Part 13

That I might not go without my Reward, I told the King, that we had indeed adorn'd his Palace with a Machine, with which he had the Goodness to seem pleas'd, but that if he desir'd it, I would make him another to put up at the Front of the Temple which should be subject to no Variation, and be regulated by the Course of the Sun. I am convinc'd, _said the Monarch_, from the little Knowlege I have of Astronomy, that it would not be impossible to divide an artificial Day into any equal Parts by the Shade, which might be form'd from a Body in the Sun-shine, but we have had no Body here that I know of, who ever apply'd to it. Before I go to work upon it, _said I_, I must examine which way the Front of this Edifice stands. That's not necessary, _said the King_, I know that it declines from East to North 22 Degrees 30 Minutes, and what is yet more, I know it by Experience. Pardon me, Sir, _said I_, if I take the Freedom to ask you what Method you took to be sure of the Fact. I caus'd a Board to be plan'd, _said he_, perfectly smooth with several Circles drawn upon it by the Compass; and in the Centre I set up perpendicularly a Stile of Copper Wire, to the End of which hangs a Button as big as a small Nut. This square Instrument I place against the Wall of the Temple, and when the Sun is ascended some Degrees above the Horizon, I stay till the Shadow of the Button of my Stile falls upon the Circumference of one of the Circles of the Board, when I mark that Place by a Point, and then with another Point I mark the Place on the opposite Side of the Circumference, where the Shadow falls in the Afternoon. I divide the Arch between these two Points into two equal Parts by a straight Line which passes thro' the Centre of the Stile, which Line is the Meridian of the Place where I make the Operation. There are several Ways, _said I_, whereby you may easily attain to the same End of which that you mention is one of the best I know; but I will make you a vertical Sun-Dial according to the above Declination of the Front of the Temple. No, _said the King_, as the Point in Question is only drawing of Lines, you must do me the Pleasure to teach me the Construction of 'em. I consented willingly to his Demand, so that we made a Sun-Dial of 8 Foot broad, and 6 in height, and another horizontal Dial of Copper, which was plac'd on a Pedestal of Agate of 8 Sides before the King's Palace, and both had the Signs of the Zodiac upon them. These two Machines supply'd fresh Matter of Admiration to those who saw them; and I make no doubt but they were of more Service to them than the others after our Departure, because not a Man in the Kingdom knew how to keep them, much less to make them.

_La Foret_ had such a Sense of the Civilities he and I receiv'd every Day from the whole Court, and was so desirous to shew he was not ungrateful, that without saying one Word to me he set about a Pocket-Watch, and had actually finish'd it before I perceiv'd any thing of the matter. Tho' he work'd much better in large than in small Things, yet a Watch in a Country where there never was one before, was a Jewel of inestimable Value. As soon as he finish'd it, he went to wait on the King, and after having complimented him on the Obligations we had to him, he took the Watch out of his Pocket, and intreated his Acceptance of it as a Token of his sincere Gratitude. The King having view'd it Inside and Outside, was perfectly astonish'd, admir'd the Beauty and Usefulness of this little Machine, and protested to him that he should never desire any thing of him in his Disposal, but it should be at his Service.

CHAP. XI.

_More Adventures of the Author, and his Comrade, till their Departure from Court._

As the King went often to see his Wives, there is no question but he was fond to shew them his Watch, and that every one admir'd the Genius of the Workman. For tho' they had seen the Clock a thousand times, and seem'd even astonish'd at its Performance, they thought it nothing in comparison to this pretty Instrument, which, though small, went as regularly, and pointed out all the Parts of the Day as exactly as the great one.

Lidola in particular, who was the King's second Wife, gave broad Hints that she long'd to be Mistress of it; but the King, who did not care to part with it, and indeed could not, without raising the Jealousy of all his other Ladies, and making the Empress her self uneasy, pretended not to understand her Meaning. _Lidola_ was so disobliged by it, that after Supper, when she was to have entertain'd the King, who had given her to understand that he would spend that Night with her (which he did very frequently, because he was much more enamour'd with her than with any of the other Ladies) she counterfeited an Indisposition, and sent to desire the King not to come to her that Night. The King, mistrusting nothing of the Matter, sent next Morning to inquire after her Health, which he repeated for several Days together. But at last perceiving no Alteration in her for the better, and that she not only receiv'd his Messengers very cavalierly, but that as he himself saw her _en passant_, she look'd upon him with a Coldness enough to have chill'd the very Blood in his Veins, he guess'd what she had taken Pet at, but wou'd not seem to know it; and having a mind to see how far she would carry her Indifference, he left off his Visits by degrees, and gave himself up so intirely to his last Queen, that he was very seldom with any but her.

