History" (1724), a peculiar blend of heroic adventures in battle,
bullfight, and tournament, with amorous intrigues of the most involved
kind.

Prince Albaraizor of Arragon goes to assist Omar, King of Valencia,
against a traitorous foe, and with the help of the young general,
Abdelhamar, succeeds in vanquishing the enemy, though the latter youth
is seriously wounded while performing miracles of valor. To reward the
conqueror the hand of the Princess Zephalinda is bestowed upon him, but
she unfortunately is already enamored of Abdelhamar, whom she had
learned to love at a bullfight. But in spite of a repining letter from
her constant lover, and in spite of his appearance before her all pale
and trembling from his wounds, the Princess refuses to deviate from her
duty.

"The next Day the Marriage was celebrated with all the intended
Magnificence, and on their return from the Mosque, the Prince and
Princess repair'd to a stately Scaffold, adorn'd with inventive
Luxury, whence they might behold a Tournament, the Prize of which was
a Sword richly embellish'd with Diamonds, to be given by the Princess
to him that should overcome; the whole Court were there, endeavouring
to outshine each other in the Costliness of their Apparel--within the
Barriers were all the Flower of the adjoining Kingdoms, drawn thither
with a Thirst of Fame, and a Desire to shew their Dexterity. The
Arragonian Noblemen were the Defenders against all Comers, and were
like to have carried away the Prize, behaving themselves with the
utmost Skill and Courage, when there appear'd in the Lists a Knight in
black Armour, whose whole Air and dexterity in Horsemanship
immediately attracted the Eyes of the numerous Spectators; the first
Course he made, confirm'd them in the good opinion they had conceiv'd
of him: in short, no body was able to stand against him, and he
remain'd Conqueror, with the universal Applause of the whole Company.
--He waited for some time, to see if no fresh Challengers would offer
themselves; but none appearing, he was led to the Princess's Scaffold,
to receive the Reward he had so well merited: He took it with the
greatest Submission, but without putting up his Beaver, or discovering
who he was, and kissing it with profound Respect, retir'd, without so
much as making any obeisance to the King or Prince; and mixing himself
with the Crowd of Knights, got off without being discover'd. Every