_Cydalisa._
Mangogul returned to the favorite, where Selim was come before him.
"Well, prince," said Mirzoza, "has the account of Cypria's travels
done you any good?" "Neither good nor harm," answered the Sultan: "I
understood it not." "Why so?" replied the favorite. "Because," says the
Sultan, "her Toy speaks like a Polyglot, all languages but mine. It is
an impertinent Story-teller, but would make a excellent interpreter."
"What!" replied Mirzoza, "did you gather nothing at all from her
narrative?" "But one thing, madam," answered Mangogul, "and that is,
that travelling is more pernicious, if possible, to the modesty of
the women, than to the religion of the men; and that there is very
little merit in knowing many languages. For one may be master of Greek,
Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, and the language of Congo, and yet
have no more sense than a Toy. Is this your opinion, madam? and what is
Selim's? Now let him begin his story: but above all, no more travels.
They fatigue me to death." Selim promised the Sultan, that the scene
should be confined to one place, and spoke thus.
"I was about thirty years of age when I lost my father: I married to
keep up my family, and I lived with my wife as becomes a husband;
regards, attentions, politeness, decent behavior without much
familiarity. The prince Erguebzed came to the throne: I had been in
his good graces long before his reign: he continued me in them to his
death, and I endeavour'd to do justice to this mark of distinction by
my zeal and fidelity. The place of inspector general of his armies
became vacant: I obtained it, and this post obliged me to take frequent
journies to the frontiers."
"Frequent journies?" cried the Sultan. "A single one is sufficient to
make me sleep till to morrow. Think of that."
"Prince," continued Selim, "it was in one of these tours that I became
acquainted with the wife of a colonel of the Spahi's, whose name was
Ostaluk, a man of bravery, and a good officer, but by no means an
agreeable husband, jealous as a tyger, and his person was a sufficient
warrant to justify that madness: for he was horribly ugly.
"He had lately espoused Cydalisa, young, lively, handsome; one of those
uncommon women, for whom, at the first interview, one feels somewhat
more than politeness, from whom one parts with regret, and who return a
hundred times to your thoughts, till you see them again.
"Cydalisa had a just way of thinking, expressed herself with grace: her
conversation was engaging, and if a person was never tired of seeing
her, he was still less so of hearing her. With these qualities she had
a right to make strong impressions on every heart, and I felt their
effects. I esteemed her much; from esteem I soon ran into tenderness,
and all my proceedings immediately assumed the true colour of a strong
passion. The ease with which I obtained my former triumphs, had
somewhat spoiled me: when I attacked Cydalisa, I imagined she would
not hold out long; and that being very much honoured by the pursuit
of Mr. Inspector General, she would only make a decent defence. Judge
then at the surprise I was thrown into by the answer which she made
to my declaration. 'My lord,' said she, 'altho' I had the presumption
to believe that you are touched with some charms, which I am thought
to have; yet I should be a fool to listen seriously to those same
discourses with which you have deceived thousands, before you addressed
them to me. Without esteem, what is love? A trifle, and you do not
know me sufficiently to esteem me. Whatever judgment and penetration
a person may have, he cannot in two days time enter deep enough into
the character of a woman, to say that she deserves to be adored. Mr.
Inspector General seeks an amusement; he is in the right; and so is
Cydalisa too, in amusing no body.'
"In vain did I swear to the sincerity of my passion, that my happiness
was in her hands, and that her indifference would poison the rest of
my life. 'Jargon,' said she, 'pure jargon. Either think no more of
me, or do not believe me stupid enough to be catch'd by those trite
protestations. What you have just said to me, every body says without
thinking of it, and every body hears without believing it.'
"If I had had but a bare liking to Cydalisa, her severity would have
mortified me: but as I loved her, it afflicted me. I set out for the
court: her image followed me thither; and absence, far from weakening
the passion which I had conceived for her, did but augment it.
"Cydalisa had so far taken possession of me, that I thought a hundred
times to make a sacrifice to her of the employments and rank which
bound me to the court: but the uncertainty of success always withheld
me.
"In the impossibility of flying to the place where I left her, I formed
a project to bring her where I was. I took advantage of the confidence
with which Erguebzed honoured me, by extolling the merit and valor of
Ostaluk. He was named lieutenant of the Spahi's of his guard, an office
which fixed him near the prince; and Ostaluk appeared at court, and
with him Cydalisa, who instantly became the beauty of the day."
