinion. Well, to tell thee the truth, reply'd Roxana, ſuch a Perſon I ſhould be glad to ſee, if it did not coſt me too dear. May you have your deſires, Madam, reply'd the Maid, and I wiſh I could have him inform'd of it. Not for the World, reply'd Roxana, I have a great fancy that he had an hand in the tranſplanting of my Flowers, though no mention is made of it in his Verſes. I have had the ſame Thoughts, Madam, reply'd the Maid, for why ſhould not he who knew your thoughts in one thing, know them in another alſo. Well, all that I can make of it, reply'd Roxana, is, I fear, that ſome of my Servants have been brib'd to let a Perſon into my Garden, who being cloſely conceal'd, did overhear all that I ſaid and acted, according as his humour led him after it. Pray, Madam, give me leave to conſult a Caldean about it, ſaid the Maid, I know one that is very expert, and who has told me ſtrange things concerning my ſelf? Do what thou wilt, reply'd Roxana, but take it all upon thy ſelf, I will have no hand in it. With that Roxana went out of the Summer-houſe, ordering Moretto to draw the door after him when he had done in the Garden.

You may imagine in what rapture Ibrahim was at all he had ſeen and heard; he reſolved to make good uſe of it, and to that purpoſe he did caſt a little Stone over, towards the place where Moretto was at work; who did gueſs at the meaning of it, and having ſeen whether the Coaſt was clear, he drew near to the peep-hole, where Ibrahim told him all that had paſſed; after which, it was agreed that Moretto ſhould ask leave to go to a Caldean which he had heard of, who us'd to inform him as to Gardening, to know of him when the Stars and the Moon were in the beſt diſpoſition for to tranſplant thoſe Flowers which Roxana had commanded him to remove; that that ſhould be an introduction by which, through his Wit and good Management, he ſhould inſinuate to the Maid that ſhe could not employ a more Learned Man than that Caldean, if ſhe ſhould give him the leaſt hint of any deſire ſhe had that way; and if ſo, that then he himſelf would in a diſguiſe paſs for the Caldean, and by that means work his own ends to his full content. This being agreed upon, Moretto return'd to finiſh his work, and then he return'd into the Houſe, while his Maſter retired to reſt, and to expect his anſwer.

Moretto, whoſe Wit anſwered the great inclination which he had to ſerve his Maſter, fail'd not of addreſſing himſelf to Roxana's Maid, to obtain leave of going out, as he had projected; and he told her ſo many wonderful things of this Caldean, that the Maid grew impatient of ſpeaking with him her ſelf, with a deſign that if he did not anſwer exactly the expectation which Moretto had ſtir'd up in her by his recital, ſhe would paſs him by, and go to her old acquaintance; and no ſooner was Moretto gone, but that ſhe acquainted Roxana with the wonders which Moretto had told her of his Caldean; this ſet her as much a-gog as her Maid, of hearing what he could ſay, but for fear any body ſhould have the leaſt ſuſpition of it, ſhe ordered her Maid to entertain him from a low Window, and that ſhe would be concealed in ſome convenient place of the room, where ſhe might hear all.

Mean time away gets Moretto in the dusk of the evening to his Maſter, with ſuch accoutrements as were proper for to make an abſolate Caldean of him, he fitted them upon him, gave him his Cue, and when it was dark they both got out at the Stable door, and away they trudg'd towards Aladin's Houſe, which, though near, required many ſteps to get the right way unto it; being got thither, our new Caldean ſtood at a little diſtance from the Houſe while Moretto went into give the Maid notice, who being upon the watch, bid him ſtay a little for an anſwer, and went towards her Ladies Appartment: This gave Moretto ſome thoughts that her Lady was to be made acquainted with it, in which he was preſently confirmed; for after the Maid had told him at what Window he ſhould bring the Caldean, he going out, turn'd back ſuddenly, to ask her if he ſhould remain with the Caldean, or come in again, he had a glimps of Roxana who was getting into that low Room; he was bid to come in again, and leave the Caldean to diſcourſe with her privately.

Moretto preſently inform'd Ibrahim of his new diſcovery; after which he brought him to the appointed Window, where he left him, and ſo went into the houſe, leaving his Maſter to manage thoſe two Females.

The Maid ask'd him, whether he was the Caldean of whom their Gardner had given ſo great a Character? he anſwer'd that he was the perſon, in a low voice; ſhe bid him ſpeak louder without fear, becauſe there being No body elſe that could hear: no, ſaid he, then I find you have a mind to play upon me, and ſeeing that you will not deal with me, as I deſign'd to deal with you both, added he, I'll retire immediately, and Roxana ſhall not have the ſatisfaction which ſhe expected from me. At the word Roxana, both the Miſtreſs and the Maid ſtarted, and perceiving that he was going to be as good as his word, by moving from the Window; Hold, ſaid the Maid by Roxana's Command, and ſince nothing is hid from your great Knowledge, ſpeak boldly to us both! Do, ſaid Roxana, and if thou goeſt on as thou haſt begun, I will highly gratifie thee. Then ſay not one word more, reply'd Ibrahim, for it were needleſs; I know your Thonghts, and as dark as it is can read them on your foreheads as eaſily as the Verſes in your Pocket. Ask me no more queſtions, I ſay, continu'd he, no more than I ask you, but hear with attention all that I know of your Thoughts, your Wiſhes, and Deſires. 'Twas by my great Art, my Infallible Art, that the Flowers in your Garden were Tranſplanted; I cauſed thoſe Verſes to be Wrote, which you found in the Summer-Houſe, after you had given your Maid an account of the qualifications that man ſhould have that you could Love. I infus'd into ſuch a Perſon the deſire to ſee you, to like you, and to give you that ſhort declaration of Love in Verſe: Ask me not why I did this for you, I ſee your longing deſire to do it, not one word. I read alſo that you would be glad to ſee that ſo accompliſh'd a Perſon, and foreſee that you will love him, and that your hearts will agree. I know that your Servant would have addreſſed her ſelf to another of my Profeſſion, but he had not given you all this ſatisfaction. I know your Parents will thwart his Love to you, and that it is not to be ſlackned by their greateſt ſeverity; and that you will, nay that you muſt, for the Heavens have Decreed it, I ſay, you muſt repay his Love with yours, mutually enterchange your hearts, and by firm Promiſe make you both one Perſon, 'till time and Friends work your Parents to give their conſent. I know, laſtly, that you would be glad to ſee the Perſon's Idea or Form, which you ſhall do; hear it ſpeak, Court you, as if it were he himſelf, if you dare with only this your Maid, go to the Summer-Houſe this night at Twelve, where I engage nothing ſhall appear, or be heard to affright you. And now I have done; when you would hear more, ſend for me here again, or I'll come of my ſelf when I think you may want me: remember this night at Twelve, on which depends much of your future happineſs. He was Retiring, when Roxana holding a Purſe in her hand, cry'd hold, take this. At which turning his head, I deſpiſe your gilded droſs, ſaid he, and move by Nobler Motives. So he retir'd.

