inflicted, were so imprudent as to pursue them to the very entrance of
the town, where they met with a storm which was just ready to burst upon
them. All the inhabitants, having heard that a peasant had been killed
in the wood, were up in arms, some with cudgels and clubs pointed with
iron, and others with old swords, fully determined to avenge his death.
Their rage increased, when the two fugitives came up and informed them
that the Bailiff’s son had just shared the same fate as the countryman.
They advanced in a body, and surrounded the supposed murderers, falling
upon them without mercy. Ozmin, whose courage was rather increased than
damped by the appearance of so many enemies, opposed their rage most
resolutely, dealing his blows on all sides, and overthrowing all that
resisted him. This somewhat moderated the fury of the rest. Don Alonso,
although wounded, followed his example with equal valor. It was,
however, impossible to resist so unequal a force, and he was taken
prisoner; soon after which, his friend, whom the mob endeavoured to
throw down by hurling their staves between his legs, was unfortunate
enough to stumble, and was also secured.
I leave you to judge whether the enraged multitude would have spared
these two unfortunate Cavaliers who were now completely at their mercy.
But as chance would have it, two gentlemen came up just at that moment
on horseback, accompanied by three or four servants, who wishing to know
the cause of this tumult, broke through the crowd, sword in hand, until
they reached the two prisoners, in one of whom they recognized Don
Alonso, notwithstanding his disguise, and though his face was covered
with blood, and rescued him, with great difficulty, from the hands of
the mob, who in consequence became more careful to secure their other
prisoner, against whom they bore the greater malice.
Zuniga, observing this, refused to accompany his deliverers, declaring
that he had rather share his friend’s fate than abandon him in this
manner. But the two gentlemen represented to him that it were a
fruitless attempt to endeavour to release that Cavalier, who was now
actually shut up in the Bailiff’s house, who kept all the inhabitants
still up in arms, exciting them to avenge his son’s death: that it were
wiser, in their opinion, to assemble all the friends that they could get
together; and return in the night to release him from prison. Don Alonso
yielded to this advice, and was soon assured of the assistance of above
forty persons, masters, as well as servants, and this bold design would
undoubtedly have been executed, had not the Bailiff suspected something
of the kind; but this magistrate, who was an experienced cunning old
rascal, expected some such violence, and therefore applied to the chief
justice of Seville, who sent him so numerous a company of guards, that
he no longer feared any attempt to release his prisoner.
The ladies were not at so great a distance from this scene of confusion
as to be long ignorant of the particulars of the battle, and the sad
result of it. They obtained their information from some of the Marquis’s
servants, many of whom had been to the town out of curiosity, where they
learnt all that had passed. Donna Elvira dispatched one of them to the
Bailiff, desiring him to take care how he treated the Cavalier whom he
had in custody, lest he should repent of it. This recommendation was not
entirely thrown away; for Don Jaymé was treated better than he would
otherwise have been, and furnished with every thing that was necessary
to cure two or three slight wounds which he had received.
If the Bailiff was mortified at seeing his intentions to avenge his
son’s death, likely to be frustrated by Elvira, how was he rejoiced when
the very same evening he had the consolation to learn that the Marquis
participated in his resentment. Don Lewis, in his way home from his
farm, passed through the town towards the evening, and observing that a
majority of the inhabitants were in arms, he inquired for what purpose
they were thus assembled. The late adventure was consequently related to
him, and as he wished to know the full particulars, the most
considerable person among the mob addressed himself to him: “All this
misfortune,” said he, “has arisen merely from a mistake of our Bailiff’s
son who was in love with a young girl belonging to your family, and had
a rival who was the son of a rich farmer in the environs. The Bailiff’s
son was naturally of a debauched character and of a very violent
disposition, and finding that his rival, who was of a more sober
character and richer than himself, was always more welcome, he sent him
word that he would have him well cudgelled if he were ever again found
in the neighbourhood of your house with the view of speaking with his
mistress. He caused him to be observed, and having been informed this
morning that two men who had not the appearance of common peasants,
though dressed as such, had slipped into the wood as if by stealth, he
doubted not that it was the farmer’s son, with a young fellow of his
acquaintance who generally accompanied him in these visits, and that
they were thus disguised to avoid the drubbing they had been threatened
with; with this impression he employed two of the strongest fellows in
the town to conceal themselves in the wood to put his threat in
execution; and he himself followed with two of his friends, in order to
assist them, if necessary.”
