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If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Don Sebastian - or, The house of the Braganza; vol. 1 - -Author: Anna Maria Porter - -Release Date: July 25, 2022 [eBook #68607] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Sonya Schermann, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DON SEBASTIAN *** - - - - +---------------------------------------------------+ - |Some typographical errors have been corrected; | - |a list follows the text. (etext transcriber's note)| - +---------------------------------------------------+ - - - - - DON SEBASTIAN; - - OR, - - THE HOUSE OF BRAGANZA. - - - - - J. M‘CREERY, Printer, - Black-Horse-Court, Fleet-Street, London. - - - - - DON SEBASTIAN; - - OR, - - THE HOUSE OF BRAGANZA. - - AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE. - - IN FOUR VOLUMES. - - BY MISS ANNA MARIA PORTER. - - AUTHOR OF THE HUNGARIAN BROTHERS. - - Take Physic, Pomp! - Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, - So shalt thou shake the superflux to them, - And shew the Heavens more just. - KING LEAR. - - VOL. I. - - - LONDON: - - PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, - PATERNOSTER ROW. - - 1809. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The name of Don Sebastian immediately recals to every historical -reader, a character, which youth, faults, virtues, and misfortunes, -have rendered highly interesting: I selected such a one for my Hero, -from the wish of shewing how “sweet are the uses of adversity.” - -If I may be so fortunate as to instruct and to amuse at the same time, -the utmost of my literary ambition will be gratified. - -It has been my aim to keep as close to historical records, as was -consistent with a work wherein imagination is allowed to make up for -the deficiencies of actual tradition. In some places I have been -obliged to antedate an event, and to mix other motives of action with -such as were avowed by the persons then acting on the great theatre -of Europe; but I have scrupulously avoided slandering the illustrious -dead, and am not conscious of having materially altered any well-known -portrait. - -Some readers may be offended or wearied with the frequent use which I -have made of religious tenets; to them I can only offer one apology;--I -had no other way of reconciling the conduct of Catholic powers, -with what I have been obliged to suppose, their conviction of Don -Sebastian’s identity when he re-appeared at Venice; and as his chief -calamity was the product of a bigotted attachment to the doctrines -of Rome, I could scarcely make that calamity effect the necessary -revolution in his general character, without changing also the nature -of his religious opinions. - -In my delineation of countries, manners, &c. I have endeavoured to give -as faithful a picture as was possible to one who describes after the -accounts of others; I consulted the voyages and tours of those days; so -that the modern traveller, in journeying with me over Barbary, Persia, -and Brazil, must recollect that he is beholding those countries as they -appeared in the sixteenth century. - -By accident, I met with an ancient work upon South America, in which -was the following sentence: “twelve leagues southward from St. -Salvador, appears the village of Cachoeira, formerly belonging to an -unknown Portuguese, who took great pains in reforming the savage people -Guaymures to a civil life.” This hint suggested to me the idea of -making the Portuguese, and my principal character, the same person. - -I am told that there has been a novel written in French on the same -story, which forms the ground work of mine, but I have not seen it. -The materials with which I have worked, have been drawn from general -history, accounts of particular periods, the Harleian Miscellany, and -a curious old tract published in 1602, containing the letters of -Texere, De Castro, and others, with minute details of the conduct and -sufferings of the mysterious personage concerning whom it treats. - -I trust the candid reader will excuse many defects in this romance, -when he considers how long was the space of time to be filled up with -events solely imaginary, and which it was indispensable so to occupy, -as to unite facts and to give the whole the semblance of probability: -he will reflect also how difficult it was for me to find any historical -action of sufficient weight and brilliancy, with which I might have -earlier concluded the adventures of Sebastian. - -If my unpresuming work should disappoint the reader, he must suffer me -to assure him that neither diligence in obtaining information, and -selecting circumstances, nor industry in using them, has been spared. I -may fail from want of ability, but not from want of application. - -_August, 1809._ - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -Never has the pen of history had to record a more affecting event, than -that which bore the house of Braganza to another hemisphere: animated -by a noble disdain of submitting to foreign despotism, and bravely -placing his country, not in the land of Portugal, but in the hearts of -her people, the Prince Regent conquered in adversity, and triumphed -even at the moment of despair. - -Like the pious Eneas, who snatched from the flames of Troy, his father -and his household Gods, he hastened to save some relics of Portugal; -he hastened to embark his family and their adherents on board the -national fleet; to launch with them on the hitherto untried deep, and -to lead them under the protection of Great Britain, to found a new -empire in a new world. - -It was on the morning of the 29th of November, 1807, that these patriot -emigrants quitted the bay of Lisbon; they looked back on their forsaken -capital, with emotions too strong and too complicated for description: -every individual had left behind him some aged, or infirm, or timid -relative, whom it was agony to abandon, and whom he quitted with the -conviction of never seeing again; the scenes of their childhood, their -vineyards, and their cities, nay even the shores of their native land, -were never more to gladden their eyes! - -A solemn pause had followed the noise and distraction of their -embarkation; Lisbon was motionless: profound stillness, like that -silence which surrounds the death bed of a mother, rested within her -walls: every heart felt its impression. - -Advancing with majestic slowness down the Tagus, the Portuguese fleet -crossed the bar, and entered between the lines formed by the navy of -England: the cannons of the two fleets answered each other; the sounds, -doubled and redoubled by numerous echoes, were prolonged after the -smoke had cleared away, and discovered the ships of Portugal and of -Britain mingled together on the Atlantic ocean. - -Having exchanged gratulation and farewel with the Embassador and the -gallant Admiral of the friendly squadron, the Prince Regent gave a -last, long look to Portugal, and forcibly tore himself from the deck of -his vessel. In the cabin, he found part of the royal family yielding -themselves up to regret and anxiety: he suffered them to weep without -interruption, till the moment in which lamentation made a pause; he -then took the united hands of his daughter, and of his nephew, the -Prince of Spain, and pressing them within his own, held them with a -look, serious, sad, yet collected. - -“Let us dry our tears,” he said; “let us bravely submit to our fate, -and bless God for having allowed us to retain that which ennobles -every situation--Freedom!--We go, my children, to seek a new world; -to found there a new empire; it belongs to us to stamp the future -character of an unborn nation:--May we feel the gratitude of such -responsibility!--As our example shall persuade, as our authority shall -impel, so will vice or virtue prevail in Trans-atlantic Portugal; her -existence, her expansion, her dignity, her immortality, depend upon -her princes and nobles. Be this truth engraven on your hearts! may its -awful voice resound for ever in your ears, influencing your lives to -the exercise of all the social duties.” - -Among the state treasures, I have preserved one most precious; ’tis the -history of an illustrious ancestor, more unfortunate than ourselves, -but for whom misfortune was a blessing. - -“We will read this MSS together; the style and the arrangement may -offend a nice judgment, because they are the production of an humble -pen; but the story itself is interesting, and the character of our -ancestor may serve as an important lesson to ourselves: compose your -spirits my dear children--listen to me with attention.” - -While the Prince was speaking, he drew from his breast a large roll -of written paper, and after such of his family, as were present, had -seated themselves eagerly around him, he read in a voice somewhat -agitated by late emotion, the following narrative. - - - - -DON SEBASTIAN, - -OR - -THE HOUSE OF BRAGANZA. - - - - -CHAP. I. - - -On the 12th of January, 1554, Juan, prince of Portugal, breathed his -last, in the palace of Ribera, at Lisbon. - -At that sad moment grief and dismay seized the hearts of his royal -parents; as they alternately clasped his senseless clay in their arms, -and thought of all he had been, they almost forgot their hope of soon -possessing a memorial of his fair-promising youth. - -Ignorant of her husband’s danger, his young consort had been removed to -the palace of Xabregas, in the suburbs; there, while he was struggling -between life and death, she was impatiently awaiting the hour which was -to bless her with the first pledge of their happiness and their love. -Under such circumstances the concealment of prince Juan’s death became -an act of necessity; at least as it regarded the princess, whose life, -and that of her unborn infant, would have been risked by a disclosure. - -She was now tenderly deceived by all around her; the King and Queen -painfully dissembling their affliction visited her as usual, daily -bringing with them little billets from their son, whose anxious love -had early foreseen and provided against this trying occasion. He had -left behind him several letters without dates, expressive of the -fondest attachment, and pathetically lamenting the slow progress of -his recovery, which alone kept him from her society: he had ordered -these to be given her from time to time, until she should have safely -brought into the world another heir to the crown of Portugal: after -that period deception was to cease. - -Soothed by this sweet error the young princess yielded to the desire -of her royal parents, that she should not attempt returning to Ribera -before the birth of her child: she yielded with tears, but they were -not tears of apprehension; she wept only because her situation denied -her the tender office of watching her husband’s returning health. Again -and again she read his letters, again and again she dwelt on their -blissful meeting, when she should have an infant to present him with: -happily unconscious that the husband and the father, the young and -beauteous prince, was laid at rest for ever, in the grave! - -Lisbon became now a scene of hope and sorrow. Lamentations for one -beloved prince was mixed with anxiety for the birth of another: -solemn fasts were ordained, vows offered, pilgrimages undertaken, -processions made. On the eighth day after Juan’s decease, at the dead -of the night preceding the feast of St. Sebastian, all the religious -orders in Portugal were seen headed by the archbishop, and cardinal -Henry, walking in awful silence, barefooted and dejected, bearing in -their hands mourning torches to light them on their way to the grand -church of Bethlehem: there mass for the soul of their departed prince -was celebrated, with all the pomp of that church which affects and -overwhelms the heart by its powerful appeal to the senses. Images, -relics, incense, music, all contributed to heighten pity and grief -into madness: groans and prayers were for awhile the only sounds heard -mingling with the wailing tones of the organ: at length even these -ceased, and the priests and the people remained in silence prostrate -before the host. - -At that moment a shout from the multitude without, broke the solemn -pause; the next instant this cry was heard--“a Prince! a Prince is -born!” The whole mass of suppliants started from the earth; the organ -burst into a loud swell; the priests and the people joined their -voices; and the dome of the cathedral rang with hymns and thanksgiving. - -Thus in the midst of national hopes and fears was born the heir of -Portugal. His grand-uncle, the cardinal Don Henry, soon afterwards -named him Sebastian, in honor of the saint’s day upon which he was -given to their prayers; and then rejoicings and illuminations took -place all over the kingdom. - -When the princess Joanna’s safety was thoroughly ascertained, the -mournful task of preparing her to hear the account of her husband’s -death was undertaken by the Queen: she gradually presented less -cheering letters from her son; till at length venturing to pronounce -the fatal truth, she called upon the princess to live for her child and -them. Joanna heard not these exhortations: she swooned repeatedly; -reviving only to call, with frantic cries, upon him whose “ear was now -stopped with dust.” - -From that hour no human effort availed to comfort her: scarcely -sixteen, this heaviest of all mortal sorrows was the first suffering -her heart had known: even her infant son, though she loved him to -agony, failed to reanimate her hopes: as she held him in her arms -she would bathe him in tears and think but the more of his father. A -curtain of adamant had fallen between her and the world: she felt it; -and fearful of being urged into new engagements hereafter, determined -upon withdrawing to the sanctuary of a religious profession. - -While the widowed princess was inwardly revolving how best to compass -this melancholy desire, she was summoned into Spain by her brother -Philip II., then just setting out for Flanders to negociate his -nuptials with Mary of England. By accepting the regency during his -absence, she hoped to find an opportunity for tranquillizing her mind -previous to a renunciation of all sublunary ties; and trusted, that -when far from the scene of past happiness and future anxiety--when -removed from the afflicting pleasure of her infant’s smiles, she might -succeed in giving up her whole soul to Christ and God. Aware of the -opposition which would be made to this resolution in Portugal, the -princess confined it to her own breast; but while she took an affecting -leave of the King and Queen, could not refrain from exclaiming--“O -my parents! we shall never meet again.” These words were at the time -ascribed to the forebodings of a heart which believed itself breaking, -but were afterwards remembered as proofs of a steadily pursued -resolution. - -From her child the youthful mother tore herself with difficulty: in -the midst of its innocent endearments, she felt that all delightful -emotions had not been buried with her husband. For the first time her -heart whispered that she was not utterly desolate, since she had yet -something precious to relinquish. - -Melted from her purpose, trembling, and bathed in tears, Joanna sunk -upon a seat: “Ah, my child!” she exclaimed, straining it to her -breast--“how can I leave thee to see thee no more?” - -The King and Queen not venturing to speak, folded their arms around -her: their tremulous, yet strong pressure, spoke a joyful hope of -detaining her: at that instant she raised her eyes, overflowing with -consent; but they fell on the picture of Juan drawn in his bridal -habit. At this piercing sight, she shrieked, covered her face, wildly -repeating--“O no, no; I shall but love him and lose him too.” - -Impressed with this sudden dread of living to witness the premature -death of her son, the princess broke from every attempt to detain her, -and hurried through the palace. Her retinue waited at the gates: she -threw herself into a carriage, and amidst guards and attendants left -Portugal never to return. - -A destroying angel seemed at this period to be commissioned for the -affliction of that unhappy country. The death of prince Juan had been -followed by the voluntary departure of his interesting widow; and -regret for the last misfortune, was absorbed in grief for the loss of -Louis, Duke de Beja, brother to the King: the King himself, sinking -under sorrow and sickness, shortly afterwards terminated his exemplary -life, leaving a monarch of three years old, whose long minority -threatened many political calamities. - -The Queen now unwillingly undertook the regency, a task imposed on -her by her late husband. For awhile she administered the laws, and -guided public measures, with a wise and impartial spirit: but at -length wearied with groundless animadversions, she grew timid of her -own counsels, and gladly transferred the reins of government into the -hands of cardinal Henry. - -The new regent possessed much ability, and more integrity; but he was -a prelate of the church of Rome, and thought less of instructing his -young sovereign in the art of governing well, than of teaching him to -revere and defend all the superstitions of popery. He confided him to -the care of four preceptors: two of these were zealous Jesuits, and -were charged with his spiritual education: the others were noblemen of -distinguished reputation, who were to instruct their prince in history, -philosophy, and moral exercises. - -Don Alexes de Meneses, the first of these nobles, was allied to the -Italian family of Medici, and had been nurtured at Florence, under -their auspices, in the newly-discovered learning of the ancients: -having a genius for active scenes, he devoured with avidity the works -of their historians and poets, while he coldly perused the peaceful -theories of their philosophers. He came therefore to the task of -education, with no other aim than that of making his pupil a conqueror. - -His coadjutor, Gonzalez de Camera, facilitated this aim. He had served -in the wars of Germany, under Sebastian’s maternal grandfather, Charles -V., and though no longer young, talked with youthful ardor of battles, -and sieges, and victories. He failed not to paint every virtue in the -justest colours; but when he spoke of those which brighten the crown of -a hero, his language set his hearer in a blaze. - -That rapid, that resistless eloquence, which rouses the passions and -impels the will, was ever at his command: he could touch every spring -of the human heart. Sebastian’s soon learned to move solely at his -direction. - -From such governors the character of the young monarch received an -impetus which was fatal to its excellence. Nature had given him an -excess of sensibility, requiring the rein rather than the spur; his -virtues were of themselves too much inclined to tread a precipice: had -he fallen into the hands of men of calmer feelings, and cooler heads, -he might have risen with steady wing to the empyreal height of true -glory: as it was, he became the prey of passion, and the slave of error. - -Years now rolled away: Portugal gradually recovered from her domestic -losses, and began to anticipate with eagerness the end of her young -sovereign’s minority: the regent himself panted for a more tranquil -station; and Don Sebastian burned to seize the sceptre Providence -had destined him to wield. At the age appointed by law, this was -voluntarily resigned to him. - -The young monarch’s coronation was as magnificent as his spirit: all -the riches of the new world, the gold of Mexico, the diamonds of -Brazil, the pearls of Ormutz, were displayed on the persons of the -nobility. Their very horses, proudly pranced under housings of cloth of -gold and precious stones. - -As the long procession passed from the palace to the cathedral, crouds -of spectators lining the streets and windows, easily distinguished -their prince by the superior nobleness of his air. In the very -flower of his youth Sebastian appeared mounted on a white Arabian, -the trappings of which were studded with rubies: his own ornaments -were few: the order of Christus, alone sparkled in brilliants upon -his majestic chest; the rest of his dress merely displayed without -seeking to decorate the symmetry of his figure. While passing one of -his minister’s houses, some ladies showered flowers upon him from a -balcony: at this act of female gallantry, he checked his horse, and -looking up, lifted off his hat. The air was immediately rent with -“Long live our King, Sebastian!” His enchanting smile, the still -sweeter smile of his eyes, his animated complexion and ingenuous -countenance, seemed to promise a character which intoxicated the -people: they shouted again, when again smiling with as much gaiety as -graciousness, he threw away his hat, and rode forward uncovered. From -that moment he became their idol. Such is the effect of youth, beauty, -and urbanity, in high stations! - -At the gate of the cathedral, the cardinal Henry, attended by the -archbishop of Lisbon, and the rest of the clergy, received the King: -he was then conducted into the body of the church, where the three -estates took the oaths of fidelity, and the crown was placed on his -head. Immediately after, Sebastian went to the monastery, where his -illustrious grandmother now lived retired, in order to receive her -blessing, and to express a dutiful sense of her past kindness: he then -returned to his palace, where he directly assumed the functions of -royalty. - -The first acts of the young monarch’s government were calculated -to inspirit the Portuguese: his administration of justice was so -impartial, that not even those who suffered by this impartiality, -ventured a complaint: neither friend nor enemy expected from him the -least bias on their side. In his domestic relations he was generous and -forgiving; but in his public character, inflexible. By presenting the -court of judicature with a copy of the laws, abridged and transcribed -by himself, he early informed his people that nothing was so valuable -in his eyes as their rights. - -Sebastian displayed much magnificence in his court, and infinite -liberality in his gifts; yet, he was not censurable for extravagance. -By giving splendor to his own appointments, he believed himself -honoring the nation over which he reigned; and by rewarding talents, -he gratified a munificent spirit, while he secured important services -to the community. - -Impressed with an exalted notion of the _divine right_ of Kings, he -would not hear that authority questioned; though indeed, he prized -absolute power, for the sake of being enabled by it to succour and to -bless others. Too keenly alive to the impressions made by his tutors, -some thirst for distinction as a warlike King, insensibly mixed with -this laudable motive: religious prejudices united to stimulate him; and -the voice of glory resounding from the depths of time, at once invited -and commanded him to seize a crown of imperishable structure. - -His head was soon filled by visions of future greatness, and his heart -fired with holy zeal: he meditated the conquest and the conversion -of half the globe. To conquer from the mere mania for dominion, -was abhorrent even to him who felt that war would hereafter be his -element; but when he associated with the idea of conquest, the -prospect of rescuing whole nations from “the shadow of death,” from -Mahometanism or Paganism, he gave way to military enthusiasm, and daily -fired his fancy with plans of heroic enterprize. - -Every thing with Sebastian was a passion: his friendships, his love -for his people; nay, his religion itself; they were each, so many -internal fires which sometimes blazed out, and desolated instead of -cherishing. But as it is said, that the most fertile regions are to be -found in the neighbourhood of volcanos, so the finest qualities were -connected in Sebastian’s nature, with a dangerous ardour. He would at -any time have sacrificed his crown, his life, or what is dearer than -life--his tenderest ties, “for the sake of adding one pulse breadth -to Christendom;” he would have denied himself any gratification, if -he believed it reprehensible in itself, or injurious to another; he -was at all times, and in all things, superior to _self_: his faults -therefore, were the sole product of the age he lived in, and the -education he had received; had he been born two centuries later, how -different might have been his character, how different his fate! - -Embellished by many fine qualities, it was not wonderful that -Sebastian, though tinctured with imperiousness and impatience, should -be generally idolized: his people knew him only as a benefactor, and -they were not wise enough to foresee the evils which the rashness of -his disposition might produce. - -Amongst the nobility, he lived with the freedom of gay and ingenuous -youth, trusting to the influence of his peculiar conduct for the -preservation of their respect. He shared their amusements and other -exercises, and without a single rebuke, purified their grosser habits, -by his temperate example. The spirit of Sebastian needed no effort to -rise superior to every debasing pleasure. - -As yet, he knew little of the female character; but he would have -disdained himself had he believed his heart capable of loving the -bondage even of love: he could enjoy the light of beauty without -feeling its fire; and though courteous to all the ladies of his court, -was particular to none. - -Shunning delicate amusements, he affected those only which render the -frame robust, and the spirit intrepid. By every bodily exercise he -continued to accomplish his personal advantages, while he steadily -fixed his eye upon the period in which those advantages of health and -strength would become important. - -The first object he meditated, was an expedition to Goa, from whence -he might carry conquest and Christianity over the whole of India: but -towards so remote a country, even his governors Camera and Meneses, -declared it would be madness to turn his arms; they exhorted him to -weigh maturely the inadequacy of his present resources, and those evils -which must result to Portugal from her sovereign’s removal to such a -distance: finally, they prevailed on him to defer all military projects -till a few more years had given authority to his opinions. - -Among the nobility by whom he was surrounded, Sebastian distinguished -Antonio, prior of Crato; who, though an illegitimate son of the -late Duke de Beja, was considered throughout Portugal as the King’s -acknowledged relation. - -In conformity with the customs of those times, Antonio had taken the -vow of celibacy, in order to qualify him for holding the rich priory -of Crato, and the grand mastership of the knights of Malta: in other -respects he possessed nothing of the priest. Nature had endowed him -with an animating cheerfulness of disposition, to which every one -resorted for pleasure: he was liberal of his purse, liberal even to -carelessness in his judgments; naturally indolent and indifferent in -matters of importance; but capable of catching the fever of enthusiasm -from another. This last quality gave him his influence over Sebastian. - -The king was flattered by the appearance of having roused Antonio from -a degrading apathy: for, indeed, except in the prior’s attachment to -him, he seemed devoid of any serious feeling. Every impression left -by beauty, by accomplishments, by goodness, by wisdom, by affairs -of the state or the church, passed off from his volatile mind, like -sand drifted by the wind. He laughed and trifled with Sebastian, -alternately delighted and provoked him, for ever beguiled him with the -prospect of improvement, and for ever disappointed him: but it was -this unsubstantial character which fixed him in Sebastian’s heart. A -character which received the best impressions with the most seducing -facility, yet never retained, and always lamented them, was expressly -formed to excite partial solicitude. Antonio became by degrees his -constant companion, his most intimate confidant, and at length his -chief counsellor. - -The deaths of Meneses and Camera, which happened in the course of the -same year, greatly affected Sebastian, although these events left him -more freely to the bent of his own inclination: He could now renew -his resolution of plunging into a religious war, without apprehension -of being restrained by opinions to which he was used to yield. The -habit of believing this resolution highly meritorious, had given some -imperiousness to his mode of carrying it into execution; and he could -not always conceal his disdain for such persons as represented that no -zeal for general good, should make him risk the particular good of his -own subjects. But towards Antonio, he turned with redoubled favor; for -Antonio warmly embraced the revived projects, offering to accompany -him into Africa, a country now become the object of his contemplation. - -The Moors, though driven out of Spain, still continued to increase in -strength and dominion among the mountains of Barbary: they frequently -attacked the fortresses belonging to Portugal, which remained to her -upon their coast, and not only treated the prisoners made in these -engagements with extreme rigour, but terrified or seduced some of -them into the profession of their impious faith. Sebastian meditated -the destruction of this growing power: he communicated his design -to Antonio alone, who consented to become his companion in a secret -excursion to the fortress of Tangier, from whence they might gather -certain information of the nature and the resources of the Mauritanian -states. - -As it was the young king’s wish to avoid controversy with his -ministers, by keeping the whole affair secret till he had reconnoitred -Africa, Don Antonio was directed to make private arrangements for their -conveyance beyond sea, while under the pretence of a hunting match, -he should draw together all the young lords likely to embrace their -enterprize. - -Gallantly provided, those favorite nobles met their sovereign in the -province of Algarve, where he disclosed his project of crossing over -immediately into Africa. Smit with the phrensy of chevalric adventure, -every one consented to embark their fates with those of their King; and -rather to incur the chance of being taken prisoners by the Moors, than -shrink from danger when it might lead to glory. - -They set sail in a single vessel badly manned and worse armed; but to -a band of rash young men, whose leader was still younger, and more -adventurous than themselves, even hazard had charms. After a short -voyage, they landed safely at Tangier. - -Sebastian was no sooner upon African ground, than he began to prosecute -his enquiries with equal vigour and ability: he learnt the military -force and resources of the Moors, their points of weakness and of -strength, their system of war and of government, the nature of their -troops, and the topography of their country; he ransomed several -Christians who had long languished in slavery, and from their accounts -of the Moorish princes began to hope that in their contests for -supremacy, he might reap solid advantage. - -Having thoroughly acquainted himself with these important subjects, the -King hastened his re-embarkation: flushed with the conviction of being -now able to bear down every cautionary suggestion of his counsellors, -by arguments drawn from actual observation of the country he was going -to invade. After a short absence he set sail again with his followers -for the shores of Portugal. - -In mid sea they met and engaged a Turkish vessel. The Turk was greatly -superior in size and force; but a band of brave spirits animated into -heroes by the example of their King, were not to be conquered by common -efforts, Sebastian fought like a roused lion; he fought for the first -time; he fought for the lives and liberties of men whom his rashness -had endangered; he fought too for honour, and he fought against -infidels. After a long and fierce resistance, the Turk struck his flag, -and Sebastian ordered the ensign of the cross, to take its place. His -heart hailed an omen which promised victory over Mahomet. - -Elated with conquest, the royal galliot proceeded direct for Lisbon: as -they were entering the mouth of the Tagus, a sudden storm arose, and -for some hours Sebastian beheld death approaching in a more appalling -shape than when dimly seen among the flashing of arms. But his courage -did not desert him even then: nay, it shone with steadier brightness -as the danger darkened. By remaining undismayed himself, he recalled -the energies of others. Every effort and activity were exerted; and it -proved ultimately successful: they rode out the storm in safety through -a starless night, and the next morning were seen entering the Tagus in -triumph with their prize. - -The return of their beloved prince thus accompanied, circulated extreme -joy throughout Lisbon:--in his safety and his conquest, the boyish -imprudence of his conduct was forgotten, and exultation alone appeared -on the faces of the Portuguese. But alas! this exultation was quickly -swallowed up in horror; for the plague, which during the King’s absence -had appeared in several provinces, now broke out in the city, and swept -away thousands with resistless fury. - -Sebastian’s strenuous exertions were applied to stop the progress of -this calamity: he refused to abandon his capital, confidently reposing -on the protection of heaven, while engaged in the performance of a -duty. Often was this youthful father of his people seen passing from -house to house, to witness the execution of the orders he issued for -the relief of his suffering subjects: often was he seen to weep over -domestic wounds, which not even the hand of a munificent prince could -heal. - -When the contagion had exhausted its rage, and the few remaining -inhabitants awoke from their stupefaction, the King’s safety became a -miracle in their eyes: and Sebastian himself, recollecting his conquest -over the infidel and the tempest, believed his life preserved for some -admirable purpose. - -It was with bitter regret that he now saw his African enterprize -frustrated for awhile: his dominions wasted by sickness, and enfeebled -by terror, were not capable of affording him those supplies, necessary -to success; he therefore laid aside the plan, and went with his cousin -Antonio, to recover from their fatigue and mortification among the -romantic scenes of the prior’s residence near Crato. - -It was in this enchanting retreat that he was startled by a proposal -from his first minister, for his marriage with a princess of France. -Though Sebastian treated the idea of love (such as he saw it amongst -his young courtiers,) with infinite scorn, and wondered how a man’s -heart could find room for any other passion than glory, he had at this -moment a confused idea, that preference at least, was necessary to -make the marriage yoke pleasant, or light. He hastily caught up the -miniature of the lady (which had been sent with the proposal,) and -looked earnestly at it: the next instant he threw it away, exclaiming -with his usual impetuosity, “’tis a peevish, _little-souled_ face, and -I would not marry the original if she had all France for her dowry.” - -Antonio took up the picture, and eyed it with some admiration--“and -pray my good, insensible cousin,” he said, “what wouldst thou -have?