The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-05
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1856.
The Saracen Lady.

The Saracen Lady.
In the reign of Henry the fifth of England,
called Beauders, or fine scholar-for he W S
actually so learned that he could write his own
name-a great attainment for a king in those
days-there lived in London rich young mer-
chant named Gilbert Beckett.
In that simple old time the wonders OF sci
ence and art, among which we walk and live
just as if they had always been-llke the trees
and flowers, the sky and stars-were never
thought or dreamed of, except by the great
poets, who, may be, with their prophet eyes,
looked away into the fair future, and saw them
looming up, above the coming ages, like the
mountain peaks in the distance of landscape
Then the great ocean could heave and swell,
and roar and rage, and toss their mad frothing
waves up at the sky, as to defy the great God
and then obedient to his will, grow quiet and
smooth again, yearafter year, without one sin
gle ship yenturing over their vast expanse, to
be made afraid by their violence or hattered by
their calm-and all the commerce of the world
was scarcely equal to that of the poorest and
smallest of the kingdoms of our times. Then
going to sea was considered more perilous than
going to battle, voyagers never failed to make
their wills and set their earthly affairs in order
before they weighed anchor and set sail for
foreign parts. To be sure, it has lately seemed
very much as though we were fast going back
to those old, doubtful and dangerous times,
those dark ages of navigation, and that after
our wonderful improvements and discoveries,
we can count but little on safe and prosperous
voyages.
But to return to Gilbert Beckett He was
thought brave and adventurous man when he
left his comfortable English home and sailed for
the holy land to trade with the rich Syrlans for
satin, velvet and gems, which he meant to
bring to England, to sell at great profits. He
probably circulated from this speculation to
double his fortune, and buy title, ard SO be-
come one of the mobiles of the land andliv in
brave castle, where he could receive the king
and court, and entertain them in princely style.
But alas! title and royal guests were not for him
and all the castle he was to lay claim to was a
castle in the air-such one as any body might
build He was taken prisoner by the Turks
robbed of his sbip and sold as slave, fettered
and set at work in the palace gardens of Nah
moud a terrible, fierce faced, black bearded,
big turbaned Saracen chief. .....
1t was very hard fortune that Of poor Gil
bert. He was obliged to toll from morning to
night, digging and spading planting and weed
ing, and all the while with the disadvantage of
not knowing much about the garden business,
and of having heavy chain dragging and
clanking at his ankles. You may depend that
he felt ifhe could get back to England he would
never more aspire to castles and titles, nor trou-
Bile himself if the king and court never should
eat a good dinner or shake their heels at ball
again.
But often out of our greatest misfortune
comes our best good and happiness--and hope
and Joy often follow times of fear and sorrow,
as beautiful ranbows are made out of storms
that have just darkened the sky and beaten
down the flowers. One evening, just as the
meuzzn was calling all pious mussulmen to
prayers, Gilbert Beckett stood leaning against
a palm tree, resting little from his daily to
; and thinking longingly of his country and home
Just then young Saracen lady of marvellous
beauty called Zarina, chanced that way on he
: evening walk, and was very much struck by
the appearance of the stranger. In truth a.
Gilbert stood there gracefully against the
palm, with his pale face cast down, and his sof
auburn hair half yelling his sad eyes, to say
nothing of his long golden lashes and silker
moustache, he was very handsome and inter
esting young man, in spite of the gardener
dress and that slavish chain, looked as proud
and noble as prince.
Zarina thought SO, and though very proud
and timid, drew near to speak few kind words
to him. He looked up at the sound of hel
light step, and for the first time for many
months, he smiled gladdened by the sight Of
her beautiful innocent face.
The ballad does not tell how these two beauti
full beings became acquainted, but it is certain
hot 10 boa dc Il
managed to meet often, and have long walks
and talks together in Ma hmoud's garden. They
first talked of the birds and then the tlowers
then of the stars and the moonlight, then o.
love and then of God Gilbert told Zarina O
the christians blessed faith, and related all the
beautiful and marvellous stories of our lord
Jesus, and Zarina wondered, wept and be
4 lieved
+ Gilbert had learned the Saracen language
and spoke it very we'll, but Zarina did not un,
derstand the En- glisl1 at all. The first word
that she ever spoke was Eyes," which Gilbert
taught her to say when he asked her if she
would be his wife whenever he could gain his
freedom. But month after month, a whole
year went by, and Gilbert was a captive.
One day when Zarna met her lover in
shady garden walk, she said in low, gentle
voice, and with her tender eyes cast down, q
am christian now, dear Gilbert, pray to Goo
morning and night Thou knowest am ar
orphan. l love no one in the world but thee
} then why should stay here? Why shoulds
thou linger longer in bondage? Let us fly te
England. God will guide us safely over the
wide, dark waters, for we are christians anc
need not fear anything. will meet thee tc
night on the sea shore, and bring gold and jew
els enough to purchase vessel and hire a
skillful crew-and when, O, my Gilbert We
are ahoat on the broad blue sea, and sailing to-
wards thy home, thou will bless me and love
me-Wilt thou not"
The merchant kissed the MAJ iden's hand, and
promised to meet her on the strand at the ap-
pointed hour. And he did not fail-but long
he walked the lonely shore, and no light-foot
Zarina came fitting through the deep night
shadows and stealing to his side. North, south,
east and west, he looked-but all in vain. The
night was clear, the winds whispered low, the
little waves slid on the sea shore, and seemed
to invite him to sail away over them to the seas
beyond-but the stars over head twinkled SO
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