The Marquis saw plainly by this recital, that the Bailiff’s son only was
to blame, and that those whom they called his murderers had killed him
in their own defence; but when he was informed that these two Cavaliers
were no other than Don Alonso de Zuniga and the pretended Ambrosio, and
that the Bailiff held the latter in his custody, he began to consider
that this adventure was ordained by Heaven to afford him an opportunity
of being avenged on his daughter’s seducer. He called the Bailiff before
him and excited him to pursue this affair with warmth, assuring him of
the protection of his influence and purse, and advising him to repair to
Seville the next morning, accompanied by all the relatives of the
deceased, as well as those of the wounded, and there throw themselves at
the feet of the magistrates, crying aloud for Justice. The Bailiff
resolved to follow this advice, and accordingly conducted his prisoner
to that city the following day, escorted by the guards and some of the
most resolute peasants belonging to the town. When the people of Seville
saw him thus brought up, and knew the cause, they were so enraged that
it was with great difficulty that the unfortunate Moor was preserved
from their fury. In addition to this, Don Lewis arrived the same day in
the city, thinking his presence necessary to engage the Judges to
condemn a man whose destruction he had sworn.
On the other hand Don Alonso was unfortunately so ill of his wounds that
he could scarcely sit on horseback, nor indeed had he yet been able to
assemble a sufficient number of his friends to undertake to deliver
Ozmin by force. Thus, reduced to solicit on his behalf, he implored each
of the Judges separately to consider that they could not in justice
condemn a man to death, whose only crime was that of having defended
himself against assassins. In answer to this he was told, that he ought
to be well contented that he himself was not secured and prosecuted:
that the blood which had been spilt demanded justice, and that if he
were in the prisoner’s place, they could not possibly be able to save
him. The death of Ozmin appeared inevitable and near at hand; but in
spite of all the endeavours of Don Lewis to hasten it, it was deferred
by an incident which that nobleman little expected. He received a
courier express from the Queen who informed him of the capture of the
city of Granada, and ordered him to repair to her instantly with Daraxa,
whose father was most anxious to see her, who having himself determined
to become a Christian, hoped that his daughter would not refuse to
follow so good an example.
There was also a packet of letters for Daraxa, but the Marquis judged it
most proper to withhold them from her; and did not even communicate the
news contained in his own, lest in her impatience of returning to her
parents, she should oblige him to set off with her the very next day for
Granada. He wished to see the prosecution of Don Jaymé closed by a
sentence of death, and even to be present at his execution before his
departure. For this purpose he redoubled his efforts and solicitations,
in which he succeeded so effectually with the Judges that they condemned
Ozmin to be beheaded two days afterwards, under the name of Don Jaymé,
Gentleman of Arragon.
Zuniga was among the first that were informed of this severe sentence,
of which he apprised the ladies by letter, assuring them, at the same
time, that he had assembled above three hundred men, and that he and his
friends would all perish, rather than suffer such an injustice. What
words can express the affliction of the beautiful Moor? The idea of the
ignominious treatment that was preparing for her dear Ozmin almost drove
her mad. In the midst of her despair she met Don Lewis, at his return
from the palace, where he had spent the whole of the morning. She cast
upon him a furious and piercing look, and said, with such transport as
sufficiently evinced the disorder of her mind: “Barbarian! are you now
satisfied? Unjust and cowardly Judges have consented without shame to
gratify your resentment at the expence of innocence. But think not that
the blood of this cavalier, who is thus injured and oppressed by your
influence and suggestions, shall be shed with impunity. He is my lover,
and my husband; a relation of the King of Granada; and not the gallant
of your daughter, for whom such a man was never destined. Your head
shall answer to me for his; for there are those among his relations, or
my own, who will have vengeance; or, if you escape their resentment, I
myself will strike the poniard to your heart.”