--here is a very pretty neck, a skin like roses and lilies, -a delicate mouth, tolerable eyes!--the princess is, I dare say, a -charming little doll, with which a man might amuse himself very -agreeably, when he had nothing else to do.” - -“But I shall always have something else to do,” replied Sebastian, -“I cannot bear the thought of having a contemptible play-thing for a -wife; yet I should despise myself were I ever to be fascinated by any -woman into the servile bondage of love,--no; you must all wait _my_ -time: I shall marry some day; but I swear by Heaven, not before I have -combatted the infidels on their own ground.” - -“That is a very foolish vow,” observed Antonio, “and I’d have you recal -it.” - -“Never!” exclaimed the King, “never!” (and while he spoke, his eyes -lightened with youthful ardour) “you know my character Antonio; it is -formed of tougher materials than yours, it does not easily bend even -to necessity. Though our exhausted country now is fainting before us, -she will revive, she will recover; and then, strong in a divine cause, -conscious of no motive beyond the love of mankind, (whose bodies these -accursed Mahometans torture in slavery, and whose souls they draw into -everlasting perdition,) I will advance under the banner of the cross, -confident of victory.--What is it I seek?--not dominion, not power, -nor the mere name of conqueror? I combat for the _eternal_ good of the -human race: I pant after no earthly honour; except indeed the proud -distinction of having extirpated the enemies of Christ.” - -“That is all, very admirable, and very true, my royal cousin,” replied -the prior, “but as neither priests nor laymen can pretend to read the -will of Heaven, we must not be quite so confident of success, at least -you should conceive the possibility of your being ordained, (which God -forbid!) to fall in the very moment of triumph, purchasing with your -blood the saintly distinction to which you aspire.” The young King who -was traversing the apartment, turned quickly round at this; transported -with the dazzling thought his enthusiastic spirit blazed on his face; -he looked at his cousin with rapture. “Such a death!--Antonio, would -you not envy such a death?” - -“Not in the least,” replied the prior gaily, “you must excuse me if -I pray for a very different end for us both.--But if _you_ are bent -upon thus expiring like the Phœnix amidst the cloves and cinnamon of -glory, suffer me to remind you, that Portugal will then have reason to -lament the princess of France’s peevish countenance, and her monarch’s -imprudent vow.” - -Sebastian was struck with the observation: after a pause he said, -“you are right; yet I am not inclined to retract. While I study the -happiness of my people, surely it is not required of me to sacrifice -my own?--Though at this instant, I could contentedly take the vow of -celibacy to please them (if that were necessary for any good purpose,) -I do not find in myself a disposition to embitter my domestic life -merely for the sake of leaving them an heir to my crown.--I can imagine -infinite happiness with a wife suited to my taste, consonant with my -principles, and capable of catching some of my own wild-fire; and I -feel a jealous something in my breast--call it pride, call it delicacy, -what you will, but it is a sentiment of abhorrence at the thought -of cherishing a woman who would have consented to fill the arms of -any other King that might have sat on the throne of Portugal.--For -this reason I cannot, I will not marry one to whom I am personally -unknown--this is my determination, carry it to Alcoçava, and let him -manage the refusal with the customary decorum.” - -After a little good-humoured raillery, Antonio prepared to set out for -Lisbon, and the King, without suffering any one to attend him, mounted -a horse and rode forth. - -His spirit was disturbed by that prevalent anxiety for his marriage, -which his ministry had urged in support of their late proposal; and it -was saddened by the small prospect there was, of his being speedily -able to realize the darling wish that had grown with his growth, and -strengthened with his strength. Disinterested as he firmly believed -himself, and purely actuated by zeal for the holy faith, yet he -could not conceal from his own conscience, that a boundless ambition -of fame, had its share in regretting the delay of his purposed -expedition: the enfeebled state of his dominions had prevented him -from contributing any assistance to the grand coalition then forming -against the Turks--and the splendid success of that coalition, deepened -his chagrin. The victory of Lepanto haunted his nightly dreams; he -secretly repined at the thick laurels of Don John of Austria; painfully -contrasting that young admiral’s achievements, with his own blighted -and withering hopes. - -Wearied with thought and motion, Sebastian threw himself off his horse -in a solitary spot surrounded by hills, and suffering him to graze at -will, cast himself along under a shade of cork trees; there he mused -over ten thousand new prospects of vain and impracticable enterprize. - -The sultry air was cooled and perfumed by the breathing of aromatic -plants, kept in all the greenness of spring, by several rills which -trickled almost unseen beneath them; not a breeze stirred the leaves -of the cork trees, and the very birds were silent: the only sound to -be heard throughout the valley, was the lulling murmur of bees coming -to feed upon the flowers. A steady heat glowed in the air: Sebastian -cast aside his mantle and his hat, and pushed away the hair from his -forehead; all the summer burned upon his cheek, but a hotter fire, the -fever of impatience was in his heart.--By degrees the enervating warmth -overpowered him, and he sunk into sleep. - -He had not reposed long, when his slumbers were dispersed by the sound -of steps and a voice; he opened his eyes; at that instant a goat -twisted with flowers, and dragging along a half finished garland, -bounded past with a suddenness which made the King start up.--The -wanton animal was swiftly followed by a young virgin, who stopt -confounded at sight of a man: part of her veil was off, and filled -with the flowers she had been employed in arranging, and a profusion -of bright golden hair, picturesquely disordered by the heat and the -pursuit, was scattered on a neck that sparkled in the sun like -alabaster. The eagerness of her feelings had heightened the lustre -of her beauty to such perfection, that Sebastian almost believed the -object before him a celestial vision. The blue glory of her eyes, the -glittering bloom of her complexion, the gracefulness of her attitude, -and the animation of her whole person, gave him for the first time in -his life a complete idea of female charms. - -Abashed and surprised by an exclamation which escaped him, the fair -stranger turned blushing away, hastily endeavouring to cover herself -with her veil. - -Sebastian pointed to the goat now trailing his fantastic trappings -along the ridge of a steep height--“You will not go, fair creature! he -said, till you have given me permission to attempt the recovery of yon -runaway?” - -Fresh beauty was diffused over the exquisite features of the lady, -while she willingly essayed to thank him: “I have imprudently ventured -too far beyond my father’s park, she added, or you would not see -me thus unattended sir. I ought not to remain here with a stranger -perhaps, but your countenance insures me respect, and I think, I hope, -I am not wrong in accepting your services!” - -The King now led her to the shade, where she seated herself, while he -ascended a neighbouring hill, and soon returned with the goat: at the -playful chiding of its lovely mistress, the little animal lay down in -seeming penitence beside her, suffering Sebastian to caress, and hold -it prisoner. The panting fatigue of Donna Gonsalva, and the peculiar -freshness of the air in the valley, afforded him a plausible excuse for -seeking to detain her: Gonsalva herself, flattered with the admiration -she inspired, was in no haste to recover. She was struck with the -noble air of her companion, and felt some womanish curiosity about his -name and rank: but Sebastian, desirous of concealing himself, without -anticipating any further acquaintance, avoided her questions. He found -from her own account, that she was the only daughter of the count -Vimiosa, (his envoy at the court of France,) and was then inhabiting -the family mansion, under the protection of a maiden aunt. - -An abundance of enchanting gaiety led Gonsalva into unreserved -conversation: she rallied the King upon the solitude in which she -had found him, and with arch _naiveté_ told him she should never in -future address her saint without remembering to pray for the _gallant -solitary_. “But by what name shall I pray for him?” asked she, rising -to depart: the King hesitated; as he was born upon the eve of the -joint feast of two Saints, he believed himself entitled to the name of -either, so bid her remember him by the title of Don Fabian. - -Donna Gonsalva repeated the words. “I shall not forget you; said -she, remember me, when you look at this flower, that will be just -five minutes, for it is withering now.” She threw him a lily out of -her bosom with a smile of such magic beauty, that Sebastian could -not refrain from snatching the fair hand which dropped the flower, -and printing it lightly with a kiss. Gonsalva drew away her hand in -displeasure. Would she have done so, had she known that this was the -first kiss those lips had given to beauty, and that it was the King of -Portugal who gave it? - -She disappeared the next moment, leaving Sebastian endeavouring to -rally himself upon so unusual an impulse of gallantry. - -The beautiful Portuguese had successfully dispersed the young monarch’s -gloom; it did not return: he loitered awhile longer in the scene where -he had beheld her, then seeking his horse, returned to Crato. - - - - -CHAP. II. - - -As Antonio had business to transact for the King with his cabinet, he -did not return immediately from Lisbon, and Sebastian having visited -him without any of his favorite Lords, was now thrown principally upon -his own resources for amusement. The weather was too hot for hunting or -tennis, reading stirred his ardent spirit too violently, and he was not -in the mood for general society; the next day therefore, he naturally -thought of the last day’s agreeable adventure: without absolutely -proposing to do so, he rode out again unattended. - -On reaching the pass leading into the valley, he left his horse in -charge with a goatherd who was stationed there to watch some flocks, -and pursued his way on foot. The heat was moderated by a slight shower -which had refreshed the verdant landscape, and now the birds sung from -every copse: but the scene wanted the presence of Gonsalva; she was -not there. Sebastian mechanically followed the track he had seen her -take, and descending the opposite side of a steep hill, saw stretched -out before him, a luxuriant and extensive vale, in which the villa and -domain of Vimiosa, were nobly conspicuous. - -Proceeding through a thicket of evergreen oaks, the King soon found -himself in a labyrinth of walks; he chose one at a venture, and fortune -destined it should lead him to the entrance of a bower, where stood the -fair subject of his thoughts, occupied in reading a letter. - -At sight of him, roseate blushes succeeded by entrancing smiles, passed -over her face. “Don Fabian!” she exclaimed, “for Heaven’s sake what -brings you here?” - -The question was unlucky, as it was the only one perhaps, which the -King could not answer satisfactorily to himself, he looked at her, -hesitated, felt embarrassed, and at length said timidly, “to ask -forgiveness I believe, for the fault I committed yesterday.” - -Donna Gonsalva now remembered that she had left him in anger. “So then, -you have the boldness to encrease that fault by following me into a -place, where if you were to be seen, it might cost you your life; -me, my reputation and peace of mind!--for pity’s sake, do not stay -here--I expect--I expect one of my relations every instant--should he -see you--a stranger--- go, for Heaven’s sake go!”--As the beautiful -Portuguese spoke, she unconsciously grasped his arm with her hand, and -impelled him towards the mountains. - -Sebastian’s heart, for the first moment in his life, throbbed with a -tender emotion, nearly a-kin to love: he understood nothing in this -speech but a desire for his preservation; and he knew himself unknown: -It was not the King of Portugal then, but an obscure stranger, whom -the daughter of the count Vimiosa was thus solicitous to save. “Ah, -charming Gonsalva,” he cried with an air of mental intoxication, “if -you are as amiable as you appear, the wishes of”--my people, he was -going to add, but checking the indiscreet expression, he finished the -sentence with a sigh. - -An excess of pleasure brightened the beauty of Gonsalva; she averted -her eyes to conceal it, while she repeated an intreaty that he would -consider the impropriety of her being discovered in conversation with -a young nobleman unknown to her family. Sebastian still lingered: “you -must not refuse me another meeting!”--he said; and he said it with the -air of a man to whom command is habitual, and refusal a novelty. - -“I must not!” repeated Gonsalva, laughing, “do you remember, Don -Fabian, that you are speaking to a woman--and that woman the daughter -of the count Vimiosa?--our sex are not accustomed to yield, even the -slightest favors, at the mere expression of an ardent wish; we must be -sued to submissively.” - -“Submission is my abhorrence!” exclaimed the young monarch with -vivacity, “I feel now, and for the first time in my life, that I can -admire, I can prize, I can love, perhaps; but you must not expect me to -renounce equality with the object. I must have heart for heart, I must -excite as many tender apprehensions as I feel, or--” - -“And who are you, that can never speak without an _I must_:” exclaimed -Gonsalva, laughing excessively--“but I have not time to hear your -answer, leave me I say--we may perhaps meet again, and then--I hear -footsteps--farewell count.”--She turned abruptly into a side path, and -Sebastian desirous of remaining unknown, hastened out of the domain. - -He was no sooner at a distance from the villa Vimiosa, than he began to -muse over the confession of admiration into which he had been hurried, -and to dwell with extreme pleasure on the concluding words of Gonsalva, -as they certainly intimated a wish to see him again. In less than an -hour, a complete set of new ideas had taken possession of his mind: the -conversation with Don Antonio, and the wish of his people, blending -with the image of Donna Gonsalva, awakened in his bosom an emotion -hitherto unknown; but an emotion too sweet and subtle for rejection. -The adventure itself had the charm of novelty; as for the first time in -his life he beheld a young and lovely woman, who so far from dreaming -of his rank, believed herself his superior. Amongst the ladies of -the court he had seen beauty, but it was beauty divested of its most -touching graces, the play of innocent freedom: he had never met with -one who did not appear emulous to attract the King’s notice; and as he -possessed too much delicacy to bear the thought of owing any thing to -an exalted station, he despised and avoided their homage. - -Occupied solely with the romantic reveries of an amiable, though erring -ambition, he had hitherto felt without reasoning upon the subject, that -he had no time for love; conscious that whenever he yielded to that -sentiment it would influence his happiness entirely. Here, now, was the -only opportunity that might ever present itself for acquiring a female -heart, without the hateful aid of royalty; here was an opportunity of -gratifying his people without mortifying his own feelings. The prospect -of arms and victories, no longer filled the void of his capacious soul, -and how could he better console himself for this, than by trying to -accommodate his private inclinations with those of his subjects? - -The extreme beauty and graceful gaiety of Donna Gonsalva delighted the -senses of Sebastian; he hoped to find her equally charming in mind -and heart: above all he passionately desired to make her love him. -With the inperiousness of a King, he resolved to reign absolute over -her affections, to have his power avowed and submitted to, or not to -reign at all: he determined to be preferred as Don Fabian, before he -should be known as Sebastian. Every thing promised success to this -romantic resolution; and the more he reflected on it the more he was -confirmed in the intention of concealing his real rank from Gonsalva; -as she lived much secluded, and at some miles distance from Crato, -discovery was unlikely, besides which, the clandestine nature of their -intercourse rendered enquiries on her part almost impossible. - -Satisfied with these mental arrangements, the King rode gaily home, -forgetful of the foolish vow he had taken; treading lightly on the -delightful precincts of Love, whose first prospects are like “the -opening of Heaven’s everlasting gates, on golden hinges turning.”-- - -He finished the day amongst his young nobles, with uncommon animation. - -The prior of Crato was expected the next morning: Sebastian saw day -dawn, after passing a night of sweet wakefulness, during which the -image of Donna Gonsalva had floated perpetually before him. Eager to -behold her in reality, ere the return of his cousin, the King withdrew -early from his attending lords, and took the road to Vimiosa. - -As he was proceeding to enter the path through the thicket, he saw -Gonsalva at a distance, in another part of the domain, walking on a -terrace, cut on the side of a hill, that overlooked the house; he -hastened thither, but perceiving that she had a female companion, -retreated and placed himself under the boughs of a tree. The ladies -turned, and walked towards him: as they approached, his heart beat with -an anxiety that surprized himself; _if Gonsalva should not see him_! -he shook the branches of the tree with a trembling hand, at which -she started and put aside her veil. The same bright glow of pleasure -irradiated her effulgent beauty, the same smile that had charmed away -the reason of Sebastian, again transported him; but she dropped her -veil, and passed on without speaking. - -After taking several turns together, the ladies separated: the aunt -of Gonsalva descended a flight of steps over which the trees hung so -thick, as soon to exclude her from sight, while her fair niece at -first advanced towards the grove which concealed Sebastian, and then -capriciously struck into a path sloping directly from him. - -The impetuous monarch disturbed at the thought of her departure, -sprang forward, intreating that she would stay. Gonsalva half turned -round--“So, you are here again my good friend?”--she said, in a tone -of careless gaiety which her sparkling looks contradicted,--“are you -come to teach me another lesson out of your new catechism of female -subjection?--let me tell you that air of authority that you have, is -abominably provoking, and I should like vastly to break its neck: one -grain of humility would make you--not absolutely hateful.” - -“You shall find me humbler to you, than to any other being in the -world;” replied Sebastian smiling, “if you will but strive to think -of me with tenderness.” Gonsalva laughed. “What a pleasant madman -chance has introduced me to!--upon what do you ground these extravagant -pretensions? pretensions too, so insolently urged! did you never read -the Spanish author, who calls _Love, that courteous affront offered -to beauty_?--prithee con over his definition and profit by it. Think -of you with tenderness! why, my presumptuous friend, if I think of -you at all in any way ’tis more than you should expect. Think of you -with tenderness, when all I know of you is that you have a tolerable -figure, which sillier women than myself may have persuaded you is -irresistible!--A potentate could not woo with more authority.” - -The accidentally penetrating glance of her eyes while speaking these -words, so confounded Sebastian, that it made the blood mantle on his -cheeks, she laughed again. “Come, this is the colouring of penitence, -so I must not chide you any more. Never let me hear a presumptuous word -breathed, consent to be docile as a lamb, and I may condescend to be so -much interested in you as to ask you, who you are? whence you come! and -whither you go?” - -During this discourse Donna Gonsalva had entered a path leading off the -terrace, and they were now advancing through an olive plantation which -effectually secured them from observation. Sebastian was encouraged by -her arch freedom: “Whence I come, and whither I go, fair Gonsalva,” he -said, “matters not; what I am, you shall know. I am a soldier: one -that hitherto had no other passion than glory; one that never yet bowed -either heart or knee to beauty. If you see honour and honesty in my -countenance, believe me when I swear that neither my rank nor fortune -are unworthy of the count Vimiosa’s heiress: but ask me no further; -imperious circumstances render me mysterious. Suffer me to see you, -suffer me to attempt winning _your_ heart, and losing _my own_, and -then,”--“O ye saints!” interrupted Gonsalva, “what excess of gallantry! -So--you have not _lost your_ heart yet! but wait most obsequiously -for the surrender of mine! I protest count, or duke, or whatever you -are, you have a very taking way of making love! This cloven foot -of arbitrary insolence is for ever shewing itself: I have a shrewd -notion you are one of our young King’s attendants, and have caught -his character?” “And what is the King’s character?” asked Sebastian -smiling. “An excellent one for a King, doubtless,” replied Gonsalva. -“He thinks of nothing but rule and dominion, breathes nothing but war -and devastation, and would fancy himself _un-kinged_ if he were to -yield an _iota_ to a woman. All the court ladies love him mortally, and -hate him mortally: they are charmed by his accomplishments, but piqued -at his coldness. I have heard some of them say so repeatedly. Give him -the world to reign over, and he would not care if there was not a woman -in it.” - -Sebastian did not reply: he was momentarily lost in rumination upon -the injustice done to his actions by mistaking their motives. It was -evident that Gonsalva had learned his character from report, and spoke -therefore the prevailing opinion. After a pause he said, “I have been -told that Don Sebastian young as he is, cannot be justly taxed with a -thirst for mere power; he is _said_ to be actuated by zeal for our holy -faith.” - -“_You know_ it perhaps?” rejoined Gonsalva playfully. “Come, come, -confess that you are one of his court. I hear his majesty is at Crato -with Don Antonio, and of course some of his lords must be in attendance -on him.” - -“Well then,” replied Sebastian, “I may frankly own that I came with the -King, and must return with him to Lisbon. My visits here are secret; -Don Sebastian has always expressed such disdain at lovers, that if he -knew me capable of humbling myself to such a merciless tyrant as your -fair self, I fear he would blush for my altered sentiments. Allow me to -hope, charming Gonsalva, that you will permit me to see you here again -at this hour to-morrow? The King will soon return to Lisbon, and then I -shall see you no more.” - -Sebastian pronounced the last words with a sigh, and anxiously looked -on the heavenly features of Gonsalva for an expression of answering -regret: those heavenly features were as usual brilliant with delight; -her heart did not appear touched by the intimation of this separation. -“Do you see that tower yonder?” she asked, pointing to a part of the -house which rose above some trees--“my apartments are there: under the -tower-window passes a neglected path half choaked with shrubs, where -if you chuse to ramble and take the chance of seeing me, and being -noticed, I shall not command you away. A short excursion by moonlight -will do you no harm: but mark me--no serenading.” - -“Then it is at night I am to expect the happiness of seeing you?” - -“Have I not told you, not to _expect_ any thing? if you won’t consent -to take even trifles as unlooked-for favors, you will lose my -friendship. I _will_ be absolute in my way; a very counterpart of your -royal master. Fare you well, Don Fabian, if you should miss seeing me -at my window, take this as a complete adieu: and, do you hear, when you -return to Lisbon, do set about curing both yourself and the King, of -your abominable insolence.” - -Away flew the volatile beauty with the grace of a nymph, leaving -Sebastian pierced with pains which he dreaded to analyze; too certain -they were occasioned by her seeming indifference. Something like -resentment swelled his proud heart as he recalled the tenderness of his -parting manner, and the carelessness of hers: he felt as if he had been -duped; and execrated himself for having yielded even momentarily to a -weakness which had thus sunk him into the play-thing of a coquet. To -have gained gently upon her affections, and fanned an infant fire with -the softest breath of respectful love, had been the aim of his wishes; -but to worship an idol without a heart, feed an inhuman deity with -groans and tears, to dote on what he could not esteem, was a meanness -he scorned. - -“You _have_ seen me for the last time, insensible Gonsalva!” he -exclaimed, as turning from the view of the tower, he rushed towards -the mountains. - -Vexed at himself, and irritated with disappointment, he rode to Crato -in a mood that clouded his physiognomy. The prior was waiting his -return: Sebastian scarcely noticing him, seized a bundle of dispatches -sent from one of his ministers, and began to read them eagerly. Don -Antonio ventured a jocular remark upon his disturbed countenance. - -“I am in an ill-humour cousin,” replied the King, “in a rage at my -own conduct; and at this moment could tear up the roots of earth -itself.”--Antonio expressed some astonishment and more curiosity: -Sebastian declined satisfying it, adding, “I have quite enough to bear, -cousin, when I have my own contempt to encounter, without seeking the -addition of yours. Let this squall of temper have its way--for heaven’s -sake talk with me of business, news, nonsense, any thing--change -the current of my thoughts if possible.--What said Alcoçava and the -cardinal to my refusal of the Frenchwoman?” - -“Since you require me to change the current of your thoughts, and -thus lead to the subject of love and marriage, I may conclude the -mischief-making God has had no hand in raising the present storm?”--Don -Antonio spoke this with a forced smile, and not without hesitation; yet -he fixed his eyes earnestly upon those of his cousin: the ingenuous -countenance of the latter was immediately crimsoned over; he turned -away, uttering an exclamation of contempt, coupled with the idea of -love, and abruptly entered on another topic. The prior surprized and -disturbed, appeared somewhat hurt at the King’s reserve, for he became -thoughtful, and supported conversation with less spirit than was -usual with him; but at length this mutual restraint wore off, and the -remainder of the day was spent in all the freedom of friendship. - -Sebastian’s resolution to avoid Gonsalva, lasted rather longer than -his indignation. By degrees the flattering parts of her manner came -oftener to his memory than those gay airs of indifference which -had mortified his too sanguine nature: the agitating blush, the -hope-awakening smile haunted his day-dreams; sometimes he saw her -in the visions of the night, yielding him one of those tresses like -the morn, which shaded her ivory neck, and half-averting a cheek now -glowing with the sensibility of a melting heart.--He awoke, but the -seducing image still swam before him. - -Sebastian then revolved the probability of his having judged hastily -and harshly: delicacy alone, or love distrustful of its empire, might -have dictated that sprightly carelessness which had shocked him: though -she had said they might not meet again, she did not perhaps think so, -nor mean him to seek for her in vain at her window; would it not be -well then, to make another essay to observe the effect of his absence? -the youthful lover decided in the affirmative. - -Being unexpectedly summoned by state affairs to his capital, he -determined to make a last trial of Gonsalva’s sentiments, by visiting -her on the night before his departure. When that night came, he excused -himself from the amusements of his courtiers, and leaving Don Antonio -chained down to a game of chess, he glided away unobserved, and was -soon conveyed by his swiftest horse to the domain of Vimiosa. - -A soft moonlight distinctly discovered the spot to which Gonsalva had -directed him six days before. He saw the steep romantic bank shading -the road towards which he now turned his steps: as he trod it lightly, -the smell of orange flowers and wild thyme, came mingling from the -hills and the gardens. While his eyes were fixed on the windows of the -tower, where perhaps Gonsalva slept, some low tender sounds caught his -ear: he listened, but they had ceased; the next moment they returned -again; drawing gently nearer he found they proceeded from a lute which -some one was touching at intervals with an unsteady hand, another -pause succeeded: he stood still, and scarcely respired; for now the -voice of Gonsalva was heard singing this canzonet. - - “Hast thou, a sleepless pillow prest, - And vainly, vainly sought for rest? - Ah! say, have sighs and tears confess’d - That love was kindling in thy breast? - - Alas! if not, why dost thou fly - To haunt my gate, my path, mine eye, - Still looking as thou wanderest nigh - A world of fond idolatry? - - O cease, if vanity should be - The only aim that leads to me; - O cease, while yet my heart is free - From hope, and fear, and love, and thee!” - -Rapt, enchanted, Sebastian stood listening to this celestial voice: its -thrilling tones revolving in continual sweetness but endless variety, -were like the melodious warblings of a nightingale. The serene Heavens, -the resplendent moonlight, the fragrance of the earth, the transport -and the gratitude of his own heart, all conspired to heighten its -magical effect. Donna Gonsalva had evidently chosen this song because -it pourtrayed a situation like her own; this thought finished the -intoxication of Sebastian, and he vehemently exclaimed, “Angel!” - -At this expression, Gonsalva dropped her lute, and flying forward, -uttered a cry of pleasure. “Ah, is it you, ungrateful Fabian!” she -cried: her beauty and her emotion completed the conquest over her -sovereign. She was without a veil, and he now beheld for the first -time, all the charms of that matchless face: traces of tears were on it. - -Scarcely conscious of the extreme joy he betrayed, the king uttered a -passionate expression at this visible mark of sensibility; and forcing -his way up the bank through shrubs and roots of trees, got sufficiently -near the object of his tenderness to kiss her hand from the window. -The night breeze blowing among his fine hair, and the moon beams -falling on his white forehead, gave lustre and animation to the noblest -countenance that ever yet united sublimity with beauty: Donna Gonsalva -evidently beheld him with admiration. - -Endeavouring to recover from the effects of her surprize, she attempted -to answer his ardent assurances of repentance and gratitude, by -light railleries: She acknowledged that she had been in tears, but -would not confess that his absence was their cause: Sometimes she -spoke in a tone of touching sensibility, then suddenly flew off into -sallies of gaiety: her air and her words were at variance. Sebastian, -though little skilled in the science of woman’s heart, could not help -perceiving the whimsical inconsistencies of Gonsalva: while her voice -fluttered, her complexion glowed, her eyes sparkled, she persisted in -assuring him that he had never once entered her thoughts since they -parted, and that even now, if his ridiculous speeches did not amuse her -excessively, she would not stay a second moment at the window. - -It was in vain she asserted this: the delighted lover assured her -in return, that the stratagem of insincerity was fruitless. Since -he was resolved to win the heart, she seemed determined not to -surrender.