had occupied: it was the first time he had seen a woman since he
had entered Africa, (for he would not give that title to the female
Alarbes) and for the first time, a train of sweet and tender emotions,
glided through his bosom.
The appearance of a young and pleasing woman, is ever associated in
the mind of man when under affliction, with hope of consolation and
expectation of relief--Kara Aziek’s dove-like voice and pitying
manner, would of themselves have been sufficient to rouse up the
sanguine spirit of Sebastian, but when to these were added the late
proofs of her humanity or yieldingness, he could not help indulging in
reveries as delightful as they were unexpected: in five minutes his
ardent imagination had gone through a whole romance of disinterested
generosity on her part, and boundless gratitude on his; she had
facilitated his escape, restored him to his people, and become the
friend of his soul’s treasure, the incomparable Donna Gonsalva.
Transported with these fantastic day-dreams, he scarcely heard the
precise Hafiz, who was all this while endeavouring to explain to him,
Kara Aziek’s commands about the gardens: starting at her name, he
begged to have those commands repeated.
Hafiz deliberately recapitulated them; adding, that their young
mistress, who was going immediately back to Mequinez, wished her
new orders to be fulfilled before the feast of Ramadan, on which she
should return with her father; that on hearing the particulars of
Gaspar’s situation, she had instructed Hafiz, to have him carefully
attended, and supplied with proper nourishment; avowing her intention
of reporting Ben Tarab’s barbarity to the Almoçadem, who though strict
with his slaves, was averse to their being cruelly treated.
When Hafiz ended, Sebastian abruptly exclaimed--“Perhaps I should bless
my captivity, since it daily frees me from prejudice!--Hafiz, when I
first fought against your countrymen, I believed myself combatting
a set of wretches, devoid of every human feeling: since then, I
have learned to think that the Maker of Heaven and earth, breathes
so much of his divine spirit through some rare souls, that not even
the pollutions of a false religion, can wholly deface their original
beauty!--I had been told that your women were little better than
agreeable images, without thought or will: how is it that this young
and admirable lady, has been thus moved to compassionate a Christian,
and condemn a Mahometan?”
“O, I can soon satisfy you;” answered the simple-minded Hafiz, “I
begged for this Gaspar, in the name of Sidie Absalom.”
“And who is Sidie Absalom?” asked Sebastian.
“You would not ask that,” returned his companion, “if you had ever read
the Holy Book of the Jews; he was a beautiful young man, the son of one
King David--‘_From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head,
there was no blemish in him._’--our women pray to him as to a saint;
ask them any thing in his name, and they are afraid to deny you, for
fear of not getting a husband as handsome as he was.”
Sebastian smiled at his simplicity; Kara Aziek’s actions seemed worthy
of a better motive, and he failed not to bestow on them one infinitely
nobler.
Hafiz now hurried him to labour: the good Moor, proud of distinction,
and aware that to the activity and taste of his Portuguese slave, he
should owe some liberal mark of the Almoçadem’s satisfaction, exhorted
Sebastian to employ all his invention in new adornments for the baths
and fountains, and in bringing to perfection the nursery of fragrant
exotics, which Kara Aziek had requested he might attend.
Sebastian needed not an additional incitement to these humble tasks:
it was motive enough for him, that by fancying light decorations,
requiring more ingenuity than strength to accomplish, he spared his
fellow-captives many a weary labour: Hafiz had long trusted them almost
solely to his direction, well satisfied with seeing beautiful novelties
rising around him, though he knew that they did not occupy half the
time, nor exhaust half the bodily powers he had formerly been forced to
lavish.
The slaves blessed with longer intervals of rest, were no more pale
and squalid; they had leisure for decent attention to their persons,
and permitted to form for themselves many minor comforts, health and
resignation (for content can never dwell with slavery) began to appear
in their looks: at this sight Sebastian’s heart glowed within him,
and the consciousness of being the source from whence these blessings
flowed, increased the glow. On retiring for the night of this eventful
day, Hafiz allowed the King to gather some choice fruits for Gaspar,
with which he hastened from the gardens.
Gaspar was already supplied with a basket of the finest grapes, and
a flask of medicated asses milk, (balm of Mecca being infused in it)
by a servant of Kara Aziek’s: he had temperately partaken of these
presents, and was even then revived by them.
