, nor should I have then understood the nature of the partition, had
not Fatallah come up to me and said in Italian, 'Christian, you now
belong to me; you have cost me two thousand crowns; if you desire your
liberty you must pay me four thousand, or else die here.' I asked him if
the Christian maiden was his also. He said she was not, but that Yusuf
had kept her with the intention to make her a Moor and marry her; and
this was true, for I was told the same thing by one of the Christian
rowers, who understood Turkish very well, and had overheard the
conversation that had passed between Yusuf and Fatallah. I told my
master to take measures for possessing himself of the maiden, and that I
would give him for her ransom alone ten thousand gold crowns. He replied
that it was impossible, but he would let Yusuf know the large sum I had
offered for the Christian girl, and perhaps he would be tempted to
change his intention and ransom her. He did so, and ordered all his crew
to go on board again immediately, for he intended to sail to Tripoli, to
which city he belonged. Yusuf also determined to make for Biserta, and
they all embarked with as much speed as they use when they discover
galleys to give them chase or merchant craft to plunder. They had reason
for this haste, for the weather seemed to be changing, and to threaten a
storm.

"Leonisa was ashore, but not where I could see her, until just as we
were embarking we met at the water side. Her new master and newer lover
led her by the hand, and as she set foot on the ladder that reached from
the shore to the galley, she turned her eyes upon me. Mine were fixed on
her, and such a pang of mingled tenderness and grief came over me that a
mist overspread my eyes, and I fell senseless on the ground. I was told
afterwards that Leonisa was affected in the same way, for she fell off
the ladder into the sea, into which Yusuf plunged after her and brought
her out in his arms. This was told me in my master's galley into which I
had been carried insensible. When I came to my senses, and found myself
there, and saw the other galley steering a different course and carrying
off the half of my soul or rather the whole of it, my heart sank within
me again; again I cursed my unhappy fate, and clamorously invoked!
death, till my master, annoyed by my loud lamentations, threatened me
with a great stick if I did not hold my tongue. I restrained my tears
and groans, believing that the force with whic