_Wherein Transila ends the Story her Father had begun._
"I went, as my father has told you, dressed in my bridal garments,
escorted by all the brothers and near kinsmen of my intended husband.
Among these was one I knew only too well, and feared him for his
violent and fierce disposition. He contrived to be next me in the
procession, and just as we reached a place where a street led towards
the sea-shore, he whispered in my ear that he could not endure to see
me the wife of another, and, seizing me by the arm, he endeavoured to
hurry me away in the direction of the street I have mentioned, having
previously arranged so, as to have some friends of his own favourable
to this wicked enterprise; who, crowding about me, hindered the rest
of the party from perceiving what was going on; but the forcible
resistance I made, and my loud cries for succour, speedily called
Ladislaus and his friends to my rescue. Thereupon a furious and bloody
combat ensued, in the midst of which I contrived, unperceived, to
make my escape, and rushing through the streets I ran till I came to
the seaside, where I flung myself into a small boat that seemed as
if sent by Heaven to my assistance, and plying the two little oars it
contained, I rowed as far away from land as I could. Heaven seemed
to favour my desire of escape, the wind arose and carried me and my
small bark fast and far into the open sea. By nightfall the wind had
driven me many miles, and at length it drove me ashore upon an unknown
coast, where some fishermen received me, and offered me hospitality
and lodging. They also offered me a husband from among them, if I
was unmarried; but avarice, which reigns everywhere, even among the
rocks and wild sea caves, and amidst rough and untaught men, entered
that night into the breasts of these rude fishermen, and they agreed,
that as I was the property of all alike, and yet could only be the
prize of one, and as I could not be divided, that I should be sold to
some pirates, whom they had discovered not far off from their fishing
grounds. Accordingly, when morning dawned, the pirates having come
nearer, I was taken on board their ship, and sold for I know not what
sum of money, having first despoiled me of all the jewels I wore in
my bridal attire. The pirates treated me kindly, and told me not to
be melancholy, for they would carry me to a place, where I should
be, not a slave, but a queen, and possibly the queen of the whole
world, if certain prophecies should prove true. How I arrived at the
barbarous isles, the reception I there met with, how I learned their
language during the time I dwelt among them, and the history of their
rites and ceremonies, and the vain result of their prophecies, and the
finding of these noble gentlemen and ladies, with whom I am; also the
burning of the island, and how we obtained our liberty, I will tell at
some future time. I have now said enough, and I wish to hear from my
father, what chance has brought him hither, when I least expected it?"
Here Transila ended her discourse, leaving everybody enchanted by the
sweetness of her voice, and her exceeding beauty, which was surpassed
alone by that of Auristella.
Then Maurice, her father, said, "Thou already knowest, beloved
daughter, how in my studies and occupations, among many others, good
and praiseworthy, that of astrology carried me very far, as it often
does those who, when they follow it, are impelled by the natural wish
of knowing, not only all things past and present, but also those that
belong to the future.
"Seeing thee, then, lost, I marked the hour, consulted the stars,
examined well the situation of the planets, noted the positions and
the houses which were necessary for my desire, since no science is
so deceitful as this--the deception being owing to the ignorance of
those who practise it; and astrology is principally deceptive from the
rapid motions of the heavenly bodies, which have more influence in
some places than in others, and thus the astrologer hits by chance in
his judgments sometimes, in order to come to the most probable point,
and the best of all astrologers is the devil; although even he, is now
and then himself deceived; for not only does he look into futurity
through his own knowledge, but also by premises and by conjectures, and
as he has a long experience of things past, and so much acquaintance
with things present, he easily discovers how to judge about the
future, which students in the art cannot do, and they must always
judge doubtfully and with no certainty. Thus it was, however, that I
discovered that your loss must go on for two years, and that I should
recover you on this day, and in this place, to renew my youth, rejoice
my grey hairs, and to give thanks to Heaven for the restoration of my
lost treasure, making my heart glad with thy presence; although I know
that it must be mingled with some fears still, since for the most part
good fortune does not come without a counterpoise of misfortune, which
is permitted, that we may know no good is eternal, nor is evil suffered
to last for ever in this world."
"It will surely please Heaven then to send us a prosperous voyage,"
said Auristella, who had been long silent.
[Illustration]