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and the present certainly is scandalously limitedwe call again upon the public and the press to guard it like the apples of the Hesperides, and to

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see sternly to it, that none but men of the true Seed-royal" be permitted to share its sparing and precious bounty.

ZELINDA; OR, THE CONVERTED ONE.

FROM THE GERMAN OF BARON DE LA MOTTE FOUQUE.

CHAPTER VII.

BY ADOLPH BERNSTEIN.

(Concluded from page 495.)

In the confused throng of victorious and vanquished troops, Zelinda had contrived to disengage herself from Fadrique's arms, and fled from him like an arrow shot by a skilful bowman, or like the wild gazelle among its native hills, so that she was soon lost to the eyes of the young soldier in these paths well known to her, though love lent him wings.

The loss of so splendid a prize added an edge to the keenness of the Spaniard's rage, which burned in his breast against the unbelieving foe. Wherever a luckless group was still found offering resistance to the progress of the triumphant Spaniards, Fadrique put himself at the head of his troops, who gathered around him as a standard of victory; whilst Heimbert never quitted his side, and like a faithful shield, warded off danger in various shapes, to which his comrade, intoxicated by success, and yet stung with rage at the loss of his fair captive, heedlessly exposed himself. On the following day, intelligence was gained of Barbarossa's expeditious flight, and the troops entered the gates of Tunis without opposition. The squadrons under the command of Fadrique and Heimbert were close together.

Dense volumes of smoke spread through the streets; the soldiers were frequently obliged to shake off portions of inflamed materials which settled upon their mantles, and richly-plumed morions or storming-caps. "I fear the enemy has, in despair, set fire to some powder magazine!" exclaimed Heimbert, warily, whilst Fadrique nodding assent to the suggestion, hastened to the spot whence the smoke proceeded, followed by his soldiers.

On suddenly turning the corner of a street, they found themselves in front of a magnificent palace, out of whose elegant windows flames issued forth, which, in their fitful glare, seemed like torches of death lighting up the noble edifice in the hour of its tottering grandeur; now, spreading a halo, bright as a sunbeam, over some part of its gigantic dimensions, and now again enveloping it in a gloomy cloud of smoke. And like a faultless statue, the ornament of the whole magnificent edifice, stood Zelinda, on an arch of dizzy height, beneath which the sportive flames were wreathing a fiery garland, and called loudly on some of her fellow believers to aid her in rescuing from the lambent flames, the lettered wisdom of many centuries, which was stored up within the tottering building. The arch now began to rock to and fro, from the violence of the flames below; some of the stones composing it gave way, and Fadrique anxiously warned the maiden of her imminent danger; scarcely had she receded a few steps, before the very spot on which she had previously stood, in a moment came down

with a huge crash, and crumbled into a thousand fragments on the pavement. Zelinda retreated into the inside of the burning palace, whilst Fadrique ran up the winding stairs which were of marble, followed by his faithful protecting comrade, Heimbert.

They hurried through high-roofed halls that echoed their footsteps at every tread; above their heads the ceiling was formed into lofty arches, and one chamber led to another like the various mazes of a labyrinth. On all sides the walls were covered with ornamented shelves, containing piled-up rolls of parchment, papyrus, and palm leaves, which, filled with characters of bygone ages, had now, alas! reached the end of their existence, for the flames had already effected an entrance and were consuming these records of hieroglyphic times. The fiery element, which now spread its lurid covering around one beam after another, had been kindled by the rage of some Spanish soldiers, who, disappointed in their expectations of plunder, had thus given vent to their savage feelings, the rather that in these singular characters they recognised only the impressions of magic and witchcraft. Fadrique flew, as in a dream, through the splendid halls and corridors lit up by a glare at once magnificent and terrible, whilst the only sound that issued from his lips was, "Zelinda, Zelinda!" and the only object that presented itself to his eyes, the image of his enchanting love. Long did Heimbert follow at his side, till both at last reached a staircase of cedar-wood, which led to a still higher story, when Fadrique, after having stood and listened, suddenly exclaimed: "It is, it is Zelinda! I hear her voice above; she calls, she needs my aid!" Scarcely had he uttered these words before he stood on the steps which were already emitting sparks. Heimbert delayed an instant : he saw the stairs tottering, and was about to apprise his friend of his impending danger, but at that moment the whole scene burst into volumes of flame with a terrific crash. He could only just perceive, through the flame and smoke, Fadrique firmly grasping the iron railing above and suspended by it;-there was no way left to After brief deliberation Heimbert hastened follow him. to the neighbouring rooms, hoping to find some passage by which he might regain his lost comrade.

