Chapter 14

“Some time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was.

“Some time passed before I learned my friends’ history. It was sure to leave a deep impression on me. For someone as utterly inexperienced as I was, every detail of their story was fascinating and extraordinary.

“The name of the old man was De Lacey. He was descended from a good family in France, where he had lived for many years in affluence, respected by his superiors and beloved by his equals. His son was bred in the service of his country, and Agatha had ranked with ladies of the highest distinction. A few months before my arrival they had lived in a large and luxurious city called Paris, surrounded by friends and possessed of every enjoyment which virtue, refinement of intellect, or taste, accompanied by a moderate fortune, could afford.

“The old man’s name was De Lacey. He came from a good family in France and had lived there in wealth for many years. His superiors respected him, and his equals loved him. His son had been trained to serve his country, and Agatha had moved among the most distinguished ladies. A few months before I arrived, they had lived in Paris, a large and luxurious city. They were surrounded by friends and had every pleasure that virtue, a refined mind, and taste could provide with a moderate fortune.

“The father of Safie had been the cause of their ruin. He was a Turkish merchant and had inhabited Paris for many years, when, for some reason which I could not learn, he became obnoxious to the government. He was seized and cast into prison the very day that Safie arrived from Constantinople to join him. He was tried and condemned to death. The injustice of his sentence was very flagrant; all Paris was indignant; and it was judged that his religion and wealth rather than the crime alleged against him had been the cause of his condemnation.

“Safie’s father had caused their ruin. He was a Turkish merchant who had lived in Paris for many years. For some reason I could not discover, he fell out of favor with the government. He was arrested and thrown into prison on the very day Safie arrived from Constantinople to join him. He was tried and sentenced to death. His sentence was plainly unjust, and all of Paris was outraged. People believed he had been condemned because of his religion and wealth, rather than the crime he was accused of.

“Felix had accidentally been present at the trial; his horror and indignation were uncontrollable when he heard the decision of the court. He made, at that moment, a solemn vow to deliver him and then looked around for the means. After many fruitless attempts to gain admittance to the prison, he found a strongly grated window in an unguarded part of the building, which lighted the dungeon of the unfortunate Muhammadan, who, loaded with chains, waited in despair the execution of the barbarous sentence. Felix visited the grate at night and made known to the prisoner his intentions in his favour. The Turk, amazed and delighted, endeavoured to kindle the zeal of his deliverer by promises of reward and wealth. Felix rejected his offers with contempt, yet when he saw the lovely Safie, who was allowed to visit her father and who by her gestures expressed her lively gratitude, the youth could not help owning to his own mind that the captive possessed a treasure which would fully reward his toil and hazard.

“Felix had happened to be present at the trial. When he heard the court’s decision, he was overcome with horror and anger. He immediately made a solemn vow to free the prisoner and began looking for a way. After many failed attempts to enter the prison, he found a heavily barred window in an unguarded part of the building. It let light into the dungeon of the unfortunate Muhammadan. Loaded with chains, the prisoner waited in despair for the barbarous sentence to be carried out. Felix went to the window at night and told the prisoner that he intended to help him. The Turk was amazed and delighted. He tried to encourage his rescuer by promising him rewards and wealth. Felix rejected the offers with contempt. Yet he saw the lovely Safie, who was allowed to visit her father and expressed her heartfelt gratitude through gestures. He could not help admitting to himself that the captive possessed a treasure that would fully repay his efforts and risks.”

“The Turk quickly perceived the impression that his daughter had made on the heart of Felix and endeavoured to secure him more entirely in his interests by the promise of her hand in marriage so soon as he should be conveyed to a place of safety. Felix was too delicate to accept this offer, yet he looked forward to the probability of the event as to the consummation of his happiness.

“The Turk quickly saw that his daughter had won Felix’s heart. He tried to win Felix’s fuller support by promising him her hand in marriage as soon as the Turk was brought to safety. Felix was too sensitive to accept the offer. Yet he looked forward to the possibility of marrying her as the fulfillment of his happiness.