_La Foret_, who knew no more than my self what had pass'd, was surpris'd one Evening, as he was walking under the Galleries, with a Voice that call'd him by his Name. Turning about to it very hastily, and being suddenly struck with Astonishment at the Beauty of the finest Lady that ever he had seen in his Life (for she was not veil'd, tho' 'tis an establish'd Rule of the Country, that marry'd Women are not seen in Mens Company without a Veil, which almost hides their Faces) he stood with his Eyes fix'd upon her, and had not Power to ask what was her Pleasure. Fair Genius, said she, you seem to be surpris'd, but don't be frighten'd; I only call'd to you to let you know how glad I am to see you whenever you pass by my Apartment, and to give you this Melon. There, take it, and farewel. Then she dropp'd the Fruit, and immediately withdrew and shut her Casement.

_La Foret_ could never be tax'd either with Stupidity or Ignorance, yet he knew not what to think of this Frolick. Tho' he was not nimble enough to catch the Melon before it fell to the Ground, he snatch'd it up without saying one Word, and brought it to our Chamber where he told me in Confidence what had pass'd. I immediately took the Melon, and going to stick my Knife into it, I perceiv'd it had been open'd already very nicely towards the Stalk; which made me cautious in cutting it, for fear of spoiling anything that might happen to be within it, where, instead of the little Kernels which are by Nature contain'd in that excellent Fruit, we found a Scroll of the finest Vellum, with Writing on it in the Language of the Country, to this Effect.

_I have seen you pass by my Window a thousand times, but scarce ever heard you talk. The Judgment which I form of your Mind, by your easy Deportment, and your uncommon Productions, excites my Curiosity to have the Happiness of your Conversation when I am disengag'd. I fancy that you can say nothing but what is very good. Prepare therefore to give me that Satisfaction. I expect you to-morrow without fail at my Door. Be sure to be there at the first Stroke of your curious Machine, after Midnight, and you'll oblige_

LIDOLA.

I was alarm'd at the reading of this Billet, and told _La Foret_ what I thought of it, very seriously; but it all signify'd nothing. He was lusty, well-proportion'd, as vigorous as a Man could possibly be at 30 Years of Age, and no Enemy to the Sex. The Friendship the King shew'd to us, induc'd him to think that he would be far from suspecting him of a Design upon any of his Wives, and therefore, without weighing the Consequences, he resolv'd to lay hold of the Opportunity at all Events. What confounded him most was his want of Eloquence, and the other necessary Talents for expressing himself politely; for he came of an obscure Family, and had seen but little of the World. As he knew not how to behave, and had a better Opinion of me than of himself, he would fain have engag'd me to take the first Step, and to pave the way for him: But besides that, his Stature and mine were very different, he being at least taller than me by the Head, which would have been too gross a Cheat to pass, I had other Reasons against embarking in an Affair of this Nature. But all this did not discourage _La Foret_.

Next Day he dress'd as sprucely as he could, equipp'd himself as a Galant ought to do when he goes to visit his Mistress, and study'd every thing that might contribute to her Pleasure. Being thus rigg'd, he took his Leave of me, and at the appointed time went to the Place of Assignation. The Fair One, who probably hearken'd for his coming, open'd the Door to him softly, and after injoining him by a Signal to profound Silence, conducted him into her Closet. She was in her _Deshabille_, which was very fine, and notwithstanding the careless Air of it, seem'd to be the Effect of Contrivance. Her Head and Shoulders were cover'd with a Veil of fine Linen, in which there had been an infinite Expence of Art; but whether it was by Chance, or by Design, under pretence of handling the said Veil, and tossing it forwards and backwards to hide what Modesty should have taught her to conceal, she often gave a Glimpse of Beauties enough to have stir'd a Heart not near so susceptible of Love as _La Foret_'s, who could not stand those Charms. For his very Eyes were dazzled with the Glare of so many Wonders, and, as if he had been perfectly inchanted, he had not Strength to open his Lips, notwithstanding the firm Resolution he had made to say abundance of fine things to her.

Lidola perceiving her Lover so mute, fetch'd a deep Sigh, and said to him with a most languishing Countenance, _I'm in love with you, fair Stranger; I did not imagine I should have had the Trouble of telling you so, because I thought you would easily guess it: Your Silence does Violence to my Modesty; I am asham'd that I have let fall the Expression; but make a prudent Use of it, and remember to be discreet, if you would be happy with Ladies_. _La Foret_ answer'd with very great Respect, 'Don't reproach me, Madam, I beseech you; my very Silence has an Eloquence in it which must fully apprize you of the Sentiments of my Heart. Tho' your Presence, continued he, has depriv'd me of the Faculty of Speech, it is only suspended to give me the more Leisure to contemplate the Delicacy of your Charms. Words are not always in season. There are Moments when the Eyes express themselves infinitely better than the Tongue can, so that without being a Conjurer, a Person, by observing their Motions, may know the Sentiments of the Soul. I confess I was in the wrong to keep Silence, but it was well for me that I did not speak, because the fined Expressions that I could have thought of in a Language with which I am so little acquainted, would not have fetch'd that from your pretty Mouth in an Age, which Silence has drawn from it in an Instant. What! you in love with me, Madam? O Heavens! how shall I contain my Joy at so tender a Confession! Who would ever have imagin'd that a Queen could debase her self so much as to declare such a Kindness for the lowest of her Slaves. Persist, I beg you; That shall be the utmost Boundary of the greatest of all my Wishes, because undoubtedly I never ought to think of any thing else.'