--“And if you were to take it by storm, (as I perceive that -is your mode of conquering,)” replied Gonsalva, “what would it avail? -You know, daughters are not allowed to dispose of themselves: I have a -father, Don Fabian, and it is from his hand I must take my husband.” - -Sebastian gazed on her enamoured, smiling with the consciousness of -sovereign power: “Let us not talk of fathers, fair Gonsalva; were I -beloved, I should fear nothing: what will not a joyful and ardent -passion accomplish? Do not deny me then the hope of having interested -you?--I must quit Crato to-morrow; the King is recalled by important -business, and I cannot remain behind.” - -“O! how much you are in love!” exclaimed Gonsalva, with an air of -tender reproach, “you profess to live only in my sight, and yet you can -leave me merely for the sake of preserving an empty honor about the -King!” - -The gratified Sebastian protested that nothing but a sense of duty -could make him forego the delight of these stolen interviews, which he -would hasten to renew; promising soon to return. “Till that blissful -moment, let this remind you of Fabian,” said he, (unloosing from his -neck a brilliant cross of the order of Christus which had hitherto been -concealed by his vest.) “Let this _assure_ you, that your lover is -noble.” - -“And if he were not”--exclaimed Gonsalva, stopping and ending the -sentence with a tender sigh. The triumph of Sebastian was now complete: -“and if he were not, charming Gonsalva, you would not cease to bid him -hope?--Dare I flatter myself that such was the sentiment your modesty -deprived me of?”--Gonsalva bowed her fair neck without speaking, while -rapture sparkled in her eyes: the King lightly threw over her head the -embroidered ribbon by which the order was suspended, and when he did -so, lifted some of the tresses of her hair to his lips. “Might I bear -away with me one of these glittering ringlets!--Surely you will not -deny me the precious gift?” - -A faint denial only served to stimulate the young monarch, Gonsalva -refused, and chided, and jested, but yielded at last. - -At parting, the coy beauty would not utter a confession of regret, -though she suffered the sentiment to appear in her swimming eyes. -Sebastian was perhaps more enamoured by this conduct: the difficulty of -subduing so haughty or so delicate a heart, gave additional pleasure -to the attempt; and the spirit of domination then mixed with the tender -desires of love. He returned to Crato with his golden prize, believing -himself a conqueror when he was in reality a slave. - -The vivacity of Sebastian’s feelings were in proportion to their -novelty: he loved for the first time, therefore he loved with his whole -soul; and the idea of being beloved in return, _for his own sake_, -finished the enchantment. - -During their rapid journey to Lisbon, he disclosed the romantic secret -to his cousin. - -Though Don Antonio was evidently too discreet for the indulgence of -ill-timed raillery or unpalatable rebuke, the King perceived that his -imprudent attachment surprized and shocked him: the prior’s florid -complexion changed frequently, and he spoke with a trepidation unusual -to him. Donna Gonsalva’s comparatively inferior birth, was in his -opinion an insurmountable objection; but he forbore to press other -arguments upon his sovereign, whose suddenly inflamed looks warned him -to beware. Having by a strong effort conquered his excessive surprize, -which secret circumstances rendered almost insufferable, he gradually -acquiesced in the passionate reasoning of his kinsman, and began to -assist him with plans for the completion of these new wishes. - -To facilitate the King’s interviews with Donna Gonsalva, and yet -conceal the affair from his court, it was requisite that some plausible -excuse should be found for his visiting Crato again: Antonio therefore -offered to return almost immediately to his priory, feign sickness -there, and intreat the society of his gracious cousin. This offer was -accepted: Don Antonio scarcely refreshed himself in Lisbon ere he set -out once more for Crato: the King remained behind, and for the first -time in his life gave audience to his ministers with a divided mind, -after dispatching the various state affairs for which he had returned -to his capital, he waited impatiently the prior’s summons, and shortly -receiving it, hastened, with a very small train, to the hunting lodge. - -The interviews of the lovers were now regular, and every interview -heightened the young monarch’s passion. His fair mistress stimulated -this ardor by just as much condescension as excited without satisfying -hope; acquiring at each unexpected act of kindness fresh power over his -peace. Sebastian gradually lost that self-command upon which he piqued -himself, and often found that he bartered some of his independence for -a smile or a kiss: but he had learned the art of silencing his own -reproofs; and constantly declared to his cousin that he knew himself -beloved to excess, or he would not stoop to acts which otherwise would -be mean submissions. - -At length, the moment so long panted after, arrived; Gonsalva one -evening pronounced the tender confession of reciprocal preference, and -was rewarded the next instant by an avowal of her lover’s sovereign -rank. - -Confused and agitated, the fair Portuguese half sunk upon her knee, -faltering out a few words of humility and gratitude: Sebastian hastened -to raise, and clasp her in his arms, while he explained his intention -of recalling her father from France in order to witness their immediate -marriage. Donna Gonsalva changed colour, averted her eyes, hesitated, -panted for breath, and at length apprehensively confessed that she was -under engagements to a young nobleman; nay, that her father had given -her to him in marriage at the age of seven years. - -Had the earth opened at the feet of Sebastian, he could not have felt -more horror.--Speechless with emotion, his looks only continued to -interrogate Gonsalva: she trembled and wept, but conjured him to -believe that after the ceremony was performed, she had almost forgotten -it, as her bridegroom had gone out to Goa with his grandfather the -viceroy of India, and was but lately returned. - -“And you have seen him Gonsalva?” asked the King mournfully. “Yes, -I have seen him thrice, but without giving him the least hope that -I would ratify the cruel engagement in which my infant mind had no -share.--When he visited me last, you were absent, your love was -doubtful, your real rank unknown, I was uncertain whether you might -ever return to me, and yet I told him my resolution.” - -“Then you loved me from the first?” cried the transported Sebastian, -“let not my Gonsalva ever again torture me with assumed indifference, -when this conduct shews that she preferred the pain of concealment -to the hazard of losing me by the early mention of this hateful -obstacle. Take courage, dearest! ties like these may be broken without -dishonour; and thank God! I am a King.” - -The impetuous and imperious Sebastian forgot at this moment his -character of _just_; he was incapable of admitting either a parent’s or -a husband’s right, when the one had used his power tyrannically, and -the other had been forced upon a child incapable of choice. To obtain -the pope’s bull for annulling this marriage, seemed not a matter of -difficulty; the consent of Vimiosa was of course certain; and as the -rival husband had not been long returned from India, he was not likely -to oppose the divorce from any motive of attachment: at all events, -Sebastian resolved to use his prerogative if necessary, since Gonsalva -had expressed for him the most passionate preference, and ought not -her happiness to be the first object of his life!--She now repeated -her promise of living for him alone, and at that sound the momentary -obstacle disappeared from her lover’s sight. - -After this conference the rash young monarch dispatched couriers into -France with letters to the count Vimiosa, demanding his daughter, and -inviting him to return and assist in dissolving the bands which tied -her to Don Emanuel de Castro: at the same time he sent a magnificent -embassy to Rome, praying for a divorce; and commissioned his cousin -Antonio to see and converse with Don Emanuel. - -Meanwhile Donna Gonsalva had hinted to Sebastian the impropriety -of exposing her reputation to the scandal of being discovered in a -clandestine intercourse with her sovereign: having no longer a reason -for concealment, Sebastian embraced the permission this hint gave him, -and came with a splendid retinue to Vimiosa. His lords saw nothing -extraordinary in a young monarch paying a courteous visit to the sister -and daughter of one of his greatest subjects, but no sooner did they -behold the transcendent beauty of Donna Gonsalva, and the emotion of -their royal master, than a suspicion of the truth was awakened amongst -them. - -Lost in a round of new and delightful enjoyments, Sebastian was -from that hour continually at the house of his mistress: his cousin -accompanied him in these visits, and warmly applauded his choice. But -the eloquence of the latter had been used in vain to obtain an hearing -from Don Emanuel De Castro; that young nobleman refusing to converse on -the subject of her marriage with any other than the King himself. - -Sebastian’s nature was too generous not to revolt from some arbitrary -measures which Antonio suggested in the height of his zeal and -displeasure: he refused to degrade or distress his rival; and the -dictates of delicacy forbade him to attempt purchasing his acquiescence -by mere honours. - -De Castro was indeed worthy of this liberal treatment: he had -distinguished himself in the Indies under his grandfather, by the -most brilliant services. His intrepidity and genius for war were not -the only themes of praise; to these were added justice, temperance, -a benevolent attention to the natural propensities, habits, and even -prejudices of the Indians, and a conciliating manner which subdued them -still more than his arms. Filial piety was the first of his virtues: -after twelve years residence in India, a dangerous disease fastened -upon his aged parent, which compelled him to return home: Don Emanuel -was advised to remain at Goa, where he would in all probability receive -an immediate nomination to succeed the viceroy in his government; but -he refused to act thus:--abandoning this expectation, and resigning his -military command, he left the eastern world, chiefly for the sake of -softening the discomforts of a tedious voyage to a relation he revered; -though the idea of claiming his young bride sweetened the sacrifice. - -On reaching Portugal, the viceroy had gone to his seat at Santaren, -from whence Don Emanuel had twice visited Gonsalva: but the death -of his beloved grandfather quickly followed, and prevented him from -seeing her again, till the first days of his mourning were passed.--Don -Emanuel was preparing to appear at court for the first time, when the -King’s pleasure was intimated to him by the prior of Crato. Refusing to -discuss so important a matter with a third person, he was ordered into -the presence of his sovereign.--The King alone, and secretly at war -with himself, received him with embarrassment: his excessive emotion -formed a decided contrast to the grave and dignified composure of De -Castro. The latter was just going to pay the usual mark of homage to -princes, when Sebastian impetuously caught him by the arm, exclaiming, -“Bend not your knee to one who would dismiss from your mind in this -conference all thought of his authority: I wish you to hear me, Don -Emanuel, not as a King, who might insist, but as a man who is willing -to submit to the decision of equity.--In conversing on this interesting -topic, let us think only of the rights and the happiness of Donna -Gonsalva--let us forget, if possible, our own desires.--Believe me, if -I did not flatter myself with being inexpressibly dear to her, if I did -not abhor and renounce with my whole heart this unnatural practice of -infant nuptials, I would not seek to release her hand, though certain -of commanding it the next instant:--nay, had I known earlier of her -engagements, preposterous as I deem them, I would have avoided the -scandal and the pain of dissolving them.” - -De Castro fixed his eyes upon the ingenuous though disturbed -countenance of the King: esteem and compassion were in the look.--“This -is the first time,” he said, “in which I have had the honour of -seeing and conversing with my sovereign, and I foresee it will add to -my former loyalty, the sentiments of gratitude and admiration.--my -fortunes, my services, my life, sire, are at your feet, dispose of -them henceforth as you will; but I beseech you for your own honour -and happiness, for the sake of your people, proceed no further in -dissolving my union with Donna Gonsalva.” - -“How! Don Emanuel,” exclaimed Sebastian, “do you pretend to persuade me -of these animated sentiments, and yet deny me the only favor peculiarly -your own to bestow? as your sovereign I may command your services and -life; but when I ask of you with the simplicity of an equal, to resign -the shadow of a right over a woman whom _you_ cannot love, whom _I_ -love with all the ardour of virtuous tenderness, and who blesses me in -return, when I ask _this_ at your hands, you capriciously, tyrannically -deny me. What conduct is this? how dare you mock me with expressions of -devoted regard?” - -Embarrassed yet not confounded, Don Emanuel was silent; the king -pressed his remark with increased ardour, adding, in a tone of greater -emotion, “You were contracted to Donna Gonsalva at the age of thirteen, -you went immediately after to India, from whence you are returned -but three months; in that period you have seen the fair Gonsalva -only thrice, and that in reserved interviews before her aunt, where -nothing beyond personal graces could speak to your senses. No charm -of varied discourse; no enchantment of sensibility could penetrate to -your soul; the coldness of her feelings must have chilled yours: love -feeds, grows, lives upon love! Can you then, will you then have the -injustice to place your mere admiration of her beauty upon a par with -my lively preference of her character, and my tender sympathy with her -disinterested affection? Have a care, Don Emmanuel, force me not to -resume the King; you may rouse me into measures which otherwise I would -have spurned.” - -“I trust, Sire, to your own conviction of the justice of my claim, -replied De Castro firmly, the king of Portugal is born to be the glory -and the examplar of Kings: he will teach the Portuguese to obey the -laws, by first obeying them himself; he will respect even the simplest -rights of his subjects; he will reflect that absolute power tempts to -oppression, and renders self-denial the greatest effort of virtue; and -in proportion as injustice is easy to him, his magnanimity will render -it difficult.” Don Emanuel paused, but Sebastian was silent; for there -was something in Don Emanuel’s manner which at once inspired respect, -and rivetted attention: interpreting his sovereign’s looks, that -nobleman continued--“Pardon my boldness, sire, if I venture to tell -you, that in marrying a subject, and that subject a woman ravished from -her husband, you will stain your unsullied name, and disappoint your -people. Hitherto, monarchs of Portugal have strengthened their power -by foreign alliances--you, sire, have refused daughters of France and -Spain; and when it is known that you have refused them for a private -person, may we not dread the consequences?” - -“What! Don Emanuel,” interrupted Sebastian, “does your otherwise -admirable theory of a prince’s duties, lead to this extravagant -conclusion, that he is bound to sacrifice his domestic happiness to a -mere shew of benefitting his people?--Is a powerful alliance more than -a political pageant?--When did you ever find the dearest connections -amongst earthly potentates, (and I blush for them whilst I urge it,) -able to counterbalance the promptings of ambition and opportunity? -every solid advantage would be as firmly secured to Portugal by my -union with a subject as with a princess. I am not the first King of -Portugal who has declared that ‘marriage is the prerogative of every -man.’” - -“True, Sire!” returned De Castro, respectfully, “but your majesty will -remember that the august monarch who made this declaration, coupled it -with these words--_I promise never to invade this prerogative in the -person of another, and for that reason expect never to have it invaded -in my own._” - -“De Castro,” said the King earnestly, “tell me that you tenderly, -exclusively love her--swear it to me by your hope of eternal salvation, -and whatever it may cost me, I will relinquish my own happiness, but -never again expect to behold the face of your sovereign: for the man -who would force to his arms an unwilling bride, must have a soul with -which mine can have no fellowship.” - -Extremely affected by the honourable emotion of his royal master, Don -Emanuel’s voice faltered as he replied, “My nature, sire, is incapable -of deriving gratification from any forced submission; much less from -that submission of woman’s heart, which must be voluntary to be -sweet:--be assured Donna Gonsalva shall not be compelled into my arms. -To swear I love her dearer than any thing on earth, would be false, -for I love my King better: I take Heaven to witness it is more for his -honor and prosperity, than for my own wishes, that I thus desperately -risk his displeasure. Time, perhaps, may plead in my justification, -and convince you, sire, that though I refuse every other ground of -discussion except that of right, yet am I sincere when I repeat, that -for loyalty and the most passionate wish for your majesty’s real -happiness, my heart may challenge any heart in Portugal.” - -Sebastian’s indignant eyes searched the countenance of Don Emanuel; -“There is a proud mystery about you, sir,” he said, “which displeases -me:--I have humbled myself too much.--Since it is to be a question of -right, learn to respect the rights of your prince. From this hour know -that I will be obeyed.” - -Don Emanuel threw himself at the King’s feet.--“Then I must _implore_ -for justice, and conjure my sovereign to decide on my claim as he -would have done in a similar cause in which he was not a party. Ah, -sire! you turn pale! your upright soul feels the force of that plain -appeal. Would to God, for your own august sake, that you would not -precipitately do an act of violence.--Have you no fears, sire, that -the woman who could so long conceal, and so lightly break a sacred tie -(however imposed,) has been actuated by less disinterested motives than -those of virtuous love?” - -At this unexpected question, the King lost all command of his passions, -and fiercely motioned for Don Emanuel to withdraw; his look and gesture -were too violent not to warn de Castro that he trod on the brink of a -precipice: that young nobleman rose from the ground, and as he bowed -respectfully, a deep sigh escaped him, he bowed again, and left the -King to his own thoughts. - - - - -CHAP. III. - - -Sebastian’s mind was a tempest of angry feelings. It was now -evident, that unless the presence and arguments of the Count Vimiosa -should prevail over De Castro’s obstinacy, he must be forced to use -compulsion: such measures were so abhorrent to his nature that he felt -increased aversion for the man who thus rendered them necessary. - -Don Emanuel was forbid to appear at court; yet his still generous, -though indignant sovereign, neither abridged his honours nor his -liberty: he testified his displeasure merely by banishing him from his -presence. The prior of Crato observed this moderation and blamed it: -Sebastian answered him by saying, “De Castro has to thank me for much -more forbearance: were I to follow the dictates of my proud spirit, I -would crush him with benefits, and render this perseverance odious to -the whole world. But I disdain to take so unfair an advantage.” Antonio -was not reconciled to such a refinement of honour, yet he attempted not -to ridicule it. The arrival of the Count Vimiosa revived the spirits -of the King; from him he expected implicit submission, and he found -it. The Count had early learned the court lesson of obedience; and was -besides intoxicated with the height to which his daughter’s elevation -would raise himself: he professed his willingness to repair in person -to Rome for the dispensation; inveighing bitterly against the rash and -selfish man who thus ventured to contend with his prince. - -Sebastian could not conceal from his own thoughts that he despised this -pliant father, who boasted acquiescence as the fruit of reverence to -royal authority, not as springing from the conviction of woman’s right -to dispose of her affection and her hand: Sebastian was accustomed -to estimate the value of men’s actions by their motives; and scorning -those of Vimiosa, scarcely brooked his presence even in the society of -his daughter. However, for her sake he gave him the palace of Xabregas, -to which she was shortly after removed with her discreet aunt from the -vicinity of Crato. - -Though debarred from personally appearing before the King, Don Emanuel -addressed a letter to him full of duteous affection, in which he -offered to forego all claim upon Donna Gonsalva, provided she continued -to wish it at the expiration of six months: but for that period he -stipulated that she must either retire into a convent, or accept the -protection of his aunt Donna Garcia di Nugnez, a lady of unblemished -reputation, under her roof she might receive his visits, and those of -the King also. - -This proposal De Castro pressed with such earnestness (offering to -pledge himself under forfeiture of his estates and life, to use no -authority over the will of Donna Gonsalva,) that Sebastian was induced -to consider it--there was such an air of sincerity in the whole of -that young nobleman’s conduct, and his character had hitherto been so -irreproachable, that it was impossible even for the passion-blinded -King to refuse believing him innocent of wanton insolence. Whatever -romantic notions of right and honour might tempt him into the present -opposition, it was evident that he rather sought to give his prince -time to recollect himself, than finally to thwart his wishes. - -Stimulated to convince Don Emanuel that his choice arose not from a -temporary gust of passion, Sebastian half-resolved to accept these -offered terms, and consent to six months probation. With this view he -hastened from the palace of Ribera to that of Xabregas, to communicate -the letter to Donna Gonsalva: he found her in the midst of her little -court, like the Queen of beauty surrounded by graces and loves. On his -entrance the nobles retired, leaving only the prior of Crato, and Donna -Sancha Vimiosa. - -While the fair Portuguese read De Castro’s letter, the blood suddenly -forsook her lips and cheeks; she fixed her amazed eyes on Don Antonio, -as if unconscious of what they looked on, repeating aloud “for six -months!”--at that moment Sebastian forgot his rational resolution; “but -we are not to be debarred the society of each other all that time, my -Gonsalva!” said he, tenderly kissing her hand. - -Gonsalva gazed at him with a mixture of astonishment and -apprehension--“already so indifferent!” she exclaimed--“artful De -Castro, thou knowest but too well, I fear, how those six months would -end!” - -“Donna Gonsalva!” cried the prior, with no very respectful roughness, -“are you in your senses?--observe the king.” - -Instantaneously recalled, the beautiful Gonsalva recovered from her -extraordinary agitation, and turning to her lover, beheld on his -countenance such an expression of grateful surprize and fond regret, -then she half sunk into his arms, repeating with the voice of a syren -“you will not banish me from happiness for six long months? you will -not kill your Gonsalva with fears which your authority may end for -ever!” - -Sebastian pressed her to him in a transport of love--“what is it you -fear!” he exclaimed, “what is it alarms my Gonsalva!” - -His charming mistress cast down her eyes abashed, “I fear, without -cause perhaps,” she said, “yet, you have yourself often remarked, that -true tenderness trembles at every delay of what it sighs for.--These -six months passed with a relation of the man who calls himself my -husband--these six months in which you may be wrought on to abandon -me--are so frightful--so sad--alas! how shall I live through them!” - -Antonio, who was reading the important letter, now broke in upon -Sebastian’s soothings: he spoke with peculiar warmth on the weakness -of allowing himself to be thus trifled with by an inferior. He could -not understand, he observed, any of those romantic notions which his -royal master urged in defence of Don Emanuel; but frankly gave it as -his opinion that De Castro, so far from being sincere in his promise -of resigning the lady in half a year, was more likely to take a base -advantage of a husband’s authority, and whenever Donna Gonsalva should -be removed from her own family, render it impossible for her to return -to her lover. - -“I am not a deep reasoner, my honoured cousin,” added the prior, with -his usual good-humoured levity--“but depend on it I see actions as -they are; and never am out in men’s motives,--shall I tell you what I -would do in your majesty’s place?--I would flatly refuse this insidious -offer, and send the proposer of it back to the Indies: give him the -viceroyalty by way of consolation.” - -“Not to get him quietly out of the way:” replied the King, “do not -injure yourself so in my thoughts Antonio, by urging such unworthy -conduct!--no, he shall be heard at the tribunal to which I appeal. I am -not going to _rob_ him.” - -“Your majesty’s apprehension is so quick, and so erring sometimes!” -cried the smiling prior, “I simply meant him to be complimented with -the government of India, _after_ the cause had gone against him.” - -“No, nor that either,” answered Sebastian, “I will not purchase the -silence of an enemy at the expense of my people. If I am to believe -De Castro insincere and unworthy, he is not to be trusted with the -destinies of thousands.” - -“Well, you must pardon my zeal, sire!--I would perform a ten -year’s penance for your sake, (and your majesty knows how ill long -fasts and sleepless nights suit my taste,) and it chafes me into -uncharitableness, perhaps, to find a fellow cheating your generous -nature with mere breath.” - -“I know your affectionate heart!” said the King, with one of his benign -smiles: then turning to Gonsalva, who had been all this time resting -her fair cheek on his shoulder, and moistening it with tears, he -besought her to pronounce her will, and it should be obeyed. - -“Renew your solicitations at Rome!” she exclaimed, pleasure sparkling -in her eyes--“suffer me still to remain at Xabregas with my kind aunt -here--and from this hour till the blessed one which makes me yours, -refuse to see or hear from Don Emanuel.--Never, never again let me be -tortured with his presence.” - -The King kissed her hand in token of assent; and De Castro’s proposal -was rejected. - -A second embassy was now dispatched under the Count Vimiosa into Italy; -while Don Emanuel, wearied with fruitless efforts to see the King -again, and secretly supported by many of the nobility, who envied the -elevation of the Vimiosas, went himself to Rome to ask for justice -at the feet of the pope. His cause was strengthened by the French -court, exasperated at the refusal of their alliance with Portugal; -and strenuously promoted by the influence of a high Italian family -with whom he was connected by blood.--But Sebastian felt secure of -success, and intoxicated by the delight of love, could not conceive the -possibility of disappointment. - -His beautiful idol was now the idol of the people and the nobles; -wherever she moved, crowds hung upon her charms; the graces of her -air, and the bewitching playfulness of her manner, attracted hearts as -well as eyes, and among the young lords who approached the fascination -of her accomplishments, scarcely any one preserved himself from the -torment of fruitless desires.--This admiration from others, increased -the passion, because it flattered the pride of the King; and assured of -being exclusively beloved, he no longer blushed to display the excess -and tenderness of his feelings. - -At length the pope’s decision arrived;--Count Vimiosa returned -triumphant; De Castro foiled. - -Transported with joy, Sebastian flew to impart the tidings to Donna -Gonsalva: how was she struck on finding that her father had obtained -her lover’s suit, only by promising his holiness the performance of an -imprudent vow once made by the King to Don Antonio!--that vow would -leave her still without perfect security; it would take him into -Africa, amidst danger and death! - -The most violent bursts of tears, shrieks, and fits, followed this -unhappy disclosure; Sebastian had never before seen her so moved: -ravished with such convincing proofs of his empire over her heart, he -renewed his protestations of eternal fidelity, accompanying them with -many a fond endearment. By degrees his arguments and caresses produced -soothing effects, and the weeping beauty was pacified.--Nature indeed -had blessed her with a disposition so averse from thought and care, -that grief dwelt with her but an instant: she made her lover repeat all -his vows of love and truth, and the assurance of denying De Castro’s -return to court, and then she revived to smiling happiness. - -The arrival of Vimiosa had been expected to prove the signal of De -Castro’s disgrace; but on the contrary the King simply announced -the continuance of his banishment from palace parties, while he -distinguished his former services by such honorary rewards as in those -days of high-pitched honour, were more dearly prized and more eagerly -sought, than are the _substantial recompensings_ of modern times. - -Donna Gonsalva, soon after, blazing in jewels, and attended by a -splendid retinue of pages and ladies, received the compliments of the -nobility in the palace of Xabregas.