Meanwhile Fadrique, invited by the damsel's voice, had entered a gallery, the floor of which, enveloped in flames, was falling into the abyss beneath with a tremendous noise, whilst a range of pillars on each side still braved the fury of the devouring element. He now beheld the figure of his lady-love on the opposite side, clinging to a pillar with one hand, and with the other menacing some Spanish soldiers who seemed prepared each moment to seize her. Fadrique could not come to her assistance,

as the space which divided them was too broad to be leapt | But I must first exact a promise that I am not to be over. Trembling lest his cries should frighten the maiden, compelled to accompany the adventurer, be he who he who thus might fall into the yawning gulph beneath, he may. If this condition be not complied with, my lips said in a whisper, as though he were wafting his words are closed; and no circumstances whatever shall induce across the flaming interval, "Zelinda, Zelinda, yield to me to open them." no desperate thoughts, your protector is at hand!"

The maiden turned her queenly head towards him, and when Fadrique saw that she was collected and calm, he exclaimed in the thunder of a war-trumpet, addressing himself to the soldiers: "Back, audacious rascals! the first that approaches one step nearer the lady, falls by my avenging arm!" They started, and were about to turn away, when one among them said: "Comrades, the knight will not eat us, and the space he has to cross before he can reach us is considerable. As to the lady precipitating herself down this gallery-it seems as though the captain there were her gallant, and the lady who has a gallant is not, generally, very eager to throw her life

away."

These words created a unanimous burst of boisterous applause, and the soldiers again advanced; Zelinda stood at the extreme edge of the flooring, in the act of leaping down. At this critical moment Fadrique, looking like an infuriated beast of prey when disappointed of its victim, tore his targe off his shoulders, and hurled it with his dexterous right hand so surely that the ringleader of the soldiers received a violent blow on his skull, and fell senseless to the ground. The rest once more stood still. "Away with you," cried Fadrique in a commanding voice, ❝or my poignard transfixes the next presumptuous fool that dares to advance one step, and then let the rest beware of my vengeance when I reach them."

The weapon glistened in the soldier's hand, but still more did his eyes sparkle with rage; the villains fled. Zelinda now bowed courteously to her deliverer, and lifting up several scrolls of palm leaves which, having dropped from her hands, lay close at her feet, hastily made her way through a side door of the gallery. Fruitless was the search made for her by Fadrique

throughout the whole of the burning palace.

CHAPTER VIII.

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He looked like one who would prove as good as his word, and Alva, pleased with a decision of character that so nearly resembled his own, pledged himself to the proposed condition, whereupon the Dervise began as follows:

"Having once upon a time penetrated into the almost boundless desert of Sahara (whether led on by curiosity or some other feeling, I do not now remember), I lost my way, and after wandering about for some time, I at length, half dead with fatigue and vexation, reached one of those fruitful islands, commonly called Oases."

Now followed, in true oriental style, a description of the wonderful things seen there, so that the hearts of the listeners swelled with fond desire, and now their hair stood on end at the recital of some horrible thing; though, on account of the strange accent and the streamlike rapidity of the old man's utterance, scarcely one half of the tale could be gathered.

On the whole, however, it was inferred that Zelinda

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lived in a blooming island, in the midst of the pathless steppes of the desert, and that during the last half hour she had been on her way thither, as doubtless the Dervise well knew, but was unwilling to express in definite The sneering manner in which the old man had concluded his story, proved that he had nothing more at heart than that some adventurous Christian might be led to undertake a journey which would inevitably be attended with extreme peril, if not actual loss of life. At the same time, he took a solemn oath that the whole matter was precisely as he had related it, and that he from the exact truth. The Spanish nobles stood around had not been guilty either of adding to, or diminishing him in speechless amazement and contemplation.

pelled, by the violence of the flames which enveloped the At this juncture, Heimbert, who had just been com

castle ruins, to quit his friend's side, stepped forth and bowed low to the great leader of the united troops. "What may your wish be, valiant young sword ?" asked Alva, nodding familiarly to the youthful soldier. "I remember your cheerful, blooming features; 'tis not long since you showed yourself my guardian angel, and since I know that your request cannot be but honourable and knightly, 'tis granted ere you speak it."

"Good, my lord Duke," said Heimbert glowing with modest pride, " since you permit me to prefer my humble petition, I would that you allowed me this very hour to pursue the beauteous Zelinda, whose path yon strange Dervise has pointed out."

