potions of greefe her orientall teares, (which for this crosse of fortune she powred forth) made me sup vp? She did then speake such wordes vnto me, the lest of which was ynough, to haue made the hardest hart thought of a sorrowfull departure for euer: which (valiant Gouernour) I will omit to tell thee, bicause thou wilt thinke them (if thy brest was neuer possessed with loue) impossible. And if it hath beene for feare, lest by hearing some of them, thou couldest not, but with hazard of life, stay out to heare the rest. Let it suffice, that the end of them, was by telling me, that, hauing any fit occasion by her fathers sicknes, or by his absence, she would sende for me, that, that might haue effect, which was betrothed and agreed vpon be∣tweene vs both. With this promise my hart was somewhat lightned, and for this infinite curtesie, (which she did promise me when time and occasion serued) I kissed her daintie hands. The next day after, they went away, and I tarried still behinde, like one that (wandring vpon craggie and wilde mountaines, and hauing lost the comfortable light of the sunne) remained in hideous darknes: with great greefe I began to feele her absence, and sought all the false remedies (I could) against it: for sometimes I did cast mine eies vp to the windowes, where she was woont to looke out; sometimes vpon the bed where her tender body was accustomed to take rest; and went somtimes into the garden, where daily she vsed to disport herselfe, and in the heate of the day to the christalline fountaine, where she bathed and refreshed herselfe vnder the shade of Limon and Pomegranate trees: I walked and went all her stations, and in euery one of them I found a certaine representation of my sor∣rowfull thoughts. Truth it is, that the hope that she gaue me (to send for me) eased my paines a little, and with it I dissembled some part of my woes. But for as much as the continuall thought of my desire so long deferred, did encrease my paine the more, me thought sometimes I would haue beene glad, if I had beene left altogither without hope, for desperation doth but trouble one, vntill it be certainly knowen; but hope, vntill the desire be accomplished. But my good Fortune did so much fa∣uour me, that this morning my Lady stoode to her worde, by sending for me by a gentlewoman of hers (a trustie secretarie of her thoughts) for the Gouernour her Father was gone to Granada, who being sent for thither by the king, was to returne home in a short time againe. Awaked out of my heauie slumber and melancholike cares with these inopinate and happie newes, I prepared my selfe to go with winged speede vnto her: yet staying for night, and because I might the better escape vn∣knowne, I did put on this habite, as thou seest, and the brauest I could deuise, to make the better shewe to my Lady of my proud and ioyfull hart. In which iourney (truely) I would not haue thought, that two of the best knights at armes had beene sufficient to abide me the fielde, because I carried my Mistresse with me. Where∣fore Rodrigo if thou hast ouercomed me, it was not by pure strength, which was im∣possible, but it was either my harde fortune, or the determination of the heauens, that woulde preuent me of such a supreme good. Whereupon consider nowe in the end of my true tale, and of the good that I haue lost, and the ill which I possesse: I came from Cartama to go to Coyn, but a short iourney, although the desire of the proudest Abencerraje that euer liued, made it a great deale longer. I went, sent for by my Lady, to see my Lady, to enioy my Lady, and to marrie my sweetest Ladie. But now I see my selfe wounded, captiue, and in subiection to him, who will doe, I know not what with me. And that which greeues me most, is, that the time and en∣ioying of my desire, endeth with this present night. O suffer me then Christian to comfort my selfe at the least with my secret lamentations: let me euacuate out of
