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第12节

part07-第12节

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thought of her father; and shrank back。 But fruitless is the attempt

to describe the conflict in the bosom of one so young and tender and

loving; but so timid; and so ignorant of the world。

  In vain her sisters implored; the duenna scolded; and the renegado

blasphemed beneath the balcony; the gentle little Moorish maid stood

doubting and wavering on the verge of elopement; tempted by the

sweetness of the sin; but terrified at its perils。

  Every moment increased the danger of discovery。 A distant tramp

was heard。 〃The patrols are walking their rounds;〃 cried the renegado;

〃if we linger; we perish。 Princess; descend instantly; or we leave

you。〃

  Zorahayda was for a moment in fearful agitation; then loosening

the ladder of ropes; with desperate resolution; she flung it from

the balcony。

  〃It is decided!〃 cried she; 〃flight is now out of my power! Allah

guide and bless ye; my dear sisters!〃

  The two eldest princesses were shocked at the thoughts of leaving

her behind; and would fain have lingered; but the patrol was

advancing; the renegado was furious; and they were hurried away to the

subterraneous passage。 They groped their way through a fearful

labyrinth; cut through the heart of the mountain; and succeeded in

reaching; undiscovered; an iron gate that opened outside of the walls。

The Spanish cavaliers were waiting to receive them; disguised as

Moorish soldiers of the guard; commanded by the renegado。

  The lover of Zorahayda was frantic; when he learned that she had

refused to leave the tower; but there was no time to waste in

lamentations。 The two princesses were placed behind their lovers;

the discreet Kadiga mounted behind the renegado; and they all set

off at a round pace in the direction of the Pass of Lope; which

leads through the mountains towards Cordova。

  They had not proceeded far when they heard the noise of drums and

trumpets from the battlements of the Alhambra。

  〃Our flight is discovered!〃 said the renegado。

  〃We have fleet steeds; the night is dark; and we may distance all

pursuit;〃 replied the cavaliers。

  They put spurs to their horses; and scoured across the Vega。 They

attained the foot of the mountain of Elvira; which stretches like a

promontory into the plain。 The renegado paused and listened。 〃As yet;〃

said he; 〃there is no one on our traces; we shall make good our escape

to the mountains。〃 While he spoke; a light blaze sprang up on the

top of the watchtower of the Alhambra。

  〃Confusion!〃 cried the renegado; 〃that bale fire will put all the

guards of the passes on the alert。 Away! away! Spur like mad… there is

no time to be lost。〃

  Away they dashed… the clattering of their horses' hoofs echoed

from rock to rock; as they swept along the road that skirts the

rocky mountain of Elvira。 As they galloped on; the bale fire of the

Alhambra was answered in every direction; light after light blazed

on the atalayas; or watchtowers of the mountains。

  〃Forward! forward!〃 cried the renegado; with many an oath; 〃to the

bridge… to the bridge; before the alarm has reached there!〃

  They doubled the promontory of the mountains; and arrived in sight

of the famous Bridge of Pinos; that crosses a rushing stream often

dyed with Christian and Moslem blood。 To their confusion; the tower on

the bridge blazed with lights and glittered with armed men。 The

renegado pulled up his steed; rose in his stirrups and looked about

him for a moment; then beckoning to the cavaliers; he struck off

from the road; skirted the river for some distance; and dashed into

its waters。 The cavaliers called upon the princesses to cling to them;

and did the same。 They were borne for some distance down the rapid

current; the surges roared round them; but the beautiful princesses

clung to their Christian knights; and never uttered a complaint。 The

cavaliers attained the opposite bank in safety; and were conducted

by the renegado; by rude and unfrequented paths; and wild barrancos;

through the heart of the mountains; so as to avoid all the regular

passes。 In a word; they succeeded in reaching the ancient city of

Cordova; where their restoration to their country and friends was

celebrated with great rejoicings; for they were of the noblest

families。 The beautiful princesses were forthwith received into the

bosom of the Church; and; after being in all due form made regular

Christians; were rendered happy wives。

  In our hurry to make good the escape of the princesses across the

river; and up the mountains; we forgot to mention the fate of the

discreet Kadiga。 She had clung like a cat to Hussein Baba in the

scamper across the Vega; screaming at every bound; and drawing many an

oath from the whiskered renegado; but when he prepared to plunge his

steed into the river; her terror knew no bounds。 〃Grasp me not so

tightly;〃 cried Hussein Baba; 〃hold on by my belt and fear nothing。〃

She held firmly with both hands by the leathern belt that girded the

broad…backed renegado; but when he halted with the cavaliers to take

breath on the mountain summit; the duenna was no longer to be seen。

  〃What has become of Kadiga?〃 cried the princesses in alarm。

  〃Allah alone knows!〃 replied the renegado; 〃my belt came loose

when in the midst of the river; and Kadiga was swept with it down

the stream。 The will of Allah be done! but it was an embroidered belt;

and of great price。〃

  There was no time to waste in idle regrets; yet bitterly did the

princesses bewail the loss of their discreet counsellor。 That

excellent old woman; however; did not lose more than half of her

nine lives in the water: a fisherman; who was drawing his nets some

distance down the stream; brought her to land; and was not a little

astonished at his miraculous draught。 What further became of the

discreet Kadiga; the legend does not mention; certain it is that she

evinced her discretion in never venturing within the reach of

Mohamed the Left…handed。

  Almost as little is known of the conduct of that sagacious monarch

when he discovered the escape of his daughters; and the deceit

practised upon him by the most faithful of servants。 It was the only

instance in which he had called in the aid of counsel; and he was

never afterwards known to be guilty of a similar weakness。 He took

good care; however; to guard his remaining daughter; who had no

disposition to elope: it is thought; indeed; that she secretly

repented having remained behind: now and then she was seen leaning

on the battlements of the tower; and looking mournfully towards the

mountains in the direction of Cordova; and sometimes the notes of

her lute were heard accompanying plaintive ditties; in which she was

said to lament the loss of her sisters and her lover; and to bewail

her solitary life。 She died young; and; according to popular rumor;

was buried in a vault beneath the tower; and her untimely fate has

given rise to more than one traditionary fable。



  The following legend; which seems in some measure to spring out of

the foregoing story; is too closely connected with high historic names

to be entirely doubted。 The Count's daughter; and some of her young

companions; to whom it was read in one of the evening tertulias;

thought certain parts of it had much appearance of reality; and

Dolores; who was much more versed than they in the improbable truths

of the Alhambra; believed every word of it。

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