Although the Queen felt the force of this reply, she did not therefore conclude here, but represented to her fair prisoner, that this was a particular case; that she need have no scruple in feeling an interest and participating in the glory and fortune of a cavalier, to whom she was under such obligations as would be more than a sufficient excuse for her; and that she would thereby engage Don Alonso to treat the Moors that might fall into his power, more kindly. Zuniga was overjoyed to find the Queen espouse his cause with so much earnestness: and Daraxa, fearing that she might betray herself if she persisted in refusing the Queen’s request, thought it more advisable to make no further answer, since silence might imply that she did not object to what was desired of her.
“This will not suffice,” continued the Queen, who was determined to finish the matter, “for when any lady amongst us makes choice of a particular champion, it is usual to bestow on him some token of her preference, such as a scarf, her portrait, a handkerchief, a ribbon, or the like.” This was likewise a custom among the Moors; but Daraxa did not wish to engage herself so far; as, however, the desires of the Queen were laws to her, she presented Don Alonso with a knot of ribbon which she wore on her head, interwoven in the Moorish fashion. Zuniga received this gift with bended knees, and kissing the hand that bestowed it, as lovers were wont to do in those days, he swore never to do any thing to render himself unworthy his mistress’ favor. After this ceremony, the Queen, who was exceedingly pleased at the sight, told Don Alonso that she doubted not he would soon signalize himself by such feats of arms as would evince that he was well deserving of the honor that had just been conferred on him. He answered that he must be dependant on Fortune to furnish him with opportunities, and that it should not be the fault of his heart if he neglected them, or if they terminated unfortunately for him.
After having thus spoken, he returned her Majesty thanks for all her kindness; then addressing himself to the beautiful Moor, he implored her to deign sometimes to bestow a thought on a cavalier whose only glory was to serve his Catholic Majesty, and to render himself worthy of her esteem. After this he departed for the army.
Upon his arrival at the camp, he learned that king Ferdinand and king Mahomet had had an interview, that Baza had capitulated, and that it was stipulated in the articles, that all prisoners made during the siege should be restored on both sides. This news afflicted the amorous Don Alonso, who from that moment believed himself debarred from the sight of the object of his affection: but the Queen, who appeared to have undertaken to complete the happiness of this cavalier, could not make up her mind to think of ever parting with Daraxa, for whom she had conceived so sincere a friendship, that she could scarcely have lived without her company. The Moorish Governor, her father, applied for her return in the most urgent manner, but the Queen wrote to him in such kind and pressing terms, requesting him to allow his daughter to remain with her, that notwithstanding the excess of his love for her, he could not refuse to grant such a request, well persuaded that he should not have reason to repent of his complaisance.
The campaign being thus ended, the King resolved to pass the winter at Seville. He wrote to the Queen to this effect, who accordingly repaired there two or three days before he arrived. Never had the court of that monarch been more magnificent, the lords endeavoured to eclipse each other in splendour, and no expence was spared to make a brilliant figure. Don Alonso, who was one of the richest amongst them, and whose absence had only served to increase his love, spared nothing to make his equipage and train worthy of the Champion of the beautiful Moor, which title he had given himself, and upon which he much prided himself at Court, and the knot of ribbon he had received from that lady was elegantly attached to his breast.
All this, however, signified little with Daraxa, who treated him with the same indifference as the other lords who had professed themselves her lovers, among whom were Don Roderigo de Padilla, Don Juan d’Alsenna, and Don Diego de Castro. The only advantage that Don Alonso had over his rivals was, that he was permitted to visit and converse with his mistress more frequently than the others; for which he was indebted to the Queen’s kindness, who, ardently wishing to make the fair Moor a Christian, that she might marry and retain her at Court, had fixed upon him as the most advantageous match for her.
The Queen tried every means to prevail upon her to change her religion. One day she said to her: “My dear Daraxa, I have a great curiosity and wish to see you dressed in a Spanish habit; as I think that dress will become your beauty better than your own, and as I will make you a present of one I have myself worn, I am sure you will try it on to oblige me.” The Queen hoped by this means to influence her mind by degrees. Daraxa, who was well pleased with the dress of the Spanish women, and rejoiced at being able to please her Majesty, willingly consented to afford her that satisfaction. When she first made her appearance in her new dress, the King and the whole Court were delighted, and she completely eclipsed the numerous beauties that had hitherto charmed them. What jealousies and infidelities did she not cause! For, in proportion as she pleased the men, she became the envy of the women, who of course discovered more imperfections than charms in her.
Although she was not unconscious of the envy that she occasioned, she was rather vexed at it than conceited, and even became careless in her dress. The Queen sometimes quarrelled with her on this subject, and sent her daily new ornaments to prevail upon her to take more pains with her person; but she dressed herself once or twice with these, and thought of them no more. Every one was surprised to observe that she was plunged in a profound melancholy, which nothing could dispel. She sought to be alone, and was often surprised in tears, the report of which much affected the Queen, who, however, considered that she was only unhappy at being so far from her relations, and that her sadness would soon be at an end.
The King, wishing to contribute towards diverting his illustrious prisoner, as well as the numerous officers who had served under him so ably in the late campaign, proposed a solemn bull-fight, and the sports of canes, in some places called carousals: the day fixed on for these amusements was proclaimed, that such cavaliers as chose might prepare for them.
It is now time that I should inform you of the cause of the melancholy of the beautiful Moor; she was enamoured of a young nobleman of Granada, who was descended, as she herself was, from Moorish kings, and whose valour had been proved on several occasions; he was possessed of the most amiable personal qualities; in short, he was one of the most accomplished cavaliers at the Court of Granada. His name was Ozmin. They had been attached to each other from their infancy, and their fathers, who were most intimate friends, had resolved to preserve their amity indissoluble by marriage. On the eve of these nuptials, when Ozmin, who was at Granada, was expected at Baza to celebrate them, Ferdinand suddenly besieged this place with so much secresy and precaution, that there was not the slightest suspicion of it at the Court of king Mahomet.