The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-13


As ZDhara contemplated this fairy scene,
her soul was stepped IA the honey Of delight
the ihorns Of care, and the gnawing caustlc Of
sorrow, were alike shut out and when the
Aga held the cup 10 her lips, sparkling with
the cold rock water, she thanked him with
smile, VIII Oh spread the glossy Tea hers Of hope
over the black heart Of ialsellood.
But ere long the serpent tongue of guilt
betrayed its worthless purpose, and the al
irlghted maiden learnt the unholy passion
winch had caused her TO be thus borne away
from the roof of her father, with terror which
denied her uiterance. The vnws breathed by
her perhdlous suiior, did but rouse hatred in
her BOSOM and as she became more calm,
she welded the name Of Rechid Aga to every
reproachful epithei With which her memory
supplied her. She reminded him Of the heavy
chain Of gratitude that had beea flung around
her BY the generous aid of Mohammed, ere
she had learnt to love him; and she vowed
by the soul Of the prophet, and by the grave
Of her father, that she would rather die by her
own hand, than be the wife Of another. The
protesiations Of the Aga fell on her like water
upon sand. and left no impression; while the
young man CRASHED the sharp teeth Of disap-
pnintment against the shiyered weapon OF de-
drawn from amidst the folds 81 her girdle, she
threatened TO sheathe the steel OF death in her
heart, il he did not leave her ON the instant.
The Agn urged and exp,stpIaied in vain.
lie represented the ifapossibility Of her return
to the city, aIpne and unprotected; but The
maiden spuraed alike his threats and his en-
treaties; and slfs had raised her hand TO strike,
preicring death to further communion with
hpe
Of horses was heard ia the distance; and be-
fore Rechi Aga could warn her Of the proba-
bic danger, wild shrek from Zohaa sum
moned 10 their side party of predatory
Arabs.
The maiden had scarcely time to cover her
face with her robe, when the foremost Of the
train checked his steed Under the shadow Of
the tree beneath which she was sitting; while
i'll the next instant, the ga who had drawn
his scimitar on the first alarm, was wounded,
oserpowered, and bound to one Gifts branches
So unlocked for capture, almost in the vi
cinily OF the city, was hailed with delight by
the Arabs, whose chief immediately claimed
the maiden ms his spoil; and having looked,
upon her beauty talked exultinely Of the num-
Der of purses which would freely be paid
down for so fair purchase while others APP
the whole Of which, at their practised glance
at once deterted, were OF great value. Iav-
ing satisfied themselves on this point, half
dozen of the most distinguished of the party
seated themselves on the grass, and prepared
to partake otHthe fruits which were still spread
before the maiden; viii g the rest formed into
separate groups on the margin Of the stream,
drew from their travelling hays their less
cnf rsx,l
meal.
Zohara, meanwhile, hooked on trembling'y,
and vague prospects Of escape rolled across
her mind blu, like wreaths OF vapor they left
nothing tangible behind and as she turned
aside from her capt,rs, and her eye fell on the
droopi an wounded Aga, the origin of all
her snfferinys, her heart froze within her, and
her pulses stood still, rs though Azrael had
passed his finger upon her brow.
Coiled among the branches above her head,
she beheld an enormous serpent, slowly NOV
ing towards the Dough, to which the unhappy
young man had been secured The sunlight
fell Pickering through the leaves, and touch
ing at intervals the bright scales with which
he was covered, turned them into Jewels his
deep green eyes looked like emeralds, and
his forked tongue protruded its poisoned lance
Avs. On, on he moved, and Zohara could
.ot stir limb, nor utter a cry for help-on,
IN, until his head rested on the shoulder Of the
wounded man, and his cleaning folds were
coiled around his body. Here for a while it
remained, as though contemplating the scene
beneath and then gliding away into the thick
foliage as noiselessly as he had stolen forth,
he disappeared among the leaves.
nod ,o1 he
would have warned her captors Of the vicinity
Of their dangerous enemy, aid besought of
them 10 rescue the insensible Aga from so
horrible DEATH but at this moment, the
Arabs, having drunk too deeply from their
wine-sktns, began to wrangle among them
selves, and never ceased their dispute until the
sumber Of inebriety stole upon them, when
they, one by one, laid their heads upon the
earth and slept.
Now indeed the maiden began TO let the
wings Of hope fluttcr about her heart, but she
yet felt the necessity of caution, for although
the groups by the river bank followed the ex
amples Of their chiefs, and flung themselves
into the attitude Of repose, she knew that theirs
would be the lighter slumbers of fatigue,
which an ungnarded movement night serve
10 dissipatc v bile therefore she was turn
Ing IN nef NINA 'ile Host Ieasiple iHcdils VI
success, her thoughts divided between her
terror OF the serpent, and her hope Of escape
from her enemies, the mighty snake once
more appeared above her head, and as her
eye again rested upon it, she crouched down
witt, clasping hands and clenched teeth, with
out pow er to Withdraw herself from danger.
The serpent, however, glidcd down the tree,
and passed her by UNDECIDED, attracted by The
scent of the wine skins, which yet lay beside
the sleeping Arabs. Twice, thrice he raised
his crested head above them, and then plunged
it INTO the liquid, he drank deep, and flung
back into the vine few heavy black drops Of
the foul poison which hung about his Jaws.