It is ſcarce to be imagin'd, in what ſurprizal and confuſion of thoughts our Caldean left his Miſtreſs and her Maid by his pretended miraculous Skill, they took him for no leſs than a great Prophet; but the only ſcruple which was left in Roxana's thoughts was, why he had, by his own Confeſſion, ſo much concern'd himſelf in the intereſt of a Perſon ſo abſolute a ſtranger to him as ſhe was? to which the Maid made anſwer, That though he was not pleas'd to diſcover his reaſons for it, ſhe might conclude, that if ſhe knew not him, it was probable that he not only knew her, but had alſo ſome great Reaſons that led him to act as he did: and pray, Madam, give me further leave, added ſhe, to tell you, that I look not upon this Perſon as one of thoſe ordinary men which we employ to tell us our Fortunes. Nor I neither, reply'd Roxana, I rather take him to be ſome Great Maſter in the Mathematicks, who by his great Reading, and profound Learning, joyned to ſome converſation with Chriſtians, who it is ſaid are incomparable in thoſe fore-telling Arts, has attained to this wonderful heighth of Knowledge, as to read our very thoughts. And in that opinion, I have a great deſire this night to try this prodigious experiment which he has ſaid he would ſhew me. There Madam, I leave you, ſaid the Maid, and muſt acknowledge my weakneſs, my fears and apprehenſions, of I know not what danger, prevail too much upon me, to venture ſo far. Thy panick fears, reply'd Roxana, I have as much to hazard as you, and yet my deſires are ſo great to ſee the ſhape of the Perſon he mention'd, that I will venture on the thing. Madam, I confeſs, that as you are of a greater Rank, you have more to loſe than I, but then give me leave to tell you, that you have alſo more to gain; for if I miſtake not, pardon my boldneſs, Madam, there is another Motive than bare curioſity that leads you on, while I have neither intereſt nor curioſity enough to venture. You cannot think it ſhould be Love ſhould puſh me on, reply'd Roxana, with a Perſon that I never yet did ſee? But, Madam, there may be Inclinations and Deſires to ſee an Object ſo conformable to ones wiſhes, as our great Man has promis'd to ſhew you, ſaid the Maid. I muſt confeſs, reply'd Roxana, that nothing could pleaſe me more than to ſee ſuch a Perſon as I have repreſented to my ſelf divers times, and which I have never ſeen. Doubtleſs, Madam, ſaid the Maid, and it would not be very difficult for you to love ſuch a Perſon too. Thou com'ſt near to the point, reply'd Roxana; well, to encourage thee to attend me with thy endeavours, I will confeſs to thee that I have had ſome inclination towards that Perſon who writ the Verſes which I found in the Summer-houſe, ever ſince I firſt read them; and that then, and divers times ſince, I have wiſh'd that that Perſon were qualify'd according to my deſire. Be ſure to keep my Secret, now that I have made thee my Confident. This is to engage you further, added ſhe, giving her the •• rſe which our Magician had refus'd, take it as an aſſurance of my further Favours, which I will always meaſure by thoſe Services that you will render me. There needed no more to engage her Maid wholly to her devotion; ſhe proteſted that ſhe would go through Fire and Water, and paſs over the greateſt difficulties imaginable: that ſhe was not only ready to attend her that night, but alſo to lay down her life at any time for her Service: Thus they having ſpun the time away till the hour of Ten. Roxana laid her ſelf in a Day-Bed, which was in an open Room, joyning the Gardens, more to rave on the Adventure ſhe was going about, than to ſleep; while ſhe left her Maid watching, with ſtrict charge to call upon her at the appointed Hour; ſhe having ſuch an aſcendant over her Mother, and now that Aladin was ſtill abſent, as he had been for two days before, ſhe diſp • s'd of her ſelf and Servants as ſhe pleas'd; which was the reaſon that ſhe had pretended that to enjoy the cool Air which came from the Garden into that Room ſhe had choſen to lye there that night.

If Roxana buſied her thoughts one way, Ibrahim was not more quiet in another. He hugg'd himſelf a thouſand times for carrying on his Deſign ſo well, and without the leaſt ſuſpicion; he thank'd his propitious Stars as oft, and wiſh'd that he might but converſe for ſome few moments with his Moretto, to take further meaſures to finiſh the ſo well begun Work: He was weighing every particular circumſtance; his Fears and Hopes were ebbing and flowing according as his thoughts did ſuggeſt him, when Moretto, who through his hole in the Quickſet had got into the Garden, ſo ſoon as he had ſeen the Coaſt clear, did caſt ſome Stones over into his Maſter's Garden, to give him notice of his being at the hole. Ibrahim, whoſe ſolicitous thoughts did not hinder him from being attentive that way, preſently repair'd to the place; where, hearing that it was Moretto, he caſt the Rope-ladder over the Wall, and bid him come over to him. There he told him what he had done, and in what an amazement he had left both Miſtreſs and Maid; what he had promis'd them to perform that night at Twelve, and what he deſign'd further to act. But, my dear Moretto, continu'd he, doſt thou think that Roxana will have ſo much Curioſity and Courage as to adventure her ſelf at the Place? Sir, reply'd Moretto, if the Character you have given her of your own Perſon has touch'd her Heart, you may be ſure that ſhe will paſs over all dangers to ſee ſo charming an Object; and that ſhe had ſome propenſity that way, is clear, by her deſire to be preſent at the Caldean's Diſcourſe. However, reply'd Ibrahim, I will prepare my ſelf for that purpoſe, in which I muſt have thy aſſiſtance to carry all off without the leaſt ſuſpicion. Then he told him how he had laid the Plot, what part he was to act, and that he would perform the reſt; he bid him put on that Caldean Habit which he had worn, to diſguiſe himſelf; that he ſhould hide himſelf behind the Buſhes which ſurrounded the Summer-Houſe, ſo that he might ſee when they were got into the Houſe, that then he ſhould pull the door cloſe by a String ty'd to the Lock, and keep it ſhut on the out-ſide, till he ſhould hear him to diſmiſs them, and then he ſhould let looſe the door, ſlip off the ſtring, and get as faſt as he could into the out-houſes where he uſually lay.

