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diff --git a/old/orig5921-h/p14.htm b/old/orig5921-h/p14.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f84f429 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig5921-h/p14.htm @@ -0,0 +1,916 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE, By Cervantes, Volume I., Part 14.</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-size: 97%; margin-left: 15%;} + // --> +</style> + + +</head> +<body> + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p13.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5921-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p15.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>DON QUIXOTE</h1> +<br> +<h2>by Miguel de Cervantes</h2> +<br> +<h3>Translated by John Ormsby</h3> +</center> + +<br><br> + +<center><h3> +Volume I., Part 14. +<br><br> +Chapters 41 +</h3></center> + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="bookcover.jpg (230K)" src="images/bookcover.jpg" height="842" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/bookcover.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="spine.jpg (152K)" src="images/spine.jpg" height="842" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/spine.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h3>Ebook Editor's Note</h3> + +<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote> +<p>The book cover and spine above and the images which follow were not part of the original Ormsby +translation—they are taken from the 1880 edition of J. W. Clark, illustrated by +Gustave Dore. Clark in his edition states that, "The English text of 'Don Quixote' +adopted in this edition is that of Jarvis, with occasional corrections from Motteaux." +See in the introduction below John Ormsby's critique of +both the Jarvis and Motteaux translations. It has been elected in the present Project Gutenberg edition +to attach the famous engravings of Gustave Dore to the Ormsby translation instead +of the Jarvis/Motteaux. The detail of many of the Dore engravings can be fully appreciated only +by utilizing the "Full Size" button to expand them to their original dimensions. Ormsby +in his Preface has criticized the fanciful nature of Dore's illustrations; others feel +these woodcuts and steel engravings well match Quixote's. + + D.W.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="p003.jpg (307K)" src="images/p003.jpg" height="813" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h2>CONTENTS</h2></center> + +<pre> + +<a href="#ch41">CHAPTER XLI</a> +IN WHICH THE CAPTIVE STILL CONTINUES HIS ADVENTURES + +</pre> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch41"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>IN WHICH THE CAPTIVE STILL CONTINUES HIS ADVENTURES +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="c41a"></a><img alt="c41a.jpg (106K)" src="images/c41a.jpg" height="374" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/c41a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Before fifteen days were over our renegade had already purchased +an excellent vessel with room for more than thirty persons; and to +make the transaction safe and lend a colour to it, he thought it +well to make, as he did, a voyage to a place called Shershel, twenty +leagues from Algiers on the Oran side, where there is an extensive +trade in dried figs. Two or three times he made this voyage in company +with the Tagarin already mentioned. The Moors of Aragon are called +Tagarins in Barbary, and those of Granada Mudejars; but in the Kingdom +of Fez they call the Mudejars Elches, and they are the people the king +chiefly employs in war. To proceed: every time he passed with his +vessel he anchored in a cove that was not two crossbow shots from +the garden where Zoraida was waiting; and there the renegade, together +with the two Moorish lads that rowed, used purposely to station +himself, either going through his prayers, or else practising as a +part what he meant to perform in earnest. And thus he would go to +Zoraida's garden and ask for fruit, which her father gave him, not +knowing him; but though, as he afterwards told me, he sought to +speak to Zoraida, and tell her who he was, and that by my orders he +was to take her to the land of the Christians, so that she might +feel satisfied and easy, he had never been able to do so; for the +Moorish women do not allow themselves to be seen by any Moor or +Turk, unless their husband or father bid them: with Christian captives +they permit freedom of intercourse and communication, even more than +might be considered proper. But for my part I should have been sorry +if he had spoken to her, for perhaps it might have alarmed her to find +her affairs talked of by renegades. But God, who ordered it otherwise, +afforded no opportunity for our renegade's well-meant purpose; and he, +seeing how safely he could go to Shershel and return, and anchor +when and how and where he liked, and that the Tagarin his partner +had no will but his, and that, now I was ransomed, all we wanted was +to find some Christians to row, told me to look out for any I should +he willing to take with me, over and above those who had been +ransomed, and to engage them for the next Friday, which he fixed +upon for our departure. On this I spoke to twelve Spaniards, all stout +rowers, and such as could most easily leave the city; but it was no +easy matter to find so many just then, because there were twenty ships +out on a cruise and they had taken all the rowers with them; and these +would not have been found were it not that their master remained at +home that summer without going to sea in order to finish a galliot +that he had upon the stocks. To these men I said nothing more than +that the next Friday in the evening they were to come out stealthily +one by one and hang about Hadji Morato's garden, waiting for me +there until I came. These directions I gave each one separately, +with orders that if they saw any other Christians there they were +not to say anything to them except that I had directed them to wait at +that spot.