The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics) (19 page)

Madam, I should not press thus rudely on your thoughts, but that I think I am part of the cause that makes them melancholy.

Sir, said she, you take upon you to know much, for it is hard to know the mind or thoughts of ourselves, much less another’s.

Madam, said he, I will be so presumptuous to guess at them, if you will give me leave.

Take it, said she.

Then Madam, said he, I must tell you, you are in love; and those you love, although there is a society of all excellencies, yet cannot return such love you desire; for you have placed your affection upon a woman, who hath concealed her sex, in taking the habit of a man, and might more confirm your mistake by the actions of a soldier. I know not, said the Prince, how kind you have found her, but I have found her cruel[;] then telling the story from the first time he saw her until that present.

When the Queen had heard his relation, her colour came and went, moved by her mixed passions, anger and love; angry that she was deceived, yet still did love, as wishing she had been a man.

Then the Prince began to move unto her the suit of the King; but she was so impatient and troubled in her mind, being crossed in her love, that she would hear nothing concerning love more at that time; which he perceiving, took his leave for the present: but as soon as he was gone,

Tears from her Eyes flowed out, as if they meant

To make her there a Watery Monument;

And her oppressed Heart such sighs sent forth
,

Like gusts of wind that blow from South or North.

After this furious Storm, a Calm did rise
,

Her Spirits like a still, smooth Water lies.

Then laying down her gentle head to rest
,

Thus to the God of Love her prayers addressed:

Thou powerful God of Love, that shoots from high
,

One leaden Arrow in my breast let fly
,

To quench that scorching heat thou mad’st to burn
,

Unless a Woman to a Man can turn.

With that the God of Love did pity take
,

Quenched out the first, and did a new Fire make;

Yet was it weak, as being made but new
,

But being kindled, it much better grew.

At last, the Flame got hold upon the King
,

Which did much Joy unto each Kingdom bring.

After a sweet and refreshing sleep, she rose, and went to Travellia’s chamber, and told her how she was discovered; then chiding her gently for not making herself known unto her; for, said she, you have caused me many unquiet rests.

But Travellia begged her pardon, telling her, it was the cause of her misfortunes that concealed her, and not out of any evil design she had to deceive her; then desired her assistance and help to secure her[self].

Whilst they were thus talking, the King and the Prince came to see the sick person, to whom the Queen with a smiling countenance said, she was a-courting her hard-hearted lover.

The King answered, that he hoped she would take pity on him, by what she had felt herself.

The Queen told him that she was likelier to love him now, than if she had never been a lover before; for, said she, there is something pleasing in lovers’ thoughts, be their fortunes never so adverse; and I believe, said she, the Prince will say as much.

Madam, said he, it is a pleasing pain, as being mixed with hopes and fears; but if our hopes do cease, all pleasure is gone, and nothing doth remain but pains of Hell.

Then, said the Queen, your mistress were in a sad condition, if she loved you, as you seem to love her, you being a married man.

No, said the Prince, I am now a widower; but I doubt, said he, that doth
³¹
advantage me in my mistress’s affection.

But when Travellia heard he was a widower, her heart did beat like to a feverish pulse, being moved with several passions, fearing it was not so, hoping it was so, joying if it were so, grieving that she ought not to wish it so.

But the Queen asked the Prince, how that he came to know of it. Whereupon he told her.

Said she, I have promised your mistress to protect her against your outrageous assaults; but since your suit is just, and your treaty civil, I will yield her to you, upon that condition you carry her not out of my kingdom; for since I cannot marry her, and so make her my husband, I will keep her if I can, and so make her my friend.

With that, Travellia rises up in her bed, and bowed herself with a pleased countenance, giving the Queen thanks.

Said the Prince, you have given me as much as the gods could give, which is felicity.

Madam, said the King, you have given me nothing.

The Queen, with blushes, answered, that if her council would agree, she would give him herself.

The King for joy kneeled down, and kissed her hand; now I am like to the gods, they can but have their wish.

Thus passing that day in pleasing discourses, the next day they caused their councils to meet, where they concluded the marriage of the King and Queen; and that the Queen should live with their King in the Kingdom of Amours, and that her first son should be heir to the crown, and her second should be heir to the Kingdom of Amity; but in case there were no sons, or but one, then daughters should inherit.

In the meantime, the Prince, and his Princess that was to be, should be Viceroy, or rather she should rule; who was so beloved of the people, as if she had not only been a native born, but as if she had been born from the royal stock. But they thought it fit she should make herself known unto the army by word of mouth, that she was a woman, otherwise they might think she was made away by a violent death; and that the report of being a woman, was only a trick to deceive them; and from thence arise such a mutiny, as might bring a ruin to both kingdoms.

When all was agreed, they prepared for the marriages.

In the meantime, Travellia goeth to the army, attended by the Prince, where the King and Queen came soon after, that the soldiers might see they were there, as witnesses of what she told them. And being all in a circle round about her, she being upon a place raised for that purpose, thus spake.

