The New Orleans crescent., 1869-01-31
THE MOORISH PRISONER.


there resided at the Castle OF Fakenberg cnlv- |
alrous end honorable nobeman, whose name aud
deeds are recorded In the annals of his country.
Count Britzman held distinguished place at the
court OF his sovereign. His wife, many years MS
junior, was reported to be one of the most beaut
ful and accomplished women OF the day she re-
sided with her husband and daughter-the last |
named being their only child-in the castle winch
Is mentioned above Nothing occurred 10 disturb
the domestic tranquility of the Britzmans until the
celebrated battle of Roncesvales. IL was at TINS
fatal fight that Charlemagne lost the high renown
which series of victories and deeds OF nooie
daring had gained him. and IA which so many oi |
his peers lost their lives. The richest trophy |
which the Moors won on this occasion was the |
person Of the gallant Britzmsn. whom they car.
red away with them as their captive. The count |
had been found on the field, faint with his exer-
tiops and less Of blood; and discovering that he
lived only bysconvusiye breathing, which at inter,
walls broke from his mangled breast. they carried
him of in q senseless state. As soon as ne was
restored to life and consciousness by the Moorish
pbyscians, the victorious ehlettalns VINO mad oeen
engaged in the battle begun to prefer each h's
claim 10 the possessions of the noble prisoner. 80
loud and various were they that it was soon found
to be impossible either to adjust or satisfy them,
and it was as length determined by the King that
the claimants should cast lots for the prize, which
each of them was SO earnestly desirous OF winning:
The impartiality Of this method recommended
itself the warriors and chance gave the costody
| Of Count Britzman to the Prince Marotes, wno
| Immediately began to exercise the rights OF
| master over the warrior whom chance had placed
:. The prowess and military slill Of the count had
! been SO often and dearly felt by the Moors
| that Marlotes fnew II was OF the highest import.
| ance TO the success Of the cause Ia which he
was engrossed to secure the aid OF SO potent
and Influential an agent With view. therefore,
TO copcate bInn as the 1rst step toward gaining
! him over, the Moorish chieftan changed hts cap-
| tivty and took him from the miserable place In
| which he had been kept since the battle INTO MS
| own palace. Kindness and courtesy, and all the
i'll, 81 raRn ord
| were put into practice to overcome the stubborn
virtue of Briizmsn who, although he felt crate.
ful for the ease which he enjoyed, did not yet
value il highly as to barter Tor II DIS Onrisuan
| faith and kDightly honor. Msrlotes offered him ID
vain his two daughters In marriage, with large
train of male and female slaves, palace and reve-
pues which far surpassed the wealth ne nad
possessed in his own land. In vain also did he
represent 10 him that power almost unlimited
should be placed within bis reach II ne would re-
pouuce the faith of his fathers and embrace thar
of Mahomet. AT fret a short and earnest, but at
the same time courteous, refusal OF the honor
which the Moor offered by giving bis daughters to
| be the captveis wives, was the only reply Wnlcn
the Christian warrior gave. When, however. Mar
Totes pressed his request still further, and his en-
treaties and arguments began to assume the form
| M commands and threats Count Britzmsn indg-
nantly rebuked him for having put upon him the
afront Of believing he would renounce his re.
