LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2665, 21 October 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE MAEVELLOUB GABDBN.

Imetc THE SPANISH OF DOHA MARIA DE ZAYS,

Many years ago there lived. In the beautiful and celebrated city of Saragoss i, a «av{Jier, neb'o end rich, whose superior .qualifies rend-red him worthy of tho excellent wife who shared hia fp,tunes, whose virtues aud tslents equa led hia own. As jpledges of mutual happiness, heaven had grant ed to th's worthy ooup'o two daughters, the eldest named Constance, and the other Theodosia. They wera equally remarkable for loveliness, grace, and wit, and were so accomplished that their attractions and fortune earned them to be termed * the two pearls cf Saragossa.’ When they ha! attained the ago of discretion, a certain Don Jorgo became smitten with the charms of Constancy, Th s young cavalier had been born in the same city, was amiable and wealthy, and had a _ younger brother, Frederic, who had conceived a great attachment for Theodosia, but had carefully withheld his pa sion from Don Jorge. Constance Waa not indiff-.rant to the professions of her lover, bat although touched by his attentions, ihe confined herself to appearing honored by tho preference, deo’aring, if her parents had the Intention of giving her In snarrlsge, no one would be so agreeable to her as Doc Jirge With this feeling she jfav.ued bis emit, believing it would be enoounged w.th joy by her patents ; but she observe! so much prudence and reserve In net spi akine on the subject to her father, that if he judged the proposal of her_ lover *n an unfavorable light, ehe could, without any caprice, renounce his pretensions, Frederic was not so successful with Theodosia. Far from receiving his protestations of affection, aha conceived a violent dislike to him. *' he cause of this was her secret love for Dm Jorge, which was eo intense that she inleavored by every means in her power 10 withdraw hia attentions from her sister- This repulse so affected Frederic that 113 fell into a melancholy cmditlon, which Tit observed by all hia friends, but tho real o-nco of .which was not known. ConAtmos, however, who had al-o remarked the ■change, could not forbear suspecting the rot.Eoa, lor, notwithstanding her partiality to Don Jorge she alco had felt an interest In -tho welfare of hia brother. She soon found ■an opportunity of questioning him, and 'srooeivtd hia confession of the love he bora to 1 faer sister, and the cold return it met with. ■While Conatanoe addressed words of consolation and sympathy to tho young man, • her slater Theodosia was far differently em- • ployed, plotting bow she could o’ tain the ■ transfer of Don Jorge's affections to herself ; ■ end, at length, she resolved to Inform him • that his brother aud Constance loved each other. A favorable cooaaioa soon presented ! itself, and soon afterwards D:n Jorgo met ■ Frede io returning from an interview with Constance, which confirmed his suspicions. He axprei.sed hli displeasure to the lady, who replied, ‘Year insinuations, Don Jor/e, are too unjust to require any reply. If I do not give yon any proofs of my regal d is it • reason to believe that I am more attentive to your brother? As to ■tho indiffe once of which you accuse me, let me inform you, iu order to spare enoh reproa ihoe for toe future, that so long as yon era not my husband, 1 shall observe tho S«r»a conduct,’ So say.nff, and without •waiting to hoar the excuses of Don Jorge, ehe quitted tbe apartment. Tho perfidious Theodosia lost not a moment 'in following up her advantage Seeing him pen-iva and unhappy, she approached aud add' Cssod him :

* I cannot conceal longer from y n the secret I have hitherto kept iu my own mind. If you will promise never to reveal what I tell you, I will inform you the omae of the coldness of my sister Constance. Pho loves your brother, and they are concerting plana for their mar. lage Jhe evil sp Dears to me without remedy, and thereto-e, I recommend to you all the resignation and wisdom yon can command to bear against it. Convince youreo'f that Constance, falth’ess and fictile, was not born to constitute your happiness, and that Heaven has in reserve for you the cnly woman who is worthy of sharing your a£Ee stiona.’

Thus Theodosia gave the rein to her trea jhory. and was sufficiently cunning not to speak for the moment of her love for him, and thus awaken a suspicion of treason, Don Jorge, upon this Information, gave himself up to despa’r and anger Exaggerating the audacity of his brother, and the infidelity of Constance, ho became blinded with jealousy, and vowed vengeance against Frederic Dissimulating, however, hia fury before Theodoeia, in order not to alarm her, he thanked her courteously for the service aha had rendered him, and declared himself grvte'u l . He left her, therefore, indulging in a pleasant reverie of having withdrawn Den Jorge from her water, after which he would no doubt claim her hand. No sooner had the irritated lover left the honsa than he sought for hia brother. After calling a page, in whom ha implicitly confided, ha ordered him to be In readiness with ■a. horse and \ money outside the city, in a -place he Indicated. Having taken these precautions, he invited his brothel-, on the plea of having nrgent business to transact with him, to walk in the plain. VF ithout suspecting treachery, the latter accompanied Don Jorga; and on arriving at a lonely spot, he was suddenly stabbed to the heart by his treacherous companion, who immediately took to flight, and went direct to Barcelona, where, finding a vessel about to sail for Naples, he embarked, and quitted Spain, as ha considered, for ever. The body of the nnfortnnate Frederic was discovered, and removed to his family, who were plunged in affliction. Ko one, however, saspected his murderer. Constance appeared to mourn the absence of Don Jorge, but rot in s manner to mako It suspected that she considered him the author of the o:ime.