</p> + +<p>This preliminary having been settled, another still more necessary +step had to be taken, which was to let Zoraida know how matters +stood that she might be prepared and forewarned, so as not to be taken +by surprise if we were suddenly to seize upon her before she thought +the Christians' vessel could have returned. I determined, therefore, +to go to the garden and try if I could speak to her; and the day +before my departure I went there under the pretence of gathering +herbs. The first person I met was her father, who addressed me in +the language that all over Barbary and even in Constantinople is the +medium between captives and Moors, and is neither Morisco nor +Castilian, nor of any other nation, but a mixture of all languages, by +means of which we can all understand one another. In this sort of +language, I say, he asked me what I wanted in his garden, and to +whom I belonged. I replied that I was a slave of the Arnaut Mami +(for I knew as a certainty that he was a very great friend of his), +and that I wanted some herbs to make a salad. He asked me then whether +I were on ransom or not, and what my master demanded for me. While +these questions and answers were proceeding, the fair Zoraida, who had +already perceived me some time before, came out of the house in the +garden, and as Moorish women are by no means particular about +letting themselves be seen by Christians, or, as I have said before, +at all coy, she had no hesitation in coming to where her father +stood with me; moreover her father, seeing her approaching slowly, +called to her to come. It would be beyond my power now to describe +to you the great beauty, the high-bred air, the brilliant attire of my +beloved Zoraida as she presented herself before my eyes. I will +content myself with saying that more pearls hung from her fair neck, +her ears, and her hair than she had hairs on her head. On her +ankles, which as is customary were bare, she had carcajes (for so +bracelets or anklets are called in Morisco) of the purest gold, set +with so many diamonds that she told me afterwards her father valued +them at ten thousand doubloons, and those she had on her wrists were +worth as much more. The pearls were in profusion and very fine, for +the highest display and adornment of the Moorish women is decking +themselves with rich pearls and seed-pearls; and of these there are +therefore more among the Moors than among any other people. +Zoraida's father had to the reputation of possessing a great number, +and the purest in all Algiers, and of possessing also more than two +hundred thousand Spanish crowns; and she, who is now mistress of me +only, was mistress of all this. Whether thus adorned she would have +been beautiful or not, and what she must have been in her +prosperity, may be imagined from the beauty remaining to her after +so many hardships; for, as everyone knows, the beauty of some women +has its times and its seasons, and is increased or diminished by +chance causes; and naturally the emotions of the mind will heighten or +impair it, though indeed more frequently they totally destroy it. In a +word she presented herself before me that day attired with the +utmost splendour, and supremely beautiful; at any rate, she seemed +to me the most beautiful object I had ever seen; and when, besides, +I thought of all I owed to her I felt as though I had before me some +heavenly being come to earth to bring me relief and happiness.</p> + +<p>As she approached her father told her in his own language that I was +a captive belonging to his friend the Arnaut Mami, and that I had come +for salad.</p> + +<p>She took up the conversation, and in that mixture of tongues I +have spoken of she asked me if I was a gentleman, and why I was not +ransomed.</p> + +<p>I answered that I was already ransomed, and that by the price it +might be seen what value my master set on me, as I had given one +thousand five hundred zoltanis for me; to which she replied, "Hadst +thou been my father's, I can tell thee, I would not have let him +part with thee for twice as much, for you Christians always tell +lies about yourselves and make yourselves out poor to cheat the +Moors."</p> + +<p>"That may be, lady," said I; "but indeed I dealt truthfully with +my master, as I do and mean to do with everybody in the world."</p> + +<p>"And when dost thou go?" said Zoraida.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, I think," said I, "for there is a vessel here from +France which sails to-morrow, and I think I shall go in her."</p> + +<p>"Would it not be better," said Zoraida, "to wait for the arrival +of ships from Spain and go with them and not with the French who are +not your friends?"</p> + +<p>"No," said I; "though if there were intelligence that a vessel +were now coming from Spain it is true I might, perhaps, wait for it; +however, it is more likely I shall depart to-morrow, for the longing I +feel to return to my country and to those I love is so great that it +will not allow me to wait for another opportunity, however more +convenient, if it be delayed."</p> + +<p>"No doubt thou art married in thine own country," said Zoraida, "and +for that reason thou art anxious to go and see thy wife."</p> + +<p>"I am not married," I replied, "but I have given my promise to marry +on my arrival there."</p> + +<p>"And is the lady beautiful to whom thou hast given it?" said +Zoraida.</p> + +<p>"So beautiful," said I, "that, to describe her worthily and tell +thee the truth, she is very like thee."</p> + +<p>At this her father laughed very heartily and said, "By Allah, +Christian, she must be very beautiful if she is like my daughter, +who is the most beautiful woman in all this kingdom: only look at +her well and thou wilt see I am telling the truth."</p> + +<p>Zoraida's father as the better linguist helped to interpret most +of these words and phrases, for though she spoke the bastard language, +that, as I have said, is employed there, she expressed her meaning +more by signs than by words.