he cause of this misfortune! my daughter Sol, the daughter
whose sight lightened my cares, and gave joy to my existence, God knows
if ever again she will return to my arms; this Moor, this Tahra Mesmudi,
this treacherous and perverse infidel, has turned aside her heart, and
she has thrown herself into the trammels of impiety; to gain a refuge
from your rigor she has sought compassion in the tiger's breast."

"My daughter, my daughter!" cried the affrighted Simla, "let not mine
eyes behold a ruin so great!" and she fell senseless into the arms of
Haim Hachuel. Thus did these unhappy parents lament their loss, losing
sight of their sorrow only in the vain hope of devising some plan for
the salvation of their daughter.

The prisoner remained in the residence of the governor, surrounded by
its female inhabitants, and the women of the highest rank residing in
the place,--all vying with one another to dazzle the fair Jewess by
showing her the riches and splendor of the edifice.

"Far more," they said to her, "far more than this array of wealth and
grandeur shall one day be the portion of thy loveliness and virtue. A
gallant Moor, rich, powerful, and ardent for thy love, shall join his
hand with thine, and a thousand slaves shall bow down at thy behest. All
the precious things of Asia and Arabia shall be brought to delight thine
eyes, the rarest birds of distant regions shall warble in unison with
the lays of thy fancy."

These and other persuasions clothed in the glowing language of their
nation, did the Moorish women lavish on her for three days, during which
time she remained in the palace. But the beautiful Jewess wept on, and
thought only of her parents and brother.

"Never," said she, "will I exchange the humble _toca_ of my brethren for
the rich turban you offer: never will I abandon my God."

This decision Sol pronounced with such fervor and animation before the
whole of the Moorish ladies, that, stung by her perseverance, they ran
in anger to the Hall of Audience, and apprised the governor of her
refusal.

Arbi Esid immediately ordered her to be led into his presence, and
reproving her for her haughtiness and obstinacy, he pointed out the
peril in which she was involving herself, and repeated his determination
of subduing her resolution. But the young Hebrew rejected his
allurements, depreciated his gifts, and defied his power, even to death.

"I will load thee with chains," said the governor; "thou shalt be