Favourite, under Pretence of pulling something out of her Pocket, dropt her Handkerchief, and as it is said, purposely. Zeokinizul hastily took it up; and, as he could not reach her Seat, he toss'd it to her in the most polite Manner. A confused Murmur immediately spread thro' the Saloon, with these Words, The Handkerchief is thrown. The King was too much taken up with viewing the Person to whom he had been so complaisant, to take any Notice of such Whisperings. The Charms she display'd in taking off her Mask, and her genteel Manner of her thanking him for the Honour, fill'd him with such passionate Love, that he even there gave her some Intimations how much he was taken with her Beauty. After this Declaration, he soon left the Ball, for having received such a Wound, he wanted to be in private with his Confident, in order to consult about his new Love. Kelirieu had already prevented his Master's Orders, for as he narrowly watched him, he perceived which of the Company had captivated him, and immediately informed himself of her Rank and Condition.
Zeokinizul was transported with Joy at Kelirieu's Report of his Enquiries. He made himself sure, that the Husband of this young Person, being one of those Set of Men, who Mind nothing but Riches, would not only resign his conjugal Rights, but would even be brought to sollicit his
Spouse to resign herself up to the King's Embraces, and herein he was not mistaken. But the Difficulty was to induce the Seller's Wife to be a Party in such a scandalous Contract; for tho' she was of low Extraction, she had an Elevation of Mind, a Purity of Virtue, which would have done Honour to the highest. She could not indeed help being inwardly pleased that she had tried her Charms with such Success upon her Sovereign, and the dazzling Idea of beholding Zeokinizul laying at her Feet, all his Greatness and Power, her Husband made a Bassa of the second Rank, her Name exchanged for one of the most illustrious, were Circumstances which the natural Desires in Women of shining even in the smallest Matters, would not allow her to be insensible; yet this Sensibility did not greatly hasten the Lover's Happiness; for, as her Duty united her to a Husband, from whom her Inclinations alienated her, she was for distinguishing herself from all that had gone before her, and reducing the Monarch to go through the entire Play of Love. But such a formal Method was insupportable to him, for being used to conquer upon the very first Appearance of his Desire, his Heart was for some Time distracted with strong Conflicts between Love and Resentment, without a decisive Victory on either Side. Sometimes he looked upon the Resistance of his new Mistress, as an insolent Affront to Majesty; at other
Times this same Resistance inflamed him the more, and he pleased himself with the Thoughts of subduing that obstinate Virtue which she affected. All Kelirieu's Artifices were at an End, and when he was passionately urg'd by the King, he was at a Loss for any farther Expedient. However, in such a critical Juncture, he determined to make one last Effort, in order to bring the beautiful Vorompdap to his Lure, and if he fail'd, to engage Zeokinizul to forget her in the Arms of another, who knew the true Value of a Monarch's Affections.
Being persuaded that every Woman who has once listened to a Lover, cannot bear the Thoughts of losing him, but makes Use of every Art in order to fix his Constancy, he waited upon her in Person, and said, with an Air of Concern, At last, charming Kismare, your Rigour has disgusted the Sultan, so as to make him give over his Addresses. Weary of the Delays and Obstacles you was constantly raising against his Passion, he has offered it to another, notwithstanding all my Endeavours to secure him, by the highest Praises of your Charms, and making your very Resistance, a Motive for his farther Pursuits. A Person, not indeed of your perfect Beauty, but of a more indulgent Temper, captivates this Monarch, and I apprehend, that her obliging and artful Behaviour to her Lover, will for ever deprive
