The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans | Page 6

fruitless Trial of all the peaceable Ways of Bribery and
Negotiation to compass his End, the Mollak was at last oblig'd to order
the Kofiran Troops to march. The first Body marched towards the Nhir,
to oppose the Emperor of the Maregins, the second towards the
Kingdom of Goplone, to impose upon them their former Sovereign, and
the third hastened into the Provinces of the Neitilanes, to make sure of
the Dominions of Sicidem.
As this War was carried on only in Zeokinizul's Name, and he did not
personally act in it, I shall omit its various Events, in Order to come the
sooner to what immediately relates to this young King. After the loss of
two Battles, and a strong City taken by the Kofirans, the Emperor of
the Maregins was very glad to accept of a Peace, upon such Conditions
as were alone detrimental to his Allies. As a Satisfaction to Zeokinizul's
Father-in-law for his Kingdom, which he relinquish'd to another, he
was allowed to retain the Title of King, and was made actual Sovereign
of the Province of Reinarol, which after his Death, was by the Treaty to
be annexed to the Kingdom of the Kofirans, and the Kam in exchange
for this Cession, was invested with the Dominions of Sicidem. Tho' this
was an advantageous Peace to the Conquerors, yet it was very short of
what they might reasonably have expected, or at least, if Zeokinizul was
so moderate as to be contented with such small Matters, it behov'd his
Minister to insist upon more important and honourable Terms.
However, the Glory of his Arms, was the continual Topic to him; and
this Prince by hearing of the Exploits of his Soldiers so frequently
extoll'd, began to give Signs of a martial Disposition. His Genius now
display'd itself, and instead of reigning ingloriously only by a Minister,
he shewed, that he would be in all Respects the King. His Courtiers,
who had always with Reluctance paid Obedience to the Order of the
haughty Mollak, applauded this generous Resolution, while the crafty
Jeflur had the Mortification to see, that his Ministry was going to be

overturned, by the very Thing which he fancied would have prolonged
it.
As this was a fatal Blow, so was he not wanting in his Endeavours to
ward it off. Accordingly he set all his Springs at Work, nor minded the
Guilt of any Measure if it had a promising Aspect. I question if an
Instance of such an hellish Contrivance, and so detestable a Scandal,
can be found in any History. A Man to whom a whole Kingdom had
committed its only Hope, a Man who had been chosen to rectify and
refine the Morals of its King, endeavours by all Means to corrupt them;
and, as a Return for the vast Favours received from him, he draws him
in to forfeit his Innocence, the Love of his Consort, and the Esteem of
his Subjects.
Zeokinizul, as has been said, was passionately fond of the Queen his
Spouse, which guarded him against those Irregularities which stain'd
the Memory of the preceding Kings of the Kofirans. Yet these People
being of a volatile and fickle Humour, could not think, that a settled
Love afforded any Pleasure, and were continually wishing that their
Sovereign would commence an Intrigue with some Court Beauty. This
unbecoming Wish was pretended to proceed from a Regard for the
Welfare and Glory of the Nation. What, says they, shall our King
always be tutor'd by Mollaks? What signifies this Peace, which is only
owing to the Weakness and Pusillanimity of this set of Men, for we are
oppressed with Taxes as much as if we were engaged in a War with all
the Powers of Africa? Why does not our King shew some Spirit, and
give into an Intrigue? An ambitious Mistress would break these
scandalous Fetters, and when he is once his own Master, instead of this
enervating Idleness, he would soon find such Work for our Forces, as
would enhance our Reputation, and enlarge his Dominions.
At this Rate the Kofirans used to talk, and Jeflur was no stranger to it.
But a clearer Insight into human Nature, made him conclude, that tho'
their Wishes were answered, it would be so far from producing the
desired Effect, that he laid it down as a Certainty, that a new Amour
would more and more indispose Zeokinizul to State Affairs, and he
would quickly lay them aside as Embarasments, in order the more

freely to indulge his Passion. With this View, so far from censuring this
popular Desire, tho' it had neither Religion nor Laws on its Side, he
bent all his Thoughts to accomplish it.
It was not any Beauty in the Queen which had attach'd her Consort to