--Everywhere announced as their -future queen, her favour was courted, her influence implored: it was no -longer Sebastian, but she who ruled in Portugal. - -Don Emanuel de Castro shocked at this ascendancy, which it was in vain -for him to attempt opposing, retired to the house of a relation in a -remote province, where he passed his hours in study and benevolent -acts: his name ceased to be spoken of at court, and even his -remembrance shortly wore out of the minds of the courtiers. - -Blended with the idea of happiness and Gonsalva, the enterprize -against Africa, had commenced. Sebastian’s roused spirit once -more breathed war and religious enthusiasm: he directed levies to -be made, youth trained, foreign powers solicited, and a crusade -preached throughout his dominions; he passed himself from province to -province, ascertaining its strength and proportioning its supplies -to its ability: he stimulated the exertions of his officers, by new -distinctions, and solicitously sought to obtain the aid of his uncle -Philip II. who then ruled in Spain. This was liberally promised him; -shamefully withholden! - -The prior of Crato, enflamed with the same ardour, and sanctioned by -the title of a religious war, accompanied his royal cousin in these -progresses, liberally offering his revenues and retainers to aid and -support the cause:--he was to make one in the formidable expedition; -a circumstance highly agreeable to the King, who loved his enlivening -talents, and was accustomed to talk with him of Gonsalva. - -But the glory of their little army consisted in one gallant stranger, -Sir Thomas Stukeley of England.--This brave adventurer had left his -native country from the restlessness of a disordered but fine mind, and -hearing of Sebastian’s intended attack upon the Moors, came to offer -his services at the head of a band of noble Italians. - -The chivalric romance of Stukeley captivated our youthful hero; he -found in him that ardour of enterprize, and those unquenchable hopes, -which he had hitherto believed his own peculiar property. While -they conversed together, both burned with the same fire; prudential -calculations were equally despised by each; danger only, possessed -charms for them, and success, unless torn from the arms of destruction, -was to them destitute of honour. - -Stukeley’s reason had once been rudely assaulted by a domestic -calamity; and though it still remained uninjured in the eyes of -most men, deeper observers beheld a lamentable chasm in his once -perfect mind:--an exuberance of imagination had usurped the place of -the reasoning faculty; while his heart, true to its nature and to -its habits, fed this imagination with visions of exalted but often -hazardous virtue. - -The wild inspiration of his countenance, breathing goodness and -greatness, never suggested to Sebastian the idea of an unsettled -intellect: what might have appeared feverish ravings in another, were -sublimed by the magnificent eloquence of Stukeley into theories of -god-like excellence, and heroic exploit.--The young monarch listened -to these effusions till their magic transformed impossibilities into -certainties: hitherto his character impelled others; now, it was -impelled in its turn, and borne with resistless force before the mighty -character of Stukeley. - -With such a coadjutor, the King of Portugal was enabled to give an -additional impulse to the martial spirit of his kingdom, Stukeley was -a zealous catholic like himself, and the destruction of the infidels -was equally the object of his wishes. - -An opportunity of prosperously invading Africa, now presented itself. -One of the Moorish princes who had been dethroned by his uncle Muley -Moloch, King of Fez, Morocco, and Tarradunt, after vainly soliciting -the aid of Mahometan courts, came as a suppliant to Portugal: he -pleaded his rights and his distress; offering the monarch in lieu of -assistance, several valuable territories along the sea-coast. - -Sebastian’s zeal for the extension of Christianity would not suffer -him to be contented with a mere accession of territory: he dictated -new terms; stipulating for the half of whatever was re-conquered, -and for the enlargement of every Christian found enslaved amongst -the Moors. But the leading article in their treaty was an agreement -that no Christian hereafter should be forced into the profession of -Mahometanism, and that the Emperor of Morocco should make a law for -this purpose, under the penalty of death to any of his subjects who -should disobey. - -By this arrangement Sebastian insured to himself a substantial hold -on Africa; and though aware of the small probability there was that -Muley Hamet should fulfil the latter part of their treaty, he was now -conscious of possessing in this article, (if infringed) a justifiable -plea for turning his arms against so faithless an ally. - -On completing this compact with the Moor, and receiving some -mercenaries from Germany and Flanders, the King called a general -assembly of his nobles and ministers.--After eloquently detailing his -motives for taking arms, and the advantages likely to result from it to -all Christendom, he proceeded to say, that he convened his council, not -to ask their advice, but to instruct them in his aim, and to receive -their concurrence. He called God to witness, that his first and dearest -aim was the preservation of unnumbered souls who now groaned under the -sinful yoke of a detestable religion, and perhaps wanted only to live -under a Christian government, and be taught by Christian teachers, to -awake from their delusion: he pathetically painted the miseries of -his captive countrymen to whom the Portuguese arms were about to give -freedom: he then commented on the political advantage of acquiring a -maritime frontier in Africa for the protection of their trade with -the gold coast; and lastly, he avowed a strong desire for honorable -distinction. His impetuous youth here dwelt delighted, and laid claim -to some indulgence for this last infirmity of noble minds: he finished -an animated confession of that infirmity, by these words from Cicero. - -“Should we in the pursuits of virtue have any of its rewards in view, -the noblest of all, is glory: this alone compensates the shortness of -life, by the immortality of fame; by this we are still present when -absent from the world, and survive even after death. By the steps of -glory, in short, mortals mount to heaven.” - -This speech produced very different effects upon his hearers: the -younger were already converts to his opinion; but the old and -experienced, who had lived long enough in the world to foresee the -probable termination of this military romance, received their King’s -determination sorrowfully. Each, in private, endeavoured to persuade -him of the impracticability of subduing Africa with a handful of men, -unsupported by foreign succours, and depending for their safety in a -great measure on the good faith of an infidel ally: they expatiated -upon the exhaustless numbers of the Moors, and their knowledge of their -own country, where he, would fight upon ground he knew little of, -where in the event of a defeat he might be so bewildered as not to get -back to his transports, and must consequently resign his troops either -to starvation or captivity. - -Similar arguments were pressed on him by the ambassadors of foreign -courts; but they served only to inflame the courage of Sebastian, and -to exasperate him against their masters, those cautious monarchs who -proved themselves nominal sons of the church, since they would not -contribute one detachment towards his enterprize. His uncle too, the -Cardinal Henry, opposed the expedition, and aided by the foreboding -lamentations of the Queen dowager, frequently agitated their rash -kinsman by unavailing remonstrances. - -Sebastian listened respectfully to each; but, seduced into the belief -of being born for the destruction of Mahometanism, persevered in his -resolution. - -To the enchantments of Donna Gonsalva he continually turned from these -vexations: her wit enlivened him, her syren voice soothed the most -turbulent emotions of his soul, and his unsated eyes found ceaseless -delight in following the graceful varieties of her face and figure: yet -Sebastian had a void in his heart; a something unfilled, unsatisfied, -which he placed to the account of the imperfection of human felicity. -Donna Gonsalva was exquisite in person and mind; she certainly loved -him, but her love did not meet either the delicacy or the intensity of -his: her feelings were obtuse in those trifles to which sensibility is -tremblingly alive: she would often pursue her own sprightly pleasures -with such eager forgetfulness of him, as to mortify and displease -him. Two or three times he had entered her apartments at Xabregas -in the bitterness of a spirit traversed and exhausted by political -disappointments, and she had not observed it: his watchful passion was -never one moment insensible to the slightest variation of its object; -not even the mist of an unpleasant thought could shade that heaven of -beauty, without disturbing his repose--and she--yes she, often saw him -agitated or depressed, without observation. - -It was at these periods that Sebastian acknowledged the torments and -the omnipotence of love: he saw a defect in his idol, yet he worshipped -her still. - -But what could he desire more than to be loved with all the powers of -her soul? if that soul wanted some of the energy of his, was it not -her misfortune rather than her fault? his reason assented to this, -though his heart frequently burst out into fond complaints which -Gonsalva silenced by the warmest assurance of preference. Under the -immediate impression of his grief, she would lose no opportunity -of evincing her tenderness, and then Sebastian’s transports would -return: but attentions which do not flow spontaneously from a natural -softness, seldom are lasting; Donna Gonsalva would soon forget her -lover’s character, because her own was of a lighter stamp, and gay -thoughtlessness uniformly succeeded a short solicitude. - -This perpetual inconsideration deeply wounded the King; for a lover -like him, expected to throb in every pulse of her heart. Racked with -repeated mortifications, that perhaps owed their existence to an -impassioned fastidiousness “which I beseech ye, call a godly sin”--he -looked anxiously towards the hour of his departure from Portugal, -secretly hoping to endear himself by danger, or at least to rouse some -of those sensibilities which were as wholly concealed now by ceaseless -gaiety, as when no anxieties existed to call them forth. - -Don Antonio was ever Gonsalva’s advocate; sometimes rallying, and -sometimes more seriously reproving his royal cousin for pampering a -sickly sensitiveness, which thus poisoned life’s chief blessing. - -Sir Thomas Stukely, ignorant of his illustrious friend’s discontent, -unconsciously increased it; for one night in a walk among the gardens -of Ribera, under the boundless and starry heavens, he poured into -the attentive ear of Sebastian, the story of his early life: that -story, though it might be comprised in a single incident, was deeply -interesting to the young King, whose heart, penetrated with one -affection, delighted to sympathize with every other; yet he listened -sadly, for he thought the more of Gonsalva’s temperate feelings. - -The untimely death of a brother, long and justly beloved, had driven -Stukely a wanderer from his country: that brother’s character, made up -of every estimable and endearing quality; his fraternal love “exceeding -the love of women,” were depicted in the heart-wringing language of a -regret increasing with time. - -“We lived in our native Devonshire,” continued Stukely, “far from the -excitements and the temptations of a court; ignorant of any mortal -happiness beyond each others deserved encomiums. One fatal day, hunting -among the woods round Illfracombe--my erring spear--I cannot describe -it!--this brother, dearer to me than existence, this soul of my -wretched life, fell through a disastrous accident by my hand!--But he -died with forgiveness on his lips--he died kissing the hand that smote -him!”-- - -Stukely’s voice assumed a fearful hollowness as he spoke the last -words, his eyes rolled back upon themselves, and his pale countenance -expressed the extremity of despair; but the next moment rapture -illumined him, and he wildly resumed-- - - “Oft in the dead of night his voice I hear, - Like harp angelic, bidding me rejoice, - Not weep his fate; for now he dwells in bliss, - High, full, seraphic, far transcending all - That heart of man can image, and with eye - Cleared from its mortal dross, beholds the end - Of human suff’ring; weeps no more the woes - Of fellow dust, but sees unnumbered crowds, - Multitudes vast--of ev’ry race and tint-- - Dreaming of pain awhile, but to awake - In beatific and eternal Heaven!” - -Accustomed to hear his friend converse by snatches in a strain -resembling poetry, Sebastian made no remark on this momentary rhapsody: -Stukeley paused awhile, and then continued: - -“After the loss of my brother, I know not what strange calamity fell on -me. I sometimes think I could not have been in my right mind. Memory -retains a confused notion of my having once formed a visionary project -of colonizing Florida, then but newly discovered, erecting over it the -sovereignty of an order still purer and more self-denying than the -orders of Jerusalem and Malta: I can recollect displeasing the young -queen Elizabeth with my romantic ambition. At length, when my intellect -recovered its cruel shock, I found myself in a court, filled with the -professors of a new religion; it was impossible for me to stay, even to -hear their doctrines. I passed from England to Ireland, from Ireland to -Italy, sorrowing and self-condemned for my involuntary crime; there, -my arms have been constantly employed against the enemies of our holy -church. This wandering warfare; this renunciation of home, country, and -kindred, is the penance to which I have condemned myself: may it tend -to expiate my guilt!--My grief it cannot cure.” Again Stukeley mused -awhile, and again he abruptly added, “’Tis a distinguished privilege -to die in defence of the sacred cross! I swear never to abandon it! We -will plant the blessed banner on every mosque in Morocco, or perish in -the attempt.” - -Gladly seizing the last subject suggested by Stukeley, Sebastian -forbore to comment on the melancholy commencement of their discourse, -leading him to talk of the meditated war, of which religion formed the -only basis. - -Public affairs now hastened to a crisis: the armament was complete, -and the fleet equipped; the Pope had transmitted his blessing, with a -present exceeding in value that of the consecrated rose: it was an -arrow which had pierced the side of St. Sebastian! - -In their armour and field accoutrements, the nobility displayed -infinite splendour; and as desolated Portugal could not furnish many -private soldiers, the troops composed chiefly of gentlemen volunteers, -seemed but a gallant shew of accomplished knights. - -The royal-standard (embroidered by Donna Gonsalva) was carried in -procession through the streets of Lisbon, to receive the benediction -of the archbishop; it was then delivered into the hand of the Marquis -Villa-real, and the army marshalled around it. - -After this august ceremony, the troops prepared to embark, while his -officers and men were exchanging adieus with wives, sisters, and -parents, Sebastian hurried to take leave of Donna Gonsalva: she had for -some days yielded to an excess of grief, and had shut herself up from -all society. At sight of her royal lover clad in the shining livery of -war, she flung herself into his arms with tears and cries; distracted -at the possibility of eventually losing him either by death or changed -sentiments, she wildly expressed a wish to become his by a secret, but -binding tie. - -Sebastian pressed her to his breast in a tumult of tender delight, -“dearest treasure of my life!” he exclaimed, covering her fair brow -with kisses, “at this moment your Sebastian is blest to the utmost -extent of his fantastic desires.--Ah, Gonsalva! why have I ever -believed you indifferent, or incapable of exquisite love? be assured -I go now, confident of possessing your heart; I go to conquer for -your sake, to return worthy of you, covered with the spiritual dew -of heaven, its blessing and the blessings of millions:--but ask me -not to forfeit my right to this dear hand, by evading the conditions -upon which it has been awarded to me; I have promised our holy father -to engage in an expedition against the infidels--successful or -unsuccessful, I will return to Portugal, and either share my glory -with you, or--perish the possibility of mischance!” Donna Gonsalva now -redoubled her tears and her endearments; and tying round his neck a -picture of herself, conjured him to remember that her existence was -interwoven with his own. - -As the enamoured King repeated his belief of her sincerity, he added -tenderly, “These tears, these sighs, my Gonsalva, can never be absent -from my thoughts: be assured that whenever you think of your Sebastian, -whether at the dead of night, or in the hurry of day, he is at that -moment thinking of you.” - -His eyes overflowed as he spoke; he strained her to his bosom, held her -there an instant, then broke away. While moving towards the door, a -favourite dog that had always been his companion, leaped up, and licked -his forehead. “Farewel, Barémel!” said the softened king, “I cannot -take thee,--Stay with my Gonsalva, and be cherished for thy master’s -sake.” On pronouncing these words, he gently pushed the faithful animal -aside, and hastened out of the apartment. - -The royal equerries waited with their sovereign’s Arabian, at the gates -of Xabregas; Sebastian vaulted into his seat, and with a soul raised to -rapture by the undisguised fondness of Donna Gonsalva, rode towards the -place at which the troops were ordered to assemble. - -There, the King and the soldier took their turn: he rode along the -lines formed by his army, proudly exulting in their strength and -appearance. His animation diffused cheerfulness through the soldiery; -and a short address, exhorting them to patience, perseverence, and -fidelity, was answered by loyal acclamations: the word was then given, -and the army began its march. - -The figure of the young King, (clad in a suit of green armour) full -of youth, spirit, and hope, was picturesquely contrasted by the wild -sadness of Stukeley, the light and shade of whose countenance at one -time flashed the fire of a warrior, at others was lost in a gloom of -unavailing regret. Don Antonio of Crato, formed a contrast of another -sort; his gold armour was gayly adorned with bosses and chasings, which -the priest’s vestment did not entirely conceal; his florid aspect -seemed equally free from thought and care: but there was one knight -among the troops whose face expressed many thoughts and many feelings: -It was Don Emanuel de Castro. - -Without attempting to see or to address Sebastian, he had signified -to the master of the horse his intention of furnishing five hundred -harquebusiers for the expedition: through that nobleman’s interference -this offer was not only accepted, but he was permitted to head them -himself; and thus allowed an opportunity of retrieving his sovereign’s -lost favour. De Castro now rode among the noble volunteers, with a -serious brow. - -His steady judgment, neither hurried away by the romantic sanguineness -of the inexperienced Sebastian, nor actuated by that indifference -to life which left Stukeley without a wish to estimate danger, nor -constitutionally careless of every thing beyond present enjoyment, -like the prior of Crato, foresaw much to apprehend from the inadequacy -of their armament. A thousand gallant vessels, with their bravery -of tackling and of sails, made a noble shew in the bay; and twenty -thousand troops, in all the gloss of unstained arms, and unbroken -spirits, presented an imposing spectacle to the gaze of enthusiasts. -But what were these in reality, when contrasted with perhaps more than -a hundred thousand enemies upon their own ground? De Castro’s prophetic -heart ached in the midst of general exultation. - -The various regiments were now embarking: as they marched along the -shore the sun flamed upon their banners and coats of mail; the -inspiring trumpet resounded from all the neighbouring echoes; pealing -bells rung joyously from the city; and at intervals the discharge of -ordnance from adjacent forts, was seen to shake the ships and the hills. - -Impatient to be the first embarked, Sebastian rode eagerly through -his people, amid their shouts and blessings, as if returning in -triumph; his youth, his personal graces, and the imposing dignity of -his cause, made every heart follow him. As he leaped into the boat -which was to bear him to the royal galley, he uncovered his head, and -waving aloft his flowing helmet, seemed to be commending Portugal to -the protection of Heaven. By his side stood his favourite page, and -the Duke of Barcelos, two young sons of the Duchess of Braganza, his -near kinswoman, and next heir to the crown: their tender childhood and -gallant mien, their sweet faces, yet wet with a mother’s tears, caused -a momentary pang in the multitude, but the sunny look of the King -brightened regret into exultation, and loud acclamations pursued the -track of his departing boat. - -In a few hours more, the whole army was embarked, and then the fleet -weighing anchor, sailed out of the Tagus. Prosperous winds swelled -their sails to Cadiz, where they waited awhile for the promised -succours from Philip II. the Duke of Medina Sidonia feasted the King -and the knights there, with a munificence little inferior to royalty. -After a week’s delay the expected supplies arrived; they consisted but -of two thousand foot soldiers: the enraged Sebastian would have sent -them back to his dissembling uncle, had not the Duke of Medina found -some plausible excuse for his master’s conduct, and faithfully promised -further aid in his name. - -Quickly irritated, and as easily appeased, the ingenuous monarch -believed this hollow apology, and returning the courteous -entertainment of his host by conferring on him an order of knighthood, -re-embarked with his army for the shores of Africa. - -The Portuguese fleet crossed the mouth of the streights, and passing -within sight of Cape Spartel, coasted along as far as Tangier, where -Sebastian, with his English friend Stukeley, were landed, and the -remaining troops under Diego de Souza, and Antonio of Crato, proceeded -to the fortress of Arzile. - -The Moorish princes Muley Hamet and his brother-in-law, Cid Albequerin, -were at Tangier, with a few armed followers, to receive the king of -Portugal: they delivered into his hands hostages for their fidelity, -conjuring their Christian ally not to listen to the deceptive -representations of the Xeriff Muley Moloch, whose ambassador was now -arrived at the fortress. Sebastian re-assured them, though he could not -refuse the Moorish envoy, an audience. - -On being admitted to the royal presence, the African delivered a -letter from his master, wherein moderation and spirit were admirably -blended. This letter declared the Xeriff prepared in all points for -war, and ready to meet it; but while he made such a declaration, he -besought Don Sebastian to weigh well the value of men’s lives ere he -rashly threw away his own and those of his subjects: he described -with terrible simplicity the immensity of his resources, and the -number of his armies, proving the improbability of success, though the -Portuguese King were at the head of 20,000 heroes. Having exhorted him -to spare to his people those virtues of his, that were yet only in -the bud of blooming youth, he entered into a full discussion of his -own pretensions and those of Hamet; by this discussion he laboured to -shew that his right to the crowns of Fez and Morocco, was superior -to that of his nephew; and that even were it otherwise, the latter -had forfeited his claim by acts of cruelty and oppression. To secure -peace, and the friendship of the christians, he offered Don Sebastian -undisturbed possession of every fortress in Africa that ever had -belonged or did now belong to Portugal, and he promised to add to each -of them, a moderate tract of arable land. - -After pressing this proposal upon the young monarch, he once more -conjured him to weigh well the real interest of his subjects; -concluding with a sentiment memorable in a despotic prince. - -“You know, great prince, (or ought to know) that the regal power -allotted us, makes us common servants of our creator; then of those -people whom we govern; so that observing the duties we owe to God, we -deliver blessings to mankind: in providing for the public good of our -states we magnify the honour of God; like the celestial bodies, which, -though they have much veneration, yet serve only to the benefit of -the world. It is the excellency of our office to be the instruments -whereby happiness is delivered to nations.” - -Negociation upon a proposal of this kind, so inadequate to the grand -object of Sebastian, was not likely to meet with his concurrence: -he bade the embassador bear his refusal to Muley Moloch, with an -expression of regret that such noble sentiments were not the production -of a lawful and a christian ruler. He then dismissed the ambassador, -and went with Sir Thomas Stukeley to examine the state of the fortress. - -Stukeley was now become as dear, as he had ever appeared admirable, -to this warm-hearted sovereign: in the close intimacy and domestic -habits of a sea-voyage, the amiable parts of the Englishman’s character -gradually disclosed themselves; and their tastes and principles proving -consonant, the partiality of Sebastian increased so much, as to lead -him into a disclosure, which had more of friendship than of justice in -it. This respected the disposal of Barbary. - -Every one presumed that in the event of a conquest, Sebastian would -yield the empire of Morocco to Muley Hamet, and be himself crowned -king of Fez: but he had long resolved to prove the disinterestedness -of his motives, by awarding the throne of Fez to him who should most -distinguish himself in the expedition. To rescue the Moors from -ignorance and infidelity, by giving them a christian monarch and -christian teachers, was the chief aim of his enterprise: unsullied -honour was the only wreath he sought to preserve for his own brow. - -By entrusting the secret to Stukeley, Sebastian unconsciously meant to -give additional energy to his friend’s arms, and to secure for him the -new monarchy: our gallant countryman received this information with -grateful enthusiasm; but unwilling to take an unfair advantage of his -competitors, besought the king to communicate it to all his nobles, -when they should join the grand army. - -Such generous conduct increased Sebastian’s esteem; he freely granted -the request, adding--“They will all have my good wishes for their -success, but you, Stukeley, will have my prayers.” - -Orders were now issued for the Moorish forces under Muley Hamet, and -the Portuguese who had disembarked at Tangier with their king, to be -ready for marching to Arzile: there, the whole strength of their little -army was concentrated. - -A tedious march along a hot and arid coast, produced sickness among the -soldiery; when they reached the main body, under Don Diego de Souza, -they found it somewhat enfeebled through the same cause: but a spirit -of enterprize still animated every breast; and as the immediate siege -of Larache was determined upon, a military council was called for the -purpose of ascertaining whether it were most advisable to proceed -directly by land, through an enemy’s country, to the destined siege, or -to re-embark and proceed thither by sea. - -At this suggestion of prudence, the rash monarch took fire: he had not -yet learned to separate true valour from that vain contempt of danger -which makes a man put his life to the hazard for an inadequate object, -or for the attainment of a good, attainable by less perilous means: he -vehemently protested against the latter measure, and his experienced -commanders were silenced without being convinced. - -During the king’s stay at Tangier, his officers at Arzile had had time -to learn the exact strength of the enemy, and what dependence was to -be placed on the succours so largely promised by Hamet. Don Emanuel -de Castro now ventured in council to address his sovereign, informing -him that their Moorish ally had grossly exaggerated his ability and -the inclinations of the Africans, as they appeared mostly unanimous -in defence of the present Xeriff’s authority. That intrepid old man, -he said, was now sick of a fever, but was yet rapidly approaching at -the head of a hundred thousand men; fresh armies were forming in the -rear and flank of the christians; and should these succeed in turning -their other wing, (which they might easily do, if the Portuguese were -marched inland towards Larache,) so surrounded and cut off from their -fleet, destruction must follow. He therefore suggested the propriety of -extreme caution. At this remark the king frowned, and issued decisive -orders for proceeding to the river Lucos, (upon which stood the -fortress) and fording it, though in the mouth of the enemy’s cannon. - -“If we begin to think of defeat, or of providing for our own security,” -he said sternly, to De Castro, “we are lost!--we have nothing to oppose -to this ocean of Moors that you talk of, but the belief that we are -invincible.--Give us only the _enthusiasm_ of our ancestors, and the -glorious field of Ourique will no longer stand unrivalled in the -imperishable page of history.” - -De Castro granted the justice of this reliance upon the omnipotence -of opinion; yet a lurking suspicion of the Moorish Prince Hamet, made -him foresee ultimate disappointment: he pointed out several traits in -the infidel’s conduct, which indicated jealousy of the Christians, and -Sebastian admitting their force, promised to observe him narrowly. - -The army now began its march towards Larache, and halted between Arzile -and Alcazar-quiver.--To proceed without a decisive engagement, was -become impossible; for the Xeriff’s force, consisting of sixty thousand -horse and forty thousand foot, had advanced by forced marches from -Morocco into Fez, secured the passage of the Lucos, and suddenly shewn -themselves, encamped in the plains of Alcazar.--Don Sebastian was for -immediately advancing to give them battle; but against this step Muley -Hamet opposed many plausible arguments: he proposed that the Portuguese -should draw nearer to the coast, where, in case of extremity, they -might be received into their ships; by throwing up entrenchments, they -could there bid defiance to any assault, and would be secured from -every species of want, by supplies of ammunition and provisions from -the fleet. - -“And for what is this delay proposed, now?”--cried the astonished -Sebastian, “are we to abandon our enterprize even on the threshold? are -we to shrink from the very difficulties we have courted, and fly before -an enemy with whom we have not exchanged a single blow? do you think we -came only to _look_ at your countrymen?--In the name of God, prince, -what coward’s counsel is this?” - -Dissembling his rage at the indiscreet anger of the young King, Hamet -coolly replied, that Muley Moloch was now master of all the fords and -passages of the Lucos, from the ocean to the mountains of Benzeroel, -that consequently an attempt to force these would be the attempt of -madmen, since their troops were already fainting with a long sultry -march, and nearly destitute of provisions: by avoiding an engagement -for at least some days, they would give time for the arrival of King -Philip’s promised succours, and might be further re-inforced by -deserters from the usurper Moloch. - -Perceiving his aim at last, and transported out of all patience, the -unreflecting Sebastian forgot every thing but indignation: he started -from his seat with a look of fierce defiance, crying out, “away with -such dissembling! Moor, I can read your heart:--you would do without -the aid of the Christians. In a few days, perhaps hours, you expect -death to rid you of your uncle, and give you these kingdoms by some -political trick--then would our treaty, aye and our safety, be left -to your honour!--but thank heaven, my brave Portuguese are not to -be thus trifled with!--we shall march forward; if without you, for -ourselves,--for the release of christian captives--for the sake of -the blessed cross; if with you, for your advantage as well as for our -own,--and with a conscientious resolution to preserve _our_ share in -the compact inviolate. - -“Prince! we are in sight of the enemy--behold me draw this sword, which -I swear by the virgin mother of Jesus, never to sheathe till it has cut -my way through yonder host!” - -A sublime sterness sat on the brow of the young warrior while he spoke: -in one moment the clashing of swords and the murmur of vows were heard -throughout the assembly; as if electrified with the same fire, all the -knights followed his chivalric example. - -Hamet was silent: at length he bowed before the royal seat, saying in -a subdued voice, “light of thy people, thou hast not interpreted my -zealous caution with the usual charity of a Christian: let my actions -speak for me!