Amours of Zeokinizul - Page 30/43

The Reality of these Assurances were soon illustrated, when he broke the solemn Promise he had made to the Mollak, and recall'd his dear Lenertoula. But this was too slender a Reparation for what she had suffered. She required of Zeokinizul, a more complete and signal Triumph. Immediately the pious, but over-zealous Mollak was dismissed the Court, and ordered to his Mosque. A Visier also whom the Favourite particularly hated, having always opposed her Amour, was ordered personally to declare to her, that Zeokinizul again acknowledged her Mistress of his Heart, and only waited her Orders, and a List of her Enemies, in order to revenge her to the utmost. The Visier obeyed; but at the same Time he took secure Measures that he might not be upon the fatal List, and to prevent this imperious Woman from abusing the King's Weakness, an infallible Poison which he found Means to have given her, worked at the very Instant that he went to perform his Commission. As she was soon violently seiz'd with the Approaches of Death, it was believed by the Generality, who had no Notion of foul Play, that Lenertoula had been overcome by an Excess of Joy, which is always more forcible than that of Grief, especially in Women. Upon this Notion, a Kofiran Wit made four Verses, which may be thus rendered in English.

'Tis needless now my famous Blood to name, This Act alone will immortalize my Fame. My King, on gaining Life, return'd my Pow'r, For which I dy'd his Glory to restore.

It was thought for a long Time, that this would prove an inconsolable Loss to Zeokinizul. He seemed to have no Ease, no Satisfaction, but in heaping Gifts and Favours on all Lenertoula's Relations, to manifest how dear she was to him. However, the Marriage of his only Son, to a Daughter of the King of Jerebi, his Relation, the Magnificence and Diversions at the Celebration of the Ceremony, and the Congratulations from all Parts, at last gave a chearful Turn to his Disposition; and he wisely began to think, that the Honours he conferr'd on the Sister of his dear Mistress, besides sixteen thousand Tomans which he gave to her Husband; together with a tender Remembrance, which he vow'd always to retain for her Ashes, was amply fulfilling all that the most tender

Passion could require. His Courtiers, who were surprised to see his Heart continue for a Time disengag'd and inaccessible to any new Passion, were in daily Expectation of seeing the Liberty which he had so happily recovered, offered up to some youthful Beauty. But the Court Ladies strove so eagerly for this Prize, that their over Forwardness made him averse to having an Intrigue with any. They were ignorant that Resistance inflames Desire, and he at that Time scorned Enjoyments too easily procured. Kelirieu in the mean Time grew uneasy at his Master's Indifference, as it deprived him of the most substantial Emoluments of his Post. He saw his Favours entirely depended on his being subservient to the King's Pleasures, so that he spared for nothing in order to restore that Employment which he had executed so much to his Master's Satisfaction, and his own Advantage. The Nuptials of the young Prince opened a Way to it. Nothing can equal the Joy, Magnificence, and Splendour, which appeared on that Occasion.