eagerly, and a faint cry of terror broke

from his lips.

CHAPTER XI.

"Hush!" said the Moor; "fear me not, BOARDIL'S RECONCILIATION WITH HIS PEOPLE. I am a friend. Thou art old, man-gold]

is ever welcome to the aged." As he SEVERAL days had elapsed without any spoke he cropped several broad pieces encounter between Moor and Christian; into the breast of the Jew, whose ghastly for Ferdinand's cold and sober policy, features gave forth a yet more ghastly warned by the loss he had sustained in the smile as he received the gift and mumbled ambush of Muza, was now bent on preserving rigorous restraint upon the fiery "Charitable young man! generous, be- spirits he commanded. He forbade all nevolent, excellent young man!" parties of skirmish, in which the Moors,

forth.

"Now, then," said Muza, "tell me indeed, had usually gained the advantage, you belong to this house-Leila, the mai- and contented himself with occupying all den within, tell me of her-is she well?" the passes through which provisions could "I trust so," know you not of her state?" arrive at the besieged city. He com"Not 1; for many nights I have not menced strong fortifications around his seen her, excellent sir," answered Ximen; camp; and, forbidding assault on the "she hath left Grenada, she hath gone. Moors, defied it agains himself. You waste your time and mor your pre- Meanwhile Almamen had not returned cious health amid these nightly dews: they to Grenada. No tidings of his fate are unwholesome, at the time of the new reached the king, and his prolonged disappearance began to produce visible and "Gone!" echoed the Moor; "left Gre-salutary effect upon the long-dormant ennada! wo is me! and whither? there, ergies of Boabdil. The counsels of Muthere, more gold for you; old man, tell za, the exhortations of the queen mother, the enthusiasm of his mistress, Amine, un"Alas!' I know not, most magnanimous counteracted by the arts of the magician, young man; I am but a servant, I know aroused the torpid lion of his nature. But nothing."

moon."

me whither?”

mansion!"

still his army and his subjects murmured against him, and his appearauce in the Vivarambla might possibly be the signal

"Who is thy master? who owns yon of revolt. It was at this time that a most fortunate circumstance at once restored Ximen's countenance fell; he looked to him the confidence and affections of his round in doubt and fear, and then, after a people. His stern uncle, El Zagal, once a short pause, answered, "A wealthy man, rival for his crown, and whose daring valgood sir; a Moor of Africa: but he hath our, mature age, and military sagacity had also gone: he but seldom visits us; Gre- won him a powerful party with the city, nada is not so peaceful a residence as it had been some months since conquered by was; I would go too if I could." Ferdinand; and, in yielding the possesMuza released his hold of Ximen, who sions he held, had been rewarded with a gazed at the Moor's working countenance barren and dependant principality. His with a malignant smile, for Ximen hated defeat, far from benefiting Boabdil, had all men. exasperated the Moors against their king. "Thou hast done with me, young war For," said they, almost with ore voice, rior? Pleasant dreams to thee under the "the brave El Zagal never would have new moon; thou hadst best retire to thy succumbed had Boabdil properly supporbed. Farewell! bless thy charity to the ted his arms." And it was the popular poor old man!" discontent and rage at El Zagal's defeat Muza heard him not; he remained mo- which had, indeed, served Boabdil with a tionless for some moments; and then, reasonable excuse for shutting himself in with a heavy sigh, as that of one who has the strong fortress of the Alhambra. It gained the mastery of himself after a bit-now happened that El Zagal, whose domiter struggle, he said, half aloud, "Allah nant passion was hatred of his nephew,. be with thee, Leila! Grenada now is my and whose fierce nature chafed at its presonly mistress." lent cage, resolved, in his old age, to blast

all his former fame by a signal treason to her cheek. At that moment the deep and his country. Forgetting everything but musical chime of a bell was heard sum revenge against his nephew, whom he was moning the chiefs of the army to prayer; resolved should share his own ruin, he for Ferdinand invested all his worldly armed his subjects, crossed the country, schemes with a religious covering, and to and appeared at the head of a gallant his politic war he sought to give the impo troop in the Spanish camp, an ally of Fer-sing character of a sacred crusade. dinand against Grenada. When this was Wrapped in her mute and passionate heard by the Moors, it is impossible to devotions, Leila remained long in her conceive their indignant wrath; the crime touching posture. The bell had ceased; of El Zagal produced an instantaneous all without was hushed and still; when reaction in favour of Boabdil; the crowd the drapery stretched across the opening surrounded the Alhambra, and with pray-of the tent was lifted, and a young Spaners and tears entreated the forgiveness of iard, cloaked from head to foot in a long the king. This event completed the con-mantle, stood within the space. He gazed quest of Boabdil over his own resolution. in silence upon the kneeling maiden; nor He ordered an assembly of the whole was it until she rose that he made his pres army in the broad space of the Vivaram-ence audible.