--I will follow thee unto death.” - -“Prove that I have wronged thee, Hamet!” returned Sebastian, with a -relenting smile, “and thou shalt find me more prompt to repair, than I -have been to commit, this injury.” - -Muley Hamet bowed submissively again; the clouds of passion and -suspicion then fled from the face of the King, and demanding his -officer’s attention, he proceeded to hear their separate opinions upon -the subject under discussion. - -Experienced and inexperienced, now decided on Sebastian’s side; even -De Castro voted for giving battle to the Xeriff. Conduct that would -have been prudent at Arzile, became cowardice at Alcazar: to begin -retreating towards the coast, seemed at this period more hazardous -than to risk an engagement; for in the former case, an enormous army -hanging upon their rear, might harrass their retreat, and at last make -an easy prey of the famished and fatigued soldiers: by the former plan -the Portuguese would preserve a chance of victory, or at least secure -to themselves honourable graves. - -Gratified with his council, and pleasingly surprised to find Don -Emanuel urgent for action, Sebastian graciously acknowledged that -pleasure, and paying a just tribute to his rival’s warlike talents, -resolved thenceforth only to remember his services.--He now gave him -his hand with a look so effulgently expressive, that De Castro’s -tranquil countenance became agitated with unexpected pleasure; he bent -his knee to the ground, and ventured to put his lips respectfully to -the hand that had been given him;--Sebastian suffered it to remain -awhile in his grasp--then calling his knights to their posts, hastened -out to reconnoitre and to marshal his troops. - -All was now animation in the Portuguese camp; dauntless hearts, hot -with religious zeal, made them eager for engagement: the King went -at night from tent to tent, encouraging his men, and rousing their -emulation by proclaiming his intention of instituting a new order upon -that day, should Heaven bless his arms: to the highest distinction in -this novel institution, even the humblest soldier might aspire, and be -enrolled in the same proud list with his commander. From the private’s -quarters he returned to his own tent, where assembling his officers, he -imparted the magnificent prize destined for _their_ reward:--the crown -of Fez! - -How does the outward lustre of a crown dazzle all eyes, and blind them -to its thorny lining! ambition, more potent even than love, sees no -defect in its object, but grasps at it with the avidity of a soul -certain of seizing beautitude!--The nobles round King Sebastian looked -at each other for awhile without speaking; then actuated by the same -spirit, cast themselves at his feet in a transport of gratitude; their -tumultuous and lavish protestations infused confidence into their -sovereign, whose breast beat with the certainty of success: dismissing -them soon after, he threw himself upon his palliass, for a few hours -repose. - -To sleep was impossible: Sebastian counted the night watches with -impatience, and just as morning broke, had the mortification to hear -rain falling heavily upon the roof of his tent: he leaped up, and -hurried into the air.--The dawn was now beginning to glimmer over -the extensive camp of the enemy, but the sky was moist and dark: to -commence an attack under such circumstances would be fruitless; the -showers blew directly in the face of his army, and would render their -cannon and harquebusses, almost useless;--he was therefore forced to -command a suspension of his orders. - -After two hours of incessant rain, the clouds dispersed, and the sun -shone out with intense heat:--the King then hastily roused his page -(Diego of Braganza,) whose childish hands trembled while they clasped -the rivets of his master’s vantbrace. - -“What! you tremble my little cousin?”--said he, stroaking his fair -hair, and smiling more tenderly than sportively. - -“With impatience, Sire, not fear.”--replied the blushing -boy.--Sebastian gave him a hasty embrace; “thou hast the soul of a -soldier!” he cried, “if I fall to-day, may thy race sit on the throne -of Portugal.” - -“I would rather see a son of your majesty’s seated there:” answered -the intrepid child--“it is not my ambition to be a King; but I wish to -make myself greater than an ordinary King:---- I would willingly _live -worthily, and die nobly_!” - -“Thou wilt do both, then, my brave cousin!” exclaimed Sebastian, “brief -or lengthened, thy career will be glorious, for that sentiment contains -a life of magnanimity.” - -They were now issuing from the tent: Don Diego ventured to remark his -King’s imprudence in wearing armour of a colour, which being held -almost sacred by the Mahometans, would sharpen their resentment, and -enable them to take a surer note of his person. “I chose it for that -very purpose;” replied the monarch, “not to insult them, indeed, but to -be easier distinguished by friend and foe.--besides, Diego, green is -the colour of hope.” - -Sebastian now left his tent, and put his troops in motion. If the -genius of Portugal could be supposed to have beheld them from the -heights of Benzeroel, tears such as immortals shed, might have flowed -from her eyes: the flower of her nobles and of her peasantry, were now -gaily marching to certain death. - -For the first time since the foundation of their monarchy, the private -soldiers were stimulated by the prospect of chivalric honour, and their -leaders by the chance of a crown:--following their royal general both -as their King and their benefactor, the glow of virtuous emulation was -on every cheek, and in every heart. - -The army, drawn up in three lines, now halted on the plain of Alcazar: -De Castro and Stukeley had the glory of leading the vanguard, which -consisted wholly of volunteers; the Portuguese infantry were in the -center, and the rear under Don Diego De Souza; on the right wing were -the Moorish horse of Muley Hamet, and the squadrons of count Vimiosa; -on the left were the royal standard, the banner of the cross, and the -flower of the Portuguese cavalry; round these, were seen the young -dukes of Barcelos, Contiuho, and D’Aveyro, the counts Villa-real, -Ridondo, and Norogno, the bishops of Coimbra and Porto, and lastly, the -prior of Crato. - -Attended by his favorite page, the King was seen with his beaver up, -mounted on a white Arabian, riding along the lines, and animating his -men to the charge. His emerald-green armour, (on which the sun now -sparkled) and the white plume of his helmet, (now lifted by rising -winds) rendered him fatally conspicuous. - -Meanwhile the Moors were steadily advancing, with all the pomp of gaudy -banners and magnificent attire: in the midst of a chosen band was seen -the litter of their sick, but intrepid Xeriff. - -A hundred thousand armed men, approaching in the form of a crescent, -gradually extending their wings to outstretch and inclose a handful -of Christians, made a formidable appearance: momentarily checking -his horse, Sebastian looked at them with some portion of that awe -which a vast and powerful object excites, but without one throb of -apprehension, he believed himself under the immediate protection of an -approving Providence! - -Suddenly the Moorish music began to play, and their troops advanced -with a quicker step: the king of Portugal rode to the left of his -little band, and placing himself before the royal-standard, bade his -lords remember that they fought for a crown. “I, for a heavenly one, -and for Gonsalva!” he whispered to himself, hastily darting his eye -athwart the mingled banners of the cross, and of Portugal. - -The two armies were now so near each other, that the Portuguese could -distinctly see the Xeriff assisted from his litter to a horse; age -and sickness had enfeebled his body, but his energetic soul was yet -unimpaired. In the act of haranguing his men, he appeared slowly riding -through the lines, with flowing robes, and a long white beard, which -gave him a majestic air: Sebastian pitied his infirmities, and beheld -his grey locks with reverence; he commanded his followers to spare, and -to respect Muley Moloch, should he fall into their hands, and then he -gave the signal for battle. - -A general discharge of artillery began the action: the Portuguese horse -charged with impetuosity, their young King, like a destroying angel, -leading them on: his terrible looks, and still more terrible arm, -scattered the infidels on every side. Stukeley and De Castro’s track -resembled the path of lightning; for by the blue gloom of their steely -armour they were distinguished afar off, flaming through the dark ranks -of the enemy. - -The Moors assaulted with all the fury of religious hate, and all the -fire of chivalry, gave way in every direction; their nobles fell -in heaps under the arrows, the swords, and the artillery, of the -christians: frantic with despair, Muley Moloch exerted the remaining -spark of life in an attempt to rally them; he spurred his horse, and -brandishing a massy scymitar, aimed a blow at Don Antonio of Crato: -that effort was his last; he fell dead upon the field. - -His body-guard with difficulty rescued their master’s corpse from -the Portuguese, and conveyed it to the litter, where his death was -concealed from the army; but the hoisting of a particular pendent over -the litter, by one of his ministers, who had secretly corresponded with -the Xeriff Hamet, gave the signal so long waited for by that perfidious -wretch. He had hitherto hung back in the action; now, he ordered his -troops to turn their arms upon their allies. - -At this command, the left wing of the Moorish horse wheeled round, -and took the Christians in flank; a dreadful carnage ensued: the -brave Portuguese amazed, bewildered, not knowing who were or were not -their enemies, fought in darkness; even their German and Castillian -auxiliaries shared the fate of the treacherous infidels, for they now -dealt the strokes of death without discrimination: the presence of -their king all hacked and bleeding, only increased their consternation. - -At this critical juncture, Stukeley appeared; waving his fiery sword as -a call for them to rally, and aim at conquest still, he broke through -the squadrons of Muley Hamet, like some tremendous comet that traverses -the wilds of æther, scattering terror and dismay over nations. He -rushed towards the traitor: Hamet read destruction in the deadly eyes -of the Englishman, and took to flight; Stukeley followed; his indignant -threats sounded through the field: gaining upon the Xeriff, he was -aiming a mortal blow at him, when the affrighted wretch threw himself -into a rivulet which crossed their path, and borne down by the weight -of his robes and armour, perished ingloriously. Stukeley looked at him -for a moment with scornful disappointment, then turned towards the -fight. - -But he was now surrounded by a host of assailants: their merciless -weapons fell on his head, his shoulders, his limbs; he turned from side -to side, alternately parrying and receiving wounds. Fighting his way -to a ruined watch tower, he placed his back against it, and defended -himself with determined intrepidity; till at length, bleeding at every -pore, and exhausted with exertion, his resistance became fainter and -fainter. He staggered and sunk down. The dying hero cast his eyes -around as if in search of his friend, the next moment they closed -for ever. Thus fell the gallant Sir Thomas Stukeley, in the bloom of -manhood, in a foreign land! - -Meanwhile, Don Sebastian was attempting to regain the advantage of the -day: a short contest convinced him that it was no longer for victory, -but for safety, they must fight; of all his troops, there remained only -a remnant, but he bravely resolved rather to die than to desert them. - -Antonio, and the dukes of Barcelos and Aveyro, were taken prisoners; -De Castro was sinking under many wounds: the King himself was disabled -in one shoulder by a musquet shot, and was besides smarting with -sword-cuts: two horses had already been killed under him, and after -fighting some time on foot, one of his officers had now mounted him -upon a third. - -Again, he charged the enemy with a few gallant troops; again his -powerful arm scattered the Moors like dust before a mighty wind. -Streaming with blood, De Castro followed his glorious path. That -faithful Noble (who had appeared throughout the whole of the battle, -to think only of his sovereign’s honour, his sovereign’s safety) now -interposed his body between him and destruction: the battle-axe of -an infidel was raised to fall on the unarmed head of Sebastian, when -Don Emanuel rushed forward, and sprung on the Moor; dashing down -his lifted weapon, he grasped his body and grappled with him till -they both fell: Sebastian threw himself off his horse, and valiantly -defended him; but the Moors pouring in at every side, like so many -torrents, forcibly swept the brave friends asunder, and De Castro was -taken. - -The fight now turned into a slaughter: the Germans and Castillians were -all cut in pieces, the knights and nobles lay in heaps over the plain, -and among the vast army of Moors, but a solitary Portuguese was here -and there to be seen vainly combatting for life. - -Retreating towards the river, (allured by a distant figure like Sir -Thomas Stukeley’s) Sebastian met his standard-bearer with the colours -wrapped round his body; animated with the remembrance of Donna -Gonsalva, the King exclaimed, “Brave Brito! let us die upon these.” - -Scarcely had he spoken, when a body of infidels rushed tumultuously -towards them; Sebastian fought with the desperation of love; De -Brito and the colours were taken and re-taken repeatedly; but alas! -the strength of the former, was exhausted, and his single arm could -no longer encircle a faithful servant with protection. De Brito more -solicitous to save his king than to obey him, contested at last but -faintly, and suffered himself to be surrounded. - -The Moors, clamourous in disputing the honour of having gained the -royal-standard, hurried off their prisoner, regardless of a solitary -individual covered with dust and blood, evidently on the point of -sinking amongst the slain. - -Fortunately for Sebastian, these accidental circumstances, together -with the loss of his coronetted helmet and his horse, concealed -him from suspicion: he remained standing where they had left him, -supporting himself with difficulty upon the fragment of his sword. -His strength now ebbed apace: the blood pouring from a large cut on -his head, and oozing through the scarf with which his arm was bound, -sickened and enfeebled him; his very thoughts partook of the mortal -languor creeping over all his senses: a confusion of images, of -Gonsalva, of Stukeley, of his page Diego, swam through his brain; he -staggered a few paces, fell, and breathed no more! - - - - -CHAP. IV. - - -After the battle of Alcazar, there remained but fifty of the Portuguese -troops alive in Africa: most of these were prisoners to the Moors, and -the remainder gaining with difficulty the christian fortresses, at -length escaped homewards. The Moors in return lost above one-fifth of -their gigantic army, but the pillage of the christian camp, (filled -with all the riches of the East and West,) amply atoned, in their -opinion, for such a loss. - -This memorable battle lasted from morning till long after mid-day, and -the sacking of the field of fight, continued till the next morning’s -dawn. - -While the infidels were thus employed, a benevolent dervise, whose -piety was his authority and his protection, came to seek for such -christians as might yet remain capable of receiving assistance: on the -bank of the Lucos, among a heap of tall Lentiscos, he caught a gleam -of light as if the moon-beams fell upon arms: the dervise stooped, and -pushing away the shrubs, applied his lanthorn to the object. It was -the figure of a young man, in armour, which bore marks of heavy and -repeated blows; over his forehead curled a profusion of hair steeped in -blood; the white and polished brow was trenched with a gaping wound, -and the countenance lovely in death, was yet embellished by a look of -youthful sweetness, which melted the good Mahometan’s heart; he knelt -by the body, and gently raising it, dropped balsam upon the wounds; he -then poured a cordial into the lips. - -Presently he thought the brows were contracted with returning -sensation: animated by this, he cautiously unfastened the knight’s -cuirass, and opened the silk shirt beneath it; under this he saw the -picture of a woman, which carefully putting aside, he exclaimed, -“alas! poor youth, here is one, doubtless, that will sorely lament -thee!” As he spoke he gently rubbed an aromatic liquid upon the -Christian’s chest; the experiment succeeded; by degrees the motion of -the heart was apparent--it increased--the body began to glow--and at -last the stranger visibly breathed. - -Many minutes elapsed ere the benevolent mussulman saw the object of -his anxiety unclose his eyes; when he did so, he knew not that in -succouring a desolate stranger, he was bringing back to life the king -of Portugal, that foe to Mahomet. - -Sebastian felt as if in a dream, but the last feeling to which he had -been conscious when he fell, was now the first he was sensible of: he -thought himself still pressing towards the river in search of Stukeley, -and impressed with that idea, uttered his name, and made an effort to -rise. Too feeble for exertion of any kind, he fell back upon the breast -of the dervise, who in bad Portuguese assured him that he was in -safety. - -The unfortunate monarch bowed his head with a mournful smile of bitter -recollection, without speaking. Meanwhile a servant attending the -dervise, formed a litter of oak-branches, covering it with some of -these soft, high grasses, which grow abundantly throughout Barbary, and -placing Sebastian upon it, assisted his master in bearing him to their -dwelling. - -This was a retired cave formed by nature’s hand in a rock almost wholly -overgrown with flowering shrubs; the entrance was shaded by lofty -sycamores, and above it was heard the cooling sound of waters issuing -from numerous springs. - -Tranquillity, the tranquillity of perfect solitude, surrounded this -habitation; Sebastian found himself conveyed through one rocky -apartment, into an interior cell where he was laid upon a mattrass, and -having some weak cordial given to him, left to repose: his enfeebled -powers overcome with this simple nourishment, soon sunk into the -blessed oblivion of sleep. - -The dervise now and then came to watch his slumbers, but staid not to -disturb them: whenever his patient awaked, he administered to him small -portions of Tourkia bread melted in wine, (which was easily swallowed -thus dissolved) and gently replacing his head upon the cushion of the -mattrass, watched to see him sink again into his medicinal slumber. - -The sun was at its meridian height the next day, when the king of -Portugal fully awoke: the good mussulman sat by his bed-side. “How dost -thou feel, my son?” he asked with an air of compassion. - -Sebastian drew a sigh from the very depths of his heart. “As one,” -he said, after a long pause; “as one deprived of all that makes life -precious. Tell me, father, what have become of the Christians? I have -yet one Portuguese in Africa?” - -“Alas, my son!” replied the dervise, “they are all slain or taken -captives; but the great Muley Moloch is fallen--the Xeriffs who fought -against him, are also dead; and now his brother reigns in Morocco.” - -Sebastian answered by a heavy groan, and threw himself back upon his -mattrass: the slaughter of his people, pierced him with unutterable -grief; though the consciousness of pious motives, and the certainty -that treachery alone had produced defeat, served to reconcile him to -himself. - -Oppressed with apprehensions for the fate of Stukeley, and overcome -with the remembrance of many of his followers whom he had loved, and -had seen fall, the unhappy King uttered such deep and doleful groans, -that the dervise believing him concerned at the prospect of slavery, -bade him be of good cheer, and rest assured that he was still free. - -“You are not fallen into the hands of a master, but of a friend,” -said the aged man, “I will but detain you, Sir Knight, till I have -healed your wounds, and then, with the blessing of our holy prophet, -we will journey together to the castle of Tangier: it will not be the -first time that Abensallah has conducted an unhappy christian to his -countrymen.” - -“And art thou a Mahometan?” exclaimed Sebastian, half raising himself -with surprise, “how is it that thou breathest the very spirit of our -benevolent faith?” - -“The same God which spake through the lips of thy _Sidie Messika_,” -replied the dervise, “inspires the hearts of all good men: besides, we -venerate thy prophet’s moral laws, though Mahomet, a greater prophet -than he, arose to outshine his brightness, as he had before outshone -that of Moses. We are not so unlike in our faith, young soldier, but we -might live in brotherhood on the earth. Would to God! that thy king, -Sebastian, had studied his prophet’s laws more, and his spiritual -superior’s less!” - -“Hold, Moor!” cried the King, “I must not hear you impeach the -authority of the representative of St. Peter.” - -“Ah, my son!” returned the old man, shaking his grey locks, “dost thou -not remember, that when this Peter struck off the ear of Malchus, -though in defence of his Lord’s sacred person, thy prophet rebuked his -zeal, bidding him put up the sword! How, then, dare the pontiff of Rome -turn his sheep-hook into a weapon of offence?” - -Struck with the force of this remark, which he was not prepared to -answer, and disdaining to parry it, by retorting the bloody intolerance -of Mahometanism, Sebastian was silent. - -The dervise continued: “But let us not talk of our different creeds -at this period; thou art sick and weak, and I should think of thy -suffering body.” - -The good man then dressed his companion’s wounds afresh, and spread -before him palm leaves filled with fruit, together with a cordial drink -and some Pharouk bread: by moderately partaking of these, the King -was so refreshed, that he found himself able to rise, and walk up and -down the cell. As he walked, he conversed courteously with Abensallah, -though his discourse was mingled with many sighs, and he frequently -lost himself in other thoughts. - -The dervise noted his dejected looks with benevolent curiosity. “Thou -hast lost, I fear, some dear kinsman in this fatal battle--some -brother, or father, perhaps; and thy young heart not yet enured to -sorrow.”-- - -“O, dervise!” exclaimed Sebastian, bursting into an agony of grief, -“every living soul in the Christian army were to me like fathers and -brothers. My countrymen, my brave countrymen! when you marched on so -gallantly, could I have foreseen that I was leading you to----,” he -stopped, then suddenly actuated by one of his rash impulses, abruptly -added--“Abensallah, you see before you, Sebastian of Portugal.” - -The dervise prostrated himself at his feet, “Young monarch, I bow to -the lord’s anointed! thy misfortunes are thy security. Let the conduct -of Abensallah teach thee hereafter to believe that there may be charity -among mussulmen.” - -Inexpressibly affected, the King motioned for him to rise, -“Abensallah,” he said, squeezing his hand between both his, “Africa -has already taught me a lesson I shall never forget: but I did not -wage war against your prince from a false notion that he ruled over -miscreants. I was actuated by zeal for that religion which, by limiting -the prerogative of kings and the obedience of subjects, bestows equal -blessings upon both. I would have conquered Africa to have freed -her people from tyrannical rulers and tyrannical errors, to have -afforded them opportunities of understanding our holy faith; not to -have established a new despotism, and swayed with the iron mace of -persecution--these ardent hopes are over; you see me here a fugitive, -but with God’s leave, a King still.” - -As Sebastian spoke the last words, a noble imperiousness sat on his -youthful brow, his heart swelled with it, but quickly sunk again at -recollection of his companions in arms. - -Anxious to learn the fate of Stukeley, he besought the dervise to -assist him in ascertaining whether he were dead, or captive; by -searching the field of battle he hoped to arrive at some certainty. -Abensallah in vain remonstrated against this hazardous enterprize, -but no arguments availed with the still imprudent Sebastian; he was -therefore reluctantly induced to propose their going on the night -of the ensuing day, when all the Moors would be engaged in the -celebration of one of their feasts, and the Portuguese monarch might -perhaps pass unnoticed in the dress of a servant. - -During the remainder of the day, Sebastian carefully attended to all -the prescriptions of the dervise, he went soon to rest, and at break of -day rose to breathe the air in safety at the mouth of the cave. - -But two short days before, how differently had the king of Portugal -beheld morning dawn!--then at the head of a gallant army, surrounded -by zealous friends, strong in youth, health, and hope: now, a solitary -fugitive, like some desolate wretch escaped from ship-wreck or an -earth-quake, sunk in despondency, and reduced to infantine feebleness. - -As the light spread over the distant plain of Alcazar, and the grey -mists rose, from the stream of the Lucos, he could not refrain from -shedding some tears, they were sacred to the sorrows of all who had -lost friends on that luckless field: his softened heart then turned -fondly to the image of Gonsalva, a treasure which yet remained to -comfort him under affliction. Its heavenly beauty, the dewy smile -which sat upon the lips, the tearful tenderness of the eyes to which -a skilful painter had given all the effect of sadness, renovated his -fainting spirit; he kissed it repeatedly, exclaiming, “At sight of -thee, will not all this be forgotten?” - -The appearance of the dervise, checked this lover-like weakness, he -concealed his picture, and advanced to meet him. - -They proceeded together along a narrow valley, formed by the rocks -near the cavern, where frequently resting awhile, they breathed the -refreshing air of the trees, and gently returned homeward. - -Whenever Abensallah and his servant went to their devotions in the -mosque of a neighbouring village, he fastened the entrance of his -dwelling, to prevent the intrusion of ill-intentioned persons: he now -left his Christian guest, with many intreaties that he would recruit -his strength with frequent nourishment, and continue to inhale the -fumes of Tauz Argent, a fragrant weed which in those days was esteemed, -when burned, sovereign for inward weakness. - -Left a whole day alone, the King had leisure to revolve over the -extraordinary revolution of his fate: the uprightness of his intentions -(for it must be remembered that he measured his conduct by the rules of -the church of Rome) seemed to warrant him in believing, that had not -the treachery of Hamet interposed, his arms must have been successful, -and half Africa rescued from its tyrants: he did not therefore account -himself suffering under the wrath of Heaven, confident of whose favor -he was again ready to risk his crown and his life if required. The -kindness of the dervise appeared little less than a miracle worked for -his preservation, and he fondly trusted therefore, that his present -misfortunes were but passing trials. - -Of the possibility of being betrayed by Abensallah he never once -thought, convinced that the man who has performed one act of solid -benevolence is incapable of being tempted by any reward to an act of -baseness. - -As returning strength and calmer reflection continued to banish the -gloomy impressions under which he had first entered Abensallah’s -cave, his spirit rose with his hopes; he felt as if he could hazard -unheard-of perils for the sake of regaining Portugal, and ransoming -his captive soldiers. Fain would the sanguine monarch have persuaded -himself that most of his troops had escaped to the sea-coast; but -amongst these he could not hope to find Stukeley.--Stukeley, who had -sworn to follow him either into slavery or death!-- - -“And my poor little cousin!” he exclaimed aloud, “What is become of -him?--Ah noble boy, thou hast gained thy wish-perhaps!--yet surely -these barbarians would not kill a child!”--he sighed profoundly as he -spoke, for his heavy heart denied the confidence of his words. - -Racked with fearful impatience, to him the day seemed insufferably -long: his devotions were merely short ejaculations breathed over a -plain cross of the order of Christus, which he had worn under his -cuirass, yet never at the foot of the golden crucifix in the church of -his ancestors, and surrounded by all the religious in Portugal, had he -prayed with such warmth or sincerity. - -Abensallah did not appear to interrupt his meditations, till night was -begun: cautiously entering, he crossed the first chamber, and advancing -to the interior cell, saw with satisfaction that his guest was safe. -“Alla be praised!” he exclaimed, “I had fears for thee my son; for the -robbers of the mountains sometimes plunder even the dwellings of poor -solitaries.--We may now venture forth; every one is enjoying the last -hours of their feast, and we are, sure to pass unseen.” - -Sebastian gratefully thanked him, and taking off the coarse vest and -cloak with which the dervise had replaced his uneasy coat of mail, -exchanged them for the still meaner attire of Ismael the servant. At -the mouth of the valley he saw a mule tied to a tree, which Abensallah -had provided for him to ride; this humane attention touched the King; -he was, indeed, ill able to walk far, but it cost him an effort to -accept such accommodation, when the venerable man had no other support -than his staff. - -It may truly be said, that at the period which brought him to the -knowledge of Abensallah, Sebastian first tasted the sweet bitterness -of obligation.--Gratitude is a sentiment unknown to Kings; for having -all things in their power, they learn to believe that they have a right -to command all things. Sebastian, now stripped of that power, began -to feel the original equality of man, and found his heart warmed -by a perception of pure benevolence, hitherto unknown: from this -perception flowed nobler notions of human nature in general, which made -him welcome his new emotion of gratitude, not only as honorable but -delightful. - -The moon shone cloudless above the rocks and rivulets which lay between -the cave and Alcazar; brightening the tops of the high palms, while -the ground beneath their branches was thrown into deep shadow. Some -fortresses, (visible from afar,) gave an air of warlike severity to -the scene. Sebastian proceeded in silence, for his thoughts were now -busied with mournful anticipations: Abensallah spoke not, and nothing -disturbed the universal stillness but remote bursts of rejoicing from -the Moorish villages. - -As they moved among steep and thickly-wooded hills, a new and horrid -sound made the King pause, and look enquiringly at the dervise: “That -comes from amidst the unburied slain;” Abensallah faulteringly -observed--“It is the howling of hyenas and tygers.” While speaking, he -took a small harquebuss from under his garment, and prepared to load it. - -For the first time in his life Sebastian’s cheek was completely -blanched and his nerves shaken; the ghastly image those words had -raised, momentarily unmanned him, but recovering, by a violent effort, -he quickened the pace of his mule, and came direct upon the plain of -Alcazar. - -The moon shining above the arms and armour of the dead, covered them -with a sheet of light: Sebastian hastily put his hand to his eyes, -and remained a few moments without courage to look again; but at the -explosion of Abensallah’s harquebuss, he raised his head and beheld -the beasts of prey which that sound had alarmed, hurrying away, with -backward glare from their horrid banquet. - -The dervise’s harquebuss was re-loaded and again fired, till every -savage animal had disappeared; he then assisted his shuddering -companion to dismount, and having fastened the mule to a tree, -supported him across the plain. - -Their steps were soon impeded by scattered groups of horses and riders, -that had evidently perished in flight: these groups become more -frequent, till at length the ground was no where visible. - -As Sebastian knelt down among these perishing bodies, his senses were -nearly overcome with their noisome exhalations and ghastly appearance: -some of them were half devoured by the wolves, and every trace of the -_divine image_ fearfully effaced: except by their shields and the -caparisons of their horses, he could not have known his most intimate -associates. - -Grief and horror become now too strong for outward expression; -Sebastian neither spoke nor sighed, but moved from heap to heap with -fixed eyes and a wan cheek: sometimes he forgot his errand, and -remained gazing on a confusion of bodies, banners, and arms, till the -voice of the dervise recalled him. “This is a lesson for Kings!”