“During the ensuing days, while the preparations were going forward for the escape of the merchant, the zeal of Felix was warmed by several letters that he received from this lovely girl, who found means to express her thoughts in the language of her lover by the aid of an old man, a servant of her father who understood French. She thanked him in the most ardent terms for his intended services towards her parent, and at the same time she gently deplored her own fate.

“Over the following days, preparations for the merchant’s escape went ahead. Felix’s enthusiasm grew as he received several letters from the lovely girl. An old servant of her father who knew French helped her write in her lover’s language. She thanked Felix warmly for planning to help her father. At the same time, she gently lamented her own fate.

“I have copies of these letters, for I found means, during my residence in the hovel, to procure the implements of writing; and the letters were often in the hands of Felix or Agatha. Before I depart I will give them to you; they will prove the truth of my tale; but at present, as the sun is already far declined, I shall only have time to repeat the substance of them to you.

“I have copies of these letters because, while living in the hovel, I managed to get writing materials. Felix and Agatha often had the letters in their hands. Before I leave, I will give you the copies. They will prove that my story is true. But the sun is already low, so I have time only to tell you the substance of the letters.

“Safie related that her mother was a Christian Arab, seized and made a slave by the Turks; recommended by her beauty, she had won the heart of the father of Safie, who married her. The young girl spoke in high and enthusiastic terms of her mother, who, born in freedom, spurned the bondage to which she was now reduced. She instructed her daughter in the tenets of her religion and taught her to aspire to higher powers of intellect and an independence of spirit forbidden to the female followers of Muhammad. This lady died, but her lessons were indelibly impressed on the mind of Safie, who sickened at the prospect of again returning to Asia and being immured within the walls of a harem, allowed only to occupy herself with infantile amusements, ill-suited to the temper of her soul, now accustomed to grand ideas and a noble emulation for virtue. The prospect of marrying a Christian and remaining in a country where women were allowed to take a rank in society was enchanting to her.

“Safie said that her mother was a Christian Arab, seized and made a slave by the Turks. Her beauty won the heart of Safie’s father, who married her. Safie spoke of her mother with great admiration and enthusiasm. Born free, her mother had scorned the bondage she now endured. She taught Safie the principles of her religion. She also taught her to seek greater intellectual powers and an independence of spirit forbidden to female followers of Muhammad. Safie’s mother died, but her lessons left a lasting impression on her daughter’s mind. Safie was sickened by the prospect of returning to Asia and being shut within the walls of a harem. There, she would be allowed only childish amusements, which were ill-suited to her spirit. She was now accustomed to grand ideas and a noble desire to excel in virtue. The prospect of marrying a Christian and staying in a country where women could hold a place in society enchanted her.

“The day for the execution of the Turk was fixed, but on the night previous to it he quitted his prison and before morning was distant many leagues from Paris. Felix had procured passports in the name of his father, sister, and himself. He had previously communicated his plan to the former, who aided the deceit by quitting his house, under the pretence of a journey and concealed himself, with his daughter, in an obscure part of Paris.

“The day of the Turk’s execution was set, but he escaped from prison the night before. By morning, he was many leagues from Paris. Felix had obtained passports in his father’s name, his sister’s, and his own. He had already told his father of the plan. His father helped with the deception by leaving his house, pretending to be going on a journey. He then hid with his daughter in an obscure part of Paris.

“Felix conducted the fugitives through France to Lyons and across Mont Cenis to Leghorn, where the merchant had decided to wait a favourable opportunity of passing into some part of the Turkish dominions.

“Felix led the fugitives through France to Lyons, then across Mont Cenis to Leghorn. The merchant had decided to wait there for a good chance to travel to some part of the Turkish dominions.