Ibrahim having made an end of informing Moretto how he ſhould act, he gave him ſome Lamps to ſet up in divers places of the Summer-houſe, with order to watch their coming, and to fling a Stone for Signal of their approach; after which Moretto got over the Wall in his Caldean Habit, diſpos'd of the Lamps, faſtn'd the String to the Lock of the Door, and went to watch their coming.

Roxana in the mean time being too full of imaginations to get a moments ſleep, began to talk to her Maid, which was over-heard by Moretto, as he was got to the outward Quickſet, which parted Roxana's Garden from her Fathers; this made him Curious to lend an ear to thoſe Voices, but what with their ſpeaking too low for fear of being over-heard in the Houſe, and with the diſtance he was at, he could not underſtand what they ſaid, ſo that he did not know who thoſe perſons were; but he was ſoon inform'd of that, for Roxana having a mind to try her own Courage as well as her Maids, in going into her Father's Garden before hand, (for then it was but half an hour after Eleven) ſhe had ventur'd out, and they were walking towards the Quickſet partition, on the other end of it that Moretto's Creeping hole was ſo that he could diſtinctly hear the Maid ſay, Madam, I know not what I ail, but a certain horrour ſeizes me on the ſudden, which makes me fancy I ſee ſtrange things about me. Thou art able, reply'd Roxana, to produce fear in the moſt reſolute, with thy ſtrange fancies; and thy talk ſo works upon my imagination, that methinks I ſee ſtrange things alſo; I find we are both very unfit for ſo great an Enterpriſe, continu'd ſhe, and ſeeing thou haſt not the Courage to hearten me up, I'll think of a timely retreat, and deſiſt from this attempt, at leaſt for this night. With this ſhe turn'd back to go towards the Houſe, ſtill diſcourſing with the Maid.

Moretto, who had heard this, thought he had enough, and having the Caldean's di •••• upon him, did reſolve to break • heir new meaſures; to that purpoſe he crept all along a Hedge which hid him from their ſight, in order to intercept their return, and to fright them into a compliance to his Maſter's deſigns: but as he was making all the haſte he could, he made a noiſe; which conduc • d to his deſigns, for Roxana hearing it, and as fear augments all Objects, ſo it increaſes Sounds, ſhe imagin'd it to be much nearer to her than really it was, which made her and her Maid remain moveleſs in the place where they were. This gave time to Moretto to recover himſelf, and to get before them unſeen into the Room, where he found the Door open, not doubting but that they came from thence; where he deſign'd to ſtand, and to affright them back again towards the Garden.

