Amours of Zeokinizul

This general Complacency and Zeal were duly reported to the King, who was not wanting to encourage so good a Disposition; prompted by the Importance of answering their endearing Idea of him, and verifying their Wishes, he shewed himself such as really he was, but hitherto restrained and seduced by his crafty Visier. Yet amidst these mighty Affairs, he was not totally diverted from Love; for it never was held to be incompatible with the Desire of Glory, and he always allotted his Time so properly, that neither of these Passions encroached upon the other. His Fondness for Lenertoula did not slacken his Pursuit of Glory, it rather tended to animate and increase it, she being exorbitantly ambitious, and esteeming her Lover's Laurels her own; upon a Persuasion that her Grandeur would increase with the King's Power; then her Pride could not bear the Thought that the Queen of Ghinoer and her Allies should prescribe Laws to a Prince, whom she would have under no Controul but her own.

The Magazines being at last formed, the Plan for the Campaign determined, and the Troops at the general Rendezvous, Zeokinizul set out for the Army, which was to act against the Bapasis. Never did a saved People shew greater Marks of Gratitude to a brave Father of his Country at his Return from a dangerous War, than were shewn by the affectionate Kofirans to Zeokinizul, wherever he came. Lenertoula's accompanying him to the Army, seemed not to be minded. The King, the King, was the Cry, and they would see nothing but the King.

This Ardour induced the King unalterably to persevere in his Resolution of committing the Welfare of so loyal a People to none but himself, and during the Remainder of his Reign, whenever he has been advised to ease himself of the Fatigue of Government, by deputing some faithful and able Minister, this has always been his generous Answer, "The Kofirans Love me so as to shed their Blood in my Cause, and they are so dear to me, that I cannot do less in Return than to watch myself over their Welfare." There was not, among all the Generals of the Age, one of more Bravery and Experience than he whom Zeokinizul had appointed to serve under him. Tho' he was a Foreigner, he was not the less belov'd by the Kofirans; for as he was perfectly acquainted with their Customs and Temper, he modell'd his Behaviour accordingly.

This great Man was famous for Military Qualifications, only, if so noble an Excess may be term'd a Fault, he was perhaps too brave. But this Intrepidity, which in any other Country would have hindered his Preferment, promoted it among the Kofirans, and raised his Character with that People, who are all Fire and Spirit. His Name was Vameric. He has been reproached with interrupting the Actions of this Campaign, which was not so glorious as its Opening had promised. It is certain, that this General, to make Zeokinizul more in Love with War, and to animate him by great Successes, had weakened the other Armies, the better to enable that under his Command to perform some signal Exploits, which gave the Enemy an Opportunity to make an unexpected Irruption. A strong Army of the Queen of Ghinoer, forced the Passes of the Nhir, and penetrated into a Province of the Kofirans. This Misfortune stopp'd Zeokinizul in the midst of his rapid Conquests. He chose about twenty eight, or thirty thousand of his best Troops, which he would lead in Person, to reinforce a small Number, who, being far inferior to the Enemy, had been obliged to shelter themselves under a Fortress. To encourage these brave Men in their long and painful Marches, he travelled at their Rate; but he had no sooner reached a Town near the Place appointed for the Junction of his Forces, when he was seized with a Distemper which had a fatal Appearance.