Just as she was going to answer him, a Waiting-maid bolted into the Room, to the Terror of our Lover, who knew not the Meaning of it at first, and so great was his Surprise, that he could not hide it. But _Lidola_ dissembled hers, for fear of putting him into Confusion. I had given Orders, she said to him, for some dry Sweetmeats, and a Glass of Mead to be brought; you perceive they are obey'd. I hope you'll meet with something or other in this Bason that, you like. _La Foret_, who was too impatient for amorous Endearments to mind Sweetmeats, was mad to find their Conversation interrupted by an impertinent Witness. He had much rather have spent the Time in Dalliance, than have wasted the precious Moments in Eating. But for the sake of Complaisance, he was under a Necessity of admiring the Extent of her Civility, and he even acknowledg'd how much he was oblig'd to her for it. The Fair One, who was not willing to omit any Proof of her Tenderness for him, took one half of a Nectarin, and wantonly put it to his Mouth. Once she pluck'd from his Lips what he had in part chew'd, and eat it with an inconceivable Greediness; at another time she made him bite a Piece which she held between her white Teeth; in short, there was no wanton Air which she did not invent to increase the Passion of the new Lover.

The Days were then about Sixteen Hours in length, the Sun not being far from _Capricorn_, and that Place being situate in 51 Degrees, and 20 Minutes South Latitude, so that they were toying with one another, when the Darkness or rather the Twilight vanish'd, and the Torch of Heaven was rising to gild the enamell'd Fields with his splendid Rays. The Damsel being the first to observe it, told the Queen of it, at which _La Foret_ was offended, and even took the Liberty to reproach her for not having appointed him sooner, because he said it was not worth his while to come thither for so short a Stay. Tho' I'm a little out of favour with the King at present, reply'd the charming _Lidola_, I am not sure that he will neglect me long; the Fancy may take him to come and see me in the Morning; and tho' he should not, there are other People that have an Eye upon what we do. I should pass my Time but ill, if any body should see you go out of my Apartment: Let us act upon sure Grounds, and for this time do you withdraw. If you have a Pocket-Watch like to that which you gave the King, take care to bring it with you when you come again, that we may know how much time we have to spend; for we mayn't always have People near us to tell us how it passes. When she had said these kind Words, she fell on his Neck, kiss'd him very tenderly, and immediately withdrew. The Time flies away insensibly at such agreeable Interviews; nevertheless _La Foret_ had not so far lost the Use of his Reason, but he knew very well that it was high Time for him to be gone. Therefore he pull'd out a _Kala_, which he gave to the Maid, and after recommending himself to her Friendship, stole out softly, and return'd home.

The first thing he was bent on at his Return, was to impart to me in Confidence what had pass'd with his Mistress. To hear him talk, never Man travers'd so much Land in the Territories of Love, in ten Years, as he had been doing in an Hour; in short, he was in full Possession, and only wanted the Fruition. 'O Heavens! (said I) how credulous are Lovers, and how easy is it for Love to impose on them! _La Foret_, _La Foret_, you are playing a Game that will infallibly ruine you. Gaming, Women, and Wine have a good Aspect, I confess, but when made too familiar, are of no Value; they produce short Pleasures, attended with long Repentance; their greatest Sweets often change to Bitter; and their Payment is only in Tinsel, with which they who suffer their Eyes to be dazzled, are commonly deceiv'd. Remember what I now tell you: The Affair you are engag'd in is such, that you'll repent of it more than once.' I might have moraliz'd thus till Doomsday, for all that I said was to no purpose. My Friend thought of nothing but the Pleasure he should have, and turning his Back upon the Consequences, was actually captivated by the most flattering Ideas that his Mind was capable of forming. The poor Man was blinded to such a Degree, that he did not see the Precipice he was just falling into, and was sway'd by nothing but his prevailing Passion. His Imagination was so disorder'd, that he thought he had his Fair One every now and then in his Arms, and he often talk'd to her as if he had been actually enjoying her. In short, he pass'd his Hours in Bed very pleasantly, for tho' he rarely slept, he had such sort of Dreams as create more Pleasure than a profound Sleep, and have this Advantage, that they tickle the Fancy, without impairing the Strength of the Body.

