Gonzalo and Laura, the two former lovers, had to separate from each other. In her youthful days, Dona Laura was known in her locality as ‘The Silver Maiden’. She was fair as a lily, with jet black hair and black eyes. She was like a dream. She was in love with Gonzalo, the gallant lover. He used to pass by on horseback every morning through the rose garden and toss flowers to her balcony which she would catch. On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura’s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked.
One day there was a quarrel between Gonzalo and the merchant, the suitor. The merchant was badly wounded in the duel and Gonzafo had to conceal himself for a few days. Later he fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all his attempts failed. He then joined the army and went to Africa.