</p> + +<p>While we were still engaged in this conversation, a Moor came +running up, exclaiming that four Turks had leaped over the fence or +wall of the garden, and were gathering the fruit though it was not yet +ripe. The old man was alarmed and Zoraida too, for the Moors commonly, +and, so to speak, instinctively have a dread of the Turks, but +particularly of the soldiers, who are so insolent and domineering to +the Moors who are under their power that they treat them worse than if +they were their slaves. Her father said to Zoraida, "Daughter, +retire into the house and shut thyself in while I go and speak to +these dogs; and thou, Christian, pick thy herbs, and go in peace, +and Allah bring thee safe to thy own country."</p> + +<p>I bowed, and he went away to look for the Turks, leaving me alone +with Zoraida, who made as if she were about to retire as her father +bade her; but the moment he was concealed by the trees of the +garden, turning to me with her eyes full of tears she said, "Tameji, +cristiano, tameji?" that is to say, "Art thou going, Christian, art +thou going?"</p> + +<p>I made answer, "Yes, lady, but not without thee, come what may: be +on the watch for me on the next Juma, and be not alarmed when thou +seest us; for most surely we shall go to the land of the Christians."</p> + +<p>This I said in such a way that she understood perfectly all that +passed between us, and throwing her arm round my neck she began with +feeble steps to move towards the house; but as fate would have it (and +it might have been very unfortunate if Heaven had not otherwise +ordered it), just as we were moving on in the manner and position I +have described, with her arm round my neck, her father, as he returned +after having sent away the Turks, saw how we were walking and we +perceived that he saw us; but Zoraida, ready and quickwitted, took +care not to remove her arm from my neck, but on the contrary drew +closer to me and laid her head on my breast, bending her knees a +little and showing all the signs and tokens of fainting, while I at the +same time made it seem as though I were supporting her against my +will. Her father came running up to where we were, and seeing his +daughter in this state asked what was the matter with her; she, +however, giving no answer, he said, "No doubt she has fainted in alarm +at the entrance of those dogs," and taking her from mine he drew her +to his own breast, while she sighing, her eyes still wet with tears, +said again, "Ameji, cristiano, ameji"—"Go, Christian, go." To this +her father replied, "There is no need, daughter, for the Christian +to go, for he has done thee no harm, and the Turks have now gone; feel +no alarm, there is nothing to hurt thee, for as I say, the Turks at my +request have gone back the way they came."</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="c41b"></a><img alt="c41b.jpg (320K)" src="images/c41b.jpg" height="838" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/c41b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"It was they who terrified her, as thou hast said, senor," said I to +her father; "but since she tells me to go, I have no wish to displease +her: peace be with thee, and with thy leave I will come back to this +garden for herbs if need be, for my master says there are nowhere +better herbs for salad then here."</p> + +<p>"Come back for any thou hast need of," replied Hadji Morato; "for my +daughter does not speak thus because she is displeased with thee or +any Christian: she only meant that the Turks should go, not thou; or +that it was time for thee to look for thy herbs."</p> + +<p>With this I at once took my leave of both; and she, looking as +though her heart were breaking, retired with her father. While +pretending to look for herbs I made the round of the garden at my +ease, and studied carefully all the approaches and outlets, and the +fastenings of the house and everything that could be taken advantage +of to make our task easy.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="c41c"></a><img alt="c41c.jpg (326K)" src="images/c41c.jpg" height="828" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/c41c.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Having done so I went and gave an account of +all that had taken place to the renegade and my comrades, and looked +forward with impatience to the hour when, all fear at an end, I should +find myself in possession of the prize which fortune held out to me in +the fair and lovely Zoraida. The time passed at length, and the +appointed day we so longed for arrived; and, all following out the +arrangement and plan which, after careful consideration and many a +long discussion, we had decided upon, we succeeded as fully as we +could have wished; for on the Friday following the day upon which I +spoke to Zoraida in the garden, the renegade anchored his vessel at +nightfall almost opposite the spot where she was. The Christians who +were to row were ready and in hiding in different places round +about, all waiting for me, anxious and elated, and eager to attack the +vessel they had before their eyes; for they did not know the +renegade's plan, but expected that they were to gain their liberty +by force of arms and by killing the Moors who were on board the +vessel. As soon, then, as I and my comrades made our appearance, all +those that were in hiding seeing us came and joined us. It was now the +time when the city gates are shut, and there was no one to be seen +in all the space outside. When we were collected together we debated +whether it would be better first to go for Zoraida, or to make +prisoners of the Moorish rowers who rowed in the vessel; but while +we were still uncertain our renegade came up asking us what kept us, +as it was now the time, and all the Moors were off their guard and +most of them asleep. We told him why we hesitated, but he said it +was of more importance first to secure the vessel, which could be done +with the greatest ease and without any danger, and then we could go +for Zoraida. We all approved of what he said, and so without further +delay, guided by him we made for the vessel, and he leaping on board +first, drew his cutlass and said in Morisco, "Let