_La Foret_ heard nothing of his Mistress in three Days, which made him so uneasy that it had like to have turn'd his Brains. He often retraced his whole Conduct, but could find nothing to reproach himself with, unless that he had been too respectful. I had not observ'd till then, that the Women of that Country had any Inclination to Galantry. I really thought they were too silly for it; but I began to see by this Specimen that there are few of them in any Country but know a great deal of it in the Affair of granting Love to the Men, and that if they don't take greater Liberties than they do, it is only owing to the extreme Severity of the Laws against such as transgress the Rules to which _Hymen_ seems to bind them. And they say moreover, that the Kings and Governors are subject to the same Inconveniences, as private Men in _Europe_, because those Gentlemen having more than one Wife, each of them studies to gain her Husband's Favour, and when she can't succeed, it gives her Occasion to embrace the first Offer that presents: But return we now to our Love-Story.

Upon the Fourth Day in the Forenoon, as the King came to see us at work, I thought at the first Sight of him that he smelt a Rat; for looking willfully upon _La Foret_, he said to him, You seem to be ruffled, Friend; your Countenance is chang'd from what it us'd to be, and if I may be allow'd to form a Judgment by your Eyes, your Heart is not in a very serene State. Are you fallen in love with any Fair One of this Canton? For Love in a few Hours commits great Ravages. You blush, continued the King. Don't be afraid to own it: Tho' you are a Foreigner, and of a Religion very different from mine, I assure you that I will do every thing for you that is in my Power. If you make your Addresses to any Free Person, I'll find the way to make her marry you; but let me advise you not to delude any Woman, because, should you be taken in the Fact, all my Credit would not be of weight enough to save you. Galantry may perhaps prevail among us, but if it does, 'tis conceal'd; and you are not ignorant that 'tis a Breach of one of the Articles of our Law, which the Judge treats with the greatest Severity. Adultery especially would not be pardon'd in my self.

_La Foret_, who had by this time recover'd himself, reply'd, 'Tis perfectly right, Sir, to be severe upon that Head, and especially with respect to the great Men: If I had the Power in my own Hands, a King who prais'd that sort of Galantry should be less exempt from Punishment than other Men, because while his Subjects are oblig'd, for the Generality, to adhere to one Person only, he has the Liberty of taking a Dozen, and by consequence the Pleasure of having all the Variety at home that he could expect to find abroad. However, continu'd he, this is a Happiness which I don't envy your Majesty; for tho' I have neither Wife nor Mistress, I am very well contented; and if I don't look at present altogether so brisk as usual, 'tis owing no doubt to my not having slept well for two or three Nights past, for otherwise I am in perfect Health. Nevertheless, he added, I am infinitely oblig'd to your Majesty for your Desire to make me happy, and to find me out a Settlement. If ever I'm inclin'd to marry, I swear to you, Sir, that I will refer my self intirely to your Disposal. Let us call another Cause, _La Foret_, said I, 'tis time enough to think of altering your Condition. The King reply'd very graciously, That shall be when you please. You know the Privileges of the Gown which you wear, so that you will not have much to reproach me with.

The King thereupon retiring, we went to Dinner, and made various Reflections upon the little Dialogue that had pass'd betwixt us. Mean time _La Foret_ did not fail to take a Walk after Dinner in the Galleries. _Lidola_, who generally took a Pleasure in seeing him pass by her Windows, fix'd her Eye upon him till he was out of Sight. Her Waiting-woman, who always kept a Look-out for some Intelligence that might be to their Advantage, came at last to her with News that she had just met the King taking the Air with the Empress; from whence the Queen concluded, that he would infallibly spend the Night with her, as had always been his constant Practice when he took her out in the Day time; therefore without Hesitation she injoin'd her Servant to go after _La Foret_, and to signify to him, as she pass'd by him, that she expected him at Eleven of the Clock.

The young Woman was not dilatory in the Execution of her Commission. She met him just as he was upon the Return, brush'd as close by him as she could with Decency, and said to him, _en passant_, Come to us an Hour before Midnight. I dare not express his Joy at the hearing of these agreeable Words, for fear of saying too much to be believ'd, or not enough to give a just Idea of his Transports. He made such Haste back, and was so absent from himself all the while, that he was at home before he perceiv'd it. I need not say he had no Thought, for he did not care that I shou'd speak to him. The little Time he had to spare, was spent at the Toilet, where he consulted his Mirrour a hundred times, which being only of polish'd Steel, made him fearful that he had not discover'd all his Blemishes. He wash'd himself almost all over with perfum'd Water, cut and trim'd his Whiskers, comb'd his black Hair over and over again, and being at length as handsome as _Adonis_, he wish'd me Good-night, and went his way. _Lidola_'s Servant, who stood Centinel, receiv'd and carry'd him into the Anti-Chamber, where there was no Light, and bid him steal into her Mistress's Apartment.