Chapter 14

von Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

It took me a while to learn the story of my friends, but once I did, it left a lasting impression on me. Their history was filled with remarkable circumstances that captivated someone as inexperienced as I was.

The old man's name was De Lacey. He came from a respectable family in France, where he had lived comfortably for many years, earning the respect of those above him and the affection of his peers. His son had served his country, and Agatha, his daughter, had mingled with women of the highest social standing. Just a few months before I arrived, they had been living in the luxurious city of Paris, surrounded by friends and enjoying all the pleasures that a life of virtue, refined intellect, and moderate wealth could provide.

Their downfall began with Safie's father, a Turkish merchant who had lived in Paris for many years. For reasons unknown to me, he fell out of favor with the government. On the very day that Safie arrived from Constantinople to join him, he was arrested and thrown into prison. He was tried and sentenced to death. The injustice of his punishment was glaring; the entire city was outraged, believing that his religion and wealth had played a larger role in his condemnation than any actual crime.

Felix, who happened to be at the trial, was horrified and enraged by the court's decision. In that moment, he vowed to rescue the man and immediately began searching for a way to do so. After several unsuccessful attempts to gain entry to the prison, he discovered a heavily barred window in a less guarded section of the building, which overlooked the dungeon where the unfortunate Turk was imprisoned, chained and despairing as he awaited his brutal fate.

Felix visited the grate at night and shared his intentions with the prisoner. The Turk, astonished and grateful, tried to motivate Felix by promising him riches and rewards. Felix dismissed these offers with disdain, but when he saw the beautiful Safie, who was allowed to visit her father and expressed her heartfelt gratitude through gestures, he couldn’t help but acknowledge to himself that the captive held a treasure that would make all his efforts worthwhile.

The Turk quickly noticed the effect his daughter had on Felix and tried to secure Felix’s loyalty by promising him her hand in marriage once he was safely out of prison. Felix, being a man of honor, hesitated to accept such a proposal, but he couldn’t help but dream of the happiness that might come from it.

In the days that followed, as preparations for the merchant's escape were underway, Felix was encouraged by several letters from the lovely Safie. With the help of an old servant who understood French, she managed to convey her thoughts in the language of her beloved. In her letters, she expressed her deep gratitude for Felix’s efforts to save her father while also lamenting her own fate.

I managed to obtain copies of these letters during my time in the hovel, as I found a way to acquire writing materials. Often, they were in the hands of Felix or Agatha. Before I leave, I will share them with you; they will confirm the truth of my story. But for now, as the sun is setting, I’ll summarize their contents.

Safie wrote that her mother was a Christian Arab who had been captured and enslaved by the Turks. Noticing her beauty, Safie's father had fallen in love with her and married her. Safie spoke passionately about her mother, who had been born free and despised the bondage she now endured. She had taught her daughter about her faith and encouraged her to seek higher intellectual pursuits and independence, which were denied to women in the world of Muhammad. Though her mother had passed away, her teachings remained etched in Safie's mind. The thought of returning to Asia and being confined within a harem, limited to trivial amusements unworthy of her ambitious spirit, filled her with dread. The idea of marrying a Christian and living in a country where women could hold a place in society was utterly enchanting to her.

The day of the Turk's execution was set, but the night before, he escaped from prison. By morning, he was many leagues away from Paris. Felix had secured passports for himself, his father, and his sister. He had shared his plan with his father, who helped by leaving their home under the guise of a journey, hiding with his daughter in a secluded part of Paris.

Felix led the fugitives through France to Lyons and over Mont Cenis to Leghorn, where the merchant planned to wait for a chance to enter some part of the Turkish territories.

Safie decided to stay with her father until the moment of his departure. Before that time, the Turk reaffirmed his promise that she would marry her rescuer. Felix remained with them, anticipating that event, and in the meantime, he cherished the company of the Arabian woman, who showed him the simplest and most tender affection. They communicated through an interpreter and sometimes through shared glances, while Safie sang to him the beautiful songs of her homeland.

The Turk allowed this closeness to develop and encouraged the hopes of the young lovers, all the while harboring very different intentions. He despised the thought of his daughter marrying a Christian, but he feared Felix's wrath if he appeared indifferent, knowing that he was still at the mercy of his rescuer, who could easily betray him to the Italian authorities. He concocted countless schemes to prolong the deception until it was no longer necessary, planning to take his daughter with him when he left. His plans were aided by news from Paris.

The French government was furious about the Turk's escape and did everything they could to find and punish his rescuer. Felix's plot was quickly uncovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were thrown into prison. When Felix learned of this, it shattered his moment of happiness. His blind, elderly father and gentle sister were trapped in a filthy dungeon while he breathed fresh air and enjoyed the company of the woman he loved. The thought tormented him. He quickly arranged with the Turk that if the latter found a chance to escape before Felix could return to Italy, Safie would stay at a convent in Leghorn. Then, leaving the beautiful Arabian behind, he rushed to Paris and surrendered himself to the law, hoping this would free De Lacey and Agatha.

He was unsuccessful. They remained imprisoned for five months before their trial, which stripped them of their fortune and condemned them to a life of exile from their homeland.

They found a miserable refuge in a cottage in Germany, where I eventually found them. Felix soon discovered that the treacherous Turk, for whom he and his family had endured such unimaginable suffering, had abandoned Italy with his daughter upon learning of Felix's fall into poverty and despair. He sent Felix a small sum of money, claiming it was to help him devise a plan for future support.

These events weighed heavily on Felix's heart, making him the most wretched member of his family when I first encountered him. He could have borne poverty, and while that hardship had been the result of his virtue, he took pride in it. But the Turk's ingratitude and the loss of his beloved Safie were deeper, more painful misfortunes. The arrival of the Arabian woman now breathed new life into his spirit.

When the news reached Leghorn that Felix had lost his wealth and status, the merchant ordered his daughter to forget her lover and prepare to return to her homeland. Safie's generous nature was outraged by this command; she tried to reason with her father, but he left her in anger, repeating his tyrannical order.

A few days later, the Turk burst into his daughter's room and told her urgently that he had reason to believe his location in Leghorn had been discovered and that he would soon be handed over to the French authorities. He had therefore arranged for a ship to take him to Constantinople, departing in just a few hours. He intended to leave his daughter in the care of a trusted servant, who would follow later with most of his belongings, which had not yet arrived in Leghorn.

Alone with her thoughts, Safie carefully considered what she should do in this difficult situation. The idea of living in Turkey repulsed her; both her beliefs and her feelings rejected it. While going through some papers left behind by her father, she discovered the details of her lover’s exile and learned where he was staying. After some hesitation, she made up her mind.

She packed a few precious jewels and some money, then left Italy with a companion from Leghorn who spoke the common language of Turkey, setting off for Germany.

Safie arrived safely in a town about twenty leagues from De Lacey's cottage, but soon after, her companion fell gravely ill. Safie cared for her with unwavering devotion, but sadly, the young woman passed away, leaving Safie alone and unfamiliar with the local language and customs. Fortunately, she found herself in good hands. The Italian had mentioned their destination, and after her companion's death, the woman who had taken them in ensured that Safie reached her lover’s cottage safely.