'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎180] (201/448)

exemplified in Shaw-Abbas an illuftrious Prince, and at fometimes reputed an indulgent
Father: but now fo far from that, that he forrows not the leaft at his diftradion i but
upon this miferable advantage (by fome fair terms firft difarming him) invites him into
another room, and (pretending he was not very well) withdrawing himfelf, commanded
feven big-bon'd villains, deaf and dumb, through a trap-door to ilfue into the room
armed with bloody minds and deadly bow-ftrings ^ whofe very looks as well as habits and
weapons quickly bewray their office and intention, which needed no other interpreters.
The Prince innocently admires the caufe *, and if Oratory or other way of intreaty could
have wrought remorfe in thefe hell-hounds5onely till he knew the ground of this cruel com
mand, he had afforded it: But well knowing they were without reafon and inexorable,
with an incomparable rage and vivacity he flew upon thofe moniters now one, then an
other receiving fuch teftimonies of his courage, that (e're they could faften upon him their
ghaftly twanging bow-ftrings) he fent three of them to the Deviland for fome time
defended himfelf, offending thofe blood-hounds with admirable courage and dexterity;
infomuch that had he maftered but any weapon, he had doubtlefs faved himfelf, and
fent them packing; but wanting it, his breath failed, and longer his valour could not
nourifhhim, for Facile efi vine ere non repugnant em : fo at laft they faitned their noozes
on him, who now for want of breath was as a dead Man ^ and the villains had trium
phed in his further tortures, had not the King (who it feems was not far off) prevented
it, commanding them onely to pinion him, and (before he could recover fenfe and
ftrength) by drawing a flaming fteei before his eyes made him ftark blind \ forbidding
him the fight of what he moft loved. Wife, Bab^s, Friends and Magar\ Carcafs : By
which impiety Afta loft her faireft Jewel, Ferfia her Crown of Honour, and Mars
his Darling.
The lofs of this brave Prince was quickly rumoured; All mourns, and in many
Threnodies figh his Farewel: the Army alfo fwells with paifion, but feeing no remedy, by
a forced fdence murmur their imprecations. The Prince, when he perceived his own
undoing, (the eye of Reafon lent him fuch a fight, ) having curfed^his birth, his fame,
his loyalty, and (which is moft fad) his parent ^ by many frantick threats vows his de-
ftrudion: But Fana fine viribmira^ finds his revenge impoffible *, yet at that conceit roars
hideoufly, and not to be comforted, till Suliman-miraay Curchiki-cawn and other his Kinf-
men and quondam Favourites flocked about him, and by their miferable examples didate
patience : none of which but in fome meafure had fwoln big with the King's infufion in
their times, and through like jealoufies were made blind, or cruiht and damned to per
petual Imprifonment.
In thofe difcontented times Abbas kept his Orb, moving like another Saturn: for now
he imagines his Grown fixt clofe to his head, nothing appearing that might difturb his
quiet: and amongft his delights, nothing fo much pleafed him as young Fatyma \ no 5^-
ren was melodious in fong, no Creature delicate in feature, fave pretty Fatyma: If any
ftood in fear, who could compofe his paffion but Fatyma ? Court and Kingdom admired
his love to this pretty Favourite, and no lefs rejoyced at if, for by this innocent Lady
they oft-times found the way to expel his rage, and how to pleafure him: The Prifoners
alfo by Fatyma got lively hood, for want of which they were oft-times well-nigh famifhed,
none but fhe daring to mediate*, and thus by this good Infant gained they what former
ly they pined for,food and comfort. But what joy has the blinded Prince, fince he cannot
participate ? Revenge delights him more *, that word as Mufick beft pleafes the infernal
fancy of this melancholy Mirzjt \ not caring how deteftable, fo Abbas fuffered. The
Devil infpires new rage and blows the coals of ( more than cruel) afTaffination: For al
beit he paflionately loved Fatyma) yet hearing how his Father doted on her, thatafrefh
begets his hate, yea hatches the Innocents confufion. Oh! in him behold the favage
and tranfeendent cruelty of curled Man: Revenge had plunged him headlong into a
whirl pool of unnatural barbarifm; inlbmuch, as when the pious Child came (iu an
unlucky hour ) to bring Jiim comfort, and by all fymptoms of duty to exprefs a lovely
obedience ; the wretch grafps and in a lymphatick fury whirls her neck about, unable
to untwift her felf from his wrathful hands, miferable Fatyma expiring by % her Hellifh
Father ^ and in her, the joy of Parents, delight of Abbas, candor of Perfia, and com
fort of the diftreffed, vaniihing. Theaftonifhed Princefs his Wife cries out, His light
deceived him, that it was Fatyma! little dreaming, that he therefore martyred her be-
caufe Fatyma. And, as if that had not been enough, (to prevent the King of a Sue-
ceffor ) hearing young Sofee's voice, doloroufly crying out for Fatyma, winged with
rage he gropes for him^ but by the Princelles interpofing the Child efcaped, or elfc
had loft (what he now enjoys) the Perfian Diadem.
AhhtM