On a sort of common within the conquered town, Duke Alva and some of the principal Spanish nobles had collected together, for the purpose of questioning several Ottoman prisoners, through interpreters, what had become of the wonderful female who appeared as the inspiring angel on the Turkish trenches, and must be regarded as one of the loveliest enchantresses ever beheld by mortal eyes. Their answers did not afford much information, since the captives themselves, though aware that the beautiful Zelinda possessed the power of magic, and was accordingly reverenced by their nation as a sovereign mistress, knew little or nothing concerning her mysterious visits to Tunis, whence she came, or to what corner of the earth she had now betaken herself. "I question that," uttered a sturdy voice in the The conqueror, deeming this account fabulous, or at best crowd. "But well I know, that I, rather than any evasive, began to threaten the prisoners with condign | man, may claim a right to the adventure, even if it punishment unless they should reveal more satisfactory were the prize for the storming of Tunis. Who first details, when an old Dervise, who had been overlooked scaled the ramparts, or entered the town a contill now, stepped forth and said, with a grim smile : queror ?" "Whoever is desirous of tracking her steps, may do so forthwith. I will conceal from him nothing that I know of her mysterious course, and I do know some little.

VOL. XIV.-XO. CLXIII.

The warrior once more nodded assent, and added: "So noble an adventure could not be entrusted to a worthier knight."

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It was, unquestionably, Don Fadrique Mendez," replied Heimbert, leading forth his comrade by the hand, and presenting him to the collected nobles. "Though

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I should forego the reward already granted to me, I will console myself, for he has merited the thanks of the whole army more than I have."

CHAPTER X

Where the sun was the only guide by day, and the starry array at night, it could not but happen that the two adventurers soon lost sight of one another, more especially since Fadrique purposely avoided his com

"Neither of you is deprived of his reward," exclaimed Duke Alva; "to each, I now grant leave to track the maiden's steps, in any manner he may choose." Quick as lightning the youthful heroes darted from rade's society, to which he now felt unconquerable averthe circle in opposite directions.

CHAPTER IX.

Like a vast ocean of sand extending to the remotest horizon, destitute of every object to vary the monotony of its immense surface, unchangeably white and one continuous waste, the wilderness of Sahara meets the eye of the wanderer whose unfortunate lot it is to explore its barren regions. It may be said to resemble the ocean in this respect also, that ever and anon huge waves of sand are driven upwards, whilst not unfrequently, too, a nebulous mist broods over its gigantic plain. It is not, however, that mild, sportive undulation which unites, as it were, all the coasts of this earth, where each successive wave that rolls towards you seems pregnant with news from every distant blooming isle, and when it has communicated its intelligence, recedes with your answer into the wavy dance-no! it is only the miserable coquetting of the sultry winds with the inconstant sand that falls down again into its joyless bed, where human beings know no happiness, and where they tarry not. It is not the genial refreshing exhalation of the main, in which friendly fairies love to frolic, shaping in airy form now blooming gardens, and now splendid palaces and gorgeous piazzas-it is a suffocating vapour, rebelliously mounting up from the desolate region to the scorching sun.

sion. Heimbert, on the other hand, entertained no other thoughts than those which had reference to the attainment of his end, and walked on in southern direction, cheerfully hoping for assistance from above.

Night and morning had succeeded each other several times, when Heimbert stood, one evening about twilight, alone in the vast sandy plain, without a single settled object in the wide sphere of his vision. The light flask, hanging from his side, was emptied of its contents; and evening, instead of refreshing breezes, was accompanied by a whirlwind of sultry sand, so that the exhausted wanderer was necessitated to press his glowing cheeks close to the arid ground, to escape, in some measure, the fatal influence of the moving clouds. At times he heard a noise, as if something were rapidly rushing past him, or sweeping the ground with the ample folds of a mantle; on such occasions he would rise in anxious haste, but he only perceived what he had, alas, too often seen lately, the wild animals of the wilderness, sportively roaming through the vast void in enjoyment of undisturbed liberty. Now he would see ugly camels, now long-necked giraffes with seemingly disproportionate limbs, and now again a long-legged ostrich hurrying along with extended saillike wings. They all appeared to mock him, and he had already resolved not to open his eyes again, but linger on till death should put an end to his sufferings, rather than behold these strange-looking creatures disturbing his tranquillity at the hour of death.