--said -Abensallah;--Sebastian shuddered, and at that moment felt as if his -single hand had murdered every victim before him: his countenance -expressed this sentiment so strongly, that the dervise sought to change -the current of his feelings by suggesting, that his friend might have -escaped, since they had not yet found his corpse.--Revived by this -suggestion, the unfortunate monarch rallied his scattered spirits and -proceeded in his painful task. - -Advancing a little onward, he stumbled against the venerable bodies of -the bishops of Coimbra and Porto, lying together, embracing the staff -of a standard, which had belonged to the holy banner: a few paces -beyond these, among a heap of swarthy moors, - - “Like some white poppy sunk upon the plain, - Whose heavy head was overcharged with rain,” - -lay his page, Diego. The noble boy had been killed at the moment his -master’s Arabian was shot, and now lay stretched out beneath it. - -At this piteous sight Sebastian’s heart was wrung with an excess -of regret; he burst vehemently into tears, and bending to the fair -body as he raised it, repeatedly kissed the half-closed eyes: -their conversation on the morning of the battle was present to him -again.--Vain prophesy! here was its fulfilment!-- - -Overcome with this recollection, and with the thought of Diego’s -parents, Sebastian staggered as he arose, and was forced to catch at -the dervise for support; another shock awaited him; his eye fell on the -mangled body of Count Vimiosa: his limbs now shook violently, and the -idea of Donna Gonsalva’s grief, displaced every other image. Shocked by -his looks, the dervise caught his arm and hurried him away. - -Insensible to any outward sensation, the King suffered himself to be -led along, till suddenly starting from his stupor, he found that they -were many paces from the slain. Abensallah would not hear of returning, -“We must pass three nights there instead of one,” said he, “before -we can examine half that woeful field.--Let us return then, my son, -trusting that the same merciful providence which succoured thee, has -preserved thy friend. Sorrow and fatigue overcome thee--lean on my -shoulder--if we can but reach yonder tower, its walls will shelter us.” - -Without answering, Sebastian turned his head back and fixed an earnest -look upon the wide scene of slaughter behind them: fire kindled on his -cheek, and in his eyes:--it suddenly blazed out.--“Accursed beyond -hope of mercy,” he cried, “is the soul of him whose treachery caused -all these to perish! from this plain their blood will cry aloud for -vengeance, even at the last dreadful day!” - -Exhausted with this momentary transport, the enfeebled monarch -suffered his head to fall against the shoulder of Abensallah, who -seized the opportunity of drawing him towards a resting place. The -watch-tower in ruins, and shaded by high cypress trees, stood dark and -noiseless; as they approached it, the sound of their steps alarmed -some goats that had lain down there, and they bounded away: in their -flight they rolled along a broken helmet, which Sebastian immediately -recognized; breaking from Abensallah, he flew to an object under the -tower, and beheld the corpse of Stukeley.--Throwing himself on the body -and clasping it in his arms, he exclaimed, “O gallant Stukeley, and art -thou too, fallen!” - -The accidental circumstance of having perished alone, removed from -the contagion of other bodies, and sheltered from hot winds by the -tower and the trees, had preserved the chivalric Englishman from any -change: his features were indeed paler than when in life, but the same -character of wild sublimity was impressed on them. It seemed as if the -soul, in quitting its mortal habitation had left there the eternal -impress of its own greatness. - -The armour of Stukeley was completely rusted with blood, by his side -lay a lance shivered to pieces, and his hand still grasped a broken -battle-axe. - -Abensallah lifted up the helmet his companion had dropped, and saw that -it was beat in upon the top, as if with repeated blows of a mace: he -gently replaced it on the ground. - -Meanwhile Sebastian hung over the remains of his friend in an agony -of blasted hopes, bitter retrospections, and unavailing regrets: it -was long ere he could command this tide of grief; but recovering by -degrees, he rose with a calmer air, and besought the dervise to lend -his aid in committing the honored clay to earth. - -Without hesitation the charitable Mahometan consented to carry the -slaughtered warrior to his own dwelling, and there see him peacefully -buried. - -“Moor!” exclaimed the young King, with passionate gratitude, “Should -I live to regain my kingdom, and with it my African possessions, your -countrymen will owe to you blessings and privileges hitherto unknown.” - -Abensallah called on Allah to witness this promise, then hastened away -to bring the mule. - -When Sebastian was left alone, he threw himself along the ground by -Stukeley’s body, and remained stedfastly looking on it: the well-known -face, the still ruin, the melancholy midnight, and the destructive -plain before him, together with the mournful sound of a neighbouring -rivulet, deepened the desolate sadness of that moment: he fastened his -lips on the chilling hand of his unconscious friend, while the hollow -echo of his own sighs rung through the neighbouring chambers. - -Abensallah found him in the same mournful attitude. Having assisted -each other in placing Stukeley’s corse on the mule, they proceeded -slowly, by a longer though less toilsome way than they had come, to the -rocks. - -When they reached the cave, Sebastian was so sick from the fretting of -his wounds, that he could with difficulty gain its entrance: Ismael -met them, and lifted their lamented burthen into the second chamber. -There the king watched it for the remaining hours, while Ismael and the -dervise were digging the last bed of the hero. - -Two hours after day light the grave was finished, Stukeley was buried -with his sword and spurs, as the peculiar badges of knighthood, -which was supposed swift to succour and strong to avenge; his body -was wrapped in a coarse shroud of Moorish cloth, but his head was -uncovered; the thick glossy hair gave beauty still to the now marble -features:--Sebastian thought of the time when he had hoped to have -decorated that majestic head with a crown. - -When the grave was closed, he placed upon it a rude cross of wood which -he had shaped during the night, and kneeling down by it pronounced a -prayer for the gallant soul. Abensallah and Ismael moved away. - -Rising from his knees, the young King attentively surveyed the place, -that he might remember it at a future day; it was particularized by a -few marks not easily forgotten: the place itself was a narrow recess -turning out of the valley; it was half encircled by perpendicular -heights of stupendous steepness, the sides of which were only clothed -with mosses, and at their feet flowed an inconsiderable rivulet; -towards the lower end grew a cluster of locust trees, between which and -the mountain rose Stukeley’s grave.--So concealed, it was not likely -that any human eye would ever discover or disturb the sacred cross. - -Somewhat soothed by this thought, and the consciousness of having -performed the last duties to a faithful friend, Sebastian rejoined the -dervise with less emotion. “We must now dismiss painful recollections,” -said the worthy Abensallah, “let us think of nothing, my son, but your -perfect recovery and your safe conveyance from Africa.” - -“Ah father,” exclaimed Sebastian, “you speak like a man without hopes -and without regrets!--Your holy life, exempt from particular affections -or selfish wishes, places _you_ beyond the reach of that grief which -renders it impossible for me _to dismiss painful recollections_.” - -“I am not, therefore, free from sorrow,” replied the dervise, “heedless -youth! I do mourn--but it is for human nature in general: alas, I mourn -more for its frailties than for its miseries.” - -“True--true--” repeated Sebastian, smiting his breast--“you say right, -Abensallah; had we no errors we should have but few sufferings.” - -Our dervise, more solicitous to impress humane sentiments than eager to -propagate peculiar tenets, seized this opportunity of discoursing with -much wisdom upon the duties of a sovereign: his companion listened with -attention and replied with frankness. - -He detailed with simplicity some of his own plans for diffusing comfort -in more equal proportions through all ranks of his subjects, and noted -the salutary reforms already made by him in the Portuguese government; -he described the liberal mode in which he had intended to conduct his -African conquests, mixing these details with so many just and noble -observations, that Abensallah could not help lamenting the battle of -Alcazar. - -To have lived under the rule of a King (though Christian,) who would -have ameliorated the Moor’s condition by parental care, and sought to -win them into schools and churches, without prohibiting their mosques, -appeared an object of desire, when compared with the grinding tyranny -of their native Xeriffs, and the brutish ignorance to which their laws -condemned them. - -Abensallah continued to hear his royal guest with that complacent -pleasure with which virtuous old age perceives generous principles -in youth; but he had lived long enough in the world to know that -youth does not always act in conformity with its principles, nay, -that its most amiable qualities may be wrought by interested persons -into a foundation for the opposite vices. So blindly devoted to the -infallibility of papal authority, and so abhorrent of any religion -which disputed it, Abensallah rightly doubted whether Sebastian, in -the event of complete success, would have persevered in his system of -moderation: intolerant persecution might have been easily brought to -bear the aspect of religious duty, and that commanded or recommended by -a spiritual superior, would soon have swept away every barrier opposed -by a character naturally candid. - -Such reflections as these, by teaching the dervise to consider his -companions’ misfortunes as a necessary discipline, silenced any further -regret; yet Sebastian’s sweet and animated manner had so won upon his -affections, that he could not help exclaiming, “I shall be loth to part -with thee, my son; but we shall meet again in paradise.” - -Touched by such kindness, the king pressed Abensallah to accompany him -into Portugal, adding to many arguments the entreaties and promises of -a grateful spirit, conscious of possessing in his own dominions the -means of fulfilling them all. - -“Did I live only for myself, answered the dervise, I should -perhaps gladly leave a land where I see nothing but misery, but -the more miserable it is, the more I am called upon to remain. My -holy profession, and the peaceful life I lead, gives me frequent -opportunities of assisting captives to escape, or of conveying -intelligence from them to the Christian fortresses; if the old man of -the rocks were gone, what would become of these poor strangers?--Added -to this, I am frequently able to terminate the bloody feuds of my -countrymen--to restore harmony amongst brethren, and bring back -rebellious children to their parents; these are my treasures, King! -which would be poorly exchanged for all your benefits. I shall however, -bless you daily; and I will preserve from injury the grave of your -departed friend.” - -At this mention of Stukeley, clouds gathered over the face of -Sebastian; making an effort to dispel them, he hastily uttered -some grateful expressions, and then discoursed upon the means of -discovering such of his subjects as might have survived the battle. - -Abensallah promised to make diligent search for such captives, and to -use all his influence for their release. - -Sebastian squeezed his hand, exclaiming with generous warmth, “Slacken -not your exertions Abensallah for the meanest of my people; I stand -indebted to every man whom I brought from Portugal for his liberty. -If I part with the whole of my revenue, pawn the jewels of my crown, -make myself a debtor to half the monarchs in Christendom, and after -all, become a beggar throughout my own dominions for contributions and -gifts, I will do it to ransom these gallant sufferers.--Should I reach -Lisbon, my first step will be to raise money and send it over to the -governor of Tangier; from his hands you will then receive whatever sums -may be needful.” - -“And should I in my inquiry, find Christians of other nations, perhaps -aged men bowed down with sorrow and toil, languishing to die in their -native land--” - -“Ransom them--ransom them!” interrupted Sebastian, tears glistering -in his eyes, “first restore liberty to my Portuguese, for remember, -freedom is a debt I owe them--then take all the superflux, and -purchase with it happiness for others. There are two noble Portuguese, -Abensallah, whom I pray you to search for with a father’s anxiety: one -is my dearly-loved cousin, the prior of Crato, the other Don Emanuel -de Castro; he saved my life at Alcazar. When you find these, shew them -this ring, and say that he who gave it you, is alive, and then I hope, -in Portugal.” - -“How shall I know these gallant gentlemen?” asked the dervise, “you may -know Don Emanuel de Castro,” replied Sebastian, “from all the world: -though you should behold him in the vilest habit and employment, yet -will such an air of nobleness shine through them, that you cannot help -discovering in him an extraordinary man. He is of larger proportions -than I, his visage oval and full of thought, his complexion dark olive, -his eyes dark grey, somewhat melancholy but very sweet; on his left -hand he has a deep scar, got in the wars of India. - -“The prior of Crato is of a different mould: though some years older -than De Castro, he has preserved almost the roundness and floridness -of boyhood; his fair curling hair, light blue eyes, and jovial manner, -will soon point him out: he will rejoice to see this ring!--and so will -De Castro,” added the King, after a pause, “as it is a token of my -safety, he will rejoice, though it was a gift of Gonsalva’s.” - -“’Tis a fanciful ring for a warrior,” observed the dervise, curiously -eying the bauble, which after the gaudy fashion of those times was -formed by various precious stones into a miniature garland of flowers. - -“Oh father!” exclaimed Sebastian, passionately fixing his eyes on it -also, “that ring was given me by the loveliest and most beloved of -women.--I have no other token to send to my friends, or I would not -part with that--it must serve too, as a pledge for the governor of -Tangier: she who gave it knows I would have defended it with my life, -and therefore would not resign it but for the sake of fulfilling a -duty.” - -Hurried away in thought to the beautiful creature whom this incident -recalled, Sebastian forgot every thing else and sunk into silence: he -dwelt with tender delight upon the unequivocal proof she had given him -of her attachment, which bestowed and avowed ere she could suspect -his royal station, carried with them the charm of disinterestedness. -He then reproached himself for those fantastic jealousies to which -he had sometimes given way, when he saw her dancing with another, and -confessed now, that her apparent insensibility at times, had arisen -only from a little female coquetry, delighting in power, and willing to -prove its extent. - -Thus satisfied with her affection, he felt no apprehension of being -coldly received, because he returned not a conqueror; the Moors -themselves attested his gallant conduct in the field, and the -brilliant success of their onset had shewn, that but for the perfidy -of Hamet, the day would have been won by the Christians.--What then -had he to fear? perhaps given up as lost, he would return to revive -his Gonsalva’s widowed heart; she would love him the more for his -dangers and distresses, and that delicate pride which had stifled the -expressions of tenderness to a powerful, splendid monarch, would impel -her to the same monarch, become poor and unfortunate. - -Observing his guest absorbed in reflections, which from the -expression of his countenance did not appear unpleasant, the worthy -Abensallah gently removed into his outer chamber, for the purpose of -giving audience to some distressed people who came to implore his -counsel.--Meanwhile Sebastian remained leaning on his rude couch, his -ideas wandering from late sorrow, over the enchanted ground of the more -distant past, till gently wearied, thought glided into dreams, and -dreams at last ended in long and profound sleep. - -The wounds of Sebastian and his consequent feebleness now daily -disappeared, and Abensallah was therefore enabled to make longer -excursions from the cave, for the sake of gaining information for his -guest: his habitation, always considered sacred, was not likely to -excite suspicion as a Christian’s hiding place; and even if it did so, -the inner apartment was a secure retreat, being so contrived as to -deceive the most prying observer.--Ismael’s fidelity had been too often -tried in similar circumstances to be doubted now, so that Abensallah -left him without apprehension, to attend Sebastian; whom, however, he -knew only as a Portuguese knight. - -On the good dervise’s return from Alcazar-quiver, he brought strange -intelligence.--After the fatal battle, Hamet Abdulcrim, the new -emperor, had strictly enquired for the King of Portugal; he was told -that he had fallen: this assertion having been made by Don Nugno De -Mascarenhas, the King’s chief equerry, he was sent to the field in -order that he might produce a proof of his veracity by finding the -King’s body. - -In the place he described, was indeed found a corpse in green armour, -much maimed and disfigured: the Portuguese who saw it, confessed it -to be that of their sovereign, and therefore assured Hamet Abdulcrim -that any farther search for Sebastian alive, was useless.--Information -of his nephew’s death was now forwarded to Philip of Spain, (the late -Xeriff having been in alliance with him,) and when Abensallah heard -the tale, a messenger from Madrid was hourly expected to beg the body, -and to procure the release of some Castillian prisoners. - -On first hearing this account, Sebastian’s inflammable blood took fire, -for he believed himself wilfully abandoned by his people; but the next -instant made him cool again. It was impossible not to perceive that -Marcarenhas, who had always loved his master, could be only actuated -by the desire of facilitating his concealment in Barbary, should he be -living, and seeking the means of escape; this well-meant deceit had -evidently given a hint to the other persons examined by the Xeriff, and -to it, probably Sebastian might finally owe his preservation. - -Neither the King nor the dervise could approve of absolute falsehood; -though they were tempted to think it excusable, under such peculiar -circumstances as the present, flowing as it did from loyal zeal and -patriotic considerations. - -Alarmed at the diffusion of such an error throughout Europe, -Sebastian’s anxiety to revisit Portugal became extreme; but as they -must travel on foot, Abensallah assured him that it would be culpable -rashness to commence a long journey before he was completely restored -to health; Arzile, the nearest Christian fortress, lay at some leagues -distance, and to avoid notice, they must take a circuitous route -thither, hiding themselves in the day, and proceeding through the -changeable air of night. - -Sebastian’s impatient nature was ill-suited to any delay, but necessity -is an imperious mistress; he was therefore obliged to turn his -attention towards acquiring health; and by obliging Abensallah on that -point, facilitate the hour of their departure. - -Each night and morning he now tried his strength among the mountains, -in excursions of increasing length, gradually habituating himself to -heat, fatigue, and evening damps: his wounds were at last thoroughly -healed, and even the dervise could no longer refuse assent to the fresh -glow that began to mantle on his cheek. - -Sebastian’s eagerness had nobler sources than selfish satisfaction; he -lamented every hour thus wasted at a distance from the kingdom where -all his duties were centred, he wished to ease the hearts of such -as mourned him dead, and above all to commence the promised work of -liberation for his followers: it must be confessed that the prospect of -again beholding Donna Gonsalva, and of restoring her to happiness, gave -additional ardour to those honourable anxieties. - -When his importunity finally prevailed on Abensallah to fix the day for -their departure, pleasure sparkled in his eyes; it was the first time -pleasure had appeared there since he had seen the dervise. - -“Ah my son!” exclaimed the holy man, “thou must suffer many more -sorrows I fear, ere the spirit that breaks forth in that bright light -is finally quenched.” - -“And why should it be quenched?” asked the young monarch. - -“Because, replied Abensallah, it is full of an extravagant hope of -such unfading raptures as are only to be found in paradise. ’Tis the -very spirit of youth which falsely believes all it loves, immutable: -Time that shews thee the mutability of every thing, even of human -character (for alas! how insecure sometimes is virtue herself,) will -extinguish, or give a new direction to this erring fire.--Hast thou -my son never felt, even in the midst of what is called felicity, a -sort of feebleness in thy power of enjoyment, which seemed to make -happiness mock thy very grasp? commune with a beloved friend, behold -this glorious scene of earth and heaven, and thou wilt acknowledge, -even at the moment of liveliest emotion, that in all sublunary things -we feel the want of some faculty by which we might enjoy or possess -them more intimately: this faculty, whatever it may be, is doubtless -reserved for another state of being. Turn and plant thy thoughts then -on sublimer objects: with views thus changed, thou wilt no longer hurry -impatiently through life, in search of that blessedness for which our -souls are expressly formed, but will journey calmly on towards the -eternal abiding place, where our Creator treasures up for the faithful, -raptures ineffable.” - -“I am not unmindful of that glorious eternity, be assured, good -father,” returned the King, “yet I frankly acknowledge, that unless I -were to believe in the permanence of human excellence, long known and -long tried, life would not merely lose its charm, but become hateful -to me. In yon humble grave lies one, who, had he lived, I could have -anchored my soul on. Yes, gallant Stukeley! our knot of love was soon -broken, but the memory of thy noble and endearing qualities can never -leave me!” - -At this short apostrophe to his friend, Sebastian’s animation -disappeared, and a train of reflections succeeded, well calculated to -amend and to enlarge his heart. - -The ensuing night having been fixed on for their journey, Abensallah -and Ismael went in the evening of the present day, to a neighbouring -village, for the purchase of such portable provisions as would be -requisite to take with him: left free to range over the valley, -Sebastian’s steps naturally turned to the resting place of his friend, -as he was so soon to quit it never to return; but it was among his -mental promises to have the honoured dust transferred to Portugal when -he should return thither. - -The shadows of evening were now deepening, the gloom of the rocks as -he passed along; though the sun had been long set, the air burnt like -a furnace; the ground too was scorching; and the colour of the verdure -being lost in the grey of twilight, contributed with this unrelenting -heat, to give an air of savage sterility to the scene. - -Dried up by powerful suns, the mountain stream was known only by its -stony channel; Sebastian hastily crossed it, and pushing through the -matted boughs of the locust trees, a solitary bird shot from amongst -them, and startled him with her piercing cry; long after she was flown, -he stood listening to her fearful echo. - -What a spot for the last bed of a hero! yet Stukeley slept in it -undisturbed! - -Never before, had death been so impressed on the senses of the young -monarch. The desolation of the place, its now awful stillness, the -deepening twilight, the devouring element by which he was surrounded, -(for he knew not how to deem it air) and the strong contrast to them -in his own animated hopes and busy thoughts, agitated him strangely; he -stood as if transfixed, gazing on the mound of earth, without venturing -to pollute what seemed to him so sacred, even by an embrace. - -He was roused from this trance by the sound of voices; one resembled -that of the dervise, and it was calling on Alla for succour: regardless -of personal risque (though unarmed,) Sebastian rushed into the valley, -and soon reached the spot whence these cries proceeded; an aged Moor -was struggling with a band of robbers; though not Abensallah, he could -not refrain from bursting upon the plunderers, and attacking them with -the limb of a tree, which, blown off by some storm, had lain luckily in -his path. - -The blows of this unwieldy club, falling with inconceivable rapidity -on every side, soon obliged the robbers to quit their prey, and turn -on their new antagonist; they surrounded him, attacked him fiercely -with their horrid knives, and one of them, succeeding in stabbing him -behind, he dropped from loss of blood. - -Enraged at the escape of their first victim, (a rich merchant, who -had been coming to ask the prayers of Abensallah,) the Alarbes, or -mountain dwellers, as they are called, were on the point of wholly -sacrificing the royal Portuguese to their vengeance, when a faint flash -of lightning cast a gleam over his breast, and discovered through the -folds of his coarse galebia, the costly setting of Donna Gonsalva’s -picture; the head of the band immediately seized this precious prize, -and soon lost in admiration of the diamonds all ideas of slaughter; he -now ordered _the Christian dog_ (as he scornfully termed his captive,) -to be lifted on a mule, directing one of the men to bandage his wound, -and ride on the same beast. - -Totally unconscious of what was doing, having fainted from effusion of -blood, the ill-starred monarch was lifted up, and placed before one of -the Alarbes; the fellow spurred his beast, and followed by the whole -troop, set off on full gallop out of the valley. - - - - -CHAP. V. - - -When Sebastian was again capable of observation, he found himself -in the heart of almost impenetrable mountains, surrounded by savage -tribes, living in tents made of the bark and leaves of the palm-tree. -These wretches seemed to have just as much civilization amongst them -as rendered their vices more hideous, by taking from them the plea of -ignorance: their business was plunder and murder; their pleasures, -drunkenness and debauchery. - -The habits of such a people were a constant source of horror and -indignation to Sebastian; of their barbarous jargon indeed he knew -nothing, but the force of these robbers’ passions imparted a detestable -expressiveness to every action of their bodies and features, which -made him but too well comprehend their ferocity and their profligacy. - -Hitherto a surly old woman had dressed his wound, and supplied him -with food, and from her he vainly attempted to obtain by signs Donna -Gonsalva’s picture: she either did not or would not understand him. - -Maddened by this loss, and desperate of release, ignorant of the place -where he was, and hopeless therefore of escaping, he began to disregard -life: neither the threats nor the violence of the Alarbes prevailed to -alter his resolution of never submitting to the base occupations they -assigned him; he was a monarch still, though deprived of his people and -of liberty; and whether he lived or died, he was resolved to live or -die undebased by submission to miscreants. - -The firmness with which he endured all their torments, at first -astonished, and at length exasperated, his brutal captors; they -suffered him to behold the beautiful image of Gonsalva (now robbed -of its setting) polluted by their brutish admiration, but steadily -withheld it, in defiance of his frantic entreaties, his rash attempts -to regain it, or his offer of treasures in exchange. - -One day when Sarhamet the chief had exasperated him beyond controul, by -deridingly kissing the picture, his fury burst forth so fearfully, that -the Alarbe sprung out of his reach, and hastily dashed the contested -object into one of the neighbouring torrents: nothing short of -regaining his treasure could have given the captive King such joy; his -wrath suddenly ceased, he dropt the arm just raised to elance a mortal -blow, and approaching the torrent, beheld with satisfaction the divine -colours of the portrait effaced by its foaming waters; he then turned -quietly away, and returned to his former station. - -Tranquillized by the certainty that his Gonsalva’s representative was -thus rescued from profanation, he was able to controul his indignation -at other circumstances, and to strive at obtaining his own freedom; but -though he endeavoured to explain to these banditti, that if they would -convey him to a Christian fortress they should be liberally paid, and -loaded with gifts, they either did not comprehend, or much mistrusted -his veracity: at length, wearied, out by his stedfast character, and -tempted by the great price given for handsome Europeans by the Moorish -grandees, Sarhamet meditated selling him. - -This information, which was meant to vex, rather gratified their -prisoner; to be again brought into the plains, was to be once more -placed within prospect of liberty, and chance of meeting the reverend -Abensallah: Sebastian’s health returned with hope; for though his last -wound had been deep, it had been skilfully managed; and the purity of a -good constitution, adding force to an invincible spirit, enabled him to -bear without injury the piercing mountain air, and the frequent fasts -to which the Alarbes had wantonly doomed him. - -His improving looks quickened the eagerness of Sarhamet for selling -him: solicitous to secure the moment of procuring a high price for his -captive, the robber selected a dozen followers, and mounting them and -Sebastian upon stout Barbs, set off with them one morning by day break, -for the country house of a Moorish grandee. - -Sarhamet and his brother rode on each side of the King; they were -armed with guns and Moorish knives, and made signs to him, that if he -attempted to escape, he must inevitably fall by the hands of the troops -escorting them, whose naked weapons were placed in their girdles ready -for that purpose:--Sebastian smiled, and motioned acquiescence; but it -was a grievous smile, “as if he disdained himself” for so submitting to -fortune. - -Their journey was long and wearisome: the Alarbes, enured to every -change of climate, travelled indifferently through nightly dews and -noon-day heats; sometimes they halted after a burning day, upon the -very summit of a snow-topt mountain, where they supped, and slept, -with no other covering than the clouds; at other times they would -journey through the night, and lay themselves to rest in valleys, among -scorching rocks, that reflected thrice the heat of the sun. - -Sebastian contemplated this iron strength, with something like envy: -by rendering a man’s body independent, it gives additional stability -to the freedom of his mind; he felt conscious that, had he been thus -disciplined into invulnerable strength, he might have attempted, and -perhaps effected his escape: but the intense heats had re-opened his -last wound, and had in consequence so reduced his natural vigour, that -he could not hope to succeed, though he should master two Alarbes who -constantly watched him while the others slept. Completely unarmed, -and cautiously removed from the spot where the horses were fastened, -he was aware, that a contest with one Moor must awaken the others, and -that he should perish under their daggers long before he could meet -any shelter: by acquiescing at present, he might obtain his object -hereafter; in the neighbourhood of a populous city, less hazardous -means might be found, and Providence might again throw Abensallah in -his way, or some christian friend, with whom he might share in an -attempt at mutual deliverance. - -These thoughts often occupied him, as he rested or rode among his -ferocious companions; and still hope filled his sanguine breast, -pointing to his country and to Gonsalva. - -From the length of their journey, Sebastian conjectured that his late -residence had been at the extremity of the Benzeroel mountains; he -had therefore