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pavilion。 They either did not understand； or were too haughty to
obey the order； and remained standing and gazing upon the cavalcade as
it approached。
The ire of the monarch was kindled at this flagrant defiance of
his orders。 Drawing his cimeter； and pressing forward； he was about to
deal a left…handed blow that might have been fatal to； at least； one
of the gazers； when the princesses crowded round him； and implored
mercy for the prisoners； even the timid Zorahayda forgot her
shyness； and became eloquent in their behalf。 Mohamed paused； with
uplifted cimeter； when the captain of the guard threw himself at his
feet。 〃Let not your highness；〃 said he； 〃do a deed that may cause
great scandal throughout the kingdom。 These are three brave and
noble Spanish knights； who have been taken in battle； fighting like
lions； they are of high birth； and may bring great ransoms。〃
〃Enough！〃 said the king。 〃I will spare their lives； but punish their
audacity… let them be taken to the Vermilion Towers； and put to hard
labor。〃
Mohamed was making one of his usual left…handed blunders。 In the
tumult and agitation of this blustering scene； the veils of the
three princesses had been thrown back； and the radiance of their
beauty revealed； and in prolonging the parley； the king had given that
beauty time to have its full effect。 In those days people fell in love
much more suddenly than at present； as all ancient stories make
manifest： it is not a matter of wonder； therefore； that the hearts
of the three cavaliers were completely captured； especially as
gratitude was added to their admiration； it is a little singular；
however； though no less certain； that each of them was enraptured with
a several beauty。 As to the princesses； they were more than ever
struck with the noble demeanor of the captives； and cherished in their
breasts all that they had heard of their valor and noble lineage。
The cavalcade resumed its march； the three princesses rode pensively
along on their tinkling palfreys； now and then stealing a glance
behind in search of the Christian captives； and the latter were
conducted to their allotted prison in the Vermilion Towers。
The residence provided for the princesses was one of the most dainty
that fancy could devise。 It was in a tower somewhat apart from the
main palace of the Alhambra； though connected with it by the wall
which encircled the whole summit of the hill。 On one side it looked
into the interior of the fortress； and had； at its foot； a small
garden filled with the rarest flowers。 On the other side it overlooked
a deep embowered ravine separating the grounds of the Alhambra from
those of the Generalife。 The interior of the tower was divided into
small fairy apartments； beautifully ornamented in the light Arabian
style； surrounding a lofty hall； the vaulted roof of which rose almost
to the summit of the tower。 The walls and the ceilings of the hall
were adorned with arabesque and fretwork； sparkling with gold and with
brilliant pencilling。 In the centre of the marble pavement was an
alabaster fountain； set round with aromatic shrubs and flowers； and
throwing up a jet of water that cooled the whole edifice and had a
lulling sound。 Round the hall were suspended cages of gold and
silver wire； containing singing…birds of the finest plumage or
sweetest note。
The princesses had been represented as always cheerful when in the
castle of the Salobrena； the king had expected to see them
enraptured with the Alhambra。 To his surprise； however； they began
to pine； and grow melancholy； and dissatisfied with every thing around
them。 The flowers yielded them no fragrance； the song of the
nightingale disturbed their night's rest； and they were out of all
patience with the alabaster fountain with its eternal drop…drop and
splash…splash； from morning till night； and from night till morning。
The king； who was somewhat of a testy； tyrannical disposition；
took this at first in high dudgeon； but he reflected that his
daughters had arrived at an age when the female mind expands and its
desires augment。 〃They are no longer children；〃 said he to himself；
〃they are women grown； and require suitable objects to interest them。〃
He put in requisition； therefore； all the dressmakers； and the
jewellers； and the artificers in gold and silver throughout the
Zacatin of Granada； and the princesses were overwhelmed with robes
of silk； and tissue； and brocade； and cashmere shawls； and necklaces
of pearls and diamonds； and rings； and bracelets； and anklets； and all
manner of precious things。
All； however； was of no avail； the princesses continued pale and
languid in the midst of their finery； and looked like three blighted
rose…buds； drooping from one stalk。 The king was at his wits' end。
He had in general a laudable confidence in his own judgment； and never
took advice。 〃The whims and caprices of three marriageable damsels；
however； are sufficient；〃 said he； 〃to puzzle the shrewdest head。〃
So for once in his life he called in the aid of counsel。
The person to whom he applied was the experienced duenna。
〃Kadiga；〃 said the king； 〃I know you to be one of the most
discreet women in the whole world； as well as one of the most
trustworthy； for these reasons I have always continued you about the
persons of my daughters。 Fathers cannot be too wary in whom they
repose such confidence； I now wish you to find out the secret malady
that is preying upon the princesses； and to devise some means of
restoring them to health and cheerfulness。〃
Kadiga promised implicit obedience。 In fact she knew more of the
malady of the princesses than they did themselves。 Shutting herself up
with them； however； she endeavored to insinuate herself into their
confidence。
〃My dear children； what is the reason you are so dismal and downcast
in so beautiful a place； where you have every thing that heart can
wish？〃
The princesses looked vacantly round the apartment； and sighed。
〃What more； then； would you have？ Shall I get you the wonderful
parrot that talks all languages； and is the delight of Granada？〃
〃Odious！〃 exclaimed the princess Zayda。 〃A horrid； screaming bird；
that chatters words without ideas： one must be without brains to
tolerate such a pest。〃
〃Shall I send for a monkey from the rock of Gibraltar； to divert you
with his antics？〃
〃A monkey！ faugh！〃 cried Zorayda； 〃the detestable mimic of man。 I
hate the nauseous animal。〃
〃What say you to the famous black singer Casem； from the royal
harem； in Morocco？ They say he has a voice as fine as a woman's。〃
〃I am terrified at the sight of these black slaves；〃 said the
delicate Zorahayda； 〃besides； I have lost all relish for music。〃
〃Ah！ my child； you would not say so；〃 replied the old woman；
slyly； 〃had you heard the music I heard last evening； from the three
Spanish cavaliers； whom we met on our journey。 But； bless me；
children！ what is the matter that you blush so； and are in such a
flu