The details which now took place between the King and his humble
friend, were not unmixed with pleasure; Gaspar could not conceal the
affectionate motive of his mad enterprize, nor could his royal master
refrain from shewing the extent of his gratitude, by describing the
scene which had passed between him and Ben Tarab--new plans for their
mutual liberation were then canvassed, and these might all be summed up
in a determination of seeking the favour of Kara Aziek, through whose
interference perhaps they might prevail on the Almoçadem to permit some
communication between them and the Christian forts.
At this prospect, Gaspar could not check a sigh purely selfish: his
cruel disorder forbade him to indulge the fond hope of ever again
beholding Portugal: this painful emotion burst forth, followed by a
reflection far more grievous to Sebastian than it was to himself.
“I must submit,” he said, “if it pleases Heaven to deny me the joy
of witnessing my sovereign’s restoration to his people: doubtless I
sinned in deserting my poor mother and sisters for the mere sake of
fighting against infidels; my wrong notions of duty perhaps, have left
these dear relations to starve, for I was their only protector.--Jesu
help me! I did not think then, what I have often thought since, that
our blessed Redeemer must be better pleased with us when we seek to
preserve lives, than when we go to destroy them!”
This artless remark made the King change colour: if Gaspar believed
that to die in miserable servitude was only a just punishment for
moral ignorance, what must be _his_ destiny by whose powerful example
multitudes had been allured into a similar error?--Sebastian’s heart
was disturbed; and he paused at this question. Though he did not answer
it to himself at that moment, he often repeated it afterwards; and the
subject connected with it, was then attentively examined. His days of
prosperity had been unreflecting days,--adversity now taught him to
scrutinize the past, and to prepare stores of principle for the future:
formerly, he had only _acted of himself; now he began to think for
himself_.
Without suffering Gaspar to perceive the pain his remark had caused,
Sebastian soothed the poor fellow’s self-accusing feelings, joined in
an act of devotion with him, and did not leave him till he saw that he
was tranquillized in sleep: he then repaired to a neighbouring chamber,
where he spent nearly all the remaining hours of night in earnest
supplications for an enlightened spirit.
From this period the attention of Sebastian was divided between so
many objects of anxiety that he had not leisure for regret: though he
was often wrung by the thought of Gonsalva’s too-probable grief, and
apprehension for the fates of Antonio and De Castro, present cares
forbade him to dwell on such considerations; he thought yet oftener of
escape, and while so much was left him to hope, did not feel privileged
to lament.
Each day now saw him incessantly occupied, each evening restored him
to Gaspar; that poor youth’s slow-consuming disorder had not yet
given way to the Moorish prescriptions,--unable to stand long upon
his wounded limb, Gaspar could not be employed in field-work, but his
grateful disposition taught him a new species of usefulness, and he
amused his solitary hours by the manufacture of ingenious trifles, such
as ornamental baskets, brocaded sandals, &c. with which Hafiz was to
present Kara Aziek on her return to the cassavee.
Sebastian had found leisure intervals for the accomplishment of a
trifling object with which he frequently lulled the depressed spirits
of his friend; it was a flute formed of cane; he had contrived to
furnish it with stops, &c. and had at length made it capable of
“discoursing most excellent music.”
In the tranquillity of evening, when Gaspar was laid on his narrow
pallet, and their minds equally exhausted by agitating conversation,
Sebastian would take his flute and play Portuguese airs, till Africa
was forgotten, and their native country alone remembered.--It was in
these moments that love reigned absolute over the heart of the young
King; he could not breathe a note that did not recal some song of
Donna Gonsalva’s; her celestial voice seemed floating around him, till
tenderness melted him into weakness, or impatience lashed him into
agony, and the instrument would then fall from his hand.
Experience alone teaches us the mutability of fortune: we hear of it,
we see it, we think we understand and believe it,--but when we find
_ourselves_ precipitated from an height of happiness into an abyss
of misery, it is then for the first time that we really discover the
slightness of our former perceptions.--The adversity of others “we
write in sand;” our own “we engrave on brass.”
