DON SEBASTIAN; OR, THE HOUSE OF BRAGANZA. J. M‘CREERY, Printer, Black-Horse-Court, Fleet-Street, London. DON SEBASTIAN; OR, THE HOUSE OF BRAGANZA. AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE. IN FOUR VOLUMES. BY MISS ANNA MARIA PORTER. AUTHOR OF THE HUNGARIAN BROTHERS. Take Physic, Pomp! Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, So shall thou shake the superflux to them, And shew the Heavens more just. KING LEAR. VOL. III. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1809. DON SEBASTIAN, OR THE HOUSE OF BRAGANZA. CHAP. I. During Sebastian’s absence, Abensallah had informed Tefza of the numerous calvacade, belonging to the Turkish Basha, which was proceeding nearly in the direction of the yearly caravans to Mecca, and with which if he hastened, he might fall in, and reach Syria safely, whence it would be easy to pass into Arabia: on the contrary, if he let this escape him, he must wait several months for the setting out of the annual one from Fez; and so unnecessarily protract the period either of his slave’s freedom or conversion. This information had determined Tefza to proceed without delay in search of this private caravan, while he dispatched one of his servants to a kinsman at Riffa, with directions for the management of his affairs during his absence, and an order for him to return the slave, (with such money as the journey required) in the track of the caravan. This arrangement was most welcome to Sebastian, who retired to rest on a heap of dried mosses, with a lightened and grateful spirit. On the morrow they departed: tears fell from the venerable Abensallah, as he gave a parting blessing to the fugitive King: Sebastian in return kissed his hands repeatedly, with much emotion. The great age of Abensallah forbade him to believe that they should meet again, till they met in the kingdom of Heaven: but sorrow was checked by the thought, that Abensallah had long divorced every selfish care, and considered death only as an angel that was to open for him the gates of Paradise. His unblemished and benevolent life warranted such an expectation. Many were the exhortations against rashness, which the good dervise had given Sebastian before Tefza awoke; he now whispered them afresh: the King listened submissively; his last injunctions to Abensallah were to cherish Babec, for Kara Aziek’s sake.