In

comfort of their gloomy cavern, when ating to his own service all the returned another very untoward event took place prisoners. in the treachery of one of the slaves. As soon as the Alcaide learned all who possessed a knowledge of their particulars with reference to the cave place of concealment. This man, El affair, he executed the gardener with his Dorador, revealed the secret of the cave own hands. A like cruel fate would to the Dey, Azan. The Dey immediately doubtless have awaited Cervantes, and dispatched the captain of his guard, his companions, but for the avarice of with half a score horsemen, and about the Dey, hoping for large ransoms. twenty infantry, to bring the betrayed order to have him completely in his Christians back into captivity. Before power, Azan purchased our hero from their arrival, Cervantes had time to his former master for five hundred warn his friends to silence with respect crowns. to their attempted flight, as he himself Azan Basha was so cruel a tyrant would gladly bear all the blame. And with his slaves, that he was deservedly when in the presence of the hostile regarded by them as a species of infernal troops, with their stern questionings, monster. Of the manner in which he flushed cheeks and angry eyes, Cer-treated his captives, Cervantes writes:vantes rose, with natural grace and " And although hunger and ill-clothing dignity, and lifting to heaven a serene might distress us much, at times, and and lofty brow, exclaimed with loud even always, yet these were nothing to voice, that "none of those unfortunates witnessing the unheard-of cruelties with were at fault in having planned escape, which my master treated the Christians. but that he alone was to blame (if blame Every day he hanged, impaled or torindeed there were in striving to regain a tured one or other wretched victim, and sacred right), in that he, and he only, this often without the least provocation, had urged them on, and encouraged so that even his own people acknow. them in every effort." ledged that he acted thus for the very love of cruelty, and because of his natural blood-thirsty homicidal tendencies."

The Turks were surprised at a confession so free and generous, thus made at the risk of torture and of death. Cervantes was taken before the Dey, Azan, who, by the most terrible menaces, endeavoured to extort from him the names of his accomplices. Azan particularly suspected the R. P. Fr. Jorge Olivar, agent for the redemption of slaves in Algiers, of being concerned in the affair. Perhaps this suspicion arose from the hints of El Dorador, to the effect that he favoured the evasion of the captives, or perhaps his own avarice suggested the idea, as a means of reaping a rich harvest of money, through an attack upon the reverend padre. At any rate, the news that he was suspected came to the knowledge of Father Olivar, and he instantly sent off to a brother ecclesiastic, the rich vestments, and the vessels sacred to divine service, lest they might be profaned by the infidels, should they chance to take him into custody.

The noble Cervantes, however, firm against every threat, and deaf to every seduction, continued constant in affirming that he alone was to blame, unwilling to compromise directly or by implication, any one of his comrades. Weary, at last, Azan sent him in chains to prison, and contented himself with appropri

our

The repeated failure of his many plans for regaining liberty appears not to have altogether disheartened gallant captive. In September, 1579, he became acquainted with Spanish renegade, known in his native Granada, as the licentiate Giron, whom he exhorted earnestly to return to his former Christian faith. The apostate seemed desirous of so doing, and being convinced of his sincerity, Cervantes confided in his honour, and arranged with him to negociate with two merchants of Valentia, Onofre Exarque and Baltazar de Torres, then resident in Algiers, for the purpose of procuring a frigate. With money advanced by Exarque, Giron succeeded in obtaining a vessel prepared for the voyage, all under the secret directions of Cervantes, who, with sixty of the principal captives, held himself ready to embark for his beloved country, as soon as all the arrangements should be completed. But, when just on the point of securing that long-lost blessing of freedom, the hopes, so fondly cherished, were once more blighted, and worst of all, through a Spaniard, Juan Blanco de Paz, formerly a Dominican monk, who disclosed the whole plan to the Dey, most probably actuated by a sentiment of jealousy

towards Cervantes.

The merchant Exarque was terribly fearful, lest the part he had taken in the affair should come to the knowledge of Azan. Afraid, therefore, lest Cervantes should be induced by torture to divulge the names of his accomplices, he earnestly entreated him to depart immediately for Spain in a vessel about to sail, assuring him that he would gladly pay whatever sum might be demanded as his ransom. With his accustomed magnanimity, our hero nobly refused to leave his companions in such a time of peril, and declared that no torture, not even death itself, should ever prevail upon him to criminate his friends.

These plans were, however, frustrated, and Azan Basha was accustomed to say that" accordingly as he guarded well the one-handed Spaniard, so should be hold secure his slaves, his shipping and his capital."

