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TALE I.

THE STORY OF ZULEMA.

And Custance han they taken anon fote-hot,
And in a ship all stereles (God wot)

They han hire set, and bidden hire lerne sayle

Hire litel child lay weeping in hire arm,
And kneling pitously to him she said,
Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee no harm:

With that hire couverchief of hire hed she braid,
And over his litel eyen she it laid,

And in hire arme she lulleth it ful fast,
And into the heven hire eyen up she cast.

CHAUCER.

THE morning was bright and sunny, the sea danced and sparkled gayly-Alvarez, with his net in hand, came from his solitary hut, intending to pursue his daily occupation, but, struck with the beautiful appearance which the ocean presents on a summer's morn, he stood watching its smooth foldings of heavy green dashed with light featherings of the curling foam, and enjoyed the glad breeze which played on his cheek and bosom. The heavy slaty vapour which announces a hot day, still hung in the distant horizon; but over the immediate shore all was blue and shining-Alvarez threw the net into a little boat, which B

was fastened to a small headland, or rather a projecting crag, forming the boundary of his small neglected garden; where the poppy and darnel flourished amidst the scanty stock of vegetables; choaking up the little nourishment, which an uncultivated, chalky soil afforded-his house stood lone and bleak, nearly a quarter of a mile from the adjoining hamlet, and above two leagues from any town. No smoke issued from the chimney, no friendly or playful voice was heard from within; the usual appendages of a Spanish cottage, a goat and some poultry, were wanting, and, but for a large water spaniel, Alvarez would have been alone; like some wretched shipwrecked man, or fearless outlaw seeking a subsistence from wrecks and pillage. Yet the face of Alvarez bore not the stamp of the latter employment; manliness, and dignity,"Tho' something tainted

"With grief, that's beauty's canker,"

were the predominant characteristics. Unlike the rest of his trade, who had been out for some hours, that they might carry the rich harvest of their toils to market, he still loitered to gaze on the "World of Waters," while many a philosophic and bitter reflection passed through his mind, when he thought of the past occurrences of his life. While he stood thus wrapt, his eye looking out intently without perception, he was not aware of a distant black speck which floated on the horizon, until its nearness recalled his attention; when he plainly perceived a small boat, drifting with the tide towards shore. No person was within,

but a dark sea cloak seemed to cover something which lay along the bottom of the boat. At first, Alvarez concluded it was one of the neighbouring fishermen's skiffs, which had escaped from its fastening and was driven back by the tide; but the goodness of the cloak, and above all a certain air of trimness about the boat, made him doubt this idea, and excited his curiosity to ascertain the contents. He feared that should it strike against the crag on which he stood, and which formed the point of a small bay, it might upset, and whatever it contained be lost; he therefore hastened to jump into his own little boat, that he might, by attaching the deserted one to his stern, tow it safely to shore. All succeeded to his wish, and with a feeling of excitement which he had not experienced for some time past, he lifted the cloak, and beheld a woman and child stretched lifeless underneath. Her dress consisting of white trowsers, fastened at the ancles with gold bracelets; her tunic and sleeves closed with the same costly metal; and an embroidered shawl, forming a turban, announced her to be of Moorish origin, had not the fairness of her skin appeared to contradict the supposition. Her jetty hair had partly escaped from her head dress, and formed a pillow for her pale cheek to lie upon; while on her open bosom lay nestled the head of the child, round whom her arms had evidently been infolded, but which now hung listless and unclasped.

Alvarez remained gazing on this unexpected vision with a mixture of wonder and admiration; until roused

by his mute companion, who, snuffing and whining, kept a restless wandering round the bodies.

His master, who had had frequent occasions to notice the proofs of sagacity displayed by this animal, and hoping that to the acute instinct of the dog some signs of life might be evident which were imperceptible to his view, took the lady in his arms, and carrying her to the cottage, laid her in his bed; then returning fetched the infant, and placed it by her side. He afterwards lighted a fire, and warming some wine, poured it down their throats. But perceiving no immediate benefit result, he sat down on the bed-side, and taking the lady's hand between his, the big tears started to his eyes as he thought of the abandoned, helpless state, to which she must have been reduced e'er she had wandered thither. While he thus ruminated, a slight twitching of the cold hand clasped in his startled him—it was again renewed-he stretched his hand to her bosom; it slightly heaved; and laying his lips to hers, he felt a small current breathe forth. His heart beat loudly with hope. The spaniel had for some time past been laying on the child, as if wishing to warm it; and Alvarez fell to chaffing the hands and temples of the woman, who soon began to revive. Who that has been situated like Alvarez, will wonder that as his pleasure increased, the tears dropped faster from his lids, or that their current was stopped by every agitating doubt?

At length his efforts were rewarded by the stranger opening her eyes. After the first effort of recollection

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