no one stir from +this if he does not want it to cost him his life." By this almost +all the Christians were on board, and the Moors, who were +fainthearted, hearing their captain speak in this way, were cowed, and +without any one of them taking to his arms (and indeed they had few or +hardly any) they submitted without saying a word to be bound by the +Christians, who quickly secured them, threatening them that if they +raised any kind of outcry they would be all put to the sword. This +having been accomplished, and half of our party being left to keep +guard over them, the rest of us, again taking the renegade as our +guide, hastened towards Hadji Morato's garden, and as good luck +would have it, on trying the gate it opened as easily as if it had not +been locked; and so, quite quietly and in silence, we reached the +house without being perceived by anybody. The lovely Zoraida was +watching for us at a window, and as soon as she perceived that there +were people there, she asked in a low voice if we were "Nizarani," +as much as to say or ask if we were Christians. I answered that we +were, and begged her to come down. As soon as she recognised me she +did not delay an instant, but without answering a word came down +immediately, opened the door and presented herself before us all, so +beautiful and so richly attired that I cannot attempt to describe her. +The moment I saw her I took her hand and kissed it, and the renegade +and my two comrades did the same; and the rest, who knew nothing of +the circumstances, did as they saw us do, for it only seemed as if +we were returning thanks to her, and recognising her as the giver of +our liberty. The renegade asked her in the Morisco language if her +father was in the house. She replied that he was and that he was +asleep.</p> + +<p>"Then it will be necessary to waken him and take him with us," +said the renegade, "and everything of value in this fair mansion."</p> + +<p>"Nay," said she, "my father must not on any account be touched, +and there is nothing in the house except what I shall take, and that +will be quite enough to enrich and satisfy all of you; wait a little +and you shall see," and so saying she went in, telling us she would +return immediately and bidding us keep quiet making any noise.</p> + +<p>I asked the renegade what had passed between them, and when he +told me, I declared that nothing should be done except in accordance +with the wishes of Zoraida, who now came back with a little trunk so +full of gold crowns that she could scarcely carry it. Unfortunately +her father awoke while this was going on, and hearing a noise in the +garden, came to the window, and at once perceiving that all those +who were there were Christians, raising a prodigiously loud outcry, he +began to call out in Arabic, "Christians, Christians! thieves, +thieves!" by which cries we were all thrown into the greatest fear and +embarrassment; but the renegade seeing the danger we were in and how +important it was for him to effect his purpose before we were heard, +mounted with the utmost quickness to where Hadji Morato was, and +with him went some of our party; I, however, did not dare to leave +Zoraida, who had fallen almost fainting in my arms. To be brief, those +who had gone upstairs acted so promptly that in an instant they came +down, carrying Hadji Morato with his hands bound and a napkin tied +over his mouth, which prevented him from uttering a word, warning +him at the same time that to attempt to speak would cost him his life. +When his daughter caught sight of him she covered her eyes so as not +to see him, and her father was horror-stricken, not knowing how +willingly she had placed herself in our hands. But it was now most +essential for us to be on the move, and carefully and quickly we +regained the vessel, where those who had remained on board were +waiting for us in apprehension of some mishap having befallen us. It +was barely two hours after night set in when we were all on board +the vessel, where the cords were removed from the hands of Zoraida's +father, and the napkin from his mouth; but the renegade once more told +him not to utter a word, or they would take his life. He, when he +saw his daughter there, began to sigh piteously, and still more when +he perceived that I held her closely embraced and that she lay quiet +without resisting or complaining, or showing any reluctance; +nevertheless he remained silent lest they should carry into effect the +repeated threats the renegade had addressed to him.</p> + +<p>Finding herself now on board, and that we were about to give way +with the oars, Zoraida, seeing her father there, and the other Moors +bound, bade the renegade ask me to do her the favour of releasing +the Moors and setting her father at liberty, for she would rather +drown herself in the sea than suffer a father that had loved her so +dearly to be carried away captive before her eyes and on her +account. The renegade repeated this to me, and I replied that I was +very willing to do so; but he replied that it was not advisable, +because if they were left there they would at once raise the country +and stir up the city, and lead to the despatch of swift cruisers in +pursuit, and our being taken, by sea or land, without any +possibility of escape; and that all that could be done was to set them +free on the first Christian ground we reached. On this point we all +agreed; and Zoraida, to whom it was explained, together with the +reasons that prevented us from doing at once what she desired, was +satisfied likewise; and then in glad silence and with cheerful +alacrity each of our stout rowers took his oar, and commending +ourselves to God with all our hearts, we began to shape our course for +the island of Majorca, the nearest Christian land. Owing, however, +to the Tramontana rising a little, and the sea growing somewhat rough, +it was impossible for us to keep a straight course for Majorca, and we +were compelled to coast in the direction of Oran, not without great +uneasiness on our part lest we should be observed from the town of +Shershel, which lies on that coast, not more than sixty miles from +Algiers. Moreover we were afraid of meeting on that course one of +the galliots that usually come with goods from Tetuan; although each +of us for himself and all of us together felt confident that, if we +were to meet a merchant galliot, so that it were not a cruiser, not +only should we not be lost, but that we should take a vessel in +which we could more safely accomplish our voyage. As we pursued our +course Zoraida kept her head between my hands so as not to see her +father, and I felt that she was praying to Lela Marien to help us.