Sebastian had now constant opportunities of making this reflection,
for until his dismal change, absolute power had prevented him from
even dreaming of a reverse in his own person: since that reverse had
happened, he bitterly lamented his precipitate promise to the pope,
whose sanction might otherwise have been obtained, and then Gonsalva
would have been left at least a queen, protected by wealth and
authority.
But these regrets could not recal the past; they were useful only as
lessons for the future:--he averted his mind from such reflections,
directing all its energies, towards the present objects of his care.
Some of these were attained: his fellow-slaves of the garden were
comparatively happy through his means; Hafiz continued to shew him
increasing regard; and Gaspar was losing most of those alarming
symptoms which so lately threatened his life.--Though in slavery, and
condemned to perpetual labour, the young monarch had never yet smarted
under one degrading indignity which he would hereafter blush to have
survived: this was a consolation almost transporting; it assured him of
divine protection, he thought, seeming to say, that Providence might
bend but would not crush him.
As it was from Kara Aziek that Sebastian anticipated the completion of
every hope, he was naturally inquisitive about her character and habits
of life: by his facility of acquiring languages (the most enviable
because the most useful of talents,) he was now competent to converse
with Hafiz in excellent Moresco; he therefore seized an opportunity one
day when they were alone together inspecting her nursery of exotics,
and questioned him respecting their gentle mistress.
He learnt in reply that Kara Aziek was the sole surviving child of the
Almoçadem by a Portuguese lady who had been carried off by a set of
those pirates, who frequently plundered the neighbouring coasts, and
brought to Morocco: as she was scarcely passed childhood, El Hader had
succeeded in persuading her to change her religion, and to become his
wife, upon the condition that he never would marry any others; this
promise he had kept, living in harmony with her many years, until they
were separated by death.
Though this lady was not a woman of much sense, she was accomplished,
and constitutionally humane; her influence had softened the prejudices
of the Almoçadem, so that he suffered her to educate her daughter after
the European fashion, in all respects, save religion: Kara Aziek was
therefore mistress of the Portuguese and Italian languages, and the
literature of both countries; she was a Mahometan it is true; but her
expanded and inquiring mind, her pure, beneficent spirit, etherialized
the grossness of her creed, and made her almost a Christian, _in
action_.
After her mother’s death, Aziek became sole arbiter of her father’s
decrees; at her request he granted such indulgencies to his slaves as
no other slaves throughout Barbary ever enjoyed, but unhappily these
indulgencies had never been faithfully administered:--Kara Aziek
was too young and inexperienced to conceive the possibility of her
father’s benevolent commands being disobeyed, or rather not obeyed
with eagerness; she therefore believed the Christians to be well fed,
moderately worked, humanely treated; when in reality most of their
task-masters appropriated the liberal allowances to themselves; sold
their surplus of labour; and in fact tyranized over both their bodies
and their souls.
The freedom of a captive she had never obtained. El Hader thought it
argued well for his piety that neither money nor persuasions could
induce him to liberate an enemy of his prophet; on this point he was
inflexible; and Sebastian, on hearing it, scarcely knew how to hope
any thing for himself:--but hope is a sturdy plant that will grow on
the most rocky soil; it is destined for the aliment of man’s spiritual
part, and without it he could not exist.
Encouraged by the gentleness of Aziek’s character, Sebastian believed
that she might be easily induced to pity, and finally to assist
him--perhaps her intreaties might not always be unsuccessful:--Fraught
with these ideas he heard of her return with the Almoçadem.
The day after their arrival he was sent for by El Hader:--“Young man!”
said he in Moorish, “come hither, I want to ask you if you are now
willing to accept the distinguished post I had destined for you, that
of attending on my person wherever I go, even into the presence of the
illustrious Xeriff himself? I hear you have been a perfect whirlwind
amongst my people, and that you will do nothing but what you please; is
this true?”
“I have not been used to obey:” replied Sebastian, proudly, “but
I believe my incessant labours will shew that I am not ungrateful
for kindness. These limbs are young and strong, and capable of much
fatigue; but some of my unfortunate companions are sick, and old, and
oppressed, and for them I have struggled.”