Don Lewis was thunderstruck at these impassioned exclamations, which
showed but too clearly Daraxa’s interest in the life of the prisoner. He
knew not what to reply, so overwhelmed was he with trouble and
confusion. He at length, however, told her, that she was much to blame
for not having sooner informed him of the quality of the pretended
Ambrosio, against whom he did not deny that he had solicited, conceiving
that he had disgraced his house. Daraxa was proceeding to assure him
that it was not the fault of Ozmin if Elvira had conceived a foolish
love for him, but at that moment a servant entered the room, and
whispered to the Marquis that there were several equipages at the gate,
and a great number of Moors, who asked to speak with Daraxa. Don Lewis
was somewhat troubled at this news, and apologized for being obliged to
leave her for an instant. As Daraxa had not heard what the servant had
whispered, and wished to know everything that happened in her present
anxious state, she followed the Marquis and entered a parlour, where
from the window she perceived some Moors whom she knew at the gate, for
the most part servants of her father. This sight beguiled her of her
troubles for awhile, and joy took possession of her heart, when Don
Lewis entered the room conducting one of her father’s officers into her
presence, who, having paid his respects to her, announced the capture of
the city of Granada, and that the war was at an end. He informed her at
the same time that her father, having obtained permission of their
Catholic Majesties to recall her home, had sent her an equipage and
followers suitable to a person of her high birth: that she must
doubtless be already informed of all these particulars by the courier
the Queen had dispatched to the Marquis de Padilla, and by the letters
she must have received. This was a fresh cause of confusion to the
Marquis, who was obliged to frame all sorts of excuses to Daraxa for not
having before put her in possession of them.
The joy of the beautiful Moor lasted no longer than the time that was
occupied in communicating to her the wishes of her father. The thoughts
respecting Ozmin, and the extreme danger he was in, soon renewed her
grief. This afflicted lover dispatched the officer, and Orviedo by whom
he was accompanied, to demand a public audience for her of the Judges,
who were at that moment deliberating upon advices they had just received
that Don Alonso’s house was filling with cavaliers who were arrived from
the country to second him in his design to rescue his friend. To prevent
this enterprise, the Judges had just resolved to have the culprit put to
death that night in prison.
They were much surprised at Daraxa’s request, never having known an
instance of a woman coming in ceremony before them, to address the
Judges, and they knew not what answer to return. The oldest among them
were of opinion that she ought not to be allowed an audience, but the
younger ones were of a different way of thinking. The curiosity to know
what she could have to say to them--the respect they were bound to
entertain for a lady who was so great a favourite with the Queen, and,
above all, the pleasure of seeing her, at last prevailed; and they
decided that an audience should be granted her at six in the evening.
Daraxa, who was apprehensive that this would have been refused her, was
well pleased at this message. She sent Orviedo to Don Alonso, apprising
him of her intentions, and requesting him to accompany her to the
palace, if his health would allow him to do her this favor. Zuniga was
extremely charmed with the honor conferred upon him by the beautiful
Moor in selecting him as her squire upon this occasion, and prepared for
the cavalcade. He had no need to seek very far for the cavaliers he
wished to join him in it; since they were, for the most part, already in
his own house, ready to follow him wherever he chose to lead them. He
conducted them at five o’clock to Don Lewis’s house, who, seeing more
than two hundred cavaliers who came for Daraxa, whose intentions he was
not unacquainted with, went in search of her, and offered himself to
bear her company; but she returned him thanks, telling him that she was
very glad she was able to spare him the mortification of seeing her
solicit for the life of a man, whose enemy he had so openly professed
himself, and, in fact, against whose life he was the principal
prosecutor.
The Marquis, stung to the quick by this refusal, would willingly have
frustrated the lady’s design, or at least have rendered it useless if it
had been in his power; but it was now too late to frame any obstacle. He
was, therefore, obliged to conceal his mortification, which was,
however, visibly depicted on his face, in spite of all his efforts to
smother it. Daraxa at length left the house, without taking any notice
of his displeasure. She found Don Alonso waiting for her on foot at the
gate, with all the principal persons of the troop, who had also
alighted to compliment her. She made an effort to express some joy,
notwithstanding the profound sorrow that she felt on the occasion, and
assured Don Alonso she should ever entertain the most lively sense of
her obligation to him. Zuniga forgot nothing that a man in love and full
of noble thoughts could say on such an occasion, and answered: that “he
could not express how sensible he was of her kindness, in having
selected himself and his friends to conduct her to the palace, where she
could not fail to immortalize herself by so heroic an action.” Don
Alonso, as well as the other gentlemen, could not sufficiently applaud
so generous an undertaking, most firmly believing that the beautiful
Moor interested herself for the prisoner, merely out of friendship for
her friend Donna Elvira.