On a sudden he heard the prancing of a snorting steed which stopped close by him, and he fancied that a human voice whispered into his ear. Though half reluctant, he could not resist his inclination to rise once more, and great was his astonishment on seeing a horseman, in Arabian costume, seated on a well-made Arabian courser. Transported with joy, at again finding himself in the vicinity of a human being, he exclaimed, "O man, whoever thou art, welcome in this frightful

else must die of thirst!" And immediately recollecting that the accents of his dear native tongue were unintelligible in this secluded locality, he repeated the same address in that mixed dialect termed Lingua Romana, which forms the ordinary vehicle of intercourse used by Heathens, Mahometans, and Christians, in those parts of the world where they meet together in any great numbers.

Hither the two adventurers had come at the same moment, and with looks that bespoke feelings of trepi- | dation, were peering into the trackless chaos which lay widely extended before them. Zelinda's footsteps, which were not easily lost sight of, had till then obliged them almost always to join company, wherefore Fadrique was not a little discontented, and often threw a scowling glance at his unwelcome companion. It had been the eager wish and hope of both to overtake Zelinda before the desert should have buried her course in hopeless un-solitude, and refresh, if thou canst, thy fellow-man, who certainty. But now both were disappointed in their wishes, as the avalanche of sand, perpetually in motion, made it a most difficult and uninviting task to pursue a southern path by the guidance of the stars till, as fabled story narrates, the wanderer would come to a wonderful blooming Oasis, the abode of a most lovely enchantress. The young men looked dolefully on the immense void before them, their steeds snorted as they snuffed the dry, parching air, whilst doubts and despair seemed to overcloud the brows of their riders. Then, as though the word of command had been given, they leaped down from their saddles, and loosed the girths of their chargers, in order that the noble animals, which must have died for the want of subsistence in the arid desert, might retrace their way and gain a happier home. And now having taken some provisions from their saddle-bags, they dis- "Miserable, did you say?" asked Heimbert, enraged; engaged their feet from their heavy riding-boots, and and whilst insulted honour gave him more than his usual disappeared, like two courageous swimmers, in the bound-strength for the moment, he started up, unsheathed his

less expanse.

The Arabian maintained strict silence for some little time, and seemed to chuckle at the rare booty chance had thrown in his way. At length he replied, in the above-mentioned idiom, "Know that I too was in the Barbarossa fight, and though our defeat was not a little vexatious at that time, yet I find myself somewhat compensated in seeing at my feet, and in so truly miserable a condition, one of the conquerors in that siege."

sword, and, with his right, made a desperate thrust at the stranger.

"Oho," sneered the Arabian, receding a few paces; "can the Christian adder still hiss so loudly? As for that matter, I need but strike my legs against my darkbrown friend here, and, galloping off, leave thee to thy wretched fate, thou stray worm."

"Away with thee, heathen dog!" replied Heimbert. "Rather than accept a crumb from thy hands, I will perish here, should my gracious God not be pleased to provide manna for me in the wilderness."

The Arabian now urged his flying steed, and galloped a few hundred paces, laughing in loud mockery at his helpless foe all the while. Then he halted, looked round at Heimbert, and again approaching said: "Thou really dost appear to me too good to die here of hunger and thirst. See, my glorious sabre shall despatch thee!"

Heimbert, who had again sunk down in hopeless despair on the burning sand, quickly got upon his feet, at these words, sword in hand, and though the Arabian's | steed bore down upon him with rapid course, the expert swordsman, with one stroke of his weapon, intimidated the charger of his foe, and parried the blow which the Arabian, like all Mahometans, struck at him backwards with his scythe-like cimitar.

I fear I shall pine away in this sultry desert, for want of provisions, ere I reach the fond limit of my journey." "Can it be," asked Heimbert, "the Oasis which the fair magician, Zelinda, inhabits?”

"Allah protect me!" exclaimed the Arabian, clasping his hands together. "Zelinda's enchanted isle is accessible to none but enchanters. It lies in the distant, scorching south; but our friendly island is situated in the cool west."

"Well,” replied Heimbert, cheerfully, "I only desired to know whether we were to be companions on the way. But if this be not the case, we must of course divide the provisions, as I do not wish that so brave a soldier as yourself should perish with hunger and thirst.”

Hereupon the young German commenced arranging both eatables and liquid in two different shares, placing the larger portion at his left, and the smaller at his right; and giving the former to the astonished Arabian, said :—“ You see, my dear fellow, I have either not far to go, or I must sink in the wilderness, this my mind foretells me. And, besides, I cannot proceed so far on foot as you can on horseback.”