ligon. The Moor left his prisoner in such MOOD
ss convinced the latter that he had nothing furtner
A very short time served to convince the count
| that bis fears were but too well grounded: some
| of NarlOtesi soldiers appeared Ia MS cnamoet
and loading him with manacles, dragged him
10 the common jail of the city, where ne was leit
in a close and solitary prison. weeks, months
and years rolled on without bringing any lnluga-
ton of his sufferings; and, during this time, now
many anxious fears did be experience How
often did his thoughts revert to his castle on the
Rhine Doubtless his beloved countess had long
since mourned him as dead; but still nope ana
Christian fortude enabled him to bear up against
the evils with which fate had chosen to aniict
him Many sigh, and sometimes groan would
| escape him, as ne looked up through the bars oil
his miserable dungeon WINDOW, and saw ,ne ciesi
| blue SKY, and thought of the sunny fields OF his
! | own land, and the companions OF MS warnke
deeds-the glorious twelve who had fallen through
the treachery of the felon, Ganelon, In the san
! culinary fight of RonoesVales. bitter ana pnfnlns
trasttd his present forlorn and helpless CONDITION
| with his former noble state; and his nerves
thrilled and his bosom swelled as though 1t wouiI
, | burst the bonds which held him. But patience
that stern virtue which prisoners learn pertorc
10 practice-cslned, If 1t could not sonsole MIN
e The great Moorish festival of the Beram had al
rived and all the inhabitants OF the city were JOY
ously ayaing themselves OF the license whlcn sal
occasion afforded them TO revel and enjoy thel
sports Even the Christians and jews who dWei
within the town, although they did not regard IN
Beirsm as Q religious ceremony, were yet not les
|
than he Islamites themselves, and the whole Cit
Was like one large fair, In which sill classes Q
people were assembled, and engaged ~ divertin
themselves. The shouts OF mirth ana reveiry re
), upou the ear OF Count BritZman as he lay IN n
lore captivity and his ire rose at the thought ths
the cruel Paypims, who kept him wasting ms mar
., hood in so base q bondage were full OF mirth an
Is freedom. Among the sports OF the day was on
which was a gTfa, ayorte with the N0oris
people. A qigsnts, igure was built up of WOO
and made so strong that il required great lore
aud dexterity 10 throw II down Against th's u
Moorish horsemen ran with their lances, ana q
o. though the most distinguished among them essay
ID ed cir proW ess against the tGbddOs, as 1t WI
c. called it resisted all their efforts. Inc aughtt
to and eers of the people who had assembled 10 WI
Of ness this trial of their warriors skll rose up
,h derision at each successive failure Marlotes WI
q. had expected that this would be the most eecu'
| triumph of the day, and who had been particular
IN desirous that the general populace OF the CT
ed should see, that they might respect tne torce una
il his command was enraged beyond measure
n. these repeated failures. Bis anger transports
er | him hey opd the bounds OF commor prudence, O.
ng be swore that the jousts should be continued, o.
ny that rone of the cavaliers nor even OF the spec'
as tors should depart from the spot and that no 10
a | should be brought to them. As be mad pow
or enough to enforce senseless an edict MS saVi
,r. | subjects were compelled to obey, and stro
Irs GORDON of his guards were instantly ranged rou
the lists.
e! The iocund shouts were now changed TO wal
ing and complaint. The women loudly utter
is their anger, aud the men. less yehenently, s~o
dark and bitter osths against the tyrant, wht
Tor they feared too much to openly rebel again
With feeling of desperation they prepared
,ut renew their efforts bnt either they had exhaust
> their strength, or the angry emotions to viii
an Marlotes edct had given rise, baifled their
ng tempts. They tried in the vain tdDtddos seen
10 be like q rock, and defed ali their Efforts.
each failure the people set up a shout OF derls
we ard anger against the cavalier who hsd been
i'm successful, 80 that at length few persons could
ley found 10 try.
i'm Count Briizmsn's prison was near the city vi
lust beyond which the lists had been placed.
spt be meditated upon his own destiny, the varlt
Dat shouts of the people had reached him: I
in changes in their expression had aroused MS CT
ut. osi,y he saw that something was going wro
es and although their Joy was to him nothing,
kes disappointment of his enemies excited bis ces
ale 10 know what caused it. He called 10 the jail
aft VINO was on the battlement above his cell,
rk, know the reason Of the mOuroful shouts. Il
ont acquaintance with him had softened the heart
red the man. who was not the worst of his race,
and he told the captive shortly of harlotes edict,
yer the despair of the jousteIs.
4. ma - said Count BrtZm