When the seamen on board the ship of Christopher Columbus, after a
series of fatigues, came in sight of St. Salvador, they burst out into
exuberant mirth and jollity. “The lads are in _a merry key_,” cried the
commodore. _America_ is now the name of half the globe.
The famous Hannibal took his name from that of his mother, _Hannah
Bell_, a poor Scotch garter knitter at Carthage.
Dionysius Hallicarnassus derives the word _Mediterranean_ from this
event: Two girls of Syracuse used every morning to pour tea and other
slops from an upper window into the street: Whenever, therefore, the
neighbours heard the sash of their apartments lifted up, they would cry,
“_Maid or two rain on!_” The learned very well know how soon a word is
combined, and becomes general.
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Interesting History Of
THE PRINCESS DE PONTHIEU.
_Translated from the French._
(Concluded from page 83.)
During his absence, the watchful policy of the fair Sultaness contrived
to acquire a great number of creatures, ready to undertake any thing to
serve her; she caused several favours to be conferred on them, through
the interest the Count had with the Sultan. He was now grown
prodigiously in his favour--The Sultan used frequently to divert himself
with hunting, it was an exercise he extremely loved, and the Count
understanding it perfectly, was always one of the party.--The expresses
which were continually brought of the victories Thibault had gained over
the enemy, increased the Sultan’s esteem for the two hostages. Three
months passed thus, with creating new friends on the Queen’s side, and
confidence on the Sultan’s; but the joy of both, though for different
reasons was compleated, when a courier arrived with the news that the
conquering Thibault had entirely vanquished, cut the whole army of the
foe in pieces, killed their prince with his own hand, and not only
recovered the dominion they had taken from the Sultan, but also added
that of the bold invader to his empire.---These glorious actions were
celebrated in Almeria by great rejoicings;--nothing was talked of but
the bravery of the captive, and the obligations both king and people had
to him. As for him, when he found no more enemies to combat, he made
haste to garrison the conquered places, and having deputed such
governors as he thought were faithful, returned in triumph to Almeria.
The Sultan received him as his guardian angel, restored him his liberty,
and pressed him to accept the greatest places in his empire, if he would
change his religion; but the other gave him to understand, though with
the greatest respect, that he could not embrace his favours, but assured
him he would stay at his court as long as he should be wanted. This
refusal was so far from incensing, that the Sultan gave him the greater
esteem for it; and this illustrious warrior became so considerable at
the court of Almeria, that nothing was done but by his advice. The
Sultaness finding the success of her project, now thought it time to put
the finishing stroke to it. She pretended to be with child, and that the
air of Almeria did not agree with her; a Renegada physician, that she
had gained to her interest, assured the Sultan that her life would be in
danger, if she did not remove from where the was; that prince alarmed by
the tenderness he had for her, begged her to make choice of any of his
houses of pleasure, to go and reside in.--The Sultaness pitched on one
which was by the seaside, and the way to which was by sea.--The Sultan
immediately gave orders for the equipping a galley, and the Queen took
care to fill it with persons entirely devoted to her interest.--When
every thing was ready, she begged the Sultan that she might be
accompanied thither by the French cavalier, for the security of her
person; as for the Count de Ponthieu and his son, there was no occasion
for asking leave for their attendance, because they belonged immediately
to her. The Sultan made no scruple of granting every thing she desired,
and she embarked with her father, her brother, and husband, and the
faithful Sayda; taking with her a son of seven years old, which she had
by the Sultan, leaving in Almeria a daughter that was still at the
breast. Heaven seeming to favour their designs, they were no sooner got
to sea, than our warriors, seconded by the Queen’s creatures, obliged
the slaves of the galley to row directly to Brindes, where they happily
arrived. The Princess gave the christian slaves their liberty, and put
in their places all the Saracens she could purchase, with orders to give
the Sultan the following letter:
_The Princess of Ponthieu to the Sultan of Almeria._
“If I had only your generosity to have combated, I would have discovered
to you the cause which urged me to this flight--convinced, that you
would rather have favoured than opposed it; but your love and religion
being insurmountable obstacles, I was obliged to make use of artifice to
be just.--I quit you not, my lord, through inconstancy, I follow my
husband, my father, and my brother, who were the three captives whose
lives you granted me; my husband having exposed his for your glory, and
the security of your dominions, has, in part, acquitted me of the
obligations I owe you.--I am a christian, and was a sovereign before
your wife; judge therefore, whether my rank and religion did not demand
this of me.---I shall always with gratitude remember the honour you have
done me; I have left you my daughter, being obliged to abandon her on
account of her youth:---Look on her, I intreat you, with the eyes of a
father.---I wish you all the happiness you deserve, and shall with
fervency beg of Heaven to bless you with that divine illumination, which
is the only thing in which your heroic virtues are deficient.
“PONTHIEU.”
The Sultan saw the galley return, and received the Princess’s letter,
while she was prosecuting her journey to Rome; he was inconceivably
afflicted at the news, but his reason at length getting the better of
his despair, he endeavoured to comfort himself, by transplanting all the
tenderness he had paid the mother to the little daughter. In the mean
time, our illustrious fugitives arrived at Rome; where they were
received by the Pope with extraordinary honours; and after having
reconciled the Princess and Sayda to the bosom of the church, they
departed, loaded with presents and favours to Ponthieu, where the
unanimous joy of the people for their return is not to be expressed. The
Count dying some time after, his son inherited his dominions; but that
young prince not long surviving, he left the sovereignty to the Princess
his sister, who with her husband reigned a long time in perfect glory
and happy unity. The son she had by the Sultan, married a rich Heiress
of Normandy, from whom are descended the lords of Preau; and the
princess, who was left behind with the Sultan, was married to a Saracen
prince, and from a daughter of that princess was born the famous
Saladin, Sultan of Egypt, so known and dreaded by all christianity.
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_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
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