66

bla; and when, at break of day, he ap- "Ah fairest!" said he then, as he at peared in full armour in the square, with tempted to take her hand," thou wilt not Muza at his right hand, himself in the flower of youthful beauty, and proud to feet. It is thou who teachest me to kneel." answer my letters; see me, then at thy feel once more a hero and a king, the joy of the people knew no limit; the air was and in great and evident fear. "Why You, prince!" said Leila, agitated, rent with cries of "Long live Boal dil el harrass and insult me thus? Am I not that Chico!" and the young monarch, turning sacred thing, a hostage and a charge? And to Muza, with all his soul upon his brow is name, honour, peace, all that woman is exclaimed, "The hour has come; I am taught to hold most dear, to be thus robbed no longer El Zogoypi!"

CHAPTER XII.

LEILA. HER NEW LOVER.-PORTRAIT OF THE
FIRST INQUISITOR OF SPAIN. THE CHALICE
RETURNED TO THE LIPS OF ALMAMEN.

WHILE thus the state of events within Grenada, the course of our story

from me under the name of a love dishonouring to thee and an insult to myself?"

"Sweet one," answered Don Juan, with a slight laugh, "thou has learned within yonder walls a creed of mortals little known to Moorish maidens, if fame belies them not. Suffer me to teach thee easier morality and sounder logic. It is no dishonour to a Christian prince to adore beauty like thine; it is no insult to a mai

ports us back to the Christian trans-den hostage if the Infant of Spain proffer

"

her the of his But we was in one of a long line of tents that waste time. Spies, and envious tongues, skirted the pavilion of Isabel, and was ap- and vigilant eyes are round us; and it is

propriated to the ladies attendant on the not often that I can baffle them as I have royal presence, that a young female sat done now. Fairest, hear me, and this alone. The dusk of the evening already time he succeeded in seizing the hand gathered around, and only the outline of which vainly struggled against his clasp. her form and features was visible. But" Nay, why so coy! what can female even that, imperfectly seen-the dejected heart desire that my love cannot shower attitude of the form, the drooping head, upon thine? Speak but the word, enthe hands clasped upon the knees-might chanting maiden, and I will bear thee from have sufficed to denote the melancholy these scenes, unseemingly to thy gentle nature of the revery which the inaid in- eyes. Amid the pavilions of princes shalt dulged. thou repose, and amid gardens of the orA few tears, large and bitter, broke ange and the rose shalt thou listen to the from her eyes and stole unheeded down vows of thine adorer. Surely, in these

arms thou wilt not pine for a barbarous

"Alas!" answered Leila, almost faint. home and a fated city. And if thy pride, ing with terror at this rude and mena sweet maiden, deafen thee to the voice of cing address, "he is, in truth, mine only nature, learn that the haughtiest dames of parent." Spain would bend in envious court to the beloved of their future king. This nightlisten to me-I say, listen-this night 1

"And his faith-his religion?"
"I have never beheld him pray."
"Hem! he never prays-a noticeable

"I cannot answer thee."

will bear thee hence! Be but mine, and fact. But of what sect, what creed does no matter whether heretic or infidel, o: he profess himself!" whatever the priests style thee, neither church nor king shall tear thee from the bosom of thy lover."

"Nay, there be means that may wring from thee an answer. Maiden, be not so "It is well spoken, son of the most stubborn; speak! thinkst thou he serves Christian monarch!" said a deep voice; the temple of the Mohammedian ?" and the Dominican, Tomas de Torque- "No! oh, no!" answered poor Leila, mada, stood before the prince. cagerly, deeming that her reply in this, at Juan, as if struck by a thunderbolt, re-least, would be acceptable. "He disowns, leased his hold, and staggering back a he scorns the Moorish faith; even," she few paces, seemed to cower, abashed and added, "with too fierce a zeal." humbled, before the eye of the priest as it "Thou dost not share that zeal, then? glared upon him through the gathering Well, worships he in secret, after the darkness. Christian rites?"

"Prince," said the friar, after a pause, "not to thee will our holy church attribute this crime; thy piqus heart hath been betrayed by sorcery. Retire."

Leila hung her head and answered not, "I understand thy silence. And in what belief, maiden, wert thou reared beneath his roof?"

