“And yet a beautiful night Through the open window of our house one saw the starlit sky; the moon covered the plain with silver; one heard no noise.
“Yes, oh, yes! one heard the fevered breathing of my poor mother.
“Suddenly in the distance, far, very far, a light noise sounded.
“It was like the soft and gentle echo of a voice singing in the sky.
“Soon a gentle breeze, burdened with the perfume of the citron-tree, wafted sounds more distinct.
“I was still holding the icy hand of my mother. I felt her tremble.
“This celestial voice approached--approached.
“The chords of a melodious instrument accompanied it, and gave it an inexpressible charm.
“My mother started again; she raised her head; she listened. For the first time in many hours she gave signs of life.
“As the enchanting sounds approached my mother seemed bom again.
“I felt her hand grow warm again; I felt her hand press mine.
“I heard her voice at last; her voice till then so mute.
“‘My child, these songs sink in my soul; they calm me! Tears, oh, tears! Yes, tears at last! I had so much need to weep.’
“And I felt two burning tears fall on my brow.
“‘Oh, my mother, my mother!’ ‘Silence, my child, be silent!’ said she, putting one of her hands upon my mouth, and pointing to the window with the other. ‘Listen to the voice! listen! there it is! there it is!’”
Reine, deeply moved, pressed the hand of Stephanette as she shook her head with a touching expression of pity.
“The moon of my country shines as the sun of this country.
“In its light slowly passed the young emir, mounted on Azib, his beautiful white horse.
“Azib, gentle as a lamb, courageous as a lion, white as a swan.
“The emir let his reins fall on the neck of Azib. Happy, he sang of a happy love, and accompanied himself on his guzla.
“His songs were not joyous: they were tender; they were melancholy.
“‘Silence, child, silence!’ whispered my mother, pressing my hand convulsively. ‘That voice divine does me so much good!’
“Hélas! by degrees the voice died away; the emir had passed; the voice was gone; then one heard nothing more,--nothing more; not a sound.
“‘Ah, I fall back in the dreadful horror of my night,’ said my mother. ‘This celestial music seemed to dissipate the darkness. Alas! alas!’ and she wrung her hands in despair.