Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-15

of their palace, she entered tower ana,
having barred the door, assembled to the pat
Elements. From thence she called to them
in piercing accents, expressive OF her nsup-
portable anguish and desperate determine
sion. "Let this city," said she, II" be hence
forth called Nlalacca, in memorial OF the
most wrctched of women, who therein put
an end to her days" SO saying, she threw
herself headong from the tower, and was
dashed to pieces. The city, adds the an
cient chronlcler, received the name thus Civ
en- it, though afterwards soicned TO Malaga,
1t still retains, in memory of the ,ragical end
of Flornda.
The Countess Fradna abandoned this
scene of wo, and returned to Centa, accom-
panied by her infant son. She took with
her the remains of her unfortunate daughter,
and gave them honorable seputure in a
mausolem of the chapel belonging to the cit
adel. Count Julian departed for Carthage
ma, where he remained plunged in horror al
this doleful event.
About this time, the cruel Suleiman, hav-
ing destroyed the family of Muza, had sent
an Arab general, named Alahor, 10 succeed
Abdalass as cmir or governor of Spaln.-
| The new cmir was of "A cruel and suspicious
nature. and commenced his sway with stern
severity that soon made those under his
command hook back with regret to the easy
rule of Abdaasis. lie regarded with an eye
of dstrust the renegade Christians who had
aided in the conquest, and who bore arms in
the service of the Moslcms; but his deepest
suspicious fell upon Count Julian. " He
has been traitor to his countrymen," said
he: I" how can we be sure that he will not
prove traitor TO US 7"
A sudden instruction Of the Christians
who had taken refuge in the Astnrain noun
tains quickenod his suspicious, and inspired
him with fears of some dangerous conspira-
cy against lis power. In the heieh, of his
anxiety. he hethonphi him Of h'abdn
sage named Yuza, who had accompanied
HIM from Africa. This son of Science was
wiihered in form, and looked as if he had
ou,lived the usual term of mortal life. In
the course of his studies and travels in the
East, he had collected the knowledge and eX-
perience Of ages, being skilled in astrology
and, it is sai1, in nocromancy, and possessing
the marvellous gift of prophecy or dvinalion.
To this expounder Of mysteries Alahor APP
piled, to learn whether any secret treason
mcnanced his safety
The astrooeer listened with deep attcn-
ton and overwhelming brow to all the sur.
misses and suspicious of the cmir; then shut
himself up TO consult his books, and COM
munc with those supernatural intclligencicS
subsrrvient to his wishes. At an appointed
hour the enir sought HIM in his cell. 1t was
filled with the smoke of perfumes squares
and circles and various diagrams were de-
scribed upon the floor; and the asroogcr
was porting over a scroll Of parchment COW
cred with cabalislc characters. He recciv-
cd Alahor with IA gloomy and sinister aspcc,
pretending to have discovered fearful por-
tents in the heavens, and 10 have had strange
dreams and mystic visions.
" Oh en.r," said he, BE on yonr guard
Treason is around you, and in your path :
your life is in peril. Beware Of Count Jn-
Ian and his family"
Enough" sad the enir. "Thry shall
all die Parents and chIIIrcn--all shall
die !"
lie forthwith sent a summons TO Count Jn-
liam to attend him in Cordova. The mes
srnIcr found him plunged in affection for
the recent death of his daughter The
count excused himself on account of this mis-
fortune from oheying the commands OF the
cmir in person, but sent several of his adhe-
rents. Ills hesitation, and the circumstance
of his having sent his family across the straits
to Africa, were construed by the Jealous
mind Of the emir into proofs of guilt. He
no longer doubted his being concerned in the
recent Instruction, and that he had sent hi.
family away, preparatory to an attempt, by
force Of arms, to subvert the Moslem domi.
nation. In his fury he put to death Sisebur.
to and Evan, the nephews of Bishop Oppas
and sons of the former king, Witiza, sus.
pecling them of taking part in the treason
Tins did they expiate their trea chpry tC
their country in the fatal battle of the eau,
dalete.
Alahor next hastened TO Cartiagena tc
seize upon Count Julian. SO rapid were
his movements that the count had barrel,
time to escape with fifteen cavaliers, will
whom he took refuge in the strong castle o
MarcuellO, among the mountains of Arragon
The emr, enraged to be disappointed of hi
prey, embarked al Carthagena, and crossed
the Stats of Centa, 10 make caplives of tht
Countess Frandina and her son.
The old chronicle from which we take th
part of our legend presents gloomy picture
OF the countess in the stern fortress to which
she had fled for refuge; a picture hcighten
ed by supernatural horrors. These latter tn,
sagacious reader will admit or reject, accor.
ding to the measure of his faith and juds.
ment; always remembering, that in darL
and eventful times, like those in question, in.
volving the desinles of nations, the downfall
, of kingdoms, and the crimes of rulers ant
mighty men, the hand of fate is sometime.
; strangely visible, and confounds the wisdom
OF the worldly wise, by ntimalions and por.
: tents above the ordinary course of things
with this proviso we make no scruplc to fol-
low the venerable chronlcler in his narration
Now so it happened, that the Counties.
f Frandina was seated late at night in he,
chamber in the city of Centa, winch stand
on lofty rock, overlooking the sea. She
was revolving in gloomy thought the late dis
nf hpr f,p il,, ,h,. ,l, L.. 4