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="c41d"></a><img alt="c41d.jpg (266K)" src="images/c41d.jpg" height="505" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/c41d.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>We might have made about thirty miles when daybreak found us some +three musket-shots off the land, which seemed to us deserted, and +without anyone to see us. For all that, however, by hard rowing we put +out a little to sea, for it was now somewhat calmer, and having gained +about two leagues the word was given to row by batches, while we ate +something, for the vessel was well provided; but the rowers said it +was not a time to take any rest; let food be served out to those who +were not rowing, but they would not leave their oars on any account. +This was done, but now a stiff breeze began to blow, which obliged +us to leave off rowing and make sail at once and steer for Oran, as it +was impossible to make any other course. All this was done very +promptly, and under sail we ran more than eight miles an hour +without any fear, except that of coming across some vessel out on a +roving expedition. We gave the Moorish rowers some food, and the +renegade comforted them by telling them that they were not held as +captives, as we should set them free on the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>The same was said to Zoraida's father, who replied, "Anything +else, Christian, I might hope for or think likely from your generosity +and good behaviour, but do not think me so simple as to imagine you +will give me my liberty; for you would have never exposed yourselves +to the danger of depriving me of it only to restore it to me so +generously, especially as you know who I am and the sum you may expect +to receive on restoring it; and if you will only name that, I here +offer you all you require for myself and for my unhappy daughter +there; or else for her alone, for she is the greatest and most +precious part of my soul."</p> + +<p>As he said this he began to weep so bitterly that he filled us all +with compassion and forced Zoraida to look at him, and when she saw +him weeping she was so moved that she rose from my feet and ran to +throw her arms round him, and pressing her face to his, they both gave +way to such an outburst of tears that several of us were constrained +to keep them company.</p> + +<p>But when her father saw her in full dress and with all her jewels +about her, he said to her in his own language, "What means this, my +daughter? Last night, before this terrible misfortune in which we +are plunged befell us, I saw thee in thy everyday and indoor garments; +and now, without having had time to attire thyself, and without my +bringing thee any joyful tidings to furnish an occasion for adorning +and bedecking thyself, I see thee arrayed in the finest attire it +would be in my power to give thee when fortune was most kind to us. +Answer me this; for it causes me greater anxiety and surprise than +even this misfortune itself."</p> + +<p>The renegade interpreted to us what the Moor said to his daughter; +she, however, returned him no answer. But when he observed in one +corner of the vessel the little trunk in which she used to keep her +jewels, which he well knew he had left in Algiers and had not +brought to the garden, he was still more amazed, and asked her how +that trunk had come into our hands, and what there was in it. To which +the renegade, without waiting for Zoraida to reply, made answer, "Do +not trouble thyself by asking thy daughter Zoraida so many +questions, senor, for the one answer I will give thee will serve for +all; I would have thee know that she is a Christian, and that it is +she who has been the file for our chains and our deliverer from +captivity. She is here of her own free will, as glad, I imagine, to +find herself in this position as he who escapes from darkness into the +light, from death to life, and from suffering to glory."</p> + +<p>"Daughter, is this true, what he says?" cried the Moor.</p> + +<p>"It is," replied Zoraida.</p> + +<p>"That thou art in truth a Christian," said the old man, "and that +thou hast given thy father into the power of his enemies?"</p> + +<p>To which Zoraida made answer, "A Christian I am, but it is not I who +have placed thee in this position, for it never was my wish to leave +thee or do thee harm, but only to do good to myself."</p> + +<p>"And what good hast thou done thyself, daughter?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Ask thou that," said she, "of Lela Marien, for she can tell thee +better than I."</p> + +<p>The Moor had hardly heard these words when with marvellous quickness +he flung himself headforemost into the sea, where no doubt he would +have been drowned had not the long and full dress he wore held him +up for a little on the surface of the water. Zoraida cried aloud to us +to save him, and we all hastened to help, and seizing him by his +robe we drew him in half drowned and insensible, at which Zoraida +was in such distress that she wept over him as piteously and +bitterly as though he were already dead. We turned him upon his face +and he voided a great quantity of water, and at the end of two hours +came to himself. Meanwhile, the wind having changed we were +compelled to head for the land, and ply our oars to avoid being driven +on shore; but it was our good fortune to reach a creek that lies on +one side of a small promontory or cape, called by the Moors that of +the "Cava rumia," which in