been in the same tract of country with the benevolent -dervise, and was now far distant from him: at thought of never seeing -him again, his feelings saddened, gliding naturally from Abensallah to -the gallant Stukeley, and thence to the slaughter of Alcazar. - -On the fourteenth day, Sarhamet exchanged his prisoner’s worn-out -galebia for a coarse, but more becoming habit, telling him that they -were on the point of finishing their career: Sebastian for the first -time enquired the name and rank of the person to whom they were now -going; he learnt in reply, that he was the Almoçadem of a cavila, -(that is, governor of a province) high in favour of the reigning -Xeriff, (having ably assisted in securing him the throne) and highly -respected throughout Barbary. His dwelling was in the Valley of Palms, -a delightful place, nearly three leagues beyond Mequinez. - -After bathing, and re-dressing themselves, the whole party mounted -their horses, and proceeded down a winding declivity into a most -luxuriant vale: the country-house of El Hader lay before them. Having -been a royal gift, the building was a moorish Cassavee of much -magnificence, covering with its interior gardens, squares, piazzas, and -baths, an extent of four miles. Sebastian paused awhile, admiring its -rude splendor. - -The high dome of green and gold, the tall cypress trees which appeared -rising above the gilded railings of the squares, the fountains of white -and azure marble, the gay piazzas chequered with coloured tiles, the -lofty columns and massy arches, all presented a semblance of regal -grandeur, which made his heart spring back to Ribera and Xabregas. The -contrast of his situation now, with what it had been when in those -beloved places, almost unmanned him; their scenes were so associated -with the idea of Donna Gonsalva, that it was impossible for him not -to heave some profound sighs as he entered the dwelling of a Moorish -nobleman, a prisoner and a slave. - -Sarhamet, with his brother and their captive, was admitted into a lower -hall of the Cassavee, whence they were soon after led into the presence -of the Almoçadim. - -As the young and imperious King of Portugal passed through a crowd -of Moors to the audience chamber of El Hader, and reflected that he -was going to be sold for a price, like some ignoble animal, his heart -might well be said to “grow too big for what contained it;” he was on -the point of madly rushing upon all surrounding him, and so purchasing -freedom with life. Had he not happily remembered that Portugal claimed -a sacrifice at his hands, and that it was his duty to suffer, in the -hope of living to repair the unintentional calamity he had caused her, -his rashness must have transported him into violence that would have -ended in his own destruction. - -Fervently calling on every saint to endue him with patience, he walked -slowly after Sarhamet, with a resolution of no longer observing -the minutiæ of his fate: thus influenced, he scarcely noticed the -approbation of El Hader and his retainers, but stood silent, wrapped -up in his cloak, wilfully inattentive to the long bargaining of the -Alarbe, and the enormous price at length paid down for him. - -When the bargain was concluded, Sarhamet departed; the Almoçadem then -addressed his new slave in vile Portuguese, telling him to adore -Alla, for having advanced him to so high an honour as that of serving -the greatest man throughout the Xeriff’s dominions; promising, in -consideration of the christian’s fine appearance, to make him one of -his household slaves. - -The sentence of death would have been more grateful to Sebastian than -this degrading favour. What! was he, a christian king, the descendant -of kings, to wait upon an accursed infidel, and learn obedience to -his nod? No, he would rather perish, he would suffer for his beloved -country and for his friends all that pain, sorrow, and want, could -inflict, he would for their sakes bend to almost any mortification; but -it was impossible for him to yield to base servitude, and become the -domestic servant of a Mahometan. Resolute to die in this determination, -he calmly repeated it to El Hader, protesting he would only labour in -the manly occupation of really useful work, the employments of the -field. - -The Almoçadem was a good-humoured, indolent man, not easily moved -to wrath; surprized, therefore, but not irritated, he turned to his -interpreter, bidding him ask the foolish christian if he knew the -difference between a household and a field slave. The man who repeated -the question, ended it by an explanation of the situations, assuring -Sebastian, that if he remained in the Cassavee he would be superbly -dressed, delicately fed, and comfortably lodged; that all his business -would be to wait at his lord’s back with his hookha, or ride out when -he went a hunting, with his lances and arrows: that, on the contrary, -if he persisted in joining the field slaves, he would be doomed to hard -fare, and worse lodging, and be urged to the most laborious tasks by -stripes and blows. - -At the last words, Sebastian’s eyes sparkled with fury, “Mark me, -Moor!” he cried in a dreadful voice, “I am a man that will not survive -disgrace: by the immortal heavens! if but the shadow of one of your -whips ever falls upon this body, I will wash out the stain in blood! -Beware then!” - -The Africans looked on each other with astonishment: the Almoçadem -smiled. “We shall see! we shall see!” he repeated carelessly, “if -you do your duty I give orders that you shall not be beaten; but I -must have all my slaves do their duty; so do you hear, don’t abuse -my goodness by insolence and idleness. What are you, young man?--How -did you get into that rogue, Sarhamet’s hands?--Were you one of the -mad-headed followers of the mad King Sebastian?” - -The captive monarch’s blood crimsoned his face: “I _was_ in the battle -of Alcazar,” he said proudly, “and were I free this moment, would again -follow the royal-standard of Portugal over the plains of Barbary. The -mad Sebastian, as you call him, on that day made the stoutest hearts -in Morocco tremble.--May he live to make them quake again! I saw your -routed Moors flying before him like scattered sheep!--the field was -ours, till one of your infidel race, the detested Muley Hamet, turned -like a traitor upon the troops he was affecting to aid.--” - -“He did right,” interrupted El Hader, “by so doing he made his peace -with Mahomet, and gained Paradise. But how could your hot-brained King -build on the faith of a man who had broken his faith with the prophet -by leaguing with christians? Ah! I see that touches you,--well, they -are both gone to settle their accounts together in the other world.” - -As he concluded, the Almoçadem turned to his interpreter, “Ephra, we -must give this christian fool his choice; you know I am always desirous -of leaving my slaves to experience.--Conduct him to field-work; and -then, if he continues to despise the honor of attending upon me here, -we must leave him to his fate.--Bid him withdraw.” - -As El Hader rose while he was speaking, Sebastian naturally coincided -with the movement, and turned away; he was therefore spared the -mortification of being told to depart. - -Ephra conducted him towards a long piazza, through which they passed -into a large paved court, where several slaves were refreshing -themselves between their hours of labour: struggling with his imperious -nature, the unhappy monarch neither saw nor heard any thing, till a -passionate exclamation, in pure Portuguese, struck his ear; he turned -hastily round and beheld a young man, (whose face he remembered to -have seen amongst his troops,) who dropping upon one knee, repeated in -whispers--“O sire! what a change is this.” - -Many and powerful were the reasons of Sebastian for remaining unknown -to the Moors, but his feelings, ever superior to selfish prudence, -now mocked controul; he stopt, and extended both his hands, which -the soldier eagerly kissed; he would have spoken, but the words died -on his lips: the Portuguese recovering from his transport of mixed -emotion, into sorrow and habitual reverence, fearfully relinquished his -sovereign’s hand, and turned aside to conceal some tears: Ephra rudely -advanced and asked the meaning of this scene. - -Before Sebastian could reply, the young soldier gently answered, that -he was overcome by unexpectedly finding his commanding officer in the -new slave, then he prayed permission to converse with him awhile, -after which he would return to his occupations with redoubled diligence. - -Ephra was a man not easily moved: he coldly denied this indulgence, -telling the Portuguese to mind his present superiors and forget his -past ones, adding sarcastically, “whoever your captain is, whether Don -or Hidalgo, he is now a slave like yourself.” - -Without venturing to remonstrate, the poor youth bowed and disappeared, -while Ephra morosely continued to precede his royal companion. - -Every thing now was unnoticed by Sebastian: this accidental meeting -with one of his subjects had subdued him; the sound of those few -words pronounced in their native accent, brought into his mind such -crouds of tender and affecting images, that his heart was compleatly -softened: until this moment he had felt utterly abandoned, and now the -unexpected proof of being still loved and honored, even by one he -might be said to have injured, affected him to weakness. - -It _was_ the weakness of Sebastian to wish for the love of his fellow -creatures: time, only, could teach him to be contented with their -esteem. - -Having conducted his melancholy companion through the obscurest parts -of the Cassavee, Ephra brought him into a large square of ground -surrounded by mean buildings, where a number of Christians were at -work: this place contained the slaves’ habitations, and was under the -direction of a governor, whose office it was to see the several tasks -fulfilled, and at night to lock up all the captives in their miserable -lodgings. - -At sight of a new victim, this man came forward; “Here, Ben Tarab,” -cried Ephra, “our illustrious master has sent you this refractory -Christian to teach obedience; give him work, and see that he does not -attempt to escape: if you do not present him to the great El Hader -when next he calls for him, your head will answer it.” - -Ben Tarab bowed submissively, and Ephra left the court. - -Sebastian’s eyes meanwhile were anxiously employed in scrutinizing the -persons around him: they were Christians of all nations, some very -old, others in the tender spring of life; but blood-drinking care, and -flesh-consuming toil had left their traces on the youngest cheeks: -every countenance was wan, every figure emaciated. - -Amongst the various groups, he sought in vain for his cousin Antonio, -or Don Emanuel de Castro; none but strange faces met his gaze, and as -no one recognized him, he rightly concluded that none of his own army -were amongst them. - -Sebastian wished not for partners in affliction; and though anxiety led -him to seek for Crato and de Castro, he was gladdened by not finding -them under the task-masters of El Hader. - -Ben Tarab soon assigned him a portion of labour: too much occupied -with reflections on the miserable lot of others, to think any longer -of his own, Sebastian performed his task mechanically, while viewing -the scene before him.--In one quarter were groups of captives employed -in stamping, with heavy weights, the damp earth with which the Moors -form the walls of their inferior buildings; others were labouring to -prepare this earth out of various materials; others again bringing -sand, bricks, and lime, in loaded baskets upon their heads; while some -were hewing stone, sawing wood, melting lead, or moulding ornaments for -the nobler parts of the Cassavee. - -Fainting with heat, toil, and thirst, these unhappy people were yet -urged to their tasks with imprecations and blows; neither age nor -infirmities pleaded for a moment’s indulgence: they toiled on, -consumed by scorching suns, and unrefreshed by a single breeze. - -The sighs and groans of the Christians pierced the heart of Sebastian; -he heard them with anguish, for he was no longer that Sebastian whose -nod could give liberty; a slave now, he had nothing to bestow but -inward prayers for himself and for them. - -Perceiving his new workman totally ignorant of labour, Ben Tarab -roughly told him to observe how others did, and so learn the trade -of them.--“What, I suppose you have been what Christian dogs call a -gentleman, and therefore are good for nothing:--I have always ten -times the trouble with gentlemen; they are either insolent, lazy, or -stupid, and are only fit to do the work of horses or asses; one poor -fellow is worth a thousand of you.--We never promote gentlemen here, so -you may reckon soon upon being sent into the open country to draw the -water-waggons, or dig for lime.--Why the plague am I to be troubled -with you?--could not you have been kept amongst the household pack?” - -The rage which seemed ready to burst in thunder from Sebastian, -evidently intimidated Ben Tarab; he moved nimbly out of the reach of -his arm, muttering in a sullen tone, “Get on with your job--do as well -as you can.” - -Recovering his self-command, the young King turned scornfully away, -and pursued his occupation; it was chipping marble: The comparative -easiness and delicacy of this employment, when contrasted with that of -others, made him believe that he owed some gratitude even to Ben Tarab, -for having thus favored him, he was therefore resolved to disregard -in future the brutal language of the man, and think only of escaping -insult by discharging his portion of labour. - -In spite of this resolution he could never again look at Ben Tarab -without something so alarming in his eyes, that the Moor feared to -approach him, he shewed him his daily tasks, not daring to threaten -any punishment for their non-fulfilment, and at length, sick of such -restraint, offered to remove him into a different department. Sebastian -caught at the proposal; he was solicitous to see all the slave of the -Almoçadem, and frequently wished to meet once more with the young -soldier whose dutiful remembrance had affected him so much. - -“I perceive,” said Ben Tarab, “that you know nothing of the works -we do here, and perhaps some other might suit your capacity better; -every man has not the gift of doing all things.--We have slaves, now, -that manufacture powder, and armour, and cast cannon; do you like -that business?--What! you’re afraid of such combustibles?--You change -colour at the very mention of them: there you and I agree.--We have -others that hew and drag timber, some that get in our three harvests, -some that make bricks, and a few that work in the great El Hader’s -gardens.--I can promote you to any of these departments if you know how -to be thankful for such a favor.” - -“I know how to be thankful;” said Sebastian gently, “give me any -occupation so it be but in the fresh air of heaven, and require little -more than _bodily_ exertion, and I will thank you sincerely.”-- - -“Well then,” replied the Moor, “you may as well change into the -gardens; there you will have nothing to do, but trudge about, pruning -and digging, fetching water from the fountains to the baths, plenty to -do, and nothing to crack your brains with thinking of: if you behave -well, and shew any signs of _rare sagacity_, you may get _promoted_, -and become at last, _fruit-gatherer_ and _flower-gatherer_ for the -_women_.”-- - -“Ben Tarab!” said Sebastian, after a thoughtful pause, disregarding the -brute’s contemptuous air, “Is there any offer that could persuade you -into becoming my friend?--procure for me permission to send to one of -the Portuguese forts, and I will not only engage to be ransomed at a -high price, but will faithfully promise you a hundred gold crowns for -your kindness.” - -“So then, you _are_ a nobleman?” replied Ben Tarab, attentively eyeing -him, “I thought so the moment I saw you: but hark ye my friend, the -great El Hader prides himself upon despising ransoms; if the King of -Portugal himself were living, and a slave within these walls, he must -offer a thousand of such crowns as that he was crowned with, before he -could move a true Mussulman: Slaves here, are slaves for life; and I -hate you all too cordially ever to betray my trust and risk my neck for -such scoundrels.” - -As Ben Tarab ended, he disappeared with a malicious grin, and in -a short time re-entered with an older Moor, who looked awhile at -Sebastian, and then conducted him out of the court: the latter -followed his steps in silence, strongly wrestling with his own -outraged feelings, which were almost chafed into fury, by the mingled -malice and cowardice of Ben Tarab. - -After traversing several open quadrangles and stone galleries, they -came at length to the gardens: they were admitted through magnificent -gates, curiously wrought in open work of cast iron, and covered with -gilding; as he entered, Sebastian felt an emotion long unknown to him, -an emotion of delight. - -The gardens were spacious and verdant, beautified with marble fountains -and canals; their terraces were shaded by tall trees of the freshest -green, and the air that fanned them was impregnated with the perfume of -orange flowers. - -Sebastian could not respire air thus perfumed, without instantly -thinking of the gardens of Count Vimiosa; the first day he had seen -Donna Gonsalva came back to his recollection with all the force of -a present scene: he stopt, cast his eyes round, scarcely breathed, -almost expecting to see her celestial beauty advance from some of the -groves:--But he saw no one, till his conductor led on still further, -and brought him to a spot where a few slaves were employed in cutting -a subterraneous passage, from a bower of Arabian jessamine, to one of -the baths.--Stopping at this place, the Moor shewed the King his new -occupation. - -After toiling in silence till long past sunset, the slaves were -dismissed to their distant lodgings, where a miserable supper awaited -them. - -On re-entering the court where he had first laboured, Sebastian did -not see Ben Tarab, he passed slowly along, noting every fresh group of -new faces, without finding any that he knew: at length he perceived -a cluster of Christians gathered round one who was sitting with a -rude guitar in his hand, playing the symphony of a song; the King -approached, and recognized the soldier, Gaspar. The young man, without -observing him, began to sing with little voice, and less skill, but -infinite feeling, these stanzas. - - “O Time! thy waves that might have rolled - Thro’ channels gay with bordering roses, - Now slow and sad and sunless flow - Where not one flower its bloom discloses: - - Say, will the blushing wreaths of joy - Beside thy waters blossom ever, - And sweets like breath of angels, throw - Around the purple wings of Zephyr?” - -As he was going to repeat the song, his eyes met those of the King, and -a flush of joyful surprize covered his pallid face; he rose hastily, -reminded his comrades of supper, and in the midst of their tumultuous -movements, drew near to one of the houses: he then glided in at an open -door, making a sign for Sebastian to follow. - -The King obeyed: no sooner were they alone, than Gaspar cast himself at -the feet of his sovereign, uttering in a low voice the most affecting -expressions of sorrow and of respect, deploring the fate of Portugal, -thus deprived of her protector, and beseeching him to order his -services and his life in any way conducive to his comfort. - -Sebastian could not conceal his emotion: he raised Gaspar from the -ground, with many gracious acknowledgements, assuring him that the -only service he could do him would be to discover whether a ransom -would indeed be refused by El Hader, or to aid in their mutual -escape.--Gaspar’s answer destroyed every hope. - -He represented that the Almoçadem avowedly picqued himself upon never -giving liberty to the enemies of Mahomet; that as the whole of the -domains were inclosed by high walls, and these regularly guarded day -and night, the escape of a prisoner was impossible; nay, that even such -captives as worked in the fields and quarries, were watched by Moors -completely armed, therefore as hopeless of escape as the household -servants. - -“For myself, I scarcely care,” said the young soldier, (tears starting -into his eyes even while he believed himself thus indifferent;) “but to -behold my King so fated, drives me to desperation.--My life, sire, is -of no consequence--except to a widowed mother and sisters, whom your -royal bounty will hereafter save from want--perhaps you would deign to -accept of my attempting something for your sake; should I fail, it will -be nothing; I shall die in the performance of a duty; should I succeed, -Portugal will owe her happiness to me.” - -“What is it you would attempt?” asked Sebastian, seeing Gaspar too much -affected to proceed. - -“To scale the walls,” exclaimed the breathless soldier, “to flee by -unfrequented ways to the nearest fortress, to convey thither the -blessed tidings of my sovereign’s safety, and either return with a -royal ransom, or joined by every Portuguese in Africa, march hither, -storm the Cassavee, and----.” - -“Brave Gaspar!” exclaimed the youthful monarch, animated with similar -ardour, “Thou hast the heart of a knight: should we ever reach -Portugal, claim knighthood at my hand. But I cannot accept of freedom -on such terms; too many gallant soldiers have already been sacrificed -by my imprudent reliance on the faith of a traitor: neither the lives -nor the properties of my subjects shall be lavished to purchase my -liberty. If these wretches knew my real rank, half my kingdom would not -satisfy their avarice. No! let us trust to Providence.--I will watch -the opportune moment like a lynx. I will try every method to bribe my -gaolers--if I escape at last, be assured, Gaspar, I will remember you.” - -Gaspar was going to press his former petition, when the sound of -Ben Tarab’s horrid voice made him stop: “We must part, sire,” he -exclaimed, “haste--mix with the crowd--we meet again to-morrow night.” -While speaking, he hurried the King out of the house, and they were -immediately absorbed by the multitude without. - -Ben Tarab kept at a distance from Sebastian, who could not help smiling -at his mixture of ferocity and meanness: it was soon bed time; and the -slaves, separating, the King retired to a scattering of bean-straw in -the corner of a brick-room, where he threw himself beside four other -captives, and sunk, overpowered with sleep. - -The break of day awoke him to the same toil, and the hour of supper -again allowed him a short conversation with Gaspar. Every day brought -with it but fresh causes for regret, while it diminished the delusions -of hope. But where is the situation, however desolate, out of which it -is impossible for us to extract some consolation? Sebastian found in -his present state, a balm for part of that remorse which had so long -tormented him. - -While experiencing the benevolence of Abensallah, he had naturally -thought with so much esteem of the Moorish character, that his -expedition appeared almost preposterous, and the destruction attendant -on it, doubly criminal; but now that he witnessed the real miseries -of slavery, and the detestableness of a tyrannical government, which -habituates every individual to the exercise of tyranny in his turn, -zeal once more assumed the rank of a virtue, and lulled conscience to -rest.--In addition to this, his own sufferings were softened by the -power he fortunately acquired of alleviating those of others. - -Among the garden-labourers were two aged men, for whom he frequently -procured rest and refreshment, by fulfilling not only his own task, but -part of theirs: when he saw them fainting with thirst and exhaustion, -he would give them all that he had purposely saved from his scanty -breakfast; their blessings were his luxuries, his only luxuries, but -such as warmed his heart far beyond all the enjoyments of his former -state. - -Never till now had he known the full transport of doing good, for -never before had he done so at the expense of personal privations: -sovereigns, like gods, may scatter bounties with unsparing hands, yet -never have this sacred, soul-ennobling consciousness. Ought we then to -envy, ah! should we not rather pity that exalted station which demands -from its possessor so many cares, and rewards him with so few pleasures! - -Though the governor of the gardens knew no other language than his own, -Sebastian managed to converse with him by signs, and to conciliate -his favour: from the instant in which he found himself capable of -benefitting the distressed, his servitude ceased to appear degrading, -and he toiled incessantly; his strength and his taste made him -inestimable; and by voluntary labour or ingenious plans of decoration, -he soon won so much on Hafiz, that he gained frequent intervals of rest -for his fellow slaves. - -They were now employed in constructing and adorning a subterraneous -passage, in imitation of a natural grotto: there Sebastian amused -himself with a thousand tasteful fancies which enchanted the dull -Hafiz, and procured for him new proofs of kindness: from this success -his endeavours to please acquired fresh stimulus; he redoubled his -efforts, hoping to win so far upon the Moor, as at last to gain liberty -through this means. - -After each day’s fatigue, the supper-hour was always welcome; it -brought him into the society of Gaspar. The conversation of his humble -friend was now Sebastian’s chief pleasure, for with him he felt himself -Sebastian still; sympathy of suffering, gratitude for affection, and -esteem of native goodness, united to heighten this pleasure: he talked -with Gaspar of Portugal and liberty, of days past and days to come, -with all the ardour of unbroken youth. - -Gaspar, in return, canvassed every possible mode of escape, continuing -to bewail the fate which separated him from his King: he was, however, -inspirited by some information lately obtained--it was as follows: at -certain periods the Moors permitted a few travelling friars, called -brothers of the redemption, to inspect their slaves, and to agree for -the ransom of such as they wished redeemed; one of these charitable -men, a native of Spain, was expected at Mequinez, by the next new moon; -but the Almoçadem having resolved never to sell any of his slaves, -had always refused to admit the friar, so that it would be necessary -for Sebastian to exert all his eloquence upon Hafiz, for him either -to petition the Almoçadem himself, or to let the friar know there was -a Portuguese nobleman under his care, who would reward him amply for -importuning El Hader in his favour. - -This information roused the sanguine nature of Sebastian; he believed -himself already on the threshold of liberty, and faithfully swore to -Gaspar that he would not accept of freedom without him for a companion. - -Intoxicated with joy, and overflowing with devotedness, the young -Portuguese fell at his sovereign’s feet, pouring forth a broken torrent -of gratitude: Gaspar had been early taught to reverence and obey his -King, and now the amiable qualities of that King, being shewn to him -under the most affecting light, added to the principle of duty, every -sentiment of affection. - -At this moment, while kissing the earth beneath Sebastian’s feet, he -was inwardly meditating a rash enterprize, full of danger, but fraught -with heroism: expecting little from Hafiz, Gaspar meant only to wait -till one attempt to gain him had been made and frustrated, and then he -would immediately execute his own project. His work lay in the open -country, where he was employed with other slaves in felling timber; -there were periods when the Moors who guarded them, were scattered -about, and therefore to be escaped, without instant notice: if Gaspar -could get the start of them by a single half-hour (being very swift of -foot, and well acquainted with a bye-road to Mequinez, where he had -often gone with loaded waggons) he might hope to reach the friar, and -communicate the secret of Don Sebastian’s existence. - -Gaspar was certain that in pursuing him the Moors would first -look among the woods and hills leading to the interior, and that -consequently, though he was almost sure of falling eventually into -their hands, his object would be attained: the friar would convey the -important news to the christian forts, from thence it would be speedily -transmitted to Portugal and Spain, and then he doubted not, an army or -a ransom, would be sent to redeem their King. - -Some anxiety however, was still connected with his enterprize, even if -it should succeed: as Gaspar would hazard it without his royal master’s -knowledge, he could not bear any proof of his veracity, such as a -ring or piece of writing; he must rely solely on the sincerity of his -manner, and on that natural desire of crediting what we wish, which is -implanted in the human heart. - -To disobey his sovereign on such an important point, he justly -conceived a duty due to his country; for Gaspar, though born in the -sixteenth century, had an intuitive conviction that his country’s -claims were superior even to the commands of her rulers. - -Filled with this daring project, the young soldier arose from his -monarch’s feet with an illuminated countenance: a few moments after -they separated for their different chambers. - -The only indulgence which Sebastian had asked for himself, was the -privilege of passing his nights in a solitary apartment, this request -had been granted, with many assurances of its being an immense favour: -he now repaired to the place, which was a small room, scarcely large -enough to turn in, with a barred window and a straw bed. As he entered -it with an emotion of pleasure, the change of his destiny forcibly -struck him: what a cell for a King of Portugal, and the lover of Donna -Gonsalva to behold with gladness! - -He went up to the narrow window, and as his eye fell on nothing but -the dark dwellings of the slaves, faintly lighted by the rays of a -watry moon, he looked from them to himself, and sighed profoundly. -Not three months back, he had worn the habit, and been surrounded by -the glories of a powerful prince; he had been ministered unto like a -god, till the most exquisite refinements of polished life had become -natural wants; he was now a slave, clad in coarse garments, denied the -common necessaries of his poorest subjects, forced to labour without -intermission through the day, and at night be immured in a wretched -chamber, where solitude was his only comfort! - -For awhile, thought took so gloomy a cast, that he felt as if all that -sunny period of his life had been no more than a dream. The memory of -Stukeley appeared but the memory of some brilliant phantom; his rousing -eloquence, that had always acted on the soul of Sebastian like the -sound of the trumpet, was now passed away, his voice was hushed, his -body gone down to dust! - -Nothing gives such apparent length to any portion of time, as a -complete change in outward scenes and inward feelings. Sebastian was -scarcely able to persuade himself that all these new emotions had -been produced by the events of so short a period as three months; he -reviewed the incidents which had happened since his landing in Africa, -with a bitterness of regret which was at length dispersed by the idea -of Gaspar: in this faithful friend, providence was evidently preparing -for him a zealous assistant; at any rate, if his attachment might not -aid, it would assuredly console him, and was therefore to be gratefully -accepted as a sort of earnest of the divine succour. - -Elevated by this thought, Sebastian’s feelings changed with their usual -rapidity, joy lightened his heart, and pouring out a fervent prayer -over the little cross of his order, (which he still preserved,) laid -himself to rest with the confidence of pious reliance. - - - - -CHAP. VI. - - -As Gaspar was sure of learning from the good-natured Moor who had -spoken to him of the redemption friars, when father Mansonada would -be at Mequinez, he had cautioned the King not to put the absolute -question to Hafiz, before the friar’s arrival was actually announced, -but to employ the intermediate period in gaining his good will, urging -the request at the time when it must be either instantly refused or -granted: this precaution would leave no time for repentance. - -Pursuant to this prudent resolution, the King continued to exert his -strength and his talents in every work given him by Hafiz: under his -hands the uncouth earthen passage grew into a romantic labyrinth, -diversified by spars and mosses, and hung with natural garlands of -flowering plants. Often while he was placing a stone or a shrub, he -smiled bitterly at what to him seemed womanish employment, and was -forced to remember that no occupation is disgraceful which is submitted -to for a great and virtuous purpose. - -Having acquired many of the Morocco words, he was now able to hold -short conversations with Hafiz, who though grave, and somewhat dull, -was not insensible to merit; he liberally praised Sebastian, and for -his sake granted new indulgences to sickly slaves. - -Sebastian marked his increasing influence with re-animated hope: -having his eye fixed but on one object, (freedom, in which every -blessing is included,) he disregarded all else, distributing among his -fellow captives such presents of dress and delicate food, as Hafiz -occasionally made him. - -But the satisfaction arising from these circumstances was considerably -diminished by an unforseen distress; Gaspar was taken ill: he had been -unusually fatigued lately, during an insufferably burning day; and at -night, had slept on some marshy ground with other Christians, who were -all attacked the following morning with illness:--The disorder seized -his lungs. From that hour a suffocating cough and slow fever preyed -on his strength. At all times delicate, he now lost his appetite and -sleep; and appeared hastening fast to that world “where the weary are -at rest.” - -Afflicted beyond measure, his royal friend no longer thought of -exerting any influence over Hafiz for his own peculiar gratification, -but tried to use it for Gaspar; he represented his situation in the -most moving terms, soliciting the Moor to get him transferred from -the fields into the gardens, where he promised to work in his place, -allowing himself no instant of recreation through the day, and but -four hours of rest at night.