The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans | Page 7

her. For tho' she had not been one third older than himself, there was
nothing in her Face to strike the Affections of a Prince constantly
encircled with numberless Beauties, and whose Love they would have
accounted the highest Honour. The exact Return which he made to her
Duty and Tenderness, entirely flowed from this Prince's generous and
grateful Temper, and from his good and religious Heart. He had such a
delicate Sense of conjugal Duty, that he never fail'd shewing his
Displeasure to any Courtiers, who presumed to expatiate on the Charms
of some Houris in his Capital, and once when Kigenpi, one of the
Methers, or Lords of his Bed-Chamber began to talk to him of a Person
of incomparable Beauty, he gave him no Answer, only asking him in a
dry and scornful Manner, whether she was handsomer than the Queen?
This Coldness rendered it no easy Matter for the Mollak to alienate the
Affections of Zeokinizul from the Queen. But what are Churchmen
uncapable of? He changed his Measures, and determined to make the
Queen an Instrument to remove from herself a Spouse who loved her
most tenderly. He managed it in the following Manner.
This Princess being born in a Country where the Religion of Suesi is
directed by the Pepa, who stiles himself the Sovereign Arbitrator of it,
had imbibed a strong Prepossession for what in the Kingdom of the
Kofirans is called Bigotry, or misplaced Devotion. The Customs and
religious Notions of this Nation, which were more free and rational
than in the Country of this Princess, had been a Constraint upon her
Inclination, without lessening her mistaken Austerity. It was on this
Side, that Jeflur spread his Snares. He placed near the Queen a Dervise,
one of those sly finished Villains, who, being Masters of the execrable
Art of giving Sin an Appearance of Sanctity, instruct the great ones,
whose Favour they purchase at the most infamous Rate, how to Sin
without Guilt. This Traytor perform'd his Commission according to
Jeflur's Desire. He was continually fomenting in the Heart of his over

pious Sovereign, the Excesses and fanatical Rants of his Order. He
dwelt on the inconceiveable Sweetness of an Intimacy with Suesi, who
was ever ready to communicate himself to such Souls as detach'd
themselves from sensual Pleasures. He magnified the great Merit of
Fastings, Prayers, and Austerities; and when he had rooted these Things
in the Heart of his credulous Proselyte, he proceeded to declare to her,
that Chastity was a Virtue absolutely necessary to merit the divine
Favours; strongly insisting, that this Chastity must be so refined and
abstracted, as not to be awed, or seduced by human Engagements. The
unhappy Queen, misled by the pathetic Discourse, and the feigned
Piety of the Dervise, greedily swallowed the Poison he was
administring. She passed whole Days and Nights in Prayer, and the
Austerities of a false Devotion, according to the Instructions of her
infamous Director. Nor was it long, before she attain'd the Height of
that superstitious Chastity which he required of her, and, imagining
there was no stopping in a Course which was to end so gloriously, she
formed a Resolution, in order to devote herself with the greater Fervour
and Purity to the heavenly Bridegroom which had been promised her,
to separate herself from the Embraces of a Spouse, to whom she was
united by the most sacred Ties, and endeared by the tenderest
Affection.
The young King who had been extremely uneasy for some Days at this
misterious Behaviour, grew highly offended, when upon asking the
Queen to comply with his Affection, he was repulsed, under the
Pretence of imaginary Dispositions, from which she was known to be
entirely free. However, so far from taking the Denial, it only made him
more urgent; at which the Queen to free herself from what she call'd
her Consort's Importunities, sent him Word, and confirm'd it herself,
that an incurable Disorder had rendered her unfit for the conjugal
Functions.
The Monarch was Thunderstruck at this. It threw him into such a
Melancholy, that he kept his Chamber for three Days. Even Hunting,
which had always been his favourite Diversion, seem'd to be banished
from his Thoughts. He never appeared in the Drawing-Room, and the
most distinguished Courtiers were oblig'd to put on a sorrowful

Appearance whenever they approached him. Jeflur exulted at the
Success of his Scheme. He brib'd one of the Lords of the Bed-Chamber,
whom the King honoured with a particular Confidence, and having
inform'd him what the Arrow was which had pierced the King's Heart,
he made him large Promises if he could pluck it out.
Kelirieu, for so was this Lord called, readily embraced the Proposal,
and sought for an Opportunity of being alone with his Master. Nor