our language means "the wicked Christian +woman;" for it is a tradition among them that La Cava, through whom +Spain was lost, lies buried at that spot; "cava" in their language +meaning "wicked woman," and "rumia" "Christian;" moreover, they +count it unlucky to anchor there when necessity compels them, and they +never do so otherwise. For us, however, it was not the resting-place +of the wicked woman but a haven of safety for our relief, so much +had the sea now got up. We posted a look-out on shore, and never let +the oars out of our hands, and ate of the stores the renegade had laid +in, imploring God and Our Lady with all our hearts to help and protect +us, that we might give a happy ending to a beginning so prosperous. At +the entreaty of Zoraida orders were given to set on shore her father +and the other Moors who were still bound, for she could not endure, +nor could her tender heart bear to see her father in bonds and her +fellow-countrymen prisoners before her eyes. We promised her to do +this at the moment of departure, for as it was uninhabited we ran no +risk in releasing them at that place.</p> + +<p>Our prayers were not so far in vain as to be unheard by Heaven, +for after a while the wind changed in our favour, and made the sea +calm, inviting us once more to resume our voyage with a good heart. +Seeing this we unbound the Moors, and one by one put them on shore, at +which they were filled with amazement; but when we came to land +Zoraida's father, who had now completely recovered his senses, he +said:</p> + +<p>"Why is it, think ye, Christians, that this wicked woman is rejoiced +at your giving me my liberty? Think ye it is because of the +affection she bears me? Nay verily, it is only because of the +hindrance my presence offers to the execution of her base designs. And +think not that it is her belief that yours is better than ours that +has led her to change her religion; it is only because she knows +that immodesty is more freely practised in your country than in ours." +Then turning to Zoraida, while I and another of the Christians held +him fast by both arms, lest he should do some mad act, he said to her, +"Infamous girl, misguided maiden, whither in thy blindness and madness +art thou going in the hands of these dogs, our natural enemies? Cursed +be the hour when I begot thee! Cursed the luxury and indulgence in +which I reared thee!"</p> + +<p>But seeing that he was not likely soon to cease I made haste to +put him on shore, and thence he continued his maledictions and +lamentations aloud; calling on Mohammed to pray to Allah to destroy +us, to confound us, to make an end of us; and when, in consequence +of having made sail, we could no longer hear what he said we could see +what he did; how he plucked out his beard and tore his hair and lay +writhing on the ground. But once he raised his voice to such a pitch +that we were able to hear what he said. "Come back, dear daughter, +come back to shore; I forgive thee all; let those men have the +money, for it is theirs now, and come back to comfort thy sorrowing +father, who will yield up his life on this barren strand if thou +dost leave him."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="c41e"></a><img alt="c41e.jpg (281K)" src="images/c41e.jpg" height="514" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/c41e.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>All this Zoraida heard, and heard with sorrow and tears, and all she +could say in answer was, "Allah grant that Lela Marien, who has made +me become a Christian, give thee comfort in thy sorrow, my father. +Allah knows that I could not do otherwise than I have done, and that +these Christians owe nothing to my will; for even had I wished not +to accompany them, but remain at home, it would have been impossible +for me, so eagerly did my soul urge me on to the accomplishment of +this purpose, which I feel to be as righteous as to thee, dear father, +it seems wicked."</p> + +<p>But neither could her father hear her nor we see him when she said +this; and so, while I consoled Zoraida, we turned our attention to our +voyage, in which a breeze from the right point so favoured us that +we made sure of finding ourselves off the coast of Spain on the morrow +by daybreak. But, as good seldom or never comes pure and unmixed, +without being attended or followed by some disturbing evil that +gives a shock to it, our fortune, or perhaps the curses which the Moor +had hurled at his daughter (for whatever kind of father they may +come from these are always to be dreaded), brought it about that +when we were now in mid-sea, and the night about three hours spent, as +we were running with all sail set and oars lashed, for the favouring +breeze saved us the trouble of using them, we saw by the light of +the moon, which shone brilliantly, a square-rigged vessel in full sail +close to us, luffing up and standing across our course, and so close +that we had to strike sail to avoid running foul of her, while they +too put the helm hard up to let us pass. They came to the side of +the ship to ask who we were, whither we were bound, and whence we +came, but as they asked this in French our renegade said, "Let no +one answer, for no doubt these are French corsairs who plunder all +comers."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="c41f"></a><img alt="c41f.jpg (268K)" src="images/c41f.jpg" height="518" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/c41f.