He

Cervantes was evidently treated with some indulgence, or he must have forfeited his life for his temerity. In speaking of Azan's cruelty to the other slaves, he seems to acknowledge this. writes--" There was but one whom he treated well, and this was a Spanish soldier, one Saavedra, whose many plots to regain his freedom will long endure in the rememberance of these people. This man he never struck nor ordered to be punished; and yet for the least of his many enterprises, many feared lest he should suffer death; and so also he himself feared more than once."

In the mean time, Cervantes had taken refuge with a certain Diego Castellano, who concealed him until they should know the purpose of the Dey with regard to this affair. Very shortly a general proclamation was issued, with It seems strange to us that so illustrious a command, that none should conceal a man should be allowed by his country him under pain of death; on which he to remain so long a time in captivity, generously surrendered himself to the without being ransomed by the governDey, sooner then prove the cause of dan- ment, when it was discovered that his ger to his friend. On being brought into parents were too poor to supply the sum the presence of Azan, the tyrant urged requisite, having impoverished themhim repeatedly to confess who were his selves by the redemption of their elder accomplices in his late projected plan of son, Rodrigo. It seems that they were escape; and the better to terrify him continually making efforts to interest into such declaration, his hands were those in power to obtain the liberty of bound, and a rope was secured around Miguel; and at last, after much trouble his neck, as if for his execution; but and anxiety, they appeared on the point Cervantes not only carefully avoided com- of accomplishing the end desired. They promising any of his friends; but he was begged of the Duke of Sesa, then restill constant in reiterating that he alone turned to Madrid, from being viceroy in was at fault, if blame could be attached Sicily, that he would give them a certito an attempt so natural and reasonable. ficate of the meritorious military services His discrete and witty answers to the of Cervantes in consequence of his having Dey's questions had at least the effect lost, while in slavery, his letters of reof softening his rage in some measure, commendation to the king. The Duke so that he contented himself with inflict-willingly supplied the required testiing upon Cervantes the very mild pun-monials. During the time of this negoishment of incarceration in a dismal ciation the father of our hero died, withdungeon loaded with irons, and strictly out the consolation of a last embrace guarded. In this dark retreat he was kept for five months, acquiring much "reputation and honour' among the Christians for his noble conduct and true generosity of soul. The renegade Giron was banished to the kingdom of Fez.

The great number of captives, then in Algiers, inspired Cervantes with a hope of a general insurrection among them, by which means they might perchance, not only liberate themselves, but take possession of the town, with the design of annexing it to the Spanish monarchy.

from his beloved son. This sad event proved happily no hindrance to the proceedings undertaken for the rescue of Cervantes. In the spring of 1580, Philip II. dispatched two of the Redemptorist fathers, the Rev. P. Fr. Juan Gil and P. Antonio de la Bella, with instructions to treat with Azan for the ransom of Cervantes and the other captives. They arrived in Algiers the 29th of May; but were delayed some time by the difficulty they experienced in inducing Azan to accede to any reasonable terms. He declared positively he would

not accept less than one thousand crowns purpose of maintaining his Majesty's for Cervantes, and unless he were paid authority, and securing the public tranthis sum forthwith he would most as- quillity, by repressing any disturbance suredly take him with him to Constanti- which might occur, Rodrigo de Cernople, whither he was about to proceed, vantes served in this army, and Miguel the period of his governmet having ex-resolved to enter it also, believing that pired. He agreed at last to accept five by no better way could he forward his hundred crowns, and our hero was dis- views at Court. embarked on the 19th of September, the very same day that his former master set sail for Turkey.

But although breathing once more "the free glad air of heaven," the trials of Cervantes were not yet over. We have before mentioned Juan Blanco de Paz, who acquired an infamous notoriety among the Christians for his treachery in revealing to the Dey the projected escape in Giron's armed frigate. This man's jealousy and hatred of Cervantes led him to fabricate many gross falsehoods, relative to his conduct while in captivity; particularly, it seems, as to his being untrue to the Christian religion.

We will not follow Cervantes in all his military exploits by sea and by land, while under the conduct of the Marquis of Santa Cruz, the greatest Spanish sea-captain of the age. Suffice it to state, in the words of one of his biographers, that "the Marquis of Santa Cruz most felicitously and gloriously terminated this campaign, and entered Cadiz on the 15th of September, 1582, amid the applause and acclamations of all good Spaniards."

a

The Portuguese character made favourable impression on the mind of Cervantes. He speaks of the inhabitants of Lisbon as being all " agreeable, courteous, liberal," and of the "beauty of the women inspiring admiration and love;" and he ever afterwards retained an affectionate memory of Portuguese kindness and hospitality.