"You did well," says the Sultan, "to keep your employments, and call
your Cydalisa to court: for I swear to you by Brama, that I should
have suffered you to set out alone for the province she was in."
"She was ogled, surveyed, beset, but all in vain," continued Selim.
"I enjoyed the sole privilege of seeing her every day. The more I
visited her, the more graces and good qualities I perceived in her,
and the more desperately I became enamoured. I fancied that possibly
the remembrance of my numerous adventures might injure me in her mind;
in order to efface it, and convince her of the sincerity of my love,
I banished myself from company, and I saw no women but those which
chance threw in my way at her house. It seemed to me as if this conduct
had some effect on her, and that she relaxed somewhat of her former
severity. I doubled my diligence, I asked for love, and she granted me
esteem. Cydalisa began to treat me with distinction. I had some share
in her confidence: she often consulted me on her family affairs, but
was quite silent on those of her heart. If I expressed myself in tender
sentiments, she answered me in maxims, which made me mad. This painful
state had lasted a long time, when I took up the resolution to get out
of it, and to know positively once for all, what I might depend on."
"How did you set about it?" said Mirzoza. "Madam, you will soon be
informed," answered Mangogul: and Selim continued.
"I have told you, madam, that I saw Cydalisa every day: I began by
seeing her less frequently, I went on by slackening my visits more
and more, till infine I scarce saw her at all. Whenever I happened to
converse with her _tête à tête_, I spoke as little of love as if I had
never felt the least spark of it. This change astonished her: she
suspected me of some secret engagement, and one day, as I was making
her a narrative of the galantries of the court, 'Selim,' said she to
me with an air of confusion, 'you tell me nothing concerning yourself:
you relate the good fortune of others charmingly, but you are very
discreet with regard to your own.' 'Madam,' answered I, ''tis probably
because I have none, or that I think it is proper to conceal it.' 'To
be true,' interrupted she, ''tis of vast consequence to conceal those
things to day, which all the world will know to morrow.' 'Be that as it
will, madam,' replied I, 'yet at least nobody shall have them from me.'
'Indeed,' said she, 'you are quite marvellous with your reserves; but
pray who does not know that you have designs upon the fair Misis, the
little Zibelina, and the nut-brown Sephera?' 'And on whom you please
besides, madam,' added I coldly. 'Truly,' replied she, 'I can easily
believe that these are not all: these two months past, that the sight
of you is a favour, you have not been idle, and business goes on fast
with those ladies.' 'I, to remain idle,' answered I; 'I should never
forgive myself. My heart is made to love, and somewhat to be beloved
too; and I will go so far as to own that it is: but ask me no farther
questions on this head, perhaps I have already said too much.'
"'Selim,' replied she seriously, 'I have no secret for you,
and you shall have none for me, if you please. How far are you
advanced?'----'Almost to the end of the novel'----'And with whom?'
said she earnestly----'You know Marteza'--'Yes, sure; she is a very
amiable woman.' 'Well then, after having in vain tried all means
to please you, I turned to that side. I was wished for above half a
year; two interviews levell'd the outworks, a third will compleat
my happiness; and this very night Marteza expects me to supper. Her
conversation is amusing, light, and a little caustic; but, that
excepted, she is the best creature in the world. A person transacts
his little affairs better with those giggling women, than with those
lofty dames, who.'----'But, my Lord,' interrupted Cydalisa with a
down-cast look, 'in complimenting you on your choice, may one observe
to you, that Marteza is not new, and that before you, she has reckoned
lovers?'----'What is that to me, madam?' replied I. 'If Marteza
loves me sincerely, I look on myself as her first. But the hour of
my appointment draws near, permit me.'----'One word more, my Lord.
