precipitation to the house of the neighbor Tahra for refuge. Throwing
herself into the arms of her from whom she expected some alleviation of
her sorrow, the beautiful Sol again and again lamented the hardness of
her fate, and wished for deliverance from the state of oppression in
which she felt herself overwhelmed, betraying by her tears and profound
agitation the excitement of her feelings and the disorder of her
imagination; while the crafty Mahometan, perceiving the confusion into
which her mind was thrown by the mingled feelings of resentment and
grief to which she was giving way, listened with delight to her
complaints, well knowing that the moment was now at hand when she might
best execute her project.

"My daughter," said she, "thou art unhappy only because thou wilt be so.
Thy mother enslaves thee, and thy passiveness meets only with hardships
and abuse. Thy neighbors and acquaintance compassionate thee; all are
scandalized at thy mother's treatment, and blame thee for not seeking a
remedy for thy sorrows, when it is in thy power to do so. No moment more
propitious than the present could offer itself to thee; I will be thy
protector--I will be thy friend. To my care intrust thy salvation, and
be comforted. Sweet Sol, dost thou not understand me?"

"I do not understand you, Tahra," the sorrowful girl replied. "There can
be no sufficient reason why I should withdraw myself from the control of
my mother; yet, though it is true that she sometimes scolds me with
reason, at other times her anger is kindled against me without any
cause, or for the most trifling neglect. O! were she to treat me with
more kindness, I should not be so unhappy!"

"Hope not, dear child," said the Mahometan, "that thy mother will treat
thee better at any future time than now. She will sacrifice thee, on the
contrary, to her caprice and fanatism. Dost thou wish to be freed from
her power this very day? Listen, then! Often hast thou heard of the
excellence of our religion. Embrace the Moorish faith; cast off thy
trammels, and be free!"

"Alas! Tahra," replied the young maiden, "what a fearful, what a
horrible proposition you make me! Never could I learn to be a true
Mahometan. I listen to you, and hear you speak, as though I were in a
dream. I long for repose; let me enjoy it for a while, I pray you."

Such was the conversation between the two friends. At its close, the
youthful Jewess departed to seek the rest she so greatly needed, in