Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/42

 erected over the graves of two lovers, Anne d’Arfet and Robert Machim. The story of their love and suffering has long since been classed among legends, though it is  still credited in Madeira. As the adventures of this hero and heroine are supposed to have led to the discovery of the islands, it may be well to give them a  place here.

During the reign of King Edward III, of England, Robert Machim, an English gentleman, became the  lover of the beautiful Anne d’Arfet. It was long before their mutual attachment was discovered; but when at  length it became known, Machim’s imprisonment was  procured by the influence of Anne’s family, to punish  him for his presumption in aspiring to the hand of one  so much above his rank. During his confinement, Anne d’Arfet had been forced into a marriage with a nobleman, who  imprisoned her in his castle near Bristow. By the assistance of a friend, Machim escaped, and induced  Anne to elope with him to seek an asylum in France. They sailed during a storm, which prevented them from gaining their intended port. After many days of anxiety and suffering, they were cheered by the sight of land that was clothed with the richest vegetation and  with flowers in profusion. They determined to disembark, and found a beautiful climate, while birds of the gayest plumage tenanted the island. After wandering a few days in this paradise, there came on a violent storm,  which drove the vessel from the island. This was too great a blow for the unfortunate Anne, and she died  soon after of a broken heart. Robert did not long survive her, and his dying request was that he might be