Is it really true that Marteza loves you?----'I believe it.'----'And
you love her?' added Cydalisa.----'Madam,' answered I, ''tis you
that have thrown me into the arms of Marteza: I need say no more to
you.'----I was departing, but Cydalisa pull'd me by my Doliman, and
turned back in a hurry.----'Does madam want to speak with me? Has she
any commands for me?'----'No, Sir, how, are you there still? I thought
you were a good way off by this time.'----'Madam, I will double my
pace.'----'Selim'----'Cydalisa.'----'Then you are going?'----'Yes,
madam.'----'Ah! Selim, to whom do you sacrifice me? Was not Cydalisa's
esteem of greater value than the favors of a Marteza?'----'Without
doubt, madam,' replied I, 'if I had nothing more than esteem for you.
But I loved you.'----'It is not so,' cried she with transport: 'if
you had loved me, you would have distinguished my real sentiments;
you would have been prepossessed with them, you would have flattered
yourself, that your perseverance would in time get the better of my
pride: but you grew tired, you have abandoned me, and perhaps in the
very moment'----At this word Cydalisa stopt short, a sigh slipt from
her, and her eyes were wet.--'Speak, madam,' said I, 'make an end. If
my tenderness lasted still, notwithstanding your rigorous treatment,
could you.'----'I can do nothing, you do no longer love me, and Marteza
waits for you.'----'If Marteza was indifferent to me; if Cydalisa was
dearer to me than ever, what would you do?'--'It would be folly to
explain myself on suppositions.'----'Cydalisa, I beseech you to answer
me, as if I had supposed nothing. If Cydalisa was constantly the most
lovely of her sex in my eyes; and if I never had the least design on
Marteza; once again what would you do?'----'What I have always done,
ingrateful man,' answered at length Cydalisa: 'I would love you.'--'And
Selim adores you,' said I, falling on my knees, and kissing her
hands which I water'd with my tears. Cydalisa was struck dumb, this
unexpected change threw her into the utmost confusion: I took advantage
of her disorder, and our reconciliation was sealed by certain marks of
tenderness, which she had not power to refuse."
"And what did the good natured Ostaluk say to this?" interrupted
Mangogul. "Doubtless he allowed his dear half to be generous to a man,
to whom he was indebted for his lieutenancy of the Spahi's."
"Prince," replied Selim, "Ostaluk shewed great gratitude, whilst I
was not listened to; but no sooner was I made happy, but he became
troublesome, ill-humour'd, insupportable to me, and brutal to his wife.
Not content with disturbing us in person, he caused us to be watched,
we were betrayed, and Ostaluk, convinced of his pretended dishonour,
had the impudence to challenge me to a duel. We fought in the great
park of the Seraglio: I gave him two wounds, and obliged him to own
himself indebted to me for his life.
"While he was under cure of his wounds, I never quitted his wife: but
the first use that he made of his recovery, was to part us and ill-use
Cydalisa. She sent me a pathetic account of her unhappy situation: I
proposed carrying her off, to which she consented, and our jealous
pate, returning from the chase, wherein he attended the Sultan, was
vastly surprized to find himself a widower. Ostaluk, instead of giving
vent to his passion in useless complaints against the author of the
rape, instantly meditated revenge.
"I had Cydalisa in a country house, two leagues from Banza; and every
other night I stole out of town, and went to Cisara. Mean while Ostaluk
set a price on the head of his false one, bribed my servants, and was
let into my park. That evening I was enjoying the refreshing breeze
there with Cydalisa; we were got to the remoter end of a dark walk, and
I was on the point of lavishing the most tender caresses on her, when
an invisible hand pierced her breast with a ponyard before my eyes. It
was the hand of cruel Ostaluk. The same fate hung over my head: but
I prevented Ostaluk, I drew my dagger, and Cydalisa was revenged. I
ran to the dear woman: her heart still panted: I hastened to carry her
to the house, but before I reached it she expired, her mouth closely
pressing on mine.
"When I perceived Cydalisa's limbs to grow stiff in my arms, I cryed
out with vehemence: my people ran to me, and forced me away from this
place of horror. I returned to Banza, and shut myself up in my palace,
excessively grieved at Cydalisa's death, and loading myself with the
most cruel reproaches. I loved Cydalisa sincerely, and was passionately
beloved by her; and I was at full leisure to consider the greatness of
the loss, which I had sustained, and to mourn for her."
"But at length," said the favorite, "you comforted your self?" "Alas!
madam," replied Selim, "I thought I never should; but this one thing I
have learnt by it, that there is no grief eternal."
