2 5 o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



fled, excepting a body of nobility, his own officers and com- 

 panions, who remained with him, and fought manfully 

 in his defence. Above all, the king himfelf, trained to a 

 degree of excellence in the ufe of arms, ftrong and agile in 

 body, in the flower of his age, and an excellent horfeman, 

 performed feats of valour that feemed above the power of 

 man : but he and his attendants being furrounded by the 

 whole army of Za Selaiie, and decreafing in number, were 

 unable to fupport any longer fuch difadvantage. 



Laeca Mariam, folicitous only for the king's fafety, 

 charging furioufly every one that approached, was thruft 

 through with a lance by a common foldier who had ap- 

 proached him unobferved. The king, defirous only to a- 

 venge his death, threw himfelf like lightning into the op- 

 pofite fquadron, and received a ftroke with a lance in his 

 breaft, which threw him from his horfe on the ground. 

 Grievous as the wound was, he inftantly recovered himfelf ', 

 and, drawing his fword, continued to fight with as much 

 vigour as ever. He was now hemmed in by a ring of fol- 

 diers, part of whom, afraid of encountering him, remain- 

 ed at a diftance, throwing miflile weapons without good di- 

 rection or flrength, as if they had been hunting fome fierce 

 wild beafl. Others, wifhing to take him prifoner, abflain- 

 ed from flriking him, out of regard to his character and 

 dignity ; but the traitor, Za SelafTe, coming up at that in- 

 flant, and feeing the king almoft fainting with fatigue, and 

 covered with wounds, pointed his lance, and, fpurring his 

 horfe, furioufly flruck him in the middle of the forehead, 

 which blow threw the king fenfelefs to the ground, where 

 he was afterwards flain with many wounds. 



The 



