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15 prevented him thanking his deliverer; for, on turning hastily toward her, he beheld Roderigo, aided by Perez, forcing her away. Astonished, he rushed upon him, accompanied by the Moor; but Roderigo, who expected not this sudden change in the fate of Alvar, quitting her, declined all contest, and with refined hypocrisy, begged him to forbear; congratulating him on his safety, he assured him, that his only motive was to secure her from the chief of the infidels, whose success he had deemed certain, from the desperate situation of Alvar, and the inability which he and his companions lay under, from their fatigue, of defending her from him aided by the other Moor.

The generous, unsuspecting Alvar, believed his story, and in the height of his joy embraced him.

Alvar had now leisure to thank the generous Moor for having preserved his life; and, at the same time he requested to learn to what peculiar tive he was indebted to him for his assistance.

Mosoul informed him, that Iram was always his deadly foe. He hated him for his valiant deeds. “Often has he," said Mosoul, “vowed thy destruction; and when our sovereign, on thy flight, in the transport of his fury, commanded thee to be pursued and slain, Iram joyfully stepped forth, and promised to bring him thy head, or forfeit his own. Murad joyfully accepted the tender of his services, and furnished him with as many warriors as were deemed sufficient; amongst whom I, much against my will, was one—for oft have I admired thy generous nature, and deeply repined at being forced to seek thy death. Thus accompanied, he set off in pursuit of thee; but meeting thy beloved Seraphina by the way, he was so inflamed with lust and the hopes of plunder, that he ventured the lives of his attendants to gratify his own inordinate