Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small][ocr errors]

A

Ta time when the Venetians and Turks were at war, one of the fhips of the latter was taken and carried into Venice, where the crew were all fold for flaves. One of these unhappy people happened to live oppofite the house of a rich Venetian, who had an only fon, then in the twelfth year of his age. The little youth ufed frequently to ftop and gaze at Hamet, for fuch was the name of the flave, and, at laft, an acquaintance commenced between them.

[ocr errors]

Though Hamet feemed always delighted with the tender regards of his little friend, yet the latter frequently obferved, that involuntary tears trickled down the cheeks of Hamet. The little youth at last spoke of it to his father, and begged of him, if he could, to make Hamet happy.

Hereupon the father determined to fee the flave, and talk to him himself. He went to him the next day, and asked him if he were the Hamet, of whom his fon had spoken fo kindly. He replied, that he was the un

03

fortunate

fortunate Hamet, who had been three years a captive, and that during that time his little fon was the only perfon who had in the leaft pitied his misfortunes. "And I, night and morning," added he, "offer up my prayers to that Power, who is equally the God of Turks and Chriftians, to fhower down upon his head every bleffing he deferves, and to preferve him from miferies like mine."

The Venetian merchant then entered into clofer conversation with Hamet, and could not help admiring his generous fentiments and manly fortitude. He asked him what he would do to regain his liberty. "What would I do?" answered Hamet, "By the eternal Majefty of Heaven, I would chearfully face every danger, and even death itself, in whatever fhape it might appear."

The merchant then told him, that the means of his deliverance were in his own hands. "Hear me attentively," said the merchant. "An inveterate foe of mine lives in this city, and has heaped upon me every injury that can fting the heart of man. He is as brave as he is haughty; and I must confefs, that his ftrength and valour prevent my attempting perfonally to revenge my wrongs. Now, Hamet, take this dagger, and as foon as the fhade of night shall envelope the city, I will lead you to the place, where you may at once revenge the injuries of your friend, and regain your own freedom."

Scorn and contempt now flamed in the eyes of Hamet, and, as foon as his passion had a little fubfided, he exclaimed, "O gracious prophet! are these the wretches by whom you suffer your faithful fervants to be enflaved! Go, wicked Christian, and be affured, that Hamet would not become an affaffin for all the riches of Venice, or to purchase the freedom of his whole race!" The merchant coolly replied that he was forry he had offended him, but thought that he prized his freedom at a higher rate; and added, as he turned his back, "You will perhaps change your mind to-morrow, after you

fhall

fhall have more maturely reflected on the matter;" and he then left him.

The next day, the merchant, accompanied by his fon, returned to Hamet, and was going to renew his former conversation, when the honest Turk exclaimed, with a fevere and fixed countenance, "Christian! cease to infult the miferable with propofals more fhocking than death itself! The Chriftian religion may tolerate such acts, but to a Mahometan they are an abomination !"

Francifco, for fuch was the name of the Venetian merchant, now tenderly embraced Hamet, and begged he would forgive the trial to which he had put his virtue, affuring him at the fame time that his foul abhorred all deeds of blood and treachery, as much as Hamet himself. "From this moment," faid the merchant, "you are free; your ransom is paid, and you are at liberty to go where you please. Perhaps, hereafter, when you fee an unhappy Chriftian groaning in Turkish fetters, your generofity may bring Venice to your remembrance."

The feelings of Hamet at this unexpected deliverance are not to be defcribed. Francifco put him on board a ship, which was bound to one of the Grecian islands, and, after taking leave of him in the tendereft manner, forced him to accept of a purse of gold to pay his expenses. Affectionate was the parting of Hamet with his little friend, whom he embraced in an agony of tenderness, wept over him, and implored Heaven to grant him all the bleffings of this life.

About fix months afterwards, one morning, while the family were all in bed, Francifco's houfe was difcovered to be on fire, and great part of the house was in flames before the family was alarmed. The terrified fervants had but just time to awaken Francisco, who was no fooner got into the street, than the whole ftaircafe gave way, and fell into the flames.

If the merchant thought himself happy on having faved himself, it was only for a moment, as he foon recollected that his beloved fon was left behind to the

mercy

mercy of the flames. He funk into the deepeft defpair, when, upon inquiry, he found that his fon, who flept in an upper apartment, had been forgotten in the general confufion. He raved in agonies of grief, and offered half his fortune to any one who would rifk his life to fave his child. As he was known to be very rich, feveral ladders were inftantly raised by those who wifhed to obtain the reward: but the violence of the flames drove every one down who attempted it.

The unfortunate youth then appeared on the top of the house, extending his arms, and calling out for aid. The unhappy father became motionlefs, and remained in a state of infenfibility. At this critical moment, a man rushed through the crowd, and afcended the talleft ladder, seemingly determined to rescue the youth, or perish in the attempt. A fudden guft of flame bursting forth, led the people to fuppofe he was loft; but he presently appeared defcending the ladder with the child in his arms, without receiving any material injury. An univerfal fhout attended this noble action, and the father, to his inexpreffible furprise, on recovering from his fwoon, found his child in his arms.

After giving vent to the first emotions of tenderness, he inquired after his generous deliverer, whofe features were fo changed by the smoke, that they could not be diftinguished. Francifco immediately prefented him with a purfe of gold, promifing the next day to give him the reward he offered. The ftranger replied, that he fhould accept of no reward. Francisco started, and thought he knew the voice, when his fon flew to the arms of his deliverer, and cried out, "It is my dear Hamet! it is my dear Hamet!"

The astonishment and gratitude of the merchant were equally excited, and, retiring from the crowd, he took Hamet with him to a friend's house. As foon as they were alone, Francifco inquired by what means he had been a second time enslaved.

"I will tell you in a few words," faid the generous Turk. "When I was taken by the Venetian gallies,

my

my father shared in my captivity. It was his fate, and not my own, which so often made me fhed those tears, which first attracted the notice of your amiable son.As foon as your bounty had fet me free, I flew to the Chriftian who had purchased my father. I told him, that as I was young and vigorous, and he aged and infirm, I would be his flave instead of my father. I added, too, the gold which your bounty had bestowed on me, and by these means I prevailed with the Christian to fend back my father in that ship you had provided for me, without his knowing the cause of his freedom.Since that time I have ftaid here a willing flave, and Heaven has been so gracious as to put it into my power to fave the life of that youth, which I value a thoufand times more than my own."

The merchant was aftonifhed at fuch an inftance of gratitude and affection, and preffed Hamet to accept of the half of his fortune, and to fettle in Venice for the remainder of his days. Hamet, however, with a noble magnanimity refufed the offer, faying, he had done no more than what every one ought to do in a fimilar fituation. Though Hamet feemed to under-rate his past services to the merchant, yet the latter could not fuffer things to pass in this manner. He again purchased his freedom, and fitted out a fhip on purpose to take him back to his own country. At parting, they mutually embraced each other, and, as they thought, took an eternal farewel.

After many years had elapfed, and young Francifco was grown up to manhood, beloved and refpected by every one, it fo happened, that fome bufinefs made it neceffary for him and his father to vifit a neighbouring city on the coaft; and as they fuppofed a paffage by fea would be more expeditious than by land, they embarked in a Venetian veffel, which was bound to that port, and ready to fail.

A favourable gale foon wafted them out of fight, and promised them a speedy paffage; but unfortunately for them, before they had proceeded half their voyage, they

were

« ZurückWeiter »