"Father," said the prince, in a tone "I know not what it is called among into which, despite his awe of that terrible men," answered Leila, with firmness, "but man, the first grand Inquisitor of Spain, it is the faith of the one God, who protects his libertine spirit involuntarily forced it- his chosen, and shall avenge their wrongs; self in a half latent raillery-"sorcery of the God who made earth and heaven; eyes like those bewitched the wise son of and who, in an idolatrous and benighted a more pious sire than even Ferdinand of world, transmitted the knowledge of him, Arragon." self and his holy laws from age to age "He blasphemes !" muttered the monk. through the channel of one solitary peo "Prince, beware! you know not what you ple, in the plains of Palestine, and by the do." waters of the Hebron."

if

The prince lingered; and then, as aware that he must yield, gathered his cloak round him and left the tent without reply.

Pale and trembling, with fears no less felt, perhaps, though more vague and perplexed than those from which she had just been delivered, Leila stood before the monk.

"And in that faith thou wert trained, maiden, by thy father?" said the Domin ican, calmly. "I am satisfied. Rest here in peace; we may meet again soon.' The last words were spoken with a soft and tranquil smile; a smile in which glazing eyes and agonizing hearts had often beheld the ghastly omen of the torture and the stake.

"Be seated, daughter of the faithless," On leaving the unfortunate Leila the said Torquemada, "we would converse monk took his way towards the neighwith thee; and, as thou valuest-I say bouring tent of Ferdinand. But, ere he not thy soul, for, alas! of that precious reached it, a new thought seemed to strike treasure thou art not conscious; but mark the holy man; he altered the direction of me, woman! as thou prizest the safety of his steps, and gained one of those little those delicate limbs and that wanton beau- shrines common in Catholic countries, and ty, answer truly what I shall ask thee. which had been hastily built of wood, in The man who brought thee hither-is he, the centre of a small copse. and by the in truth, thy father?" side of a brawling rivulet, towards the

VOL III.-16-2

back of the king's pavilion. But one soli-fall of the Paynim. In thy dominions, est tary sentry at the entrance of the copse pecially those newly won, throughout Anguarded the consecrated place; and its dalusia, in the kingdom of Cordova, are exceeding loneliness and quiet were a men of enormous wealth; the very cav grateful contrast to the animated world of erns of the earth are sown with the imp the surrounding camp. The monk enter-ous treasure they have plundered from ed the shrine, and fell down on his knees Christian hands, and consume in the fur before an image of the Virgin, rudely therence of their iniquity. Sire, I speak sculptured, indeed, but richly decorated. of the race that crucified the Lord." He grovelled in the dust, he tore his "The Jews-ay, but the excuse-" hair, he howled aloud; the agony was "Is before thee. This traitor, with fierce upon him. At length he drew from whom thou holdest intercourse, who vowhis robe a whip composed of several ed to thee to render up Grenada, and who thongs, studded with small and sharp was found the very next morning fighting nails; and, stripping his gown and the with the Moors, with the blood of a Span shirt of hair worn underneath over his ish martyr red upon his hands, did he not shoulders, applied the scourge to the naked confess that his fathers were of that hateflesh with a fury which soon covered the ful race? did he not bargain with thee to greensward with the thick and clotted elevate his brethren to the rank of Chris blood. The exhaustion which followed tians?"

this terrible penance seemed to restore the "Go on, father," said the king, thoughtsenses of the stern fanatic. A smile broke fully; "I see, at least, enough to justify over the features that bodily pain only re- an impost upon these servitors of Mam leased from the anguished expression of mon."

mental and visionary struggles; and "But, though common sense suggests when he rose and drew the hai cloth shirt to us," continued Torquemada, "that this over the lacerated and quivering flesh, he disguised Israelite could not have acted on said, "Now hast thou designed to com- so vast a design without the instigation of fort and visit me, oh pitying mother; and his brethren, not only in Grenada, but even as by these austerities against this throughout all Andalusia, would it not be miserable body is the spirit relieved and right to obtain from him his confession and soothed, so dost thou typify and betoken that of the maiden within the camp, so that men's bodies are not to be spared by that we may have broad and undeniable those who seek to save souls, and bring evidence whereon to act, and to still all the nations of the earth into thy fold." cavil that may come not only from the With that thought the countenance of godless, but even from the tco tender scru Torquemada reassumed its wonted rigid ples of the righteous? Even the queenand passionless composure; and replacing whom the saints ever guard!-hath ever the scourge. yet clotted with blood, into too soft a heart for these infidels." his bosom, he pursued his way to the roy "And should it be proved that thy throne or life were endangered, and that He found Ferdinand poring over the magic was exercised to entrap her royal accounts of the vast expenses of his mili- son into a passion for a Jewish maiden, tary preparations which he had just re- which the church holds a crime worthy of ceived from his treasurer; and the brow excommunication itself, surely instead of of the thrifty though ostentatious monarch counteracting, she would assist our was greatly overcast by the examination. schemes."

al tent.

