University of Virginia Library

16. CHAPTER XVI.

Abdalasis had fixed his seat of government
at Seville, as permitting easy and frequent
communications with the coast of Africa. His
palace was of noble architecture, with delightful
gardens extending to the banks of the Guadalquivir.
In a part of this palace resided many
of the most beautiful christian females, who
were detained as captives, or rather hostages, to
insure the tranquillity of the country. Those
who were of noble rank were entertained in
luxury and magnificence; slaves were appointed
to attend upon them, and they were arrayed
in the richest apparel and decorated with the
most precious jewels. Those of tender age
were taught all graceful accomplishments; and
even where tasks were imposed, they were of
the most elegant and agreeable kind. They
embroidered, they sang, they danced, and passed
their times in pleasing revelry. Many were
lulled by this easy and voluptuous existence:

the scenes of horror through which they had
passed were gradually effaced from their minds,
and a desire was often awakened of rendering
themselves pleasing in the eyes of their conquerors.

After his return from his campaign in Lusitania,
and during the intervals of public duty,
Abdalasis solaced himself in the repose of this
palace, and in the society of these christian captives.
He remarked one among them who ever
sat apart; and neither joined in the labours nor
sports of her companions. She was lofty in her
demeanour, and the others always paid her reverence;
yet sorrow had given a softness to
her charms, and rendered her beauty touching
to the heart. Abdalasis found her one day in
the garden with her companions; they had
adorned their heads with flowers, and were
singing the songs of their country, but she sat by
herself and wept. The youthful emir was
moved by her tears, and accosted her in gentle
accents. “O fairest of women!” said he,
“why dost thou weep, and why is thy heart
troubled?” “Alas!” replied she, “have I not
cause to weep, seeing how sad is my condition,
and how great the height from which I have
fallen? In me you behold the wretched Exilona,
but lately the wife of Roderick, and the
queen of Spain, now a captive and a slave!”

and, having said these words, she cast her eyes
upon the earth, and her tears began to flow
afresh.

The generous feelings of Abdalasis were
aroused at the sight of beauty and royalty in
tears. He gave orders that Exilona should be
entertained in a style befitting her former rank;
he appointed a train of female attendants to
wait upon her, and a guard of honour to protect
her from all intrusion. All the time that he
could spare from public concerns was passed in
her society; and he even neglected his divan,
and suffered his counsellors to attend in vain,
while he lingered in the apartments and gardens
of the palace, listening to the voice of Exilona.

The discreet Ayub saw the danger into which
he was falling. “Oh Abdalasis,” said he, “remember
the words of thy father. `Beware, my
son,' said he, `of the seductions of love. It renders
the mighty weak, and makes slaves of princes!”'
A blush kindled on the cheek of Abdalasis,
and he was silent for a moment. “Why,” said
he, at length, “do you seek to charge me with
such weakness. It is one thing to be infatuated
by the charms of a woman, and another to be
touched by her misfortunes. It is the duty of
my station to console a princess who has been
reduced to the lowest humiliation by the tri

umphs of our arms. In doing so I do but listen
to the dictates of true magnanimity.”

Ayub was silent, but his brow was clouded,
and for once Abdalasis parted in discontent
from his counsellor. In proportion as he was
dissatisfied with others or with himself, he sought
the society of Exilona, for there was a charm in
her conversation that banished every care. He
daily became more and more enamoured, and
Exilona gradually ceased to weep, and began to
listen with secret pleasure to the words of her
Arab lover. When, however, he sought to urge
his passion, she recollected the light estimation
in which her sex was held by the followers of
Mahomet, and assumed a countenance grave
and severe.

“Fortune,” said she, “has cast me at thy feet,
behold I am thy captive and thy spoil. But though
my person is in thy power, my soul is unsubdued.
and know that, should I lack force to defend my
honour, I have resolution to wash out all stain
upon it with my blood. I trust, however, in thy
courtesy as a cavalier to respect me in my reverses,
remembering what I have been, and that
though the crown has been wrested from my
brow, the royal blood still warms within my
veins.[23]

The lofty spirit of Exilona, and her proud
repulse, served but to increase the passion of
Abdalasis. He besought her to unite her destiny
with his, and share his state and power,
promising that she should have no rival nor co-partner
in his heart. Whatever scruples the
captive queen might originally have felt to a
union with one of the conquerors of her lord,
and an enemy of her adopted faith, they were
easily vanquished, and she became the bride of
Abadalasis. He would fain have persuaded her
to return to the faith of her fathers; but though
of moorish origin, and brought up in the doctrines
of Islam, she was too thorough a convert
to christianity to consent, and looked back with
disgust upon a religion that admitted a plurality
of wives.

When the sage Ayub heard of the resolution
of Abadalasis to espouse Exilona he was in despair.
“Alas, my cousin!” said he, “what infatuation
possesses thee? Hast thou then entirely
forgotten the letter of thy father. `Beware
my son,' said he, `of love, it is an idle passion,
which enfeebles the heart and blinds the
judgment.”' But Abdalasis interrupted him
with impatience. “My father,” said he, “spake
but of the blandishments of wanton love, against
these I am secured by my virtuous passion for
Exilona.”

Ayub would fain have impressed upon him
the dangers he ran of awakening suspicion in
the caliph, and discontent among the moslems,
by wedding the queen of the conquered Roderick,
and one who was an enemy to the religion
of Mahomet; but the youthful lover only listened
to his passion. Their nuptials were celebrated
at Seville with great pomp and rejoicings,
and he gave his bride the name of
Omalisam; that is to say, she of the precious
jewels;[24] but she continued to be known among
the christians by the name of Exilona.