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Acting on this warning no one answered a word, but after we +had gone a little ahead, and the vessel was now lying to leeward, +suddenly they fired two guns, and apparently both loaded with +chain-shot, for with one they cut our mast in half and brought down +both it and the sail into the sea, and the other, discharged at the +same moment, sent a ball into our vessel amidships, staving her in +completely, but without doing any further damage. We, however, finding +ourselves sinking began to shout for help and call upon those in the +ship to pick us up as we were beginning to fill. They then lay to, and +lowering a skiff or boat, as many as a dozen Frenchmen, well armed +with match-locks, and their matches burning, got into it and came +alongside; and seeing how few we were, and that our vessel was going +down, they took us in, telling us that this had come to us through our +incivility in not giving them an answer. Our renegade took the trunk +containing Zoraida's wealth and dropped it into the sea without anyone +perceiving what he did. In short we went on board with the +Frenchmen, who, after having ascertained all they wanted to know about +us, rifled us of everything we had, as if they had been our +bitterest enemies, and from Zoraida they took even the anklets she +wore on her feet; but the distress they caused her did not distress me +so much as the fear I was in that from robbing her of her rich and +precious jewels they would proceed to rob her of the most precious +jewel that she valued more than all. The desires, however, of those +people do not go beyond money, but of that their covetousness is +insatiable, and on this occasion it was carried to such a pitch that +they would have taken even the clothes we wore as captives if they had +been worth anything to them. It was the advice of some of them to +throw us all into the sea wrapped up in a sail; for their purpose +was to trade at some of the ports of Spain, giving themselves out as +Bretons, and if they brought us alive they would be punished as soon +as the robbery was discovered; but the captain (who was the one who +had plundered my beloved Zoraida) said he was satisfied with the prize +he had got, and that he would not touch at any Spanish port, but +pass the Straits of Gibraltar by night, or as best he could, and +make for La Rochelle, from which he had sailed. So they agreed by +common consent to give us the skiff belonging to their ship and all we +required for the short voyage that remained to us, and this they did +the next day on coming in sight of the Spanish coast, with which, +and the joy we felt, all our sufferings and miseries were as +completely forgotten as if they had never been endured by us, such +is the delight of recovering lost liberty.</p> + +<p>It may have been about mid-day when they placed us in the boat, +giving us two kegs of water and some biscuit; and the captain, moved +by I know not what compassion, as the lovely Zoraida was about to +embark, gave her some forty gold crowns, and would not permit his +men to take from her those same garments which she has on now. We +got into the boat, returning them thanks for their kindness to us, and +showing ourselves grateful rather than indignant. They stood out to +sea, steering for the straits; we, without looking to any compass save +the land we had before us, set ourselves to row with such energy +that by sunset we were so near that we might easily, we thought, +land before the night was far advanced. But as the moon did not show +that night, and the sky was clouded, and as we knew not whereabouts we +were, it did not seem to us a prudent thing to make for the shore, +as several of us advised, saying we ought to run ourselves ashore even +if it were on rocks and far from any habitation, for in this way we +should be relieved from the apprehensions we naturally felt of the +prowling vessels of the Tetuan corsairs, who leave Barbary at +nightfall and are on the Spanish coast by daybreak, where they +commonly take some prize, and then go home to sleep in their own +houses. But of the conflicting counsels the one which was adopted +was that we should approach gradually, and land where we could if +the sea were calm enough to permit us. This was done, and a little +before midnight we drew near to the foot of a huge and lofty mountain, +not so close to the sea but that it left a narrow space on which to +land conveniently. We ran our boat up on the sand, and all sprang +out and kissed the ground, and with tears of joyful satisfaction +returned thanks to God our Lord for all his incomparable goodness to +us on our voyage. We took out of the boat the provisions it contained, +and drew it up on the shore, and then climbed a long way up the +mountain, for even there we could not feel easy in our hearts, or +persuade ourselves that it was Christian soil that was now under our +feet.</p> + +<p>The dawn came, more slowly, I think, than we could have wished; we +completed the ascent in order to see if from the summit any habitation +or any shepherds' huts could be discovered, but strain our eyes as +we might, neither dwelling, nor human being, nor path nor road could +we perceive. However, we determined to push on farther, as it could +not but be that ere long we must see some one who could tell us +where we were. But what distressed me most was to see Zoraida going on +foot over that rough ground; for though I once carried her on my +shoulders, she was more wearied by my weariness than rested by the +rest; and so she would never again allow me to undergo the exertion, +and went on very patiently and cheerfully, while I led her by the +hand. We had gone rather less than a quarter of a league when the +sound of a little bell fell on our ears, a clear proof that there were +flocks hard by, and looking about carefully to see if any were +within view, we observed a young shepherd tranquilly and +unsuspiciously trimming a stick with his knife at the foot of a cork +tree. We called to him, and he, raising his head, sprang nimbly to his +feet, for, as we afterwards learned, the first who presented +themselves to his sight were the renegade and Zoraida, and seeing them +in Moorish dress he imagined that all the Moors of Barbary were upon +him; and plunging with marvellous swiftness into the thicket in +front of him, he began to raise a prodigious outcry, exclaiming, +"The Moors—the Moors have landed! To arms, to arms!" We were all +thrown into perplexity by these cries, not knowing what to do; but +reflecting that the shouts of the shepherd would raise the country and +that the mounted coast-guard would come at once to see what was the +matter, we agreed that the renegade must strip off