Noble friends, and valiant soldiers,

I am come here at this present to declare I am a woman, although I am habited like a man, and perchance you may think it immodesty; but they that will judge charitably, will enquire the reason before they give their censure; for upright judges never give sentence before the party proves guilty: wherefore I believe you will not condemn me, because necessity did enforce me to conceal my sex, to protect my honour; for as the love of soul and body is inseparable, so should the love of chastity, and the effeminate sex; and who can love, and not share in danger? And since no danger ought to be avoided, nor life considered, in respect of their honours; and to guard that safe from enemies, no habit is to be denied; for it is not the outward garments that can corrupt the honest mind, for modesty may clothe the soul of a naked body, and a sword becomes a woman when it is used against the enemies of her honour; for though her strength be weak, yet she ought to show her will; and to the in the defence of honour, is to live with noble fame; therefore neither camp, nor court, nor city, nor country, nor danger, nor habit, nor any worldly felicity, must separate the love of chastity, and our sex; for as love is the sweetest, so it is the strongest of all passions; and true love proceeds from virtue, not from vice; wherefore it is to be followed by life, to be maintained till death; and if I have served my Queen honestly, condemn not my modesty.

Then bowing her head down low, first to the King and Queen, then to the army.

Whereupon the army gave a shout, and cried out, Heaven bless you, of what sex soever you be.

After she had spoke this speech, she went into her tent, and dressed herself in her effeminate robes, and came out again, standing in the same place, thus spake.

Noble Friends,

Thus with my masculine clothes I have laid by my masculine spirit; yet not so by, but I shall take it up again, if it be to serve the Queen and kingdom, to whom I owe my life for many obligations.

First, to my Queen, who bought me as a slave, yet used me as a friend; and loved me with that affection, as if nature had linked us in one line, [for] which Heaven reward her with glory and renown. Besides, her love
did bestow upon me great honour, made me protector of her kingdom in her absence; and you her subjects out of loyalty obeyed all my commands, although I am young and inexperienced. And ’tis not only what your loyalty enforces, but I have found your affections of love to be such, as showed they came freely from your souls, expressing itself in grieving for my sickness, taking care for my health, joying in my company, mourning for my absence, glorying in my fame; and so much as you would lessen your own, to give it me: what shall I do to show my gratitude? Alas my life is too poor a sacrifice; had I the mansion of the gods, I would resign it for your felicity; but these are only words, not acts, to show you my thanks: yet here I do offer all that the gods or nature gave me, life, health, or beauty, peace, pleasure, or plenty; and these shall stand upon the altar of a thankful heart, ready to sacrifice to your service.

Whereupon all the army cried out, an angel, an angel, the gods had sent unto them.

Then was there a declaration read to the army of the agreement of peace: and when it was read that the Prince should be Viceroy in the Kingdom of Amity, all the soldiers, as if they had been one voice, cried out, Travellia shall be Viceregency; which was granted to pacify them. Whereupon there were great acclamations of joy.

But the Prince told his mistress, she should also govern him.

She answered, that he should govern her, and she would govern the kingdom.

Then went the King and Queen, the Prince and Travellia, the nobles and the chief commanders, to celebrate their nuptials; where on the wedding day, the Queen was adorned with a crown of diamonds, and hung about with rich jewels; yet her beauty did dim their lustre; but Travellia was only dressed in a white silk garment, which hung loosely about her: yet then
³²

Her Face did seem like to a Glory bright
,

Where Gods and Goddesses did take delight;

And in her Eyes, new Worlds, you there might see

Love, flying Cupids there as Angels be;

And on her Lips Venus enthroned is
,

Inviting duller Lovers there to kiss;

Winged Mercury upon her Tongue did sit
,

Strewing out Flowers of Rhetoric and of Wit;

Pallas did circle in each Temple round
,

Which with her Wisdom, as a Laurel crowned;

And in her Cheeks sweet Flowers for Love’s Poesies
,

There Fates spun Threads of Lilies and of Roses;

And every loving Smile, as if each were

A Palace for the Graces to dwell there;

And chaste Diana on her Snow white Breast

There leaned her Head, with pure Thoughts to rest;

When viewed her Neck, great Jove turned all to wonder
,

In Love’s soft Showers melting without Thunder;

The lesser Gods on her white Hands did lie
,

Thinking each Vein to be their Azure Sky;

Her charming circling Arms made Mars to cease

All his fierce Battles, for a Love’s soft Peace;

And on our World’s Globe sate triumphing high
,

Heaved there by Atlas up unto the Sky;

And sweet-breathed Zephyrus did blow her Name

Into the glorious Trumpet of good Fame.

After they were married, to set out their triumphs, they had masques, plays, balls, pageants, shows, processions, and the like; and when they had kept the festivals some days in the city, the Prince and Princess desired they might go and revel with the army for some days, that was without the city. The Queen being well pleased therewith, thither they went, where they had tiltings, running at the ring, fencing, wrestling, vaulting, jumping, running races of horse and foot, baiting of beasts, and many the like warlike pastimes; and such hospitality, that every common soldier was feasted; and after they were all satisfied with sports and good cheer, the Prince and Princess returned to the court again; and after they had remained there some time, the King and Queen sent them with the army into the Kingdom of Amity; and the soldiers returned, not only with all the spoils they got in the war, but
the King did present all the chief commanders with presents; and the two kingdoms lived in peace and tranquility during the life of the King and Queen, and for all I can hear, do so to this day.

THE

DESCRIPTION

OF A NEW

WORLD
,

CALLED

The Blazing World
.

WRITTEN

By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, and Excellent

PRINCESS
,

THE

Duchess of Newcastle
.