“Safie resolved to remain with her father until the moment of his departure, before which time the Turk renewed his promise that she should be united to his deliverer; and Felix remained with them in expectation of that event; and in the meantime he enjoyed the society of the Arabian, who exhibited towards him the simplest and tenderest affection. They conversed with one another through the means of an interpreter, and sometimes with the interpretation of looks; and Safie sang to him the divine airs of her native country.

“Safie decided to stay with her father until he left. Before his departure, the Turk renewed his promise that she would marry his deliverer. Felix stayed with them, expecting the marriage to take place. In the meantime, he enjoyed the Arabian’s company. She showed him the simplest and most tender affection. They spoke through an interpreter, and sometimes their looks spoke for them. Safie sang him the beautiful melodies of her native country.

“The Turk allowed this intimacy to take place and encouraged the hopes of the youthful lovers, while in his heart he had formed far other plans. He loathed the idea that his daughter should be united to a Christian, but he feared the resentment of Felix if he should appear lukewarm, for he knew that he was still in the power of his deliverer if he should choose to betray him to the Italian state which they inhabited. He revolved a thousand plans by which he should be enabled to prolong the deceit until it might be no longer necessary, and secretly to take his daughter with him when he departed. His plans were facilitated by the news which arrived from Paris.

“The Turk allowed the young lovers to grow close and encouraged their hopes, though he secretly had very different plans. He hated the idea of his daughter marrying a Christian. But he feared Felix would resent him if he seemed less than enthusiastic. He knew he was still in the power of the man who had freed him. Felix could choose to betray him to the Italian state where they lived. The Turk considered a thousand plans to keep up the deception until it was no longer necessary. He also planned to take his daughter with him secretly when he left. News from Paris made his plans easier to carry out.

“The government of France were greatly enraged at the escape of their victim and spared no pains to detect and punish his deliverer. The plot of Felix was quickly discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were thrown into prison. The news reached Felix and roused him from his dream of pleasure. His blind and aged father and his gentle sister lay in a noisome dungeon while he enjoyed the free air and the society of her whom he loved. This idea was torture to him. He quickly arranged with the Turk that if the latter should find a favourable opportunity for escape before Felix could return to Italy, Safie should remain as a boarder at a convent at Leghorn; and then, quitting the lovely Arabian, he hastened to Paris and delivered himself up to the vengeance of the law, hoping to free De Lacey and Agatha by this proceeding.

“The French government was furious that their victim had escaped. They did everything they could to find and punish the person who had helped him. Felix’s plot was quickly discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were thrown into prison. The news reached Felix and woke him from his dream of happiness. His blind, elderly father and his gentle sister were in a filthy dungeon. Meanwhile, he was enjoying the open air and the company of the woman he loved. The thought tortured him. He quickly made an arrangement with the Turk. If the Turk found a good chance to escape before Felix could return to Italy, Safie would stay at a convent in Leghorn as a boarder. Felix then left the lovely Arabian and hurried to Paris. He surrendered himself to face the law’s vengeance, hoping that this would free De Lacey and Agatha.

“He did not succeed. They remained confined for five months before the trial took place, the result of which deprived them of their fortune and condemned them to a perpetual exile from their native country.

“He did not succeed. They were held for five months before their trial. The trial cost them their fortune and condemned them to permanent exile from their native country.

“They found a miserable asylum in the cottage in Germany, where I discovered them. Felix soon learned that the treacherous Turk, for whom he and his family endured such unheard-of oppression, on discovering that his deliverer was thus reduced to poverty and ruin, became a traitor to good feeling and honour and had quitted Italy with his daughter, insultingly sending Felix a pittance of money to aid him, as he said, in some plan of future maintenance.

“They found miserable shelter in the cottage in Germany, where I discovered them. Felix soon learned what the treacherous Turk had done. Felix and his family had suffered unheard-of oppression for him. Yet when the Turk discovered that Felix, his rescuer, had been reduced to poverty and ruin, he abandoned all decency and honor. He had left Italy with his daughter and insultingly sent Felix a small sum of money. He said it was to help Felix support himself in the future.