After these compliments, Daraxa mounted her horse with her usual grace.
Don Alonso and the rest followed her example, and the cavalcade began
to defile by the Moors, who were about forty in number, all well
equipped, and admirably mounted, having Orviedo and the newly-arrived
officer at their head. After these came Daraxa herself, between Don
Alonso and Don Diego de Castro; the remainder of the company followed in
very good order, six in each rank. Though the preparations for this
cavalcade had occupied but little time, yet the rumour of its approach
had already spread through the city, and the people, who were as curious
to behold the beautiful Moor as to know what could be her business at
the palace, were collected in crowds in the streets through which she
must of necessity pass. She was dressed in a most magnificent Moorish
habit, and had neglected nothing that could add to her beauty on so
important an occasion. All the spectators were struck with her becoming
appearance; but what astonished them more than any thing, was the
graceful ease and dexterity with which she managed her horse; an art in
which Spanish women rarely excel.
The cavalcade having arrived at the square before the palace, Don Alonso
formed his Cavaliers into a squadron round about her, and the Judges
sent out two ushers of the Court, who conducted her to the door of the
first hall, where she was received by two of the Judges, who did her all
the honor that could have been conferred on a princess, and led her to
the audience. Don Alonso, and other young nobles, who had alighted from
their horses at the same time as Daraxa, followed her, and entered also
into the hall where the Judges were assembled, who appeared much
surprised and uneasy on this account. Putting, however, a good face on
the matter, they attended only to the Moorish lady, who charmed them all
by the elegant and majestic air with which she presented herself before
the tribunal of justice. She took her seat in an arm-chair with a
cushion and foot-carpet, which had been prepared for her, and after
having beheld all the Judges for some moments with fixed attention, she
raised her voice, and thus addressed them:--
“There is but one reason, my Lords, sufficiently imperative to justify
the step that I have taken, in thus presenting myself before you. I know
the rules that modesty prescribes for persons of my sex; but there are
occasions when these rules may be dispensed with. On such an occasion am
I come hither, to implore justice against yourselves. A sentence is to
be put in execution to-morrow, that you have pronounced upon a man,
whose only crime is that of having defended his life against assassins.
This is an incontrovertible fact, of which I was myself an eye-witness,
as well as Donna Elvira, and two waiting-women who were also with us in
the wood. Shall two peasants be allowed to come up behind two
Cavaliers, and beat them with clubs most unmercifully, and shall not
these Cavaliers be justified in defending themselves against so
unwarranted an assault? If the Bailiff’s son came with two of his
friends, all three armed with swords, and rushed upon two men who had
nothing but sticks to protect themselves with, what crime have these
latter committed in acting on the defensive against such dastardly
villains? Who among you, gentlemen, finding himself in the same
situation, but would do his utmost to kill his opponent, if no other
means remained of saving his own life? but why should I enlarge upon
that point? you need not be told that it is the law of nature. It is now
said that it was a mistake of the Bailiff’s son: but what of that? his
mistake cannot justify his actions, neither can it criminate the persons
whom he wished to assassinate.
“I shall not trouble you, my Lords, with any further remarks, except to
inform you what has induced me to interest myself so strongly for your
prisoner. _He is not a gentleman of Arragon, nor is he Don Jaymé Vivez_,
BUT THE BRAVE OZMIN, whose name is well known among your troops, as
having distinguished himself in many glorious actions. He it was, who,
the last day of the sports killed the two bulls, and saved the life of
Don Alonso de Zuniga. But what has impelled me more than all his noble
qualities, to make this appeal to your Justice, is, that he is my
husband, if I may be permitted to give that name to a man who with the
mutual consent of our parents has plighted his faith to me, and received
mine in return. Reflect on what I have laid before you, my Lords, before
you cause a sentence to be carried into execution against a kinsman of
King Mahomet, whom you ought not to have condemned on such slight
grounds.”