"By the Bulls of Guisando!" said the "Holy friend," said Ferdinand, with king, gravely, "I purchase the salvation energy, "ever a comforter, both for this of my army, in this holy war, at a mar- world and the next, to thee and to the vellous heavy price; and, if the infidels new powers intrusted to thee we commit hold out much longer, we shall have to this charge see to it at once; time press pawn our very patrimony of Arragon." es; Grenada is obstinate; the treasury Nay, listen to me, son, "rejoined the waxes low."

friar," not the friends, but enemies, of the "Son, thou hast said enough," replied Catholic faith shall contribute to the down-the Dominican, closing his eyes and mut

tering a short thanksgiving. "Now, then, te my task."

CHAPTER XIII.

THE TRIBUNAL AND THE MIRACLE.

Confess the truth: thou art of the tribe and faith of Israel !"

The Hebrew frowned darkly. "Man," said he, solemnly, is a judge of the deeds of men, but not of their opinions. I will not answer thee."

"Pause! We have means at hand that the strongest nerves and the stoutest heart It was the dead of night; the army have failed to encounter. Pause-Conwas hushed in sleep, when four soldiers fess!"

belonging to the holy brotherhood, bear- Thy threat awes me not," said the ing with them one whose manacles pro- Hebrew: "but I ain human; and, since claimed him a prisoner, passed in steady thou wouldst know the truth, thou mayst silence to a huge tent in the neighbour- learn it without the torture. I am of the hood of the royal pavilion. same race as the apostles of thy church

The prisoner, as he now neared the I am a Jew." tent, halted a moment, looked round stead- "He confesses-write down the words. ily, as if to fix the spot in his remembrance, Prisoner, thou hast done wisely; and we and then, with an impatient though stately pray the Lord that, acting thus, thou gesture, followed his guards. He passed mayst escape both the torture and the two divisions of the tent, dimly lighted, death. And in that faith thy daughter was and apparently deserted. A man, clad in reared? Answer."

"Answer," repeated the inquisitor, cold

Write down the confession. Prisoner,"

long black robes, with a white cross on "My daughter! there is no charge ahis breast, now appeared; there was an gainst her! By the God of Sinai and interchange of signals in dumbshow, and Horeb, you dare not touch a hair of that in another moment Almamen the Hebrew innocent head!" stood within a large chamber (if so that division of the tent might be called) hungly. with black serge. At the upper part of I do answer. She was brought up no the space was an estrado or platform, on renegade to her father's faith.' which, by a long table, sat three men, while at the head of the board was seen resumed the Dominican, after a pause, the calm and rigid countenance of Tomas but few more questions remain; answer de Torquemada. them truly, and thy life is saved. In thy The Israelite looked round with a pale conspiracy to raise thy brotherhood of brow, but a flashing and scornful eye; Andalusia to power and influence; or, as and, when he met the gaze of the Domini- thou didst craftily term to equal laws can, it almost seemed as if those two men, with the followers of our blessed Lord; each so raised above his fellows by the in thy conspiracy (by what dark arts ĺ sternness of his nature and the energy of seek not now to know-protegnos, beate his passions, sought by a look alone to as- Domine!) to entangle in wanton affections sert his own supremacy and crush his foe. to thy daughter the heart of the Infant of Yet, in truth, neither did justice to the Spain-silence, I say-be still! in this other; and the indignant disdain of Alma- conspiracy thou wert aided, abetted, or men was retorted by the cold and icy con- instigated by certain Jews of Andalusia— tempt of the Dominican. • Hold, priest!' cried Almamen. impetu "Irisoner," said Torquemada, the first ously; thou didst name my child. Do I to withdraw his gaze, "a less haughty hear aright? Placed under the sacred and stubborn demeanour might have bet-charge of a king and a belted knight, has ter suited thy condition; but no matter; she-oh! answer me, I implore thee heen our church is meek and humble. We insulted by the licentious addresses of one have sent for thee in a charitable and pa- of that king's own lineage? Answer! I rental nope; for although, as spy and am a Jew, but I am a father and a man.' traitor, thy life is already forfeited, yet This pretended passion deceives us not,” would we fain redeem and spare it to re- said the Dominican, who, himself cut off pentance. from the ties of life, knew nothing of their