After that Roxana had ſtood liſtning a while, and heard no more noiſe, ſhe began to whiſper to her Maid, that ſhe wiſh'd her ſelf in the Houſe again. To which the Maid anſwer'd, that it was her thoughts alſo; and added, pray Madam let us get in ſo ſoon as we can; this ſhe ſaid, creeping ſoftly after her Miſtreſs, that mov'd as ſlow as ſhe could; they got at laſt to the door of the Room, where the Maid, being more frighted than the Miſtreſs, would have run in firſt. But what a horrour was ſhe in, when ſhe found the paſſage poſſeſt by the Caldean, which ſhe knew by his Habit, with that ſmall light of the Stars which they had. She preſently run back, giving a ſhriek, which made Roxana do the like; but ſtriking violently one againſt another it broke the violence of it; ſo that it being in the deepeſt ſilence of the night, and far from the body of the Houſe, by good fortune it was not heard. But what with the fear and the ſhock they had given one another they both had fallen, the Maid in a ſwoon, and Roxana not far from it. This put Moretto into greater trouble than before, he knew the hour was near, that his Maſter was in expectation of them, but how to get them thither he knew not; he found that Roxana mov'd, which made him to tell her, That ſhe ſhould not fear any thing ſo long as he was by her; that ſo ſoon as he did foreſee her fears coming upon her, and that ſhe deſign'd to retire, and not give her ſelf the ſatisfaction of ſeeing that which ſhe moſt deſired, and on which depended all her future miſery or happineſs, he had Tranſported himſelf to her aid, to ſtrengthen her confidence, and to be her Protector; That he very much feared ſome evil would befall her Lover or her ſelf for the want of Faith, and that if ſhe would not bring her own or the Perſons ruine upon him, which ſhe was to have ſeen, ſhe ought to go on boldly, being aſſured that under his conduct, ſhe and her Maid would both remain ſecure from all manner of dangers. All this he ſaid, feigning his voice, pretending to ſpeak ſoftly for fear of being over-heard; but his deſign was to diſguiſe his voice that they ſhould not perceive the change was put upon them. They had never heard him ſpeak but once before, and had not ſeen his face till then, becauſe that at the Window, the Street being lower than the Room Roxana was in, they could not well ſee his face, ſo that he paſs'd for currant for the ſame perſon in both their Opinions; I ſay in both their Opinions, becauſe that by this time the Maid was recovered out of her Trance, and had lain ſtill and heard part of what Moretto had ſaid to Roxana, and was ſitting on the ground at her Miſtreſſes feet, whom Moretto had raiſed up. Roxana being ſomewhat comforted, aſſured, and affrighted by the danger ſhe or her Lover would be in, if ſhe ſtill perſiſted in refuſing to go, told the Caldean, that if he would accompany her, ſhe would under his protection adventure on. He having again ſpoken all he could to encourage them both, with aſſurance of his protection, Roxana gave him the Key to open the door of her Garden, and he led them both towards it. He was ſtill in a peck of troubles for want of an opportunity of giving Ibrahim the ſign of their approaches, that the Lamps might be lighted. And Roxana had more than once complain'd of the darkneſs, which ſhe confeſs'd increas'd her fears; and to aſſure her, he had told her that he would order lights ſufficiently by that time they got there. I have but to ſpeak a word, give a ſign to my Spirits, or caſt a ſtone, and they will ſoon obey my will; you ſhall ſee the Experiment of it, continu'd he, ſo ſtooping he took up a ſtone, and flung it towards the Summer-Houſe; now, ſaid he, obſerve how the place will be enlightned to your deſire. They had not gone two ſteps further, but they began to perceive a Light in the Summer-Houſe, which ſtill encreaſed, as they drew near. Moretto did entertain them as well as he could, with aſſurances of ſafety, to take off all their fears; at laſt coming towards the Summer-Houſe, he rais'd his voice on purpoſe, that his Maſter ſhould not be ſurpriz'd at his coming with them, and ſaid, Now, Madam, is the time for you to baniſh from you all fears, and to fill your heart with Love, for I have done for you more than I promiſed; I only told you I would bring that Perſon's Idea to your preſence, who wrote the Verſes, but there is ſomething which muſt ſtill remain ſecret, which makes me think I can never do too much for you, wherefore I have tranſmitted the Perſon himſelf here; he was in his ſleep when I did it, but I ſuppoſe by this awakned, or will ſoon awaken at your coming. Moretto being now come to the ſteps that went to the Summer-Houſe door, Aſcend, Madam, continued he, and then admire what I have done for you. With that, he led her up, and put her into the houſe, then took the Maid who follow'd her Miſtreſs, and put her in alſo, and bid them go forward to the Table. As re-aſſur'd as Roxana was, ſhe durſt not contradict her Guide, which gave him time to ſhut the door upon them, and to retire. Roxana was wondering at the great and clear light which ſo many Lamps as were placed there did give; when that Ibrahim, as if newly awakned, being ſet off with the moſt advantageous Dreſs that he could poſſible put on, and adorn'd with a world of Jewels, did raiſe himſelf from a Day-Bed, on which he was lying, and, as if amaz'd, ſtartling and ſtaring. Is it a Dream, or do I wake? ſaid he; then looking about him, Where am I? continu'd he. Then looking on Roxana, Ha! What do I ſee? the very Darling of my Soul, my Heart's Delight, and all that I moſt deſired. What good Angel has been ſo kind as to continue and conclude my Dream with ſuch a bleſſed Viſion! Roxana, Divine Roxana here, and I ſtand ſtill, and not caſt at her feet a Heart that is ſo wholly hers! Pardon, ſweet Angel, the Errour that the great ſurpriſal I am in, at ſo fair a Viſion, has caus'd me to commit; and deign to accept the offers of an Heart whoſe greateſt Glory is to be your Slave. With that he was going to throw himſelf at Roxana's feet, when ſhe moving her Body that way, But hold, ſaid he again, to himſelf, let not my exceſs of Joy render me too raſh, and loſe the Bleſſing I enjoy in this bright Apparition, by drawing too near with my Terreſtrial Body: then falling back again, while he was ſpeaking this, thus he continu'd; If you are not but condens'd Air, or ſome Etherial Spirit, who to mock my Paſſion for a time, has aſſum'd this glorious ſhape to render me afterwards the moſt miſerable wretch living, when you again diſſolve into ſoft Air. Speak, give me ſome ſigns of Life; a Voice coming from ſo admirable a Shape, cannot but be all Harmony to my Heart. At this Roxana bowing forward, was going to ſpeak, when he again interrupted her thus; By Heavens, it moves! but one word, and I am bleſſed for ever. Then did Roxana ſay, Whoe're you are, that thus exerciſe your Wit and Fancy upon a Perſon who knows her ſelf much inferiour to what the extaſy you ſeem to be in leads you to ſpeak; know that I am the real Roxana, Miſtreſs of this place. If all I hear and ſee is not Inchantments, which I am apt to believe is, when I conſider that Shape which is before me, and thoſe Expreſſions, which, whether true or feigned, real or deluſive, pleaſe my Ears and Heart? and if you are as real Subſtance as I find my ſelf to be, I may now ſay I have ſeen the reality of thoſe things which I before did only frame in my imagination; and ſince I find that all which that Great man has told me proves true, even beyond my expectation, I am apt to believe that all the reſt he has told me will be of the ſame ſtamp. If he has ſaid, Madam, reply'd Ibrahim, that you ſhould ſee a Perſon, in whoſe ſingle heart there was more Love contain'd for you, than in all the World beſides, (though all were too little yet.) If that he told you, that it was impoſſible for that perſon to live a day longer after ſeeing you, without the hopes that you would accept of an Heart which is wholly yours. If he has aſſur'd you that from the firſt moment that perſon beheld you, he vow'd to live eternally yours: I am the perſon. In confirmation of which, I here lay my life, and all I can call mine at your feet; proteſting by our great Prophet, that I will never riſe again from this place, till you are pleas'd to accept and receive this free (though unworthy) Gift I make you of my ſelf. Saying this, he ſlung himſelf at Roxana's feet; ſhe extended her hand to raiſe him, but he taking hold of it, and preſſing it hard with his lips, No, Madam, continu'd he, never muſt I riſe from this place, till you have ſpoke my happineſs. To which thus Roxana anſwer'd, That I may the ſooner relieve you from this unbeſeeming and uneaſie poſture, and to follow what the Heavens have decreed, in which peradventure concurs ſomething of my own inclination; for I cannot but think, when I reflect on all that has been acted this night, that it is the will of Heaven. Here is my Hand that I receive thoſe offers you have made me of your Heart, in exchange of which, I give you another, that was never any others but mine, and now yours. And I, Madam, reply'd Ibrahim, do take the boldneſs to ſeal this Contract on this white Author of my Happineſs with my Lips. With this ſhe took him up; then ſaid to him, looking on her Maid, Here is one ſhall be a ſecret Witneſs of our ſecret Love, till we find means to get our Friends conſents; mean time, you know my Father's ſeverity towards me, by which you may gueſs that if he had been now at Conſtantinople, I ſhould not have had this opportunity, which I know not when we ſhall have again, becauſe he is expected here again to morrow. After this they fell to particular diſcourſes about the means they ſhould uſe to ſee one another; and they agreed that Moretto, for having been ſo inſtrumental to their mutual happineſs, in bringing them to the knowledge of the Caldean, ſhould be admitted into the Confidence, not doubting but that betwixt him and her Maid they ſhould have ſuch frequent news of one another, that they ſhould not be long before they met again; upon which, and divers other diſcourſes of that nature, day beginning to break forth, they thought fit to ſeparate, which, after a thouſand repeated aſſurances of conſtancy on both ſides, they did; he leading firſt Roxana to the Gate of her Garden, then he getting over the Wall by his Rope-ladder.

The brighteſt • ay is frequently follow'd with a •• ormy Night, and the faireſt Night ſucceeded by a Cloudy Day. Our Lovers Joys, like all vehement Motions, were too great to laſt long, and though the Cauſe of it was not in themſelves, but from abroad; yet ſo ſuddain, ſo great, and ſo paſſionate a Love, as was between them, rendred them not long happy, as you ſhall hear from what follows.

