Thelis was, or appear’d virtuous for six whole weeks after her marriage. But a Toy born voluptuous, seldom conquers itself; and a quinquagenarian husband, though otherwise ever so great a hero, is a madman, if he flatters himself with conquering such an enemy. Although Thelis mix’d prudence with her conduct, her first adventures were not unknown. This was sufficient for supposing afterwards, that she had others undisclosed: and Mangogul, desirous of full information, hastened to pass from the porch of her palace into her apartment.
It was then the middle of summer. The heat was excessive, and Thelis, after dining, had thrown herself on a couch, in a back closet adorned with glasses and paintings. She was asleep, her hand leaning on a collection of Persian tales, which had lull’d her to repose.
Mangogul view’d her some time, allowed that she had charms, and turn’d his ring on her. “I remember it as perfectly as if it had been yesterday: nine proofs of love in four hours. Ah! what moments! Zermounzaid is a divine man! He is not the old frozen Sambuco.—Dear Zermounzaid, I had been ignorant of true pleasures, real good: you alone made me sensible of them.”
Mangogul, desirous of learning the particulars of Thelis’s commerce with Zermounzaid, which the Toy kept from him, by dwelling on what affects a Toy the most feelingly, rubb’d the stone of his ring for some time against his waistcoat, and levell’d it, quite sparkling with light, at Thelis. Its influence soon reach’d her Toy, which being thereby better informed of what was required of it, re-assumed its discourse in a more historical strain.
“Sambuco commanded the Monoémugian army, and I followed him to the field. Zermounzaid served under him in quality of a colonel, and the general, who honoured him with his confidence, had put us under his escort. The zealous Zermounzaid did not abandon his post: he thought it too pleasing, to resign it: and the danger of losing it was the only one he fear’d during the whole campaign.
“While we were in winter quarters, I entertained a few new guests; Cacil, Jekia, Almamoun, Jasub, Selim, Manzora, Nereskim, all military men, who were commended by Zermounzaid, but were inferior to him. The credulous Sambuco relied for his wife’s virtue on herself, and on Zermounzaid’s care: and being entirely taken up with the immense business of the war, and the great operations which he was meditating for the glory of Congo, he never had the least suspicion either of the treachery of Zermounzaid, or the infidelity of Thelis.
“The war continued; the armies took the field, and we our litters. As they went a very slow pace, the main body of the army gain’d ground of us, and we found ourselves in the rear, which Zermounzaid commanded. This gallant youth, whom the sight of the greatest dangers had never made to swerve a foot from the path of glory, could not resist that of pleasure. He entrusted a subaltern with the care of watching the motions of the enemy, who harrassed us; and got up into our litter: but he was hardly there, when we heard a confused noise of arms and outcries. Zermounzaid, leaving his business half done, attempts to jump out: but he is level’d with the ground, and we become a prey to the conqueror.
“Thus I began by swallowing up the honor and services of an officer, who from his valour and merit might have expected the highest military employments, if he had never known his general’s wife. Upwards of three thousand men fell in this action; and therefore of so many good subjects have we robb’d the nation.”
Let anyone, if he can, imagine Mangogul’s surprise at this discourse. He had heard Zermounzaid’s funeral oration, and did not know him by these features. His father Erguebzed had regretted this officer: the newspapers, after lavishing the highest eulogies on his fine retreat, had attributed his defeat and death to the enemy’s superior numbers, which, as they said, were found to be six to one. All Congo had lamented a man, who had done his duty so well. His wife obtain’d a pension: his regiment was given to his eldest son, and an ecclesiastical preferment promised to his younger.
“What horror!” cried Mangogul, but softly. “A husband dishonor’d, the state betray’d, subjects sacrificed, crimes not only concealed, but even rewarded as virtues: and all that for a Toy.”
Thelis’s Toy, which had stopped to take breath, continued: “Thus am I abandoned to the enemy’s discretion. A regiment of dragoons was ready to fall upon us. Thelis seem’d quite frighted, and yet wish’d nothing more ardently: but the charms of the prey sowed discord among the plunderers. The scimiters were drawn, and thirty or forty men were massacred in the twinkling of an eye. The noise of this disorder reach’d the general officer. He ran thither, calmed the furious soldiers, and sequestrated us under a tent; where we had not time to know ourselves, when he came and demanded the price of his good services. ‘Woe to the vanquished,’ cried Thelis, falling backward on a bed: and the whole night was spent in feeling her misfortune.
“The next day we found ourselves on the banks of the Niger. A saick was waiting for us, and my mistress and I set out, in order to be presented to the emperor of Benin. In this twenty-four hours voyage the captain of the vessel offer’d himself to Thelis, and was accepted: and I found by experience, that the sea service is infinitely brisker than the land service.
“We saw the emperor of Benin. He was young, ardent, voluptuous. Thelis made a conquest of him: but those of her husband affrighted the monarch. He demanded peace: and the price, at which he purchased it, was but three provinces and my ransom.
“Different times, different fatigues. Sambuco came to know, I can’t tell how, the reason of the misfortunes
