.
These last consisted frequently of a heart pierced by an arrow, or
perhaps of a star guiding a vessel, or of the first letter of the name
of the fair recipients of their vows of love. We learn, too, that
their colours each bore a peculiar signification: yellow and black
expressed grief; green, hope; blue, jealousy; violet and flame colour,
passionate love.

The following abridged translation of one of these little compositions
will produce a more correct idea of them in the mind of the reader than
any description could convey.[14]

GONZULO AND ZELINDA.

A MOORISH ROMANCE.

In a transport of jealousy and pride,
Zelinda spurned her lover from her side!
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His cruel doom Gonzulo heard
With bosom wrung; and disappeared!
But the fair maid soon deeply felt
The torturing wound herself had dealt;
As glides the snow from mountain crest,
So fled resentment from her breast.

They tell her that the Moor's proud heart
Is pierced by grief's most poisoned dart,
And that he'd doffed, when flying from her side,
The tender colours that were once his pride;
That green, of hope the cherished emblem gay,
To sorrow's mournful hues had given way.
A badge of crape his lance's point now wears,
A blackened crown his shield as emblem bears!

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To proffer gifts with different meaning fraught,
Zelinda now her errant lover sought:
The blue of jealousy she had united
With all the hues most dear to lovers plighted;
A violet gem, entwined with gold,
Gleamed mid a broidered turban's fold,
And every silken riband that she bore,
Of lovely innocence the symbol wore.

Zelinda reached the soft retreat
Where Gonzulo his fate must meet!
O'erwhelmed with doubt, the dark-eyed maid
Reclined beneath a myrtle shade,
And sent a faithful page to guide
Her banished lover to her side.
Gonzulo scarce the message would receive,
For wo had taught his heart to disbelieve!

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But soon he flew, on wing of love,
To seek Zelinda's chosen grove.
Then tearful glances of regret
By words of tenderness were met;
And ne'er did guardian nymphs record
More ardent vows than there were poured!
'Twas thus triumphant love repaired
The cruel wrongs that each had shared!

The delicate and peculiar gallantry, which rendered the Moors of
Grenada famous throughout Europe, formed a singular contrast to the
ferocity that is so natural to all nations of African or