Ibrahim was a Perſon, that in all reſpects was very deſirable; no wonder then if that Roxana was ſo impatient to ſee again a Perſon ſo like that which ſhe had fram'd in her imagination, that could only pleaſe her. She had employ'd her Maid, and the Maid Moretto, ſo that ſhe was certain that her Father would not return the day following to Conſtantinople. Ibrahim was to be advertis'd of that, and means contriv'd of getting to the Summer-Houſe, the only convenient place for their private interview; Moretto was to be conſulted upon this, wherefore, when Roxana knew that he was at work, ſhe took the opportunity to ſpeak to him, as ſhe went to viſit her Flowers towards the Evening, and told him, That ſhe did not know how Ibrahim could get into the Summer-houſe that night; as he had been the night before? Why, Madam, the ſame way, reply'd Moretto. We have no longer any need of the Caldean's aſſiſtance, ſaid Roxana, and I would gladly converſe with him, after his own coming to this place. Moretto, finding that he had like to have committed an error, ſaid, Madam, though he was laſt night carried into the Summer Houſe, while he was aſleep, by the Caldean's wonderful Power and Art, yet I ſuppoſe that he convey'd him there through the Air over thoſe Walls which encompaſs your Garden; and no queſtion, Madam, but that if I inform him, by your Order, of your deſires, let me but know the hour, and his Love will be ſufficient to find him Wings to flye to you, if all other means were failing, he'll find or make a way over the Walls, no queſtion. Well, ſaid Roxana, I leave that care to you, fail not to give him timely notice of it; but, added ſhe, where will you find him? we forgot that. Trouble not your ſelf, Madam, reply'd Moretto, the Caldean will ſoon ſatisfie me in that. 'Tis true, reply'd Roxana, but after you have got that knowledge haſten to him, and deliver him this Note: Then ſhe gave him the Note, and went to walk in her Garden as ſhe us'd to do; but being come near the Summer-houſe, ſhe had not the power to advance one ſtep forward till ſhe had gone into it; where being ſeated, ſhe began to reflect on all that had happen'd to her there the laſt night: a while after, ſhe pull'd Ibrahim's Verſes out of her boſom, and having kiſs'd them, ſhe read them over, kiſs'd them, and put them into her boſom again; then fell a raving as before; and then by and by again, out would ſhe pull the Paper, kiſs, read, and kiſs it again; and this ſport ſhe repeated over divers times. All this while Ibrahim, through his peep-hole, had the pleaſure of ſeeing how much his beloved Miſtreſs did make of his Verſes; for he had ſeen them ſo often that he could diſcern them at ſuch a diſtance. This ſight did infinitely pleaſe him, and he was ſo attentive at it, that he perceiv'd not Moretto, who was coming to him, 'till he was cloſe by, he acquainted him with Roxana's deſires, then gave him the Letter, which being opened by Ibrahim, he read in it what follows.

It was now Ibrahim's turn to kiſs the Letter, which he did over and over, and having bid Moretto to fetch him Ink and Paper, he paſs'd his time till his return, in contemplating his Dear Roxana, who by this time was fallen aſleep, holding the Verſes in her hand, which were ready to drop. To enjoy the better the benefit of the cool Air, ſhe had caſt aſide her Vail more than uſually, by which he did diſcover whole mines of Beauties which were ſpread all over her neck and Breaſts. When Moretto was return'd, he could not take off his Eyes, from ſo Charming an Object, and when he did it, he enviouſly turned his back towards the Hole, that Moretto ſhould not rob him with his Eyes, of ſome part of that which he thought was wholly due unto his Love.

In this place, as in many others of this Book, I might make divers curious Reflections; as here, for example, jealouſie is the natural effect of Love, &c. But my deſign being to give you only a bare account of the Court-Secret, according to the faithfulneſs of my Memoires; beſides that, the Subject of this Novel is ſufficient enough of it ſelf to furniſh me with matter, I ſhall decline all ſuch kind of ſuperfluous digreſſions, and ſtick cloſe to my Subject. This is then what Ibrahim writ back to Roxana.

Notwithſtanding that theſe Two laſt Words had been ſufficient to have enlightned a leſs diſcerning perſon than was Clorineta, yet ſhe was ſo puff'd up with her good Fortune, and ſo prepoſſeſs'd with the Opinion, that all that Cha-abas ſaid, was meant to her, that ſhe went confidently on, taking all to her ſelf, and framing Anſwers ſuitable to her imagination, which ſhe return'd to Cha-abas with ſuch amorous Glances, ſuch pathetick Expreſſions, and ſuch paſſionate Zeal, that Cha-abas could not but take notice of it, and believing it to be as it was, and finding her worthy ſome conſideration, he let her remain in her miſtake, and reſolv'd to take hold of an opportunity which offer'd it ſelf ſo fairly: therefore he thus continued, Yes, Madam, You have ſo many Charms, and they ſo powerful, that ſhould you be my Subject, they were capable of rendring me your Slave. Clorineta was going to anſwer, when that ſhe perceiv'd her Mufti coming with a round pace towards the Pavillion: The very thoughts of his approach, and diſcovering any Intrigue betwixt them, did ſo confound her, that ſhe knew not what to ſay; and to avoid all Suſpicions, ſhe remov'd her Seat ſomething more behind the Door, to conceal her ſelf from Repſet's View, pretending that the Air did blow ſomething too cold upon her, and ſhe put the Door a little cloſer than it was before. But that did but ſerve to diſcover the more viſibly the ſet Aſſignation which had been betwixt them; for Repſet who had had an Eye of her at a diſtance, which caus'd him to redouble his pace, made a ſtop at the foot of ſome ſteps that led up to the Pavillion, ſaying aloud, I have ſeen you, Madam, and notwithſtanding the Deſign you had to put the Dye upon me Love, who would not let ſo great a Votary as I am to him, loſe ſuch an Aſſignation, lent me his Eyes to ſee you at that diſtance, and his Wings to fly to your—Saying this as he was getting up, puſhing the Door wide open, and perceiving Cha-abas, he made a full ſtop both to his Words and Motion. It were hard to declare which of theſe Three Lovers was the moſt ſurpriz'd. The Mufti retiring, begging pardon for his Miſtake, and bold Intruſion, went down Stairs again as faſt as he had got up, and ſneaking through little by-Allies, he retir'd to his Lodgings, with all the haſte and confuſion imaginable. This made Clorineta to pluck up her Spirits, and tell Cha abas, That the M • fti meeting of Two Perſons there which he little expected, had certainly ſtrangely confounded him, and that doubtleſs it would make him loſe the Aſſignation which he had mention'd, of all which he had ſo well inform'd them, except the Name of the Perſon. Chaabas all the while look'd earneſtly on Clorineta, as deſirous to have been further inform'd by her Looks or Geſtures, which ſhe perceiving, for fear of ſaying or doing any thing that ſhould betray her to her new Lover, ſhe did riſe, making ſome offer to go out, ſaying, that peradventure they might have another view of the Mufti, which would inform them further. Chaabas, who was as deſirous as ſhe, to know certainly who was the Perſon whom the Mufti had not nam'd, and which he had ſome Jealouſies was her ſelf, by the great diſorder that his coming had put her in; beſides, the ſuſpicion he had entertain'd at her ſhifting of her Seat ſo ſoon as ſhe had perceiv'd him, under pretence of getting more out of the Cold Air, conſented to her deſires, and taking her by the Hand, led her out, begging of her a further opportunity of diſcovering his Paſſion; which ſhe, with all the modeſty ſhe was Miſtreſs of, endeavoured to evade; and they meeting with Company, with which that Walk us'd to be fill'd at that time of the day, they parted without any further appointment or Rendezvous than what Fortune ſhould preſent to them, as it had done before. Cha-abas mixt himſelf with a Company of Ladies, amongſt which was one named Monitenna, who had render'd great pieces of Services to Cha-abas, during his late Diſtemper, and to whom he had proteſted a World of Acknowledgments and of Love: She look'd on Clorineta with a World of Diſdain, Rage and Spight, as on a perſon that intended to deprive her of that Love which her moſt aſſiduous Cares, and indefatigable Labours, had obtain'd from Cha-abas: And though ſhe could not lay claim to any Beauty, and that ſhe was but the Relicks of a mean Perſon of Birth and Eſtate, though of a celebrated Wit, of which ſhe alſo had a great ſhare, ſhe thought that her Services might ſtand her in place of all thoſe other things, as being more material and effectual: Wherefore from that moment, ſhe declar'd her ſelf, in her own Mind, a mortal Enemy unto Clorineta, and did her afterwards all the ill Offices that ſhe could poſſible, as we ſhall have occaſion to declare.

