134 GENTLENESS IS POWER. 
her gracious thoughts and acts ; the home, every quarter of which 
was become precious to her, being connected with the memory of her 
sainted mother, whose spirit was ever present with and confirmed 
her constant heart—before the hour arrived that was to separate her 
from all she loved, Caranza was prepared to depart. Unlike her 
conduct upon the former procession, which was in character with 
the simple beauty of the occasion, she now arrayed herself in the 
most gorgeous apparel suited to the most festive solemnity ; she de- 
manded the attendance of all the court pageantry ; the royal palan- 
quins and the royal camel was brought forth. Every warrior in the 
city had orders to fill the train; not a point was to be omitted 
which would swell the pomp and gaudiness of the parade in the 
common eye; for Caranza knew that she was making an appeal to 
a common mind, and one, therefore, which, so far from being able 
to appreciate her native simplicity of character, would have construed 
the absence of regal accompaniment into a studied insult, and have 
been stung thereby into ten-fold exasperation. Azum Beg had sig- 
nified his will to accompany her to the place of her destination ; for 
now the arrangements were suited to the educated habits and taste 
of the monarch. But the weak old man did not perceive that, by 
being present upon such an occasion, he was infinitely humbling 
himself in the eyes of the superior and delicate-minded among his 
subjects—that he was ostensibly sanctioning the sacrifice of his only 
child—that he was, indeed, conducting her to the altar. Caranza 
apprehended at a glance the misery of his situation ; and although 
he himself was incapable of feeling his own mental prostration, she 
could not endure such an exposure, for the native pride and delicacy 
of her heart were wounded through his self-betrayal and uncon- 
sciousness of true dignity. She, therefore, with animation and firm- 
ness, resisted his proposal, placing her objection, as regarded his 
order of mind, upon the safest ground. ‘ My own personal sorrows, 
my dear father, are sufficiently piercing, and they will demand 
all the added support of my blessed mother’s ministering in- 
fluence and consolation to bear ; but the idea of your being subject- 
ed to the triumphal taunt or vulgar glory of your victor, would 
deprive me of all power of self-conduct. Contempt, bodily subjec- 
tion, injury, I can endure—it is my sex’s inheritance ; but the au- 
thor of my being must not be smitten with insult before my eyes. 
You must not accompany me. Farewell, my dear father! May 
that Being who through life has been my friend (had he vouch- 
safed me no other blessing than such a mother as fell to my lot) 
comfort and sustain you! Cherish the memory of your daughter, 