his Turkish +garments and put on a captive's jacket or coat which one of our +party gave him at once, though he himself was reduced to his shirt; +and so commending ourselves to God, we followed the same road which we +saw the shepherd take, expecting every moment that the coast-guard +would be down upon us. Nor did our expectation deceive us, for two +hours had not passed when, coming out of the brushwood into the open +ground, we perceived some fifty mounted men swiftly approaching us +at a hand-gallop. As soon as we saw them we stood still, waiting for +them; but as they came close and, instead of the Moors they were in +quest of, saw a set of poor Christians, they were taken aback, and one +of them asked if it could be we who were the cause of the shepherd +having raised the call to arms. I said "Yes," and as I was about to +explain to him what had occurred, and whence we came and who we +were, one of the Christians of our party recognised the horseman who +had put the question to us, and before I could say anything more he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Thanks be to God, sirs, for bringing us to such good quarters; for, +if I do not deceive myself, the ground we stand on is that of Velez +Malaga unless, indeed, all my years of captivity have made me unable +to recollect that you, senor, who ask who we are, are Pedro de +Bustamante, my uncle."</p> + +<p>The Christian captive had hardly uttered these words, when the +horseman threw himself off his horse, and ran to embrace the young +man, crying:</p> + +<p>"Nephew of my soul and life! I recognise thee now; and long have I +mourned thee as dead, I, and my sister, thy mother, and all thy kin +that are still alive, and whom God has been pleased to preserve that +they may enjoy the happiness of seeing thee. We knew long since that +thou wert in Algiers, and from the appearance of thy garments and +those of all this company, I conclude that ye have had a miraculous +restoration to liberty."</p> + +<p>"It is true," replied the young man, "and by-and-by we will tell you +all."</p> + +<p>As soon as the horsemen understood that we were Christian +captives, they dismounted from their horses, and each offered his to +carry us to the city of Velez Malaga, which was a league and a half +distant. Some of them went to bring the boat to the city, we having +told them where we had left it; others took us up behind them, and +Zoraida was placed on the horse of the young man's uncle. The whole +town came out to meet us, for they had by this time heard of our +arrival from one who had gone on in advance. They were not +astonished to see liberated captives or captive Moors, for people on +that coast are well used to see both one and the other; but they +were astonished at the beauty of Zoraida, which was just then +heightened, as well by the exertion of travelling as by joy at finding +herself on Christian soil, and relieved of all fear of being lost; for +this had brought such a glow upon her face, that unless my affection +for her were deceiving me, I would venture to say that there was not a +more beautiful creature in the world—at least, that I had ever seen. + We went straight to the church to return thanks to God for the +mercies we had received, and when Zoraida entered it she said there +were faces there like Lela Marien's. We told her they were her images; +and as well as he could the renegade explained to her what they meant, +that she might adore them as if each of them were the very same Lela +Marien that had spoken to her; and she, having great intelligence +and a quick and clear instinct, understood at once all he said to +her about them. Thence they took us away and distributed us all in +different houses in the town; but as for the renegade, Zoraida, and +myself, the Christian who came with us brought us to the house of +his parents, who had a fair share of the gifts of fortune, and treated +us with as much kindness as they did their own son.</p> + +<p>We remained six days in Velez, at the end of which the renegade, +having informed himself of all that was requisite for him to do, set +out for the city of Granada to restore himself to the sacred bosom +of the Church through the medium of the Holy Inquisition. The other +released captives took their departures, each the way that seemed best +to him, and Zoraida and I were left alone, with nothing more than +the crowns which the courtesy of the Frenchman had bestowed upon +Zoraida, out of which I bought the beast on which she rides; and, I +for the present attending her as her father and squire and not as +her husband, we are now going to ascertain if my father is living, +or if any of my brothers has had better fortune than mine has been; +though, as Heaven has made me the companion of Zoraida, I think no +other lot could be assigned to me, however happy, that I would +rather have. The patience with which she endures the hardships that +poverty brings with it, and the eagerness she shows to become a +Christian, are such that they fill me with admiration, and bind me +to serve her all my life; though the happiness I feel in seeing myself +hers, and her mine, is disturbed and marred by not knowing whether I +shall find any corner to shelter her in my own country, or whether +time and death may not have made such changes in the fortunes and +lives of my father and brothers, that I shall hardly find anyone who +knows me, if they are not alive.</p> + +<p>I have no more of my story to tell you, gentlemen; whether it be +an interesting or a curious one let your better judgments decide; +all I can say is I would gladly have told it to you more briefly; +although my fear of wearying you has made me leave out more than one +circumstance.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="c41g"></a><img alt="c41g.jpg (33K)" src="images/c41g.jpg" height="300" width="650"> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p13.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5921-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p15.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + +</body> +</html> + |