As for Clorineta, ſhe had a Meſſage deliver'd to her from the Sultana, which made her to retire. Though her Beauty had (while preſent) ſuſpended Cha-abas Paſſion towards the Sultana for that time, he had no ſooner retired from her Company, but that the Sultana preſented her ſelf, to his Imagination, with all thoſe Perfections, and that Majeſtick Grace which always accompany her. He ſoon forgot, that he had told Clorineta, ſhe was the Perſon he ador'd; and as if nothing of that had ever been, the next time that he met with Clorineta, which was in the Sultana's preſence, he took no more notice of her than if he had never ſeen her before, and wholly addreſs'd himſelf to the Sultana, to whom he ſaid a • undance of very fine things, but at ſuch a diſtance, that they might have been ſhar'd amongſt the reſt of the Company; and this Viſit which he had made to the Sultana, with a deſign of giving her ſome more particular Marks of his Paſſion than he had ever done yet, termin'd only in inviting her to a great Ballet and Masking, which he had deſign'd, for to give her ſome diverſion; though his deſign was to give her then, in as ſplendid a manner as he could poſſible, a Declaration of Love in Writing. She a long time pleaded her melancholly Humour, which render'd her more fit for the Converſation of Religious Women, than to participate of the Pleaſures of ſo ſplendid a Court, eſpecially in the abſence of Amurat, who, for ought ſhe knew, might be expoſed to eminent dangers, while ſhe ſhould be revelling here; but thoſe her ſuggeſtions having been over-rul'd by divers Diſcourſes, back'd with aſſurances, that before all things could be fitted for ſo magnificent an Entertainment as he intended, there would certain news come of Amurat's great ſucceſs in Leridan; ſhe at laſt on thoſe Conditions yielded to lend her preſence to ſo Noble an Aſſembly, where all the Chief Lords and Ladies of the Perſian Court were generally invited.

Every body from that time began to make Preparatives to appear as ſplendid as they could at the Grand Ball, which was call'd The Ball of the Royal Love; and to get ſuch Diſguiſes that would keep them from the knowledge of all Perſons, but thoſe unto whom they would be known. As for Cha-abas, he ſpar'd neither Coſt nor Charges to render it the moſt magnificent and ſplendid that ever was. Of truth, it was ſo like the Ambition of the Giver, that I cannot but find a ſheet or two of Paper more than ordinary, to ſet down the Deſcription of it in my Novel, not doubting but that the Reader will not grudge the time that he ſhall employ in the reading of it: But firſt we will give time for the preparation of all the neceſſary things for this great Mask, and in the mean time give me leave to entertain you with ſome Tranſactions in the Ottoman Empire, relating to the Hiſtorical part of my Novel.

Upon Amurat's deſerting of his Subjects, and abandoning them to the Fury of all their Enemies, which in the Opinion of many of his Subjects, acquitted them of their Oaths of Allegiance to him; for as they ſaid, There were mutual Oaths paſs'd betwixt Amurat and his People at his acceſſion to the Crown; He on his part did promiſe to govern them according to the Eſtabliſhed Laws of the Land, and to maintain the Mahometan Religion, and all the Laws that had from time to time been made for its preſervation, againſt all the Aſſaults and Conſpiracies of its ſworn Enemies the Haliſts, and to protect and defend his People from all Forreign Uſurpation and Invaſion; and his People on their part had promis'd to obey him, as their King and Governour, and to pay unto him the ſame Allegiance and Obedience, which they had done to his Predeceſſors, on the aſſurance that he would faithfully and inviolably keep and obſerve his Coronation Oath. I ſay, that many of his Loyal Subjects did believe, and thought in their Conſciences, that the Emperour's Breach of his Oaths had diſpenc'd them from thoſe which they had taken to him of their Allegiance. Yet there remain'd ſome amongſt them, who ſtill were of Opinion, That though Amurat had broke his Coronation-Oath, that did not free them from thoſe Oaths of Allegiance to him which they had taken, ſaying, That his doing ill, or committing an Errour, was no warrant for them to do the ſame. But when it came to that paſs, that the Emperour deſerted them and his Kingdoms, and thereby renounc'd to the protecting and defending of them: Nay, That on the contrary, he joyn'd with the Haliſts againſt his own People, and applied himſelf to the greateſt declared Enemy of the Ottoman Empire, and of the Mahometan Religion, which he had declar'd over and over, he would root out of the World; then, I ſay, that help'd to take off all thoſe Scruples which had been left on their tender Conſciences, and found, that what at firſt was but ſtrife, who ſhould have the upper hand, of the Haliſts or Mahometans, in the Ottoman Empire, was now turn'd into a War of Religion, in which the true ancient Mahometan Religion, the Laws of the Land, the Liberty of the Subject were concern'd. In fine, where all lay at ſtake, and in which he that had ſworn to be their Protector and Defender, was gone over to the greateſt Enemy of all their Rights, and had ſolicited him againſt his own People; then they thought themſelves abſolutely freed from all Duties to him, and from all further Paſſive Obedience, which was ſo much enjoyn'd to them by the Doctrine of their Church, who commanded them to fly from Perſecution in their own Land by their own Prince, into another, after that he had deſerted and abandoned them to their Deſtruction, and joyn'd himſelf to the implacable Enemy of their Religion, Eſtabliſhed by the Laws of the Nation. Then they thought that their ſtaying at home for the Defence of their own Religion, and to oppoſe the threatned Uſurpation and Invaſion of the Haliſts under Cha-abas conduct, was the ſame thing as their flying from Perſecution at home into another Country, now that their Head, their King, their Protector had abandon'd them to the Fury of their moſt barbarous and bloody Enemies; was the ſame thing as flying from Perſecution. had their Emperor ſtaid to protect them.

