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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
it app