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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2826-0.txt b/2826-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a13279 --- /dev/null +++ b/2826-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2073 @@ +Project Gutenberg’s The Two Captains, by Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Two Captains + +Author: Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +Posting Date: December 3, 2008 [EBook #2826] +Release Date: September, 2001 +Last Updated: October 14, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO CAPTAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe + + + + + +THE TWO CAPTAINS. + +By Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouque + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +A Mild summer evening was resting on the shores of Malaga, awakening the +guitar of many a merry singer among the ships in the harbor, and in +the city houses, and in many an ornamental garden villa. Emulating +the voices of the birds, the melodious tones greeted the refreshing +coolness, and floated like perfumed exhalations from meadow and water, +over the enchanting region. Some troops of infantry who were on the +shore, and who purposed to spend the night there, that they might be +ready for embarkation early on the following morning, forgot amid the +charms of the pleasant eventide that they ought to devote these last few +hours on European soil to ease and slumber; they began to sing military +songs, to drink to each other with their flasks filled to the brim with +the rich wine of Xeres, toasting to the long life of the mighty Emperor +Charles V., who was now besieging the pirate-nest Tunis, and to whose +assistance they were about to sail. The merry soldiers were not all +of one race. Only two companies consisted of Spaniards; the third +was formed of pure Germans, and now and then among the various +fellow-combatants the difference of manners and language had given +rise to much bantering. Now, however, the fellowship of the approaching +sea-voyage and of the glorious perils to be shared, as well as the +refreshing feeling which the soft southern evening poured over soul and +sense, united the band of comrades in perfect and undisturbed harmony. +The Germans tried to speak Castilian, and the Spaniards to speak German, +without its occurring to any one to make a fuss about the mistakes and +confusions that happened. They mutually helped each other, thinking of +nothing else but the good-will of their companions, each drawing near to +his fellow by means of his own language. + +Somewhat apart from the merry tumult, a young German captain, Sir +Heimbert of Waldhausen, was reclining under a cork-tree, gazing +earnestly up at the stars, apparently in a very different mood to the +fresh, merry sociability which his comrades knew and loved in him. +Presently the Spanish captain, Don Fadrique Mendez, approached him; +he was a youth like the other, and was equally skilled in martial +exercises, but he was generally as austere and thoughtful as Heimbert +was cheerful and gentle. “Pardon, Senor,” began the solemn Spaniard, “if +I disturb you in your meditations. But as I have had the honor of often +seeing you as a courageous warrior and faithful brother in amrs in many +a hot encounter, I would gladly solicit you above all others to do me +a knightly service, if it does not interfere with your own plans and +projects for this night.” “Dear sir,” returned Heimbert courteously, “I +have certainly an affair of importance to attend to before sunrise, +but till midnight I am perfectly free, and ready to render you any +assistance as a brother in aims.” “Enough,” said Fadrique, “for at +midnight the tones must long have ceased with which I shall have taken +farewell of the dearest being I have ever known in this my native city. +But that you may be as fully acquainted with the whole affair as behoves +a noble companion, listen to me attentively for a few moments. + +“Some time before I left Malaga to join the army of our great emperor +and to aid in spreading the glory of his arms through Italy, I was +devoted, after the fashion of young knights, to the service of a +beautiful girl in this city, named Lucila. She had at that time scarcely +reached the period which separates childhood from ripe maidenhood, and +as I--a boy only just capable of bearing arms--offered my homage with a +childlike, friendly feeling, it was also received by my young mistress +in a similar childlike manner. I marched at length to Italy, and as you +yourself know, for we have been companions since then, I was in many a +hot fight and in many an enchantingly alluring region in that luxurious +land. Amid all our changes, I held unalterably within me the image of my +gentle mistress, never pausing in the honorable service I had vowed to +her, although I cannot conceal from you that in so doing it was rather +to fulfil the word I had pledged at my departure than from any impelling +and immoderately ardent feeling in my heart. When we returned to my +native city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my +mistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercer +far than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child of +heaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila’s steps, +from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend, from +thence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and ladies, +and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible. When I had +at length assured myself that no other young knight attended her, and +that she devoted herself entirely to the husband chosen for her by her +parents rather than desired by herself, I felt perfectly satisfied, and +I should not have troubled you at this moment had not Lucila approached +me the day before yesterday and whispered in my ear that I must not +provoke her husband, for he was very passionate and bold; that not the +slightest danger threatened her in the matter, because he loved and +honored her above everything, but that his wrath would vent itself +all the more furiously upon me. You can readily understand, my noble +comrade, that I could not help proving my contempt of all personal +danger by following Lucila more closely than ever, and singing nightly +serenades beneath her flower-decked windows till the morning star began +to be reflected in the sea. This very night Lucila’s husband sets out +at midnight for Madrid, and from that hour I will in every way avoid +the street in which they live; until then, however, as soon as it +is sufficiently dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will have +love-romances unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I have +information that not only he but Lucila’s brothers are really to enter +upon a quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I have +requested you to bear me company with your good sword in this short +expedition.” + +Heimbert seized the Spaniard’s hand as a pledge of his readiness, saying +as he did so, “To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do what you +desire of me, I will requite your confidence with confidence, and will +relate a little incident which occurred to me in this city, and will beg +you after midnight also to render me a small service. My story is short, +and will not detain us longer than we must wait before the twilight has +become deeper and more gloomy. + +“On the day after we arrived here I amused myself with walking in the +beautiful gardens with which the place abounds. I have now been long +in these southern lands, but I cannot but believe that the dreams which +transport me nightly back to my German home are the cause for my feeling +everything here so strange and astonishing. At all events, every morning +when I wake I wonder anew, as if I were only just arrived. So I was +walking then, like one infatuated, among the aloe trees, which were +scattered among the laurels and oleanders. Suddenly a cry sounded near +me, and a slender girl, dressed in white, fled into my arms, fainting, +while her companions dispersed past us in every direction. A soldier +can always tolerably soon gather his senses together, and I speedily +perceived a furious bull was pursuing the beautiful maiden. I threw +her quickly over a thickly planted hedge, and followed her myself, upon +which the beast, blind with rage, passed us by, and I have heard no more +of it since, except that some young knights in an adjacent courtyard had +been making a trial with it previous to a bull-fight, and that it was on +this account that it had broken so furiously through the gardens. + +“I was now standing quite alone, with the fainting lady in my arms, and +she was so wonderfully beautiful to look at that I have never in my life +felt happier than I then did, and also never sadder. At last I laid +her down on the turf, and sprinkled her angelic brow, with water from a +neighboring little fountain. And so she came to herself again, and when +she opened her bright and lovely eyes I thought I could imagine how the +glorified spirits must feel in heaven. + +“She thanked me with graceful and courteous words, and called me her +knight; but in my state of enchantment I could not utter a syllable, and +she must have almost thought me dumb. At length my speech returned, and +the prayer at once was breathed forth from my heart, that the sweet lady +would often again allow me to see her in this garden; for that in a few +weeks the service of the emperor would drive me into the burning land +of Africa, and that until then she should vouchsafe me the happiness +of beholding her. She looked at me half smiling, half sadly, and said, +‘Yes.’ And she has kept her word and has appeared almost daily, without +our having yet spoken much to each other. For although she has been +sometimes quite alone, I could never begin any other topic but that of +the happiness of walking by her side. Often she has sung to me, and I +have sung to her also. When I told her yesterday that our departure was +so near, her heavenly eyes seemed to me suffused with tears. I must also +have looked sorrowful, for she said to me, in a consoling tone, ‘Oh, +pious, childlike warrior! one may trust you as one trusts an angel.’ +After midnight, before the morning dawn breaks for your departure, I +give you leave to take farewell of me in this very spot. If you could, +however, find a true and discreet comrade to watch the entrance from the +street, it would be well, for many a soldier may be passing at that hour +through the city on his way from some farewell carouse. Providence has +now sent me such a comrade, and at one o’clock I shall go joyfully to +the lovely maiden.” + +“I only wish the service on which you require me were more rich in +danger,” rejoined Fadrique, “so that I might better prove to you that +I am yours with life and limb. But come, noble brother, the hour for my +adventure is arrived.” + +And wrapped in their mantles, the youths walked hastily toward the city, +Fadrique carrying his beautiful guitar under his arm. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +The night-smelling flowers in Lucila’s window were already beginning to +emit their refreshing perfume when Fadrique, leaning in the shadow of +the angle of an old church opposite, began to tune his guitar. Heimbert +had stationed himself not far from him, behind a pillar, his drawn sword +under his mantle, and his clear blue eyes, like two watching stars, +looking calmly and penetrating around. Fadrique sang: + + + “Upon a meadow green with spring, + A little flower was blossoming, + With petals red and snowy white; + To me, a youth, my soul’s delight + Within that blossom lay, + And I have loved my song to indite + And flattering homage pay. + + “Since then a wanderer I have been, + And many a bloody strife have seen; + And now returned, I see + The little floweret stands no more + Upon the meadow as before; + Transplanted by a gardener’s care, + And hedged by golden trellis there, + It is denied to me. + + “I grudge him not his trelllsed guard, + His bolts of iron, strongly barred; + Yet, wandering in the cool night-air, + I touch my zither’s string, + And as afore her beauties rare, + Her wondrous graces sing, + And e’en the gardener shall not dare + Refuse the praise I bring.” + + +“That depends, Senor,” said a man, stepping close, and as he thought +unobserved, before Fadrique; but the latter had already been informed +of his approach by a sign from his watchful friend, and he was therefore +ready to answer with the greater coolness, “If you wish, Senor, to +commence a suit with my guitar, she has, at all events, a tongue of +steel, which has already on many occasions done her excellent service. +With whom is it your pleasure to speak, with the guitar or the +advocate?” + +While the stranger was silent from embarrassment, two mantled figures +had approached Heimbert and remained standing a few steps from him, +as if to cut off Fadrique’s flight in case he intended to escape. “I +believe, dear sirs,” said Heimbert in a courteous tone, “we are here on +the same errand--namely, to prevent any intrusion upon the conference of +yonder knights. At least, as far as I am concerned, you may rely upon it +that any one who attempts to interfere in their affair will receive my +dagger in his heart. Be of good cheer, therefore; I think we shall both +do our duty.” The two gentlemen bowed courteously and were silent. + +The quiet self-possession with which the two soldiers carried on the +whole affair was most embarrassing to their three adversaries, and +they were at a loss to know how they should begin the dispute. At last +Fadrique again touched the strings of his guitar, and was preparing +to begin another song. This mark of contempt and apparent disregard of +danger and hazard so enraged Lucila’s husband (for it was he who had +taken his stand by Don Fadrique) that without further delay he drew his +sword from his sheath, and with a voice of suppressed rage called out, +“Draw, or I shall stab you!” “Very gladly, Senor,” replied Fadrique +quietly; “you need not threaten me; you might as well have said so +calmly.” And so saying he placed his guitar carefully in a niche in the +church wall, seized his sword, and, bowing gracefully to his opponent, +the fight, began. + +At first the two figures by Heimbert’s side, who were Lucila’s brothers, +remained quite quiet; but when Fadrique began to get the better of their +brother-in-law they appeared as if they intended to take part in the +fight. Heimbert therefore made his mighty sword gleam in the moonlight, +and said, “Dear sirs, you will not surely oblige me to execute that of +which I previously assured you? I pray you not to compel me to do so; +but if it cannot be otherwise, I must honorably keep my word, you may +rely upon it.” The two young men remained from that time motionless, +surprised both at the decision and at the true-hearted friendliness that +lay in Heimbert’s words. + +Meanwhile Don Fadrique, although pressing hard upon his adversary, +had generously avoided wounding him, and when at last by a dexterous +movement he wrested his sword from him. Lucila’s husband, surprised at +the unexpected advantage, and in alarm at being thus disarmed, retreated +a few steps. But Fadrique threw the weapon adroitly into the air, and +catching it again near the point of the blade, he said, as he gracefully +presented the hilt to his opponent, “Take it, Senor, and I hope +our affair of honor is now settled, as you will grant under these +circumstances that I am only here to show that I fear no sword-thrust in +the world. The bell of the old cathedral is now ringing twelve o’clock, +and I give you my word of honor as a knight and a soldier that neither +is Dona Lucila pleased with my attentions nor am I pleased with paying +them; from henceforth, and were I to remain a hundred years in Malaga, +I would not continue to serenade her in this spot. So proceed on your +journey, and God be with you.” He then once more greeted his conquered +adversary with serious and solemn courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbert +followed him, after having cordially shaken hands with the two youths, +saying, “No, dear young sirs, do not let it ever again enter your heads +to interfere in any honorable contest. Do you understand me?” + +He soon overtook his companion, and walked on by his side so full of +ardent expectation, and with his heart beating so joyfully and yet so +painfully, that he could not utter a single word. Don Fadrique Mendez +was also silent; it was not till Heimbert paused before an ornamented +garden-gate, and pointed cheerfully to the pomegranate boughs richly +laden with fruits which overhung it, saying, “This is the place, dear +comrade,” that the Spaniard appeared as if about to ask a question, +but turning quickly round he merely said, “I am pledged to guard this +entrance for you till dawn. You have my word of honor for it.” So saying +he began walking to and fro before the gate, with drawn sword, like a +sentinel, and Heimbert, trembling with joy, glided within the gloomy and +aromatic shrubberies. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +He was not long in seeking the bright star, which he indeed felt was +destined henceforth to guide the course of his whole life. The delicate +form approached him not far from the entrance; weeping softly, it seemed +to him, in the light of the full moon which was just rising, and yet +smiling with such infinite grace, that her tears were rather like a +pearly ornament than a veil of sorrow. In deep and infinite joy and +sorrow the two lovers wandered silently together through the flowery +groves; now and then a branch waving in the night-air would touch the +guitar on the lady’s arm, and it would breathe forth a slight murmur +which blended with the song of the nightingale, or the delicate fingers +of the girl would tremble over the strings and awaken a few scattered +chords, while the shooting stars seemed as if following the tones of the +instrument as they died away. Oh, truly happy was this night both to +the youth and the maiden, for no rash wish or impure desire passed even +fleetingly across their minds. They walked on side by side, happy that +Providence had allowed them this delight, and so little desiring any +other blessing that even the transitoriness of that they were now +enjoying floated away into the background of their thoughts. + +In the middle of the beautiful garden there was a large open lawn, +ornamented with statues and surrounding a beautiful and splashing +fountain. The two lovers sat down on its brink, now gazing at the waters +sparkling in the moonlight, and now delighting in the contemplation +of each other’s beauty. The maiden touched her guitar, and Heimbert, +impelled by a feeling scarcely intelligible to himself, sang the +following words to it: + + + “There is a sweet life linked with mine, + But I cannot tell its name; + Oh, would it but to me consign + The secret of that life divine, + That so my lips in whispers sweet + And gentle songs might e’en repeat + All that my heart would fain proclaim!” + + +He suddenly paused, and blushed deeply, fearing he had been too bold. +The lady blushed also, touched her guitar-strings with a half-abstracted +air, and at last sang as if dreamily: + + + “By the spring where moonlight’s gleams + O’er the sparkling waters pass, + Who is sitting by the youth, + Singing on the soft green grass? + Shall the maiden tell her name, + When though all unknown it be, + Her heart is glowing with her shame, + And her cheeks burn anxiously, + First, let the youthful knight be named. + ‘Tis he that on that glorious day + Fought in Castilla’s proud array; + + ‘Tis he the youth of sixteen years, + At Pavia, who his fortunes tried, + The Frenchman’s fear, the Spaniard’s pride. + Heimbert is the hero’s name, + Victorious in many a fight! + And beside the valiant knight, + Sitting in the soft green grass, + Though her name her lips shall pass, + Dona Clara feels no shame ” + + +“Oh!” said Heimbert, blushing from another cause than before, “oh, +Dona Clara, that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and victorious +tournament, and even if occasionally since then I have been engaged in +a tougher contest, how have I ever merited as a reward the overwhelming +bliss I am now enjoying! Now I know what your name is, and I may +in future address you by it, my angelic Dona Clara, my blessed and +beautiful Dona Clara! But tell me now, who has given you such a +favorable report of my achievements, that I may ever regard him with +grateful affection?” + +“Does the noble Heimbert of Waldhausen suppose,” rejoined Clara, “that +the noble houses of Spain had none of their sons where he stood in the +battle? You must have surely seen them fighting by your side, and must I +not have heard of your glories through the lips of my own people?” + +The silvery tones of a little bell sounded just then from a neighboring +palace, and Clara whispered, “It is time to part. Adieu, my hero!” And +she smiled on the youth through her gushing tears, and bent toward him, +and he almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed from her lips. When +he fully recovered himself Clara had disappeared, the morning clouds +were beginning to wear the rosy hue of dawn, and Heimbert, with a heaven +of love’s proud happiness in his heart, returned to his watchful friend +at the garden gate. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +“Halt!” exclaimed Fadrique, as Heimbert appeared from the garden, +holding his drawn sword toward him ready for attack. “Stop, you are +mistaken, my good comrade,” said the German, smiling, “it is I whom you +see before you.” “Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of Waldhausen,” said +Fadrique, “that I mistake you. But my promise is discharged, my hour of +guard has been honorably kept, and now I beg you without further delay +to prepare yourself, and fight for your life until heart’s blood has +ceased to flow through these veins.” “Good heavens!” sighed Heimbert, +“I have often heard that in these southern lands there are witches, who +deprive people of their senses by magic arts and incantations. But +I have never experienced anything of the sort until to-day. Compose +yourself, my dear good comrade, and go with me back to the shore.” + Fadrique laughed fiercely, and answered, “Set aside your silly delusion, +and if you must have everything explained to you, word by word, in order +to understand it, know then that the lady whom you came to meet in the +shrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez, my only sister. Quick, +therefore, and without further preamble, draw!” “God forbid!” exclaimed +the German, not touching his weapon. “You shall be my brother-in-law, +Fadrique, and not my murderer, and still less will I be yours.” Fadrique +only shook his head indignantly, and advanced toward his comrade with +measured steps for an encounter. Heimbert, however, still remained +immovable, and said, “No, Fadrique, I cannot now or ever do you harm. +For besides the love I bear your sister, it must certainly have been you +who has spoken to her so honorably of my military expeditions in +Italy.” “When I did so,” replied Fadrique in a fury, “I was a fool. But, +dallying coward, out with your sword, or--” + +Before Fadrique had finished speaking, Heimbert, burning with +indignation, exclaimed, “The devil himself could not bear that!” and +drawing his sword from the scabbard, the two young captains rushed +fiercely and resolutely to the attack. + +Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by Fadrique +with Lucila’s husband. The two young soldiers well understood their +weapons, and strove with each other with equal boldness, their swords +flashing like rays of light as now this one now that one hurled a +lightning thrust at his adversary, which was with similar speed and +dexterity turned aside. Firmly they pressed the left foot, as if rooted +in the ground, while the right advanced to the bold onset and then +again they quickly retired to the safer attitude of defence. From the +self-possession and the quiet unremitting anger with which both the +combatants fought, it was evident that one of the two would find his +grave under the overhanging branches of the orange-tree, which were now +tinged with the red glow of morning, and this would undoubtedly have +been the case had not the report of a cannon from the harbor sounded +through the silence of the twilight. + +The combatants paused, as if at some word of command to be obeyed by +both, and listened, counting to themselves; then, as each uttered the +number thirty, a second gun was heard. “It is the signal for immediate +embarkation, Senor,” said Don Fadrique; “we are now in the emperor’s +service, and all dispute ceases which is not against the foes of Charles +the Fifth.” “Right,” replied Heimbert, “but when there is an end of +Tunis and the whole war. I shall demand satisfaction for that ‘dallying +coward.’” “And I for that in intercourse with my sister,” said Fadrique. +“Certainly,” rejoined the other; and, so saying, the two captains +hurried down to the strand and arranged the embarkation of their troops; +while the sun, rising over the sea, shone upon them both in the same +vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +The voyagers had for some time to battle with contrary winds, and when +at length they came in sight of the coasts of Barbary the darkness of +evening had closed so deeply over the sea that no pilot in the little +squadron ventured to ride at anchor on the shallow shore. They cruised +about on the calm waters, waiting for the morning; and the soldiers, +full of laudable ambition for combat, stood impatiently in crowds on the +deck, straining their longing eyes to see the theatre of their future +deeds. + +Meanwhile the heavy firing of besiegers and besieged thundered +unceasingly from the fortress of Goletta, and as the night darkened the +scene with massy clouds, the flames of burning fragments became more +visible, and the fiery course of the red bullets was perceptible as +they crossed each other in their path, while their effects in fire and +devastation were fearful to behold. It was evident that the Mussulmans +had been attempting a sally, for a sharp fire of musketry burst forth +suddenly amid the roaring of the cannon. The fight was approaching the +trenches of the Christians, and on board the vessels none were agreed +whether the besiegers were in danger or not. At length they saw that +the Turks were driven back into the fortress; the Christian army +pursued them, and a shout was heard from the Spanish camp as of one loud +Victory! and the cry, Goletta was taken! + +How the troops on board the vessels--consisting of young and +courage-tried men--burned with ardor and their hearts beat at the +glorious spectacle, need not be detailed to those who carry a brave +heart within their own bosoms, and to all others any description would +be lost. Heimbert and Fadrique stood close to each other. “I do not +know,” said the latter, speaking to himself, “but I feel as if to-morrow +I must plant my standard upon yonder height which is now lighted up with +the red glow of the bullets and burning flames in Goletta.” “That is +just what I feel!” said Heimbert. The two angry captains then relapsed +into silence and turned indignantly away. + +The longed-for morning at length dawned, the vessels approached the +shore, and the landing of the troops began, while an officer was at once +dispatched to the camp to announce the arrival of the reinforcements to +the mighty general Alba. The soldiers were hastily ranged on the beach, +they put themselves and their weapons in order, and were soon standing +in battle array, ready for their great leader. Clouds of dust rose in +the gray twilight, the returning officer announced the approach of the +general, and as Alba signifies “morning” in the Castilian tongue, the +Spaniards raised a shout of rejoicing at the coincidence, as at some +favorable omen, for as the knightly train approached the first beams of +the rising sun became visible. + +The grave and haggard form of the general was seen mounted on a tall +Andalusian charger of the deepest black. Having galloped once up and +down the lines, he stopped his powerful horse in the middle, and looking +along the ranks with an air of grave satisfaction, he said, “You pass +muster well. That is well. I like it to be so. It is plain to see that +you are tried soldiers, in spite of your youth. We will first hold a +review, and then I will lead you to something more agreeable.” + +So saying, he dismounted, and walking toward the right wing he began to +inspect one troop after another in the closest manner, with the captain +of each company at his side, that he might receive from him accurate +account upon the minutest particulars. Sometimes a cannon-ball from the +fortress would whizz over the heads of the men; then Alba would stand +still and cast a keen glance over the soldiers before him. But when he +saw that not an eyelash moved, a smile of satisfaction passed over his +severe pale face. + +When he had inspected both divisions he again mounted his horse and once +more galloped into the middle. Then, stroking his long beard, he said, +“You are in good order, soldiers, and therefore you shall take your +part in this glorious day, which is just dawning for our whole Christian +armada. We will attack Barbarossa, soldiers. Do you not already hear the +drums and fifes in the camp? Do you see him advancing yonder to meet the +emperor? That side of his position is assigned to you!” + +“Vivat Carolus Quintus!” resounded through the ranks. Alba beckoned +the captains to him, and assigned to each his duty. He usually mingled +German and Spanish troops together, in order to stimulate the courage of +the combatants still higher by emulation. So it happened even now that +Heimbert and Fadrique were commanded to storm the very same height, +which, now gleaming with the morning light, they at once recognized +as that which had shone out so fiercely and full of promise the night +before. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +Thrice had Fadrique and Heimbert almost forced their way to a rampart +in the fortifications, and thrice had they been repulsed with their +men into the valley below by the fierce opposition of the Turks. The +Mussulmans shouted after the retreating foe, clashed their weapons with +the triumph of victory, and with a scornful laugh asked whether they +would not come up again to give heart and brain to the scimitar and +their limbs to the falling beams of wood. The two captains, gnashing +their teeth with fury, arranged their ranks anew; for after three vain +assaults they had to move closer together to fill the places of the +slain and the mortally wounded. Meanwhile a murmur ran through the +Christian army that a witch was fighting among their foes and helping +them to conquer. + +Duke Alba rode to the point of attack, and looked scrutinizingly at the +breach they had made. “Not yet broken through the enemy here!” said +he, shaking his head, “I am surprised. From two such youths, and such +troops, I should have expected it.” “Do you hear that? Do you hear +that?” exclaimed the two captains, as they paced along their lines +repeating the general’s words. The soldiers shouted loudly, and demanded +to be once more led against the enemy; even those who were mortally +wounded shouted, with a last effort, “Forward, comrades!” The great Alba +at once sprang like an arrow from his horse, wrested a partisan from +the stiff hand of one of the slain, and standing in front of the two +companies he cried, “I will take part in your glory. In the name of God +and of the blessed Virgin, forward, my children!” + +And joyfully they rushed up the hill, every heart beating with +confidence, while the war-cry was raised triumphantly; some even began +already to shout “Victory! victory!” and the Mussulmans paused and +wavered. Suddenly, like the vision of an avenging angel, a maiden, +dressed in purple garments embroidered with gold appeared in the Turkish +ranks, and those who were terrified before again shouted “Allah!” + calling at the same time, “Zelinda, Zelinda!” The maiden, however, drew +a small box from under her arm, and opening it she breathed into it +and hurled it down among the Christian troops. And forth from the fatal +chest there burst a whole fire of rockets, grenades, and other fearful +messengers of death. The startled soldiers paused in their assault. +“Forward!” cried Alba. “Forward!” cried the two captains; but a flaming +arrow just then fastened on the duke’s plumed hat and hissed and +crackled round his head, so that the general fell fainting down the +height. Then the German and Spanish infantry fled uncontrollably from +the fearful ascent. Again the storm had been repulsed. The Mussulmans +shouted, and like a fatal star Zelinda’s beauty shone in the midst of +the flying troops. + +When Alba opened his eyes, Heimbert was standing over him, with his +mantle, arm, and face scorched with the fire, which he had not only just +extinguished on his general’s head, but by throwing himself over him he +had saved him from a second body of flame rolled down the height in the +same direction. The duke was thanking his youthful deliverer when some +soldiers came up, looking for him, to apprise him that the Saracen power +was beginning an attack on the opposite wing of the army. Without losing +a word Alba threw himself on the first horse brought him and galloped +away to the spot where the most threatening danger summoned him. + +Fadrique stood with his glowing eye fixed on the rampart, where the +brilliant form of Zelinda might be seen, with a two-edged spear, ready +to be hurled, uplifted by her snow-white arm, and raising her voice, +now in encouraging tones to the Mussulmans in Arabic, and again speaking +scornfully to the Christians in Spanish. At last Fadrique exclaimed, +“Oh, foolish being! she thinks to daunt me, and yet she places herself +before me, an alluring and irresistible war-prize!” + +And as if magic wings had sprung from his shoulders, he began to fly up +the height with such rapidity that Alba’s violent descent seemed but +a lazy snail’s pace. Before any one was aware, he was already on the +height, and wresting spear and shield from the maiden, he had seized +her in his arms and was attempting to bear her away, while Zelinda in +anxious despair clung to the palisade with both her hands. Her cry for +help was unavailing, partly because the Turks imagined that the magic +power of the maiden was annihilated by the almost equally wondrous deed +of the youth, and partly also because the faithful Heimbert, quickly +perceiving his comrade’s daring feat, had led both troops to a renewed +attack, and now stood by his side on the height, fighting hand to hand +with the defenders. This time the fury of the Mussulmans, weakened as +they were by superstition and surprise, could avail nothing against +the heroic advance of the Christian soldiers. The Spaniards and Germans +speedily broke through the enemy, assisted by the watchful squadrons of +their army. The Mohammedans fled with frightful howling, the battle with +its stream of victory rolled ever on, and the banner of the holy German +empire and that of the royal house of Castile waved victorious over the +glorious battle-field before the walls of Tunis. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +In the confusion of the conquering and the conquered, Zelinda had +wrested herself from Fadrique’s arms and had fled from him with such +swiftness that, however much love and desire might have given wings to +his pursuit, she was soon out of sight in a spot so well known to her. +All the more vehement was the fury of the excited Spaniard against the +infidel foe. Wherever a little host made a fresh stand to oppose +the Christians, he would hasten forward with the troops, who ranged +themselves round him, resistless as he was, as round a banner of +victory, while Heimbert ever remained at his side like a faithful +shield, guarding off many a danger to which the youth, intoxicated with +rage and success, exposed himself without consideration. The following +day they heard of Barbarossa’s flight from the city, and the victorious +troops advanced without resistance through the gates of Tunis. +Fadrique’s and Heimbert’s companies were always together. + +Thick clouds of smoke began to curl through the streets; the soldiers +were obliged to shake off the glowing and dusty flakes from their +mantles and richly plumed helmets, where they often rested smouldering. +“I trust the enemy in his despair has not set fire to some magazine full +of powder!” exclaimed the thoughtful Heimbert; and Fadrique, allowing +by a sign that he agreed with his surmise, hastened on to the spot from +whence the smoke proceeded, the troops courageously pressing after him. + +The sudden turn of a street brought them in view of a magnificent +palace, from the beautifully ornamented windows of which the flames +were emerging, looking like torches of death in their fitful glow, +and lighting up the splendid building in the hour of its ruin in the +grandest manner, now illuminating this and now that part of the gigantic +structure, and then again relapsing into a fearful darkness of smoke and +vapor. + +And like some faultless statue, the ornament of the whole edifice, there +stood Zelinda upon a high and giddy projection, while the tongues of +flame wreathed around her from below, calling to her companions in the +faith to help her in saving the wisdom of centuries which was preserved +in this building. The projection on which she stood began to totter from +the fervent heat raging beneath it, and a few stones gave way; Fadrique +called with a voice full of anguish to the endangered lady, and scarcely +had she withdrawn her foot from the spot, when the stone on which she +had been standing broke away and came rattling down on the pavement. +Zelinda disappeared within the burning palace, and Fadrique rushed up +its marble staircase, Heimbert, his faithful companion, following him. + +Their hasty steps carried them through lofty resounding halls; the +architecture over their heads was a maze of high arches, and one chamber +led into another almost like a labyrinth. The walls displayed on all +sides magnificent shelves, in which were to be seen stored rolls of +parchment, papyrus, and palm-leaf, partly inscribed with the characters +of long-vanished centuries, and which were now to perish themselves. +For the flames were already crackling among them and stretching their +serpent-like and fiery heads from one case of treasures to another; +while some Spanish soldiers, barbarous in their fury, and hoping for +plunder, and finding nothing but inscribed rolls within the gorgeous +building, passed from disappointment to rage, and aided the flames; the +more so as they regarded the inscriptions as the work of evil magicians. +Fadrique flew as in a dream through the strange half-consumed halls, +ever calling Zelinda! thinking and regarding nothing but her enchanting +beauty. Long did Heimbert remain at his side, until at length they +both reached a cedar staircase leading to an upper story; here Fadrique +paused to listen, and exclaiming, “She is speaking up there! she is +speaking loud! she needs my help!” he dashed up the already burning +steps. Heimbert hesitated a moment; he saw the staircase already +tottering, and he thought to give a warning cry to his companion; but +at the same moment the light ornamental ascent gave way and burst into +flames. He could just see Fadrique clinging above to a brass grating +and swinging himself up to it, but all means of following him were +destroyed. Quickly recollecting himself, Heimbert lost no time in idly +gazing, but hastened through the adjacent halls in search of another +flight of steps which would lead him to his vanished friend. + +Meanwhile Fadrique, following the enchanting voice, had reached a +gallery in the midst of which, the floor having fallen in, there was +a fearful abyss of flames, though the pillars on each side were still +standing. Opposite to him the youth perceived the longed-for maiden, +clinging with one hand to a pillar, while with the other she was +threatening back some Spanish soldiers, who seemed ready at any moment +to seize her, and her delicate foot was already hovering over the edge +of the glowing ruins. For Fadrique to go to her was impossible; the +breadth of the opening rendered even a desperate leap unavailing. +Trembling lest his call might make the maiden precipitate herself into +the abyss, either in terror or despairing anger, he only softly raised +his voice and whispered as with a breath over the flaming gulf, “Oh, +Zelinda, Zelinda! do not give way to such frightful thoughts! Your +preserver is here!” The maiden turned her queenly head, and when +Fadrique saw her calm and composed demeanor, he cried to the soldiers on +the other side, with all the thunder of his warrior’s voice, “Back, ye +insolent plunderers! Whoever advances but one step to the lady shall +feel the vengeance of my arm!” They started and seemed on the point of +withdrawing, when one of their number said, “The knight cannot touch +us, the gulf between us is too broad for that. And as for the lady’s +throwing herself down--it almost looks as if the young knight were +her lover, and whoever has a lover is not likely to be so hasty about +throwing herself down.” All laughed at this and again advanced. Zelinda +tottered at the edge of the abyss. But with the courage of a lion +Fadrique had torn his target from his arm, and hurling it with his right +hand he flung it at the soldiers with such a sure aim that the rash +leader, struck on the head, fell senseless to the ground. The rest again +stood still. “Away with you!” cried Fadrique authoritatively, “or my +dagger shall strike the next as surely, and then I swear I will never +rest till I have found out your whole gang and appeased my rage.” The +dagger gleamed in the youth’s hand, but yet more fearfully gleamed the +fury in his eyes, and the soldiers fled. Then Zelinda bowed gratefully +to her preserver, took up a roll of palm-leaves which lay at her feet, +and which must have previously slipped from her hand, and then vanished +hastily through a side-door of the gallery. Henceforth Fadrique sought +her in vain in the burning palace. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +The great Alba held a council with his chief officers in an open place +in the middle of the conquered city, and, by means of interpreters, sent +question after question to the Turkish prisoners as to the fate of the +beautiful woman who had been seen animating them on the ramparts, and +who was certainly the most exquisite enchantress that had ever visited +the earth. Nothing very distinct was to be gained from the answers, for +although the interrogated all knew of the the beautiful Zelinda as a +noble lady versed in magic lore, and acknowledged by the whole people, +they were utterly unable to state from whence she had come to Tunis +and whither she had now fled. When at last they began to threaten the +prisoners as obstinate, an old Dervish, hitherto unnoticed, pressed +forward and said, with a gloomy smile, “Whoever has a desire to seek +the lady may set out when he chooses; I will conceal nothing from him of +what I know of her direction, and I know something. But I must first of +all receive the promise that I shall not be compelled to accompany as +guide. My lips otherwise will remain sealed forever, and you may do with +me as you will.” + +He looked like one who intended to keep his word, and Alba, pleased with +the firmness of the man, which harmonized well with his own mind, gave +him the desired assurance, and the Dervish began his relation. He +was once, he said, wandering in the almost infinite desert of Sahara, +impelled perhaps by rash curiosity, perhaps by higher motives; he had +lost his way there, and had at last, wearied to death, reached one of +those fertile islands of that sea of sand which are called oases. +Then followed, sparkling with oriental vivacity, a description of the +wonderful things seen there, now filling the hearts of his hearers +with sweet longing, and then again making their hair stand on end with +horror, though from the strange pronunciation of the speaker and the +flowing rapidity of his words the half was scarcely understood. The end +of all this at length was that Zelinda dwelt on that oasis, in the midst +of the pathless sand-plains of the desert, surrounded by magic horrors; +and also, as the Dervish knew for certain, that she had left about half +an hour ago on her way thither. The almost contemptuous words with which +he concluded his narration plainly showed that he desired nothing more +earnestly than to seduce some Christians to undertake a journey which +must terminate inevitably in their destruction. At the same time he +added a solemn oath that everything was truly as he had stated it, and +he did this in a firm and grave manner, as a man who knows that he +is speaking the most indubitable truth. Surprised and thoughtful, the +circle of officers held their council round him. + +Then Heimbert stepped forward with an air as if of request; he had +just received a summons to leave the burning palace, where he had been +seeking his friend, and had been appointed to the place of council +because it was necessary to arrange the troops here in readiness for +any possible rising in the conquered city. “What do you wish, my young +hero?” said Alba, recognizing him as he appeared. “I know your smiling, +blooming countenance well. You were but lately sheltering me like a +protecting angel. I am so sure that you make no request but what is +honorable and knightly that anything you may possibly desire is granted +beforehand.” “My great Duke,” replied Heimbert, with cheeks glowing +with pleasure, “if I may then venture to ask a favor, will you grant +me permission to follow the beautiful Zelinda at once in the direction +which this wonderful Dervish has pointed out?” The great general bowed +in assent, and added, “So noble an adventure could not be consigned to a +more noble knight!” + +“I do not know that!” said an angry voice from the throng. “But well do +I know that to me above all others this adventure belongs, even were it +assigned as a reward for the capture of Tunis. For who was the first on +the height and within the city?” “That was Don Fadrique Mendez,” said +Heimbert, taking the speaker by the hand and leading him before the +general. “If I now for his sake must forfeit my promised reward, I must +patiently submit; for he has rendered better service than I have done to +the emperor and the army.” + +“Neither of you shall forfeit his reward,” said the great Alba. “Each +has permission from this moment to seek the maiden in whatever way it +seems to him most advisable.” + +And swift as lightning the two young captains quitted the circle of +officers in opposite directions. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +A sea of sand, stretching out in the distant horizon, without one object +to mark its extensive surface, white and desolate in its vastness--such +is the scene which proclaims the fearful desert of Sahara to the eye of +the wanderer who has lost himself in these frightful regions. In this +also it resembles the sea, that it casts up waves, and often a misty +vapor bangs over its surface. But there is not the soft play of waves +which unite all the coasts of the earth; each wave as it rolls in +bringing a message from the remotest and fairest island kingdoms, and +again rolling back as it were with an answer, in a sort of love-flowing +dance. No; there is here only the melancholy sporting of the hot wind +with the faithless dust which ever falls back again into its joyless +basin, and never reaches the rest of the solid land with its happy human +dwellings. There is here none of the sweet cool sea-breeze in which +kindly fairies seem carrying on their graceful sport, forming blooming +gardens and pillared palaces--there is only a suffocating vapor, +rebelliously given back to the glowing sun from the unfruitful sands. + +Hither the two youths arrived at the same time, and paused, gazing with +dismay at the pathless chaos before them. Zelinda’s track, which was not +easily hidden or lost, had hitherto obliged them almost always to remain +together, dissatisfied as Fadrique was at the circumstance, and angry as +were the glances he cast at his unwelcome companion. Each had hoped to +overtake Zelinda before she had reached the desert, feeling how almost +impossible it would be to find her once she had entered it. That hope +was now at an end; and although in answer to the inquiries they made in +the Barbary villages on the frontier, they heard that a wanderer going +southward in the desert and guiding his course by the stars would, +according to tradition, arrive at length at a wonderfully fertile oasis, +the abode of a divinely beautiful enchantress, yet everything appeared +highly uncertain and dispiriting, and was rendered still more so by the +avalanches of dust before the travellers’ view. + +The youths looked sadly at the prospect before them, and their horses +snorted and started back at the horrible plain, as though it were some +insidious quicksand, and even the riders themselves were seized with +doubt and dismay. Suddenly they sprung from their saddles, as at some +word of command, unbridled their horses, loosened their girths, and +turned them loose on the desert, that they might find their way back +to some happier dwelling place. Then, taking some provision from their +saddle-bags, they placed it on their shoulders, and casting aside their +heavy riding boots they plunged like two courageous swimmers into the +trackless waste. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +With no other guide than the sun by day, and by night the host of stars, +the two captains soon lost sight of each other, and all the sooner, as +Fadrique avoided intentionally the object of his aversion. Heimbert, on +the other hand, had no thought but the attainment of his aim; and, full +of joyful confidence in God’s assistance, he pursued his course in a +southerly direction. + +Many nights and many days had passed, when one evening, as the twilight +was coming on, Heimbert was standing alone in the endless desert, unable +to descry a single object all round on which his eye could rest. His +light flask was empty, and the evening brought with it, instead or +the hoped-for coolness, a suffocating whirlwind of sand, so that the +exhausted wanderer was obliged to press his burning face to the burning +soil in order to escape in some measure the fatal cloud. Now and then he +heard something passing him, or rustling over him as with the sound of +a sweeping mantle, and he would raise himself in anxious haste; but he +only saw what he had already too often seen in the daytime--the wild +beasts of the wilderness roaming at liberty through the desert +waste. Sometimes it was an ugly camel, then it was a long-necked and +disproportioned giraffe, and then again a long-legged ostrich hastening +away with its wings outspread. They all appeared to scorn him, and he +had already taken his resolve to open his eyes no more, and to give +himself up to his fate, without allowing these horrible and strange +creatures to disturb his mind in the hour of death. + +Presently it seemed to him as if he heard the hoofs and neighing of a +horse, and suddenly something halted close beside him, and he thought he +caught the sound of a man’s voice. Half unwilling, he could not resist +raising himself wearily, and he saw before him a rider in an Arab’s +dress mounted on a slender Arabian horse. Overcome with joy at finding +himself within reach of human help, he exclaimed, “Welcome, oh, man, +in this fearful solitude! If thou canst, succor me, thy fellow-man, who +must otherwise perish with thirst!” Then remembering that the tones +of his dear German mother tongue were not intelligible in this joyless +region, he repeated the same words in the mixed dialect, generally +called the Lingua Romana, universally used by heathens, Mohammedans, and +Christians in those parts of the world where they have most intercourse +with each other. + +The Arab still remained silent, and looked as if scornfully laughing at +his strange discovery. At length he replied, in the same dialect, “I was +also in Barbarossa’s fight; and if, Sir Knight, our overthrow bitterly +enraged me then, I find no small compensation for it in the fact of +seeing one of the conquerors lying so pitifully before me.” “Pitifully!” + exclaimed Heimbert angrily, and his wounded sense of honor giving him +back for a moment all his strength, he seized his sword and stood ready +for an encounter. “Oho!” laughed the Arab, “does the Christian viper +still hiss so strongly? Then it only behooves me to put spurs to my +horse and leave thee to perish here, thou lost creeping worm!” “Ride +to the devil, thou dog of a heathen!” retorted Heimbert; “rather than +entreat a crumb of thee I will die here, unless the good God sends me +manna in the wilderness.” + +And the Arab spurred forward his swift steed and galloped away a couple +of hundred paces, laughing with scorn. Then he paused, and looking round +to Heimbert he trotted back and said, “Thou seemest too good, methinks, +to perish here of hunger and thirst. Beware! my good sabre shall touch +thee.” + +Heimbert, who had again stretched himself hopelessly on the burning +sand, was quickly roused to his feet by these words, and seized his +sword; and sudden as was the spring with which the Arab’s horse flew +toward him, the stout German warrior stood ready to parry the blow, +and the thrust which the Arab aimed at him in the Mohammedan manner he +warded off with certainty and skill. + +Again and again the Arab sprung; similarly here and there, vainly hoping +to give his antagonist a death-blow. At last, overcome by impatience, he +approached so boldly that Heimbert, warding off the threatening +weapon, had time to seize the Arab by the girdle and drag him from the +fast-galloping horse. The violence of the movement threw Heimbert also +on the ground, but he lay above his opponent, and holding close before +his eyes a dagger, which he had dexterously drawn from his girdle, he +exclaimed, “Wilt thou have mercy or death?” The Arab, trembling, cast +down his eyes before the gleaming and murderous weapon, and said, “Show +mercy to me, mighty warrior; I surrender to thee.” Heimbert then ordered +him to throw away the sabre he still held in his right hand. He did so, +and both combatants rose, and again sunk down upon the sand, for the +victor was far more weary than the vanquished. + +The Arab’s good horse meanwhile had trotted toward them, according to +the habit of those noble animals, who never forsake their fallen master. +It now stood behind the two men, stretching out its long slender neck +affectionately toward them. “Arab,” said Heimbert with exhausted voice, +“take from thy horse what provision thou hast with thee and place it +before me.” The vanquished man humbly did as he was commanded, now +just as much submitting to the will of the conqueror as he had before +exhibited his animosity in anger and revenge. After a few draughts +of palm-wine from the skin, Heimbert looked at the youth under a new +aspect; he then partook of some fruits, drank more of the palm-wine, +and at length said, “You are going to ride still farther to-night, young +man?” “Yes, indeed,” replied the Arab sadly; “on a distant oasis there +dwells my aged father and my blooming bride. Now--even if you set me at +full liberty--I must perish in the heat of this barren desert, for want +of sustenance, before I can reach my lovely home.” + +“Is it, perhaps,” asked Heimbert, “the oasis on which the mighty +enchantress, Zelinda, dwells?” + +“Allah protect me!” cried the Arab, clasping his hands. “Zelinda’s +wondrous isle offers no hospitable shelter to any but magicians. It lies +far away in the scorching south, while our friendly oasis is toward the +cooler west.” + +“I only asked in case we might be travelling companions,” said +Heimbert courteously. “If that cannot be, we must certainly divide the +provisions; for I would not have so brave a warrior as you perish, with +hunger and thirst.” + +So saying, the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two +portions, placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his +right; he then desired the Arab to take the former, and added, to his +astonished companion, “See, good sir, I have either not much farther +to travel or I shall perish in the desert; I feel that it will be so. +Besides, I cannot carry half so much on foot as you can on horse-back.” + +“Knight! victorious knight!” cried the amazed Mussulman, “am I then to +keep my horse?” + +“It were a sin and shame indeed,” said Heimbert, smiling, “to separate +such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider. Ride on, in God’s name, +and get safely to your people.” + +He then helped him to mount, and the Arab was on the point of uttering a +few words of gratitude, when he suddenly exclaimed, “The magic maiden!” + and, swift as the wind, he flew over the dusty plain. Heimbert, however, +turning round, saw close beside him in the now bright moonlight a +shining figure, which he at once perceived to be Zelinda. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +The maiden looked fixedly at the young soldier, and seemed considering +with what words to address him, while he, after his long search and now +unexpected success, was equally at a loss. At last she said in Spanish, +“Thou wonderful enigma, I have been witness of all that has passed +between thee and the Arab; and these affairs confuse my head like a +whirlwind. Speak, therefore, plainly, that I may know whether thou art a +madman or an angel?” + +“I am neither, dear lady,” replied Heimbert, with his wonted +friendliness. “I am only a poor wanderer, who has just been putting into +practice one of the commands of his Master, Jesus Christ.” + +“Sit down,” said Zelinda, “and tell me of thy Master; he must be himself +unprecedented to have such a servant. The night is cool and still, and +at my side thou hast no cause to fear the dangers of the desert.” + +“Lady,” replied Heimbert, smiling, “I am not of a fearful nature, and +when I am speaking of my dear Saviour my mind is perfectly free from all +alarm.” + +Thus saying, they both sat down on the now cooled sand and began a +wondrous conversation, while the full moon shone upon them from the +deep-blue heavens above like a magic lamp. + +Heimbert’s words, full of divine love, truth, and simplicity sank like +soft sunbeams, gently and surely, into Zelinda’s, heart, driving away +the mysterious magic power which dwelt there, and wrestling for the +dominion of the noble territory of her soul. When morning began to dawn +she said, “Thou wouldst not be called an angel last evening, but thou +art truly one. For what else are angels than messengers of the Most High +God?” “In that sense,” rejoined Heimbert, “I am well satisfied with the +name, for I certainly hope that I am the bearer of my Master’s message. +Yes, if he bestows on me further grace and strength, it may even be +that you also may become my companion in the pious work.” “It is not +impossible,” said Zelinda thoughtfully. “Thou must, however, come with +me to my island, and there thou shalt be regaled as is befitting such +an ambassador, far better than here on the desolate sand, with the +miserable palm-wine that thou hast so laboriously obtained.” + +“Pardon me,” replied Heimbert; “it is difficult to me to refuse the +request of a lady, but on this occasion it cannot be otherwise. In +your island many glorious things have been conjured together by your +forbidden art, and many lovely forms which the good God has created have +been transformed. These might dazzle my senses, and at last delude them. +If you will, therefore, hear the best and purest things which I can +relate to you, you must rather come out to me on this desert sand. The +palm-wine and the dates of the Arab will suffice for me for many a day +to come.” “You would do better to come with me,” said Zelinda, shaking +her head with somewhat of a scornful smile. “You were certainly neither +born nor brought up to be a hermit, and there is nothing on my oasis so +destructive as you imagine. What is there more than shrubs and flowers +and beasts gathered together from different quarters of the world, +perhaps a little strangely interwoven; each, that is to say, partaking +of the nature of the other, in a similar manner to that which you must +have seen in our Arabian carving! A moving flower, a bird growing on a +branch, a fountain gleaming with fiery sparks, a singing twig--these are +truly no hateful things!” “He must avoid temptation who does not wish +to be overcome by it,” said Heimbert very gravely; “I am for the desert. +Will it please you to come out to visit me again?” Zelinda looked down +somewhat displeased. Then suddenly bending her head still lower she +replied, “Yes; toward evening I shall be here again.” And, turning away, +she at once disappeared in the rising whirlwind of the desert. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +With the evening twilight the lovely lady returned and spent the night +in converse with the pious youth, leaving him in the morning with her +mind more humble, pure, and devout; and thus matters went on for many +days. “Thy palm-wine and thy dates must be coming to an end,” said +Zelinda one evening as she presented the youth with a flask of rich wine +and some costly fruits. He, however, gently put aside the gift and said, +“Noble lady, I would accept your gift gladly, but I fear some of your +magic arts may perhaps cleave to it. Or could you assure me to the +contrary by Him whom you are now beginning to know?” Zelinda cast +down her eyes in silent confusion and took her presents back. On the +following evening, however, she brought similar gifts, and, smiling +confidently, gave the desired assurance. Heimbert then partook of them +without hesitation, and from henceforth the disciple carefully provided +for the sustenance of her teacher in the wilderness. + +And so, as the blessed knowledge of the truth sank more and more deeply +into Zelinda’s soul, so that she was often sitting till dawn before the +youth, with cheeks glowing and hair dishevelled, her eyes gleaming with +delight and her hands folded, unable to withdraw herself from his words, +he, on his part, endeavored to make her sensible at all times that it +was only Fadrique’s love for her which had urged him, his friend, into +this fatal desert, and that it was this same love that had thus become +the means for the attainment of her highest spiritual good. She still +well remembered the handsome and terrible captain who had stormed the +height that he might clasp her in his arms; and she related to her +friend how the same hero had afterward saved her in the burning library. +Heimbert too had many pleasant things to tell of Fadrique--of his high +knightly courage, of his grave and noble manners, and of his love to +Zelinda, which in the night after the battle of Tunis was no longer +concealed within his passionate breast, but was betrayed to the young +German in a thousand unconscious expressions between sleeping and +waking. Divine truth and the image of her loving hero both at once +sank deep within Zelinda’s heart, and struck root there with tender +but indestructible power. Heimbert’s presence and the almost adoring +admiration with which his pupil regarded him did not disturb these +feelings, for from the first moment his appearance had something in it +so pure and heavenly that no thoughts of earthly love intruded. When +Heimbert was alone he would often smile happily within himself, saying +in his own beloved German tongue, “It is indeed delightful that I am now +able consciously to do the same service for Fadrique as he did for me, +unconsciously, with his angelic sister.” And then he would sing some +German song of Clara’s grace and beauty, the sound of which rang with +strange sweetness through the desert, while it happily beguiled his +solitary hours. + +Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight, gracefully bearing on +her beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he smiled at her +and shook his head, saying, “It is inconceivable to me, sweet maiden, +why you ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out here in the +desert. You can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic arts, since the +spirit of truth and love dwells within you. If you would only transform +the oasis into the natural form in which the good God created it, I +would go there with you, and we should have far more time for holy +converse.” “Sir,” replied Zelinda, “you speak truly. I too have thought +for some days of doing so and the matter would have been already set on +foot, but a strange visitor fetters my power. The Dervish whom you saw +in Tunis is with me, and as in former times we have practised many magic +tricks with each other, he would like again to play the old game. He +perceives the change in me, and on that account urges me all the more +vehemently and dangerously.” + +“He must either be driven away or converted,” said Heimbert, girding on +his shoulder-belt more firmly, and taking up his shield from the ground. +“Have the goodness, dear maiden,” he continued, “to lead me to your +enchanted isle.” + +“You avoided it so before,” said the astonished Zelinda, “and it is +still unchanged in its fantastic form.” + +“Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have +ventured there,” replied Heimbert. “You came too out here to me, and +that was better for us both. But now the old enemy might lay snares for +the ruin of all that the Lord has been working in you, and so it is a +knightly duty to go. In God’s name, then, to the work!” + +And they hastened forward together, through the ever-increasing darkness +of the plain, on their way to the blooming island. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +A charming breeze began to cool the heated brows of the travellers, and +the twinkling starlight revealed in the distance a grove, waving to and +fro with the gentle motion of the air. Heimbert cast his eyes to the +ground and said, “Go before me, sweet maiden, and guide my path to +the spot where I shall find this threatening Dervish. I do not wish +unnecessarily to see anything of these ensnaring enchantments.” + +Zelinda did as he desired, and the relation of the two was for a +moment changed; the maiden had become the guide, and Heimbert, full of +confidence, allowed himself to be led upon the unknown path. Branches +were even now touching his cheeks, half caressingly and playfully; +wonderful birds, growing out of bushes, sang joyful songs; over the +velvet turf, upon which Heimbert ever kept his eyes fixed, there glided +gleaming serpents of green and gold, with little golden crowns, and +brilliant stones glittered on the mossy carpet. When the serpents +touched the jewels, they gave forth a silvery sound. But Heimbert let +the serpents creep and the gems sparkle, without troubling himself about +them, intent alone on following the footsteps of his guide. + +“We are there!” said she with suppressed voice; and looking up he saw a +shining grotto of shells, within which he perceived a man asleep clad in +golden scale-armor of the old Numidian fashion. “Is that also a phantom, +there yonder in the golden scales?” inquired Heimbert, smiling; but +Zelinda looked very grave and replied, “Oh, no! that is the Dervish +himself, and his having put on this coat-of-mail, which has been +rendered invulnerable by dragon’s blood, is a proof that by his magic +he has become aware of our intention.” “What does that signify?” said +Heimbert; “he would have to know it at last.” And he began at once to +call out, with a cheerful voice, “Wake up, old sir, wake up! Here is an +acquaintance of yours, who has matters upon which he must speak to you.” + +And as the Dervish opened his large rolling eyes, everything in the +magic grove began to move, the water began to dance, and the branches to +intertwine in wild emulation, and at the same time the precious stones +and the shells and corals emitted strange and confusing melodies. + +“Roll and turn, thunder and play as you like!” exclaimed Heimbert, +looking fixedly at the maze around him; “you shall not divert me from +my own good path, and Almighty God has given me a good far-sounding +soldier’s voice which can make itself heard above all this tumult.” Then +turning to the Dervish he said, “It appears, old man, that you already +know everything which has passed between Zelinda and me. In case, +however, that it is not so, I will tell you briefly that she is already +as good as a Christian, and that she is the betrothed of a noble Spanish +knight. Place nothing in the way of her good intention; I advise you +for your own sake. But still better for your own sake would it be if you +would become a Christian yourself. Discuss the matter with me, and first +bid all this mad devilish show to cease, for our religion, dear sir, +speaks of far too tender and divine things to be talked of with violence +or with the loud voice necessary on the field of war.” + +But the Dervish, burning with hatred to the Christians, had not waited +to hear the knight’s last words when he rushed at him with his drawn +scimitar. Heimbert merely parried his thrust, saying, “Take care of +yourself, sir! I have heard something of your weapons being charmed, but +that will avail but little before my sword. It has been consecrated in +holy places.” + +The Dervish sprang wildly back before the sword, but equally wildly did +he spring to the other side of his adversary, who only with difficulty +caught the terrible cuts of his weapon upon his shield. Like a +gold-scaled dragon the Mohammedan swung himself round his antagonist +with an agility which, with his long flowing white beard, was ghostly +and horrible to witness. Heimbert was prepared to meet him on all sides, +ever keeping a watchful eye for some opening in the scales made by the +violence of his movements. At last it happened as he desired; between +the arm and breast on the left side the dark garments of the Dervish +became visible, and quick as lightning the German made a deadly thrust. +The old man exclaimed aloud, “Allah! Allah!” and fell forward, fearful +even in his fall, a senseless corpse. + +“I pity him!” sighed Heimbert, leaning on his sword and looking down on +his fallen foe. “He has fought nobly, and even in death he called +upon his Allah, whom he looked upon as the true God. He must not lack +honorable burial.” He then dug a grave with the broad scimitar of his +adversary, laid the corpse within it, covered it over with turf, +and knelt on the spot in silent heartfelt prayer for the soul of the +departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +Heimbert rose from his pious duty, and his first glance fell on Zelinda, +who stood smiling by his side, and his second upon the wholly changed +scene around. The rocky cavern and grotto had disappeared, the distorted +forms of trees and beasts, half terrible and half charming as they were, +had vanished also; a gentle grassy hill sloped down on every side of the +point where he stood, toward the sandy waste; springs gushed out +here and there in refreshing beauty; date-trees bent over the little +paths--everything, indeed, in the now opening day was full of sweet and +simple peace. + +“Thank God!” said Heimbert, turning to his companion, “you can now +surely feel how infinitely more lovely, grand, and beautiful is +everything as our dear Father has created it than it can be when +transformed by the highest human art. The Heavenly Gardener has indeed +permitted us, his beloved children, in his abundant mercy, to help +forward his gracious works, that we may thus become happier and better; +but we must take care that we change nothing to suit our own rash wilful +fancies; else it is as if we were expelling ourselves a second time from +Paradise.” “It shall not happen again,” said Zelinda humbly. “But may +you in this solitary region, where we are not likely to meet with any +priest of our faith, may you not bestow on me, as one born anew, the +blessing of Holy Baptism?” + +Heimbert, after some consideration, replied, “I hope I may do so. And if +I am wrong, God will pardon me. It is surely done in the desire to bring +to him so worthy a soul as soon as possible.” + +So they walked together, silently praying and full of smiling happiness, +down to one of the pleasant springs of the oasis, and just as they +reached the edge and prepared themselves for the holy work the sun rose +before them as if to confirm and strengthen their purpose, and the +two beaming countenances looked at each other with joy and confidence. +Heimbert had not thought of the Christian name he should bestow on his +disciple, but as he scooped up the water, and the desert lay around him +so solemn in the rosy glow of morning, he remembered the pious hermit +Antony in his Egyptian solitude, and he baptized the lovely convert, +Antonia. + +They spent the day in holy conversation, and Antonia showed her friend +a little cave, in which she had concealed all sorts of store for her +sustenance when she first dwelt on the oasis. “For,” said she, “the good +God is my witness that I came hither only that I might, in solitude, +become better acquainted with him and his created works, without knowing +at that time in the least of any magic expedients. Subsequently the +Dervish came, tempting me, and the horrors of the desert joined in a +fearful league with his terrible power, and then by degrees followed all +that alluring spirits showed me either in dreams or awake.” + +Heimbert had no scruple to take with him for the journey any of the wine +and fruits that were still fit for use, and Antonia assured him that by +the direct way, well known to her, they would reach the fruitful shore +of this waterless ocean in a few days. So with the approach of evening +coolness they set out on their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +The travellers had almost traversed the pathless plain when one day they +saw a figure wandering in the distance, for in the desolate Sahara every +object is visible to the very horizon if the whirlwind of dust does +not conceal it from view. The wanderer seemed doubtful of his course, +sometimes taking this, sometimes that direction, and Antonia’s eastern +falcon eye could discern that it was no Arab, but a man in knightly +garb. + +“Oh, dear sister,” exclaimed Heimbert, full of anxious joy, “then it +is our poor Fadrique, who is in search of thee. For pity’s sake, let +as hasten before he loses us, and perhaps at last his own life also, +in this immeasurable waste.” They strained every effort to reach the +distant object, but it was now midday and the sun shone burningly upon +them, Antonia could not long endure this rapid progress; added to which +the fearful whirlwind soon arose, and the figure that had been scarcely +visible before faded from their eyes, like some phantom of the mist in +autumn. + +With the rising moon they began anew to hasten forward, calling loudly +upon the unfortunate wanderer, and fluttering white handkerchiefs tied +to their walking-staffs, as signal flags, but it was all in vain. The +object that had disappeared remained lost to view. Only a few giraffes +sprang shyly past them, and the ostriches quickened their speed. + +At length, as morning dawned, Antonia paused and said, “Thou canst +not leave me, brother, in this solitude, and I cannot go a single step +farther. God will protect the noble Fadrique. How could a father forsake +such a model of knightly excellence?” “The disciple shames the teacher,” + replied Heimbert, his sad face brightening into a smile. “We have done +our part, and we may confidently hope that God will come to the aid of +our failing powers and do what is necessary.” As he spoke he spread his +mantle on the sand, that Antonia might rest more comfortably. Suddenly +looking up, he exclaimed, “Oh, God! yonder lies a man, completely buried +in the sand. Oh, that he may not be already dead!” + +He immediately began to sprinkle wine, from the flask he carried, on the +brow of the fainting traveller, and to chafe his temples with it. The +man at last slowly opened his eyes and said, “I had hoped the morning +dew would not again have fallen on me, but that unknown and unlamented I +might have perished here in the desert, as must be the case in the end.” + So saying he closed his eyes again, like one intoxicated with sleep, +but Heimbert continued his restoratives unwearyingly, and at length the +refreshed wanderer half raised himself from the sand with an exclamation +of astonishment. + +He looked from Heimbert to his companion, and from her again at +Heimbert, and suddenly exclaimed, gnashing his teeth, “Ha, was it to be +thus! I was not even to be allowed to die in the dull happiness of quiet +solitude! I was to be first doomed to see my rival’s success and my +sister’s shame!” At the same time he sprang to his feet with a violent +effort and rushed forward upon Heimbert with drawn sword. But Heimbert +moved neither sword nor arm, and merely said, in a gentle voice, +“Wearied out, as you now are, I cannot possibly fight with you; besides, +I must first place this lady in security.” Antonia, who had at first +gazed with much emotion at the angry knight, now stepped suddenly +between the two men and cried out, “Oh, Fadrique, neither misery nor +anger can utterly disfigure you. But what has my noble brother done to +you?” “Brother?” said Fadrique, with astonishment. “Or godfather, or +confessor,” interrupted Heimbert, “as you will. Only do not call her +Zelinda, for her name is now Antonia; she is a Christian, and waits +to be your bride.” Fadrique stood fixed with surprise, but Heimbert’s +true-hearted words and Antonia’s lovely blushes soon revealed the happy +enigma to him. He sank down before the longed-for form with a sense +of exquisite delight, and in the midst of the inhospitable desert +the flowers of love and gratitude and confidence sent their sweetness +heavenward. + +The excitement of this happy surprise at last gave way to bodily +fatigue. Antonia, like some drooping blossom, stretched her fair form on +the again burning sand, and slumbered under the protection of her lover +and her chosen brother. “Sleep also,” said Heimbert softly to Fadrique; +“you must have wandered about wildly and wearily, for exhaustion is +pressing down your eyelids with leaden weight. I am quite fresh, and I +will watch meanwhile.” “Ah, Heimbert,” sighed the noble Castilian, +“my sister is thine, thou messenger from Heaven; that is an understood +thing. But now for our affair of honor!” “Certainly,” said Heimbert, +very gravely, “as soon as we are again in Spain, you must give me +satisfaction for that over-hasty expression. Till then, however, I beg +you not to mention it. An unfinished quarrel is no good subject for +conversation.” + +Fadrique laid himself sadly down to rest, overcome by long-resisted +sleep, and Heimbert knelt down with a glad heart, thanking the good God +for having given him success, and for blessing, him with a future full +of joyful assurance. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + +The next day the three travellers reached the edge of the desert, and +refreshed themselves for a week in an adjacent village, which, with +its shady trees and green pastures, seemed like a little paradise in +contrast to the joyless Sahara. Fadrique’s condition especially made +this rest necessary. He had never left the desert during the whole time, +gaining his subsistence by fighting with wandering Arabs, and often +almost exhausted by the utter want of all food and drink. At length he +had become so thoroughly confused that the stars could no longer guide +him, and he had been driven about, sadly and objectless, like the dust +clouds of the desert. + +Even now, at times, when he would fall asleep after the midday meal, and +Antonia and Heimbert would watch his slumbers like two smiling angels, +he would suddenly start up and gaze round him with a terrified air, +and then it was not till he had refreshed himself by looking at the two +friendly faces that he would sink back again into quiet repose. When +questioned on the matter, after he was fully awake, he told them that in +his wanderings nothing had been more terrible to him than the deluding +dreams which had transported him, sometimes to his own home, sometimes +to the merry camp of his comrades, and sometimes into Zelinda’s +presence, and then leaving him doubly helpless and miserable in the +horrible solitude as the delusion vanished. It was on this account +that even now waking was fearful to him, and even in sleep a vague +consciousness of his past sufferings would often disturb him. “You +cannot imagine it,” he added. “To be suddenly transported from +well-known scenes into the boundless desert! And instead of the +longed-for enchanting face of my beloved, to see an ugly camel’s head +stretched over me inquisitively with its long neck, starting back as I +rose with still more ugly timidity!” + +This, with all other painful consequences of his past miseries, soon +wholly vanished, from Fadrique’s mind, and they cheerfully set out on +their journey to Tunis. The consciousness, indeed, of his injustice to +Heimbert and its unavoidable results often lay like a cloud upon the +noble Spaniard’s brow, but it also softened the natural proud severity +of his nature, and Antonia could cling the more tenderly and closely to +him with her loving heart. + +Tunis, which had been before so amazed at Zelinda’s magic power and +enthusiastic hostility against the Christians, now witnessed Antonia’s +solemn baptism in a newly-consecrated edifice, and soon after the three +companions took ship with a favorable wind for Malaga. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +Beside the fountain where she had parted from Heimbert, Dona Clara was +sitting one evening in deep thought. The guitar on her knees gave +forth a few solitary chords, dreamily drawn from it, as it were, by her +delicate hands, and at length forming themselves into a melody, while +the following words dropped softly from her partly opened lips: + + + “Far away, ‘fore Tunis ramparts, + Where the Christian army lies, + Paynim host are fiercely fighting + With Spanish troops and Spain’s allies. + Who from bloodstained lilies there, + And death’s roses pale and fair-- + Who has borne the conquerer’s prize? + + “Ask Duke Alba, ask Duke Alba, + Which two knights their fame have proved, + One was my own valiant brother, + The other was my heart’s beloved. + And I thought that I should crown them, + Doubly bright with glory’s prize, + And a widow’s veil is falling + Doubly o’er my weeping eyes, + For the brave knights ne’er again + Will be found mid living men.” + + +The music paused, and soft dew-drops fell from her heavenly eyes. +Heimbert, who was concealed under the neighboring orange-trees, felt +sympathetic tears rolling down his cheeks, and Fadrique, who had led +him and Antonia there, could no longer delay the joy of meeting, but +stepping forward with his two companions he presented himself before his +sister, like some angelic messenger. + +Such moments of extreme and sudden delight, the heavenly blessings long +expected and rarely vouchsafed, are better imagined by each after his +own fashion, and it is doing but an ill service to recount all that +this one did and that one said. Picture it therefore to yourself, dear +reader, after your own fancy, as you are certainly far better able to +do, if the two loving pairs in my story have become dear to you and you +have grown intimate with them. If that, however, be not the case, what +is the use of wasting unnecessary words? For the benefit of those who +with heart-felt pleasure could have lingered over this meeting of the +sister with her brother and her lover, I will proceed with increased +confidence. Although Heimbert, casting a significant look at Fadrique, +was on the point of retiring as soon as Antonia had been placed under +Dona Clara’s protection, the noble Spaniard would not permit him. He +detained his companion-in-arms with courteous and brotherly requests +that he would remain till the evening repast, at which some relatives +of the Mendez family joined the party, and in their presence Fadrique +declared the brave Heimbert of Waldhausen to be Dona Clara’s fiance, +sealing the betrothal with the most solemn words, so that it might +remain indissoluble, whatever might afterward occur which should seem +inimical to their union. The witnesses were somewhat astonished at +these strange precautionary measures, but at Fadrique’s desire they +unhesitatingly gave their word that all should be carried out as he +wished, and they did this the more unhesitatingly as the Duke of Alba, +who had just been in Malaga on some trivial business, had filled the +whole city with the praises of the two young captains. + +As the richest wine was now passing round the table in the tall crystal +goblets, Fadrique stepped behind Heimbert’s chair and whispered to +him, “If it please you, Senor--the moon is just risen and is shining as +bright as day--I am ready to give you satisfaction.” Heimbert nodded +in assent, and the two youths quitted the hall, followed by the sweet +salutations of the unsuspecting ladies. + +As they passed through the beautiful garden, Fadrique said, with a +sigh, “We could have wandered here so happily together, but for my +over-rashness!” “Yes, indeed,” said Heimbert, “but so it is, and it +cannot be otherwise, if we would continue to look upon each other as a +soldier and a nobleman.” “True!” replied Fadrique, and they hastened to +reach a distant part of the garden, where the sound of their clashing +swords could not reach the gay hall of betrothal they had left. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +Secret and inclosed, with blooming shrubs planted around, with not a +sound to be heard of the merry company, nor of the animated streets of +the city, with the full moon shining overhead and brightening the solemn +circle with its clear brilliancy--such was the spot. The two captains +unsheathed their gleaming swords and stood opposite each other, ready +for the encounter. But before they began the combat a nobler feeling +drew them to each other’s arms; they lowered their weapons and embraced +in the most fraternal manner. They then tore themselves away and the +fearful contest began. + +They were now no longer brothers-in-arms, no longer friends, no longer +brothers-in-law, who directed their sharp steels against each other. +With the most resolute boldness, but with the coolest collectedness, +each fell upon his adversary, guarding his own breast at the same time. +After a few hot and dangerous passes the combatants were obliged to +rest, and during the pause they regarded each other with increased love, +each rejoicing to find his comrade so valiant and so honorable. And then +the fatal strife began anew. + +With his left hand Heimbert dashed aside Fadrique’s sword, which had +been aimed at him with a thrust in tierce, sideward, but the keen edge +had penetrated his leathern glove, and the red blood gushed out. “Hold!” + cried Fadrique, and they searched for the wound, but soon perceiving +that it was of no importance, and binding it up, they both began the +combat with undiminished vigor. + +It was not long before Heimbert’s blade pierced Fadrique’s right +shoulder, and the German, feeling that he had wounded his opponent, now +on his side called out to halt. At first Fadrique would not acknowledge +to the injury, but soon the blood began to trickle down, and he was +obliged to accept his friend’s careful assistance. Still this wound also +appeared insignificant, the noble Spaniard still felt power to wield his +sword, and again the deadly contest was renewed with knightly ardor. + +Presently the garden-gate clanked, and the sound of a horse’s step was +heard advancing through the shrubbery. Both combatants paused in their +stern work and turned toward the unwelcome disturber. The next moment +through the slender pines a horseman was visible whose dress and bearing +proclaimed him a warrior and Fadrique, as master of the house, at once +addressed him. “Senor,” said he, “why you come here, intruding into a +strange garden, we will inquire at another time. For the present I +will only request you to leave us free from further interruption by +immediately retiring, and to favor me with your name.” “Retire I will +not,” replied the stranger, “but my name I will gladly tell you. I +am the Duke of Alba.” And as he spoke, by a movement of his charger a +bright moonbeam fell upon his pale thin face, the dwelling-place of all +that was grand and worthy and terrible. The two captains bowed low and +dropped their weapons. + +“I ought to know you,” continued Alba, looking at them with his +sparkling eyes. “Yes, truly, I know you well, you are the two young +heroes at the battle of Tunis. God be praised that two such brave +warriors, whom I had given up for lost, are still alive; but tell me, +what is this affair of honor that has turned your good swords against +each other? For I hope you will not hesitate to declare to me the cause +of your knightly contest.” + +They complied with the great duke’s behest. Both the noble youths +related the whole circumstances, from the evening previous to their +embarkation up to the present moment, while Alba remained between them, +in silent thought, almost motionless, like some equestrian statue. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + + +The Captains had already long finished their story, and the duke still +remained silent and motionless, in deep reflection. At last he began to +speak, and addressed them as follows: + +“May God and his holy word help me, my young knights, when I say that I +consider, after my best and most conscientious belief, that this affair +of yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each other in +contest on account of those irritating words which escaped the lips of +Don Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you have hitherto +received are not sufficient compensation for the angry expression, there +is still your common fight before Tunis, and the rescue in the desert +afforded by Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don Fadrique Mendez, after he +had gained his bride for him. From all this, I consider that the Knight +of Waldhausen is entitled to pardon any offence of an adversary to whom +he has shown himself so well inclined. Old Roman history tells us of two +captains of the great Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cemented +a hearty friendship with each other when engaged in the same bold fight, +delivering each other in the midst of a Gallic army. I affirm, however, +that you two have done more for each other: and therefore I declare your +affair of honor to be settled, and at an end. Sheathe your swords, and +embrace each other in my presence.” + +Obedient to the command of their general, the young knights for the +present sheathed their weapons; but anxious lest the slightest possible +shadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the reconciling +embrace. + +The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air, and +said, “Do you then suppose, young knights, that I could wish to save +the lives of two heroes at the expense of their honor? I would rather at +once have struck you dead, both of you at once. But I see plainly that +with such obstinate minds one must have recourse to other measures.” + +And, dismounting from his horse, he fastened it to a tree, and then +stepped forward between the two captains with a drawn sword in his +right hand, crying out, “Whoever will deny in any wise that the quarrel +between Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen and Don Fadrique Mendez is honorably +and gloriously settled must settle the matter at the peril of his life +with the Duke of Alba; and should the present knights have any objection +to raise to this, let them declare it. I stand here as champion for my +own conviction.” + +The youths bowed submissively before the great umpire, and fell into +each other’s arms. The duke, however, embraced them both with hearty +affection, which appeared all the more charming and refreshing as it +rarely burst forth from this stern character. Then he led the reconciled +friends back to their betrothed, and when these, after the first joyful +surprise was over at the presence of the honored general, started back +at seeing drops of blood on the garments of the youths, the duke said, +smiling, “Oh, ye brides elect of soldiers, you must not shrink from such +jewels of honor. Your lovers could bring you no fairer wedding gift.” + +The great Alba was not not be deprived of the pleasure of enacting the +office of father to the two happy brides, and the festival of their +union was fixed for the following day. From that time forth they lived +in undisturbed and joyful concord; and though the Knight Heimbert was +recalled soon afterward with his lovely consort to the bosom of his +German Fatherland, he and Fadrique kept up the link between them by +letters and messages; and even in after times the descendants of the +lord of Waldhausen boasted of their connection with the noble house of +Mendez, while the latter have ever sacredly preserved the tradition of +the brave and magnanimous Heimbert. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s The Two Captains, by Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO CAPTAINS *** + +***** This file should be named 2826-0.txt or 2826-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/2/2826/ + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Two Captains + +Author: Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +Release Date: December 3, 2008 [EBook #2826] +Last Updated: October 14, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO CAPTAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE TWO CAPTAINS. + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouque + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + A Mild summer evening was resting on the shores of Malaga, awakening the + guitar of many a merry singer among the ships in the harbor, and in the + city houses, and in many an ornamental garden villa. Emulating the voices + of the birds, the melodious tones greeted the refreshing coolness, and + floated like perfumed exhalations from meadow and water, over the + enchanting region. Some troops of infantry who were on the shore, and who + purposed to spend the night there, that they might be ready for + embarkation early on the following morning, forgot amid the charms of the + pleasant eventide that they ought to devote these last few hours on + European soil to ease and slumber; they began to sing military songs, to + drink to each other with their flasks filled to the brim with the rich + wine of Xeres, toasting to the long life of the mighty Emperor Charles V., + who was now besieging the pirate-nest Tunis, and to whose assistance they + were about to sail. The merry soldiers were not all of one race. Only two + companies consisted of Spaniards; the third was formed of pure Germans, + and now and then among the various fellow-combatants the difference of + manners and language had given rise to much bantering. Now, however, the + fellowship of the approaching sea-voyage and of the glorious perils to be + shared, as well as the refreshing feeling which the soft southern evening + poured over soul and sense, united the band of comrades in perfect and + undisturbed harmony. The Germans tried to speak Castilian, and the + Spaniards to speak German, without its occurring to any one to make a fuss + about the mistakes and confusions that happened. They mutually helped each + other, thinking of nothing else but the good-will of their companions, + each drawing near to his fellow by means of his own language. + </p> + <p> + Somewhat apart from the merry tumult, a young German captain, Sir Heimbert + of Waldhausen, was reclining under a cork-tree, gazing earnestly up at the + stars, apparently in a very different mood to the fresh, merry sociability + which his comrades knew and loved in him. Presently the Spanish captain, + Don Fadrique Mendez, approached him; he was a youth like the other, and + was equally skilled in martial exercises, but he was generally as austere + and thoughtful as Heimbert was cheerful and gentle. “Pardon, Senor,” began + the solemn Spaniard, “if I disturb you in your meditations. But as I have + had the honor of often seeing you as a courageous warrior and faithful + brother in amrs in many a hot encounter, I would gladly solicit you above + all others to do me a knightly service, if it does not interfere with your + own plans and projects for this night.” “Dear sir,” returned Heimbert + courteously, “I have certainly an affair of importance to attend to before + sunrise, but till midnight I am perfectly free, and ready to render you + any assistance as a brother in aims.” “Enough,” said Fadrique, “for at + midnight the tones must long have ceased with which I shall have taken + farewell of the dearest being I have ever known in this my native city. + But that you may be as fully acquainted with the whole affair as behoves a + noble companion, listen to me attentively for a few moments. + </p> + <p> + “Some time before I left Malaga to join the army of our great emperor and + to aid in spreading the glory of his arms through Italy, I was devoted, + after the fashion of young knights, to the service of a beautiful girl in + this city, named Lucila. She had at that time scarcely reached the period + which separates childhood from ripe maidenhood, and as I—a boy only + just capable of bearing arms—offered my homage with a childlike, + friendly feeling, it was also received by my young mistress in a similar + childlike manner. I marched at length to Italy, and as you yourself know, + for we have been companions since then, I was in many a hot fight and in + many an enchantingly alluring region in that luxurious land. Amid all our + changes, I held unalterably within me the image of my gentle mistress, + never pausing in the honorable service I had vowed to her, although I + cannot conceal from you that in so doing it was rather to fulfil the word + I had pledged at my departure than from any impelling and immoderately + ardent feeling in my heart. When we returned to my native city from our + foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my mistress married to a rich + and noble knight residing here. Fiercer far than love had been was the + jealousy—that almost almighty child of heaven and hell—which + now spurred me on to follow Lucila’s steps, from her home to the church, + from thence to the house of a friend, from thence again to her home or to + some noble circle of knights and ladies, and all this as unweariedly and + as closely as was possible. When I had at length assured myself that no + other young knight attended her, and that she devoted herself entirely to + the husband chosen for her by her parents rather than desired by herself, + I felt perfectly satisfied, and I should not have troubled you at this + moment had not Lucila approached me the day before yesterday and whispered + in my ear that I must not provoke her husband, for he was very passionate + and bold; that not the slightest danger threatened her in the matter, + because he loved and honored her above everything, but that his wrath + would vent itself all the more furiously upon me. You can readily + understand, my noble comrade, that I could not help proving my contempt of + all personal danger by following Lucila more closely than ever, and + singing nightly serenades beneath her flower-decked windows till the + morning star began to be reflected in the sea. This very night Lucila’s + husband sets out at midnight for Madrid, and from that hour I will in + every way avoid the street in which they live; until then, however, as + soon as it is sufficiently dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will have + love-romances unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I have + information that not only he but Lucila’s brothers are really to enter + upon a quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I have + requested you to bear me company with your good sword in this short + expedition.” + </p> + <p> + Heimbert seized the Spaniard’s hand as a pledge of his readiness, saying + as he did so, “To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do what you desire + of me, I will requite your confidence with confidence, and will relate a + little incident which occurred to me in this city, and will beg you after + midnight also to render me a small service. My story is short, and will + not detain us longer than we must wait before the twilight has become + deeper and more gloomy. + </p> + <p> + “On the day after we arrived here I amused myself with walking in the + beautiful gardens with which the place abounds. I have now been long in + these southern lands, but I cannot but believe that the dreams which + transport me nightly back to my German home are the cause for my feeling + everything here so strange and astonishing. At all events, every morning + when I wake I wonder anew, as if I were only just arrived. So I was + walking then, like one infatuated, among the aloe trees, which were + scattered among the laurels and oleanders. Suddenly a cry sounded near me, + and a slender girl, dressed in white, fled into my arms, fainting, while + her companions dispersed past us in every direction. A soldier can always + tolerably soon gather his senses together, and I speedily perceived a + furious bull was pursuing the beautiful maiden. I threw her quickly over a + thickly planted hedge, and followed her myself, upon which the beast, + blind with rage, passed us by, and I have heard no more of it since, + except that some young knights in an adjacent courtyard had been making a + trial with it previous to a bull-fight, and that it was on this account + that it had broken so furiously through the gardens. + </p> + <p> + “I was now standing quite alone, with the fainting lady in my arms, and + she was so wonderfully beautiful to look at that I have never in my life + felt happier than I then did, and also never sadder. At last I laid her + down on the turf, and sprinkled her angelic brow, with water from a + neighboring little fountain. And so she came to herself again, and when + she opened her bright and lovely eyes I thought I could imagine how the + glorified spirits must feel in heaven. + </p> + <p> + “She thanked me with graceful and courteous words, and called me her + knight; but in my state of enchantment I could not utter a syllable, and + she must have almost thought me dumb. At length my speech returned, and + the prayer at once was breathed forth from my heart, that the sweet lady + would often again allow me to see her in this garden; for that in a few + weeks the service of the emperor would drive me into the burning land of + Africa, and that until then she should vouchsafe me the happiness of + beholding her. She looked at me half smiling, half sadly, and said, ‘Yes.’ + And she has kept her word and has appeared almost daily, without our + having yet spoken much to each other. For although she has been sometimes + quite alone, I could never begin any other topic but that of the happiness + of walking by her side. Often she has sung to me, and I have sung to her + also. When I told her yesterday that our departure was so near, her + heavenly eyes seemed to me suffused with tears. I must also have looked + sorrowful, for she said to me, in a consoling tone, ‘Oh, pious, childlike + warrior! one may trust you as one trusts an angel.’ After midnight, before + the morning dawn breaks for your departure, I give you leave to take + farewell of me in this very spot. If you could, however, find a true and + discreet comrade to watch the entrance from the street, it would be well, + for many a soldier may be passing at that hour through the city on his way + from some farewell carouse. Providence has now sent me such a comrade, and + at one o’clock I shall go joyfully to the lovely maiden.” + </p> + <p> + “I only wish the service on which you require me were more rich in + danger,” rejoined Fadrique, “so that I might better prove to you that I am + yours with life and limb. But come, noble brother, the hour for my + adventure is arrived.” + </p> + <p> + And wrapped in their mantles, the youths walked hastily toward the city, + Fadrique carrying his beautiful guitar under his arm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + The night-smelling flowers in Lucila’s window were already beginning to + emit their refreshing perfume when Fadrique, leaning in the shadow of the + angle of an old church opposite, began to tune his guitar. Heimbert had + stationed himself not far from him, behind a pillar, his drawn sword under + his mantle, and his clear blue eyes, like two watching stars, looking + calmly and penetrating around. Fadrique sang: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Upon a meadow green with spring, + A little flower was blossoming, + With petals red and snowy white; + To me, a youth, my soul’s delight + Within that blossom lay, + And I have loved my song to indite + And flattering homage pay. + + “Since then a wanderer I have been, + And many a bloody strife have seen; + And now returned, I see + The little floweret stands no more + Upon the meadow as before; + Transplanted by a gardener’s care, + And hedged by golden trellis there, + It is denied to me. + + “I grudge him not his trelllsed guard, + His bolts of iron, strongly barred; + Yet, wandering in the cool night-air, + I touch my zither’s string, + And as afore her beauties rare, + Her wondrous graces sing, + And e’en the gardener shall not dare + Refuse the praise I bring.” + </pre> + <p> + “That depends, Senor,” said a man, stepping close, and as he thought + unobserved, before Fadrique; but the latter had already been informed of + his approach by a sign from his watchful friend, and he was therefore + ready to answer with the greater coolness, “If you wish, Senor, to + commence a suit with my guitar, she has, at all events, a tongue of steel, + which has already on many occasions done her excellent service. With whom + is it your pleasure to speak, with the guitar or the advocate?” + </p> + <p> + While the stranger was silent from embarrassment, two mantled figures had + approached Heimbert and remained standing a few steps from him, as if to + cut off Fadrique’s flight in case he intended to escape. “I believe, dear + sirs,” said Heimbert in a courteous tone, “we are here on the same errand—namely, + to prevent any intrusion upon the conference of yonder knights. At least, + as far as I am concerned, you may rely upon it that any one who attempts + to interfere in their affair will receive my dagger in his heart. Be of + good cheer, therefore; I think we shall both do our duty.” The two + gentlemen bowed courteously and were silent. + </p> + <p> + The quiet self-possession with which the two soldiers carried on the whole + affair was most embarrassing to their three adversaries, and they were at + a loss to know how they should begin the dispute. At last Fadrique again + touched the strings of his guitar, and was preparing to begin another + song. This mark of contempt and apparent disregard of danger and hazard so + enraged Lucila’s husband (for it was he who had taken his stand by Don + Fadrique) that without further delay he drew his sword from his sheath, + and with a voice of suppressed rage called out, “Draw, or I shall stab + you!” “Very gladly, Senor,” replied Fadrique quietly; “you need not + threaten me; you might as well have said so calmly.” And so saying he + placed his guitar carefully in a niche in the church wall, seized his + sword, and, bowing gracefully to his opponent, the fight, began. + </p> + <p> + At first the two figures by Heimbert’s side, who were Lucila’s brothers, + remained quite quiet; but when Fadrique began to get the better of their + brother-in-law they appeared as if they intended to take part in the + fight. Heimbert therefore made his mighty sword gleam in the moonlight, + and said, “Dear sirs, you will not surely oblige me to execute that of + which I previously assured you? I pray you not to compel me to do so; but + if it cannot be otherwise, I must honorably keep my word, you may rely + upon it.” The two young men remained from that time motionless, surprised + both at the decision and at the true-hearted friendliness that lay in + Heimbert’s words. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Don Fadrique, although pressing hard upon his adversary, had + generously avoided wounding him, and when at last by a dexterous movement + he wrested his sword from him. Lucila’s husband, surprised at the + unexpected advantage, and in alarm at being thus disarmed, retreated a few + steps. But Fadrique threw the weapon adroitly into the air, and catching + it again near the point of the blade, he said, as he gracefully presented + the hilt to his opponent, “Take it, Senor, and I hope our affair of honor + is now settled, as you will grant under these circumstances that I am only + here to show that I fear no sword-thrust in the world. The bell of the old + cathedral is now ringing twelve o’clock, and I give you my word of honor + as a knight and a soldier that neither is Dona Lucila pleased with my + attentions nor am I pleased with paying them; from henceforth, and were I + to remain a hundred years in Malaga, I would not continue to serenade her + in this spot. So proceed on your journey, and God be with you.” He then + once more greeted his conquered adversary with serious and solemn + courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbert followed him, after having cordially + shaken hands with the two youths, saying, “No, dear young sirs, do not let + it ever again enter your heads to interfere in any honorable contest. Do + you understand me?” + </p> + <p> + He soon overtook his companion, and walked on by his side so full of + ardent expectation, and with his heart beating so joyfully and yet so + painfully, that he could not utter a single word. Don Fadrique Mendez was + also silent; it was not till Heimbert paused before an ornamented + garden-gate, and pointed cheerfully to the pomegranate boughs richly laden + with fruits which overhung it, saying, “This is the place, dear comrade,” + that the Spaniard appeared as if about to ask a question, but turning + quickly round he merely said, “I am pledged to guard this entrance for you + till dawn. You have my word of honor for it.” So saying he began walking + to and fro before the gate, with drawn sword, like a sentinel, and + Heimbert, trembling with joy, glided within the gloomy and aromatic + shrubberies. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + He was not long in seeking the bright star, which he indeed felt was + destined henceforth to guide the course of his whole life. The delicate + form approached him not far from the entrance; weeping softly, it seemed + to him, in the light of the full moon which was just rising, and yet + smiling with such infinite grace, that her tears were rather like a pearly + ornament than a veil of sorrow. In deep and infinite joy and sorrow the + two lovers wandered silently together through the flowery groves; now and + then a branch waving in the night-air would touch the guitar on the lady’s + arm, and it would breathe forth a slight murmur which blended with the + song of the nightingale, or the delicate fingers of the girl would tremble + over the strings and awaken a few scattered chords, while the shooting + stars seemed as if following the tones of the instrument as they died + away. Oh, truly happy was this night both to the youth and the maiden, for + no rash wish or impure desire passed even fleetingly across their minds. + They walked on side by side, happy that Providence had allowed them this + delight, and so little desiring any other blessing that even the + transitoriness of that they were now enjoying floated away into the + background of their thoughts. + </p> + <p> + In the middle of the beautiful garden there was a large open lawn, + ornamented with statues and surrounding a beautiful and splashing + fountain. The two lovers sat down on its brink, now gazing at the waters + sparkling in the moonlight, and now delighting in the contemplation of + each other’s beauty. The maiden touched her guitar, and Heimbert, impelled + by a feeling scarcely intelligible to himself, sang the following words to + it: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “There is a sweet life linked with mine, + But I cannot tell its name; + Oh, would it but to me consign + The secret of that life divine, + That so my lips in whispers sweet + And gentle songs might e’en repeat + All that my heart would fain proclaim!” + </pre> + <p> + He suddenly paused, and blushed deeply, fearing he had been too bold. The + lady blushed also, touched her guitar-strings with a half-abstracted air, + and at last sang as if dreamily: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “By the spring where moonlight’s gleams + O’er the sparkling waters pass, + Who is sitting by the youth, + Singing on the soft green grass? + Shall the maiden tell her name, + When though all unknown it be, + Her heart is glowing with her shame, + And her cheeks burn anxiously, + First, let the youthful knight be named. + ‘Tis he that on that glorious day + Fought in Castilla’s proud array; + + ‘Tis he the youth of sixteen years, + At Pavia, who his fortunes tried, + The Frenchman’s fear, the Spaniard’s pride. + Heimbert is the hero’s name, + Victorious in many a fight! + And beside the valiant knight, + Sitting in the soft green grass, + Though her name her lips shall pass, + Dona Clara feels no shame ” + </pre> + <p> + “Oh!” said Heimbert, blushing from another cause than before, “oh, Dona + Clara, that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and victorious + tournament, and even if occasionally since then I have been engaged in a + tougher contest, how have I ever merited as a reward the overwhelming + bliss I am now enjoying! Now I know what your name is, and I may in future + address you by it, my angelic Dona Clara, my blessed and beautiful Dona + Clara! But tell me now, who has given you such a favorable report of my + achievements, that I may ever regard him with grateful affection?” + </p> + <p> + “Does the noble Heimbert of Waldhausen suppose,” rejoined Clara, “that the + noble houses of Spain had none of their sons where he stood in the battle? + You must have surely seen them fighting by your side, and must I not have + heard of your glories through the lips of my own people?” + </p> + <p> + The silvery tones of a little bell sounded just then from a neighboring + palace, and Clara whispered, “It is time to part. Adieu, my hero!” And she + smiled on the youth through her gushing tears, and bent toward him, and he + almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed from her lips. When he fully + recovered himself Clara had disappeared, the morning clouds were beginning + to wear the rosy hue of dawn, and Heimbert, with a heaven of love’s proud + happiness in his heart, returned to his watchful friend at the garden + gate. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + “Halt!” exclaimed Fadrique, as Heimbert appeared from the garden, holding + his drawn sword toward him ready for attack. “Stop, you are mistaken, my + good comrade,” said the German, smiling, “it is I whom you see before + you.” “Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of Waldhausen,” said Fadrique, + “that I mistake you. But my promise is discharged, my hour of guard has + been honorably kept, and now I beg you without further delay to prepare + yourself, and fight for your life until heart’s blood has ceased to flow + through these veins.” “Good heavens!” sighed Heimbert, “I have often heard + that in these southern lands there are witches, who deprive people of + their senses by magic arts and incantations. But I have never experienced + anything of the sort until to-day. Compose yourself, my dear good comrade, + and go with me back to the shore.” Fadrique laughed fiercely, and + answered, “Set aside your silly delusion, and if you must have everything + explained to you, word by word, in order to understand it, know then that + the lady whom you came to meet in the shrubbery of this my garden is Dona + Clara Mendez, my only sister. Quick, therefore, and without further + preamble, draw!” “God forbid!” exclaimed the German, not touching his + weapon. “You shall be my brother-in-law, Fadrique, and not my murderer, + and still less will I be yours.” Fadrique only shook his head indignantly, + and advanced toward his comrade with measured steps for an encounter. + Heimbert, however, still remained immovable, and said, “No, Fadrique, I + cannot now or ever do you harm. For besides the love I bear your sister, + it must certainly have been you who has spoken to her so honorably of my + military expeditions in Italy.” “When I did so,” replied Fadrique in a + fury, “I was a fool. But, dallying coward, out with your sword, or—” + </p> + <p> + Before Fadrique had finished speaking, Heimbert, burning with indignation, + exclaimed, “The devil himself could not bear that!” and drawing his sword + from the scabbard, the two young captains rushed fiercely and resolutely + to the attack. + </p> + <p> + Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by Fadrique + with Lucila’s husband. The two young soldiers well understood their + weapons, and strove with each other with equal boldness, their swords + flashing like rays of light as now this one now that one hurled a + lightning thrust at his adversary, which was with similar speed and + dexterity turned aside. Firmly they pressed the left foot, as if rooted in + the ground, while the right advanced to the bold onset and then again they + quickly retired to the safer attitude of defence. From the self-possession + and the quiet unremitting anger with which both the combatants fought, it + was evident that one of the two would find his grave under the overhanging + branches of the orange-tree, which were now tinged with the red glow of + morning, and this would undoubtedly have been the case had not the report + of a cannon from the harbor sounded through the silence of the twilight. + </p> + <p> + The combatants paused, as if at some word of command to be obeyed by both, + and listened, counting to themselves; then, as each uttered the number + thirty, a second gun was heard. “It is the signal for immediate + embarkation, Senor,” said Don Fadrique; “we are now in the emperor’s + service, and all dispute ceases which is not against the foes of Charles + the Fifth.” “Right,” replied Heimbert, “but when there is an end of Tunis + and the whole war. I shall demand satisfaction for that ‘dallying + coward.’” “And I for that in intercourse with my sister,” said Fadrique. + “Certainly,” rejoined the other; and, so saying, the two captains hurried + down to the strand and arranged the embarkation of their troops; while the + sun, rising over the sea, shone upon them both in the same vessel. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + The voyagers had for some time to battle with contrary winds, and when at + length they came in sight of the coasts of Barbary the darkness of evening + had closed so deeply over the sea that no pilot in the little squadron + ventured to ride at anchor on the shallow shore. They cruised about on the + calm waters, waiting for the morning; and the soldiers, full of laudable + ambition for combat, stood impatiently in crowds on the deck, straining + their longing eyes to see the theatre of their future deeds. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the heavy firing of besiegers and besieged thundered unceasingly + from the fortress of Goletta, and as the night darkened the scene with + massy clouds, the flames of burning fragments became more visible, and the + fiery course of the red bullets was perceptible as they crossed each other + in their path, while their effects in fire and devastation were fearful to + behold. It was evident that the Mussulmans had been attempting a sally, + for a sharp fire of musketry burst forth suddenly amid the roaring of the + cannon. The fight was approaching the trenches of the Christians, and on + board the vessels none were agreed whether the besiegers were in danger or + not. At length they saw that the Turks were driven back into the fortress; + the Christian army pursued them, and a shout was heard from the Spanish + camp as of one loud Victory! and the cry, Goletta was taken! + </p> + <p> + How the troops on board the vessels—consisting of young and + courage-tried men—burned with ardor and their hearts beat at the + glorious spectacle, need not be detailed to those who carry a brave heart + within their own bosoms, and to all others any description would be lost. + Heimbert and Fadrique stood close to each other. “I do not know,” said the + latter, speaking to himself, “but I feel as if to-morrow I must plant my + standard upon yonder height which is now lighted up with the red glow of + the bullets and burning flames in Goletta.” “That is just what I feel!” + said Heimbert. The two angry captains then relapsed into silence and + turned indignantly away. + </p> + <p> + The longed-for morning at length dawned, the vessels approached the shore, + and the landing of the troops began, while an officer was at once + dispatched to the camp to announce the arrival of the reinforcements to + the mighty general Alba. The soldiers were hastily ranged on the beach, + they put themselves and their weapons in order, and were soon standing in + battle array, ready for their great leader. Clouds of dust rose in the + gray twilight, the returning officer announced the approach of the + general, and as Alba signifies “morning” in the Castilian tongue, the + Spaniards raised a shout of rejoicing at the coincidence, as at some + favorable omen, for as the knightly train approached the first beams of + the rising sun became visible. + </p> + <p> + The grave and haggard form of the general was seen mounted on a tall + Andalusian charger of the deepest black. Having galloped once up and down + the lines, he stopped his powerful horse in the middle, and looking along + the ranks with an air of grave satisfaction, he said, “You pass muster + well. That is well. I like it to be so. It is plain to see that you are + tried soldiers, in spite of your youth. We will first hold a review, and + then I will lead you to something more agreeable.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he dismounted, and walking toward the right wing he began to + inspect one troop after another in the closest manner, with the captain of + each company at his side, that he might receive from him accurate account + upon the minutest particulars. Sometimes a cannon-ball from the fortress + would whizz over the heads of the men; then Alba would stand still and + cast a keen glance over the soldiers before him. But when he saw that not + an eyelash moved, a smile of satisfaction passed over his severe pale + face. + </p> + <p> + When he had inspected both divisions he again mounted his horse and once + more galloped into the middle. Then, stroking his long beard, he said, + “You are in good order, soldiers, and therefore you shall take your part + in this glorious day, which is just dawning for our whole Christian + armada. We will attack Barbarossa, soldiers. Do you not already hear the + drums and fifes in the camp? Do you see him advancing yonder to meet the + emperor? That side of his position is assigned to you!” + </p> + <p> + “Vivat Carolus Quintus!” resounded through the ranks. Alba beckoned the + captains to him, and assigned to each his duty. He usually mingled German + and Spanish troops together, in order to stimulate the courage of the + combatants still higher by emulation. So it happened even now that + Heimbert and Fadrique were commanded to storm the very same height, which, + now gleaming with the morning light, they at once recognized as that which + had shone out so fiercely and full of promise the night before. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + Thrice had Fadrique and Heimbert almost forced their way to a rampart in + the fortifications, and thrice had they been repulsed with their men into + the valley below by the fierce opposition of the Turks. The Mussulmans + shouted after the retreating foe, clashed their weapons with the triumph + of victory, and with a scornful laugh asked whether they would not come up + again to give heart and brain to the scimitar and their limbs to the + falling beams of wood. The two captains, gnashing their teeth with fury, + arranged their ranks anew; for after three vain assaults they had to move + closer together to fill the places of the slain and the mortally wounded. + Meanwhile a murmur ran through the Christian army that a witch was + fighting among their foes and helping them to conquer. + </p> + <p> + Duke Alba rode to the point of attack, and looked scrutinizingly at the + breach they had made. “Not yet broken through the enemy here!” said he, + shaking his head, “I am surprised. From two such youths, and such troops, + I should have expected it.” “Do you hear that? Do you hear that?” + exclaimed the two captains, as they paced along their lines repeating the + general’s words. The soldiers shouted loudly, and demanded to be once more + led against the enemy; even those who were mortally wounded shouted, with + a last effort, “Forward, comrades!” The great Alba at once sprang like an + arrow from his horse, wrested a partisan from the stiff hand of one of the + slain, and standing in front of the two companies he cried, “I will take + part in your glory. In the name of God and of the blessed Virgin, forward, + my children!” + </p> + <p> + And joyfully they rushed up the hill, every heart beating with confidence, + while the war-cry was raised triumphantly; some even began already to + shout “Victory! victory!” and the Mussulmans paused and wavered. Suddenly, + like the vision of an avenging angel, a maiden, dressed in purple garments + embroidered with gold appeared in the Turkish ranks, and those who were + terrified before again shouted “Allah!” calling at the same time, + “Zelinda, Zelinda!” The maiden, however, drew a small box from under her + arm, and opening it she breathed into it and hurled it down among the + Christian troops. And forth from the fatal chest there burst a whole fire + of rockets, grenades, and other fearful messengers of death. The startled + soldiers paused in their assault. “Forward!” cried Alba. “Forward!” cried + the two captains; but a flaming arrow just then fastened on the duke’s + plumed hat and hissed and crackled round his head, so that the general + fell fainting down the height. Then the German and Spanish infantry fled + uncontrollably from the fearful ascent. Again the storm had been repulsed. + The Mussulmans shouted, and like a fatal star Zelinda’s beauty shone in + the midst of the flying troops. + </p> + <p> + When Alba opened his eyes, Heimbert was standing over him, with his + mantle, arm, and face scorched with the fire, which he had not only just + extinguished on his general’s head, but by throwing himself over him he + had saved him from a second body of flame rolled down the height in the + same direction. The duke was thanking his youthful deliverer when some + soldiers came up, looking for him, to apprise him that the Saracen power + was beginning an attack on the opposite wing of the army. Without losing a + word Alba threw himself on the first horse brought him and galloped away + to the spot where the most threatening danger summoned him. + </p> + <p> + Fadrique stood with his glowing eye fixed on the rampart, where the + brilliant form of Zelinda might be seen, with a two-edged spear, ready to + be hurled, uplifted by her snow-white arm, and raising her voice, now in + encouraging tones to the Mussulmans in Arabic, and again speaking + scornfully to the Christians in Spanish. At last Fadrique exclaimed, “Oh, + foolish being! she thinks to daunt me, and yet she places herself before + me, an alluring and irresistible war-prize!” + </p> + <p> + And as if magic wings had sprung from his shoulders, he began to fly up + the height with such rapidity that Alba’s violent descent seemed but a + lazy snail’s pace. Before any one was aware, he was already on the height, + and wresting spear and shield from the maiden, he had seized her in his + arms and was attempting to bear her away, while Zelinda in anxious despair + clung to the palisade with both her hands. Her cry for help was + unavailing, partly because the Turks imagined that the magic power of the + maiden was annihilated by the almost equally wondrous deed of the youth, + and partly also because the faithful Heimbert, quickly perceiving his + comrade’s daring feat, had led both troops to a renewed attack, and now + stood by his side on the height, fighting hand to hand with the defenders. + This time the fury of the Mussulmans, weakened as they were by + superstition and surprise, could avail nothing against the heroic advance + of the Christian soldiers. The Spaniards and Germans speedily broke + through the enemy, assisted by the watchful squadrons of their army. The + Mohammedans fled with frightful howling, the battle with its stream of + victory rolled ever on, and the banner of the holy German empire and that + of the royal house of Castile waved victorious over the glorious + battle-field before the walls of Tunis. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + In the confusion of the conquering and the conquered, Zelinda had wrested + herself from Fadrique’s arms and had fled from him with such swiftness + that, however much love and desire might have given wings to his pursuit, + she was soon out of sight in a spot so well known to her. All the more + vehement was the fury of the excited Spaniard against the infidel foe. + Wherever a little host made a fresh stand to oppose the Christians, he + would hasten forward with the troops, who ranged themselves round him, + resistless as he was, as round a banner of victory, while Heimbert ever + remained at his side like a faithful shield, guarding off many a danger to + which the youth, intoxicated with rage and success, exposed himself + without consideration. The following day they heard of Barbarossa’s flight + from the city, and the victorious troops advanced without resistance + through the gates of Tunis. Fadrique’s and Heimbert’s companies were + always together. + </p> + <p> + Thick clouds of smoke began to curl through the streets; the soldiers were + obliged to shake off the glowing and dusty flakes from their mantles and + richly plumed helmets, where they often rested smouldering. “I trust the + enemy in his despair has not set fire to some magazine full of powder!” + exclaimed the thoughtful Heimbert; and Fadrique, allowing by a sign that + he agreed with his surmise, hastened on to the spot from whence the smoke + proceeded, the troops courageously pressing after him. + </p> + <p> + The sudden turn of a street brought them in view of a magnificent palace, + from the beautifully ornamented windows of which the flames were emerging, + looking like torches of death in their fitful glow, and lighting up the + splendid building in the hour of its ruin in the grandest manner, now + illuminating this and now that part of the gigantic structure, and then + again relapsing into a fearful darkness of smoke and vapor. + </p> + <p> + And like some faultless statue, the ornament of the whole edifice, there + stood Zelinda upon a high and giddy projection, while the tongues of flame + wreathed around her from below, calling to her companions in the faith to + help her in saving the wisdom of centuries which was preserved in this + building. The projection on which she stood began to totter from the + fervent heat raging beneath it, and a few stones gave way; Fadrique called + with a voice full of anguish to the endangered lady, and scarcely had she + withdrawn her foot from the spot, when the stone on which she had been + standing broke away and came rattling down on the pavement. Zelinda + disappeared within the burning palace, and Fadrique rushed up its marble + staircase, Heimbert, his faithful companion, following him. + </p> + <p> + Their hasty steps carried them through lofty resounding halls; the + architecture over their heads was a maze of high arches, and one chamber + led into another almost like a labyrinth. The walls displayed on all sides + magnificent shelves, in which were to be seen stored rolls of parchment, + papyrus, and palm-leaf, partly inscribed with the characters of + long-vanished centuries, and which were now to perish themselves. For the + flames were already crackling among them and stretching their serpent-like + and fiery heads from one case of treasures to another; while some Spanish + soldiers, barbarous in their fury, and hoping for plunder, and finding + nothing but inscribed rolls within the gorgeous building, passed from + disappointment to rage, and aided the flames; the more so as they regarded + the inscriptions as the work of evil magicians. Fadrique flew as in a + dream through the strange half-consumed halls, ever calling Zelinda! + thinking and regarding nothing but her enchanting beauty. Long did + Heimbert remain at his side, until at length they both reached a cedar + staircase leading to an upper story; here Fadrique paused to listen, and + exclaiming, “She is speaking up there! she is speaking loud! she needs my + help!” he dashed up the already burning steps. Heimbert hesitated a + moment; he saw the staircase already tottering, and he thought to give a + warning cry to his companion; but at the same moment the light ornamental + ascent gave way and burst into flames. He could just see Fadrique clinging + above to a brass grating and swinging himself up to it, but all means of + following him were destroyed. Quickly recollecting himself, Heimbert lost + no time in idly gazing, but hastened through the adjacent halls in search + of another flight of steps which would lead him to his vanished friend. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Fadrique, following the enchanting voice, had reached a gallery + in the midst of which, the floor having fallen in, there was a fearful + abyss of flames, though the pillars on each side were still standing. + Opposite to him the youth perceived the longed-for maiden, clinging with + one hand to a pillar, while with the other she was threatening back some + Spanish soldiers, who seemed ready at any moment to seize her, and her + delicate foot was already hovering over the edge of the glowing ruins. For + Fadrique to go to her was impossible; the breadth of the opening rendered + even a desperate leap unavailing. Trembling lest his call might make the + maiden precipitate herself into the abyss, either in terror or despairing + anger, he only softly raised his voice and whispered as with a breath over + the flaming gulf, “Oh, Zelinda, Zelinda! do not give way to such frightful + thoughts! Your preserver is here!” The maiden turned her queenly head, and + when Fadrique saw her calm and composed demeanor, he cried to the soldiers + on the other side, with all the thunder of his warrior’s voice, “Back, ye + insolent plunderers! Whoever advances but one step to the lady shall feel + the vengeance of my arm!” They started and seemed on the point of + withdrawing, when one of their number said, “The knight cannot touch us, + the gulf between us is too broad for that. And as for the lady’s throwing + herself down—it almost looks as if the young knight were her lover, + and whoever has a lover is not likely to be so hasty about throwing + herself down.” All laughed at this and again advanced. Zelinda tottered at + the edge of the abyss. But with the courage of a lion Fadrique had torn + his target from his arm, and hurling it with his right hand he flung it at + the soldiers with such a sure aim that the rash leader, struck on the + head, fell senseless to the ground. The rest again stood still. “Away with + you!” cried Fadrique authoritatively, “or my dagger shall strike the next + as surely, and then I swear I will never rest till I have found out your + whole gang and appeased my rage.” The dagger gleamed in the youth’s hand, + but yet more fearfully gleamed the fury in his eyes, and the soldiers + fled. Then Zelinda bowed gratefully to her preserver, took up a roll of + palm-leaves which lay at her feet, and which must have previously slipped + from her hand, and then vanished hastily through a side-door of the + gallery. Henceforth Fadrique sought her in vain in the burning palace. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + The great Alba held a council with his chief officers in an open place in + the middle of the conquered city, and, by means of interpreters, sent + question after question to the Turkish prisoners as to the fate of the + beautiful woman who had been seen animating them on the ramparts, and who + was certainly the most exquisite enchantress that had ever visited the + earth. Nothing very distinct was to be gained from the answers, for + although the interrogated all knew of the the beautiful Zelinda as a noble + lady versed in magic lore, and acknowledged by the whole people, they were + utterly unable to state from whence she had come to Tunis and whither she + had now fled. When at last they began to threaten the prisoners as + obstinate, an old Dervish, hitherto unnoticed, pressed forward and said, + with a gloomy smile, “Whoever has a desire to seek the lady may set out + when he chooses; I will conceal nothing from him of what I know of her + direction, and I know something. But I must first of all receive the + promise that I shall not be compelled to accompany as guide. My lips + otherwise will remain sealed forever, and you may do with me as you will.” + </p> + <p> + He looked like one who intended to keep his word, and Alba, pleased with + the firmness of the man, which harmonized well with his own mind, gave him + the desired assurance, and the Dervish began his relation. He was once, he + said, wandering in the almost infinite desert of Sahara, impelled perhaps + by rash curiosity, perhaps by higher motives; he had lost his way there, + and had at last, wearied to death, reached one of those fertile islands of + that sea of sand which are called oases. Then followed, sparkling with + oriental vivacity, a description of the wonderful things seen there, now + filling the hearts of his hearers with sweet longing, and then again + making their hair stand on end with horror, though from the strange + pronunciation of the speaker and the flowing rapidity of his words the + half was scarcely understood. The end of all this at length was that + Zelinda dwelt on that oasis, in the midst of the pathless sand-plains of + the desert, surrounded by magic horrors; and also, as the Dervish knew for + certain, that she had left about half an hour ago on her way thither. The + almost contemptuous words with which he concluded his narration plainly + showed that he desired nothing more earnestly than to seduce some + Christians to undertake a journey which must terminate inevitably in their + destruction. At the same time he added a solemn oath that everything was + truly as he had stated it, and he did this in a firm and grave manner, as + a man who knows that he is speaking the most indubitable truth. Surprised + and thoughtful, the circle of officers held their council round him. + </p> + <p> + Then Heimbert stepped forward with an air as if of request; he had just + received a summons to leave the burning palace, where he had been seeking + his friend, and had been appointed to the place of council because it was + necessary to arrange the troops here in readiness for any possible rising + in the conquered city. “What do you wish, my young hero?” said Alba, + recognizing him as he appeared. “I know your smiling, blooming countenance + well. You were but lately sheltering me like a protecting angel. I am so + sure that you make no request but what is honorable and knightly that + anything you may possibly desire is granted beforehand.” “My great Duke,” + replied Heimbert, with cheeks glowing with pleasure, “if I may then + venture to ask a favor, will you grant me permission to follow the + beautiful Zelinda at once in the direction which this wonderful Dervish + has pointed out?” The great general bowed in assent, and added, “So noble + an adventure could not be consigned to a more noble knight!” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know that!” said an angry voice from the throng. “But well do I + know that to me above all others this adventure belongs, even were it + assigned as a reward for the capture of Tunis. For who was the first on + the height and within the city?” “That was Don Fadrique Mendez,” said + Heimbert, taking the speaker by the hand and leading him before the + general. “If I now for his sake must forfeit my promised reward, I must + patiently submit; for he has rendered better service than I have done to + the emperor and the army.” + </p> + <p> + “Neither of you shall forfeit his reward,” said the great Alba. “Each has + permission from this moment to seek the maiden in whatever way it seems to + him most advisable.” + </p> + <p> + And swift as lightning the two young captains quitted the circle of + officers in opposite directions. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + A sea of sand, stretching out in the distant horizon, without one object + to mark its extensive surface, white and desolate in its vastness—such + is the scene which proclaims the fearful desert of Sahara to the eye of + the wanderer who has lost himself in these frightful regions. In this also + it resembles the sea, that it casts up waves, and often a misty vapor + bangs over its surface. But there is not the soft play of waves which + unite all the coasts of the earth; each wave as it rolls in bringing a + message from the remotest and fairest island kingdoms, and again rolling + back as it were with an answer, in a sort of love-flowing dance. No; there + is here only the melancholy sporting of the hot wind with the faithless + dust which ever falls back again into its joyless basin, and never reaches + the rest of the solid land with its happy human dwellings. There is here + none of the sweet cool sea-breeze in which kindly fairies seem carrying on + their graceful sport, forming blooming gardens and pillared palaces—there + is only a suffocating vapor, rebelliously given back to the glowing sun + from the unfruitful sands. + </p> + <p> + Hither the two youths arrived at the same time, and paused, gazing with + dismay at the pathless chaos before them. Zelinda’s track, which was not + easily hidden or lost, had hitherto obliged them almost always to remain + together, dissatisfied as Fadrique was at the circumstance, and angry as + were the glances he cast at his unwelcome companion. Each had hoped to + overtake Zelinda before she had reached the desert, feeling how almost + impossible it would be to find her once she had entered it. That hope was + now at an end; and although in answer to the inquiries they made in the + Barbary villages on the frontier, they heard that a wanderer going + southward in the desert and guiding his course by the stars would, + according to tradition, arrive at length at a wonderfully fertile oasis, + the abode of a divinely beautiful enchantress, yet everything appeared + highly uncertain and dispiriting, and was rendered still more so by the + avalanches of dust before the travellers’ view. + </p> + <p> + The youths looked sadly at the prospect before them, and their horses + snorted and started back at the horrible plain, as though it were some + insidious quicksand, and even the riders themselves were seized with doubt + and dismay. Suddenly they sprung from their saddles, as at some word of + command, unbridled their horses, loosened their girths, and turned them + loose on the desert, that they might find their way back to some happier + dwelling place. Then, taking some provision from their saddle-bags, they + placed it on their shoulders, and casting aside their heavy riding boots + they plunged like two courageous swimmers into the trackless waste. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + With no other guide than the sun by day, and by night the host of stars, + the two captains soon lost sight of each other, and all the sooner, as + Fadrique avoided intentionally the object of his aversion. Heimbert, on + the other hand, had no thought but the attainment of his aim; and, full of + joyful confidence in God’s assistance, he pursued his course in a + southerly direction. + </p> + <p> + Many nights and many days had passed, when one evening, as the twilight + was coming on, Heimbert was standing alone in the endless desert, unable + to descry a single object all round on which his eye could rest. His light + flask was empty, and the evening brought with it, instead or the hoped-for + coolness, a suffocating whirlwind of sand, so that the exhausted wanderer + was obliged to press his burning face to the burning soil in order to + escape in some measure the fatal cloud. Now and then he heard something + passing him, or rustling over him as with the sound of a sweeping mantle, + and he would raise himself in anxious haste; but he only saw what he had + already too often seen in the daytime—the wild beasts of the + wilderness roaming at liberty through the desert waste. Sometimes it was + an ugly camel, then it was a long-necked and disproportioned giraffe, and + then again a long-legged ostrich hastening away with its wings outspread. + They all appeared to scorn him, and he had already taken his resolve to + open his eyes no more, and to give himself up to his fate, without + allowing these horrible and strange creatures to disturb his mind in the + hour of death. + </p> + <p> + Presently it seemed to him as if he heard the hoofs and neighing of a + horse, and suddenly something halted close beside him, and he thought he + caught the sound of a man’s voice. Half unwilling, he could not resist + raising himself wearily, and he saw before him a rider in an Arab’s dress + mounted on a slender Arabian horse. Overcome with joy at finding himself + within reach of human help, he exclaimed, “Welcome, oh, man, in this + fearful solitude! If thou canst, succor me, thy fellow-man, who must + otherwise perish with thirst!” Then remembering that the tones of his dear + German mother tongue were not intelligible in this joyless region, he + repeated the same words in the mixed dialect, generally called the Lingua + Romana, universally used by heathens, Mohammedans, and Christians in those + parts of the world where they have most intercourse with each other. + </p> + <p> + The Arab still remained silent, and looked as if scornfully laughing at + his strange discovery. At length he replied, in the same dialect, “I was + also in Barbarossa’s fight; and if, Sir Knight, our overthrow bitterly + enraged me then, I find no small compensation for it in the fact of seeing + one of the conquerors lying so pitifully before me.” “Pitifully!” + exclaimed Heimbert angrily, and his wounded sense of honor giving him back + for a moment all his strength, he seized his sword and stood ready for an + encounter. “Oho!” laughed the Arab, “does the Christian viper still hiss + so strongly? Then it only behooves me to put spurs to my horse and leave + thee to perish here, thou lost creeping worm!” “Ride to the devil, thou + dog of a heathen!” retorted Heimbert; “rather than entreat a crumb of thee + I will die here, unless the good God sends me manna in the wilderness.” + </p> + <p> + And the Arab spurred forward his swift steed and galloped away a couple of + hundred paces, laughing with scorn. Then he paused, and looking round to + Heimbert he trotted back and said, “Thou seemest too good, methinks, to + perish here of hunger and thirst. Beware! my good sabre shall touch thee.” + </p> + <p> + Heimbert, who had again stretched himself hopelessly on the burning sand, + was quickly roused to his feet by these words, and seized his sword; and + sudden as was the spring with which the Arab’s horse flew toward him, the + stout German warrior stood ready to parry the blow, and the thrust which + the Arab aimed at him in the Mohammedan manner he warded off with + certainty and skill. + </p> + <p> + Again and again the Arab sprung; similarly here and there, vainly hoping + to give his antagonist a death-blow. At last, overcome by impatience, he + approached so boldly that Heimbert, warding off the threatening weapon, + had time to seize the Arab by the girdle and drag him from the + fast-galloping horse. The violence of the movement threw Heimbert also on + the ground, but he lay above his opponent, and holding close before his + eyes a dagger, which he had dexterously drawn from his girdle, he + exclaimed, “Wilt thou have mercy or death?” The Arab, trembling, cast down + his eyes before the gleaming and murderous weapon, and said, “Show mercy + to me, mighty warrior; I surrender to thee.” Heimbert then ordered him to + throw away the sabre he still held in his right hand. He did so, and both + combatants rose, and again sunk down upon the sand, for the victor was far + more weary than the vanquished. + </p> + <p> + The Arab’s good horse meanwhile had trotted toward them, according to the + habit of those noble animals, who never forsake their fallen master. It + now stood behind the two men, stretching out its long slender neck + affectionately toward them. “Arab,” said Heimbert with exhausted voice, + “take from thy horse what provision thou hast with thee and place it + before me.” The vanquished man humbly did as he was commanded, now just as + much submitting to the will of the conqueror as he had before exhibited + his animosity in anger and revenge. After a few draughts of palm-wine from + the skin, Heimbert looked at the youth under a new aspect; he then partook + of some fruits, drank more of the palm-wine, and at length said, “You are + going to ride still farther to-night, young man?” “Yes, indeed,” replied + the Arab sadly; “on a distant oasis there dwells my aged father and my + blooming bride. Now—even if you set me at full liberty—I must + perish in the heat of this barren desert, for want of sustenance, before I + can reach my lovely home.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it, perhaps,” asked Heimbert, “the oasis on which the mighty + enchantress, Zelinda, dwells?” + </p> + <p> + “Allah protect me!” cried the Arab, clasping his hands. “Zelinda’s + wondrous isle offers no hospitable shelter to any but magicians. It lies + far away in the scorching south, while our friendly oasis is toward the + cooler west.” + </p> + <p> + “I only asked in case we might be travelling companions,” said Heimbert + courteously. “If that cannot be, we must certainly divide the provisions; + for I would not have so brave a warrior as you perish, with hunger and + thirst.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two + portions, placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his right; he + then desired the Arab to take the former, and added, to his astonished + companion, “See, good sir, I have either not much farther to travel or I + shall perish in the desert; I feel that it will be so. Besides, I cannot + carry half so much on foot as you can on horse-back.” + </p> + <p> + “Knight! victorious knight!” cried the amazed Mussulman, “am I then to + keep my horse?” + </p> + <p> + “It were a sin and shame indeed,” said Heimbert, smiling, “to separate + such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider. Ride on, in God’s name, + and get safely to your people.” + </p> + <p> + He then helped him to mount, and the Arab was on the point of uttering a + few words of gratitude, when he suddenly exclaimed, “The magic maiden!” + and, swift as the wind, he flew over the dusty plain. Heimbert, however, + turning round, saw close beside him in the now bright moonlight a shining + figure, which he at once perceived to be Zelinda. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + The maiden looked fixedly at the young soldier, and seemed considering + with what words to address him, while he, after his long search and now + unexpected success, was equally at a loss. At last she said in Spanish, + “Thou wonderful enigma, I have been witness of all that has passed between + thee and the Arab; and these affairs confuse my head like a whirlwind. + Speak, therefore, plainly, that I may know whether thou art a madman or an + angel?” + </p> + <p> + “I am neither, dear lady,” replied Heimbert, with his wonted friendliness. + “I am only a poor wanderer, who has just been putting into practice one of + the commands of his Master, Jesus Christ.” + </p> + <p> + “Sit down,” said Zelinda, “and tell me of thy Master; he must be himself + unprecedented to have such a servant. The night is cool and still, and at + my side thou hast no cause to fear the dangers of the desert.” + </p> + <p> + “Lady,” replied Heimbert, smiling, “I am not of a fearful nature, and when + I am speaking of my dear Saviour my mind is perfectly free from all + alarm.” + </p> + <p> + Thus saying, they both sat down on the now cooled sand and began a + wondrous conversation, while the full moon shone upon them from the + deep-blue heavens above like a magic lamp. + </p> + <p> + Heimbert’s words, full of divine love, truth, and simplicity sank like + soft sunbeams, gently and surely, into Zelinda’s, heart, driving away the + mysterious magic power which dwelt there, and wrestling for the dominion + of the noble territory of her soul. When morning began to dawn she said, + “Thou wouldst not be called an angel last evening, but thou art truly one. + For what else are angels than messengers of the Most High God?” “In that + sense,” rejoined Heimbert, “I am well satisfied with the name, for I + certainly hope that I am the bearer of my Master’s message. Yes, if he + bestows on me further grace and strength, it may even be that you also may + become my companion in the pious work.” “It is not impossible,” said + Zelinda thoughtfully. “Thou must, however, come with me to my island, and + there thou shalt be regaled as is befitting such an ambassador, far better + than here on the desolate sand, with the miserable palm-wine that thou + hast so laboriously obtained.” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me,” replied Heimbert; “it is difficult to me to refuse the + request of a lady, but on this occasion it cannot be otherwise. In your + island many glorious things have been conjured together by your forbidden + art, and many lovely forms which the good God has created have been + transformed. These might dazzle my senses, and at last delude them. If you + will, therefore, hear the best and purest things which I can relate to + you, you must rather come out to me on this desert sand. The palm-wine and + the dates of the Arab will suffice for me for many a day to come.” “You + would do better to come with me,” said Zelinda, shaking her head with + somewhat of a scornful smile. “You were certainly neither born nor brought + up to be a hermit, and there is nothing on my oasis so destructive as you + imagine. What is there more than shrubs and flowers and beasts gathered + together from different quarters of the world, perhaps a little strangely + interwoven; each, that is to say, partaking of the nature of the other, in + a similar manner to that which you must have seen in our Arabian carving! + A moving flower, a bird growing on a branch, a fountain gleaming with + fiery sparks, a singing twig—these are truly no hateful things!” “He + must avoid temptation who does not wish to be overcome by it,” said + Heimbert very gravely; “I am for the desert. Will it please you to come + out to visit me again?” Zelinda looked down somewhat displeased. Then + suddenly bending her head still lower she replied, “Yes; toward evening I + shall be here again.” And, turning away, she at once disappeared in the + rising whirlwind of the desert. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + With the evening twilight the lovely lady returned and spent the night in + converse with the pious youth, leaving him in the morning with her mind + more humble, pure, and devout; and thus matters went on for many days. + “Thy palm-wine and thy dates must be coming to an end,” said Zelinda one + evening as she presented the youth with a flask of rich wine and some + costly fruits. He, however, gently put aside the gift and said, “Noble + lady, I would accept your gift gladly, but I fear some of your magic arts + may perhaps cleave to it. Or could you assure me to the contrary by Him + whom you are now beginning to know?” Zelinda cast down her eyes in silent + confusion and took her presents back. On the following evening, however, + she brought similar gifts, and, smiling confidently, gave the desired + assurance. Heimbert then partook of them without hesitation, and from + henceforth the disciple carefully provided for the sustenance of her + teacher in the wilderness. + </p> + <p> + And so, as the blessed knowledge of the truth sank more and more deeply + into Zelinda’s soul, so that she was often sitting till dawn before the + youth, with cheeks glowing and hair dishevelled, her eyes gleaming with + delight and her hands folded, unable to withdraw herself from his words, + he, on his part, endeavored to make her sensible at all times that it was + only Fadrique’s love for her which had urged him, his friend, into this + fatal desert, and that it was this same love that had thus become the + means for the attainment of her highest spiritual good. She still well + remembered the handsome and terrible captain who had stormed the height + that he might clasp her in his arms; and she related to her friend how the + same hero had afterward saved her in the burning library. Heimbert too had + many pleasant things to tell of Fadrique—of his high knightly + courage, of his grave and noble manners, and of his love to Zelinda, which + in the night after the battle of Tunis was no longer concealed within his + passionate breast, but was betrayed to the young German in a thousand + unconscious expressions between sleeping and waking. Divine truth and the + image of her loving hero both at once sank deep within Zelinda’s heart, + and struck root there with tender but indestructible power. Heimbert’s + presence and the almost adoring admiration with which his pupil regarded + him did not disturb these feelings, for from the first moment his + appearance had something in it so pure and heavenly that no thoughts of + earthly love intruded. When Heimbert was alone he would often smile + happily within himself, saying in his own beloved German tongue, “It is + indeed delightful that I am now able consciously to do the same service + for Fadrique as he did for me, unconsciously, with his angelic sister.” + And then he would sing some German song of Clara’s grace and beauty, the + sound of which rang with strange sweetness through the desert, while it + happily beguiled his solitary hours. + </p> + <p> + Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight, gracefully bearing on her + beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he smiled at her and + shook his head, saying, “It is inconceivable to me, sweet maiden, why you + ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out here in the desert. You + can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic arts, since the spirit of + truth and love dwells within you. If you would only transform the oasis + into the natural form in which the good God created it, I would go there + with you, and we should have far more time for holy converse.” “Sir,” + replied Zelinda, “you speak truly. I too have thought for some days of + doing so and the matter would have been already set on foot, but a strange + visitor fetters my power. The Dervish whom you saw in Tunis is with me, + and as in former times we have practised many magic tricks with each + other, he would like again to play the old game. He perceives the change + in me, and on that account urges me all the more vehemently and + dangerously.” + </p> + <p> + “He must either be driven away or converted,” said Heimbert, girding on + his shoulder-belt more firmly, and taking up his shield from the ground. + “Have the goodness, dear maiden,” he continued, “to lead me to your + enchanted isle.” + </p> + <p> + “You avoided it so before,” said the astonished Zelinda, “and it is still + unchanged in its fantastic form.” + </p> + <p> + “Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have ventured + there,” replied Heimbert. “You came too out here to me, and that was + better for us both. But now the old enemy might lay snares for the ruin of + all that the Lord has been working in you, and so it is a knightly duty to + go. In God’s name, then, to the work!” + </p> + <p> + And they hastened forward together, through the ever-increasing darkness + of the plain, on their way to the blooming island. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + A charming breeze began to cool the heated brows of the travellers, and + the twinkling starlight revealed in the distance a grove, waving to and + fro with the gentle motion of the air. Heimbert cast his eyes to the + ground and said, “Go before me, sweet maiden, and guide my path to the + spot where I shall find this threatening Dervish. I do not wish + unnecessarily to see anything of these ensnaring enchantments.” + </p> + <p> + Zelinda did as he desired, and the relation of the two was for a moment + changed; the maiden had become the guide, and Heimbert, full of + confidence, allowed himself to be led upon the unknown path. Branches were + even now touching his cheeks, half caressingly and playfully; wonderful + birds, growing out of bushes, sang joyful songs; over the velvet turf, + upon which Heimbert ever kept his eyes fixed, there glided gleaming + serpents of green and gold, with little golden crowns, and brilliant + stones glittered on the mossy carpet. When the serpents touched the + jewels, they gave forth a silvery sound. But Heimbert let the serpents + creep and the gems sparkle, without troubling himself about them, intent + alone on following the footsteps of his guide. + </p> + <p> + “We are there!” said she with suppressed voice; and looking up he saw a + shining grotto of shells, within which he perceived a man asleep clad in + golden scale-armor of the old Numidian fashion. “Is that also a phantom, + there yonder in the golden scales?” inquired Heimbert, smiling; but + Zelinda looked very grave and replied, “Oh, no! that is the Dervish + himself, and his having put on this coat-of-mail, which has been rendered + invulnerable by dragon’s blood, is a proof that by his magic he has become + aware of our intention.” “What does that signify?” said Heimbert; “he + would have to know it at last.” And he began at once to call out, with a + cheerful voice, “Wake up, old sir, wake up! Here is an acquaintance of + yours, who has matters upon which he must speak to you.” + </p> + <p> + And as the Dervish opened his large rolling eyes, everything in the magic + grove began to move, the water began to dance, and the branches to + intertwine in wild emulation, and at the same time the precious stones and + the shells and corals emitted strange and confusing melodies. + </p> + <p> + “Roll and turn, thunder and play as you like!” exclaimed Heimbert, looking + fixedly at the maze around him; “you shall not divert me from my own good + path, and Almighty God has given me a good far-sounding soldier’s voice + which can make itself heard above all this tumult.” Then turning to the + Dervish he said, “It appears, old man, that you already know everything + which has passed between Zelinda and me. In case, however, that it is not + so, I will tell you briefly that she is already as good as a Christian, + and that she is the betrothed of a noble Spanish knight. Place nothing in + the way of her good intention; I advise you for your own sake. But still + better for your own sake would it be if you would become a Christian + yourself. Discuss the matter with me, and first bid all this mad devilish + show to cease, for our religion, dear sir, speaks of far too tender and + divine things to be talked of with violence or with the loud voice + necessary on the field of war.” + </p> + <p> + But the Dervish, burning with hatred to the Christians, had not waited to + hear the knight’s last words when he rushed at him with his drawn + scimitar. Heimbert merely parried his thrust, saying, “Take care of + yourself, sir! I have heard something of your weapons being charmed, but + that will avail but little before my sword. It has been consecrated in + holy places.” + </p> + <p> + The Dervish sprang wildly back before the sword, but equally wildly did he + spring to the other side of his adversary, who only with difficulty caught + the terrible cuts of his weapon upon his shield. Like a gold-scaled dragon + the Mohammedan swung himself round his antagonist with an agility which, + with his long flowing white beard, was ghostly and horrible to witness. + Heimbert was prepared to meet him on all sides, ever keeping a watchful + eye for some opening in the scales made by the violence of his movements. + At last it happened as he desired; between the arm and breast on the left + side the dark garments of the Dervish became visible, and quick as + lightning the German made a deadly thrust. The old man exclaimed aloud, + “Allah! Allah!” and fell forward, fearful even in his fall, a senseless + corpse. + </p> + <p> + “I pity him!” sighed Heimbert, leaning on his sword and looking down on + his fallen foe. “He has fought nobly, and even in death he called upon his + Allah, whom he looked upon as the true God. He must not lack honorable + burial.” He then dug a grave with the broad scimitar of his adversary, + laid the corpse within it, covered it over with turf, and knelt on the + spot in silent heartfelt prayer for the soul of the departed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + Heimbert rose from his pious duty, and his first glance fell on Zelinda, + who stood smiling by his side, and his second upon the wholly changed + scene around. The rocky cavern and grotto had disappeared, the distorted + forms of trees and beasts, half terrible and half charming as they were, + had vanished also; a gentle grassy hill sloped down on every side of the + point where he stood, toward the sandy waste; springs gushed out here and + there in refreshing beauty; date-trees bent over the little paths—everything, + indeed, in the now opening day was full of sweet and simple peace. + </p> + <p> + “Thank God!” said Heimbert, turning to his companion, “you can now surely + feel how infinitely more lovely, grand, and beautiful is everything as our + dear Father has created it than it can be when transformed by the highest + human art. The Heavenly Gardener has indeed permitted us, his beloved + children, in his abundant mercy, to help forward his gracious works, that + we may thus become happier and better; but we must take care that we + change nothing to suit our own rash wilful fancies; else it is as if we + were expelling ourselves a second time from Paradise.” “It shall not + happen again,” said Zelinda humbly. “But may you in this solitary region, + where we are not likely to meet with any priest of our faith, may you not + bestow on me, as one born anew, the blessing of Holy Baptism?” + </p> + <p> + Heimbert, after some consideration, replied, “I hope I may do so. And if I + am wrong, God will pardon me. It is surely done in the desire to bring to + him so worthy a soul as soon as possible.” + </p> + <p> + So they walked together, silently praying and full of smiling happiness, + down to one of the pleasant springs of the oasis, and just as they reached + the edge and prepared themselves for the holy work the sun rose before + them as if to confirm and strengthen their purpose, and the two beaming + countenances looked at each other with joy and confidence. Heimbert had + not thought of the Christian name he should bestow on his disciple, but as + he scooped up the water, and the desert lay around him so solemn in the + rosy glow of morning, he remembered the pious hermit Antony in his + Egyptian solitude, and he baptized the lovely convert, Antonia. + </p> + <p> + They spent the day in holy conversation, and Antonia showed her friend a + little cave, in which she had concealed all sorts of store for her + sustenance when she first dwelt on the oasis. “For,” said she, “the good + God is my witness that I came hither only that I might, in solitude, + become better acquainted with him and his created works, without knowing + at that time in the least of any magic expedients. Subsequently the + Dervish came, tempting me, and the horrors of the desert joined in a + fearful league with his terrible power, and then by degrees followed all + that alluring spirits showed me either in dreams or awake.” + </p> + <p> + Heimbert had no scruple to take with him for the journey any of the wine + and fruits that were still fit for use, and Antonia assured him that by + the direct way, well known to her, they would reach the fruitful shore of + this waterless ocean in a few days. So with the approach of evening + coolness they set out on their journey. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. + </h2> + <p> + The travellers had almost traversed the pathless plain when one day they + saw a figure wandering in the distance, for in the desolate Sahara every + object is visible to the very horizon if the whirlwind of dust does not + conceal it from view. The wanderer seemed doubtful of his course, + sometimes taking this, sometimes that direction, and Antonia’s eastern + falcon eye could discern that it was no Arab, but a man in knightly garb. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear sister,” exclaimed Heimbert, full of anxious joy, “then it is + our poor Fadrique, who is in search of thee. For pity’s sake, let as + hasten before he loses us, and perhaps at last his own life also, in this + immeasurable waste.” They strained every effort to reach the distant + object, but it was now midday and the sun shone burningly upon them, + Antonia could not long endure this rapid progress; added to which the + fearful whirlwind soon arose, and the figure that had been scarcely + visible before faded from their eyes, like some phantom of the mist in + autumn. + </p> + <p> + With the rising moon they began anew to hasten forward, calling loudly + upon the unfortunate wanderer, and fluttering white handkerchiefs tied to + their walking-staffs, as signal flags, but it was all in vain. The object + that had disappeared remained lost to view. Only a few giraffes sprang + shyly past them, and the ostriches quickened their speed. + </p> + <p> + At length, as morning dawned, Antonia paused and said, “Thou canst not + leave me, brother, in this solitude, and I cannot go a single step + farther. God will protect the noble Fadrique. How could a father forsake + such a model of knightly excellence?” “The disciple shames the teacher,” + replied Heimbert, his sad face brightening into a smile. “We have done our + part, and we may confidently hope that God will come to the aid of our + failing powers and do what is necessary.” As he spoke he spread his mantle + on the sand, that Antonia might rest more comfortably. Suddenly looking + up, he exclaimed, “Oh, God! yonder lies a man, completely buried in the + sand. Oh, that he may not be already dead!” + </p> + <p> + He immediately began to sprinkle wine, from the flask he carried, on the + brow of the fainting traveller, and to chafe his temples with it. The man + at last slowly opened his eyes and said, “I had hoped the morning dew + would not again have fallen on me, but that unknown and unlamented I might + have perished here in the desert, as must be the case in the end.” So + saying he closed his eyes again, like one intoxicated with sleep, but + Heimbert continued his restoratives unwearyingly, and at length the + refreshed wanderer half raised himself from the sand with an exclamation + of astonishment. + </p> + <p> + He looked from Heimbert to his companion, and from her again at Heimbert, + and suddenly exclaimed, gnashing his teeth, “Ha, was it to be thus! I was + not even to be allowed to die in the dull happiness of quiet solitude! I + was to be first doomed to see my rival’s success and my sister’s shame!” + At the same time he sprang to his feet with a violent effort and rushed + forward upon Heimbert with drawn sword. But Heimbert moved neither sword + nor arm, and merely said, in a gentle voice, “Wearied out, as you now are, + I cannot possibly fight with you; besides, I must first place this lady in + security.” Antonia, who had at first gazed with much emotion at the angry + knight, now stepped suddenly between the two men and cried out, “Oh, + Fadrique, neither misery nor anger can utterly disfigure you. But what has + my noble brother done to you?” “Brother?” said Fadrique, with + astonishment. “Or godfather, or confessor,” interrupted Heimbert, “as you + will. Only do not call her Zelinda, for her name is now Antonia; she is a + Christian, and waits to be your bride.” Fadrique stood fixed with + surprise, but Heimbert’s true-hearted words and Antonia’s lovely blushes + soon revealed the happy enigma to him. He sank down before the longed-for + form with a sense of exquisite delight, and in the midst of the + inhospitable desert the flowers of love and gratitude and confidence sent + their sweetness heavenward. + </p> + <p> + The excitement of this happy surprise at last gave way to bodily fatigue. + Antonia, like some drooping blossom, stretched her fair form on the again + burning sand, and slumbered under the protection of her lover and her + chosen brother. “Sleep also,” said Heimbert softly to Fadrique; “you must + have wandered about wildly and wearily, for exhaustion is pressing down + your eyelids with leaden weight. I am quite fresh, and I will watch + meanwhile.” “Ah, Heimbert,” sighed the noble Castilian, “my sister is + thine, thou messenger from Heaven; that is an understood thing. But now + for our affair of honor!” “Certainly,” said Heimbert, very gravely, “as + soon as we are again in Spain, you must give me satisfaction for that + over-hasty expression. Till then, however, I beg you not to mention it. An + unfinished quarrel is no good subject for conversation.” + </p> + <p> + Fadrique laid himself sadly down to rest, overcome by long-resisted sleep, + and Heimbert knelt down with a glad heart, thanking the good God for + having given him success, and for blessing, him with a future full of + joyful assurance. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> + <p> + The next day the three travellers reached the edge of the desert, and + refreshed themselves for a week in an adjacent village, which, with its + shady trees and green pastures, seemed like a little paradise in contrast + to the joyless Sahara. Fadrique’s condition especially made this rest + necessary. He had never left the desert during the whole time, gaining his + subsistence by fighting with wandering Arabs, and often almost exhausted + by the utter want of all food and drink. At length he had become so + thoroughly confused that the stars could no longer guide him, and he had + been driven about, sadly and objectless, like the dust clouds of the + desert. + </p> + <p> + Even now, at times, when he would fall asleep after the midday meal, and + Antonia and Heimbert would watch his slumbers like two smiling angels, he + would suddenly start up and gaze round him with a terrified air, and then + it was not till he had refreshed himself by looking at the two friendly + faces that he would sink back again into quiet repose. When questioned on + the matter, after he was fully awake, he told them that in his wanderings + nothing had been more terrible to him than the deluding dreams which had + transported him, sometimes to his own home, sometimes to the merry camp of + his comrades, and sometimes into Zelinda’s presence, and then leaving him + doubly helpless and miserable in the horrible solitude as the delusion + vanished. It was on this account that even now waking was fearful to him, + and even in sleep a vague consciousness of his past sufferings would often + disturb him. “You cannot imagine it,” he added. “To be suddenly + transported from well-known scenes into the boundless desert! And instead + of the longed-for enchanting face of my beloved, to see an ugly camel’s + head stretched over me inquisitively with its long neck, starting back as + I rose with still more ugly timidity!” + </p> + <p> + This, with all other painful consequences of his past miseries, soon + wholly vanished, from Fadrique’s mind, and they cheerfully set out on + their journey to Tunis. The consciousness, indeed, of his injustice to + Heimbert and its unavoidable results often lay like a cloud upon the noble + Spaniard’s brow, but it also softened the natural proud severity of his + nature, and Antonia could cling the more tenderly and closely to him with + her loving heart. + </p> + <p> + Tunis, which had been before so amazed at Zelinda’s magic power and + enthusiastic hostility against the Christians, now witnessed Antonia’s + solemn baptism in a newly-consecrated edifice, and soon after the three + companions took ship with a favorable wind for Malaga. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. + </h2> + <p> + Beside the fountain where she had parted from Heimbert, Dona Clara was + sitting one evening in deep thought. The guitar on her knees gave forth a + few solitary chords, dreamily drawn from it, as it were, by her delicate + hands, and at length forming themselves into a melody, while the following + words dropped softly from her partly opened lips: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Far away, ‘fore Tunis ramparts, + Where the Christian army lies, + Paynim host are fiercely fighting + With Spanish troops and Spain’s allies. + Who from bloodstained lilies there, + And death’s roses pale and fair— + Who has borne the conquerer’s prize? + + “Ask Duke Alba, ask Duke Alba, + Which two knights their fame have proved, + One was my own valiant brother, + The other was my heart’s beloved. + And I thought that I should crown them, + Doubly bright with glory’s prize, + And a widow’s veil is falling + Doubly o’er my weeping eyes, + For the brave knights ne’er again + Will be found mid living men.” + </pre> + <p> + The music paused, and soft dew-drops fell from her heavenly eyes. + Heimbert, who was concealed under the neighboring orange-trees, felt + sympathetic tears rolling down his cheeks, and Fadrique, who had led him + and Antonia there, could no longer delay the joy of meeting, but stepping + forward with his two companions he presented himself before his sister, + like some angelic messenger. + </p> + <p> + Such moments of extreme and sudden delight, the heavenly blessings long + expected and rarely vouchsafed, are better imagined by each after his own + fashion, and it is doing but an ill service to recount all that this one + did and that one said. Picture it therefore to yourself, dear reader, + after your own fancy, as you are certainly far better able to do, if the + two loving pairs in my story have become dear to you and you have grown + intimate with them. If that, however, be not the case, what is the use of + wasting unnecessary words? For the benefit of those who with heart-felt + pleasure could have lingered over this meeting of the sister with her + brother and her lover, I will proceed with increased confidence. Although + Heimbert, casting a significant look at Fadrique, was on the point of + retiring as soon as Antonia had been placed under Dona Clara’s protection, + the noble Spaniard would not permit him. He detained his companion-in-arms + with courteous and brotherly requests that he would remain till the + evening repast, at which some relatives of the Mendez family joined the + party, and in their presence Fadrique declared the brave Heimbert of + Waldhausen to be Dona Clara’s fiance, sealing the betrothal with the most + solemn words, so that it might remain indissoluble, whatever might + afterward occur which should seem inimical to their union. The witnesses + were somewhat astonished at these strange precautionary measures, but at + Fadrique’s desire they unhesitatingly gave their word that all should be + carried out as he wished, and they did this the more unhesitatingly as the + Duke of Alba, who had just been in Malaga on some trivial business, had + filled the whole city with the praises of the two young captains. + </p> + <p> + As the richest wine was now passing round the table in the tall crystal + goblets, Fadrique stepped behind Heimbert’s chair and whispered to him, + “If it please you, Senor—the moon is just risen and is shining as + bright as day—I am ready to give you satisfaction.” Heimbert nodded + in assent, and the two youths quitted the hall, followed by the sweet + salutations of the unsuspecting ladies. + </p> + <p> + As they passed through the beautiful garden, Fadrique said, with a sigh, + “We could have wandered here so happily together, but for my + over-rashness!” “Yes, indeed,” said Heimbert, “but so it is, and it cannot + be otherwise, if we would continue to look upon each other as a soldier + and a nobleman.” “True!” replied Fadrique, and they hastened to reach a + distant part of the garden, where the sound of their clashing swords could + not reach the gay hall of betrothal they had left. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + Secret and inclosed, with blooming shrubs planted around, with not a sound + to be heard of the merry company, nor of the animated streets of the city, + with the full moon shining overhead and brightening the solemn circle with + its clear brilliancy—such was the spot. The two captains unsheathed + their gleaming swords and stood opposite each other, ready for the + encounter. But before they began the combat a nobler feeling drew them to + each other’s arms; they lowered their weapons and embraced in the most + fraternal manner. They then tore themselves away and the fearful contest + began. + </p> + <p> + They were now no longer brothers-in-arms, no longer friends, no longer + brothers-in-law, who directed their sharp steels against each other. With + the most resolute boldness, but with the coolest collectedness, each fell + upon his adversary, guarding his own breast at the same time. After a few + hot and dangerous passes the combatants were obliged to rest, and during + the pause they regarded each other with increased love, each rejoicing to + find his comrade so valiant and so honorable. And then the fatal strife + began anew. + </p> + <p> + With his left hand Heimbert dashed aside Fadrique’s sword, which had been + aimed at him with a thrust in tierce, sideward, but the keen edge had + penetrated his leathern glove, and the red blood gushed out. “Hold!” cried + Fadrique, and they searched for the wound, but soon perceiving that it was + of no importance, and binding it up, they both began the combat with + undiminished vigor. + </p> + <p> + It was not long before Heimbert’s blade pierced Fadrique’s right shoulder, + and the German, feeling that he had wounded his opponent, now on his side + called out to halt. At first Fadrique would not acknowledge to the injury, + but soon the blood began to trickle down, and he was obliged to accept his + friend’s careful assistance. Still this wound also appeared insignificant, + the noble Spaniard still felt power to wield his sword, and again the + deadly contest was renewed with knightly ardor. + </p> + <p> + Presently the garden-gate clanked, and the sound of a horse’s step was + heard advancing through the shrubbery. Both combatants paused in their + stern work and turned toward the unwelcome disturber. The next moment + through the slender pines a horseman was visible whose dress and bearing + proclaimed him a warrior and Fadrique, as master of the house, at once + addressed him. “Senor,” said he, “why you come here, intruding into a + strange garden, we will inquire at another time. For the present I will + only request you to leave us free from further interruption by immediately + retiring, and to favor me with your name.” “Retire I will not,” replied + the stranger, “but my name I will gladly tell you. I am the Duke of Alba.” + And as he spoke, by a movement of his charger a bright moonbeam fell upon + his pale thin face, the dwelling-place of all that was grand and worthy + and terrible. The two captains bowed low and dropped their weapons. + </p> + <p> + “I ought to know you,” continued Alba, looking at them with his sparkling + eyes. “Yes, truly, I know you well, you are the two young heroes at the + battle of Tunis. God be praised that two such brave warriors, whom I had + given up for lost, are still alive; but tell me, what is this affair of + honor that has turned your good swords against each other? For I hope you + will not hesitate to declare to me the cause of your knightly contest.” + </p> + <p> + They complied with the great duke’s behest. Both the noble youths related + the whole circumstances, from the evening previous to their embarkation up + to the present moment, while Alba remained between them, in silent + thought, almost motionless, like some equestrian statue. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. + </h2> + <p> + The Captains had already long finished their story, and the duke still + remained silent and motionless, in deep reflection. At last he began to + speak, and addressed them as follows: + </p> + <p> + “May God and his holy word help me, my young knights, when I say that I + consider, after my best and most conscientious belief, that this affair of + yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each other in contest + on account of those irritating words which escaped the lips of Don + Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you have hitherto received + are not sufficient compensation for the angry expression, there is still + your common fight before Tunis, and the rescue in the desert afforded by + Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don Fadrique Mendez, after he had gained his + bride for him. From all this, I consider that the Knight of Waldhausen is + entitled to pardon any offence of an adversary to whom he has shown + himself so well inclined. Old Roman history tells us of two captains of + the great Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cemented a hearty + friendship with each other when engaged in the same bold fight, delivering + each other in the midst of a Gallic army. I affirm, however, that you two + have done more for each other: and therefore I declare your affair of + honor to be settled, and at an end. Sheathe your swords, and embrace each + other in my presence.” + </p> + <p> + Obedient to the command of their general, the young knights for the + present sheathed their weapons; but anxious lest the slightest possible + shadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the reconciling + embrace. + </p> + <p> + The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air, and said, + “Do you then suppose, young knights, that I could wish to save the lives + of two heroes at the expense of their honor? I would rather at once have + struck you dead, both of you at once. But I see plainly that with such + obstinate minds one must have recourse to other measures.” + </p> + <p> + And, dismounting from his horse, he fastened it to a tree, and then + stepped forward between the two captains with a drawn sword in his right + hand, crying out, “Whoever will deny in any wise that the quarrel between + Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen and Don Fadrique Mendez is honorably and + gloriously settled must settle the matter at the peril of his life with + the Duke of Alba; and should the present knights have any objection to + raise to this, let them declare it. I stand here as champion for my own + conviction.” + </p> + <p> + The youths bowed submissively before the great umpire, and fell into each + other’s arms. The duke, however, embraced them both with hearty affection, + which appeared all the more charming and refreshing as it rarely burst + forth from this stern character. Then he led the reconciled friends back + to their betrothed, and when these, after the first joyful surprise was + over at the presence of the honored general, started back at seeing drops + of blood on the garments of the youths, the duke said, smiling, “Oh, ye + brides elect of soldiers, you must not shrink from such jewels of honor. + Your lovers could bring you no fairer wedding gift.” + </p> + <p> + The great Alba was not not be deprived of the pleasure of enacting the + office of father to the two happy brides, and the festival of their union + was fixed for the following day. From that time forth they lived in + undisturbed and joyful concord; and though the Knight Heimbert was + recalled soon afterward with his lovely consort to the bosom of his German + Fatherland, he and Fadrique kept up the link between them by letters and + messages; and even in after times the descendants of the lord of + Waldhausen boasted of their connection with the noble house of Mendez, + while the latter have ever sacredly preserved the tradition of the brave + and magnanimous Heimbert. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s The Two Captains, by Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO CAPTAINS *** + +***** This file should be named 2826-h.htm or 2826-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/2/2826/ + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Two Captains + +Author: Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +Posting Date: December 3, 2008 [EBook #2826] +Release Date: September, 2001 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO CAPTAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe + + + + + +THE TWO CAPTAINS. + +By Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouque + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +A Mild summer evening was resting on the shores of Malaga, awakening the +guitar of many a merry singer among the ships in the harbor, and in +the city houses, and in many an ornamental garden villa. Emulating +the voices of the birds, the melodious tones greeted the refreshing +coolness, and floated like perfumed exhalations from meadow and water, +over the enchanting region. Some troops of infantry who were on the +shore, and who purposed to spend the night there, that they might be +ready for embarkation early on the following morning, forgot amid the +charms of the pleasant eventide that they ought to devote these last few +hours on European soil to ease and slumber; they began to sing military +songs, to drink to each other with their flasks filled to the brim with +the rich wine of Xeres, toasting to the long life of the mighty Emperor +Charles V., who was now besieging the pirate-nest Tunis, and to whose +assistance they were about to sail. The merry soldiers were not all +of one race. Only two companies consisted of Spaniards; the third +was formed of pure Germans, and now and then among the various +fellow-combatants the difference of manners and language had given +rise to much bantering. Now, however, the fellowship of the approaching +sea-voyage and of the glorious perils to be shared, as well as the +refreshing feeling which the soft southern evening poured over soul and +sense, united the band of comrades in perfect and undisturbed harmony. +The Germans tried to speak Castilian, and the Spaniards to speak German, +without its occurring to any one to make a fuss about the mistakes and +confusions that happened. They mutually helped each other, thinking of +nothing else but the good-will of their companions, each drawing near to +his fellow by means of his own language. + +Somewhat apart from the merry tumult, a young German captain, Sir +Heimbert of Waldhausen, was reclining under a cork-tree, gazing +earnestly up at the stars, apparently in a very different mood to the +fresh, merry sociability which his comrades knew and loved in him. +Presently the Spanish captain, Don Fadrique Mendez, approached him; +he was a youth like the other, and was equally skilled in martial +exercises, but he was generally as austere and thoughtful as Heimbert +was cheerful and gentle. "Pardon, Senor," began the solemn Spaniard, "if +I disturb you in your meditations. But as I have had the honor of often +seeing you as a courageous warrior and faithful brother in amrs in many +a hot encounter, I would gladly solicit you above all others to do me +a knightly service, if it does not interfere with your own plans and +projects for this night." "Dear sir," returned Heimbert courteously, "I +have certainly an affair of importance to attend to before sunrise, +but till midnight I am perfectly free, and ready to render you any +assistance as a brother in aims." "Enough," said Fadrique, "for at +midnight the tones must long have ceased with which I shall have taken +farewell of the dearest being I have ever known in this my native city. +But that you may be as fully acquainted with the whole affair as behoves +a noble companion, listen to me attentively for a few moments. + +"Some time before I left Malaga to join the army of our great emperor +and to aid in spreading the glory of his arms through Italy, I was +devoted, after the fashion of young knights, to the service of a +beautiful girl in this city, named Lucila. She had at that time scarcely +reached the period which separates childhood from ripe maidenhood, and +as I--a boy only just capable of bearing arms--offered my homage with a +childlike, friendly feeling, it was also received by my young mistress +in a similar childlike manner. I marched at length to Italy, and as you +yourself know, for we have been companions since then, I was in many a +hot fight and in many an enchantingly alluring region in that luxurious +land. Amid all our changes, I held unalterably within me the image of my +gentle mistress, never pausing in the honorable service I had vowed to +her, although I cannot conceal from you that in so doing it was rather +to fulfil the word I had pledged at my departure than from any impelling +and immoderately ardent feeling in my heart. When we returned to my +native city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my +mistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercer +far than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child of +heaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila's steps, +from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend, from +thence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and ladies, +and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible. When I had +at length assured myself that no other young knight attended her, and +that she devoted herself entirely to the husband chosen for her by her +parents rather than desired by herself, I felt perfectly satisfied, and +I should not have troubled you at this moment had not Lucila approached +me the day before yesterday and whispered in my ear that I must not +provoke her husband, for he was very passionate and bold; that not the +slightest danger threatened her in the matter, because he loved and +honored her above everything, but that his wrath would vent itself +all the more furiously upon me. You can readily understand, my noble +comrade, that I could not help proving my contempt of all personal +danger by following Lucila more closely than ever, and singing nightly +serenades beneath her flower-decked windows till the morning star began +to be reflected in the sea. This very night Lucila's husband sets out +at midnight for Madrid, and from that hour I will in every way avoid +the street in which they live; until then, however, as soon as it +is sufficiently dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will have +love-romances unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I have +information that not only he but Lucila's brothers are really to enter +upon a quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I have +requested you to bear me company with your good sword in this short +expedition." + +Heimbert seized the Spaniard's hand as a pledge of his readiness, saying +as he did so, "To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do what you +desire of me, I will requite your confidence with confidence, and will +relate a little incident which occurred to me in this city, and will beg +you after midnight also to render me a small service. My story is short, +and will not detain us longer than we must wait before the twilight has +become deeper and more gloomy. + +"On the day after we arrived here I amused myself with walking in the +beautiful gardens with which the place abounds. I have now been long +in these southern lands, but I cannot but believe that the dreams which +transport me nightly back to my German home are the cause for my feeling +everything here so strange and astonishing. At all events, every morning +when I wake I wonder anew, as if I were only just arrived. So I was +walking then, like one infatuated, among the aloe trees, which were +scattered among the laurels and oleanders. Suddenly a cry sounded near +me, and a slender girl, dressed in white, fled into my arms, fainting, +while her companions dispersed past us in every direction. A soldier +can always tolerably soon gather his senses together, and I speedily +perceived a furious bull was pursuing the beautiful maiden. I threw +her quickly over a thickly planted hedge, and followed her myself, upon +which the beast, blind with rage, passed us by, and I have heard no more +of it since, except that some young knights in an adjacent courtyard had +been making a trial with it previous to a bull-fight, and that it was on +this account that it had broken so furiously through the gardens. + +"I was now standing quite alone, with the fainting lady in my arms, and +she was so wonderfully beautiful to look at that I have never in my life +felt happier than I then did, and also never sadder. At last I laid +her down on the turf, and sprinkled her angelic brow, with water from a +neighboring little fountain. And so she came to herself again, and when +she opened her bright and lovely eyes I thought I could imagine how the +glorified spirits must feel in heaven. + +"She thanked me with graceful and courteous words, and called me her +knight; but in my state of enchantment I could not utter a syllable, and +she must have almost thought me dumb. At length my speech returned, and +the prayer at once was breathed forth from my heart, that the sweet lady +would often again allow me to see her in this garden; for that in a few +weeks the service of the emperor would drive me into the burning land +of Africa, and that until then she should vouchsafe me the happiness +of beholding her. She looked at me half smiling, half sadly, and said, +'Yes.' And she has kept her word and has appeared almost daily, without +our having yet spoken much to each other. For although she has been +sometimes quite alone, I could never begin any other topic but that of +the happiness of walking by her side. Often she has sung to me, and I +have sung to her also. When I told her yesterday that our departure was +so near, her heavenly eyes seemed to me suffused with tears. I must also +have looked sorrowful, for she said to me, in a consoling tone, 'Oh, +pious, childlike warrior! one may trust you as one trusts an angel.' +After midnight, before the morning dawn breaks for your departure, I +give you leave to take farewell of me in this very spot. If you could, +however, find a true and discreet comrade to watch the entrance from the +street, it would be well, for many a soldier may be passing at that hour +through the city on his way from some farewell carouse. Providence has +now sent me such a comrade, and at one o'clock I shall go joyfully to +the lovely maiden." + +"I only wish the service on which you require me were more rich in +danger," rejoined Fadrique, "so that I might better prove to you that +I am yours with life and limb. But come, noble brother, the hour for my +adventure is arrived." + +And wrapped in their mantles, the youths walked hastily toward the city, +Fadrique carrying his beautiful guitar under his arm. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +The night-smelling flowers in Lucila's window were already beginning to +emit their refreshing perfume when Fadrique, leaning in the shadow of +the angle of an old church opposite, began to tune his guitar. Heimbert +had stationed himself not far from him, behind a pillar, his drawn sword +under his mantle, and his clear blue eyes, like two watching stars, +looking calmly and penetrating around. Fadrique sang: + + + "Upon a meadow green with spring, + A little flower was blossoming, + With petals red and snowy white; + To me, a youth, my soul's delight + Within that blossom lay, + And I have loved my song to indite + And flattering homage pay. + + "Since then a wanderer I have been, + And many a bloody strife have seen; + And now returned, I see + The little floweret stands no more + Upon the meadow as before; + Transplanted by a gardener's care, + And hedged by golden trellis there, + It is denied to me. + + "I grudge him not his trelllsed guard, + His bolts of iron, strongly barred; + Yet, wandering in the cool night-air, + I touch my zither's string, + And as afore her beauties rare, + Her wondrous graces sing, + And e'en the gardener shall not dare + Refuse the praise I bring." + + +"That depends, Senor," said a man, stepping close, and as he thought +unobserved, before Fadrique; but the latter had already been informed +of his approach by a sign from his watchful friend, and he was therefore +ready to answer with the greater coolness, "If you wish, Senor, to +commence a suit with my guitar, she has, at all events, a tongue of +steel, which has already on many occasions done her excellent service. +With whom is it your pleasure to speak, with the guitar or the +advocate?" + +While the stranger was silent from embarrassment, two mantled figures +had approached Heimbert and remained standing a few steps from him, +as if to cut off Fadrique's flight in case he intended to escape. "I +believe, dear sirs," said Heimbert in a courteous tone, "we are here on +the same errand--namely, to prevent any intrusion upon the conference of +yonder knights. At least, as far as I am concerned, you may rely upon it +that any one who attempts to interfere in their affair will receive my +dagger in his heart. Be of good cheer, therefore; I think we shall both +do our duty." The two gentlemen bowed courteously and were silent. + +The quiet self-possession with which the two soldiers carried on the +whole affair was most embarrassing to their three adversaries, and +they were at a loss to know how they should begin the dispute. At last +Fadrique again touched the strings of his guitar, and was preparing +to begin another song. This mark of contempt and apparent disregard of +danger and hazard so enraged Lucila's husband (for it was he who had +taken his stand by Don Fadrique) that without further delay he drew his +sword from his sheath, and with a voice of suppressed rage called out, +"Draw, or I shall stab you!" "Very gladly, Senor," replied Fadrique +quietly; "you need not threaten me; you might as well have said so +calmly." And so saying he placed his guitar carefully in a niche in the +church wall, seized his sword, and, bowing gracefully to his opponent, +the fight, began. + +At first the two figures by Heimbert's side, who were Lucila's brothers, +remained quite quiet; but when Fadrique began to get the better of their +brother-in-law they appeared as if they intended to take part in the +fight. Heimbert therefore made his mighty sword gleam in the moonlight, +and said, "Dear sirs, you will not surely oblige me to execute that of +which I previously assured you? I pray you not to compel me to do so; +but if it cannot be otherwise, I must honorably keep my word, you may +rely upon it." The two young men remained from that time motionless, +surprised both at the decision and at the true-hearted friendliness that +lay in Heimbert's words. + +Meanwhile Don Fadrique, although pressing hard upon his adversary, +had generously avoided wounding him, and when at last by a dexterous +movement he wrested his sword from him. Lucila's husband, surprised at +the unexpected advantage, and in alarm at being thus disarmed, retreated +a few steps. But Fadrique threw the weapon adroitly into the air, and +catching it again near the point of the blade, he said, as he gracefully +presented the hilt to his opponent, "Take it, Senor, and I hope +our affair of honor is now settled, as you will grant under these +circumstances that I am only here to show that I fear no sword-thrust in +the world. The bell of the old cathedral is now ringing twelve o'clock, +and I give you my word of honor as a knight and a soldier that neither +is Dona Lucila pleased with my attentions nor am I pleased with paying +them; from henceforth, and were I to remain a hundred years in Malaga, +I would not continue to serenade her in this spot. So proceed on your +journey, and God be with you." He then once more greeted his conquered +adversary with serious and solemn courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbert +followed him, after having cordially shaken hands with the two youths, +saying, "No, dear young sirs, do not let it ever again enter your heads +to interfere in any honorable contest. Do you understand me?" + +He soon overtook his companion, and walked on by his side so full of +ardent expectation, and with his heart beating so joyfully and yet so +painfully, that he could not utter a single word. Don Fadrique Mendez +was also silent; it was not till Heimbert paused before an ornamented +garden-gate, and pointed cheerfully to the pomegranate boughs richly +laden with fruits which overhung it, saying, "This is the place, dear +comrade," that the Spaniard appeared as if about to ask a question, +but turning quickly round he merely said, "I am pledged to guard this +entrance for you till dawn. You have my word of honor for it." So saying +he began walking to and fro before the gate, with drawn sword, like a +sentinel, and Heimbert, trembling with joy, glided within the gloomy and +aromatic shrubberies. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +He was not long in seeking the bright star, which he indeed felt was +destined henceforth to guide the course of his whole life. The delicate +form approached him not far from the entrance; weeping softly, it seemed +to him, in the light of the full moon which was just rising, and yet +smiling with such infinite grace, that her tears were rather like a +pearly ornament than a veil of sorrow. In deep and infinite joy and +sorrow the two lovers wandered silently together through the flowery +groves; now and then a branch waving in the night-air would touch the +guitar on the lady's arm, and it would breathe forth a slight murmur +which blended with the song of the nightingale, or the delicate fingers +of the girl would tremble over the strings and awaken a few scattered +chords, while the shooting stars seemed as if following the tones of the +instrument as they died away. Oh, truly happy was this night both to +the youth and the maiden, for no rash wish or impure desire passed even +fleetingly across their minds. They walked on side by side, happy that +Providence had allowed them this delight, and so little desiring any +other blessing that even the transitoriness of that they were now +enjoying floated away into the background of their thoughts. + +In the middle of the beautiful garden there was a large open lawn, +ornamented with statues and surrounding a beautiful and splashing +fountain. The two lovers sat down on its brink, now gazing at the waters +sparkling in the moonlight, and now delighting in the contemplation +of each other's beauty. The maiden touched her guitar, and Heimbert, +impelled by a feeling scarcely intelligible to himself, sang the +following words to it: + + + "There is a sweet life linked with mine, + But I cannot tell its name; + Oh, would it but to me consign + The secret of that life divine, + That so my lips in whispers sweet + And gentle songs might e'en repeat + All that my heart would fain proclaim!" + + +He suddenly paused, and blushed deeply, fearing he had been too bold. +The lady blushed also, touched her guitar-strings with a half-abstracted +air, and at last sang as if dreamily: + + + "By the spring where moonlight's gleams + O'er the sparkling waters pass, + Who is sitting by the youth, + Singing on the soft green grass? + Shall the maiden tell her name, + When though all unknown it be, + Her heart is glowing with her shame, + And her cheeks burn anxiously, + First, let the youthful knight be named. + 'Tis he that on that glorious day + Fought in Castilla's proud array; + + 'Tis he the youth of sixteen years, + At Pavia, who his fortunes tried, + The Frenchman's fear, the Spaniard's pride. + Heimbert is the hero's name, + Victorious in many a fight! + And beside the valiant knight, + Sitting in the soft green grass, + Though her name her lips shall pass, + Dona Clara feels no shame " + + +"Oh!" said Heimbert, blushing from another cause than before, "oh, +Dona Clara, that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and victorious +tournament, and even if occasionally since then I have been engaged in +a tougher contest, how have I ever merited as a reward the overwhelming +bliss I am now enjoying! Now I know what your name is, and I may +in future address you by it, my angelic Dona Clara, my blessed and +beautiful Dona Clara! But tell me now, who has given you such a +favorable report of my achievements, that I may ever regard him with +grateful affection?" + +"Does the noble Heimbert of Waldhausen suppose," rejoined Clara, "that +the noble houses of Spain had none of their sons where he stood in the +battle? You must have surely seen them fighting by your side, and must I +not have heard of your glories through the lips of my own people?" + +The silvery tones of a little bell sounded just then from a neighboring +palace, and Clara whispered, "It is time to part. Adieu, my hero!" And +she smiled on the youth through her gushing tears, and bent toward him, +and he almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed from her lips. When +he fully recovered himself Clara had disappeared, the morning clouds +were beginning to wear the rosy hue of dawn, and Heimbert, with a heaven +of love's proud happiness in his heart, returned to his watchful friend +at the garden gate. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +"Halt!" exclaimed Fadrique, as Heimbert appeared from the garden, +holding his drawn sword toward him ready for attack. "Stop, you are +mistaken, my good comrade," said the German, smiling, "it is I whom you +see before you." "Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of Waldhausen," said +Fadrique, "that I mistake you. But my promise is discharged, my hour of +guard has been honorably kept, and now I beg you without further delay +to prepare yourself, and fight for your life until heart's blood has +ceased to flow through these veins." "Good heavens!" sighed Heimbert, +"I have often heard that in these southern lands there are witches, who +deprive people of their senses by magic arts and incantations. But +I have never experienced anything of the sort until to-day. Compose +yourself, my dear good comrade, and go with me back to the shore." +Fadrique laughed fiercely, and answered, "Set aside your silly delusion, +and if you must have everything explained to you, word by word, in order +to understand it, know then that the lady whom you came to meet in the +shrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez, my only sister. Quick, +therefore, and without further preamble, draw!" "God forbid!" exclaimed +the German, not touching his weapon. "You shall be my brother-in-law, +Fadrique, and not my murderer, and still less will I be yours." Fadrique +only shook his head indignantly, and advanced toward his comrade with +measured steps for an encounter. Heimbert, however, still remained +immovable, and said, "No, Fadrique, I cannot now or ever do you harm. +For besides the love I bear your sister, it must certainly have been you +who has spoken to her so honorably of my military expeditions in +Italy." "When I did so," replied Fadrique in a fury, "I was a fool. But, +dallying coward, out with your sword, or--" + +Before Fadrique had finished speaking, Heimbert, burning with +indignation, exclaimed, "The devil himself could not bear that!" and +drawing his sword from the scabbard, the two young captains rushed +fiercely and resolutely to the attack. + +Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by Fadrique +with Lucila's husband. The two young soldiers well understood their +weapons, and strove with each other with equal boldness, their swords +flashing like rays of light as now this one now that one hurled a +lightning thrust at his adversary, which was with similar speed and +dexterity turned aside. Firmly they pressed the left foot, as if rooted +in the ground, while the right advanced to the bold onset and then +again they quickly retired to the safer attitude of defence. From the +self-possession and the quiet unremitting anger with which both the +combatants fought, it was evident that one of the two would find his +grave under the overhanging branches of the orange-tree, which were now +tinged with the red glow of morning, and this would undoubtedly have +been the case had not the report of a cannon from the harbor sounded +through the silence of the twilight. + +The combatants paused, as if at some word of command to be obeyed by +both, and listened, counting to themselves; then, as each uttered the +number thirty, a second gun was heard. "It is the signal for immediate +embarkation, Senor," said Don Fadrique; "we are now in the emperor's +service, and all dispute ceases which is not against the foes of Charles +the Fifth." "Right," replied Heimbert, "but when there is an end of +Tunis and the whole war. I shall demand satisfaction for that 'dallying +coward.'" "And I for that in intercourse with my sister," said Fadrique. +"Certainly," rejoined the other; and, so saying, the two captains +hurried down to the strand and arranged the embarkation of their troops; +while the sun, rising over the sea, shone upon them both in the same +vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +The voyagers had for some time to battle with contrary winds, and when +at length they came in sight of the coasts of Barbary the darkness of +evening had closed so deeply over the sea that no pilot in the little +squadron ventured to ride at anchor on the shallow shore. They cruised +about on the calm waters, waiting for the morning; and the soldiers, +full of laudable ambition for combat, stood impatiently in crowds on the +deck, straining their longing eyes to see the theatre of their future +deeds. + +Meanwhile the heavy firing of besiegers and besieged thundered +unceasingly from the fortress of Goletta, and as the night darkened the +scene with massy clouds, the flames of burning fragments became more +visible, and the fiery course of the red bullets was perceptible as +they crossed each other in their path, while their effects in fire and +devastation were fearful to behold. It was evident that the Mussulmans +had been attempting a sally, for a sharp fire of musketry burst forth +suddenly amid the roaring of the cannon. The fight was approaching the +trenches of the Christians, and on board the vessels none were agreed +whether the besiegers were in danger or not. At length they saw that +the Turks were driven back into the fortress; the Christian army +pursued them, and a shout was heard from the Spanish camp as of one loud +Victory! and the cry, Goletta was taken! + +How the troops on board the vessels--consisting of young and +courage-tried men--burned with ardor and their hearts beat at the +glorious spectacle, need not be detailed to those who carry a brave +heart within their own bosoms, and to all others any description would +be lost. Heimbert and Fadrique stood close to each other. "I do not +know," said the latter, speaking to himself, "but I feel as if to-morrow +I must plant my standard upon yonder height which is now lighted up with +the red glow of the bullets and burning flames in Goletta." "That is +just what I feel!" said Heimbert. The two angry captains then relapsed +into silence and turned indignantly away. + +The longed-for morning at length dawned, the vessels approached the +shore, and the landing of the troops began, while an officer was at once +dispatched to the camp to announce the arrival of the reinforcements to +the mighty general Alba. The soldiers were hastily ranged on the beach, +they put themselves and their weapons in order, and were soon standing +in battle array, ready for their great leader. Clouds of dust rose in +the gray twilight, the returning officer announced the approach of the +general, and as Alba signifies "morning" in the Castilian tongue, the +Spaniards raised a shout of rejoicing at the coincidence, as at some +favorable omen, for as the knightly train approached the first beams of +the rising sun became visible. + +The grave and haggard form of the general was seen mounted on a tall +Andalusian charger of the deepest black. Having galloped once up and +down the lines, he stopped his powerful horse in the middle, and looking +along the ranks with an air of grave satisfaction, he said, "You pass +muster well. That is well. I like it to be so. It is plain to see that +you are tried soldiers, in spite of your youth. We will first hold a +review, and then I will lead you to something more agreeable." + +So saying, he dismounted, and walking toward the right wing he began to +inspect one troop after another in the closest manner, with the captain +of each company at his side, that he might receive from him accurate +account upon the minutest particulars. Sometimes a cannon-ball from the +fortress would whizz over the heads of the men; then Alba would stand +still and cast a keen glance over the soldiers before him. But when he +saw that not an eyelash moved, a smile of satisfaction passed over his +severe pale face. + +When he had inspected both divisions he again mounted his horse and once +more galloped into the middle. Then, stroking his long beard, he said, +"You are in good order, soldiers, and therefore you shall take your +part in this glorious day, which is just dawning for our whole Christian +armada. We will attack Barbarossa, soldiers. Do you not already hear the +drums and fifes in the camp? Do you see him advancing yonder to meet the +emperor? That side of his position is assigned to you!" + +"Vivat Carolus Quintus!" resounded through the ranks. Alba beckoned +the captains to him, and assigned to each his duty. He usually mingled +German and Spanish troops together, in order to stimulate the courage of +the combatants still higher by emulation. So it happened even now that +Heimbert and Fadrique were commanded to storm the very same height, +which, now gleaming with the morning light, they at once recognized +as that which had shone out so fiercely and full of promise the night +before. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +Thrice had Fadrique and Heimbert almost forced their way to a rampart +in the fortifications, and thrice had they been repulsed with their +men into the valley below by the fierce opposition of the Turks. The +Mussulmans shouted after the retreating foe, clashed their weapons with +the triumph of victory, and with a scornful laugh asked whether they +would not come up again to give heart and brain to the scimitar and +their limbs to the falling beams of wood. The two captains, gnashing +their teeth with fury, arranged their ranks anew; for after three vain +assaults they had to move closer together to fill the places of the +slain and the mortally wounded. Meanwhile a murmur ran through the +Christian army that a witch was fighting among their foes and helping +them to conquer. + +Duke Alba rode to the point of attack, and looked scrutinizingly at the +breach they had made. "Not yet broken through the enemy here!" said +he, shaking his head, "I am surprised. From two such youths, and such +troops, I should have expected it." "Do you hear that? Do you hear +that?" exclaimed the two captains, as they paced along their lines +repeating the general's words. The soldiers shouted loudly, and demanded +to be once more led against the enemy; even those who were mortally +wounded shouted, with a last effort, "Forward, comrades!" The great Alba +at once sprang like an arrow from his horse, wrested a partisan from +the stiff hand of one of the slain, and standing in front of the two +companies he cried, "I will take part in your glory. In the name of God +and of the blessed Virgin, forward, my children!" + +And joyfully they rushed up the hill, every heart beating with +confidence, while the war-cry was raised triumphantly; some even began +already to shout "Victory! victory!" and the Mussulmans paused and +wavered. Suddenly, like the vision of an avenging angel, a maiden, +dressed in purple garments embroidered with gold appeared in the Turkish +ranks, and those who were terrified before again shouted "Allah!" +calling at the same time, "Zelinda, Zelinda!" The maiden, however, drew +a small box from under her arm, and opening it she breathed into it +and hurled it down among the Christian troops. And forth from the fatal +chest there burst a whole fire of rockets, grenades, and other fearful +messengers of death. The startled soldiers paused in their assault. +"Forward!" cried Alba. "Forward!" cried the two captains; but a flaming +arrow just then fastened on the duke's plumed hat and hissed and +crackled round his head, so that the general fell fainting down the +height. Then the German and Spanish infantry fled uncontrollably from +the fearful ascent. Again the storm had been repulsed. The Mussulmans +shouted, and like a fatal star Zelinda's beauty shone in the midst of +the flying troops. + +When Alba opened his eyes, Heimbert was standing over him, with his +mantle, arm, and face scorched with the fire, which he had not only just +extinguished on his general's head, but by throwing himself over him he +had saved him from a second body of flame rolled down the height in the +same direction. The duke was thanking his youthful deliverer when some +soldiers came up, looking for him, to apprise him that the Saracen power +was beginning an attack on the opposite wing of the army. Without losing +a word Alba threw himself on the first horse brought him and galloped +away to the spot where the most threatening danger summoned him. + +Fadrique stood with his glowing eye fixed on the rampart, where the +brilliant form of Zelinda might be seen, with a two-edged spear, ready +to be hurled, uplifted by her snow-white arm, and raising her voice, +now in encouraging tones to the Mussulmans in Arabic, and again speaking +scornfully to the Christians in Spanish. At last Fadrique exclaimed, +"Oh, foolish being! she thinks to daunt me, and yet she places herself +before me, an alluring and irresistible war-prize!" + +And as if magic wings had sprung from his shoulders, he began to fly up +the height with such rapidity that Alba's violent descent seemed but +a lazy snail's pace. Before any one was aware, he was already on the +height, and wresting spear and shield from the maiden, he had seized +her in his arms and was attempting to bear her away, while Zelinda in +anxious despair clung to the palisade with both her hands. Her cry for +help was unavailing, partly because the Turks imagined that the magic +power of the maiden was annihilated by the almost equally wondrous deed +of the youth, and partly also because the faithful Heimbert, quickly +perceiving his comrade's daring feat, had led both troops to a renewed +attack, and now stood by his side on the height, fighting hand to hand +with the defenders. This time the fury of the Mussulmans, weakened as +they were by superstition and surprise, could avail nothing against +the heroic advance of the Christian soldiers. The Spaniards and Germans +speedily broke through the enemy, assisted by the watchful squadrons of +their army. The Mohammedans fled with frightful howling, the battle with +its stream of victory rolled ever on, and the banner of the holy German +empire and that of the royal house of Castile waved victorious over the +glorious battle-field before the walls of Tunis. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +In the confusion of the conquering and the conquered, Zelinda had +wrested herself from Fadrique's arms and had fled from him with such +swiftness that, however much love and desire might have given wings to +his pursuit, she was soon out of sight in a spot so well known to her. +All the more vehement was the fury of the excited Spaniard against the +infidel foe. Wherever a little host made a fresh stand to oppose +the Christians, he would hasten forward with the troops, who ranged +themselves round him, resistless as he was, as round a banner of +victory, while Heimbert ever remained at his side like a faithful +shield, guarding off many a danger to which the youth, intoxicated with +rage and success, exposed himself without consideration. The following +day they heard of Barbarossa's flight from the city, and the victorious +troops advanced without resistance through the gates of Tunis. +Fadrique's and Heimbert's companies were always together. + +Thick clouds of smoke began to curl through the streets; the soldiers +were obliged to shake off the glowing and dusty flakes from their +mantles and richly plumed helmets, where they often rested smouldering. +"I trust the enemy in his despair has not set fire to some magazine full +of powder!" exclaimed the thoughtful Heimbert; and Fadrique, allowing +by a sign that he agreed with his surmise, hastened on to the spot from +whence the smoke proceeded, the troops courageously pressing after him. + +The sudden turn of a street brought them in view of a magnificent +palace, from the beautifully ornamented windows of which the flames +were emerging, looking like torches of death in their fitful glow, +and lighting up the splendid building in the hour of its ruin in the +grandest manner, now illuminating this and now that part of the gigantic +structure, and then again relapsing into a fearful darkness of smoke and +vapor. + +And like some faultless statue, the ornament of the whole edifice, there +stood Zelinda upon a high and giddy projection, while the tongues of +flame wreathed around her from below, calling to her companions in the +faith to help her in saving the wisdom of centuries which was preserved +in this building. The projection on which she stood began to totter from +the fervent heat raging beneath it, and a few stones gave way; Fadrique +called with a voice full of anguish to the endangered lady, and scarcely +had she withdrawn her foot from the spot, when the stone on which she +had been standing broke away and came rattling down on the pavement. +Zelinda disappeared within the burning palace, and Fadrique rushed up +its marble staircase, Heimbert, his faithful companion, following him. + +Their hasty steps carried them through lofty resounding halls; the +architecture over their heads was a maze of high arches, and one chamber +led into another almost like a labyrinth. The walls displayed on all +sides magnificent shelves, in which were to be seen stored rolls of +parchment, papyrus, and palm-leaf, partly inscribed with the characters +of long-vanished centuries, and which were now to perish themselves. +For the flames were already crackling among them and stretching their +serpent-like and fiery heads from one case of treasures to another; +while some Spanish soldiers, barbarous in their fury, and hoping for +plunder, and finding nothing but inscribed rolls within the gorgeous +building, passed from disappointment to rage, and aided the flames; the +more so as they regarded the inscriptions as the work of evil magicians. +Fadrique flew as in a dream through the strange half-consumed halls, +ever calling Zelinda! thinking and regarding nothing but her enchanting +beauty. Long did Heimbert remain at his side, until at length they +both reached a cedar staircase leading to an upper story; here Fadrique +paused to listen, and exclaiming, "She is speaking up there! she is +speaking loud! she needs my help!" he dashed up the already burning +steps. Heimbert hesitated a moment; he saw the staircase already +tottering, and he thought to give a warning cry to his companion; but +at the same moment the light ornamental ascent gave way and burst into +flames. He could just see Fadrique clinging above to a brass grating +and swinging himself up to it, but all means of following him were +destroyed. Quickly recollecting himself, Heimbert lost no time in idly +gazing, but hastened through the adjacent halls in search of another +flight of steps which would lead him to his vanished friend. + +Meanwhile Fadrique, following the enchanting voice, had reached a +gallery in the midst of which, the floor having fallen in, there was +a fearful abyss of flames, though the pillars on each side were still +standing. Opposite to him the youth perceived the longed-for maiden, +clinging with one hand to a pillar, while with the other she was +threatening back some Spanish soldiers, who seemed ready at any moment +to seize her, and her delicate foot was already hovering over the edge +of the glowing ruins. For Fadrique to go to her was impossible; the +breadth of the opening rendered even a desperate leap unavailing. +Trembling lest his call might make the maiden precipitate herself into +the abyss, either in terror or despairing anger, he only softly raised +his voice and whispered as with a breath over the flaming gulf, "Oh, +Zelinda, Zelinda! do not give way to such frightful thoughts! Your +preserver is here!" The maiden turned her queenly head, and when +Fadrique saw her calm and composed demeanor, he cried to the soldiers on +the other side, with all the thunder of his warrior's voice, "Back, ye +insolent plunderers! Whoever advances but one step to the lady shall +feel the vengeance of my arm!" They started and seemed on the point of +withdrawing, when one of their number said, "The knight cannot touch +us, the gulf between us is too broad for that. And as for the lady's +throwing herself down--it almost looks as if the young knight were +her lover, and whoever has a lover is not likely to be so hasty about +throwing herself down." All laughed at this and again advanced. Zelinda +tottered at the edge of the abyss. But with the courage of a lion +Fadrique had torn his target from his arm, and hurling it with his right +hand he flung it at the soldiers with such a sure aim that the rash +leader, struck on the head, fell senseless to the ground. The rest again +stood still. "Away with you!" cried Fadrique authoritatively, "or my +dagger shall strike the next as surely, and then I swear I will never +rest till I have found out your whole gang and appeased my rage." The +dagger gleamed in the youth's hand, but yet more fearfully gleamed the +fury in his eyes, and the soldiers fled. Then Zelinda bowed gratefully +to her preserver, took up a roll of palm-leaves which lay at her feet, +and which must have previously slipped from her hand, and then vanished +hastily through a side-door of the gallery. Henceforth Fadrique sought +her in vain in the burning palace. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +The great Alba held a council with his chief officers in an open place +in the middle of the conquered city, and, by means of interpreters, sent +question after question to the Turkish prisoners as to the fate of the +beautiful woman who had been seen animating them on the ramparts, and +who was certainly the most exquisite enchantress that had ever visited +the earth. Nothing very distinct was to be gained from the answers, for +although the interrogated all knew of the the beautiful Zelinda as a +noble lady versed in magic lore, and acknowledged by the whole people, +they were utterly unable to state from whence she had come to Tunis +and whither she had now fled. When at last they began to threaten the +prisoners as obstinate, an old Dervish, hitherto unnoticed, pressed +forward and said, with a gloomy smile, "Whoever has a desire to seek +the lady may set out when he chooses; I will conceal nothing from him of +what I know of her direction, and I know something. But I must first of +all receive the promise that I shall not be compelled to accompany as +guide. My lips otherwise will remain sealed forever, and you may do with +me as you will." + +He looked like one who intended to keep his word, and Alba, pleased with +the firmness of the man, which harmonized well with his own mind, gave +him the desired assurance, and the Dervish began his relation. He +was once, he said, wandering in the almost infinite desert of Sahara, +impelled perhaps by rash curiosity, perhaps by higher motives; he had +lost his way there, and had at last, wearied to death, reached one of +those fertile islands of that sea of sand which are called oases. +Then followed, sparkling with oriental vivacity, a description of the +wonderful things seen there, now filling the hearts of his hearers +with sweet longing, and then again making their hair stand on end with +horror, though from the strange pronunciation of the speaker and the +flowing rapidity of his words the half was scarcely understood. The end +of all this at length was that Zelinda dwelt on that oasis, in the midst +of the pathless sand-plains of the desert, surrounded by magic horrors; +and also, as the Dervish knew for certain, that she had left about half +an hour ago on her way thither. The almost contemptuous words with which +he concluded his narration plainly showed that he desired nothing more +earnestly than to seduce some Christians to undertake a journey which +must terminate inevitably in their destruction. At the same time he +added a solemn oath that everything was truly as he had stated it, and +he did this in a firm and grave manner, as a man who knows that he +is speaking the most indubitable truth. Surprised and thoughtful, the +circle of officers held their council round him. + +Then Heimbert stepped forward with an air as if of request; he had +just received a summons to leave the burning palace, where he had been +seeking his friend, and had been appointed to the place of council +because it was necessary to arrange the troops here in readiness for +any possible rising in the conquered city. "What do you wish, my young +hero?" said Alba, recognizing him as he appeared. "I know your smiling, +blooming countenance well. You were but lately sheltering me like a +protecting angel. I am so sure that you make no request but what is +honorable and knightly that anything you may possibly desire is granted +beforehand." "My great Duke," replied Heimbert, with cheeks glowing +with pleasure, "if I may then venture to ask a favor, will you grant +me permission to follow the beautiful Zelinda at once in the direction +which this wonderful Dervish has pointed out?" The great general bowed +in assent, and added, "So noble an adventure could not be consigned to a +more noble knight!" + +"I do not know that!" said an angry voice from the throng. "But well do +I know that to me above all others this adventure belongs, even were it +assigned as a reward for the capture of Tunis. For who was the first on +the height and within the city?" "That was Don Fadrique Mendez," said +Heimbert, taking the speaker by the hand and leading him before the +general. "If I now for his sake must forfeit my promised reward, I must +patiently submit; for he has rendered better service than I have done to +the emperor and the army." + +"Neither of you shall forfeit his reward," said the great Alba. "Each +has permission from this moment to seek the maiden in whatever way it +seems to him most advisable." + +And swift as lightning the two young captains quitted the circle of +officers in opposite directions. