part07-第7章

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fortress　on　the　summit　of　a　hill　overlooking　the　Mediterranean　sea。　It

was　a　royal　retreat；　in　which　the　Moslem　monarchs　shut　up　such　of

their　relatives；　as　might　endanger　their　safety；　allowing　them　all

kinds　of　luxuries　and　amusements；　in　the　midst　of　which　they　passed

their　lives　in　voluptuous　indolence。

　　Here　the　princesses　remained；　immured　from　the　world；　but　surrounded

by　enjoyment；　and　attended　by　female　slaves　who　anticipated　their

wishes。　They　had　delightful　gardens　for　their　recreation；　filled

with　the　rarest　fruits　and　flowers；　with　aromatic　groves　and

perfumed　baths。　On　three　sides　the　castle　looked　down　upon　a　rich

valley；　enamelled　with　all　kinds　of　culture；　and　bounded　by　the　lofted

Alpuxarra　mountains；　on　the　other　side　it　overlooked　the　broad　sunny

sea。

　　In　this　delicious　abode；　in　a　propitious　climate；　and　under　a

cloudless　sky；　the　three　princesses　grew　up　into　wondrous　beauty；　but；

though　all　reared　alike；　they　gave　early　tokens　of　diversity　of

character。　Their　names　were　Zayda；　Zorayda；　and　Zorahayda；　and　such

was　their　order　of　seniority；　for　there　had　been　precisely　three

minutes　between　their　births。

　　Zayda；　the　eldest；　was　of　an　intrepid　spirit；　and　took　the　lead　of

her　sisters　in　every　thing；　as　she　had　done　in　entering　into　the

world。　She　was　curious　and　inquisitive；　and　fond　of　getting　at　the

bottom　of　things。

　　Zorayda　had　a　great　feeling　for　beauty；　which　was　the　reason；　no

doubt；　of　her　delighting　to　regard　her　own　image　in　a　mirror　or　a

fountain；　and　of　her　fondness　for　flowers；　and　jewels；　and　other

tasteful　ornaments。

　　As　to　Zorahayda；　the　youngest；　she　was　soft　and　timid；　and　extremely

sensitive；　with　a　vast　deal　of　disposable　tenderness；　as　was　evident

from　her　number　of　pet…flowers；　and　pet…birds；　and　pet…animals；　all　of

which　she　cherished　with　the　fondest　care。　Her　amusements；　too；　were

of　a　gentle　nature；　and　mixed　up　with　musing　and　reverie。　She　would

sit　for　hours　in　a　balcony；　gazing　on　the　sparkling　stars　of　a

summer's　night；　or　on　the　sea　when　lit　up　by　the　moon；　and　at　such

times；　the　song　of　a　fisherman；　faintly　heard　from　the　beach；　or　the

notes　of　a　Moorish　flute　from　some　gliding　bark；　sufficed　to　elevate

her　feelings　into　ecstasy。　The　least　uproar　of　the　elements；

however；　filled　her　with　dismay；　and　a　clap　of　thunder　was　enough　to

throw　her　into　a　swoon。

　　Years　rolled　on　smoothly　and　serenely；　the　discreet　Kadiga；　to

whom　the　princesses　were　confided；　was　faithful　to　her　trust；　and

attended　them　with　unremitting　care。

　　The　castle　of　Salobrena；　as　has　been　said；　was　built　upon　a　hill

on　the　seacoast。　One　of　the　exterior　walls　straggled　down　the

profile　of　the　hill；　until　it　reached　a　jutting　rock　overhanging　the

sea；　with　a　narrow　sandy　beach　at　its　foot；　laved　by　the　rippling

billows。　A　small　watchtower　on　this　rock　had　been　fitted　up　as　a

pavilion；　with　latticed　windows　to　admit　the　sea…breeze。　Here　the

princesses　used　to　pass　the　sultry　hours　of　mid…day。

　　The　curious　Zayda　was　one　day　seated　at　a　window　of　the　pavilion；　as

her　sisters；　reclining　on　ottomans；　were　taking　the　siesta　or　noontide

slumber。　Her　attention　was　attracted　to　a　galley　which　came　coasting

along；　with　measured　strokes　of　the　oar。　As　it　drew　near；　she　observed

that　it　was　filled　with　armed　men。　The　galley　anchored　at　the　foot

of　the　tower：　a　number　of　Moorish　soldiers　landed　on　the　narrow　beach；

conducting　several　Christian　prisoners。　The　curious　Zayda　awakened　her

sisters；　and　all　three　peeped　cautiously　through　the　close　jalousies

of　the　lattice　which　screened　them　from　sight。　Among　the　prisoners