The beautiful Moor had no sooner finished her speech, than a noise
arose throughout the hall that very much startled and frighted the
Judges: every body crying out, that the prisoner was innocent, and ought
to be released. The chief Justice commanded silence, which being
obtained, he replied to the Lady in the name of himself and brothers,
“That they might possibly have been misinformed in this affair: that
they would review the whole matter, and give her their answer that very
same day.” But the whole assembly cried out again, that the prisoner
ought instantly to be set at liberty, threatening to force the
prison-doors if this were refused. The same Judge answered, “That after
a judgment was once pronounced, it was no longer in their power to
liberate the prisoner; that all they could do on their parts, was to
suspend the execution of the sentence until they received orders from
their Majesties, who alone were now able to annul it.” Daraxa then
requested permission to visit Ozmin; and it was granted her without
hesitation, on condition that no more than four persons should enter the
prison with her, and that she would engage that no violence should
ensue.
The cavalcade proceeded to the prison in the same order as it had
arrived at the palace, and the beautiful Moor chose Don Alonso, Don
Diego de Castro, Orviedo, and the Moorish officer, to go in with her.
Conceive, if possible, the agreeable surprise of Ozmin, when he saw
Daraxa enter his chamber with Don Alonso, and learnt what she had just
achieved for him. His joy could only be equalled by that of his
mistress, whose heart overflowed with rapturous emotion which she could
not otherwise express than by the tears that flowed in torrents from her
eyes. Zuniga partook of the pleasure of the lovers, and embraced his
friend as sincerely as though he had not been his rival. His friendship
mingled with his love. He could not, however, refrain from reproaching
him for his want of confidence, threatening with a smile, that he would
be avenged for his dissimulation, by continuing in love with the
beautiful Moor for the remainder of his life. This reproach drew
compliments upon him from both of them. Daraxa declared that next to
Ozmin he would ever possess her esteem; and Ozmin assured him that, with
the exception of Daraxa, there was no one whose love he should so highly
prize. Zuniga did not fail to make obliging returns to these kind
professions of friendship; after which he introduced his friend Don
Diego to Ozmin, as a Cavalier of distinguished birth and merit. This
gave rise to further compliments, till at length they began to think of
the more important consideration that brought them hither, and resolved
to send off a messenger instantly to their Majesties to obtain the
prisoner’s pardon. Orviedo was fixed on, and immediately set off for
Granada, with letters both to Ozmin’s and Daraxa’s relations.
Orviedo made such dispatch, that after three days he returned to
Seville, with his master’s pardon, and an order to the Magistrates to
treat him with all the honors due to his noble birth, and becoming the
future husband of the beautiful Moor. As soon as Daraxa was informed
that Ozmin was at liberty to leave the prison, she repaired thither with
a more numerous and more magnificent equipage than before. Every
Cavalier of any distinction in the city was among the cavalcade. Don
Rodrigo de Padilla made himself particularly remarkable for his
magnificence. He insisted on making one amongst them, and expressed to
Daraxa his sincere joy at the good success of her undertaking, in spite
of all the old Marquis’s rage and vexation, whose conduct he by no means
approved of; and when he saw Ozmin, he behaved towards him in a most
handsome manner.
Thus our hero left prison with as much honor and joy, as he was thrust
into it with shame and sorrow. The same people who had but a few days
before desired his death, now followed the cavalcade with acclamations
of delight, so extremely anxious were they to see the famous conqueror
of the Bulls. Don Lewis, whose resentment and haughtiness were by no
means abated, was the only person who did not visit Ozmin, whom he could
not regard in any other light than a man who had brought dishonor upon
his family, by the great talk and noise that his daughter’s love for Don
Jaymé had made in the city. He fully expected that he should be rallied
at court on this account. For this reason he pretended illness, as an
excuse for not being able to accompany Daraxa to Granada, and appeared
no more in Seville until after her departure.