Cervantes, desirous that his character should not only wear the garb of innocence in reality, but also in seeming, demanded that the strictest investigations should forthwith be made as to his conduct whilst in Algiers. As might be anticipated, the result was a bright triumph of truth over falsehood; and proved that he had not only kept his own faith pure from infidel assaults, but that he had ever wisely counselled and earnestly exhorted those who had thus yielded to temptation. Amidst the wavering and the faint-hearted, he On the 12th of December, in the same had still remained constant and un-year, Miguel de Cervantes married Dona shaken, ready at all times to strengthen and console those who required advice and consolation. In fine, his reputation was triumphantly established, as a "true Christian and a good Catholic."

It is wonderful that our author could have found time for composition amid a life of such strange vicissitudes. His first prose work, the "Galatea," was published in 1584, a pastoral romance, wherein he celebrates the praises of a lady he shortly after married. This work was warmly welcomed by the contemporary literati.

Catalina de Palacios Salazar y Voz Mediano, of one of the most illustrious families of Esquivias. Our author decided upon Esquivias as his place of residence, and from its proximity to This affair having been terminated Madrid, it is probable that he passed so much to his satisfaction, Cervantes, much of his time in the capital, as we with several of his friends, also re-hear of his enjoying friendly intercourse deemed, set sail for Spain at the close of the year 1580. To use his own heartwarm words "This world can give no deeper joy, than the return to one's native land, safe and sound, after long years of dire captivity: for there is on earth no transport comparable to that of long-lost liberty regained."

with Vicente Espinel, Juan de Barros, and other distinguished men, there resident. A literary academy, on the plan of those in Italy, was founded here, which formed a rallying point for the young literary aspirants of the day.

The next works of Cervantes were dramatic. He produced in succession, At the time of his return, Philip II"El Trato de Argel" (Life in Algiers), was at Badajoz, occupied with the conquest of Portugal, in which kingdom he had entered on the 5th of December. The Castilian army remained there for the

the "Numancia," and the "Naval Engagement," and several other plays which he had the satisfaction of seeing performed amid great applause in the

theatres of Madrid. His popularity as a dramatist was not, however, of long continuance; for the rising star of Lope de Vega presently eclipsed all lesser lights in the firmament of dramatic display. Our author was not slow in perceiving the direction of the public taste. He accordingly abandoned play-writing, and began to seek anxiously for some permanent employment, to aid in the maintenance of his family. His military services had never been worthily rewarded, and he found himself above forty years of age, without any regular profession or adequate means of support.

He left Seville during the succeeding year, and it is a generally received tradition that he departed from thence for La Mancha, "with a commission that occasioned him great perplexity and persecution; and which ended in his being thrown into jail, where he wrote the first part of his "Don Quixote." It is not known what was the precise cause of this imprisonment, but the grounds of his incarceration were, without doubt, unjust, or Cervantes could never have mentioned the circumstance, as he does, with that serenity and noble unconcern which conscious innocence alone can inspire." Had it been otherwise, his numerous rivals and enemies would have been only too glad to take advantage thereof, but they never even

These misfortunes of Cervantes recall to our recollections similar passages in the life of the illustrious Portuguese, Camoens.

It is supposed that Cervantes spent about four years in La Mancha. But this is only conjecture. One of his Spanish biographers thinks, indeed, that the accuracy with which the great romancist has depicted the topography of this district, and the peculiarities of its inhabitants, a sufficient evidence that

time, and that he consequently wrote thus from personal observations.

Early in 1588, he removed to Seville, where Antonio de Guevara was commissary of the fleets, &c., for the Indies, with the right of appointing four as-refer to it. sistant commissioners. Cervantes obtained a situation as commissioner, hoping, doubtless, that it might lead to something better. In 1590, he addressed a petition to the King, praying for some appointment in India. This petition was referred to the President of Council for the Indies. Nothing, however, came of it. He continued at Seville until 1597, when he was imprisoned for debt, having unfortunately trusted a merchant, named Simon Freire, with a sum of money amounting he must have resided there for some to 7,400 reals, which he had collected in his capacity as commissioner, This money Freire engaged to pay at Madrid; In 1603 he removed to Valladolid, but instead of this, he failed and ab- where the court had been established sconded. The exigencies of the Trea- for two years. His many claims upon sury, resulting from the enormous ex- the government of his country never penses attending the conquest of Por-having been satisfied as yet, he solicited tugal and the Terceira Islands, and the the patronage of the Duke of Lermo, cost of the unfortunate Armada directed then a favourite and all-powerful minagainst England, called "the Invin- ister. From him, however, he received cible;" the continued changes in the a rude repulse; and thus, in the evening constitution of the revenue and its tri- of his days, he was thrown entirely bunals; the new duties and taxes upon his own resources. Well-perhaps which were laid, and the want of a well-in the end-it was well that it should regulated system, contributed to embarrass the finance department, and to introduce distrust, compulsion, sequestration, arrests and other judicial proceedings among the persons employed in the different branches of collection.' Cervantes was soon released from prison, in order that he might present himself at Madrid, to finish the settlement of his affairs, but we know not with what success. Here he remained until the close of the following year, and after the death of the King (Philip II.), which occurred on the 13th of September, 1598.

