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children！ what is the matter that you blush so； and are in such a
flutter？〃
〃Nothing； nothing； good mother； pray proceed。〃
〃Well； as I was passing by the Vermilion Towers last evening； I
saw the three cavaliers resting after their day's labor。 One was
playing on the guitar； so gracefully； and the others sang by turns；
and they did it in such style； that the very guards seemed like
statues； or men enchanted。 Allah forgive me！ I could not help being
moved at hearing the songs of my native country。 And then to see three
such noble and handsome youths in chains and slavery！〃
Here the kind…hearted old woman could not restrain her tears。
〃Perhaps； mother； you could manage to procure us a sight of these
cavaliers；〃 said Zayda。
〃I think；〃 said Zorayda； 〃a little music would be quite reviving。〃
The timid Zorahayda said nothing； but threw her arms round the
neck of Kadiga。
〃Mercy on me！〃 exclaimed the discreet old woman； 〃what are you
talking of； my children？ Your father would be the death of us all if
he heard of such a thing。 To be sure； these cavaliers are evidently
well…bred； and high…minded youths； but what of that？ they are the
enemies of our faith； and you must not even think of them but with
abhorrence。〃
There is an admirable intrepidity in the female will； particularly
when about the marriageable age； which is not to be deterred by
dangers and prohibitions。 The princesses hung round their old
duenna； and coaxed； and entreated； and declared that a refusal would
break their hearts。
What could she do？ She was certainly the most discreet old woman
in the whole world； and one of the most faithful servants to the king；
but was she to see three beautiful princesses break their hearts for
the mere tinkling of a guitar？ Besides； though she had been so long
among the Moors； and changed her faith in imitation of her mistress；
like a trusty follower； yet she was a Spaniard born； and had the
lingerings of Christianity in her heart。 So she set about to
contrive how the wish of the princesses might be gratified。
The Christian captives； confined in the Vermilion Towers； were under
the charge of a big…whiskered； broad…shouldered renegado； called
Hussein Baba； who was reputed to have a most itching palm。 She went to
him privately； and slipping a broad piece of gold into his hand；
〃Hussein Baba；〃 said she； 〃My mistresses； the three princesses； who
are shut up in the tower； and in sad want of amusement； have heard
of the musical talents of the three Spanish cavaliers； and are
desirous of hearing a specimen of their skill。 I am sure you are too
kind…hearted to refuse them so innocent a gratification。〃
〃What！ and to have my head set grinning over the gate of my own
tower！ for that would be the reward； if the king should discover it。〃
〃No danger of any thing of the kind； the affair may be managed so
that the whim of the princesses may be gratified； and their father
be never the wiser。 You know the deep ravine outside of the walls
which passes immediately below the tower。 Put the three Christians
to work there； and at the intervals of their labor； let them play
and sing； as if for their own recreation。 In this way the princesses
will be able to hear them from the windows of the tower； and you may
be sure of their paying well for your compliance。〃
As the good old woman concluded her harangue； she kindly pressed the
rough hand of the renegado； and left within it another piece of gold。
Her eloquence was irresistible。 The very next day the three
cavaliers were put to work in the ravine。 During the noontide heat；
when their fellow…laborers were sleeping in the shade； and the guard
nodding drowsily at his post； they seated themselves among the herbage
at the foot of the tower； and sang a Spanish roundelay to the
accompaniment of the guitar。
The glen was deep； the tower was high； but their voices rose
distinctly in the stillness of the summer noon。 The princesses
listened from their balcony； they had been taught the Spanish language
by their duenna； and were moved by the tenderness of the song。 The
discreet Kadiga； on the contrary； was terribly shocked。 〃Allah
preserve us！〃 cried she； 〃they are singing a love…ditty； addressed
to yourselves。 Did ever mortal hear of such audacity？ I will run to
the slave…master； and have them soundly bastinadoed。〃
〃What！ bastinado such gallant cavaliers； and for singing so
charmingly！〃 The three beautiful princesses were filled with horror at
the idea。 With all her virtuous indignation； the good old woman was of
a placable nature； and easily appeased。 Besides； the music seemed to
have a beneficial effect upon her young mistresses。 A rosy bloom had
already come to their cheeks； and their eyes began to sparkle。 She
made no further objection； therefore； to the amorous ditty of the
cavaliers。
When it was finished； the princesses remained silent for a time；
at length Zorayda took up a lute； and with a sweet； though faint and
trembling voice； warbled a little Arabian air； the burden of which
was； 〃The rose is concealed among her leaves； but she listens with
delight to the song of the nightingale。〃
From this time forward the cavaliers worked almost daily in the
ravine。 The considerate Hussein Baba became more and more indulgent；
and daily more prone to sleep at his post。 For some time a vague
intercourse was kept up by popular songs and romances； which； in
some measure； responded to each other； and breathed the feelings of
the parties。 By degrees the princesses showed themselves at the
balcony； when they could do so without being perceived by the
guards。 They conversed with the cavaliers also； by means of flowers；
with the symbolical language of which they were mutually acquainted。
The difficulties of their intercourse added to its charms； and
strengthened the passion they had so singularly conceived； for love
delights to struggle with difficulties； and thrives the most hardily
on the scantiest soil。
The change effected in the looks and spirits of the princesses by
this secret intercourse； surprised and gratified the left…handed king；
but no one was more elated than the discreet Kadiga； who considered it
all owing to her able management。
At length there was an interruption in this telegraphic
correspondence； for several days the cavaliers ceased to make their
appearance in the glen。 The princesses looked out from the tower in
vain。 In vain they stretched their swan…like necks from the balcony；
in vain they sang like captive nightingales in their cage： nothing was
to be seen of their Christian lovers； not a note responded from the
groves。 The discreet Kadiga sallied forth in quest of intelligence；
and soon returned with a face full of trouble。 〃Ah； my children！〃
cried she； 〃I saw what all this would come to； but you would have your
way； you may now hang up your lutes on the willows。 The Spanish
cavaliers are ransomed by their families； they are down in Granada；
and prepa