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〃The morning that the gerfalcon came into the tower。 It was the
queen's gerfalcon； and he came in pursuit of it。〃
〃Ah silly； silly girl！ know that there are no gerfalcons half so
dangerous as these young prankling pages； and it is precisely such
simple birds as thee that they pounce upon。〃
The aunt was at first indignant at learning that in despite of her
boasted vigilance； a tender intercourse had been carried on by the
youthful lovers； almost beneath her eye； but when she found that her
simple…hearted niece； though thus exposed； without the protection of
bolt or bar； to all the machinations of the opposite sex； had come
forth unsinged from the fiery ordeal； she consoled herself with the
persuasion that it was owing to the chaste and cautious maxims in
which she had； as it were； steeped her to the very lips。
While the aunt laid this soothing unction to her pride； the niece
treasured up the oft…repeated vows of fidelity of the page。 But what
is the love of restless； roving man？ A vagrant stream that dallies for
a time with each flower upon its bank； then passes on； and leaves them
all in tears。
Days； weeks； months elapsed； and nothing more was heard of the page。
The pomegranate ripened； the vine yielded up its fruit； the autumnal
rains descended in torrents from the mountains； the Sierra Nevada
became covered with a snowy mantle； and wintry blasts howled through
the halls of the Alhambra… still he came not。 The winter passed
away。 Again the genial spring burst forth with song and blossom and
balmy zephyr； the snows melted from the mountains； until none remained
but on the lofty summit of Nevada； glistening through the sultry
summer air。 Still nothing was heard of the forgetful page。
In the mean time； the poor little Jacinta grew pale and
thoughtful。 Her former occupations and amusements were abandoned；
her silk lay entangled； her guitar unstrung； her flowers were
neglected； the notes of her bird unheeded； and her eyes； once so
bright； were dimmed with secret weeping。 If any solitude could be
devised to foster the passion of a love…lorn damsel； it would be
such a place as the Alhambra； where every thing seems disposed to
produce tender and romantic reveries。 It is a very paradise for
lovers： how hard then to be alone in such a paradise… and not merely
alone； but forsaken！
〃Alas； silly child！〃 would the staid and immaculate Fredegonda
say； when she found her niece in one of her desponding moods… 〃did I
not warn thee against the wiles and deceptions of these men？ What
couldst thou expect； too； from one of a haughty and aspiring family…
thou an orphan； the descendant of a fallen and impoverished line？ Be
assured； if the youth were true； his father； who is one of the
proudest nobles about the court； would prohibit his union with one
so humble and portionless as thou。 Pluck up thy resolution； therefore；
and drive these idle notions from thy mind。〃
The words of the immaculate Fredegonda only served to increase the
melancholy of her niece； but she sought to indulge it in private。 At a
late hour one midsummer night； after her aunt had retired to rest； she
remained alone in the hall of the tower； seated beside the alabaster
fountain。 It was here that the faithless page had first knelt and
kissed her hand； it was here that he had often vowed eternal fidelity。
The poor little damsel's heart was overladen with sad and tender
recollections； her tears began to flow； and slowly fell drop by drop
into the fountain。 By degrees the crystal water became agitated；
and… bubble… bubble… bubble… boiled up and was tossed about； until a
female figure； richly clad in Moorish robes； slowly rose to view。
Jacinta was so frightened that she fled from the hall； and did not
venture to return。 The next morning she related what she had seen to
her aunt； but the good lady treated it as a phantasy of her troubled
mind； or supposed she had fallen asleep and dreamt beside the
fountain。 〃Thou hast been thinking of the story of the three Moorish
princesses that once inhabited this tower；〃 continued she； 〃and it has
entered into thy dreams。〃
〃What story； aunt？ I know nothing of it。〃
〃Thou hast certainly heard of the three princesses； Zayda；
Zorayda； and Zorahayda； who were confined in this tower by the king
their father； and agreed to fly with three Christian cavaliers。 The
two first accomplished their escape； but the third failed in her
resolution； and； it is said； died in this tower。〃
〃I now recollect to have heard of it；〃 said Jacinta； 〃and to have
wept over the fate of the gentle Zorahayda。〃
〃Thou mayest well weep over her fate；〃 continued the aunt； 〃for
the lover of Zorahayda was thy ancestor。 He long bemoaned his
Moorish love； but time cured him of his grief； and he married a
Spanish lady； from whom thou art descended。〃
Jacinta ruminated upon these words。 〃That what I have seen is no
phantasy of the brain；〃 said she to herself； 〃I am confident。 If
indeed it be the spirit of the gentle Zorahayda； which I have heard
lingers about this tower； of what should I be afraid？ I'll watch by
the fountain to…night… perhaps the visit will be repeated。〃
Towards midnight； when every thing was quiet； she again took her
seat in the hall。 As the bell in the distant watchtower of the
Alhambra struck the midnight hour； the fountain was again agitated；
and bubble… bubble… bubble… it tossed about the waters until the
Moorish female again rose to view。 She was young and beautiful； her
dress was rich with jewels； and in her hand she held a silver lute。
Jacinta trembled and was faint； but was reassured by the soft and
plaintive voice of the apparition； and the sweet expression of her
pale； melancholy countenance。
〃Daughter of mortality；〃 said she； 〃what aileth thee？ Why do thy
tears trouble my fountain； and thy sighs and plaints disturb the quiet
watches of the night？〃
〃I weep because of the faithlessness of man； and I bemoan my
solitary and forsaken state。〃
〃Take comfort； thy sorrows may yet have an end。 Thou beholdest a
Moorish princess； who； like thee； was unhappy in her love。 A Christian
knight； thy ancestor； won my heart； and would have borne me to his
native land and to the bosom of his church。 I was a convert in my
heart； but I lacked courage equal to my faith； and lingered till too
late。 For this the evil genii are permitted to have power over me； and
I remain enchanted in this tower until some pure Christian will
deign to break the magic spell。 Wilt thou undertake the task？〃
〃I will；〃 replied the damsel； trembling。
〃Come hither then； and fear not； dip thy hand in the fountain；
sprinkle the water over me； and baptize me after the manner of thy
faith； so shall the enchantment be dispelled； and my troubled spirit
have repose。〃
The damsel advanced with faltering steps； dipped her hand in the
fountain； collected water in the palm； and sprinkled it over the
pale face of the phantom。
The latter smiled with ineffable