Giving himself up to the most gratifying anticipations, he rapidly sketched out plans for times remote, and these still included Kara Aziek and the benevolent Abensallah:--to Sebastian’s ardent romantic heart, every thing it wished seemed probable. An hour after sun-rise Hafiz appeared: he came to inform the Portuguese that their illustrious master, Mahommed El Hader, had generously granted his freedom, and that he might depart immediately. At this confirmation of what he had been so long and apparently so confidently expecting, Sebastian’s emotion rendered him speechless: meanwhile Hafiz poured forth a most pathetic lamentation. It was some time ere the King could comfort him sufficiently to obtain information about his route: his sole aim was to travel expeditiously and safely towards some Christian settlement; this was an object not easily attained. Unless under the protection of natives or licensed merchants, a liberated captive was but too likely to fall into a second captivity: Hafiz knew no way for his friend to avoid such a mischance, except by joining a party of travelling traders from Syria, who were going that very day from Mequinez to a Moorish port, between Tangier and Ceutah. From this port a passage might easily be obtained in one of those vessels employed in carrying on a contraband trade with the coast of Spain, or the King might hazard a short expedition alone, and strike across to the Christian town. The journey from Mequinez was indeed long and fatiguing, but it would be performed leisurely, and as the road lay near Benzeroel, would afford Sebastian an opportunity of ascertaining whether Abensallah were yet alive. After settling this important point, a most momentous consideration remained: how were the expences of this journey to be defrayed! happily the Almoçadem had given orders that the Christian should be conveyed whither he chose, at his cost, and therefore nothing now remained but to take leave of his fellow prisoners. Never before had the King; felt so acutely for his brethren in affliction; the alteration in his own situation appeared to deepen the misery of theirs: he parted from them with many expressions of sympathy, charged with commissions to various quarters of the globe, and promising faithfully to have them all executed. From the slave-court Sebastian returned through the gardens, bidding a joyful farewel to every structure and every plant that his labour had formed or fostered: yet regret mingled with gladness, for these gardens were the peculiar property of Kara Aziek, and her gentle image appeared to rise at every turning to reproach him.