Wlliam Gilmore Simms
Count Julian; or, The Last Days of the Goth >> Book Second / Chapter I >> Page 42

image of pageExplore Inside

Page 42

Novel (Romance) | William Taylor & Co. | 1845 - 1846
Transcription 42 COUNT JULIAN; OR,
hailed with the plaudits of my countrymen ; while I—alas ! Cava, if thou shouldst love me not, if thou shouldst be untrue to me, I am lost ! "
Nay, doubt me not, my dear lord ! " exclaimed the maiden, at a loss to account for the deep expression of anguish, and the acute, wild fire that gleamed forth from the face of her companion. He proceeded :
Yes, Cava, I am still Egiza to you, though it may be to none other. I have been true to you, though. they proclaim me false to all beside. Do you believe my truth—will you receive my vows—will you give ear to the protestations of one whom all men call traitor ? "
Alas ! my lord, your words are strange to me, and full of terror. What is it that you mean ? " was the reply of the apprehensive but fond maiden. " Who is it so foul of speech as to call you traitor ? You are all truth, and I would believe it from no lip, not even that of my father.""Bless you, bless you, dear Cava ! for the word. It is sweet, it is every thing to my soul," was the fervent response of Egiza ; but, after the pause of a moment, his manner and his language changed : I am a traitor," he exclaimed, it is true what they declare, my Cava ; I am a traitor to my people—'t is you have made me so."" I, my lord ?" she replied in unaffected astonishment.
" Ay; but I blame you not, my beloved. Freely do I bear the scorn—calmly do I hear the reproach, so that it come not from thy lips—so that thou love me not less because of it. Oh Cava ! I have come to you, indeed—but how poorly do I come ! I am still true to you, but how false to my people. To be yours, my Cava, I have robbed others—to win you, you know not what I have lost, and forfeited."« What lost—what forfeited, my lord ?" she demanded.
,< My country—my crown—my brother's love—my people's homage, their reverence, their service—all. They have taken from me all—pride, station, friends' love, people's service, and honorable name ! "
Alas ! it is not so ; you do not mean it, Egiza !. And it is I that have done this, that have caused this evil ? Oh, my lord, unsay your words. Tell me that you but toyed with my childish fears—that you meant not the cruel speech in Booth."« 'T is true ! " he responded, gloomily ; "'T is all true."
Speak—tell me how ! " she asked in terror.
I have met my people—the nobles of Iberia---in solemn council. They prof-erred me the crown of Spain "•
You took it not ! " she hastily exclaimed.
" I thought of you, my Cava ; I feared that it would rob me of your beauty, and I refused it."
The gladness of Cava's heart, as he spoke this, was visible in her eyes ; but they met with little of a glad response from his. Sadly he proceeded, for the memory of his brother's scorn, and the unconcealed indignation of his nobles, was present to his mind.
They would have doomed and slain me," he proceeded.
" But you escaped ! " she exclaimed. " How ? "" My brother spoke for me, and though he spoke for me in scorn, he yet saved my life—saved me for you, dear Cava."" Heaven save him for it with blessings, my dear lord. We owe him much."
Much, much ! " was the ironical and bitter response of Egiza. He proceeded :
He saved me to my own shame, and for the scorn of others, dear Cava—nay,.. even, perhaps, for thine."
Never, oh never ! Speak not thus, Egiza. Why should I scorn you ? "
University Libraries Webmaster
Copyright © 2011, the University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina 29208, 803-777-2403