“Aye, so it seems;” answered El Hader, with a gracious nod, “my
daughter tells me that your rash attack upon my servant, Ben Tarab, was
to be applauded; to that I do not assent, for you should respect the
servants of the great El Hader as his delegates: however, we will pass
that over, in consideration of your youth and folly, and natural wish
to defend a countryman.--I have pardoned both you, and that still more
rebellious slave Gaspar, at my daughter’s intreaty: see that you behave
better in future; if either of you attempt a second escape, or brave a
domestic of mine a second time, not even the tears of my well-beloved
Kara Aziek shall save you from destruction.--But tell me, are you
inclined to accept the high distinction of waiting on my person?”
The proud and fiery King of Portugal started at this question; he
surveyed the infidel from head to foot with a look of insufferable
disdain, and then burst into a scornful laugh:--his laugh had
something terrible in it, independent of the consuming fire of his
eyes; El Hader nimbly started up from the cushions on which he was
lolling, and retreated through an adjacent door:--Sebastian did not
wait for his re-appearance, but immediately withdrew.
The degrading mark of favor offered by one whom he esteemed only a few
degrees above some harmless brute animal, had stung the feelings of
Sebastian almost to madness; he traversed the gardens with a swelling
heart, but a glimpse of Kara Aziek changed the indignant throb into a
thrill of pleasure:--he saw her at a little distance walking with some
other Moorish ladies. Crossing his hands over his breast, he stopt and
bowed his head; she recognized him through her veil, and graciously
returned the salutation; her visitors half uncovered their faces to
look at the Christian about whom they had been conversing, but Aziek
moved away, and Sebastian dared not remain.
After that day he constantly beheld her in the gardens; sometimes only
at a distance, reading or playing on her guitar. No opportunity had
yet occurred of addressing her in private; for when she went with him
over the quarter assigned to the culture of Portuguese shrubs, to learn
their names and qualities, she was surrounded by her maids, and he was
followed by Hafiz. But obstacles only stimulated the king’s impatience;
other circumstances tended to counteract them. For some time he had
every night found in his chamber the most exquisite confections, bread,
and sherbet: (presents, evidently the product of female hands,) he
shared them with Gaspar, not doubting the benevolent giver was she who
had already been so generous.
The only return he could make, was daily offerings of flowers formed
into garlands or arranged in bouquets, for the head and bosom of
Kara Aziek; these were presented to her by Hafiz, who reluctantly
acknowledged that they came from his slave Fabian: Aziek would smile,
accept them, inhale their scent awhile, admire their arrangement,
and then place them among her beautiful hair instead of more costly
ornaments.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
J. M‘CREERY, Printer,
Black-Horse-Court, Fleet-street, London.
* * * * *
Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
Many minor punctuation errors were corrected.
and and at length his chief counsellor=>
and at length his chief counsellor
{pg 22}
with resistles fury=>
with resistless fury
{pg 27}
upon so unusal=>
upon so unusual
{pg 40}
moonlight will do
do you no harm=>
moonlight will do
you no harm
{pg 56}
these stolen in-views=>
these stolen interviews
{pg 66}
lvoed with his whole soul=>
loved with his whole soul
{pg 68}
he sent a magnificient=>
he sent a magnificent
{pg 74}
converse with Don
Emanual=>
converse with Don
Emanuel
{pg 74}
Both embassador and ambassador are used.
Both farewel and farewell are used.
so largly promised=>
so largely promised
{pg 128}
poviding for our own security=>
providing for our own security
{pg 129}
fifty of the Portugueze troops=>
fifty of the Portuguese troops
{pg 151}
on he chilling hand =>
on the chilling hand
{pg 176}
dervise to consider his companions=>
dervise to consider his companions’
{pg 182}
Touched by such kindness, the kin=>
Touched by such kindness, the king
{pg 182}
these robbers passions=>
these robbers’ passions
{pg 201}
that he was the Almocadem=>
that he was the Almoçadem
{pg 208}
other lauguage than his own=>
other language than his own
{pg 234}
to gain liberty
through his means=>
to gain liberty
through this means
{pg 235}
him f the redemption friars=>
him of the redemption friars
{pg 243}
ait no longer a return of health=>
wait no longer a return of health
{pg 246}
a similiar error=>
a similar error
{pg 266}