About this time, the father of the young ladioj died, leaving them to the 'gaardlan c*ra of their mother, with a large fortune. Two years tassed over without any news arriving of the absent cavalier, who was at length forgotten, even by Constance Theodosia, uorrevaj, whose passions were etrsnger, did not renounce the hope of seeing him return, and was, consequently, ▼ery dmiroas of her sister being married, to remove any farther obstacle to her own union, >

At this period, some family affairs conducted to hargoisa a cavalier from the provinces, who was richer in personal qualities, than is worldly means. He was named Carks, and he lodged in a house opposite to that inhabited by Constance. The constant sight of the beautiful damsel was more than his philosophy could resist, and he epeedily became enamored, Hot p«a'«6ilng tto wealth necessary to propose a marriage, bo was cbllgad to have recourse to cunning He found an opportunity of becoming acquainted with Fnbla, the mother of Ccnstanoa ; and gaining thus an introduction to the house, by the aid of sundry preeeotj, hia agresuble manners, and Eowats of conversation, he captivated the onsehold. Having tb.ua d apoird his batteries in the f-ffair ho had so much at heart, ho unfolded h!a project to an old servant who attendi d him, and whom he promised to reward liberally Jn case of success. He then counterfeited illaers, and took to hia bed. The noble S’abia was not long without hearing of this unfortunate condition of her neighbor, and petrated with a lively interest In his welfare, she visited him, and paid him ®s maoh attention as she would have dons to her own sou. The pretended sick man be oame apparently worse, and the doctor, who had b. .en b. ibod to keep the secret, pronounced him to be cn the point of death S?nding for Fabia, Don Carlos thus addtecsed her: —‘Yon soe, Madame, to what a miserable state my existence is reduced; but, aevertbcl-ses, although on the point of quitting bfa in .the prime of you to, I am loss afflictod on that account, thin from being able to be useful to you. It is now six months, Seuors, that I havo loved your daughter Constance ; and her beauties and virtues bave made me desirous to mavry her; bat not having the courage to speak for myself, I h .ve waited the arrival of a relation to mention the matter for me. Bat alas ! it la no longer permitted that I should encourage such hopes, and the only request I have to raako is that you will allow me to leave all my property to Constance, and ba--some yourself n.y testamentary executrix ’ Fabia thanked theexplring Carl a In warm ‘te'-ma for hLs generosity, and testified with tear.-, bar cense of the loss about to happen. The hilalgo made hia will, and the amount of the legacy was a hundred thousand eCvata Ho also assigned to her sever.-'! imagb'sry /iney.irds in the mountains cf Spain. Tiro mother of the fortunate in-

heritor of them riches prayed Heaven, la her gratitude, to eparo his days : and returning home embraced Constance, saying, ‘Ah! my daughter, what obligations you owe to Don Carlos ! You may well, from today, consider yourself unfortunate In having lost such a husband.’

1 Would to Heaven ’ replied the mvdea (otarmed with the good qualities cf *’oa Usrioa, and, above all, of the fortune left to hen, 1 that he may yet survive and live long, chat he may prove how greatly we vaue hie friendship. ’ In a few days Don Oerloi was pronouno d out of da >ger, and in the coarse of a momh was quite convalescent. Be was not only cured, but bad the happiness to marry Constance, whose love he soon secured by tender attention and presents, until he had sufficiently gained her affections to tell her of tho deceit he bad practiced, and to which he had bean lust gated by her bounty aud accomplishments. What woman could resist such a plea ? on Oerlos received bis full pirdoa, and was cherished more than ever.

Four years passed away in great hr.ppl nese, the birth of two sons adding to their enjoyment. It was about this time that Don Jorge, unable to support bis exile, and willing to encounter any danger for the sake of seeing again the object of his constant thoughts, returned to (Saragossa, after having traversed Italy, Fiedmont and Flanders, Tho death of his brother Frederic not having been attributed to him, his gnilty fears ware his only monitor?, ood ho entered his native village in security. The person who was least satisfied with his return was Constance. Sincerely attached to her husband, and firm to her matrimonial vows, she felt displeasure at the steps ho commenced taking to see her. These attempts, the serenades, aud the gallantries practised in open day. caused the inhabitants to murmur. The lady herself also remained deaf end insensible to all hia attentions. In this disdain she was encouraged by her sister Theodosia, who felt her own love for Don Jorgo revive ; bat receiving from him in return nothing but the most cruel ncglcrt and scorn, she fell dangerously ill, and Constance—to whom this secret w-~s now confided, and who tenderly loved her sister, desired, if is was possible to effect tee desired union. To save the life of Theodosia, she determined to do violence to her own feelings and grant an Interview to Don Jorge, trusting to hia sense cf nrnor to comply with her wishes for the marriage. She aoiordingly sent for the cavalier one d-y when her husband was hunting, end, on his arrival, thus addressed him : -

