part07-第13章

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remained　a　Christian　in　my　heart；　and　am　resolved　to　return　to　the

faith。　I　have　talked　on　the　subject　with　Hussein　Baba；　who　is　a

Spaniard　by　birth；　and　comes　from　a　place　not　far　from　my　native　town。

He　is　equally　anxious　to　see　his　own　country；　and　to　be　reconciled

to　the　church；　and　the　cavaliers　have　promised；　that；　if　we　are

disposed　to　become　man　and　wife；　on　returning　to　our　native　land；　they

will　provide　for　us　handsomely。〃

　　In　a　word；　it　appeared　that　this　extremely　discreet　and　provident

old　woman　had　consulted　with　the　cavaliers　and　the　renegado；　and　had

concerted　the　whole　plan　of　escape。　The　eldest　princess　immediately

assented　to　it；　and　her　example；　as　usual；　determined　the　conduct　of

her　sisters。　It　is　true；　the　youngest　hesitated；　for　she　was　gentle

and　timid　of　soul；　and　there　was　a　struggle　in　her　bosom　between

filial　feeling　and　youthful　passion：　the　latter；　however；　as　usual；

gained　the　victory；　and　with　silent　tears；　and　stifled　sighs；　she

prepared　herself　for　flight。

　　The　rugged　hill　on　which　the　Alhambra　is　built　was；　in　old　times；

perforated　with　subterranean　passages；　cut　through　the　rock；　and

leading　from　the　fortress　to　various　parts　of　the　city；　and　to　distant

sally…ports　on　the　banks　of　the　Darro　and　the　Xenil。　They　had　been

constructed　at　different　times　by　the　Moorish　kings；　as　means　of

escape　from　sudden　insurrections；　or　of　secretly　issuing　forth　on

private　enterprises。　Many　of　them　are　now　entirely　lost；　while

others　remain；　partly　choked　with　rubbish；　and　partly　walled　up；

monuments　of　the　jealous　precautions　and　warlike　stratagems　of　the

Moorish　government。　By　one　of　these　passages；　Hussein　Baba　had

undertaken　to　conduct　the　princesses　to　a　sally…port　beyond　the

walls　of　the　city；　where　the　cavaliers　were　to　be　ready　with　fleet

steeds；　to　bear　the　whole　party　over　the　borders。

　　The　appointed　night　arrived：　the　tower　of　the　princesses　had　been

locked　up　as　usual；　and　the　Alhambra　was　buried　in　deep　sleep。　Towards

midnight；　the　discreet　Kadiga　listened　from　the　balcony　of　a　window

that　looked　into　the　garden。　Hussein　Baba；　the　renegado；　was　already

below；　and　gave　the　appointed　signal。　The　duenna　fastened　the　end　of　a

ladder　of　ropes　to　the　balcony；　lowered　it　into　the　garden　and

descended。　The　two　eldest　princesses　followed　her　with　beating　hearts；

but　when　it　came　to　the　turn　of　the　youngest　princess；　Zorahayda；

she　hesitated；　and　trembled。　Several　times　she　ventured　a　delicate

little　foot　upon　the　ladder；　and　as　often　drew　it　back；　while　her　poor

little　heart　fluttered　more　and　more　the　longer　she　delayed。　She

cast　a　wistful　look　back　into　the　silken　chamber；　she　had　lived　in　it；

to　be　sure；　like　a　bird　in　a　cage；　but　within　it　she　was　secure；　who

could　tell　what　dangers　might　beset　her；　should　she　flutter　forth　into

the　wide　world！　Now　she　bethought　her　of　the　gallant　Christian

lover；　and　her　little　foot　was　instantly　upon　the　ladder；　and　anon　she

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