_A Romantic Tale._
(_For the Mirror._)
The infidel Turks, ever at variance with the Christians, were, in the
reign of king Orchanes, extremely ambitious to possess the famous Castle
of Abydos; and accordingly vast preparations were made for a close
siege. Previous to the arrival of the Turkish army before the castle,
the angelic Sophronia, daughter of the governor of Abydos, was visited
by a dream. She thought, that while walking out on a beautiful evening,
breathing the fragrant air, and gazing on the brilliant stars, she fell
into a loathsome ditch, in which she remained an hour, terrified, and
unable to move. At length, a handsome youth passed, and she implored him
to rescue her. She did not implore in vain; the young man assisted her
out, cleaned her clothes, and comforted her with pleasant words. They
then proceeded to a delightful bower, put on costly attire, and the
youth regaled the rescued lady with delicious fruits, and sang sonnets
on her personal beauty. Sophronia awoke, sad and disappointed, to find
that her late bliss was only a dream. In a day or two afterwards, the
Turkish army appeared, and a vigorous siege commenced; nevertheless, the
Christians stoutly defended the place, and would, ultimately, have
obliged the enemy to retire, had no intervention taken place. It
happened, unfortunately for the garrison, that a gallant Turkish
captain, in the prime of youth, called Abdurachman approached so near to
the castle gates, as to be plainly observed by the fair Sophronia, from
a small turret window, out of which she had viewed the besiegers. The
lady imagined this captain to be the person to whom she was so much
obliged in her dream, and rejoiced at the supposed discovery; she hoped
that the assailants would be successful in taking her father's castle
that she might have an opportunity of falling into the hands of the
gallant captain she so greatly admired. The siege still raged with much
fury, but was continually repulsed by the brave Christians, insomuch
that the Turkish general became disconcerted, and in the evening of the
third day after the commencement of the siege, retired to his camp,
about a league distant from the scene of action. Sophronia, meanwhile,
was agitated at the ill success of the Turks, though she did not despair
of seeing the captain again.
She made a confidante of her maid Annis, who undertook, daring as the
attempt was, to steal from the castle to the enemy's camp, in order to
convey a letter from her mistress to Abdurachman. The intrepid Annis
commenced her task in the night: she avoided passing the sentinels and
wardens of the castle, but found her way to a postern gate, scarcely
known to any but herself. She arrived at Abdurachman's tent; the captain
was conversing with his friends about what the general intended to do on
the morrow. Annis desired to speak with him in private, to which he
consented. She then delivered the letter, which was bound with a lock of
the fair writer's hair, and the astonished Abdurachman perused the
following:--
"Adored Youth,
"I am passionately in love with you, and am sorry that you have been
frustrated in your endeavours to take the castle. As I adore you beyond
measure, and shall certainly take poison if you do not succeed; I engage
to deliver Abydos with all its riches into your hands, provided you
follow my instructions. I advise, that in the morning by sunrise, you
raise the siege and withdraw your whole army from the castle, and return
not again till you hear from _me_. My father will be so rejoiced at your
departure, that he will be off his guard, and then I can easily conduct
you with secrecy into the castle."
The delighted Turk very politely answered this remarkable _billet doux_,
assuring the fair writer that he was at her service, and that he would
implicitly follow her directions as to the taking of Abydos. As soon as
he had dismissed Annis, he flew with Sophronia's letter to the general,
who, upon reading it, expressed great astonishment; he determined to
raise the siege the next morning, and resolved to rely fully on the
beautiful traitress for the future success of his enterprise. The next
day came, and the general raised the siege and departed. The Christians
were rejoiced to see it, and in the evening made merry and drunk wine.
The governor's daughter took advantage of the garrison at this unguarded
moment; and fearing to trust again to the sincerity of her maid,
resolved to proceed herself to Abdurachman's tent. Annis led the way.
The night was serene, and the light of the moon showed the stately
castle of Abydos, dark and majestic. No noise was heard, save the heavy
and uniform step of the sentinels, whose bright arms, as they caught the
moon's rays, sparkled against the gloomy looking building. Little did
the inmates, now as tranquil as the night, dream of being surprised by
an enemy; and little did the brave governor imagine that his own beloved
daughter, at this moment, was treacherously hastening to a merciless
foe, with the intent to conduct him to Abydos! Sophronia reached her
lover's tent weary and faint, for she had walked with great haste. She
sank into the captain's arms, and then, almost inaudibly, informed him
that not a moment was to be lost, and that he must follow her
immediately to the castle.
He obeyed, and having formed a litter for the lady, she was borne on the
shoulders of four stout Turks. When they arrived at the postern gate,
Sophronia told the captain that he, with his men, must first enter the
castle, and then kill the sentinels and wardens, after which he would be
enabled to give admittance to all his friends. The Turks strictly obeyed
the lady, who before the affair began hastened with Annis to her
apartment in order to await the issue of her plot. The Turks entered the
castle by hundreds, killing all they met, and were soon masters of the
place. Meanwhile, Sophronia and Annis, both dreadfully agitated, heard
from their chamber the dying groans of the poor Christians. Sometimes
the clashing of swords was distinguished, as if a number of persons were
engaged in combat; sometimes the loud lamentations of women intervened;
and sometimes the voices of the conquerors were alone heard in
exultation. At length the door of Sophronia's room burst open, and
Abdurachman rushed in to seize her, while Annis, nearly dead with
terror, calmly submitted to the grasp of a common soldier who
accompanied the captain.
The dreadful scene was acted and over; the Turks were possessors of the
famed castle of Abydos, and Sophronia's father, the governor, was
hanged. Alas! deluded Sophronia! The faithless Abdurachman, whom she
supposed to have seen in a dream, regarded her not; even lots were cast
for her, and she fell to the share of one whom she did not know. The
beautiful Sophronia took poison and expired.