--His importunities at length wrung from -Hafiz a promise that he would go and solicit the Almoçadem’s leave for -the transfer. - -Sebastian communicated this to Gaspar with all the ardour of pleasure, -the latter turned pale and faltered out an exclamation of regret; -painfully disappointed, Sebastian enquired the reason of this -disinclination to be near him, and soon found, from the generous -soldier, that it arose from concern at the sacrifices which he must -make on his account. - -This indeed was part of the truth; but the most powerful cause was -alarm at a removal, which however agreeable to Gaspar, would put -it out of his power to serve his master: from the gardens he could -not attempt escape without involving him in his ruin should he be -retaken, and therefore it was necessary for him to wait no longer a -return of health, but seize this last opportunity of flying from the -fields.--Perhaps another day would close the door of freedom for ever, -as Hafiz, who had been sent for to Mequinez by the Almoçadem, might -return ere night: this thought determined Gaspar. - -Many and violent were his emotions when he parted from his beloved -master at the door of their cheerless lodging; the poor fellow felt -death at his heart, and scarcely knew how to hope for sufficient -strength to carry him to Mequinez, where, however, the arrival of -friar Mansonada was now happily ascertained. He fastened his eyes on -the countenance of Sebastian with the most sorrowful expression; the -benign smile that sat there, revived him for an instant, but fearful of -betraying any unusual agitation, he retired without speaking. - -The next day Hafiz did not return, and at night Sebastian was surprized -by the non-appearance of Gaspar; concluding that he was cruelly kept -out at distant labour, he began to grow impatient for the sight of -Hafiz: still the governor returned not, and the next night and the one -following that Gaspar, too was absent. - -Disturbed and alarmed, Sebastian approached a French Christian with -whom he had once seen Gaspar enter from work, and asked the man, in his -own language, what had become of him: the answer overwhelmed him with -grief. - -Gaspar had attempted to escape two days before, while the wood-slaves -were dispersed, and their guards carousing; he had got half way to -Mequinez when he was overtaken by two of the Moors, who having heard -him question another about the Friars Redemptione, guessed which way -he was going. After a short struggle, a wound in the leg brought -Gaspar to the ground, and rendered resistance impossible; he was now -in the prison of the Cassavee, where Ben Tarab threatened him with the -extremity of the bastinado that very night. - -Sebastian too quickly comprehended the motive of his friend’s rash -action; penetrated with gratitude and sorrow, he flew to the dark -building called the prison, intreating to be admitted, and offering -extravagant rewards to the Moors who guarded it:--Sebastian could not -always remember that he was no longer able to reward any one!--But -these vain promises were no sooner past his lips, than he disclaimed -them, with a stifled groan, and turned once more to intreaties. - -The brutal Ben Tarab advanced cautiously, “You see I am armed;” was -his salutation, (pointing to a pair of huge pistols in his belt, and -drawing out a Moorish knife,) “in that case you dare not touch me: -what is all this tumult about?--is it because the dog is a Portuguese -like yourself?--or because you are colleagues? By the holy prophet! -I believe you deserve as sound a bastinadoing as he does. If he dies -under the thong, this night he shall receive a thousand lashes. Get -you to your sleeping hole, and pretend not to thwart a Mussulman in his -duty.” - -Without replying, Sebastian shot an eagle glance round, as if in search -of something, the next instant he darted forwards, and snatching up a -hatchet which lay accidentally among some rubbish, flashed it in the -eyes of Ben Tarab. - -“I too am armed!” he exclaimed fiercely, “approach but one step -nearer and this hatchet shall lay you dead at my feet.--I can die but -once--yet if I _do_ fall, I will sell my life dearly.--Mark me! the man -who takes Gaspar to punishment from this prison must cut his way to him -through my heart.” - -As he concluded, the stern frown of the young monarch withered Ben -Tarab’s courage, he drew back trembling, and tried to pull out one -of his pistols; Sebastian saw the action, and sprung on him like a -tiger; his powerful grasp pinioned the arms of the Moor, who believing -himself in the very gripe of death, cried out for mercy: before any -one could come to his rescue, Sebastian flung him disdainfully away, -saying-- - -“Take your worthless life--I want nothing beyond pity for a poor -dying man. Suffer me unmolested to keep watch before this prison till -Hafiz returns; then let the punishment of Gaspar be referred to the -Almoçadem: you will appear against him, I shall plead for him, I hope -from the lips of the humane Hafiz.” - -Livid and trembling, Ben Tarab now sheltered himself behind a group -of Moors who had run in to his assistance: conscious that Sebastian -was indeed only to be conquered by death, and aware of the high value -set on him by El Hader, he feared to order the violence his base soul -longed to inflict. - -“Stay then,” he cried at last, “Stay! and may plagues blister you for -your pains!--There you may watch and fast, for neither bed nor meal -shall you have till Hafiz comes back and rids me of you altogether. -Soldiers, take care he is not too subtle for you; look to him -well.”--So saying, Ben Tarab left the court, shutting its huge stone -gates after him, with a rage that threatened to crash them. - -Sebastian grasped his hatchet and sat quietly down upon the steps of -the prison, while two Moorish guards walked backwards and forwards, -discoursing about this mad Christian, who would certainly be condemned -to the rack by their illustrious master. - -In this situation, full of agitating thoughts, the King of Portugal -past the night: fortunately for him, Hafiz returned the next day, and -having missed Sebastian in the gardens, came to inquire for him of -Ben Tarab; that brutal fellow related the events of the last few days -with all the exaggerations of inveterate animosity, sending Hafiz to -threaten his favorite slave with a chain or a log. - -Sebastian’s character was one of extremes; he was alternately the -fiercest and the gentlest of mankind; where he saw the trace of -humanity he could quell every movement of passion, and enter into the -calmest and most considerate explanations: he now let the wrath of -Hafiz take its course, waiting till it was spent, before he expatiated -upon the natural love we bear our countrymen; and the impossibility of -refraining from some shew of violence when any object whom we sincerely -love is threatened with danger. The poor dying youth being menaced with -the bastinado, was, on this reasoning, a sufficient plea for his own -vehemence. - -Sebastian mingled these with strong appeals to that sentiment of -Liberty which he presumed dwelt in the bosom of Hafiz, in common with -every honest man, he besought his pity;--and finished by declaring, -that if Gaspar perished, neither whips nor daggers should ever compel -_him_ to any act of labour. - -All these arguments had their weight, but especially the last; Hafiz -feared to lose the very flower of his workmen, and therefore promised -to go immediately to Kara Aziek, the daughter of El Hader, and try -to obtain Gaspar’s pardon from her: this favorite and only surviving -child of the Almoçadem had come that morning from Mequinez, merely -to see the subterraneous labyrinth, and having been enchanted with -its novelty and beauty, Hafiz hoped might be induced to pronounce the -desired forgiveness. Hastening away, he returned in a short time with -the Moorish Lady’s order for the release and removal of Gaspar. - -Penetrated with gratitude proportionate to his late apprehension, -Sebastian vehemently thanked the good Moor, and went with him into the -prison. - -As they approached the dungeon in which Gaspar was, his feeble groans -alone broke the sullen silence; he was the only human being who had -slept in that dismal place during three nights, and might have -perished there, without even the hope of succour: at the sound of -his royal master’s voice, he slowly raised his head, and supported -himself for an instant; but he sunk again, overpowered with pain and -weakness.--Sebastian hastened to catch him on his breast, while Hafiz -assured him he was pardoned, and going to be removed entirely from the -influence of Ben Tarab. - -The prejudiced yet well-meaning Moor accompanied this information with -several animadversions upon the folly and ingratitude of attempting an -escape from a residence where all the slaves were treated like trusty -servants; bidding him remember, that as it was solely for Fabian’s -sake he was forgiven, a second fault would draw Fabian into the same -destruction. - -Gaspar could only reply by a submissive motion of the head, for a -merciless neglect of sending him food had rendered him so weak he could -scarcely speak; he was besides too joyful for utterance; but he held -his sovereign’s hand alternately to his lips and to his heart, with an -energy of gratitude that needed no additional eloquence. - -The wound in Gaspar’s leg was more painful that it appeared dangerous, -so that Sebastian trusted he might yet recover both from it and his -pulmonary complaint, if properly nursed, and kept for awhile from -labouring amongst evening and morning mists:--he now made an earnest -petition to Hafiz for permission to inhabit some chamber adjoining that -allotted to Gaspar, in order that he might be thus enabled to devote -every leisure moment to his suffering friend. - -After long resisting, Hafiz reluctantly yielded; first stipulating some -new exercise of his favorite’s ingenuity, by way of equivalent:--Gaspar -was then conveyed to another quarter of the Cassavee, where the -household slaves are lodged, and a small but not wretched apartment was -assigned to him. - -His wound was examined, and his internal disorder prescribed for, by a -skilful renegado who acted as family physician and surgeon; Sebastian -would fain have staid to assist this man, but Gaspar himself could not -bear the thought of so employing his King, and Hafiz now waited for him -at the labyrinth. - -Eager to repay the worthy Moor’s kindness by increased diligence, -Sebastian hurried into the gardens; all his generous and delighted -heart beamed on his noble countenance as he moved through the verdant -groves and lawns leading to the grotto; as he was hastily advancing, -he was checked by an unusual sight: a group of Moorish women were just -issuing from the entrance. - -Rightly conjecturing that these were the Almoçadem’s daughter and her -attendants, he drew back: one of the ladies was richly habited after -the Morocco fashion, in a kaftan and turban embroidered with coloured -silks and precious stones; her mildly superior air declared her to be -Kara Aziek: she drew her veil closer at sight of a man, but stopping -at the same time, said a few words to Hafiz in a very soft voice. -Sebastian ventured to advance; he bent one knee to the ground, making -a sign expressive of gratitude; Kara Aziek courteously motioned him to -rise, and then moved away: but she frequently looked back as she went, -and on turning into another walk, graciously noticed him still, by a -gentle inclination of her head. - -Sebastian’s eyes remained fixed on the vacant space which her figure -had occupied: it was the first time he had seen a woman since he -had entered Africa, (for he would not give that title to the female -Alarbes) and for the first time, a train of sweet and tender emotions, -glided through his bosom. - -The appearance of a young and pleasing woman, is ever associated in -the mind of man when under affliction, with hope of consolation and -expectation of relief--Kara Aziek’s dove-like voice and pitying -manner, would of themselves have been sufficient to rouse up the -sanguine spirit of Sebastian, but when to these were added the late -proofs of her humanity or yieldingness, he could not help indulging in -reveries as delightful as they were unexpected: in five minutes his -ardent imagination had gone through a whole romance of disinterested -generosity on her part, and boundless gratitude on his; she had -facilitated his escape, restored him to his people, and become the -friend of his soul’s treasure, the incomparable Donna Gonsalva. - -Transported with these fantastic day-dreams, he scarcely heard the -precise Hafiz, who was all this while endeavouring to explain to him, -Kara Aziek’s commands about the gardens: starting at her name, he -begged to have those commands repeated. - -Hafiz deliberately recapitulated them; adding, that their young -mistress, who was going immediately back to Mequinez, wished her -new orders to be fulfilled before the feast of Ramadan, on which she -should return with her father; that on hearing the particulars of -Gaspar’s situation, she had instructed Hafiz, to have him carefully -attended, and supplied with proper nourishment; avowing her intention -of reporting Ben Tarab’s barbarity to the Almoçadem, who though strict -with his slaves, was averse to their being cruelly treated. - -When Hafiz ended, Sebastian abruptly exclaimed--“Perhaps I should bless -my captivity, since it daily frees me from prejudice!--Hafiz, when I -first fought against your countrymen, I believed myself combatting -a set of wretches, devoid of every human feeling: since then, I -have learned to think that the Maker of Heaven and earth, breathes -so much of his divine spirit through some rare souls, that not even -the pollutions of a false religion, can wholly deface their original -beauty!--I had been told that your women were little better than -agreeable images, without thought or will: how is it that this young -and admirable lady, has been thus moved to compassionate a Christian, -and condemn a Mahometan?” - -“O, I can soon satisfy you;” answered the simple-minded Hafiz, “I -begged for this Gaspar, in the name of Sidie Absalom.” - -“And who is Sidie Absalom?” asked Sebastian. - -“You would not ask that,” returned his companion, “if you had ever read -the Holy Book of the Jews; he was a beautiful young man, the son of one -King David--‘_From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head, -there was no blemish in him._’--our women pray to him as to a saint; -ask them any thing in his name, and they are afraid to deny you, for -fear of not getting a husband as handsome as he was.” - -Sebastian smiled at his simplicity; Kara Aziek’s actions seemed worthy -of a better motive, and he failed not to bestow on them one infinitely -nobler. - -Hafiz now hurried him to labour: the good Moor, proud of distinction, -and aware that to the activity and taste of his Portuguese slave, he -should owe some liberal mark of the Almoçadem’s satisfaction, exhorted -Sebastian to employ all his invention in new adornments for the baths -and fountains, and in bringing to perfection the nursery of fragrant -exotics, which Kara Aziek had requested he might attend. - -Sebastian needed not an additional incitement to these humble tasks: -it was motive enough for him, that by fancying light decorations, -requiring more ingenuity than strength to accomplish, he spared his -fellow-captives many a weary labour: Hafiz had long trusted them almost -solely to his direction, well satisfied with seeing beautiful novelties -rising around him, though he knew that they did not occupy half the -time, nor exhaust half the bodily powers he had formerly been forced to -lavish. - -The slaves blessed with longer intervals of rest, were no more pale -and squalid; they had leisure for decent attention to their persons, -and permitted to form for themselves many minor comforts, health and -resignation (for content can never dwell with slavery) began to appear -in their looks: at this sight Sebastian’s heart glowed within him, -and the consciousness of being the source from whence these blessings -flowed, increased the glow. On retiring for the night of this eventful -day, Hafiz allowed the King to gather some choice fruits for Gaspar, -with which he hastened from the gardens. - -Gaspar was already supplied with a basket of the finest grapes, and -a flask of medicated asses milk, (balm of Mecca being infused in it) -by a servant of Kara Aziek’s: he had temperately partaken of these -presents, and was even then revived by them. - -The details which now took place between the King and his humble -friend, were not unmixed with pleasure; Gaspar could not conceal the -affectionate motive of his mad enterprize, nor could his royal master -refrain from shewing the extent of his gratitude, by describing the -scene which had passed between him and Ben Tarab--new plans for their -mutual liberation were then canvassed, and these might all be summed up -in a determination of seeking the favour of Kara Aziek, through whose -interference perhaps they might prevail on the Almoçadem to permit some -communication between them and the Christian forts. - -At this prospect, Gaspar could not check a sigh purely selfish: his -cruel disorder forbade him to indulge the fond hope of ever again -beholding Portugal: this painful emotion burst forth, followed by a -reflection far more grievous to Sebastian than it was to himself. - -“I must submit,” he said, “if it pleases Heaven to deny me the joy -of witnessing my sovereign’s restoration to his people: doubtless I -sinned in deserting my poor mother and sisters for the mere sake of -fighting against infidels; my wrong notions of duty perhaps, have left -these dear relations to starve, for I was their only protector.--Jesu -help me! I did not think then, what I have often thought since, that -our blessed Redeemer must be better pleased with us when we seek to -preserve lives, than when we go to destroy them!” - -This artless remark made the King change colour: if Gaspar believed -that to die in miserable servitude was only a just punishment for -moral ignorance, what must be _his_ destiny by whose powerful example -multitudes had been allured into a similar error?--Sebastian’s heart -was disturbed; and he paused at this question. Though he did not answer -it to himself at that moment, he often repeated it afterwards; and the -subject connected with it, was then attentively examined. His days of -prosperity had been unreflecting days,--adversity now taught him to -scrutinize the past, and to prepare stores of principle for the future: -formerly, he had only _acted of himself; now he began to think for -himself_. - -Without suffering Gaspar to perceive the pain his remark had caused, -Sebastian soothed the poor fellow’s self-accusing feelings, joined in -an act of devotion with him, and did not leave him till he saw that he -was tranquillized in sleep: he then repaired to a neighbouring chamber, -where he spent nearly all the remaining hours of night in earnest -supplications for an enlightened spirit. - -From this period the attention of Sebastian was divided between so -many objects of anxiety that he had not leisure for regret: though he -was often wrung by the thought of Gonsalva’s too-probable grief, and -apprehension for the fates of Antonio and De Castro, present cares -forbade him to dwell on such considerations; he thought yet oftener of -escape, and while so much was left him to hope, did not feel privileged -to lament. - -Each day now saw him incessantly occupied, each evening restored him -to Gaspar; that poor youth’s slow-consuming disorder had not yet -given way to the Moorish prescriptions,--unable to stand long upon -his wounded limb, Gaspar could not be employed in field-work, but his -grateful disposition taught him a new species of usefulness, and he -amused his solitary hours by the manufacture of ingenious trifles, such -as ornamental baskets, brocaded sandals, &c. with which Hafiz was to -present Kara Aziek on her return to the cassavee. - -Sebastian had found leisure intervals for the accomplishment of a -trifling object with which he frequently lulled the depressed spirits -of his friend; it was a flute formed of cane; he had contrived to -furnish it with stops, &c. and had at length made it capable of -“discoursing most excellent music.” - -In the tranquillity of evening, when Gaspar was laid on his narrow -pallet, and their minds equally exhausted by agitating conversation, -Sebastian would take his flute and play Portuguese airs, till Africa -was forgotten, and their native country alone remembered.--It was in -these moments that love reigned absolute over the heart of the young -King; he could not breathe a note that did not recal some song of -Donna Gonsalva’s; her celestial voice seemed floating around him, till -tenderness melted him into weakness, or impatience lashed him into -agony, and the instrument would then fall from his hand. - -Experience alone teaches us the mutability of fortune: we hear of it, -we see it, we think we understand and believe it,--but when we find -_ourselves_ precipitated from an height of happiness into an abyss -of misery, it is then for the first time that we really discover the -slightness of our former perceptions.--The adversity of others “we -write in sand;” our own “we engrave on brass.” - -Sebastian had now constant opportunities of making this reflection, -for until his dismal change, absolute power had prevented him from -even dreaming of a reverse in his own person: since that reverse had -happened, he bitterly lamented his precipitate promise to the pope, -whose sanction might otherwise have been obtained, and then Gonsalva -would have been left at least a queen, protected by wealth and -authority. - -But these regrets could not recal the past; they were useful only as -lessons for the future:--he averted his mind from such reflections, -directing all its energies, towards the present objects of his care. - -Some of these were attained: his fellow-slaves of the garden were -comparatively happy through his means; Hafiz continued to shew him -increasing regard; and Gaspar was losing most of those alarming -symptoms which so lately threatened his life.--Though in slavery, and -condemned to perpetual labour, the young monarch had never yet smarted -under one degrading indignity which he would hereafter blush to have -survived: this was a consolation almost transporting; it assured him of -divine protection, he thought, seeming to say, that Providence might -bend but would not crush him. - -As it was from Kara Aziek that Sebastian anticipated the completion of -every hope, he was naturally inquisitive about her character and habits -of life: by his facility of acquiring languages (the most enviable -because the most useful of talents,) he was now competent to converse -with Hafiz in excellent Moresco; he therefore seized an opportunity one -day when they were alone together inspecting her nursery of exotics, -and questioned him respecting their gentle mistress. - -He learnt in reply that Kara Aziek was the sole surviving child of the -Almoçadem by a Portuguese lady who had been carried off by a set of -those pirates, who frequently plundered the neighbouring coasts, and -brought to Morocco: as she was scarcely passed childhood, El Hader had -succeeded in persuading her to change her religion, and to become his -wife, upon the condition that he never would marry any others; this -promise he had kept, living in harmony with her many years, until they -were separated by death. - -Though this lady was not a woman of much sense, she was accomplished, -and constitutionally humane; her influence had softened the prejudices -of the Almoçadem, so that he suffered her to educate her daughter after -the European fashion, in all respects, save religion: Kara Aziek was -therefore mistress of the Portuguese and Italian languages, and the -literature of both countries; she was a Mahometan it is true; but her -expanded and inquiring mind, her pure, beneficent spirit, etherialized -the grossness of her creed, and made her almost a Christian, _in -action_. - -After her mother’s death, Aziek became sole arbiter of her father’s -decrees; at her request he granted such indulgencies to his slaves as -no other slaves throughout Barbary ever enjoyed, but unhappily these -indulgencies had never been faithfully administered:--Kara Aziek -was too young and inexperienced to conceive the possibility of her -father’s benevolent commands being disobeyed, or rather not obeyed -with eagerness; she therefore believed the Christians to be well fed, -moderately worked, humanely treated; when in reality most of their -task-masters appropriated the liberal allowances to themselves; sold -their surplus of labour; and in fact tyranized over both their bodies -and their souls. - -The freedom of a captive she had never obtained. El Hader thought it -argued well for his piety that neither money nor persuasions could -induce him to liberate an enemy of his prophet; on this point he was -inflexible; and Sebastian, on hearing it, scarcely knew how to hope -any thing for himself:--but hope is a sturdy plant that will grow on -the most rocky soil; it is destined for the aliment of man’s spiritual -part, and without it he could not exist. - -Encouraged by the gentleness of Aziek’s character, Sebastian believed -that she might be easily induced to pity, and finally to assist -him--perhaps her intreaties might not always be unsuccessful:--Fraught -with these ideas he heard of her return with the Almoçadem. - -The day after their arrival he was sent for by El Hader:--“Young man!” -said he in Moorish, “come hither, I want to ask you if you are now -willing to accept the distinguished post I had destined for you, that -of attending on my person wherever I go, even into the presence of the -illustrious Xeriff himself? I hear you have been a perfect whirlwind -amongst my people, and that you will do nothing but what you please; is -this true?” - -“I have not been used to obey:” replied Sebastian, proudly, “but -I believe my incessant labours will shew that I am not ungrateful -for kindness. These limbs are young and strong, and capable of much -fatigue; but some of my unfortunate companions are sick, and old, and -oppressed, and for them I have struggled.” - -“Aye, so it seems;” answered El Hader, with a gracious nod, “my -daughter tells me that your rash attack upon my servant, Ben Tarab, was -to be applauded; to that I do not assent, for you should respect the -servants of the great El Hader as his delegates: however, we will pass -that over, in consideration of your youth and folly, and natural wish -to defend a countryman.--I have pardoned both you, and that still more -rebellious slave Gaspar, at my daughter’s intreaty: see that you behave -better in future; if either of you attempt a second escape, or brave a -domestic of mine a second time, not even the tears of my well-beloved -Kara Aziek shall save you from destruction.--But tell me, are you -inclined to accept the high distinction of waiting on my person?” - -The proud and fiery King of Portugal started at this question; he -surveyed the infidel from head to foot with a look of insufferable -disdain, and then burst into a scornful laugh:--his laugh had -something terrible in it, independent of the consuming fire of his -eyes; El Hader nimbly started up from the cushions on which he was -lolling, and retreated through an adjacent door:--Sebastian did not -wait for his re-appearance, but immediately withdrew. - -The degrading mark of favor offered by one whom he esteemed only a few -degrees above some harmless brute animal, had stung the feelings of -Sebastian almost to madness; he traversed the gardens with a swelling -heart, but a glimpse of Kara Aziek changed the indignant throb into a -thrill of pleasure:--he saw her at a little distance walking with some -other Moorish ladies. Crossing his hands over his breast, he stopt and -bowed his head; she recognized him through her veil, and graciously -returned the salutation; her visitors half uncovered their faces to -look at the Christian about whom they had been conversing, but Aziek -moved away, and Sebastian dared not remain. - -After that day he constantly beheld her in the gardens; sometimes only -at a distance, reading or playing on her guitar. No opportunity had -yet occurred of addressing her in private; for when she went with him -over the quarter assigned to the culture of Portuguese shrubs, to learn -their names and qualities, she was surrounded by her maids, and he was -followed by Hafiz. But obstacles only stimulated the king’s impatience; -other circumstances tended to counteract them. For some time he had -every night found in his chamber the most exquisite confections, bread, -and sherbet: (presents, evidently the product of female hands,) he -shared them with Gaspar, not doubting the benevolent giver was she who -had already been so generous. - -The only return he could make, was daily offerings of flowers formed -into garlands or arranged in bouquets, for the head and bosom of -Kara Aziek; these were presented to her by Hafiz, who reluctantly -acknowledged that they came from his slave Fabian: Aziek would smile, -accept them, inhale their scent awhile, admire their arrangement, -and then place them among her beautiful hair instead of more costly -ornaments. - - - END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. - - - J. M‘CREERY, Printer, - Black-Horse-Court, Fleet-street, London. - - * * * * * - - Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: - -Many minor punctuation errors were corrected. - -and and at length his chief counsellor=> -and at length his chief counsellor -{pg 22} - -with resistles fury=> -with resistless fury -{pg 27} - -upon so unusal=> -upon so unusual -{pg 40} - -moonlight will do -do you no harm=> -moonlight will do -you no harm -{pg 56} - -these stolen in-views=> -these stolen interviews -{pg 66} - -lvoed with his whole soul=> -loved with his whole soul -{pg 68} - -he sent a magnificient=> -he sent a magnificent -{pg 74} - - -converse with Don -Emanual=> -converse with Don -Emanuel -{pg 74} - -Both embassador and ambassador are used. -Both farewel and farewell are used. - -so largly promised=> -so largely promised -{pg 128} - -poviding for our own security=> -providing for our own security -{pg 129} - -fifty of the Portugueze troops=> -fifty of the Portuguese troops -{pg 151} - -on he chilling hand => -on the chilling hand -{pg 176} - -dervise to consider his companions=> -dervise to consider his companions’ -{pg 182} - -Touched by such kindness, the kin=> -Touched by such kindness, the king -{pg 182} - -these robbers passions=> -these robbers’ passions -{pg 201} - -that he was the Almocadem=> -that he was the Almoçadem -{pg 208} - -other lauguage than his own=> -other language than his own -{pg 234} - -to gain liberty -through his means=> -to gain liberty -through this means -{pg 235} - -him f the redemption friars=> -him of the redemption friars -{pg 243} - -ait no longer a return of health=> -wait no longer a return of health -{pg 246} - -a similiar error=> -a similar error -{pg 266} - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DON SEBASTIAN *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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