“Such were the events that preyed on the heart of Felix and rendered him, when I first saw him, the most miserable of his family. He could have endured poverty, and while this distress had been the meed of his virtue, he gloried in it; but the ingratitude of the Turk and the loss of his beloved Safie were misfortunes more bitter and irreparable. The arrival of the Arabian now infused new life into his soul.

“Those were the events that weighed on Felix’s heart. When I first saw him, he was the most miserable member of his family. He could have endured poverty. Indeed, he took pride in his hardship because it was the reward for his virtue. But the Turk’s ingratitude and the loss of his beloved Safie were more bitter and lasting misfortunes. The arrival of the Arabian now brought new life to his soul.

“When the news reached Leghorn that Felix was deprived of his wealth and rank, the merchant commanded his daughter to think no more of her lover, but to prepare to return to her native country. The generous nature of Safie was outraged by this command; she attempted to expostulate with her father, but he left her angrily, reiterating his tyrannical mandate.

“When news reached Leghorn that Felix had lost his wealth and rank, the merchant gave his daughter an order. He told her to forget her lover and prepare to return to her native country. Generous by nature, Safie was outraged by his command. She tried to reason with her father, but he left her in anger, repeating his tyrannical order.

“A few days after, the Turk entered his daughter’s apartment and told her hastily that he had reason to believe that his residence at Leghorn had been divulged and that he should speedily be delivered up to the French government; he had consequently hired a vessel to convey him to Constantinople, for which city he should sail in a few hours. He intended to leave his daughter under the care of a confidential servant, to follow at her leisure with the greater part of his property, which had not yet arrived at Leghorn.

“A few days later, the Turk came into his daughter’s room. He hurriedly told her that he had reason to believe his presence in Leghorn had been discovered. He believed he would soon be handed over to the French government. So he had hired a ship to take him to Constantinople, and he would sail in a few hours. He planned to leave his daughter in the care of a trusted servant. She would follow when she was ready, bringing most of his property, which had not yet arrived in Leghorn.

“When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it would become her to pursue in this emergency. A residence in Turkey was abhorrent to her; her religion and her feelings were alike averse to it. By some papers of her father which fell into her hands she heard of the exile of her lover and learnt the name of the spot where he then resided. She hesitated some time, but at length she formed her determination. Taking with her some jewels that belonged to her and a sum of money, she quitted Italy with an attendant, a native of Leghorn, but who understood the common language of Turkey, and departed for Germany.

“When she was alone, Safie decided how she should act in this crisis. The thought of living in Turkey was unbearable to her. Both her religion and her feelings opposed it. She found some of her father’s papers and learned that her lover had been exiled. She also learned where he was living. She hesitated for some time, but finally made her decision. She took some of her jewels and a sum of money and left Italy for Germany. An attendant went with her. The attendant was from Leghorn but understood the common language of Turkey.

“She arrived in safety at a town about twenty leagues from the cottage of De Lacey, when her attendant fell dangerously ill. Safie nursed her with the most devoted affection, but the poor girl died, and the Arabian was left alone, unacquainted with the language of the country and utterly ignorant of the customs of the world. She fell, however, into good hands. The Italian had mentioned the name of the spot for which they were bound, and after her death the woman of the house in which they had lived took care that Safie should arrive in safety at the cottage of her lover.”

“She arrived safely at a town about twenty leagues from De Lacey’s cottage. There, her attendant became dangerously ill. Safie nursed her with devoted affection, but the poor girl died. The Arabian was left alone, unable to speak the country’s language and knowing nothing of the ways of the world. But she fell into good hands. The Italian had mentioned the name of the place they were heading for. After the Italian died, the woman who owned the house where they had stayed made sure Safie reached her lover’s cottage safely.”