The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics) (18 page)

For our Master is her Captive, and her Thrall
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Both to command him, and his Kingdom all.

After the Amitenians had consulted, they told the King’s ambassadors, that words were not acts, wherefore they could conclude of nothing until the Queen was in her army to make her atonement for herself; and if she were no prisoner, they desired to wait on her out of the city; if not, they must use force.

Whereupon the ambassadors went back to their King to declare their answer, but to return to the captive Prince, who was more fettered in his mind than in his body, for his old father treated him civilly, and used him kindly: but perceiving him to be very melancholy, thought it might proceed from the overthrow he received; which he strove to methate, telling him, nothing was more subject to chance than war, and that the valiantest and wisest men might fall by Fortune’s hand; for, said he, she on wheels, not on firm ground did stand.

She seeks not Worth and Merit to advance
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Her Sceptre which she governed all, was Chance.

With that the Prince, he sighing said, O Fortune most unkind
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I would she were as powerless as blind.

As he was speaking, in come the young general, which when he saw, love’s passion shook his manly strength, and made his visage pale; but she being of an affable and sweet disposition, wish[ed] all content of mind to every person, although she had little herself.

Noble Sir, said she, it was not for want of respect I have not visited you, but my engagements have so busily employed me, that till that
cessation of arms, I have not had so much time as to examine your welfare; but I know, my father hath not omitted any service he could help you in; neither do I believe, you being commander, can be so ignorant but to know camps can afford nothing but a rude entertainment, having therein no necessary accommodations, and since my wishes cannot make it better, you will be pleased to accept of it, as it is.

Worthy Sir, answered the Prince, I am only a prisoner to your favours, but am free by your noble entertainments.

So after some discourse, telling him of the agreement which was like to be, left him, or rather carried him with her; for his soul went after her, although his person stayed behind: but to follow the ambassadors, who were got to the King, and told him the demands of the Amitenian army [were] to have their Queen before they would treat any farther. The King being very much troubled thereat, for to keep her he durst not, knowing his own weakness, and their strength; and to let her go, he could not; for his passion of love would not give him leave; neither would he call a council, knowing they would be for the departure of the Queen for their own securities; then did he wish for his friend and servant Prince; but at last resolved, went to the Queen his mistress, and taking the crown from his head, laid it at her feet.

Madam, said he, here I deliver you my crown, and with it my kingdom; and yield myself your prisoner, dispose of it, and me as you please, for it never shall be said I make conditions with her I do adore; for since my soul is yours, there is nothing I can own that is not so; and since you must, and will go from this place, let me go with you to set your triumphs out, and lead me as your slave.

Sir, answered she, I have not been so ill treated; nor am I so ungrateful to go away, and leave no thanks behind me: wherefore I will stay until there is such a peace made, as you may receive as much profit, and as little losses thereby as I. Wherefore in order thereunto, I desire that the general of my forces, and some of my council may come hither, and so confer both with myself and you.

The King gave order that the gates of the city might be set open, but the Queen sent a messenger to the army, that none of the forces should enter the city, but keep themselves where they were without: only the general and the council, and some of the chiefest commanders, to come unto her. But when they were ready to wait upon the Queen, the old man fell very sick, and sent to his son the young general, to come unto him to take his leave of him before he died, who went with a sorrowful heart, and sad countenance; and when he came close to his bed, the old man spake; Son, said he, my lease of life is expired, and death, the landlord of my body, knocks at my old and ruinated cottage, sending out my soul to seek another habitation; which soul intends to travel through the airy skies unto the mansion of the gods, where it shall pray for your success and happy days on earth[.] O Father, said Travellia, must you go, and leave me here behind.

Why will the gods so cruelly oppress
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An innocent youth to leave it in distress[.]

You were my good angel to guard me from those evils that Fortune sets about me; you were my guide, which did direct my simple youth, to just and honest ways; what will become of me when you are gone? Or who will restore me from those that seek my ruin? Said the old man, the gods, the gods, my son, they will reward your virtue; farewell, farewell, then turned his head and died.

After he had lamented and mourned over his lifeless corpse, he sent to the Queen, to give him leave to inter his father’s ashes; the King hearing thereof sent to the general, inviting him to bring his father’s body into the city, and there to be interred in his chief temple, which honour he accepted, whereupon all the army brought the hearse unto the gates, and then returned unto their trenches; but the chief commanders did bear it to the grave[.] The young general when he came into the temple, who was clad all in mourning, only his face was seen, which appeared
like the sun when it breaks through a dark and spongy cloud: their beams
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did shine on those watery drops that fell upon her cheeks, as banks where roses and lilies grew, there standing on a mounted pillar, spake her father’s funeral speech.
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I come not, said she, here to flatter or belie the dead; but to speak the truth, as far as ray knowledge is informed thereby; he was aged in years, not old, for those are only old whose memories and understanding are grown defective by the length of time: he was wise by experience, not led with self-opinion, he was learned in the art of navigation, and not ignorant of land-service, or command, although Jew that dwell on sea, and profess that art, know little more of land than the ports where they take harbour to shelter from furious storms, or to take fresh victuals in; or to deboist
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with wine and women[.] But he was most temperate not only in moderating his passion, but appetites with reason, honour and religion; in his behaviour he was affable and free, not formal, nor constrained by vain and self conceit, his disposition gentle, sweet, and kind; he in his nature compassionated all that were in distress; he was industrious to all good effects, and had a nimble and ingenious wit, and such a superfluity of courage, as did not only banish fear in himself, but begot spirit in others; he was bred in the schools of honour, where he had learnt virtuous principles and heroic actions; he had all the ingredients that goeth to the making of an honest and gallant man; and he was not only morally honest, but most pious and devout; he offered not sacrifice to the gods for worldly prosperity, but out of pure love, and adoration to the gods; he was a pattern for all others to take example from; his soul was as the breath of gods; and his animal
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the best of nature’s extraction, but Nature makes nothing to last in one form long, for what she creates, she dissolves again.
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With that her tears fell so fast from her eyes, as stopped her mouth for a time; but at last she sighing said,

Although my tears are useless to him, since it is not in their power to alter the decrees of fate, nor can persuade the gods, to give perpetual life here in this world, yet natural affections, they are forced through my eyes[.]