' Your {departure, Don Jorge, from Strata CBi», after the astnrances I had given you of my attachment, removed from mo all hope of becoming your wife aid he, to whom I am now united, is so dear to mo, that I return a thousand thanks to Providence for doaorvlrg him. But in my place, I cff.-r you a part of myself, my shter Theodosia, who esteems you tenderly, and will p.-rlah if she remains any longer the victim of your disdain. »how, then, the consideration you may have for my fami'y by saving her from destruction.’ These worda troubled the heart of T)on Jorge, who could not renounce the fatal Influence exercised ova* him by the voioa and chirms of Constance. (seeing him obdurate, the (knora continued in a tone of ratlery; ‘ i-et us come to terms, Don Jorge If you, who are so skilful in organising fetes, can within this time and to-morr:.w create, upon the plot of ground before my house, a garden, filled with rich and frcgrant flowers, trees and golden fruits, with foun tans flowing trom diamond Kiosks; and if you find means, hr its shade and magnificence. with birds of every species that must inhabit it, to, rival the dciloiona hanging gardens of Semiramis over the palace of Babylon, I will consent to fl .o with you; bat, if you cannot execute these conditions, you must pledge mo your word to marry Theodosia.’

Having said these words, she retired to her apartment, satisfied with the success of her eff .rts, and leaving Don Jorge, »s she considered, no alternative bat the marriage with her sister. With a troubled mind and •n agitated air, the cavalier quitted the house, and disconsolately wandered iota the field", when suddenly a man enveloped in a scarlet cloak made his appearance, and thus addressed him:—

‘ What ails thee, Don Jorge 7 Why sighing and complaining when then shouldst be stirring ? The remedy to thy sorrow is not so difficult to bs found.’

The cavalier, surprised to find his secret known, regarded his questioner olosely, and replied : • And who are you thit dares to undertake to promise me relief ? What can yon do, when 1 hove been asked to undertake what the demon himself could not perform 7 ’

* And if I am that person himself, what woaldet thou (ay. Oome, take courage, and tell me what thou wilt give me if I create the garde a mentioned by the Dona Construe?,’

‘State yonrself the price for whit yon pretend you oan do lam ready to give yon anything.’ •Sign the compact, by which yen will become mine hereafter,* said the demon. Don Jorge performed what was desired without reflecting on the consequences, and at daybreak the following morning arose and proceeded to the house of Don C -rloa, scarcely believing that the engagement of the previous evening would be effected; but, to hia great astonishment, he found; laid ont in the highest perfection, one of the most beantful gardens eyes had ever beheld. Enchanted with the prospect, he traversed the grounds, observing fresh glories at every step. Don Carlos, who had reposed himself after the fatigues of the chase, awakening from his slumbers and proceeding to the window, beheld the marvellous garden, and, struck with amazement, called his wife to admire it. All the household went forth to enjoy the scene ; when Constance, suddenly perceiving Don Jorge advancing towards them, remembered her indiscreet promise of the previous evening, and Immediately fell to the gronnd insensible. By the assistance of her husband end those aronnd her she soon recovered, bat only to the consciousness of her miserable situation. Regarding Don Carlos with a look of love and bitterness, ■he exclaimed:—

* Take my life, for by htedkaa words I have forfeited all claim to your love and affectionand sbo related all that had occurred from the commencement of her acquaintance with Don Jorge. He husband listened with tenderness and compassion to the rooltal, and then replied, mild y ; ‘ I should bo wrong to deny, Constance, that you have committed an error in promising what you considered Bn impossible condition. But the torments yon have suffered more than compensate for such folly. I, who married you by a deceit, and bave subsisted upon your fortune, ought to be the only sufferer in this case, and my life ought to be sacrificed for yours.’ ‘Hold, Carlos!’ cried Don Jorge, passionately; 'hit not right that 1 should be the cause of suffering to a noble heart like yours. Ycur wife is released from her promise ; I declare it solemnly and openly Carlos belongs to Constance, and Constance to Carlos. Heaven Inten led them for e;oh other. For mo, I am lost, both here and hereafter.'

Soarcely had Don Jorge spoken when the demon appeared* holding in his hand the terrible compact. In a loud voice he exclaimed—

‘ I am not to be overcome by generosity by any of ye. Don Jorge, thou hast baea foolish and wicked in thy attempts to destroy the happiness of a good and vhtuons family. But thou has gained a victory over thy pasaioms ; therefore, take back this deed, which restores thee to independence and reason.’ With these words he disappeared. Don Jorge and Theodosia were soon afterwards married, aad splendid fetes in Saragossa signalised the event. Never, during the lifo cf the former, was the untimely end of his brother mentioned ; but maty years after hia own death, and that of Theodosia, the narrative of these events was found among their papers.