"Victorious master!" said the Mussleman, with amazement, "am I to keep my horse too?"

"It were indeed a sin," replied Heimbert, with a smile, "to separate so generous a steed from so expert a horseman. Ride on, and may you reach your home in safety."

He now assisted him in mounting; and as the Arabian was about to express his thanks for his generosity, the

Several times the Arabian charged on one side and on another, in vain hoping to cleave his foe. At last he became impatient, and approached so boldly, that Heimbert, whilst partying a side thrust, gained time to seize the horseman by the girdle with his left, and pull him down from his horse, which then galloped off. The violent exertion which this feat cost him caused Heim-latter suddenly ejaculated, "the magic maiden!" Havbert to fall to the ground; he lay, however, upon his antagonist, and skilfully drawing a poignard from its sheath, held it before his eyes. "Wilt thou have compassion, or death?" asked he.

The Arabian, casting his eyes up to the murderous knife that glittered before him, replied, "Be merciful, thou valiant fencer. I yield myself into thy hands.”

Upon this Heimbert commanded him to throw down the sword, which he still held in his right. He did so, and both combatants rose, but soon sunk down again on the sand, for the victor still felt much more feeble and exhausted than the vanquished one.

The affectionate steed of the Arabian had meanwhile again approached; for it is the wont of those noble animals never to desert their masters, even when prostrate. Thus it stood behind the two men, and, extending its long, graceful neck, looked at them in a friendly

manner.

“Arabian,” said Heimbert, in a somewhat weak voice, "take from off thy horse's back the food and beverage thou carriest about with thee, and set all down before me here."

The other humbly obeyed this order, and now appeared as anxious to execute the dictates of his superior foe, as he before burned with rage against him.

After having taken a draught of palm-wine from a skin, Heimbert looked with refreshed eyes at the young Arabian by his side; and when he had partaken of some fruit, and quaffed a little more of the palm-wine, said, "Was it your intention to proceed on your journey this night, young man?"

"Oh yes!" answered the Arabian, with sad looks. «On a remote Oasis dwell my aged sire and blooming bride. Now, though thou shouldst give me my liberty,

ing uttered these words, he galloped away over the plain. Whilst Heimbert, turning to the other side, by the light of the moon, which now shone clearly, perceived close at his side a bright figure,whom in an instant he recognised to be Zelinda.

CHAPTER XI.

The maiden looked fixedly for some minutes into the young soldier's face, and appeared to be searching for words to address him, whilst Heimbert was equally at a loss for speech, when he beheld the object of his long and tedious search now standing before him. At length she said, in the Castille idiom, "Thou wonderful enigma, I have been a witness to all that passed between thee and the Arabian; and the whole event confuses my brain like a whirlwind. Speak to me without delay, that I may know if thou be an angel or a madman."

"I am neither, lovely maiden," replied Heimbert, with his usual sweetness. "I am only a straying wanderer, and have just now been practising one of the grand precepts of Christianity."

"Sit down," said Zelinda, "and tell me something concerning thy religion, which must be a very strange one to have such professors as thou art. The night is cool and still; and seated at my side, thou needst not fear the dangers of the desert."

"Lovely damsel," said Heimbert, with a smile, "I am not of a timid disposition; and especially when I speak on such a subject, I do not know what fear is."

Hereupon both sat down on the sand, which had now become cooler, and commenced an interesting conversation, whilst the full moon, like a golden magic lamp, shone down upon them from the azure sky.

Heimbert's words, full of fervour, truth, and innocence, | alone impelled him to dare the fatal wilderness, and sank like mild sunbeams gently and quickening into Zelinda's heart, resisting the dismal world of magic that lay therein, and gaining sovereignty for a more lovely and benign power. As morning began to dawn, Zelinda, after a long and earnest conversation, said: "Thou must accompany me to my island, and there thou shalt be regaled, as beseems such a messenger as thee, much better than here, in the barren wilderness, with miserable palm wine."

"Pardon me," exclaimed Heimbert, "it is painful for me to refuse the request of a lovely maiden, but for once I cannot help it. Listen to me, I wot that in your island much splendour is collected together by the aid of your forbidden arts; and that the beauteous forms and shapes which God created are metamorphosed. The sight of these things might confuse my senses, nay, entirely rob me of them. If, therefore, you are desirous to know, in its purity and integrity, what I have to communicate to you, it were better that you came to visit me here in the desolate wilderness."