They therefore joyntly Crowned Prince Soliman and the Princeſs Zelinda, as the next Heirs to the Crown, which had been forfeited to them by Amurat's abandoning of it; and they took thoſe uſual Oaths which are tender'd to all the Emperour's at their Coronation; and the People acknowledg'd them to be their Lawful King and Queen, and on that account ſwore to them the Oaths of Obedience, Allegiance and Submiſſion, which were uſual on ſuch occaſion; all which was confirm'd by the Grand Council of the Empire, receiv'd in all parts, and proclaim'd throughout the whole Empire, except by a ſmall Party of Haliſts, which had been kept together in Arms in Leridan by Clorinet, after he had turn'd out from amongſt them all thoſe that profeſt the Mahometan Religion.

News by this time are come to Iſpahan of the Perſians Fleet ſafe arrival at Leridan, where they had diſcharg'd their Men and Ammunition, and where Amurat at his firſt Landing, had obtain'd a conſiderable Advantage over his Enemies, and had great hopes to ſubdue that Kingdom, to tranſport thoſe Forces afterwards into the Kingdom of Clonſtade, where there was a great Party ready to receive him; from whence, after that was recover'd, he would march with his Conquering Army into Albona, and ſo make himſelf once more Maſter of his Empire. Theſe Letters were ſhown to the Sultana, who not finding the ſame Contents in Amurat's Letters to her, nor in Clorinet's Letters to his Wife, ſo clearly ſet down, did fear giving too much Credit to them; but what with the conſtruing which was put on the Sultana's and Clorineta's Letters, the Sultana was perſwaded to believe all that was told her, as moſt authentick, which made her reſolve to breathe a little, and to give ſome releaſe unto her continual Sorrow, in appearing according to her Grandeur and Rank at the great Mask, with all the Mirth and Jolity that her preſent Condition could afford her to yield.

Cha-abas was ſo ſtrongly bent on this great Deſign, that one would have thought he had no other buſineſs in hand; He laid aſide all other Concerns, and did reſolve, happen what would, to give all the Scope and Liberty imaginable to his Amours, which made ſuch a noiſe, that ſome of the more Sober ſort of his Court did not think convenient to appear at that great Feſtival, at a time when the Bleſſing of Heaven was to have been implor'd upon their Arms againſt ſo many formidable Enemies that did encompaſs them round: Of truth there was not leſs than 157000 Men arm'd againſt Perſia: There was of the Myrgenians 7000, of the Abravians 10000. of the Wasbians 5000 under the Conduct of the moſt Valiant Baſſa of Abravia. The Baſſa of Reinola had the Command of 20000. Myrgenians and Cranfonians, 10000. Xoniſeans, 8000. Swibrunckians and Brugulneans, and 8000 Seheſeans: The Baſſa of Grubdenbran commanded of Grubdenbranians 26000. and of Stennumians 6000: The Aga Kalkwad led 50000. Halldonians, and there was 7000. Peſinians, beſides the formidable Navies which threatned him by Sea. All theſe, I ſay, could not abate any thing of his Ambition, eſpecially now that it was boy'd up, and carried on the Wings of Love. At laſt, his particular Mufti, unto whom only he imparted the Secrets of his Heart, was pitch'd upon to repreſent to him the unſeaſonableneſs of the thing, and the great inconveniences that would attend it. But he ſeverely rebuked him for his unask'd for advice, and deſired him not to trouble him with his Counſels, till he ſent for him.

The Mufti, whoſe Name was Chilaſe, was but newly return'd home, not much concern'd how he had ſucceeded in his Admonition to Cha-abas, when Repſet came to give him a Viſit. They were both of the wicked Order of the Mahometiſts: They had held perpetual Correſpondence by Letters with one another; all the time that the Deſtruction of the Mahometan Religion in Albiona had been hatching, they were very familiar together, and no Secret was hid from one another but in their Amours; there they were Two, as unanimous ſoever they were in all other Buſineſſes. Repſet's Deſign in that Viſit was to learn, whether Cha-abas had ſaid any thing to Chilaſe concerning the miſtake which he had lately made in the Garden: He had made his Peace well enough with Clorineta, but he would gladly have known how the Emperour had reſented it, and what his thoughts might be on that account. Chilaſe told him, That he had not ſpoken but once ſince to Cha-abas, who was ſo attentive to his great Entertainment, that then he had rebuk'd him for offering to give him ſome Advice about it, which he had been deſired to do by ſome of the principal Lords of the Court: But let him go on, continued he, we ſhall have the ſatisfaction of being partakers of it. Yes, ſaid Repſet, though not in ſo high a meaſure as he deſigns for himſelf: Of truth it muſt be confeſſed, continued he, the New Object of his Love, which puts him on all this, has ſuch powerful charms, that no Fleſh and Blood were able to reſiſt. You ſpeak ſo feelingly of the Effects of thoſe charms, reply'd Chilaſe, that I cannot but fancy you are more than ordinary intereſted in it. No Brother, reply'd Repſet, the great number of cares that I had continually upon me, and the Nature of them, did keep me off of any ſuch Deſigns, though certainly ſhe is the fineſt Perſon in the World, the moſt courteous and affable to the meaneſt of her Subjects; and it is a thouſand pities that ſhe has an Husband who is not capable, through his infirmities, to perform towards her thoſe Matrimonial Devoirs which ſhe ought in reaſon to expect, and which 100000 Perſons would think themſelves moſt happy to ſupply her with. What pity then is it, ſaid Chilaſe, that ſhe ſhould now be courted by another Prince as inſufficient to perform to any purpoſe thoſe amorous Offices, which in reaſon ſhe might expect, were ſhe in the leaſt flexible to his applications? But, in my Opinion, ſhe has not the Air, carries not that Gayety of Humour, that Briskneſs, which uſually ſpeaks a Perſon amorous. No more do many other Women, anſwer'd Repſet, who nevertheleſs are all Love: I tell you, that any perſon that would manage that buſineſs diſcreetly, might obtain from her more than you think, if they did but obſerve to nick her reſerv'd Humour, and to make no noiſe of it; and were I in your place, I know what I would do. Repſet's Deſign in engaging Chilaſe in an Amour with the Sultana, was to divert him from looking in, and having any thoughts towards Clorineta who had ſpoken, he thought, too much to Chilaſe's advantage, and had expreſs'd to him a great deſire to be more particularly acquainted with him; beſides, he had once found Chilaſe in a very cloſe Diſcourſe with Clorineta; all which did not pleaſe him very well: wherefore he endeavour'd to create in him ſome Deſires towards the Sultana, that might make a Diverſion; ſo that he might not hereafter thwart him in his Amours to Clorineta. Chilaſe ſwallow'd the Bate, and though he ſeem'd not to take much notice of what Repſet ſpoke concerning the Sultana, he reſolv'd within himſelf, from that moment, to puſh his Fortune, and try what he could do in gaining the Sultana's good Will by ſome ſignal Pieces of Services, though to the prejudice of his Maſter Cha-abas Deſigns.