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +A sea of sand, stretching out in the distant horizon, without one object +to mark its extensive surface, white and desolate in its vastness--such +is the scene which proclaims the fearful desert of Sahara to the eye of +the wanderer who has lost himself in these frightful regions. In this +also it resembles the sea, that it casts up waves, and often a misty +vapor bangs over its surface. But there is not the soft play of waves +which unite all the coasts of the earth; each wave as it rolls in +bringing a message from the remotest and fairest island kingdoms, and +again rolling back as it were with an answer, in a sort of love-flowing +dance. No; there is here only the melancholy sporting of the hot wind +with the faithless dust which ever falls back again into its joyless +basin, and never reaches the rest of the solid land with its happy human +dwellings. There is here none of the sweet cool sea-breeze in which +kindly fairies seem carrying on their graceful sport, forming blooming +gardens and pillared palaces--there is only a suffocating vapor, +rebelliously given back to the glowing sun from the unfruitful sands. + +Hither the two youths arrived at the same time, and paused, gazing with +dismay at the pathless chaos before them. Zelinda's track, which was not +easily hidden or lost, had hitherto obliged them almost always to remain +together, dissatisfied as Fadrique was at the circumstance, and angry as +were the glances he cast at his unwelcome companion. Each had hoped to +overtake Zelinda before she had reached the desert, feeling how almost +impossible it would be to find her once she had entered it. That hope +was now at an end; and although in answer to the inquiries they made in +the Barbary villages on the frontier, they heard that a wanderer going +southward in the desert and guiding his course by the stars would, +according to tradition, arrive at length at a wonderfully fertile oasis, +the abode of a divinely beautiful enchantress, yet everything appeared +highly uncertain and dispiriting, and was rendered still more so by the +avalanches of dust before the travellers' view. + +The youths looked sadly at the prospect before them, and their horses +snorted and started back at the horrible plain, as though it were some +insidious quicksand, and even the riders themselves were seized with +doubt and dismay. Suddenly they sprung from their saddles, as at some +word of command, unbridled their horses, loosened their girths, and +turned them loose on the desert, that they might find their way back +to some happier dwelling place. Then, taking some provision from their +saddle-bags, they placed it on their shoulders, and casting aside their +heavy riding boots they plunged like two courageous swimmers into the +trackless waste. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +With no other guide than the sun by day, and by night the host of stars, +the two captains soon lost sight of each other, and all the sooner, as +Fadrique avoided intentionally the object of his aversion. Heimbert, on +the other hand, had no thought but the attainment of his aim; and, full +of joyful confidence in God's assistance, he pursued his course in a +southerly direction. + +Many nights and many days had passed, when one evening, as the twilight +was coming on, Heimbert was standing alone in the endless desert, unable +to descry a single object all round on which his eye could rest. His +light flask was empty, and the evening brought with it, instead or +the hoped-for coolness, a suffocating whirlwind of sand, so that the +exhausted wanderer was obliged to press his burning face to the burning +soil in order to escape in some measure the fatal cloud. Now and then he +heard something passing him, or rustling over him as with the sound of +a sweeping mantle, and he would raise himself in anxious haste; but he +only saw what he had already too often seen in the daytime--the wild +beasts of the wilderness roaming at liberty through the desert +waste. Sometimes it was an ugly camel, then it was a long-necked and +disproportioned giraffe, and then again a long-legged ostrich hastening +away with its wings outspread. They all appeared to scorn him, and he +had already taken his resolve to open his eyes no more, and to give +himself up to his fate, without allowing these horrible and strange +creatures to disturb his mind in the hour of death. + +Presently it seemed to him as if he heard the hoofs and neighing of a +horse, and suddenly something halted close beside him, and he thought he +caught the sound of a man's voice. Half unwilling, he could not resist +raising himself wearily, and he saw before him a rider in an Arab's +dress mounted on a slender Arabian horse. Overcome with joy at finding +himself within reach of human help, he exclaimed, "Welcome, oh, man, +in this fearful solitude! If thou canst, succor me, thy fellow-man, who +must otherwise perish with thirst!" Then remembering that the tones +of his dear German mother tongue were not intelligible in this joyless +region, he repeated the same words in the mixed dialect, generally +called the Lingua Romana, universally used by heathens, Mohammedans, and +Christians in those parts of the world where they have most intercourse +with each other. + +The Arab still remained silent, and looked as if scornfully laughing at +his strange discovery. At length he replied, in the same dialect, "I was +also in Barbarossa's fight; and if, Sir Knight, our overthrow bitterly +enraged me then, I find no small compensation for it in the fact of +seeing one of the conquerors lying so pitifully before me." "Pitifully!" +exclaimed Heimbert angrily, and his wounded sense of honor giving him +back for a moment all his strength, he seized his sword and stood ready +for an encounter. "Oho!" laughed the Arab, "does the Christian viper +still hiss so strongly? Then it only behooves me to put spurs to my +horse and leave thee to perish here, thou lost creeping worm!" "Ride +to the devil, thou dog of a heathen!" retorted Heimbert; "rather than +entreat a crumb of thee I will die here, unless the good God sends me +manna in the wilderness." + +And the Arab spurred forward his swift steed and galloped away a couple +of hundred paces, laughing with scorn. Then he paused, and looking round +to Heimbert he trotted back and said, "Thou seemest too good, methinks, +to perish here of hunger and thirst. Beware! my good sabre shall touch +thee." + +Heimbert, who had again stretched himself hopelessly on the burning +sand, was quickly roused to his feet by these words, and seized his +sword; and sudden as was the spring with which the Arab's horse flew +toward him, the stout German warrior stood ready to parry the blow, +and the thrust which the Arab aimed at him in the Mohammedan manner he +warded off with certainty and skill. + +Again and again the Arab sprung; similarly here and there, vainly hoping +to give his antagonist a death-blow. At last, overcome by impatience, he +approached so boldly that Heimbert, warding off the threatening +weapon, had time to seize the Arab by the girdle and drag him from the +fast-galloping horse. The violence of the movement threw Heimbert also +on the ground, but he lay above his opponent, and holding close before +his eyes a dagger, which he had dexterously drawn from his girdle, he +exclaimed, "Wilt thou have mercy or death?" The Arab, trembling, cast +down his eyes before the gleaming and murderous weapon, and said, "Show +mercy to me, mighty warrior; I surrender to thee." Heimbert then ordered +him to throw away the sabre he still held in his right hand. He did so, +and both combatants rose, and again sunk down upon the sand, for the +victor was far more weary than the vanquished. + +The Arab's good horse meanwhile had trotted toward them, according to +the habit of those noble animals, who never forsake their fallen master. +It now stood behind the two men, stretching out its long slender neck +affectionately toward them. "Arab," said Heimbert with exhausted voice, +"take from thy horse what provision thou hast with thee and place it +before me." The vanquished man humbly did as he was commanded, now +just as much submitting to the will of the conqueror as he had before +exhibited his animosity in anger and revenge. After a few draughts +of palm-wine from the skin, Heimbert looked at the youth under a new +aspect; he then partook of some fruits, drank more of the palm-wine, +and at length said, "You are going to ride still farther to-night, young +man?" "Yes, indeed," replied the Arab sadly; "on a distant oasis there +dwells my aged father and my blooming bride. Now--even if you set me at +full liberty--I must perish in the heat of this barren desert, for want +of sustenance, before I can reach my lovely home." + +"Is it, perhaps," asked Heimbert, "the oasis on which the mighty +enchantress, Zelinda, dwells?" + +"Allah protect me!" cried the Arab, clasping his hands. "Zelinda's +wondrous isle offers no hospitable shelter to any but magicians. It lies +far away in the scorching south, while our friendly oasis is toward the +cooler west." + +"I only asked in case we might be travelling companions," said +Heimbert courteously. "If that cannot be, we must certainly divide the +provisions; for I would not have so brave a warrior as you perish, with +hunger and thirst." + +So saying, the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two +portions, placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his +right; he then desired the Arab to take the former, and added, to his +astonished companion, "See, good sir, I have either not much farther +to travel or I shall perish in the desert; I feel that it will be so. +Besides, I cannot carry half so much on foot as you can on horse-back." + +"Knight! victorious knight!" cried the amazed Mussulman, "am I then to +keep my horse?" + +"It were a sin and shame indeed," said Heimbert, smiling, "to separate +such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider. Ride on, in God's name, +and get safely to your people." + +He then helped him to mount, and the Arab was on the point of uttering a +few words of gratitude, when he suddenly exclaimed, "The magic maiden!" +and, swift as the wind, he flew over the dusty plain. Heimbert, however, +turning round, saw close beside him in the now bright moonlight a +shining figure, which he at once perceived to be Zelinda. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +The maiden looked fixedly at the young soldier, and seemed considering +with what words to address him, while he, after his long search and now +unexpected success, was equally at a loss. At last she said in Spanish, +"Thou wonderful enigma, I have been witness of all that has passed +between thee and the Arab; and these affairs confuse my head like a +whirlwind. Speak, therefore, plainly, that I may know whether thou art a +madman or an angel?" + +"I am neither, dear lady," replied Heimbert, with his wonted +friendliness. "I am only a poor wanderer, who has just been putting into +practice one of the commands of his Master, Jesus Christ." + +"Sit down," said Zelinda, "and tell me of thy Master; he must be himself +unprecedented to have such a servant. The night is cool and still, and +at my side thou hast no cause to fear the dangers of the desert." + +"Lady," replied Heimbert, smiling, "I am not of a fearful nature, and +when I am speaking of my dear Saviour my mind is perfectly free from all +alarm." + +Thus saying, they both sat down on the now cooled sand and began a +wondrous conversation, while the full moon shone upon them from the +deep-blue heavens above like a magic lamp. + +Heimbert's words, full of divine love, truth, and simplicity sank like +soft sunbeams, gently and surely, into Zelinda's, heart, driving away +the mysterious magic power which dwelt there, and wrestling for the +dominion of the noble territory of her soul. When morning began to dawn +she said, "Thou wouldst not be called an angel last evening, but thou +art truly one. For what else are angels than messengers of the Most High +God?" "In that sense," rejoined Heimbert, "I am well satisfied with the +name, for I certainly hope that I am the bearer of my Master's message. +Yes, if he bestows on me further grace and strength, it may even be +that you also may become my companion in the pious work." "It is not +impossible," said Zelinda thoughtfully. "Thou must, however, come with +me to my island, and there thou shalt be regaled as is befitting such +an ambassador, far better than here on the desolate sand, with the +miserable palm-wine that thou hast so laboriously obtained." + +"Pardon me," replied Heimbert; "it is difficult to me to refuse the +request of a lady, but on this occasion it cannot be otherwise. In +your island many glorious things have been conjured together by your +forbidden art, and many lovely forms which the good God has created have +been transformed. These might dazzle my senses, and at last delude them. +If you will, therefore, hear the best and purest things which I can +relate to you, you must rather come out to me on this desert sand. The +palm-wine and the dates of the Arab will suffice for me for many a day +to come." "You would do better to come with me," said Zelinda, shaking +her head with somewhat of a scornful smile. "You were certainly neither +born nor brought up to be a hermit, and there is nothing on my oasis so +destructive as you imagine. What is there more than shrubs and flowers +and beasts gathered together from different quarters of the world, +perhaps a little strangely interwoven; each, that is to say, partaking +of the nature of the other, in a similar manner to that which you must +have seen in our Arabian carving! A moving flower, a bird growing on a +branch, a fountain gleaming with fiery sparks, a singing twig--these are +truly no hateful things!" "He must avoid temptation who does not wish +to be overcome by it," said Heimbert very gravely; "I am for the desert. +Will it please you to come out to visit me again?" Zelinda looked down +somewhat displeased. Then suddenly bending her head still lower she +replied, "Yes; toward evening I shall be here again." And, turning away, +she at once disappeared in the rising whirlwind of the desert. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +With the evening twilight the lovely lady returned and spent the night +in converse with the pious youth, leaving him in the morning with her +mind more humble, pure, and devout; and thus matters went on for many +days. "Thy palm-wine and thy dates must be coming to an end," said +Zelinda one evening as she presented the youth with a flask of rich wine +and some costly fruits. He, however, gently put aside the gift and said, +"Noble lady, I would accept your gift gladly, but I fear some of your +magic arts may perhaps cleave to it. Or could you assure me to the +contrary by Him whom you are now beginning to know?" Zelinda cast +down her eyes in silent confusion and took her presents back. On the +following evening, however, she brought similar gifts, and, smiling +confidently, gave the desired assurance. Heimbert then partook of them +without hesitation, and from henceforth the disciple carefully provided +for the sustenance of her teacher in the wilderness. + +And so, as the blessed knowledge of the truth sank more and more deeply +into Zelinda's soul, so that she was often sitting till dawn before the +youth, with cheeks glowing and hair dishevelled, her eyes gleaming with +delight and her hands folded, unable to withdraw herself from his words, +he, on his part, endeavored to make her sensible at all times that it +was only Fadrique's love for her which had urged him, his friend, into +this fatal desert, and that it was this same love that had thus become +the means for the attainment of her highest spiritual good. She still +well remembered the handsome and terrible captain who had stormed the +height that he might clasp her in his arms; and she related to her +friend how the same hero had afterward saved her in the burning library. +Heimbert too had many pleasant things to tell of Fadrique--of his high +knightly courage, of his grave and noble manners, and of his love to +Zelinda, which in the night after the battle of Tunis was no longer +concealed within his passionate breast, but was betrayed to the young +German in a thousand unconscious expressions between sleeping and +waking. Divine truth and the image of her loving hero both at once +sank deep within Zelinda's heart, and struck root there with tender +but indestructible power. Heimbert's presence and the almost adoring +admiration with which his pupil regarded him did not disturb these +feelings, for from the first moment his appearance had something in it +so pure and heavenly that no thoughts of earthly love intruded. When +Heimbert was alone he would often smile happily within himself, saying +in his own beloved German tongue, "It is indeed delightful that I am now +able consciously to do the same service for Fadrique as he did for me, +unconsciously, with his angelic sister." And then he would sing some +German song of Clara's grace and beauty, the sound of which rang with +strange sweetness through the desert, while it happily beguiled his +solitary hours. + +Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight, gracefully bearing on +her beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he smiled at her +and shook his head, saying, "It is inconceivable to me, sweet maiden, +why you ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out here in the +desert. You can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic arts, since the +spirit of truth and love dwells within you. If you would only transform +the oasis into the natural form in which the good God created it, I +would go there with you, and we should have far more time for holy +converse." "Sir," replied Zelinda, "you speak truly. I too have thought +for some days of doing so and the matter would have been already set on +foot, but a strange visitor fetters my power. The Dervish whom you saw +in Tunis is with me, and as in former times we have practised many magic +tricks with each other, he would like again to play the old game. He +perceives the change in me, and on that account urges me all the more +vehemently and dangerously." + +"He must either be driven away or converted," said Heimbert, girding on +his shoulder-belt more firmly, and taking up his shield from the ground. +"Have the goodness, dear maiden," he continued, "to lead me to your +enchanted isle." + +"You avoided it so before," said the astonished Zelinda, "and it is +still unchanged in its fantastic form." + +"Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have +ventured there," replied Heimbert. "You came too out here to me, and +that was better for us both. But now the old enemy might lay snares for +the ruin of all that the Lord has been working in you, and so it is a +knightly duty to go. In God's name, then, to the work!" + +And they hastened forward together, through the ever-increasing darkness +of the plain, on their way to the blooming island. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +A charming breeze began to cool the heated brows of the travellers, and +the twinkling starlight revealed in the distance a grove, waving to and +fro with the gentle motion of the air. Heimbert cast his eyes to the +ground and said, "Go before me, sweet maiden, and guide my path to +the spot where I shall find this threatening Dervish. I do not wish +unnecessarily to see anything of these ensnaring enchantments." + +Zelinda did as he desired, and the relation of the two was for a +moment changed; the maiden had become the guide, and Heimbert, full of +confidence, allowed himself to be led upon the unknown path. Branches +were even now touching his cheeks, half caressingly and playfully; +wonderful birds, growing out of bushes, sang joyful songs; over the +velvet turf, upon which Heimbert ever kept his eyes fixed, there glided +gleaming serpents of green and gold, with little golden crowns, and +brilliant stones glittered on the mossy carpet. When the serpents +touched the jewels, they gave forth a silvery sound. But Heimbert let +the serpents creep and the gems sparkle, without troubling himself about +them, intent alone on following the footsteps of his guide. + +"We are there!" said she with suppressed voice; and looking up he saw a +shining grotto of shells, within which he perceived a man asleep clad in +golden scale-armor of the old Numidian fashion. "Is that also a phantom, +there yonder in the golden scales?" inquired Heimbert, smiling; but +Zelinda looked very grave and replied, "Oh, no! that is the Dervish +himself, and his having put on this coat-of-mail, which has been +rendered invulnerable by dragon's blood, is a proof that by his magic +he has become aware of our intention." "What does that signify?" said +Heimbert; "he would have to know it at last." And he began at once to +call out, with a cheerful voice, "Wake up, old sir, wake up! Here is an +acquaintance of yours, who has matters upon which he must speak to you." + +And as the Dervish opened his large rolling eyes, everything in the +magic grove began to move, the water began to dance, and the branches to +intertwine in wild emulation, and at the same time the precious stones +and the shells and corals emitted strange and confusing melodies. + +"Roll and turn, thunder and play as you like!" exclaimed Heimbert, +looking fixedly at the maze around him; "you shall not divert me from +my own good path, and Almighty God has given me a good far-sounding +soldier's voice which can make itself heard above all this tumult." Then +turning to the Dervish he said, "It appears, old man, that you already +know everything which has passed between Zelinda and me. In case, +however, that it is not so, I will tell you briefly that she is already +as good as a Christian, and that she is the betrothed of a noble Spanish +knight. Place nothing in the way of her good intention; I advise you +for your own sake. But still better for your own sake would it be if you +would become a Christian yourself. Discuss the matter with me, and first +bid all this mad devilish show to cease, for our religion, dear sir, +speaks of far too tender and divine things to be talked of with violence +or with the loud voice necessary on the field of war." + +But the Dervish, burning with hatred to the Christians, had not waited +to hear the knight's last words when he rushed at him with his drawn +scimitar. Heimbert merely parried his thrust, saying, "Take care of +yourself, sir! I have heard something of your weapons being charmed, but +that will avail but little before my sword. It has been consecrated in +holy places." + +The Dervish sprang wildly back before the sword, but equally wildly did +he spring to the other side of his adversary, who only with difficulty +caught the terrible cuts of his weapon upon his shield. Like a +gold-scaled dragon the Mohammedan swung himself round his antagonist +with an agility which, with his long flowing white beard, was ghostly +and horrible to witness. Heimbert was prepared to meet him on all sides, +ever keeping a watchful eye for some opening in the scales made by the +violence of his movements. At last it happened as he desired; between +the arm and breast on the left side the dark garments of the Dervish +became visible, and quick as lightning the German made a deadly thrust. +The old man exclaimed aloud, "Allah! Allah!" and fell forward, fearful +even in his fall, a senseless corpse. + +"I pity him!" sighed Heimbert, leaning on his sword and looking down on +his fallen foe. "He has fought nobly, and even in death he called +upon his Allah, whom he looked upon as the true God. He must not lack +honorable burial." He then dug a grave with the broad scimitar of his +adversary, laid the corpse within it, covered it over with turf, +and knelt on the spot in silent heartfelt prayer for the soul of the +departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +Heimbert rose from his pious duty, and his first glance fell on Zelinda, +who stood smiling by his side, and his second upon the wholly changed +scene around. The rocky cavern and grotto had disappeared, the distorted +forms of trees and beasts, half terrible and half charming as they were, +had vanished also; a gentle grassy hill sloped down on every side of the +point where he stood, toward the sandy waste; springs gushed out +here and there in refreshing beauty; date-trees bent over the little +paths--everything, indeed, in the now opening day was full of sweet and +simple peace. + +"Thank God!" said Heimbert, turning to his companion, "you can now +surely feel how infinitely more lovely, grand, and beautiful is +everything as our dear Father has created it than it can be when +transformed by the highest human art. The Heavenly Gardener has indeed +permitted us, his beloved children, in his abundant mercy, to help +forward his gracious works, that we may thus become happier and better; +but we must take care that we change nothing to suit our own rash wilful +fancies; else it is as if we were expelling ourselves a second time from +Paradise." "It shall not happen again," said Zelinda humbly. "But may +you in this solitary region, where we are not likely to meet with any +priest of our faith, may you not bestow on me, as one born anew, the +blessing of Holy Baptism?" + +Heimbert, after some consideration, replied, "I hope I may do so. And if +I am wrong, God will pardon me. It is surely done in the desire to bring +to him so worthy a soul as soon as possible." + +So they walked together, silently praying and full of smiling happiness, +down to one of the pleasant springs of the oasis, and just as they +reached the edge and prepared themselves for the holy work the sun rose +before them as if to confirm and strengthen their purpose, and the +two beaming countenances looked at each other with joy and confidence. +Heimbert had not thought of the Christian name he should bestow on his +disciple, but as he scooped up the water, and the desert lay around him +so solemn in the rosy glow of morning, he remembered the pious hermit +Antony in his Egyptian solitude, and he baptized the lovely convert, +Antonia. + +They spent the day in holy conversation, and Antonia showed her friend +a little cave, in which she had concealed all sorts of store for her +sustenance when she first dwelt on the oasis. "For," said she, "the good +God is my witness that I came hither only that I might, in solitude, +become better acquainted with him and his created works, without knowing +at that time in the least of any magic expedients. Subsequently the +Dervish came, tempting me, and the horrors of the desert joined in a +fearful league with his terrible power, and then by degrees followed all +that alluring spirits showed me either in dreams or awake." + +Heimbert had no scruple to take with him for the journey any of the wine +and fruits that were still fit for use, and Antonia assured him that by +the direct way, well known to her, they would reach the fruitful shore +of this waterless ocean in a few days. So with the approach of evening +coolness they set out on their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +The travellers had almost traversed the pathless plain when one day they +saw a figure wandering in the distance, for in the desolate Sahara every +object is visible to the very horizon if the whirlwind of dust does +not conceal it from view. The wanderer seemed doubtful of his course, +sometimes taking this, sometimes that direction, and Antonia's eastern +falcon eye could discern that it was no Arab, but a man in knightly +garb. + +"Oh, dear sister," exclaimed Heimbert, full of anxious joy, "then it +is our poor Fadrique, who is in search of thee. For pity's sake, let +as hasten before he loses us, and perhaps at last his own life also, +in this immeasurable waste." They strained every effort to reach the +distant object, but it was now midday and the sun shone burningly upon +them, Antonia could not long endure this rapid progress; added to which +the fearful whirlwind soon arose, and the figure that had been scarcely +visible before faded from their eyes, like some phantom of the mist in +autumn. + +With the rising moon they began anew to hasten forward, calling loudly +upon the unfortunate wanderer, and fluttering white handkerchiefs tied +to their walking-staffs, as signal flags, but it was all in vain. The +object that had disappeared remained lost to view. Only a few giraffes +sprang shyly past them, and the ostriches quickened their speed. + +At length, as morning dawned, Antonia paused and said, "Thou canst +not leave me, brother, in this solitude, and I cannot go a single step +farther. God will protect the noble Fadrique. How could a father forsake +such a model of knightly excellence?" "The disciple shames the teacher," +replied Heimbert, his sad face brightening into a smile. "We have done +our part, and we may confidently hope that God will come to the aid of +our failing powers and do what is necessary." As he spoke he spread his +mantle on the sand, that Antonia might rest more comfortably. Suddenly +looking up, he exclaimed, "Oh, God! yonder lies a man, completely buried +in the sand. Oh, that he may not be already dead!" + +He immediately began to sprinkle wine, from the flask he carried, on the +brow of the fainting traveller, and to chafe his temples with it. The +man at last slowly opened his eyes and said, "I had hoped the morning +dew would not again have fallen on me, but that unknown and unlamented I +might have perished here in the desert, as must be the case in the end." +So saying he closed his eyes again, like one intoxicated with sleep, +but Heimbert continued his restoratives unwearyingly, and at length the +refreshed wanderer half raised himself from the sand with an exclamation +of astonishment. + +He looked from Heimbert to his companion, and from her again at +Heimbert, and suddenly exclaimed, gnashing his teeth, "Ha, was it to be +thus! I was not even to be allowed to die in the dull happiness of quiet +solitude! I was to be first doomed to see my rival's success and my +sister's shame!" At the same time he sprang to his feet with a violent +effort and rushed forward upon Heimbert with drawn sword. But Heimbert +moved neither sword nor arm, and merely said, in a gentle voice, +"Wearied out, as you now are, I cannot possibly fight with you; besides, +I must first place this lady in security." Antonia, who had at first +gazed with much emotion at the angry knight, now stepped suddenly +between the two men and cried out, "Oh, Fadrique, neither misery nor +anger can utterly disfigure you. But what has my noble brother done to +you?" "Brother?" said Fadrique, with astonishment. "Or godfather, or +confessor," interrupted Heimbert, "as you will. Only do not call her +Zelinda, for her name is now Antonia; she is a Christian, and waits +to be your bride." Fadrique stood fixed with surprise, but Heimbert's +true-hearted words and Antonia's lovely blushes soon revealed the happy +enigma to him. He sank down before the longed-for form with a sense +of exquisite delight, and in the midst of the inhospitable desert +the flowers of love and gratitude and confidence sent their sweetness +heavenward. + +The excitement of this happy surprise at last gave way to bodily +fatigue. Antonia, like some drooping blossom, stretched her fair form on +the again burning sand, and slumbered under the protection of her lover +and her chosen brother. "Sleep also," said Heimbert softly to Fadrique; +"you must have wandered about wildly and wearily, for exhaustion is +pressing down your eyelids with leaden weight. I am quite fresh, and I +will watch meanwhile." "Ah, Heimbert," sighed the noble Castilian, +"my sister is thine, thou messenger from Heaven; that is an understood +thing. But now for our affair of honor!" "Certainly," said Heimbert, +very gravely, "as soon as we are again in Spain, you must give me +satisfaction for that over-hasty expression. Till then, however, I beg +you not to mention it. An unfinished quarrel is no good subject for +conversation." + +Fadrique laid himself sadly down to rest, overcome by long-resisted +sleep, and Heimbert knelt down with a glad heart, thanking the good God +for having given him success, and for blessing, him with a future full +of joyful assurance. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + +The next day the three travellers reached the edge of the desert, and +refreshed themselves for a week in an adjacent village, which, with +its shady trees and green pastures, seemed like a little paradise in +contrast to the joyless Sahara. Fadrique's condition especially made +this rest necessary. He had never left the desert during the whole time, +gaining his subsistence by fighting with wandering Arabs, and often +almost exhausted by the utter want of all food and drink. At length he +had become so thoroughly confused that the stars could no longer guide +him, and he had been driven about, sadly and objectless, like the dust +clouds of the desert. + +Even now, at times, when he would fall asleep after the midday meal, and +Antonia and Heimbert would watch his slumbers like two smiling angels, +he would suddenly start up and gaze round him with a terrified air, +and then it was not till he had refreshed himself by looking at the two +friendly faces that he would sink back again into quiet repose. When +questioned on the matter, after he was fully awake, he told them that in +his wanderings nothing had been more terrible to him than the deluding +dreams which had transported him, sometimes to his own home, sometimes +to the merry camp of his comrades, and sometimes into Zelinda's +presence, and then leaving him doubly helpless and miserable in the +horrible solitude as the delusion vanished. It was on this account +that even now waking was fearful to him, and even in sleep a vague +consciousness of his past sufferings would often disturb him. "You +cannot imagine it," he added. "To be suddenly transported from +well-known scenes into the boundless desert! And instead of the +longed-for enchanting face of my beloved, to see an ugly camel's head +stretched over me inquisitively with its long neck, starting back as I +rose with still more ugly timidity!" + +This, with all other painful consequences of his past miseries, soon +wholly vanished, from Fadrique's mind, and they cheerfully set out on +their journey to Tunis. The consciousness, indeed, of his injustice to +Heimbert and its unavoidable results often lay like a cloud upon the +noble Spaniard's brow, but it also softened the natural proud severity +of his nature, and Antonia could cling the more tenderly and closely to +him with her loving heart. + +Tunis, which had been before so amazed at Zelinda's magic power and +enthusiastic hostility against the Christians, now witnessed Antonia's +solemn baptism in a newly-consecrated edifice, and soon after the three +companions took ship with a favorable wind for Malaga. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +Beside the fountain where she had parted from Heimbert, Dona Clara was +sitting one evening in deep thought. The guitar on her knees gave +forth a few solitary chords, dreamily drawn from it, as it were, by her +delicate hands, and at length forming themselves into a melody, while +the following words dropped softly from her partly opened lips: + + + "Far away, 'fore Tunis ramparts, + Where the Christian army lies, + Paynim host are fiercely fighting + With Spanish troops and Spain's allies. + Who from bloodstained lilies there, + And death's roses pale and fair-- + Who has borne the conquerer's prize? + + "Ask Duke Alba, ask Duke Alba, + Which two knights their fame have proved, + One was my own valiant brother, + The other was my heart's beloved. + And I thought that I should crown them, + Doubly bright with glory's prize, + And a widow's veil is falling + Doubly o'er my weeping eyes, + For the brave knights ne'er again + Will be found mid living men." + + +The music paused, and soft dew-drops fell from her heavenly eyes. +Heimbert, who was concealed under the neighboring orange-trees, felt +sympathetic tears rolling down his cheeks, and Fadrique, who had led +him and Antonia there, could no longer delay the joy of meeting, but +stepping forward with his two companions he presented himself before his +sister, like some angelic messenger. + +Such moments of extreme and sudden delight, the heavenly blessings long +expected and rarely vouchsafed, are better imagined by each after his +own fashion, and it is doing but an ill service to recount all that +this one did and that one said. Picture it therefore to yourself, dear +reader, after your own fancy, as you are certainly far better able to +do, if the two loving pairs in my story have become dear to you and you +have grown intimate with them. If that, however, be not the case, what +is the use of wasting unnecessary words? For the benefit of those who +with heart-felt pleasure could have lingered over this meeting of the +sister with her brother and her lover, I will proceed with increased +confidence. Although Heimbert, casting a significant look at Fadrique, +was on the point of retiring as soon as Antonia had been placed under +Dona Clara's protection, the noble Spaniard would not permit him. He +detained his companion-in-arms with courteous and brotherly requests +that he would remain till the evening repast, at which some relatives +of the Mendez family joined the party, and in their presence Fadrique +declared the brave Heimbert of Waldhausen to be Dona Clara's fiance, +sealing the betrothal with the most solemn words, so that it might +remain indissoluble, whatever might afterward occur which should seem +inimical to their union. The witnesses were somewhat astonished at +these strange precautionary measures, but at Fadrique's desire they +unhesitatingly gave their word that all should be carried out as he +wished, and they did this the more unhesitatingly as the Duke of Alba, +who had just been in Malaga on some trivial business, had filled the +whole city with the praises of the two young captains. + +As the richest wine was now passing round the table in the tall crystal +goblets, Fadrique stepped behind Heimbert's chair and whispered to +him, "If it please you, Senor--the moon is just risen and is shining as +bright as day--I am ready to give you satisfaction." Heimbert nodded +in assent, and the two youths quitted the hall, followed by the sweet +salutations of the unsuspecting ladies. + +As they passed through the beautiful garden, Fadrique said, with a +sigh, "We could have wandered here so happily together, but for my +over-rashness!" "Yes, indeed," said Heimbert, "but so it is, and it +cannot be otherwise, if we would continue to look upon each other as a +soldier and a nobleman." "True!" replied Fadrique, and they hastened to +reach a distant part of the garden, where the sound of their clashing +swords could not reach the gay hall of betrothal they had left. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +Secret and inclosed, with blooming shrubs planted around, with not a +sound to be heard of the merry company, nor of the animated streets of +the city, with the full moon shining overhead and brightening the solemn +circle with its clear brilliancy--such was the spot. The two captains +unsheathed their gleaming swords and stood opposite each other, ready +for the encounter. But before they began the combat a nobler feeling +drew them to each other's arms; they lowered their weapons and embraced +in the most fraternal manner. They then tore themselves away and the +fearful contest began. + +They were now no longer brothers-in-arms, no longer friends, no longer +brothers-in-law, who directed their sharp steels against each other. +With the most resolute boldness, but with the coolest collectedness, +each fell upon his adversary, guarding his own breast at the same time. +After a few hot and dangerous passes the combatants were obliged to +rest, and during the pause they regarded each other with increased love, +each rejoicing to find his comrade so valiant and so honorable. And then +the fatal strife began anew. + +With his left hand Heimbert dashed aside Fadrique's sword, which had +been aimed at him with a thrust in tierce, sideward, but the keen edge +had penetrated his leathern glove, and the red blood gushed out. "Hold!" +cried Fadrique, and they searched for the wound, but soon perceiving +that it was of no importance, and binding it up, they both began the +combat with undiminished vigor. + +It was not long before Heimbert's blade pierced Fadrique's right +shoulder, and the German, feeling that he had wounded his opponent, now +on his side called out to halt. At first Fadrique would not acknowledge +to the injury, but soon the blood began to trickle down, and he was +obliged to accept his friend's careful assistance. Still this wound also +appeared insignificant, the noble Spaniard still felt power to wield his +sword, and again the deadly contest was renewed with knightly ardor. + +Presently the garden-gate clanked, and the sound of a horse's step was +heard advancing through the shrubbery. Both combatants paused in their +stern work and turned toward the unwelcome disturber. The next moment +through the slender pines a horseman was visible whose dress and bearing +proclaimed him a warrior and Fadrique, as master of the house, at once +addressed him. "Senor," said he, "why you come here, intruding into a +strange garden, we will inquire at another time. For the present I +will only request you to leave us free from further interruption by +immediately retiring, and to favor me with your name." "Retire I will +not," replied the stranger, "but my name I will gladly tell you. I +am the Duke of Alba." And as he spoke, by a movement of his charger a +bright moonbeam fell upon his pale thin face, the dwelling-place of all +that was grand and worthy and terrible. The two captains bowed low and +dropped their weapons. + +"I ought to know you," continued Alba, looking at them with his +sparkling eyes. "Yes, truly, I know you well, you are the two young +heroes at the battle of Tunis. God be praised that two such brave +warriors, whom I had given up for lost, are still alive; but tell me, +what is this affair of honor that has turned your good swords against +each other? For I hope you will not hesitate to declare to me the cause +of your knightly contest." + +They complied with the great duke's behest. Both the noble youths +related the whole circumstances, from the evening previous to their +embarkation up to the present moment, while Alba remained between them, +in silent thought, almost motionless, like some equestrian statue. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + + +The Captains had already long finished their story, and the duke still +remained silent and motionless, in deep reflection. At last he began to +speak, and addressed them as follows: + +"May God and his holy word help me, my young knights, when I say that I +consider, after my best and most conscientious belief, that this affair +of yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each other in +contest on account of those irritating words which escaped the lips of +Don Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you have hitherto +received are not sufficient compensation for the angry expression, there +is still your common fight before Tunis, and the rescue in the desert +afforded by Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don Fadrique Mendez, after he +had gained his bride for him. From all this, I consider that the Knight +of Waldhausen is entitled to pardon any offence of an adversary to whom +he has shown himself so well inclined. Old Roman history tells us of two +captains of the great Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cemented +a hearty friendship with each other when engaged in the same bold fight, +delivering each other in the midst of a Gallic army. I affirm, however, +that you two have done more for each other: and therefore I declare your +affair of honor to be settled, and at an end. Sheathe your swords, and +embrace each other in my presence." + +Obedient to the command of their general, the young knights for the +present sheathed their weapons; but anxious lest the slightest possible +shadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the reconciling +embrace. + +The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air, and +said, "Do you then suppose, young knights, that I could wish to save +the lives of two heroes at the expense of their honor? I would rather at +once have struck you dead, both of you at once. But I see plainly that +with such obstinate minds one must have recourse to other measures." + +And, dismounting from his horse, he fastened it to a tree, and then +stepped forward between the two captains with a drawn sword in his +right hand, crying out, "Whoever will deny in any wise that the quarrel +between Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen and Don Fadrique Mendez is honorably +and gloriously settled must settle the matter at the peril of his life +with the Duke of Alba; and should the present knights have any objection +to raise to this, let them declare it. I stand here as champion for my +own conviction." + +The youths bowed submissively before the great umpire, and fell into +each other's arms. The duke, however, embraced them both with hearty +affection, which appeared all the more charming and refreshing as it +rarely burst forth from this stern character. Then he led the reconciled +friends back to their betrothed, and when these, after the first joyful +surprise was over at the presence of the honored general, started back +at seeing drops of blood on the garments of the youths, the duke said, +smiling, "Oh, ye brides elect of soldiers, you must not shrink from such +jewels of honor. Your lovers could bring you no fairer wedding gift." + +The great Alba was not not be deprived of the pleasure of enacting the +office of father to the two happy brides, and the festival of their +union was fixed for the following day. From that time forth they lived +in undisturbed and joyful concord; and though the Knight Heimbert was +recalled soon afterward with his lovely consort to the bosom of his +German Fatherland, he and Fadrique kept up the link between them by +letters and messages; and even in after times the descendants of the +lord of Waldhausen boasted of their connection with the noble house of +Mendez, while the latter have ever sacredly preserved the tradition of +the brave and magnanimous Heimbert. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Two Captains, by Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO CAPTAINS *** + +***** This file should be named 2826.txt or 2826.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/2/2826/ + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This Gutenberg Etext of "The Two Captains" +by Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque was scanned and proofed +by Sandra Laythorpe, slaythorpe@cwcom.net. + + + + + +THE TWO CAPTAINS. + +by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouque + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +A Mild summer evening was resting on the shores of Malaga, awakening +the guitar of many a merry singer among the ships in the harbor, and +in the city houses, and in many an ornamental garden villa. +Emulating the voices of the birds, the melodious tones greeted the +refreshing coolness, and floated like perfumed exhalations from +meadow and water, over the enchanting region. Some troops of +infantry who were on the shore, and who purposed to spend the night +there, that they might be ready for embarkation early on the +following morning, forgot amid the charms of the pleasant eventide +that they ought to devote these last few hours on European soil to +ease and slumber; they began to sing military songs, to drink to each +other with their flasks filled to the brim with the rich wine of +Xeres, toasting to the long life of the mighty Emperor Charles V., +who was now besieging the pirate-nest Tunis, and to whose assistance +they were about to sail. The merry soldiers were not all of one +race. Only two companies consisted of Spaniards; the third was +formed of pure Germans, and now and then among the various fellow- +combatants the difference of manners and language had given rise to +much bantering. Now, however, the fellowship of the approaching sea- +voyage and of the glorious perils to be shared, as well as the +refreshing feeling which the soft southern evening poured over soul +and sense, united the band of comrades in perfect and undisturbed +harmony. The Germans tried to speak Castilian, and the Spaniards to +speak German, without its occurring to any one to make a fuss about +the mistakes and confusions that happened. They mutually helped each +other, thinking of nothing else but the good-will of their +companions, each drawing near to his fellow by means of his own +language. + +Somewhat apart from the merry tumult, a young German captain, Sir +Heimbert of Waldhausen, was reclining under a cork-tree, gazing +earnestly up at the stars, apparently in a very different mood to the +fresh, merry sociability which his comrades knew and loved in him. +Presently the Spanish captain, Don Fadrique Mendez, approached him; +he was a youth like the other, and was equally skilled in martial +exercises, but he was generally as austere and thoughtful as Heimbert +was cheerful and gentle. "Pardon, Senor," began the solemn Spaniard, +"if I disturb you in your meditations. But as I have had the honor +of often seeing you as a courageous warrior and faithful brother in +amrs in many a hot encounter, I would gladly solicit you above all +others to do me a knightly service, if it does not interfere with +your own plans and projects for this night." "Dear sir," returned +Heimbert courteously, "I have certainly an affair of importance to +attend to before sunrise, but till midnight I am perfectly free, and +ready to render you any assistance as a brother in aims." "Enough," +said Fadrique, "for at midnight the tones must long have ceased with +which I shall have taken farewell of the dearest being I have ever +known in this my native city. But that you may be as fully +acquainted with the whole affair as behoves a noble companion, listen +to me attentively for a few moments. + +"Some time before I left Malaga to join the army of our great emperor +and to aid in spreading the glory of his arms through Italy, I was +devoted, after the fashion of young knights, to the service of a +beautiful girl in this city, named Lucila. She had at that time +scarcely reached the period which separates childhood from ripe +maidenhood, and as I--a boy only just capable of bearing arms-- +offered my homage with a childlike, friendly feeling, it was also +received by my young mistress in a similar childlike manner. I +marched at length to Italy, and as you yourself know, for we have +been companions since then, I was in many a hot fight and in many an +enchantingly alluring region in that luxurious land. Amid all our +changes, I held unalterably within me the image of my gentle +mistress, never pausing in the honorable service I had vowed to her, +although I cannot conceal from you that in so doing it was rather to +fulfil the word I had pledged at my departure than from any impelling +and immoderately ardent feeling in my heart. When we returned to my +native city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my +mistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercer +far than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child +of heaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila's steps, +from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend, +from thence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and +ladies, and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible. +When I had at length assured myself that no other young knight +attended her, and that she devoted herself entirely to the husband +chosen for her by her parents rather than desired by herself, I felt +perfectly satisfied, and I should not have troubled you at this +moment had not Lucila approached me the day before yesterday and +whispered in my ear that I must not provoke her husband, for he was +very passionate and bold; that not the slightest danger threatened +her in the matter, because he loved and honored her above everything, +but that his wrath would vent itself all the more furiously upon me. +You can readily understand, my noble comrade, that I could not help +proving my contempt of all personal danger by following Lucila more +closely than ever, and singing nightly serenades beneath her flower- +decked windows till the morning star began to be reflected in the +sea. This very night Lucila's husband sets out at midnight for +Madrid, and from that hour I will in every way avoid the street in +which they live; until then, however, as soon as it is sufficiently +dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will have love-romances +unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I have information +that not only he but Lucila's brothers are really to enter upon a +quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I have +requested you to bear me company with your good sword in this short +expedition." + +Heimbert seized the Spaniard's hand as a pledge of his readiness, +saying as he did so, "To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do +what you desire of me, I will requite your confidence with +confidence, and will relate a little incident which occurred to me in +this city, and will beg you after midnight also to render me a small +service. My story is short, and will not detain us longer than we +must wait before the twilight has become deeper and more gloomy. + +"On the day after we arrived here I amused myself with walking in the +beautiful gardens with which the place abounds. I have now been long +in these southern lands, but I cannot but believe that the dreams +which transport me nightly back to my German home are the cause for +my feeling everything here so strange and astonishing. At all +events, every morning when I wake I wonder anew, as if I were only +just arrived. So I was walking then, like one infatuated, among the +aloe trees, which were scattered among the laurels and oleanders. +Suddenly a cry sounded near me, and a slender girl, dressed in white, +fled into my arms, fainting, while her companions dispersed past us +in every direction. A soldier can always tolerably soon gather his +senses together, and I speedily perceived a furious bull was pursuing +the beautiful maiden. I threw her quickly over a thickly planted +hedge, and followed her myself, upon which the beast, blind with +rage, passed us by, and I have heard no more of it since, except that +some young knights in an adjacent courtyard had been making a trial +with it previous to a bull-fight, and that it was on this account +that it had broken so furiously through the gardens. + +"I was now standing quite alone, with the fainting lady in my arms, +and she was so wonderfully beautiful to look at that I have never in +my life felt happier than I then did, and also never sadder. At last +I laid her down on the turf, and sprinkled her angelic brow, with +water from a neighboring little fountain. And so she came to herself +again, and when she opened her bright and lovely eyes I thought I +could imagine how the glorified spirits must feel in heaven. + +"She thanked me with graceful and courteous words, and called me her +knight; but in my state of enchantment I could not utter a syllable, +and she must have almost thought me dumb. At length my speech +returned, and the prayer at once was breathed forth from my heart, +that the sweet lady would often again allow me to see her in this +garden; for that in a few weeks the service of the emperor would +drive me into the burning land of Africa, and that until then she +should vouchsafe me the happiness of beholding her. She looked at me +half smiling, half sadly, and said, 'Yes.' And she has kept her word +and has appeared almost daily, without our having yet spoken much to +each other. For although she has been sometimes quite alone, I +could never begin any other topic but that of the happiness of +walking by her side. Often she has sung to me, and I have sung to +her also. When I told her yesterday that our departure was so near, +her heavenly eyes seemed to me suffused with tears. I must also have +looked sorrowful, for she said to me, in a consoling tone, 'Oh, +pious, childlike warrior! one may trust you as one trusts an angel.' +After midnight, before the morning dawn breaks for your departure, I +give you leave to take farewell of me in this very spot. If you +could, however, find a true and discreet comrade to watch the +entrance from the street, it would be well, for many a soldier may be +passing at that hour through the city on his way from some farewell +carouse. Providence has now sent me such a comrade, and at one +o'clock I shall go joyfully to the lovely maiden." + +"I only wish the service on which you require me were more rich in +danger," rejoined Fadrique, "so that I might better prove to you that +I am yours with life and limb. But come, noble brother, the hour for +my adventure is arrived." + +And wrapped in their mantles, the youths walked hastily toward the +city, Fadrique carrying his beautiful guitar under his arm. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +The night-smelling flowers in Lucila's window were already beginning +to emit their refreshing perfume when Fadrique, leaning in the shadow +of the angle of an old church opposite, began to tune his guitar. +Heimbert had stationed himself not far from him, behind a pillar, his +drawn sword under his mantle, and his clear blue eyes, like two +watching stars, looking calmly and penetrating around. Fadrique +sang: + + + "Upon a meadow green with spring, + A little flower was blossoming, + With petals red and snowy white; + To me, a youth, my soul's delight + Within that blossom lay, + And I have loved my song to indite + And flattering homage pay. + + "Since then a wanderer I have been, + And many a bloody strife have seen; + And now returned, I see + The little floweret stands no more + Upon the meadow as before; + Transplanted by a gardener's care, + And hedged by golden trellis there, + It is denied to me. + + "I grudge him not his trelllsed guard, + His bolts of iron, strongly barred; + Yet, wandering in the cool night-air, + I touch my zither's string, + And as afore her beauties rare, + Her wondrous graces sing, + And e'en the gardener shall not dare + Refuse the praise I bring." + + +"That depends, Senor," said a man, stepping close, and as he thought +unobserved, before Fadrique; but the latter had already been informed +of his approach by a sign from his watchful friend, and he was +therefore ready to answer with the greater coolness, "If you wish, +Senor, to commence a suit with my guitar, she has, at all events, a +tongue of steel, which has already on many occasions done her +excellent service. With whom is it your pleasure to speak, with the +guitar or the advocate?" + +While the stranger was silent from embarrassment, two mantled figures +had approached Heimbert and remained standing a few steps from him, +as if to cut off Fadrique's flight in case he intended to escape. +"I believe, dear sirs," said Heimbert in a courteous tone, "we are +here on the same errand--namely, to prevent any intrusion upon the +conference of yonder knights. At least, as far as I am concerned, +you may rely upon it that any one who attempts to interfere in their +affair will receive my dagger in his heart. Be of good cheer, +therefore; I think we shall both do our duty." The two gentlemen +bowed courteously and were silent. + +The quiet self-possession with which the two soldiers carried on the +whole affair was most embarrassing to their three adversaries, and +they were at a loss to know how they should begin the dispute. At +last Fadrique again touched the strings of his guitar, and was +preparing to begin another song. This mark of contempt and apparent +disregard of danger and hazard so enraged Lucila's husband (for it +was he who had taken his stand by Don Fadrique) that without further +delay he drew his sword from his sheath, and with a voice of +suppressed rage called out, "Draw, or I shall stab you!" "Very +gladly, Senor," replied Fadrique quietly; "you need not threaten me; +you might as well have said so calmly." And so saying he placed his +guitar carefully in a niche in the church wall, seized bis sword, +and, bowing gracefully to his opponent, the fight, began. + +At first the two figures by Heimbert's side, who were Lucila's +brothers, remained quite quiet; but when Fadrique began to get the +better of their brother-in-law they appeared as if they intended to +take part in the fight. Heimbert therefore made his mighty sword +gleam in the moonlight, and said, "Dear sirs, you will not surely +oblige me to execute that of which I previously assured you? I pray +you not to compel me to do so; but if it cannot be otherwise, I must +honorably keep my word, you may rely upon it." The two young men +remained from that time motionless, surprised both at the decision +and at the true-hearted friendliness that lay in Heimbert's words. + +Meanwhile Don Fadrique, although pressing hard upon his adversary, +had generously avoided wounding him, and when at last by a dexterous +movement he wrested his sword from him. Lucila's husband, surprised +at the unexpected advantage, and in alarm at being thus disarmed, +retreated a few steps. But Fadrique threw the weapon adroitly into +the air, and catching it again near the point of the blade, he said, +as he gracefully presented the hilt to his opponent, "Take it, Senor, +and I hope our affair of honor is now settled, as you will grant +under these circumstances that I am only here to show that I fear no +sword-thrust in the world. The bell of the old cathedral is now +ringing twelve o'clock, and I give you my word of honor as a knight +and a soldier that neither is Dona Lucila pleased with my attentions +nor am I pleased with paying them; from henceforth, and were I to +remain a hundred years in Malaga, I would not continue to serenade +her in this spot. So proceed on your journey, and God be with you." +He then once more greeted his conquered adversary with serious and +solemn courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbert followed him, after having +cordially shaken hands with the two youths, saying, "No, dear young +sirs, do not let it ever again enter your heads to interfere in any +honorable contest. Do you understand me?" + +He soon overtook his companion, and walked on by his side so full of +ardent expectation, and with his heart beating so joyfully and yet so +painfully, that he could not utter a single word. Don Fadrique +Mendez was also silent; it was not till Heimbert paused before an +ornamented garden-gate, and pointed cheerfully to the pomegranate +boughs richly laden with fruits which overhung it, saying, "This is +the place, dear comrade," that the Spaniard appeared as if about to +ask a question, but turning quickly round he merely said, "I am +pledged to guard this entrance for you till dawn. You have my word +of honor for it." So saying he began walking to and fro before the +gate, with drawn sword, like a sentinel, and Heimbert, trembling with +joy, glided within the gloomy and aromatic shrubberies. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +He was not long in seeking the bright star, which he indeed felt was +destined henceforth to guide the course of his whole life. The +delicate form approached him not far from the entrance; weeping +softly, it seemed to him, in the light of the full moon which was +just rising, and yet smiling with such infinite grace, that her tears +were rather like a pearly ornament than a veil of sorrow. In deep +and infinite joy and sorrow the two lovers wandered silently together +through the flowery groves; now and then a branch waving in the +night-air would touch the guitar on the lady's arm, and it would +breathe forth a slight murmur which blended with the song of the +nightingale, or the delicate fingers of the girl would tremble over +the strings and awaken a few scattered chords, while the shooting +stars seemed as if following the tones of the instrument as they died +away. Oh, truly happy was this night both to the youth and the +maiden, for no rash wish or impure desire passed even fleetingly +across their minds. They walked on side by side, happy that +Providence had allowed them this delight, and so little desiring any +other blessing that even the transitoriness of that they were now +enjoying floated away into the background of their thoughts. + +In the middle ot the beautiful garden there was a large open lawn, +ornamented with statues and surrounding a beautiful and splashing +fountain. The two lovers sat down on its brink, now gazing at the +waters sparkling in the moonlight, and now delighting in the +contemplation of each other's beauty. The maiden touched her guitar, +and Heimbert, impelled by a feeling scarcely intelligible to himself, +sang the following words to it: + + + "There is a sweet life linked with mine, + But I cannot tell its name; + Oh, would it but to me consign + The secret of that life divine, + That so my lips in whispers sweet + And gentle songs might e'en repeat + All that my heart would fain proclaim!" + + +He suddenly paused, and blushed deeply, fearing he had been too bold. +The lady blushed also, touched her guitar-strings with a half- +abstracted air, and at last sang as if dreamily: + + + "By the spring where moonlight's gleams + O'er the sparkling waters pass, + Who is sitting by the youth, + Singing on the soft green grass? + Shall the maiden tell her name, + When though all unknown it be, + Her heart is glowing with her shame, + And her cheeks burn anxiously, + First, let the youthful knight be named. + 'Tis he that on that glorious day + Fought in Castilla's proud array; + + 'Tis he the youth of sixteen years, + At Pavia, who his fortunes tried, + The Frenchman's fear, the Spaniard's pride. + Heimbert is the hero's name, + Victorious in many a fight! + And beside the valiant knight, + Sitting in the soft green grass, + Though her name her lips shall pass, + Dona Clara feels no shame " + + +"Oh!" said Heimbert, blushing from another cause than before, "oh, +Dona Clara, that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and +victorious tournament, and even if occasionally since then I have +been engaged in a tougher contest, how have I ever merited as a +reward the overwhelming bliss I am now enjoying! Now I know what +your name is, and I may in future address you by it, my angelic Dona +Clara, my blessed and beautiful Dona Clara! But tell me now, who has +given you such a favorable report of my achievements, that I may ever +regard him with grateful affection?" + +"Does the noble Heimbert of Waldhausen suppose," rejoined Clara, +"that the noble houses of Spain had none of their sons where he stood +in the battle? You must have surely seen them fighting by your side, +and must I not have heard of your glories through the lips of my own +people?" + +The silvery tones of a little bell sounded just then from a +neighboring palace, and Clara whispered, "It is time to part. Adieu, +my hero!" And she smiled on the youth through her gushing tears, and +bent toward him, and he almost fancied he felt a sweet kiss breathed +from her lips. When he fully recovered himself Clara had +disappeared, the morning clouds were beginning to wear the rosy hue +of dawn, and Heimbert, with a heaven of love's proud happiness in his +heart, returned to his watchful friend at the garden gate. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +"Halt!" exclaimed Fadrique, as Heimbert appeared from the garden, +holding his drawn sword toward him ready for attack. "Stop, you are +mistaken, my good comrade," said the German, smiling, "it is I whom +you see before you." "Do not imagine, Knight Heimbert of +Waldhausen," said Fadrique, "that I mistake you. But my promise is +discharged, my hour of guard has been honorably kept, and now I beg +you without further delay to prepare yourself, and fight for your +life until heart's blood has ceased to flow through these veins." +"Good heavens!" sighed Heimbert, "I have often heard that in these +southern lands there are witches, who deprive people of their senses +by magic arts and incantations. But I have never experienced +anything of the sort until to-day. Compose yourself, my dear good +comrade, and go with me back to the shore." Fadrique laughed +fiercely, and answered, "Set aside your silly delusion, and if you +must have everything explained to you, word by word, in order to +understand it, know then that the lady whom you came to meet in the +shrubbery of this my garden is Dona Clara Mendez, my only sister. +Quick, therefore, and without further preamble, draw!" "God forbid!" +exclaimed the German, not touching his weapon. "You shall be my +brother-in-law, Fadrique, and not my murderer, and still less will I +be yours." Fadrique only shook his head indignantly, and advanced +toward his comrade with measured steps for an encounter. Heimbert, +however, still remained immovable, and said, "No, Fadrique, I cannot +now or ever do you harm. For besides the love I bear your sister, it +must certainly have been you who has spoken to her so honorably of my +military expeditions in Italy." "When I did so," replied Fadiique in +a fury, "I was a fool. But, dallying coward, out with your sword, +or--" + +Before Fadrique had finished speaking, Heimbert, burning with +indignation, exclaimed, "The devil himself could not bear that!" and +drawing his sword from the scabbard, the two young captains rushed +fiercely and resolutely to the attack. + +Different indeed was this contest to that previously fought by +Fadrique with Lucila's husband. The two young soldiers well +understood their weapons, and strove with each other with equal +boldness, their swords flashing like rays of light as now this one +now that one hurled a lightning thrust at his adversary, which was +with similar speed and dexterity turned aside. Firmly they pressed +the left foot, as if rooted in the ground, while the right advanced +to the bold onset and then again they quickly retired to the safer +attitude of defence. From the self-possession and the quiet +unremitting anger with which both the combatants fought, it was +evident that one of the two would find his grave under the +overhanging branches of the orange-tree, which were now tinged with +the red glow of morning, and this would undoubtedly have been the +case had not the report of a cannon from the harbor sounded through +the silence of the twilight. + +The combatants paused, as if at some word of command to be obeyed by +both, and listened, counting to themselves; then, as each uttered the +number thirty, a second gun was heard. "It is the signal for +immediate embarkation, Senor," said Don Fadrique; "we are now in the +emperor's service, and all dispute ceases which is not against the +foes of Charles the Fifth." "Right," replied Heimbert, "but when +there is an end of Tunis and the whole war. I shall demand +satisfaction for that 'dallying coward.'" "And I for that in +intercourse with my sister," said Fadrique. "Certainly," rejoined +the other; and, so saying, the two captains hurried down to the +strand and arranged the embarkation of their troops; while the sun, +rising over the sea, shone upon them both in the same vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +The voyagers had for some time to battle with contrary winds, and +when at length they came in sight of the coasts of Barbary the +darkness of evening had closed so deeply over the sea that no pilot +in the little squadron ventured to ride at anchor on the shallow +shore. They cruised about on the calm waters, waiting for the +morning; and the soldiers, full of laudable ambition for combat, +stood impatiently in crowds on the deck, straining their longing +eyes to see the theatre of their future deeds. + +Meanwhile the heavy firing of besiegers and besieged thundered +unceasingly from the fortress of Goletta, and as the night darkened +the scene with massy clouds, the flames of burning fragments became +more visible, and the fiery course of the red bullets was perceptible +as they crossed each other in their path, while their effects in fire +and devastation were fearful to behold. It was evident that the +Mussulmans had been attempting a sally, for a sharp fire of musketry +burst forth suddenly amid the roaring of the cannon. The fight was +approaching the trenches of the Christians, and on board the vessels +none were agreed whether the besiegers were in danger or not. At +length they saw that the Turks were driven back into the fortress; +the Christian army pursued them, and a shout was heard from the +Spanish camp as of one loud Victory! and the cry, Goletta was taken! + +How the troops on board the vessels--consisting of young and courage- +tried men--burned with ardor and their hearts beat at the glorious +spectacle, need not be detailed to those who carry a brave heart +within their own bosoms, and to all others any description would be +lost. Heimbert and Fadrique stood close to each other. "I do not +know," said the latter, speaking to himself, "but I feel as if to- +morrow I must plant my standard upon yonder height which is now +lighted up with the red glow of the bullets and burning flames in +Goletta." "That is just what I feel!" said Heimbert. The two angry +captains then relapsed into silence and turned indignantly away. + +The longed-for morning at length dawned, the vessels approached the +shore, and the landing of the troops began, while an officer was at +once dispatched to the camp to announce the arrival of the +reinforcements to the mighty general Alba. The soldiers were hastily +ranged on the beach, they put themselves and their weapons in order, +and were soon standing in battle array, ready for their great leader. +Clouds of dust rose in the gray twilight, the returning officer +announced the approach of the general, and as Alba signifies +"morning" in the Castilian tongue, the Spaniards raised a shout of +rejoicing at the coincidence, as at some favorable omen, for as the +knightly train approached the first beams of the rising sun became +visible. + +The grave and haggard form of the general was seen mounted on a tall +Andalusian charger of the deepest black. Having galloped once up and +down the lines, he stopped his powerful horse in the middle, and +looking along the ranks with an air of grave satisfaction, he said, +"You pass muster well. That is well. I like it to be so. It is +plain to see that you are tried soldiers, in spite of your youth. +We will first hold a review, and then I will lead you to something +more agreeable." + +So saying, he dismounted, and walking toward the right wing he began +to inspect one troop after another in the closest manner, with the +captain of each company at his side, that he might receive from him +accurate account upon the minutest particulars. Sometimes a cannon- +ball from the fortress would whizz over the heads of the men; then +Alba would stand still and cast a keen glance over the soldiers +before him. But when he saw that not an eyelash moved, a smile of +satisfaction passed over his severe pale face. + +When he had inspected both divisions he again mounted his horse and +once more galloped into the middle. Then, stroking his long beard, +he said, "You are in good order, soldiers, and therefore you shall +take your part in this glorious day, which is just dawning for our +whole Christian armada. We will attack Barbarossa, soldiers. Do you +not already hear the drums and fifes in the camp? Do you see him +advancing yonder to meet the emperor? That side of his position is +assigned to you!" + +"Vivat Carolus Quintus!" resounded through the ranks. Alba beckoned +the captains to him, and assigned to each his duty. He usually +mingled German and Spanish troops together, in order to stimulate the +courage of the combatants still higher by emulation. So it happened +even now that Heimbert and Fadrique were commanded to storm the very +same height, which, now gleaming with the morning light, they at once +recognized as that which had shone out so fiercely and full of +promise the night before. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +Thrice had Fadrique and Heimbert almost forced their way to a rampart +in the fortifications, and thrice had they been repulsed with their +men into the valley below by the fierce opposition of the Turks. The +Mussulmans shouted after the retreating foe, clashed their weapons +with the triumph of victory, and with a scornful laugh asked whether +they would not come up again to give heart and brain to the scimitar +and their limbs to the falling beams of wood. The two captains, +gnashing their teeth with fury, arranged their ranks anew; for after +three vain assaults they had to move closer together to fill the +places of the slain and the mortally wounded. Meanwhile a murmur ran +through the Christian army that a witch was fighting among their foes +and helping them to conquer. + +Duke Alba rode to the point of attack, and looked scrutinizingly at +the breach they had made. "Not yet broken through the enemy here!" +said he, shaking his head, "I am surprised. From two such youths, +and such troops, I should have expected it." "Do you hear that? +Do you hear that?" exclaimed the two captains, as they paced along +their lines repeating the general's words. The soldiers shouted +loudly, and demanded to be once more led against the enemy; even +those who were mortally wounded shouted, with a last effort, +"Forward, comrades!" The great Alba at once sprang like an arrow +from his horse, wrested a partisan from the stiff hand of one of the +slain, and standing in front of the two companies he cried, "I will +take part in your glory. In the name of God and of the blessed +Virgin, forward, my children!" + +And joyfully they rushed up the hill, every heart beating with +confidence, while the war-cry was raised triumphantly; some even +began already to shout "Victory! victory!" and the Mussulmans paused +and wavered. Suddenly, like the vision of an avenging angel, a +maiden, dressed in purple garments embroidered with gold appeared in +the Turkish ranks, and those who were terrified before again shouted +"Allah!" calling at the same time, "Zelinda, Zelinda!" The maiden, +however, drew a small box from under her arm, and opening it she +breathed into it and hurled it down among the Christian troops. And +forth from the fatal chest there burst a whole fire of rockets, +grenades, and other fearful messengers of death. The startled +soldiers paused in their assault. "Forward!" cried Alba. "Forward!" +cried the two captains; but a flaming arrow just then fastened on the +duke's plumed hat and hissed and crackled round his head, so that the +general fell fainting down the height. Then the German and Spanish +infantry fled uncontrollably from the fearful ascent. Again the +storm had been repulsed. The Mussulmans shouted, and like a fatal +star Zelinda's beauty shone in the midst of the flying troops. + +When Alba opened his eyes, Heimbert was standing over him, with his +mantle, arm, and face scorched with the fire, which he had not only +just extinguished on his general's head, but by throwing himself over +him he had saved him from a second body of flame rolled down the +height in the same direction. The duke was thanking his youthful +deliverer when some soldiers came up, looking for him, to apprise him +that the Saracen power was beginning an attack on the opposite wing +of the army. Without losing a word Alba threw himself on the first +horse brought him and galloped away to the spot where the most +threatening danger summoned him. + +Fadrique stood with his glowing eye fixed on the rampart, where the +brilliant form of Zelinda might be seen, with a two-edged spear, +ready to be hurled, uplifted by her snow-white arm, and raising her +voice, now in encouraging tones to the Mussulmans in Arabic, and +again speaking scornfully to the Christians in Spanish. At last +Fadrique exclaimed, "Oh, foolish being! she thinks to daunt me, and +yet she places herself before me, an alluring and irresistible war- +prize!" + +And as if magic wings had sprung from his shoulders, he began to fly +up the height with such rapidity that Alba's violent descent seemed +but a lazy snail's pace. Before any one was aware, he was already on +the height, and wresting spear and shield from the maiden, he had +seized her in his arms and was attempting to bear her away, while +Zelinda in anxious despair clung to the palisade with both her hands. +Her cry for help was unavailing, partly because the Turks imagined +that the magic power of the maiden was annihilated by the almost +equally wondrous deed of the youth, and partly also because the +faithful Heimbert, quickly perceiving his comrade's daring feat, had +led both troops to a renewed attack, and now stood by his side on the +height, fighting hand to hand with the defenders. This time the fury +of the Mussulmans, weakened as they were by superstition and +surprise, could avail nothing against the heroic advance of the +Christian soldiers. The Spaniards and Germans speedily broke through +the enemy, assisted by the watchful squadrons of their army. The +Mohammedans fled with frightful howling, the battle with its stream +of victory rolled ever on, and the banner of the holy German empire +and that of the royal house of Castile waved victorious over the +glorious battle-field before the walls of Tunis. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +In the confusion of the conquering and the conquered, Zelinda had +wrested herself from Fadrique's arms and had fled from him with such +swiftness that, however much love and desire might have given wings +to his pursuit, she was soon out of sight in a spot so well known to +her. All the more vehement was the fury of the excited Spaniard +against the infidel foe. Wherever a little host made a fresh stand +to oppose the Christians, he would hasten forward with the troops, +who ranged themselves round him, resistless as he was, as round a +banner of victory, while Heimbert ever remained at his side like a +faithful shield, guarding off many a danger to which the youth, +intoxicated with rage and success, exposed himself without +consideration. The following day they heard of Barbarossa's flight +from the city, and the victorious troops advanced without resistance +through the gates of Tunis. Fadrique's and Heimbert's companies were +always together. + +Thick clouds of smoke began to curl through the streets; the soldiers +were obliged to shake off the glowing and dusty flakes from their +mantles and richly plumed helmets, where they often rested +smouldering. "I trust the enemy in his despair has not set fire to +some magazine full of powder!" exclaimed the thoughtful Heimbert; and +Fadrique, allowing by a sign that he agreed with his surmise, +hastened on to the spot from whence the smoke proceeded, the troops +courageously pressing after him. + +The sudden turn of a street brought them in view of a magnificent +palace, from the beautifully ornamented windows of which the flames +were emerging, looking like torches of death in their fitful glow, +and lighting up the splendid building in the hour of its ruin in the +grandest manner, now illuminating this and now that part of the +gigantic structure, and then again relapsing into a fearful darkness +of smoke and vapor. + +And like some faultless statue, the ornament of the whole edifice, +there stood Zelinda upon a high and giddy projection, while the +tongues of flame wreathed around her from below, calling to her +companions in the faith to help her in saving the wisdom of centuries +which was preserved in this building. The projection on which she +stood began to totter from the fervent heat raging beneath it, and a +few stones gave way; Fadrique called with a voice full of anguish to +the endangered lady, and scarcely had she withdrawn her foot from the +spot, when the stone on which she had been standing broke away and +came rattling down on the pavement. Zelinda disappeared within the +burning palace, and Fadrique rushed up its marble staircase, +Heimbert, his faithful companion, following him. + +Their hasty steps carried them through lofty resounding halls; the +architecture over their heads was a maze of high arches, and one +chamber led into another almost like a labyrinth. The walls +displayed on all sides magnificent shelves, in which were to be seen +stored rolls of parchment, papyrus, and palm-leaf, partly inscribed +with the characters of long-vanished centuries, and which were now to +perish themselves. For the flames were already crackling among them +and stretching their serpent-like and fiery heads from one case of +treasures to another; while some Spanish soldiers, barbarous in their +fury, and hoping for plunder, and finding nothing but inscribed rolls +within the gorgeous building, passed from disappointment to rage, and +aided the flames; the more so as they regarded the inscriptions as +the work of evil magicians. Fadrique flew as in a dream through the +strange half-consumed halls, ever calling Zelinda! thinking and +regarding nothing but her enchanting beauty. Long did Heimbert +remain at his side, until at length they both reached a cedar +staircase leading to an upper story; here Fadrique paused to listen, +and exclaiming, "She is speaking up there! she is speaking loud! she +needs my help!" he dashed up the already burning steps. Heimbert +hesitated a moment; he saw the staircase already tottering, and he +thought to give a warning cry to his companion; but at the same +moment the light ornamental ascent gave way and burst into flames. +He could just see Fadrique clinging above to a brass grating and +swinging himself up to it, but all means of following him were +destroyed. Quickly recollecting himself, Heimbert lost no time in +idly gazing, but hastened through the adjacent halls in search of +another flight of steps which would lead him to his vanished friend. + +Meanwhile Fadrique, following the enchanting voice, had reached a +gallery in the midst of which, the floor having fallen in, there was +a fearful abyss of flames, though the pillars on each side were still +standing. Opposite to him the youth perceived the longed-for maiden, +clinging with one hand to a pillar, while with the other she was +threatening back some Spanish soldiers, who seemed ready at any +moment to seize her, and her delicate foot was already hovering over +the edge of the glowing ruins. For Fadrique to go to her was +impossible; the breadth of the opening rendered even a desperate leap +unavailing. Trembling lest his call might make the maiden +precipitate herself into the abyss, either in terror or despairing +anger, he only softly raised his voice and whispered as with a breath +over the flaming gulf, "Oh, Zelinda, Zelinda! do not give way to such +frightful thoughts! Your preserver is here!" The maiden turned her +queenly head, and when Fadrique saw her calm and composed demeanor, +he cried to the soldiers on the other side, with all the thunder of +his warrior's voice, "Back, ye insolent plunderers! Whoever advances +but one step to the lady shall feel the vengeance of my arm!" They +started and seemed on the point of withdrawing, when one of their +number said, "The knight cannot touch us, the gulf between us is too +broad for that. And as for the lady's throwing herself down--it +almost looks as if the young knight were her lover, and whoever has a +lover is not likely to be so hasty about throwing herself down." All +laughed at this and again advanced. Zelinda tottered at the edge of +the abyss. But with the courage of a lion Fadrique had torn his +target from his arm, and hurling it with his right hand he flung it +at the soldiers with such a sure aim that the rash leader, struck on +the head, fell senseless to the ground. The rest again stood still. +"Away with you!" cried Fadrique authoritatively, "or my dagger shall +strike the next as surely, and then I swear I will never rest till I +have found out your whole gang and appeased my rage." The dagger +gleamed in the youth's hand, but yet more fearfully gleamed the fury +in his eyes, and the soldiers fled. Then Zelinda bowed gratefully to +her preserver, took up a roll of palm-leaves which lay at her feet, +and which must have previously slipped from her hand, and then +vanished hastily through a side-door of the gallery. Henceforth +Fadrique sought her in vain in the burning palace. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +The great Alba held a council with his chief officers in an open +place in the middle of the conquered city, and, by means of +interpreters, sent question after question to the Turkish prisoners +as to the fate of the beautiful woman who had been seen animating +them on the ramparts, and who was certainly the most exquisite +enchantress that had ever visited the earth. Nothing very distinct +was to be gained from the answers, for although the interrogated all +knew of the the beautiful Zelinda as a noble lady versed in magic +lore, and acknowledged by the whole people, they were utterly unable +to state from whence she had come to Tunis and whither she had now +fled. When at last they began to threaten the prisoners as +obstinate, an old Dervish, hitherto unnoticed, pressed forward and +said, with a gloomy smile, "Whoever has a desire to seek the lady may +set out when he chooses; I will conceal nothing from him of what I +know of her direction, and I know something. But I must first of all +receive the promise that I shall not be compelled to accompany as +guide. My lips otherwise will remain sealed forever, and you may do +with me as you will." + +He looked like one who intended to keep his word, and Alba, pleased +with the firmness of the man, which harmonized well with his own +mind, gave him the desired assurance, and the Dervish began his +relation. He was once, he said, wandering in the almost infinite +desert of Sahara, impelled perhaps by rash curiosity, perhaps by +higher motives; he had lost his way there, and had at last, wearied +to death, reached one of those fertile islands of that sea of sand +which are called oases. Then followed, sparkling with oriental +vivacity, a description of the wonderful things seen there, now +filling the hearts of his hearers with sweet longing, and then again +making their hair stand on end with horror, though from the strange +pronunciation of the speaker and the flowing rapidity of his words +the half was scarcely understood. The end of all this at length was +that Zelinda dwelt on that oasis, in the midst of the pathless sand- +plains of the desert, surrounded by magic horrors; and also, as the +Dervish knew for certain, that she had left about half an hour ago on +her way thither. The almost contemptuous words with which he +concluded his narration plainly showed that he desired nothing more +earnestly than to seduce some Christians to undertake a journey which +must terminate inevitably in their destruction. At the same time he +added a solemn oath that everything was truly as he had stated it, +and he did this in a firm and grave manner, as a man who knows that +he is speaking the most indubitable truth. Surprised and thoughtful, +the circle of officers held their council round him. + +Then Heimbert stepped forward with an air as if of request; he had +just received a summons to leave the burning palace, where he had +been seeking his friend, and had been appointed to the place of +council because it was necessary to arrange the troops here in +readiness for any possible rising in the conquered city. "What do +you wish, my young hero?" said Alba, recognizing him as he appeared. +"I know your smiling, blooming countenance well. You were but lately +sheltering me like a protecting angel. I am so sure that you make no +request but what is honorable and knightly that anything you may +possibly desire is granted beforehand." "My great Duke," replied +Heimbert, with cheeks glowing with pleasure, "if I may then venture +to ask a favor, will you grant me permission to follow the beautiful +Zelinda at once in the direction which this wonderful Dervish has +pointed out?" The great general bowed in assent, and added, "So +noble an adventure could not be consigned to a more noble knight!" + +"I do not know that!" said an angry voice from the throng. "But well +do I know that to me above all others this adventure belongs, even +were it assigned as a reward for the capture of Tunis. For who was +the first on the height and within the city?" "That was Don Fadrique +Mendez," said Heimbert, taking the speaker by the hand and leading +him before the general. "If I now for his sake must forfeit my +promised reward, I must patiently submit; for he has rendered better +service than I have done to the emperor and the army." + +"Neither of you shall forfeit his reward," said the great Alba. +"Each has permission from this moment to seek the maiden in whatever +way it seems to him most advisable." + +And swift as lightning the two young captains quitted the circle of +officers in opposite directions. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +A sea of sand, stretching out in the distant horizon, without one +object to mark its extensive surface, white and desolate in its +vastness--such is the scene which proclaims the fearful desert of +Sahara to the eye of the wanderer who has lost himself in these +frightful regions. In this also it resembles the sea, that it casts +up waves, and often a misty vapor bangs over its surface. But there +is not the soft play of waves which unite all the coasts of the +earth; each wave as it rolls in bringing a message from the remotest +and fairest island kingdoms, and again rolling back as it were with +an answer, in a sort of love-flowing dance. No; there is here only +the melancholy sporting of the hot wind with the faithless dust which +ever falls back again into its joyless basin, and never reaches the +rest of the solid land with its happy human dwellings. There is here +none of the sweet cool sea-breeze in which kindly fairies seem +carrying on their graceful sport, forming blooming gardens and +pillared palaces--there is only a suffocating vapor, rebelliously +given back to the glowing sun from the unfruitful sands. + +Hither the two youths arrived at the same time, and paused, gazing +with dismay at the pathless chaos before them. Zelinda's track, +which was not easily hidden or lost, had hitherto obliged them almost +always to remain together, dissatisfied as Fadrique was at the +circumstance, and angry as were the glances he cast at his unwelcome +companion. Each had hoped to overtake Zelinda before she had reached +the desert, feeling how almost impossible it would be to find her +once she had entered it. That hope was now at an end; and although +in answer to the inquiries they made in the Barbary villages on the +frontier, they heard that a wanderer going southward in the desert +and guiding his course by the stars would, according to tradition, +arrive at length at a wonderfully fertile oasis, the abode of a +divinely beautiful enchantress, yet everything appeared highly +uncertain and dispiriting, and was rendered still more so by the +avalanches of dust before the travellers' view. + +The youths looked sadly at the prospect before them, and their horses +snorted and started back at the horrible plain, as though it were +some insidious quicksand, and even the riders themselves were seized +with doubt and dismay. Suddenly they sprung from their saddles, as +at some word of command, unbridled their horses, loosened their +girths, and turned them loose on the desert, that they might find +their way back to some happier dwelling place. Then, taking some +provision from their saddle-bags, they placed it on their shoulders, +and casting aside their heavy riding boots they plunged like two +courageous swimmers into the trackless waste. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +With no other guide than the sun by day, and by night the host of +stars, the two captains soon lost sight of each other, and all the +sooner, as Fadrique avoided intentionally the object of his aversion. +Heimbert, on the other hand, had no thought but the attainment of his +aim; and, full of joyful confidence in God's assistance, he pursued +his course in a southerly direction. + +Many nights and many days had passed, when one evening, as the +twilight was coming on, Heimbert was standing alone in the endless +desert, unable to descry a single object all round on which his eye +could rest. His light flask was empty, and the evening brought with +it, instead or the hoped-for coolness, a suffocating whirlwind of +sand, so that the exhausted wanderer was obliged to press his burning +face to the burning soil in order to escape in some measure the fatal +cloud. Now and then he heard something passing him, or rustling over +him as with the sound of a sweeping mantle, and he would raise +himself in anxious haste; but he only saw what he had already too +often seen in the daylime--the wild beasts of the wilderness roaming +at liberty through the desert waste. Sometimes it was an ugly camel, +then it was a long-necked and disproportioned giraffe, and then again +a long-legged ostrich hastening away with its wings outspread. They +all appeared to scorn him, and he had already taken his resolve to +open his eyes no more, and to give himself up to his fate, without +allowing these horrible and strange creatures to disturb his mind in +the hour of death. + +Presently it seemed to him as if he heard the hoofs and neighing of a +horse, and suddenly something halted close beside him, and he thought +he caught the sound of a man's voice. Half unwilling, he could not +resist raising himself wearily, and he saw before him a rider in an +Arab's dress mounted on a slender Arabian horse. Overcome with joy +at finding himself within reach of human help, he exclaimed, +"Welcome, oh, man, in this fearful solitude! If thou canst, succor +me, thy fellow-man, who must otherwise perish with thirst!" Then +remembering that the tones of his dear German mother tongue were not +intelligible in this joyless region, he repeated the same words in +the mixed dialect, generally called the Lingua Romana, universally +used by heathens, Mohammedans, and Christians in those parts of the +world where they have most intercourse with each other. + +The Arab still remained silent, and looked as if scornfully laughing +at his strange discovery. At length he replied, in the same dialect, +"I was also in Barbarossa's fight; and if, Sir Knight, our overthrow +bitterly enraged me then, I find no small compensation for it in the +fact of seeing one of the conquerors lying so pitifully before me." +"Pitifully!" exclaimed Heimbert angrily, and his wounded sense of +honor giving him back for a moment all his strength, he seized his +sword and stood ready for an encounter. "Oho!" laughed the Arab, +"does the Christian viper still hiss so strongly? Then it only +behooves me to put spurs to my horse and leave thee to perish here, +thou lost creeping worm!" "Ride to the devil, thou dog of a +heathen!" retorted Heimbert; "rather than entreat a crumb of thee I +will die here, unless the good God sends me manna in the wilderness." + +And the Arab spurred forward his swift steed and galloped away a +couple of hundred paces, laughing with scorn. Then he paused, and +looking round to Heimbert he trotted back and said, "Thou seemest too +good, methinks, to perish here of hunger and thirst. Beware! my good +sabre shall touch thee." + +Heimbert, who had again stretched himself hopelessly on the burning +sand, was quickly roused to his feet by these words, and seized his +sword; and sudden as was the spring with which the Arab's horse flew +toward him, the stout German warrior stood ready to parry the blow, +and the thrust which the Arab aimed at him in the Mohammedan manner +he warded off with certainty and skill. + +Again and again the Arab sprung; similarly here and there, vainly +hoping to give his antagonist a death-blow. At last, overcome by +impatience, he approached so boldly that Heimbert, warding off the +threatening weapon, had time to seize the Arab by the girdle and drag +him from the fast-galloping horse. The violence of the movement +threw Heimbert also on the ground, but he lay above his opponent, and +holding close before his eyes a dagger, which he had dexterously +drawn from his girdle, he exclaimed, "Wilt thou have mercy or death?" +The Arab, trembling, cast down his eyes before the gleaming and +murderous weapon, and said, "Show mercy to me, mighty warrior; I +surrender to thee." Heimbert then ordered him to throw away the +sabre he still held in his right hand. He did so, and both +combatants rose, and again sunk down upon the sand, for the victor +was far more weary than the vanquished. + +The Arab's good horse meanwhile had trotted toward them, according to +the habit of those noble animals, who never forsake their fallen +master. It now stood behind the two men, stretching out its long +slender neck affectionately toward them. "Arab," said Heimbert with +exhausted voice, "take from thy horse what provision thou hast with +thee and place it before me." The vanquished man humbly did as he +was commanded, now just as much submitting to the will of the +conqueror as he had before exhibited his animosity in anger and +revenge. After a few draughts of palm-wine from the skin, Heimbert +looked at the youth under a new aspect; he then partook of some +fruits, drank more of the palm-wine, and at length said, "You are +going to ride still farther to-night, young man?" "Yes, indeed," +replied the Arab sadly; "on a distant oasis there dwells my aged +father and my blooming bride. Now--even if you set me at full +liberty--I must perish in the heat of this barren desert, for want +of sustenance, before I can reach my lovely home." + +"Is it, perhaps," asked Heimbert, "the oasis on which the mighty +enchantress, Zelinda, dwells?" + +"Allah protect me!" cried the Arab, clasping his hands. "Zelinda's +wondrous isle offers no hospitable shelter to any but magicians. +It lies far away in the scorching south, while our friendly oasis +is toward the cooler west." + +"I only asked in case we might be travelling companions," said +Heimbert courteously. "If that cannot be, we must certainly divide +the provisions; for I would not have so brave a warrior as you +perish, with hunger and thirst." + +So saying, the young captain began to arrange the provisions in two +portions, placing the larger on his left and the smaller at his +right; he then desired the Arab to take the former, and added, to his +astonished companion, "See, good sir, I have either not much farther +to travel or I shall perish in the desert; I feel that it will be so. +Besides, I cannot carry half so much on foot as you can on horse- +back." + +"Knight! victorious knight!" cried the amazed Mussulman, "am I then +to keep my horse?" + +"It were a sin and shame indeed," said Heimbert, smiling, "to +separate such a faithful steed from such a skilful rider. Ride +on, in God's name, and get safely to your people." + +He then helped him to mount, and the Arab was on the point of +uttering a few words of gratitude, when he suddenly exclaimed, "The +magic maiden!" and, swift as the wind, he flew over the dusty plain. +Heimbert, however, turning round, saw close beside him in the now +bright moonlight a shining figure, which he at once perceived to be +Zelinda. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +The maiden looked fixedly at the young soldier, and seemed +considering with what words to address him, while he, after his long +search and now unexpected success, was equally at a loss. At last +she said in Spanish, "Thou wonderful enigma, I have been witness of +all that has passed between thee and the Arab; and these affairs +confuse my head like a whirlwind. Speak, therefore, plainly, that +I may know whether thou art a madman or an angel?" + +"I am neither, dear lady," replied Heimbert, with his wonted +friendliness. "I am only a poor wanderer, who has just been putting +into practice one of the commands of his Master, Jesus Christ." + +"Sit down," said Zelinda, "and tell me of thy Master; he must be +himself unprecedented to have such a servant. The night is cool and +still, and at my side thou hast no cause to fear the dangers of the +desert." + +"Lady," replied Heimbert, smiling, "I am not of a fearful nature, and +when I am speaking of my dear Saviour my mind is perfectly free from +all alarm." + +Thus saying, they both sat down on the now cooled sand and began a +wondrous conversation, while the full moon shone upon them from the +deep-blue heavens above like a magic lamp. + +Heimbert's words, full of divine love, truth, and simplicity sank +like soft sunbeams, gently and surely, into Zelinda's, heart, driving +away the mysterious magic power which dwelt there, and wrestling for +the dominion of the noble territory of her soul. When morning began +to dawn she said, "Thou wouldst not be called an angel last evening, +but thou art truly one. For what else are angels than messengers of +the Most High God?" "In that sense," rejoined Heimbert, "I am well +satisfied with the name, for I certainly hope that I am the bearer of +my Master's message. Yes, if he bestows on me further grace and +strength, it may even be that you also may become my companion in the +pious work." "It is not impossible," said Zelinda thoughtfully. +"Thou must, however, come with me to my island, and there thou shalt +be regaled as is befitting such an ambassador, far better than here +on the desolate sand, with the miserable palm-wine that thou hast so +laboriously obtained." + +"Pardon me," replied Heimbert; "it is difficult to me to refuse the +request of a lady, but on this occasion it cannot be otherwise. In +your island many glorious things have been conjured together by your +forbidden art, and many lovely forms which the good God has created +have been transformed. These might dazzle my senses, and at last +delude them. If you will, therefore, hear the best and purest things +which I can relate to you, you must rather come out to me on this +desert sand. The palm-wine and the dates of the Arab will suffice +for me for many a day to come." "You would do better to come with +me," said Zelinda, shaking her head with somewhat of a scornful +smile. "You were certainly neither born nor brought up to be a +hermit, and there is nothing on my oasis so destructive as you +imagine. What is there more than shrubs and flowers and beasts +gathered together from different quarters of the world, perhaps a +little strangely interwoven; each, that is to say, partaking of the +nature of the other, in a similar manner to that which you must have +seen in our Arabian carving! A moving flower, a bird growing on a +branch, a fountain gleaming with fiery sparks, a singing twig--these +are truly no hateful things!" "He must avoid temptation who does not +wish to be overcome by it," said Heimbert very gravely; "I am for the +desert. Will it please you to come out to visit me again?" Zelinda +looked down somewhat displeased. Then suddenly bending her head +still lower she replied, "Yes; toward evening I shall be here again." +And, turning away, she at once disappeared in the rising whirlwind of +the desert. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +With the evening twilight the lovely lady returned and spent the +night in converse with the pious youth, leaving him in the morning +with her mind more humble, pure, and devout; and thus matters went on +for many days. "Thy palm-wine and thy dates must be coming to an +end," said Zelinda one evening as she presented the youth with a +flask of rich wine and some costly fruits. He, however, gently put +aside the gift and said, "Noble lady, I would accept your gift +gladly, but I fear some of your magic arts may perhaps cleave to it. +Or could you assure me to the contrary by Him whom you are now +beginning to know?" Zelinda cast down her eyes in silent confusion +and took her presents back. On the following evening, however, she +brought similar gifts, and, smiling confidently, gave the desired +assurance. Heimbert then partook of them without hesitation, and +from henceforth the disciple carefully provided for the sustenance of +her teacher in the wilderness. + +And so, as the blessed knowledge of the truth sank more and more +deeply into Zelinda's soul, so that she was often sitting till dawn +before the youth, with cheeks glowing and hair dishevelled, her eyes +gleaming with delight and her hands folded, unable to withdraw +herself from his words, he, on his part, endeavored to make her +sensible at all times that it was only Fadrique's love for her which +had urged him, his friend, into this fatal desert, and that it was +this same love that had thus become the means for the attainment of +her highest spiritual good. She still well remembered the handsome +and terrible captain who had stormed the height that he might clasp +her in his arms; and she related to her friend how the same hero had +afterward saved her in the burning library. Heimbert too had many +pleasant things to tell of Fadrique--of his high knightly courage, of +his grave and noble manners, and of his love to Zelinda, which in the +night after the battle of Tunis was no longer concealed within his +passionate breast, but was betrayed to the young German in a thousand +unconscious expressions between sleeping and waking. Divine truth +and the image of her loving hero both at once sank deep within +Zelinda's heart, and struck root there with tender but indestructible +power. Heimbert's presence and the almost adoring admiration with +which his pupil regarded him did not disturb these feelings, for from +the first moment his appearance had something in it so pure and +heavenly that no thoughts of earthly love intruded. When Heimbert +was alone he would often smile happily within himself, saying in his +own beloved German tongue, "It is indeed delightful that I am now +able consciously to do the same service for Fadrique as he did for +me, unconsciously, with his angelic sister." And then he would sing +some German song of Clara's grace and beauty, the sound of which rang +with strange sweetness through the desert, while it happily beguiled +his solitary hours. + +Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight, gracefully bearing on +her beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he smiled at +her and shook his head, saying, "It is inconceivable to me, sweet +maiden, why you ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out +here in the desert. You can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic +arts, since the spirit of truth and love dwells within you. If you +would only transform the oasis into the natural form in which the +good God created it, I would go there with you, and we should have +far more time for holy converse." "Sir," replied Zelinda, "you speak +truly. I too have thought for some days of doing so and the matter +would have been already set on foot, but a strange visitor fetters my +power. The Dervish whom you saw in Tunis is with me, and as in +former times we have practised many magic tricks with each other, he +would like again to play the old game. He perceives the change in +me, and on that account urges me all the more vehemently and +dangerously." + +"He must either be driven away or converted," said Heimbert, girding +on his shoulder-belt more firmly, and taking up his shield from the +ground. "Have the goodness, dear maiden," he continued, "to lead me +to your enchanted isle." + +"You avoided it so before," said the astonished Zeiinda," and it is +still unchanged in its fantastic form." + +"Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have +ventured there," replied Heimbert. "You came too out here to me, and +that was better for us both. But now the old enemy might lay snares +for the ruin of all that the Lord has been working in you, and so it +is a knightly duty to go. In God's name, then, to the work!" + +And they hastened forward together, through the ever-increasing +darkness of the plain, on their way to the blooming island. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +A charming breeze began to cool the heated brows of the travellers, +and the twinkling starlight revealed in the distance a grove, waving +to and fro with the gentle motion of the air. Heimbert cast his eyes +to the ground and said, "Go before me, sweet maiden, and guide my +path to the spot where I shall find this threatening Dervish. I do +not wish unnecessarily to see anything of these ensnaring +enchantments." + +Zelinda did as he desired, and the relation of the two was for a +moment changed; the maiden had become the guide, and Heimbert, full +of confidence, allowed himself to be led upon the unknown path. +Branches were even now touching his cheeks, half caressingly and +playfully; wonderful birds, growing out of bushes, sang joyful songs; +over the velvet turf, upon which Heimbert ever kept his eyes fixed, +there glided gleaming serpents of green and gold, with little golden +crowns, and brilliant stones glittered on the mossy carpet. When the +serpents touched the jewels, they gave forth a silvery sound. But +Heimbert let the serpents creep and the gems sparkle, without +troubling himself about them, intent alone on following the footsteps +of his guide. + +"We are there!" said she with suppressed voice; and looking up he saw +a shining grotto of shells, within which he perceived a man asleep +clad in golden scale-armor of the old Numidian fashion. "Is that +also a phantom, there yonder in the golden scales?" inquired +Heimbert, smiling; but Zelinda looked very grave and replied, "Oh, +no! that is the Dervish himself, and his having put on this coat-of- +mail, which has been rendered invulnerable by dragon's blood, is a +proof that by his magic he has become aware of our intention." "What +does that signify?" said Heimbert; "he would have to know it at +last." And he began at once to call out, with a cheerful voice, +"Wake up, old sir, wake up! Here is an acquaintance of yours, who +has matters upon which he must speak to you." + +And as the Dervish opened his large rolling eyes, everything in the +magic grove began to move, the water began to dance, and the branches +to intertwine in wild emulation, and at the same time the precious +stones and the shells and corals emitted strange and confusing +melodies. + +"Roll and turn, thunder and play as you like!" exclaimed Heimbert, +looking fixedly at the maze around him; "you shall not divert me from +my own good path, and Almighty God has given me a good far-sounding +soldier's voice which can make itself heard above all this tumult." +Then turning to the Dervish he said, "It appears, old man, that you +already know everything which has passed between Zelinda and me. In +case, however, that it is not so, I will tell you briefly that she is +already as good as a Christian, and that she is the betrothed of a +noble Spanish knight. Place nothing in the way of her good +intention; I advise you for your own sake. But still better for your +own sake would it be if you would become a Christian yourself. +Discuss the matter with me, and first bid all this mad devilish show +to cease, for our religion, dear sir, speaks of far too tender and +divine things to be talked of with violence or with the loud voice +necessary on the field of war." + +But the Dervish, burning with hatred to the Christians, had not +waited to hear the knight's last words when he rushed at him with his +drawn scimitar. Heimbert merely parried his thrust, saying, "Take +care of yourself, sir! I have heard something of your weapons being +charmed, but that will avail but little before my sword. It has been +consecrated in holy places." + +The Dervish sprang wildly back before the sword, but equally wildly +did he spring to the other side of his adversary, who only with +difficulty caught the terrible cuts of his weapon upon his shield. +Like a gold-scaled dragon the Mohammedan swung himself round his +antagonist with an agility which, with his long flowing white beard, +was ghostly and horrible to witness. Heimbert was prepared to meet +him on all sides, ever keeping a watchful eye for some opening in the +scales made by the violence of his movements. At last it happened as +he desired; between the arm and breast on the left side the dark +garments of the Dervish became visible, and quick as lightning the +German made a deadly thrust. The old man exclaimed aloud, "Allah! +Allah!" and fell forward, fearful even in his fall, a senseless +corpse. + +"I pity him!" sighed Heimbert, leaning on his sword and looking down +on his fallen foe." He has fought nobly, and even in death he called +upon his Allah, whom he looked upon as the true God. He must not +lack honorable burial." He then dug a grave with the broad scimitar +of his adversary, laid the corpse within it, covered it over with +turf, and knelt on the spot in silent heartfelt prayer for the soul +of the departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +Heimbert rose from his pious duty, and his first glance fell on +Zelinda, who stood smiling by his side, and his second upon the +wholly changed scene around. The rocky cavern and grotto had +disappeared, the distorted forms of trees and beasts, half terrible +and half charming as they were, had vanished also; a gentle grassy +hill sloped down on every side of the point where he stood, toward +the sandy waste; springs gushed out here and there in refreshing +beauty; date-trees bent over the little paths--everything, indeed, +in the now opening day was full of sweet and simple peace. + +"Thank God!" said Heimbert, turning to his companion, "you can now +surely feel how infinitely more lovely, grand, and beautiful is +everything as our dear Father has created it than it can be when +transformed by the highest human art. The Heavenly Gardener has +indeed permitted us, his beloved children, in his abundant mercy, to +help forward his gracious works, that we may thus become happier and +better; but we must take care that we change nothing to suit our own +rash wilful fancies; else it is as if we were expelling ourselves a +second time from Paradise." "It shall not happen again," said +Zelinda humbly. "But may you in this solitary region, where we are +not likely to meet with any priest of our faith, may you not bestow +on me, as one born anew, the blessing of Holy Baptism?" + +Heimbert, after some consideration, replied, "I hope I may do so. +And if I am wrong, God will pardon me. It is surely done in the +desire to bring to him so worthy a soul as soon as possible." + +So they walked together, silently praying and full of smiling +happiness, down to one of the pleasant springs of the oasis, and just +as they reached the edge and prepared themselves for the holy work +the sun rose before them as if to confirm and strengthen their +purpose, and the two beaming countenances looked at each other with +joy and confidence. Heimbert had not thought of the Christian name +he should bestow on his disciple, but as he scooped up the water, and +the desert lay around him so solemn in the rosy glow of morning, he +remembered the pious hermit Antony in his Egyptian solitude, and he +baptized the lovely convert, Antonia. + +They spent the day in holy conversation, and Antonia showed her +friend a little cave, in which she had concealed all sorts of store +for her sustenance when she first dwelt on the oasis. "For," said +she, "the good God is my witness that I came hither only that I +might, in solitude, become better acquainted with him and his created +works, without knowing at that time in the least of any magic +expedients. Subsequently the Dervish came, tempting me, and the +horrors of the desert joined in a fearful league with his terrible +power, and then by degrees followed all that alluring spirits showed +me either in dreams or awake." + +Heimbert had no scruple to take with him for the journey any of the +wine and fruits that were still fit for use, and Antonia assured him +that by the direct way, well known to her, they would reach the +fruitful shore of this waterless ocean in a few days. So with the +approach of evening coolness they set out on their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +The travellers had almost traversed the pathless plain when one day +they saw a figure wandering in the distance, for in the desolate +Sahara every object is visible to the very horizon if the whirlwind +of dust does not conceal it from view. The wanderer seemed doubtful +of his course, sometimes taking this, sometimes that direction, and +Antonia's eastern falcon eye could discern that it was no Arab, but +a man in knightly garb. + +"Oh, dear sister," exclaimed Heimbert, full of anxious joy, "then it +is our poor Fadrique, who is in search of thee. For pity's sake, let +as hasten before he loses us, and perhaps at last his own life also, +in this immeasurable waste." They strained every effort to reach the +distant object, but it was now midday and the sun shone burningly +upon them, Antonia could not long endure this rapid progress; added +to which the fearful whirlwind soon arose, and the figure that had +been scarcely visible before faded from their eyes, like some phantom +of the mist in autumn. + +With the rising moon they began anew to hasten forward, calling +loudly upon the unfortunate wanderer, and fluttering white +handkerchiefs tied to their walking-staffs, as signal flags, hut it +was all in vain. The object that had disappeared remained lost to +view. Only a few giraffes sprang shyly past them, and the ostriches +quickened their speed. + +At length, as morning dawned, Antonia paused and said, "Thou canst +not leave me, brother, in this solitude, and I cannot go a single +step farther. God will protect the noble Fadrique. How could a +father forsake such a model of knightly excellence?" "The disciple +shames the teacher," replied Heimbert, his sad face brightening into +a smile. "We have done our part, and we may confidently hope that +God will come to the aid of our failing powers and do what is +necessary." As he spoke he spread his mantle on the sand, that +Antonia might rest more comfortably. Suddenly looking up, he +exclaimed, "Oh, God! yonder lies a man, completely buried in the +sand. Oh, that he may not be already dead!" + +He immediately began to sprinkle wine, from the flask he carried, on +the brow of the fainting traveller, and to chafe his temples with it. +The man at last slowly opened his eyes and said, "I had hoped the +morning dew would not again have fallen on me, but that unknown and +unlamented I might have perished here in the desert, as must be the +case in the end." So saying he closed his eyes again, like one +intoxicated with sleep, but Heimbert continued his restoratives +unwearyingly, and at length the refreshed wanderer half raised +himself from the sand with an exclamation of astonishment. + +He looked from Heimbert to his companion, and from her again at +Heimbert, and suddenly exclaimed, gnashing his teeth, "Ha, was it to +he thus! I was not even to be allowed to die in the dull happiness +of quiet solitude! I was to be first doomed to see my rival's +success and my sister's shame!" At the same time he sprang to his +feet with a violent effort and rushed forward upon Heimbert with +drawn sword. But Heimbert moved neither sword nor arm, and merely +said, in a gentle voice, "Wearied out, as you now are, I cannot +possibly fight with you; besides, I must first place this lady in +security." Antonia, who had at first gazed with much emotion at the +angry knight, now stepped suddenly between the two men and cried out, +"Oh, Fadrique, neither misery nor anger can utterly disfigure you. +But what has my noble brother done to you?" "Brother?" said +Fadrique, with astonishment. "Or godfather, or confessor," +interrupted Heimbert, "as you will. Only do not call her Zelinda, +for her name is now Antonia; she is a Christian, and waits to be your +bride." Fadrique stood fixed with surprise, but Heimbert's true- +hearted words and Antonia's lovely blushes soon revealed the happy +enigma to him. He sank down before the longed-for form with a sense +of exquisite delight, and in the midst of the inhospitable desert the +flowers of love and gratitude and confidence sent their sweetness +heavenward. + +The excitement of this happy surprise at last gave way to bodily +fatigue. Antonia, like some drooping blossom, stretched her fair +form on the again burning sand, and slumbered under the protection of +her lover and her chosen brother. "Sleep also," said Heimbert softly +to Fadrique; "you must have wandered about wildly and wearily, for +exhaustion is pressing down your eyelids with leaden weight. I am +quite fresh, and I will watch meanwhile." "Ah, Heimbert," sighed the +noble Castilian, "my sister is thine, thou messenger from Heaven; +that is an understood thing. But now for our affair of honor!" +"Certainly," said Heimbert, very gravely, "as soon as we are again in +Spain, you must give me satisfaction for that over-hasty expression. +Till then, however, I beg you not to mention it. An unfinished +quarrel is no good subject for conversation." + +Fadrique laid himself sadly down to rest, overcome by long-resisted +sleep, and Heimbert knelt down with a glad heart, thanking the good +God for having given him success, and for blessing, him with a future +full of joyful assurance. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + +The next day the three travellers reached the edge of the desert, and +refreshed themselves for a week in an adjacent village, which, with +its shady trees and green pastures, seemed like a little paradise in +contrast to the joyless Sahara. Fadrique's condition especially made +this rest necessary. He had never left the desert during the whole +time, gaining his subsistence by fighting with wandering Arabs, and +often almost exhausted by the utter want of all food and drink. At +length he had become so thoroughly confused that the stars could no +longer guide him, and he had been driven about, sadly and objectless, +like the dust clouds of the desert. + +Even now, at times, when he would fall asleep after the midday meal, +and Antonia and Heimbert would watch his slumbers like two smiling +angels, he would suddenly start up and gaze round him with a +terrified air, and then it was not till he had refreshed himself by +looking at the two friendly faces that he would sink back again into +quiet repose. When questioned on the matter, after he was fully +awake, he told them that in his wanderings nothing had been more +terrible to him than the deluding dreams which had transported him, +sometimes to his own home, sometimes to the merry camp of his +comrades, and sometimes into Zelinda's presence, and then leaving him +doubly helpless and miserable in the horrible solitude as the +delusion vanished. It was on this account that even now waking was +fearful to him, and even in sleep a vague consciousness of his past +sufferings would often disturb him. "You cannot imagine it," he +added. "To be suddenly transported from well-known scenes into the +boundless desert! And instead of the longed-for enchanting face of +my beloved, to see an ugly camel's head stretched over me +inquisitively with its long neck, starting back as I rose with still +more ugly timidity!" + +This, with all other painful consequences of his past miseries, soon +wholly vanished, from Fadrique's mind, and they cheerfully set out on +their journey to Tunis. The consciousness, indeed, of his injustice +to Heimbert and its unavoidable results often lay like a cloud upon +the noble Spaniard's brow, but it also softened the natural proud +severity of his nature, and Antonia could cling the more tenderly and +closely to him with her loving heart. + +Tunis, which had been before so amazed at Zelinda's magic power and +enthusiastic hostility against the Christians, now witnessed +Antonia's solemn baptism in a newly-consecrated edifice, and soon +after the three companions took ship with a favorable wind for +Malaga. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +Beside the fountain where she had parted from Heimbert, Dona Clara +was sitting one evening in deep thought. The guitar on her knees +gave forth a few solitary chords, dreamily drawn from it, as it were, +by her delicate hands, and at length forming themselves into a +melody, while the following words dropped softly from her partly +opened lips: + + + "Far away, 'fore Tunis ramparts, + Where the Christian army lies, + Paynim host are fiercely fighting + With Spanish troops and Spain's allies. + Who from bloodstained lilies there, + And death's roses pale and fair-- + Who has borne the conquerer's prize? + + "Ask Duke Alba, ask Duke Alba, + Which two knights their fame have proved, + One was my own valiant brother, + The other was my heart's beloved. + And I thought that I should crown them, + Doubly bright with glory's prize, + And a widow's veil is falling + Doubly o'er my weeping eyes, + For the brave knights ne'er again + Will be found mid living men." + + +The music paused, and soft dew-drops fell from her heavenly eyes. +Heimbert, who was concealed under the neighboring orange-trees, felt +sympathetic tears rolling down his cheeks, and Fadrique, who had led +him and Antonia there, could no longer delay the joy of meeting, but +stepping forward with his two companions he presented himself before +his sister, like some angelic messsenger. + +Such moments of extreme and sudden delight, the heavenly blessings +long expected and rarely vouchsafed, are better imagined by each +after his own fashion, and it is doing but an ill service to recount +all that this one did and that one said. Picture it therefore to +yourself, dear reader, after your own fancy, as you are certainly far +better able to do, if the two loving pairs in my story have become +dear to you and you have grown intimite with them. If that, however, +be not the case, what is the use of wasting unnecessary words? For +the benefit of those who with heart-felt pleasure could have lingered +over this meeting of the sister with her brother and her lover, I +will proceed with increased confidence. Although Heimbert, casting +a significant look at Fadrique, was on the point of retiring as soon +as Antonia had been placed under Dona Clara's protection, the noble +Spaniard would not permit him. He detained his companion-in-arms +with courteous and brotherly requests that he would remain till the +evening repast, at which some relatives of the Mendez family joined +the party, and in their presence Fadrique declared the brave Heimbert +of Waldhausen to be Dona Clara's fiance, sealing the betrothal with +the most solemn words, so that it might remain indissoluble, whatever +might afterward occur which should seem inimical to their union. The +witnesses were somewhat astonished at these strange precautionary +measures, but at Fadrique's desire they unhesitatingly gave their +word that all should be carried out as he wished, and they did this +the more unhesitatingly as the Duke of Alba, who had just been in +Malaga on some trivial business, had filled the whole city with the +praises of the two young captains. + +As the richest wine was now passing round the table in the tall +crystal goblets, Fadrique stepped behind Heimbert's chair and +whispered to him, "If it please you, Senor--the moon is just risen +and is shining as bright as day--I am ready to give you +satisfaction." Heimbert nodded in assent, and the two youths quitted +the hall, followed by the sweet salulations of the unsuspecting +ladies. + +As they passed through the beautiful garden, Fadrique said, with a +sigh, "We could have wandered here so happily together, but for my +over-rashness!" "Yes, indeed," said Heimbert, "but so it is, and it +cannot be otherwise, if we would continue to look upon each other as +a soldier and a nobleman." "True!" replied Fadrique, and they +hastened to reach a distant part of the garden, where the sound of +their clashing swords could not reach the gay hall of betrothal they +had left. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +Secret and inclosed, with blooming shrubs planted around, with not a +sound to be heard of the merry company, nor of the animated streets +of the city, with the full moon shining overhead and brightening the +solemn circle with its clear brilliancy--such was the spot. The two +captains unsheathed their gleaming swords and stood opposite each +other, ready for the encounter. But before they began the combat a +nobler feeling drew them to each other's arms; they lowered their +weapons and embraced in the most fraternal manner. They then tore +themselves away and the fearful contest began. + +They were now no longer brothers-in-arms, no longer friends, no +longer brothers-in-law, who directed their sharp steels against each +other. With the most resolute boldness, but with the coolest +collectedness, each fell upon his adversary, guarding his own breast +at the same time. After a few hot and dangerous passes the +combatants were obliged to rest, and during the pause they regarded +each other with increased love, each rejoicing to find his comrade so +valiant and so honorable. And then the fatal strife began anew. + +With his left hand Heimbert dashed aside Fadrique's sword, which had +been aimed at him with a thrust in tierce, sideward, but the keen +edge had penetrated his leathern glove, and the red blood gushed out. +"Hold!" cried Fadrique, and they searched for the wound, but soon +perceiving that it was of no importance, and binding it up, they both +began the combat with undiminished vigor. + +It was not long before Heimbert's blade pierced Fadrique's right +shoulder, and the German, feeling that he had wounded his opponent, +now on his side called out to halt. At first Fadrique would not +acknowledge to the injury, but soon the blood began to trickle down, +and he was obliged to accept his friend's careful assistance. Still +this wound also appeared insignificant, the noble Spaniard still felt +power to wield his sword, and again the deadly contest was renewed +with knightly ardor. + +Presently the garden-gate clanked, and the sound of a horse's step +was heard advancing through the shrubbery. Both combatants paused in +their stern work and turned toward the unwelcome disturber. The next +moment through the slender pines a horseman was visible whose dress +and bearing proclaimed him a warrior and Fadrique, as master of the +house, at once addressed him. "Senor," said he, "why you come here, +intruding into a strange garden, we will inquire at another time. +For the present I will only request you to leave us free from further +interruption by immediately retiring, and to favor me with your +name." "Retire I will not," replied the stranger, "but my name I +will gladly tell you. I am the Duke of Alba." And as he spoke, by a +movement of his charger a bright moonbeam fell upon his pale thin +face, the dwelling-place of all that was grand and worthy and +terrible. The two captains bowed low and dropped their weapons. + +"I ought to know you," continued Alba, looking at them with his +sparkling eyes. "Yes, truly, I know you well, you are the two young +heroes at the battle of Tunis. God be praised that two such brave +warriors, whom I had given up for lost, are still alive; but tell me, +what is this affair of honor that has turned your good swords against +each other? For I hope you will not hesitate to declare to me the +cause of your knightly contest." + +They complied with the great duke's behest. Both the noble youths +related the whole circumstances, from the evening previous to their +embarkation up to the present moment, while Alba remained between +them, in silent thought, almost motionless, like some equestrian +statue. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + + +The Captains had already long finished their story, and the duke +still remained silent and motionless, in deep reflection. At last he +began to speak, and addressed them as follows: + +"May God and his holy word help me, my young knights, when I say that +I consider, after my best and most conscientious belief, that this +affair of yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each +other in contest on account of those irritating words which escaped +the lips of Don Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you +have hitherto received are not sufficient compensation for the angry +expression, there is still your common fight before Tunis, and the +rescue in the desert afforded by Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don +Fadrique Mendez, after he had gained his bride for him. From all +this, I consider that the Knight of Waldhausen is entitled to pardon +any offence of an adversary to whom he has shown himself so well +inclined. Old Roman history tells us of two captains of the great +Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cemented a hearty friendship +with each other when engaged in the same bold fight, delivering each +other in the midst of a Gallic army. I affirm, however, that you two +have done more for each other: and therefore I declare your affair of +honor to be settled, and at an end. Sheathe your swords, and embrace +each other in my presence." + +Obedient to the command of their general, the young knights for the +present sheathed their weapons; but anxious lest the slightest +possible shadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the +reconciling embrace. + +The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air, and +said, "Do you then suppose, young knights, that I could wish to save +the lives of two heroes at the expense of their honor? I would +rather at once have struck you dead, both of you at once. But I see +plainly that with such obstinate minds one must have recourse to +other measures." + +And, dismounting from his horse, he fastened it to a tree, and then +stepped forward between the two captains with a drawn sword in his +right hand, crying out, "Whoever will deny in any wise that the +quarrel between Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen and Don Fadrique Mendez is +honorably and gloriously settled must settle the matter at the peril +of his life with the Duke of Alba; and should the present knights +have any objection to raise to this, let them declare it. I stand +here as champion for my own conviction." + +The youths bowed submissively before the great umpire, and fell into +each other's arms. The duke, however, embraced them both with hearty +affection, which appeared all the more charming and refreshing as it +rarely burst forth from this stern character. Then he led the +reconciled friends back to their betrothed, and when these, after the +first joyful surprise was over at the presence of the honored +general, started back at seeing drops of blood on the garments of the +youths, the duke said, smiling, "Oh, ye brides elect of soldiers, you +must not shrink from such jewels of honor. Your lovers could bring +you no fairer wedding gift." + +The great Alba was not not be deprived of the pleasure of enacting +the office of father to the two happy brides, and the festival of +their union was fixed for the following day. From that time forth +they lived in undisturbed and joyful concord; and though the Knight +Heimbert was recalled soon afterward with his lovely consort to the +bosom of his German Fatherland, he and Fadrique kept up the link +between them by letters and messages; and even in after times the +descendants of the lord of Waldhausen boasted of their connection +with the noble house of Mendez, while the latter have ever sacredly +preserved the tradition of the brave and magnanimous Heimbert. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Two Captains, by Fredrich de la Motte-Fouque + diff --git a/old/2cpns10.zip b/old/2cpns10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c2baa34 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2cpns10.zip |