were　three　Spanish　cavaliers；　richly　dressed。　They　were　in　the

flower　of　youth；　and　of　noble　presence；　and　the　lofty　manner　in

which　they　carried　themselves；　though　loaded　with　chains　and

surrounded　with　enemies；　bespoke　the　grandeur　of　their　souls。　The

princesses　gazed　with　intense　and　breathless　interest。　Cooped　up　as

they　had　been　in　this　castle　among　female　attendants；　seeing　nothing

of　the　male　sex　but　black　slaves；　or　the　rude　fishermen　of　the

sea…coast；　it　is　not　to　be　wondered　at　that　the　appearance　of　three

gallant　cavaliers；　in　the　pride　of　youth　and　manly　beauty；　should

produce　some　commotion　in　their　bosom。

　　〃Did　ever　nobler　being　tread　the　earth　than　that　cavalier　in

crimson？〃　cried　Zayda；　the　eldest　of　the　sisters。　〃See　how　proudly

he　bears　himself；　as　though　all　around　him　were　his　slaves！〃

　　〃But　notice　that　one　in　green！〃　exclaimed　Zorayda。　〃What　grace！　what

elegance！　what　spirit！〃

　　The　gentle　Zorahayda　said　nothing；　but　she　secretly　gave

preference　to　the　cavalier　in　blue。

　　The　princesses　remained　gazing　until　the　prisoners　were　out　of

sight；　then　heaving　long…drawn　sighs；　they　turned　round；　looked　at

each　other　for　a　moment；　and　sat　down；　musing　and　pensive；　on　their

ottomans。

　　The　discreet　Kadiga　found　them　in　this　situation；　they　related

what　they　had　seen；　and　even　the　withered　heart　of　the　duenna　was

warmed。　〃Poor　youths！〃　exclaimed　she；　〃I'll　warrant　their　captivity

makes　many　a　fair　and　high…born　lady's　heart　ache　in　their　native

land！　Ah　my　children；　you　have　little　idea　of　the　life　these　cavaliers

lead　in　their　own　country。　Such　prankling　at　tournaments！　such

devotion　to　the　ladies！　such　courting　and　serenading！〃

　　The　curiosity　of　Zayda　was　fully　aroused；　she　was　insatiable　in

her　inquiries；　and　drew　from　the　duenna　the　most　animated　pictures

of　the　scenes　of　her　youthful　days　and　native　land。　The　beautiful

Zorayda　bridled　up；　and　slyly　regarded　herself　in　a　mirror；　when　the

theme　turned　upon　the　charms　of　the　Spanish　ladies；　while　Zorahayda

suppressed　a　struggling　sigh　at　the　mention　of　moonlight　serenades。

　　Every　day　the　curious　Zayda　renewed　her　inquiries；　and　every　day　the

sage　duenna　repeated　her　stories；　which　were　listened　to　with　profound

interest；　though　with　frequent　sighs；　by　her　gentle　auditors。　The

discreet　old　woman　awoke　at　length　to　the　mischief　she　might　be　doing。

She　had　been　accustomed　to　think　of　the　princesses　only　as　children；

but　they　had　imperceptibly　ripened　beneath　her　eye；　and　now　bloomed

before　her　three　lovely　damsels　of　the　marriageable　age。　It　is　time；

thought　the　duenna；　to　give　notice　to　the　king。

　　Mohamed　the　Left…handed　was　seated　one　morning　on　a　divan　in　a

cool　hall　of　the　Alhambra；　when　a　slave　arrived　from　the　fortress　of

Salobrena；　with　a　message　from　the　sage　Kadiga；　congratulating　him

on　the　anniversary　of　his　daughters'　birth…day。　The　slave　at　the

same　time　presented　a　delicate　little　basket　decorated　with　flowers；

within　which；　on　a　couch　of　vine　and　fig…leaves；　lay　a　peach；　an

apricot；　and　a　nectarine；　with　their　bloom　and　down　and　dewy　sweetness

upon　them；　and　all　in　the　early　stage　of　tempting　ripeness。　The

monarch　was　versed　in　the　Oriental　language　of　fruits　and　flowers；　and

rapidly　divined　the　meaning　of　this　emblematical　offering。

　　〃So；〃　said　he；　〃the　critical　period　pointed　out　by　the　astrologers

is　arrived：　my　daughters　are　at　a　marriageable　age。　What　is　to　be

done？　They　are　shut　up　from　the　eyes　of　men；　they　are　under　the　eyes

of　the　discreet　Kadiga…　all　very　good…　but　still　they　are　not　under　my

own　eye；　as　was　prescribed　by　the　astrologers：　I　must　gather　them

