wherein it is related how the ship was turned upside down, with all that were in her.
it would seem as though the author of this history was more of a lover than an historian; for nearly the whole of the first chapter of his second book is spent in a definition of jealousies, caused by that which was shown by auristella, on account of the story told by the captain of the vessel. but, as it appears to me to be prolix, i shall omit it in this translation, and come to facts, which were as follows:—
the wind changing, and the clouds gathering, night came on very dark and gloomy, and the thunder sending forth the lightning as messenger, disturbed and bewildered the mariners. then began the tempest with a fury that no power or skill could withstand, for it came all at once and without warning; but nevertheless each man was at his post, doing the work that was necessary if not to save, at least to prolong life. the boldest got planks, that they might have something to support them like a raft, in case the ship should go to pieces. maurice held his daughter, transila, in his embrace; antonio clasped in his, his mother and sister. the sad auristella alone remained without anyone to support her. she had no hope but in death, and would gladly have even sought it, if her religion had not forbidden this, and religion was now her only resource; so she took refuge with the others, and they in a knot, or rather one might say a heap, lay crouched in the most hidden corner of the ship, to escape the fearful sound of the thunder, and the flashes of the lightning, and the confused cries of the mariners. in this sort of prison they were at least spared from seeing the ship lifted one instant almost up to the clouds, and at another sweep with her very topmast the depths of the ocean below. they closed their eyes, expecting death, fearing it, though they could not see the shape in which it was to come.
the storm increased so as to baffle the skill of the mariners and the care of the captain, and finally the hope of all on board. no voice was heard now, giving orders for this or that to be done; but cries, and prayers, and vows to heaven for aid, and so extreme was their misery, that transila thought not of her ladislaus, nor auristella of periander. one of the powerful effects of approaching death, is to blot from the memory all things that belong to this life; and if it is able to make the jealous heart forget its pangs, one may indeed say it can do even the impossible. there was no hour-glass to mark how time passed, nor compass, nor any means of discovering what place they were in. all was confusion; all were crying, sighing, and praying. the captain was dismayed; the mariners gave up all exertion; human strength was of no avail. the general despair at last made all silent. the rude sea broke over the very deck, and even over the highest masts, which, as if in revenge for the insult, struck as it were into the very sands below. at break of day, if so it could be called, when there came no light with it, the ship remained water-logged and immoveable, which is one of the worst disasters that can befall a vessel. at length a furious hurricane lifted her up, as though by some machinery, burying the topmasts in the depths of ocean, and leaving her keel turned up to the skies, making her a tomb for all who were within her.
"adieu to all the chaste thoughts of auristella! adieu to all her pious intentions! rest in peace, honoured and holy one; no other mausoleum, no other monument canst thou expect, except a few poor frail planks. and thou, o transila, bright example of maiden purity, though thy bridal bed will not be shared with thine espoused ladislaus, yet wilt thou in the arms of thy wise and aged parent find that hope which will guide thee to a far happier resting-place.
"and thou, o ricla, clasp in thy arms antonio and constance, thy children, and commit them to him who now takes away your lives, only to give you a far better one in heaven."
such were the words of the author of this most remarkable and pitiful history, in consequence of the upsetting of the ship, and the certain death (as might be supposed) of all who were in her; and what more he says, will be seen in the following chapter.