Then bowing down her head over the corpse, which underneath was placed, said:

These as a satisfaction may assuage my grief to think my new-born tears, the issues of my love, shall be buried and lie entombed with his cold ashes, which is the only way to mingle souls, when death has parted bodies; but if that fate had the power to twist my thread of life with his, then death [had] struck me too, and so eased my grief; but since not so, his memory shall lie entombed in my heart until I die.

After he had spoke this funeral speech, he descended from the pillar, and helping to lay the corpse upon the funeral pile, and with a flaming torch, did set the fuel on fire, where after gathering up the ashes, put them in the urn, then placed it in a tomb; after he had thus executed those ceremonies belonging to the dead, he changed his mourning robes, and clothed himself fit for the court or camp again, then he and the council, and the chief commanders went unto the palace of the King, where after some discourse, [he] was brought to the Queen, who joyed more to see her Travellia than the victories they won, and after she had condoled with him for the loss of his father, she congratulated him for the good success he had in the wars, and withal told him she must set at liberty his prisoner the Prince, for she had given him back unto the King, whereupon he presently gave orders for the Prince to repair to the court, and after she heard the relations of all their several actions, and accidents; and had pleased herself with the variety of other discourses, she told them she would sit in a council, to consider what was to be done, as concerning the peace, and so dismissed them for that time, only she stayed Travellia, loving his company so well, she could not so easily part. But the King perceiving her affections, as being never pleased but when Travellia was with her, he grew so jealous, that had not honour forbid him, having past his word unto her they should all there be safe, otherwise he should not have let him live to have been his rival.

But in the meantime, the messenger had caused the Prince to repair to the court, whereat he was much troubled how to
behave himself; for, said he in his thoughts, if I should make myself known unto my mistress, she will straight convey away herself either by death, or stealth; and if I go disguised, although I may make the reason known unto the King, yet the court will talk, and think it is for some ill design against the state, so bring an aspersion against my loyalty.

Thus musing a long time with himself, at last he thought it best for to take counsel of the King; and being come to him, the King with great joy embraced him, saying, O my friend, thy company is a kingdom to me. He humbly kiss[ed] his hand, and said, he thought Fortune was so much his enemy, as that she had shut him out of his royal favour: but Sir, said he, it was none of my fault I did not win; for the gods, as Jupiter, Mars, and the rest, are such lovers of the fair effeminate mortals, that they will never be against them; for wheresoever they are, victory is there also.

The King thinking he meant by it the Queen, told him how unkind[ly] she used him, and how he perceived she loved the young general even to a dotage, and withal asked his counsels therein what he should do; but he smiling, yet sighing, said,

O Sir, said he, there is no cause to fear, for those you do suspect is a woman, yet I believe the Queen knows it not. Then he told him all the story of his love, and all the several accidents thereupon, and asked his advice what he should do.

The King, who was overjoyed at his relations, discovering she was a woman, as his joy gave so many several advices, that the number confused the counsel, and confounded the choice.

But whilst they were thus talking, came a messenger to the Prince, which brought him letters from his own country by merchants that came into that country, that his wife was dead; for although they knew not where he was, yet they sent letters into several countries, in hope some might light into his hands: which when he heard, his doubts were turned into hopes. With that, the King and he embraced with joy, making no question now but Cupid was turned their friend, and that he would shoot two golden arrows into their mistresses’ hearts from the forts of their affections.

The time being come when the King and Queen, and either’s councillors should meet about the peace, they being all set ready to treat, the King entreated the Queen she would give him leave that the Prince might be one of his council, which, said he, without your own consent he shall not come, since he hath been your prisoner.

She told the King, he was not bound to her, since she had given him a release, and your councillors are to be chosen by yourself, and not by me.

After her answer, he sent for him; which when he came, being not disguised, but as he was himself; and Travellia looking upon his face as he was coming in amongst the society, seeing the man she most did fear, she fell into a swound; at which accident the Queen being extremely afflicted, thinking it was done by some design wrought from the jealousy of the King, broke up the juncto
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for that time, taking all the care she could for his recovery. But Travellia being recovered out of her swound, yet was she sick in mind, though not in body, and kept her bed, as being very ill.

Whereupon the Queen’s suspicion was more increased, and [she] feared some poison had been given him; and with that conceit could not endure to see the King.

The King being much troubled that the Queen was more strict to him than she was used to be, and perceiving that it was Travellia that was the cause, complained unto the Prince, and angrily merrily said, dispose of your mistress some way, for I am jealous, said he, although she is a woman.

Sir, said the Prince, I have as much reason to be jealous of the Queen as you have of my mistress, setting her masculine habit aside.

At last they did agree to discover her to the Queen. Whereupon the Prince went to the Queen, and desired by messenger to grant him half an hour’s conference.

She desired to be excused.

He sent her word, it was something concerning his own affairs: whereat she gave admittance. When the Prince came to her he said,