Leila; or, The siege of Granada: and Calderon, the courtier . cred crusade. * That sound, thought she, sinking on her knees, summons the Nazarenes to the presence of their reminds me, a captive by the waters of Babylon, thatGod is ever with the friendless. Oh! succour and defendme, Thou who didst loot of old upon Uuth standingamidst the corn, and didst watch over thy chosenpeople in the hungry wilderness, and in the strangersland. Wrapt in her mute and passionate devotions, Leilaremained long in her touching posture. The bell hadceased; all without was hushed and still—^when thedrapery,
Leila; or, The siege of Granada: and Calderon, the courtier . cred crusade. * That sound, thought she, sinking on her knees, summons the Nazarenes to the presence of their reminds me, a captive by the waters of Babylon, thatGod is ever with the friendless. Oh! succour and defendme, Thou who didst loot of old upon Uuth standingamidst the corn, and didst watch over thy chosenpeople in the hungry wilderness, and in the strangersland. Wrapt in her mute and passionate devotions, Leilaremained long in her touching posture. The bell hadceased; all without was hushed and still—^when thedrapery, stretched across the opening of the tent, waslifted, and a young Spaniard, cloaked, from head tofoot, in a long mantle, stood within the space. Hegazed, in silence, upon the kneeling maiden; nor wasit until she rose that he made his presence audible. Ah, fairest! said he, then, as he attempted totake her hand, thou wilt not answer my letters — seeme, then, at thy feet. It is thou who teachest me tokneel. You, prince I said Leila, agitated, and in great. ^/lU^rcori HER NEW LOVER. 115 and evident fear— Why harass and insult me thus ?Am I not that sacred thing; — a hostag-e and a charge ?and is name, honour, peace, all that woman is taughtto hold most dear, to be thus robbed from me, underthe name of a love, dishonouring to thee, and an insultto myself? Sweet one, answered Don Juan, with a slightlaugh, thou hast learned, within yonder walls, acreed of morals little known to Moorish maidens, iffame belies them not. Suffer me to teach thee easiermorality and sounder logic. It is no dishonour to aChristian prince to adore beauty like thine ; it is noinsult to a maiden hostage if the Infant of Spain profferher the homage of his heart. But we waste , and envious tongues, and vigilant eyes, areround us ; and it is not often that I can baffle them,as I have done now. Fairest, hear me ! and this timehe succeeded in seizing the hand, which vainly strug-gled against his c
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookidleilaorsiegeofgr00lytt, booksubjectgranad
