during which, the whole facts relating to the Princess Mera's adventures were, by degrees, unfolded to her imperial parent, who, perceiving the deep root which the attachment had reciprocally taken, consented to their union, provided the earl, in receiving the princess, would adopt her country and religion; the first alternative, was in accordance with the emperor's personal wishes, the other was in deference to the wishes and prejudices of his people. The earl would not have scrupled to have agreed to the first, but the second was doing such violence to his own faith and prejudices, that it presented an insurmountable difficulty. When it was made known, that the latter condition could not be conformed to, the princess took it so to heart, that the colour forsook her cheeks, and the brilliancy of her jet-black eyes was dimmed. The earl was no less affected. He refused all consolation-all food, and rest, and yet he could not make up his mind to make the sacrifice required; thus was an affection in which their happiness-nay their lives, were involved, likely to terminate fatally to both. He thought, at first, his attachment too presumptuous to disclose, which was the occasion of all the early wretchednes he suffered to prey upon him in secret. But as the time approached for the long, and for ever, farewell, love triumphed over every other consideration. And when the earl considered the sacrifice the princess would have made for him-an abandonment of country, and above all,—a doating parent who would have been left to sorrow,-his soul melted within him, and the generosity of his disposition came to the aid of the claim which so confiding and signal an instance of the power of affection in a high born princess, had upon his consideration, when he determined not to be outdone in proofs of an exalted passion, so, at last, he consented to conform, cheerfully, to the conditions imposed, and in receiving the hand of the Princess Mera, the Earl of Pembroke became a good Mahometan, instead of remaining a good Christian. Sir Lionel de Darbye stayed to witness the solemnization of the marriage, between "the beauty of the east," as the princess was familiarly called, and the Earl of Pembroke, whose happiness knew no bounds. The gorgeous marriage festivities over, Sir Lionel, with forty-five of the Christians, hastened his return, five of their party having made their election to remain with the Earl of Pembroke. The separation was peculiarly affecting and touching, with all parties. One camel was loaded with the richest presents of silk scarfs, the most beautiful veils, jewels, and pieces of superb plate, presents for the Lady Bona, the long and sincere affection between whom and the young knight, had now been detailed with all the warmth of an adoring and anxious lover. The Emperor Saladine was unlimited with his costly presents, as if he could not testify, sufficiently, his esteem for him. The parting of Sir Lionel with the Earl of Pembroke, whose proud elevation and enviable happiness, had been induced by the illustrious conduct of the former, was so overcoming, that it was, with difficulty, the two friends could tear themselves away from each other's arms. At length, the final separation was made, and ere long, the glittering ornaments of the Saracen encampment dwindled on the sands before the view, and appeared but the larger particles of the sands, brilliantly shining with the clear and splendid sun. 224 CHAPTER X. "The miserable have no other medicine But only hope." Shakspeare. "But I will keep her ignorant of her good, Shakspeare. ANXIETY of the deepest nature, at last, began to be entertained by all the inhabitants of Godolphin Castle, for the return of the messenger, who had been dispatched to Palestine with the challenge of its lord, to De Bellemonte; but, day after day, week after week, month after month, and no tidings arrived of him, or his commissions, or any news of the youth, Ludolph, to learn some of whom the greatest desire prevailed. |