From theſe Particular Diſcourſes they fell to Generals, concerning the Grand Mask, where they could not forbear mentioning the great Opportunities it gave to Courtſhip, addreſs'd indifferently to any perſon, under thoſe Diſguiſes, and by conſent to particular Men and Women, who before-hand had agreed on ways of knowing one another: That there the meaneſt Perſon in the World, for a little Money and Coſt, might be admitted to hazard his Fortune with the beſt in the Land, if he had but Wit, Confidence and Addreſs; For Example, ſaid Chilaſe, If you or I ſhould have a fancy to try what thoſe Masking Meetings termine to, how eaſie would it be for us to ſo diſguiſe our ſelves, as to enjoy all the pleaſure and ſatisfaction of the whole Entertainment, and not be diſcover'd? You ſay true, anſwer'd Repſet; but I am ſo far from any ſuch thought, that I deſign that day to take the Air out of Town, and lye all night at a Friends Houſe, to whom I have long owed a Viſit. And I, ſaid Chilaſe, deſign to take Phy ſick that day; for of late I have ſound my ſelf indiſpos'd, and that Day and Night I ſhall not need to fear the trouble of impertinent Viſits. With theſe and ſuch like Diſcourſes they ended the Day: Repſet took his leave, and went to viſit his Clorineta; and Chilaſe fell muſing on thoſe Fancies which Repſet had put in his Head: The more he thought on it, the more it rais'd his thoughts, the more bold it made him, and the more deſirous to attempt the thing: He thought that this Masking Bout was ſuch a fair opportunity to try his Fortune in, that he was not to let it ſlip, leſt he ſhould never meet with ſuch another. The Sultana repreſented her ſelf to his Imagination, all Charming; and the very thoughts of enjoying ſo great a Princeſs, ſo lovely a Perſon, did almoſt raviſh him beyond his Senſes. I will puſh on my Fortune, ſaid he to himſelf, and try what I may hope or fear for the future, by the ſucceſs of my firſt Attempt, in which my Diſguiſe will ſecure me from all Dangers: And what if there were never ſo many Dangers, who would regard them? Who would not paſs over the greateſt Difficulties imaginable, to attain to ſo much Happineſs? Well, I am reſolv'd, and I will early in the Morning begin to prepare for ſo glorious an Enterpriſe. With this Reſolution he went to his Bed, though not to ſleep.

Amongſt thoſe Perſons which the Sultana admitted to her Privacy, of the Perſian Ladies, was Monitenna, who was moſt paſſionately in Love with Cha-abas, and whoſe Jealous Humour had occaſion'd her to ſeek for a particular Friendſhip with the Sultana and with Clorineta, that ſhe might the better pry into their Actions, and break all their meaſures with Cha-abas, who ſhe knew had a Love for them both: She diſguiſed the Love which ſhe had for Cha-abas, under the Notion of her Duty in the Care ſhe had taken, and ſtill took of him in his Diſtemper, and of a Principle of Gratitude towards him for ſo mony Favours and great Advantages which ſhe had receiv'd: And ſhe did endeavour by all manner of means, ſo to oblige them both, that they were forc'd to receive her into their particular Favour, even in Gratitude. That ſight which ſhe had had of the Emperour with Clorineta, ſtuck by her; and ſhe apprehended more danger that way, than from the Sultana, whom ſhe perceiv'd had not yet any inclinations for Cha-abas, while the other did nothing elſe all day long, but extol him to the very Skyes, and expreſs'd the great deſires ſhe had of carrying on that firſt Interview which ſhe had had with him, into a perfect Amorous Intrigue. Mean time, Monitenna plaid ſo well the part of an un • oncern'd perſon, ſtill extolling his Liberality and Gallantry, that Clorineta, who was of a very free and open Diſpoſition, made her her Confident in her amorous Deſigns. Repſet ſtill follow'd cloſe his Game with Clorineta, and being deſirous to partake of the Mask and Ball, he propos'd it to her, and they both agreed in what Diſguiſes they ſhould be, not to be known but by them Two only; at leaſt, Repſet was not to be known; but as to Clorineta, ſhe was to be known by the Sultana, who was to know her alſo, deſigning alſo to make her ſelf known to the Emperour by ſome private Mark. The Cauſe of her eaſie yielding to Repſet's Deſires, was becauſe ſhe knew him to be violent; and that if ſhe ſhould offer to oppoſe him in that which ſhe believ'd was put on by ſome Jealouſie which he had entertain'd of Cha-abas ever ſince he had found them together, though ſhe had endeavour'd by all means imaginable to let him know there was nothing leſs than Love in the Caſe, and that it was a meer accidental Rencounter, and that all the Diſcourſe they had was on the Sultana's Beauty, with which Cha-abas ſeem'd to be exceedingly captivated: She fear'd that it might carry him to do ſome extravagant thing, which might redound to her prejudice; but withall, ſhe reſolv'd to put the Change upon him, and to dreſs one of her Women in thoſe Diſguiſes which ſhe had deſign'd for her ſelf, and put on others, which ſhould not be known but by the Sultana and Monitenna.

Chilaſe in the mean time had by the Vertue of Gold (a thing with which the Perſians uſe to work Miracles), got the knowledge of the Sultana's Diſguiſe; ſo that he was in all Points ready for the Mask. Monitenna, who had from Cha-abas himſelf, how he was to appear, and who had inform'd him in what Dreſs the Sultana was to be, as alſo of the firſt Dreſs which Clorineta had pitch'd upon, had no more to do, but to fit her ſelf with all the means imaginable to do all the Miſchief ſhe could poſſible, and to create a Confuſion amongſt theſe Lovers.