you of a Heart which you might have kept at your Devotion. Kelirieu, whilst he was speaking, did not fail to observe the young Vorompdap's Countenance, and had the Pleasure of discerning the Vexation which she strove in vain to conceal. She was some Time without returning an Answer, but after composing herself, and putting a good Air upon the Confusion which the Thoughts of a Rival had excited, I could never have imagined, said she, with an affected Indifference, which, however, could not deceive the artful Kelirieu, No, I never could have imagined, that after so many Marks and Protestations of a sincere Affection, Zeokinizul, could have deceived me in such a Manner. However, I am free from the Reproaches of a criminal Uneasiness to gratify his Desires. Charming Kismare, replied Kelirieu, had you shewed the Compliance which is due to a Monarch's Love, I presume to swear by his Head, that he would never have proved inconstant. But no Lover, and especially a King, will ever be satisfied with an ideal Love. Kindness cherishes the Flame, but Unkindness quenches it. But if you have still any Value for Zeokinizul's Heart, you still may avert the Blow which seems to trouble you. I, replied she, smartly, I, troubled at the King's Alteration! very far from it. On the contrary, I bless interposing Heaven, that it happened before Gratitude
had prevail'd upon me to make him a Sacrifice of my Person, and, what is still dearer, my Virtue. Alas! added she, sheding some Tears, which flowed in Spite of her, that fatal Instant was drawing near. If it be so, replied Kelirieu, I pity you for having undesignedly lost an Enjoyment so necessary to your own Repose. For, added he, softly, I can discover through all your Affectations, that you really love the King. Your Heart is wounded, and only with-held by airy and unseasonable Scruples. Well, yes, answered she, I do love him. I do not endeavour to conceal it from you. Good God! what Woman in my Place could forbear. But, how can I commit such a publick Adultery. A publick Adultery, replied Kelirieu, with a seeming Amazement, what Blockhead has put such Fancies into your Head. But this Crime so justly condemned both by divine and human Laws, consists in the Injury done to a Man, whose Wife against his Will, or without his Knowledge, admits a Gallant to her Embraces? But, lovely Kismare, how different is your Case! Will not your Husband quit all Pretentions to your Person? Has he not releas'd you from the Vow of being only his? Since his Consent could unite you to him, shall his positive Order be of less Validity to separate you from him, and unite you to another; and that upon such an important Occasion, when Riches, Titles, and
Power are to reward his Cession, and your Acquiescence? Believe me, charming Vorompdap, our Imans have adapted our Religion to their own Views and Passions, without Regard to that genuine and perfect Model, the Will of God. The Vow of Celibacy, upon which they value themselves, as renouncing Marriage, would be an insupportable Yoke to them, it would be soon shaken of, were it not for their Hopes, which indeed are too often verified, of taking Advantage of the Misunderstandings betwixt the Husband and Wife, whose Bands they are taught to believe indissoluble. It is on this Account, that they are constantly magnifying Conjugal Duties, and lay so much Stress on their punctual Observation. Consider only what is done in other Nations, no less wise and religious than ourselves. Divorces among them are permitted, as frequently essential to the well being of Society. That sacred Book the Liegnelau, cannot be supposed to contradict and overthrow the Bileb, of which it is in a great Measure the Accomplishment, and Suesi whom you worship, being the Messenger of the great God, would not offer to abrogate his Institutions. Thus the Point is clear, and now look upon yourself as a Woman who is about forming a second Contract, being legally, religiously, and honourably discharged from the former. Zeokinizul is equally at Liberty, for the State and
Temper of the Queen invalidate their Marriage. So, that only a few Formalities are wanting for your Union with the King, and you know, Formalities among the more understanding Part of the World, are often dispensed with, as tiresome rather than necessary. The Consent of both Parties has always been the only Point insisted on as essential.
These Proofs, which in the Mouth of a Mollak, would have been laugh'd at, produced the designed Effect from Kelirieu. The young Kismare was shaken, but not overthrown by them; she still insisted against plunging herself into such shocking Scandal. This seemed a very slender Objection to Kelirieu, who immediately replyed to it. Consider, says he, the Kams of Meani and Tesoulou, do they bear any Marks of their Mother's Scandal? Was a great Monarch's Love accounted a Disgrace to a beautiful Lady? If you was acquainted with the first Ages of our Monarchy, you would be satisfied, that they never made any Difference between the Children of Love, and those born in lawful Marriage, as the Imans are pleased to call it. A King at your Feet, Courtiers waiting respectfully on your Orders, a Nation's Treasure at your Disposal, can there be Contempt and Scandal amid such Advantages? Do not alarm your Mind with Monsters of your own forming, only for the Sake of opposing