"You should rather accompany me,” replied Zelinda, shaking her head, as she smiled somewhat in mockery. "You were neither born nor educated a hermit; and my Oasis possesses not that wild strange disorder which you seem to imagine. The truth is simply this-shrubs, flowers, and animals from all quarters of the globe are congregated there, and the effect is perhaps slightly novel, since each thing partakes, in some measure, of the nature of the other, somewhat similar to what you may have seen in our carvings, the so-called Arabesques. A flower changing its hues, a bird growing from a branch, a fountain sparkling with fire, a melodious twig-these, forsooth, are not ugly things."

"Let him keep away from temptation who does not wish to perish by it," said Heimbert seriously. "I prefer the sandy plain. Will you again visit me?”

Zelinda looked down discontentedly, and then suddenly answered, with a low inclination of her head, "Yes, expect me at the approach of evening." And turning away, she was soon lost in the clouds of sand that rose from the plain.

CHAPTER XII.

At twilight the lovely Zelinda returned, and passed the night in animated conversation with Heimbert; always departing at early morn in a state of increased humility and strengthened piety; and thus several days passed away.

"Thy palm wine and dates are diminishing," said Zelinda one day, offering Heimbert a flask of generous wine, and some delicious fruit. He gently refused the gift, however, and added: "Beauteous damsel, willingly would I accept thy present, did I not fear that it is in some way connected with magic art. Or can you assure me to the contrary, protesting, by Him, of whom you now begin to know something?"

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seek, even by so dear a means, to attain the sole object of his comrade's affection. She recalled to memory the brave and handsomę soldier who gained the hill in order to clasp her in his arms, and likewise related to her companion the scene in the flaming library. Heimbert, too, spoke of the knightly power of Fadrique; of his noble and unspotted manners; his warm affection for Zelinda, which was manifested during the night after the siege of Tunis, in broken ejaculations, muttered in dreams, with all the earnestness of one who is awake.

Thus the image of the Spanish soldier was indelibly stamped on Zelinda's heart, and having taken deep root, spread both gently and firmly. Heimbert's vicinity, and the almost adoring nature of the attachment which the scholar cherished for the teacher, did not, in the least, interfere with this development, for, from the very first moment, his appearance had impressed her with those feelings of purity and heavenliness, which effectually prevent the intrusion of earthly love. When Heimbert was by himself, he used frequently to smile with placid satisfaction, and say, in his own dear native tongue, "I am so delighted to be enabled to perform the same service for Fadrique consciously, that he once did for me with his sister unconsciously." And then he would sing a German sonnet on Clara's beauty and charming loveliness of character, so that his melody, ringing gracefully over the lonesome desert, beguiled the monotony of his retirement.

As Zelinda came one evening, in her wonted natural dignity, bearing a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he accosted her with a smile, and said: "I cannot conceive why you should still take the trouble, kind maiden, to visit me in the desert here. You cannot surely find pleasure in magic arts, since the spirit of truth and love has begun to dwell in you. You might easily transform the appearance of things in the Oasis to the state in which God created them, and then I could accompany you thither." "You speak truly" said Zelinda, “I too have thought of this for some time, and should have arranged all properly, had not a strange visiter disturbed my power. The Dervise you saw in Tunis is at present with me in the island; and as we had formerly been accustomed to practise our magic feats together, he wished to do so again. He observes the change which has been effected in me, and therefore presses me vigorously to join in his schemes.”

"He must be expelled from the island, or converted,” exclaimed Heimbert, fastening his military feet, and raising his targe from the ground. "Pray be kind enough immediately to conduct me to the fairy isle."

"You avoided it so scrupulously before," said the astonished maiden; "and it is yet quite unaltered in its strange appearance."

"Before, it would have been temerity in me to venture thither," replied Heimbert. "You kindly came to see me here, and this was better for both of us. Now, however, the old Dervise might lay snares for you, and therefore I feel it to be my knightly duty to undertake this work." And the pair walked rapidly through the now darkening desert, in the direction of the blooming isle.

Zelinda hung down her head in mute shame, and took back her proffered gifts. On the following evening she brought a similar present, and with a confident smile took the desired oath. Then Heimbert, without hesitation, partook of the excellent repast; and from this time on, the scholar carefully provided for her teacher in the desert. Ever and anon Heimbert would hint to her how his friend Fadrique's fervent love for her had of the wanderers; the stars, ascending in the heavens,

CHAPTER XIII.

Enchanted odours began to play around the temples

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