"Well," said Mirzoza, "let me hear no more of the men: there they
are all. That is to say, Signor Selim, that this poor Cydalisa,
whose history has moved us to compassion, and whom you have so much
regretted, was a great fool to rely on your oath; and that, while Brama
perhaps chastises her severely for her credulity, you pass your time
pleasantly enough in the arms of another."
"Pray, madam," replied the Sultan, "calm your self: Selim loves again,
Cydalisa will be revenged." "Sir," answered Selim, "your highness
may possibly be misinformed. Ought I not to have learnt, once for my
whole life, by my adventure with Cydalisa, that true love was too
prejudicial to happiness?"--"Without doubt," interrupted Mirzoza,
"and yet I would lay a wager, notwithstanding your philosophical
reflections, that you actually love another more ardently than--"
"More ardently," replied Selim, "I dare not assert: these five years
past I am attached, but attached from my heart to a charming woman.
It was not without difficulty, that I made her listen to me, for she
had always been of a virtue!"--"Virtue!" cried the Sultan; "courage,
my friend, I am charmed, when one talks to me of the virtue of a court
lady." "Selim," said the favorite, "continue your story:" "and always
believe, as a good mussulman, in the fidelity of your mistress,"
added the Sultan. "Ah! prince," replied Selim with vivacity, "Fulvia
is faithful to me:" "faithful, or not," answered Mangogul, "what is
that to your happiness? You believe it, and that is sufficient?" "Oh
then! 'tis Fulvia that you are now in love with," said the favorite.
"Yes, madam," answered Selim. "So much the worse, my friend," added
Mangogul: "I have not a grain of faith in her. She is perpetually beset
by Bramins, and these Bramins are terrible fellows: besides, I find she
has little Chinese eyes, with a turn'd up nose; and an air thoroughly
inclining to the side of pleasure. Between us, is this true?" "Prince,"
answered Selim, "I believe she has no aversion to it." "Well," replied
the Sultan, "every thing gives way to that charm: which you ought to
know better than I, or you are not"--"You are mistaken," replied the
favorite, "a man may have all the sense in the world, and not know
that. I wager"--"Always wagers," interrupted Mangogul: "I am out of
all patience; those women are incorrigible. Pray, madam, win your
castle, and lay wagers afterward."
"Madam," says Selim to the favorite, "might not Fulvia be of use to you
in some station or other?" "As how?" ask'd Mirzoza. "I have observed,"
answered the courtier, "that the Toys have seldom or never spoke,
but in presence of his highness; and I have fancied, that the Genius
Cucufa, who has done so many surprising things in favour of Kanaglou
the Sultan's grand-father, might have endowed his grand-son with the
gift of making them speak. But Fulvia's Toy has not as yet opened
its mouth, as far as I could ever learn: might it not be possible to
interrogate it, in order to procure you the castle, and to convince
me of the fidelity of my mistress?" "Doubtless," replied the Sultan;
"what is your opinion, madam?" "Oh! I shall not meddle in so ticklish
an affair. Selim is too much my friend, to expose him, for the sake of
a castle; to the risque of being made unhappy the rest of his days."
"But you do not consider," replied the Sultan: "Fulvia is virtuous:
Selim would run his hand into the fire to prove it. He has said it, and
he is not a man to flinch from his word." "No, Prince," answered Selim,
"and if your highness will give me a meeting at Fulvia's house, I will
certainly be there before you." "Be cautious of what you propose,"
replied the favorite. "Selim, my poor Selim, you go very fast, and how
worthy soever you are of being beloved"--"Fear not, madam; since the
dye is cast, I will hear Fulvia: the worst that can befal me, is to
lose a faithless woman." "And to die of regret," added the Sultana,
"for having lost her." "What a romance," says Mangogul. "You believe
then that Selim is become very weak. He has lost the lovely Cydalisa,
and yet there he is full of life; and you pretend, that if he happened
to find Fulvia unfaithful to him, it would kill him. I'll insure him
to you as immortal, if he is never demolished but by that stroke.
Selim, to morrow at Fulvia's, do you hear? you will have notice of
the hour." Selim bow'd, Mangogul quitted the company: the favorite
continued to remonstrate to the old courtier, that he play'd a high
game. Selim thank'd her for her tokens of good will, and each retired
in expectation of the great event.