under　my　wing；　and　trust　to　no　other　guardianship。〃

　　So　saying；　he　ordered　that　a　tower　of　the　Alhambra　should　be

prepared　for　their　reception；　and　departed　at　the　head　of　his　guards

for　the　fortress　of　Salobrena；　to　conduct　them　home　in　person。

　　About　three　years　had　elapsed　since　Mohamed　had　beheld　his

daughters；　and　he　could　scarcely　credit　his　eyes　at　the　wonderful

change　which　that　small　space　of　time　had　made　in　their　appearance。

During　the　interval；　they　had　passed　that　wondrous　boundary　line　in

female　life　which　separates　the　crude；　unformed；　and　thoughtless

girl　from　the　blooming；　blushing；　meditative　woman。　It　is　like　passing

from　the　flat；　bleak；　uninteresting　plains　of　La　Mancha　to　the

voluptuous　valleys　and　swelling　hills　of　Andalusia。

　　Zayda　was　tall　and　finely　formed；　with　a　lofty　demeanor　and　a

penetrating　eye。　She　entered　with　a　stately　and　decided　step；　and　made

a　profound　reverence　to　Mohamed；　treating　him　more　as　her　sovereign

than　her　father。　Zorayda　was　of　the　middle　height；　with　an　alluring

look　and　swimming　gait；　and　a　sparkling　beauty；　heightened　by　the

assistance　of　the　toilette。　She　approached　her　father　with　a　smile；

kissed　his　hand；　and　saluted　him　with　several　stanzas　from　a　popular

Arabian　poet；　with　which　the　monarch　was　delighted。　Zorahayda　was

shy　and　timid；　smaller　than　her　sisters；　and　with　a　beauty　of　that

tender　beseeching　kind　which　looks　for　fondness　and　protection。　She

was　little　fitted　to　command；　like　her　elder　sister；　or　to　dazzle　like

the　second；　but　was　rather　formed　to　creep　to　the　bosom　of　manly

affection；　to　nestle　within　it；　and　be　content。　She　drew　near　to　her

father；　with　a　timid　and　almost　faltering　step；　and　would　have　taken

his　hand　to　kiss；　but　on　looking　up　into　his　face；　and　seeing　it

beaming　with　a　paternal　smile；　the　tenderness　of　her　nature　broke

forth；　and　she　threw　herself　upon　his　neck。

　　Mohamed　the　Left…handed　surveyed　his　blooming　daughters　with　mingled

pride　and　perplexity；　for　while　he　exulted　in　their　charms；　he

bethought　himself　of　the　prediction　of　the　astrologers。　〃Three

daughters！　three　daughters！〃　muttered　he　repeatedly　to　himself；　〃and

all　of　a　marriageable　age！　Here's　tempting　Hesperian　fruit；　that

requires　a　dragon　watch！〃

　　He　prepared　for　his　return　to　Granada；　by　sending　heralds　before

him；　commanding　every　one　to　keep　out　of　the　road　by　which　he　was　to

pass；　and　that　all　doors　and　windows　should　be　closed　at　the

approach　of　the　princesses。　This　done；　he　set　forth；　escorted　by　a

troop　of　black　horsemen　of　hideous　aspect；　and　clad　in　shining　armor。

　　The　princesses　rode　beside　the　king；　closely　veiled；　on　beautiful

white　palfreys；　with　velvet　caparisons；　embroidered　with　gold；　and

sweeping　the　ground；　the　bits　and　stirrups　were　of　gold；　and　the

silken　bridles　adorned　with　pearls　and　precious　stones。　The　palfreys

were　covered　with　little　silver　bells；　which　made　the　most　musical

tinkling　as　they　ambled　gently　along。　Woe　to　the　unlucky　wight；

however；　who　lingered　in　the　way　when　he　heard　the　tinkling　of　these

bells！…　the　guards　were　ordered　to　cut　him　down　without　mercy。

　　The　cavalcade　was　drawing　near　to　Granada；　when　it　overtook　on　the

banks　of　the　river　Xenil；　a　small　body　of　Moorish　soldiers　with　a

convoy　of　prisoners。　It　was　too　late　for　the　soldiers　to　get　out　of

the　way；　so　they　threw　themselves　on　their　faces　on　the　earth；

ordering　their　captives　to　do　the　like。　Among　the　prisoners　were　the

three　identical　cavaliers　whom　the　princesses　had　seen　from　the

pavilion。　They　either　did　not　understand；　or　were　too　haughty　to

obey　the　order；　and　remained　standing　and　gazing　upon　the　cavalcade　as