The same soft and delightful emotion gently agitated each; they spoke but in sighs, and with their tears. Eloquent silence! needed ye a tongue? Sebastian would not delay his departure; he hastened its preparations, and at length reached the moment he wished. Loaded with presents of treasure and costly attire, with which the magnificent court of Persia endeavoured to express its gratitude, and which Sebastian in vain attempted to refuse, the Christian knight and his bride prepared to quit a country they could not hope to see again. Kara Aziek had transferred all her women except one, to the Princess of Persia; and Sebastian retained only the faithful Barémel as his attendant to the new world. The escort appointed to attend the travellers was more than sufficient for security; but the Sophi willed it should distinguish his preserver by its magnificence. The palace resounded with lamentation when their last embraces were exchanged, the Sophi rent his garments, and threw himself on the ground in a passion of grief; he remained there without raising his head, till the sound of his friend’s departing steps no longer reached him; he then arose, and shut himself into a solitary chamber, where not even his beloved Maimuna ventured to disturb his sorrow. Equally moved, but long disciplined in self-controul, the King of Portugal concealed as sad a heart under a calmer aspect; his gentle Aziek wept uninterruptedly. In the hall of the palace they met Sir Anthony Shirley, whom they were going to seek: his adieus were less agitating, but as impressive as those of Abbas. “You go, brave Portuguese!” he said, “and I dare not ask whither: what destiny may that be which authorizes so much mystery; are the friends your virtue acquires to remain for ever in this ignorance?--I ask not where you go, but I would ask if you believe we shall ever meet again?” “I hope it--nay I believe it,” replied Sebastian, brightening into animation, “you will hear of me in Europe some day; and I charge you by our friendship, to recal at that period what I owe to you now.--To you, I owe my present happiness; to you, I owe what I may have regained then: was it not to your generous reliance on my integrity that I am indebted for having acquired the power to benefit Persia?--Forget not the Knight of the Cross--forget not those lineaments by which you may remember him: the hour may come when these lineaments will present themselves to your eye under a very different garb, and when the wandering adventurer may give you a signal proof of his gratitude.--Farewel!” As he spoke, he exchanged rings with Shirley, who, cheered by this assurance, yet bewildered by the conjectures to which it led, embraced him in silence, and kissed the hand of Kara Aziek. The travellers then mounted the commodious carriage which had been constructed for them by order of the Sophi, and attended by a troop of horsemen and loaded camels, departed from Ispahan. CHAP. VI.