be so. He had certainly the less to thank others for, and the more cause for pride and rejoicing in those scintillations of his genius, which flashed forth so brightly, even amid circumstances so dark and adverse.

He now applied vigorously to composition, and hastened the completion of the "Don Quixote," the first part of which appeared in 1605, dedicated to the Duke of Bejar. It was received at first with the utmost indifference. Many treated the work with ridicule and contempt; and the author perceiving that

it was misunderstood by those who read it, and entirely disregarded by those who were capable of appreciating it, resolved upon a very ingenius method of exciting the public attention. He published an anonymous critique upon his own book, under the title of "El Busca-pie." In this clever little brochure he explained that the "Don Quixote was intended as an instructive satire upon the ill effects resulting from the inordinate reading of the tales of chivalry; and that the characters although imaginary, yet held some relation to certain persons in real life; particularly to Charles V. and the paladins of his court, and to other persons in authority. This little book produced the desired effect, in attracting curiosity, and drawing attention to the work it was intended to illustrate; and forthwith "Don Quixote" became extremely popular; and four editions were issued in 1605, the year in which it was first published. But although warmly approved by the majority, Cervantes suffered much persecution from those who believed themselves comprehended in the satirical remarks on contemporary writers which abound in the "Quixote."

The court was again restored to Madrid, in 1606; and here once more our author fixed his residence. Being now advanced in years, he resolved from this time to live retired from the world, and entirely devoted to literature and religious exercises.

tioning it in the second part of his own immortal work. It does not appear, from all we can learn, that Avellaneda's work was ever really popular in Spain. It was translated by Le Sage, in 1704. The lively Frenchman, however, took great liberties with his original, altering and improving it greatly, and lending it the graces of his own inimitable style.

The second part of the true "Don Quixote" was published in 1615, with a dedication to the Count of Lemos, who proved a very kind friend and powerful protector to Cervantes, during the last years of his life. Although his writings were so universally popular, it does not appear that either Cervantes or his family reaped thence any great pecuniary advantage. Philip III. himself acknowledged the irresistible charm which invested the history of the ingênioso hidalgo;" and on remarking from a balcony, a student reading a book, and bursting into involuntary fits of laughter, he exclaimed,-" The man must either be mad, or reading "Don Quixote!" Yet neither the monarch nor his ministers thought fit to withdraw from obscurity and indigence an author who was the glory of all Spain, and her most illustrious son.

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The poetry of the age having become degenerate, laden with extravagant ornament and worthless concetti, Cervantes sought to elevate the public taste by the publication of his "Viaje al Parnaso," or Journey to Parnassus, In 1612 the "Novelas Ejemplares," a work of more ingenuity than beauty or Exemplary Tales, were published or power. Our author, who was exwith a dedication to the Count of Lemos. ceedingly anxious to secure a high poetBoccaccio's " Decamerone" suggested | ical reputation, was greatly mortified by the idea of these stories. Cervantes the neglect with which his later poems proposed to himself to write twelve and plays were received. He offered tales, equal in elegance of style and interesting incident to those of the Italian, combined with higher aims and superior moral tendencies. To these "Novelas" we shall again revert in our critical examination of the works of Cervantes.

some comedies to a bookseller named Juan de Villaroel, who assured him that "he would have bought them, had he not been told by an eminent author, that much reliance might be placed upon his prose, but none upon his poetry." Villaroel came to terms, at last, and published eight of our author's comedies, in 1615, which were received with indifference by both public and managers.

It

The last work of Miguel de Cervantes was a romance, entitled "The Sufferings of Persiles and Sigismunda," upon which he bestowed much time and care. was never quite finished, and did not appear until after his death. This book was, above all his works, tlie au