part06-第7章

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unsatisfied　expression　over　the　plumed　throng　of　knights。　The　trumpets

were　about　sounding　for　the　encounter；　when　the　herald　announced　the

arrival　of　a　strange　knight；　and　Ahmed　rode　into　the　field。　A　steel

helmet　studded　with　gems　rose　above　his　turban；　his　cuirass　was

embossed　with　gold；　his　cimeter　and　dagger　were　of　the　workmanship

of　Fez；　and　flamed　with　precious　stones。　A　round　shield　was　at　his

shoulder；　and　in　his　hand　he　bore　the　lance　of　charmed　virtue。　The

caparison　of　his　Arabian　steed　was　richly　embroidered　and　swept　the

ground；　and　the　proud　animal　pranced　and　snuffed　the　air；　and

neighed　with　joy　at　once　more　beholding　the　array　of　arms。　The　lofty

and　graceful　demeanor　of　the　prince　struck　every　eye；　and　when　his

appellation　was　announced；　〃the　Pilgrim　of　Love；〃　a　universal

flutter　and　agitation　prevailed　among　the　fair　dames　in　the　galleries。

　　When　Ahmed　presented　himself　at　the　lists；　however；　they　were　closed

against　him：　none　but　princes；　he　was　told；　were　admitted　to　the

contest。　He　declared　his　name　and　rank。　Still　worse！…　he　was　a　Moslem；

and　could　not　engage　in　a　tourney　where　the　hand　of　a　Christian

princess　was　the　prize。

　　The　rival　princes　surrounded　him　with　haughty　and　menacing

aspects；　and　one　of　insolent　demeanor　and　herculean　frame　sneered　at

his　light　and　youthful　form；　and　scoffed　at　his　amorous　appellation。

The　ire　of　the　prince　was　roused。　He　defied　his　rival　to　the

encounter。　They　took　distance；　wheeled；　and　charged；　and　at　the

first　touch　of　the　magic　lance；　the　brawny　scoffer　was　tilted　from　his

saddle。　Here　the　prince　would　have　paused；　but　alas！　he　had　to　deal

with　a　demoniac　horse　and　armor；　once　in　action　nothing　could

control　them。　The　Arabian　steed　charged　into　the　thickest　of　the

throng；　the　lance　overturned　every　thing　that　presented；　the　gentle

prince　was　carried　pell…mell　about　the　field；　strewing　it　with　high

and　low；　gentle　and　simple；　and　grieving　at　his　own　involuntary

exploits。　The　king　stormed　and　raged　at　this　outrage　on　his　subjects

and　his　guests。　He　ordered　out　all　his　guards…　they　were　unhorsed　as

fast　as　they　came　up。　The　king　threw　off　his　robes；　grasped　buckler

and　lance；　and　rode　forth　to　awe　the　stranger　with　the　presence　of

majesty　itself　Alas！　majesty　fared　no　better　than　the　vulgar；　the

steed　and　lance　were　no　respecters　of　persons；　to　the　dismay　of　Ahmed；

he　was　borne　full　tilt　against　the　king；　and　in　a　moment　the　royal

heels　were　in　the　air；　and　the　crown　was　rolling　in　the　dust。

　　At　this　moment　the　sun　reached　the　meridian；　the　magic　spell　resumed

its　power；　the　Arabian　steed　scoured　across　the　plain；　leaped　the

barrier；　plunged　into　the　Tagus；　swam　its　raging　current；　bore　the

prince　breathless　and　amazed　to　the　cavern；　and　resumed　his　station；

like　a　statue；　beside　the　iron　table。　The　prince　dismounted　right

gladly；　and　replaced　the　armor；　to　abide　the　further　decrees　of

fate。　Then　seating　himself　in　the　cavern；　he　ruminated　on　the

desperate　state　to　which　this　demoniac　steed　and　armor　had　reduced

him。　Never　should　he　dare　to　show　his　face　at　Toledo　after

inflicting　such　disgrace　upon　its　chivalry；　and　such　an　outrage　on　its

king。　What；　too；　would　the　princess　think　of　so　rude　and　riotous　an

achievement？　Full　of　anxiety；　he　sent　forth　his　winged　messengers　to

gather　tidings。　The　parrot　resorted　to　all　the　public　places　and

crowded　resorts　of　the　city；　and　soon　returned　with　a　world　of　gossip。

　　All　Toledo　was　in　consternation。　The　princess　had　been　borne　off

senseless　to　the　palace；　the　tournament　had　ended　in　confusion；

every　one　was　talking　of　the　sudden　apparition；　prodigious　exploits；

and　strange　disappearance　of　the　Moslem　knight。　Some　pronounced　him

a　Moorish　magician；　others　thought　him　a　demon　who　had　assumed　a　human

shape；　while　others　related　traditions　of　enchanted　warriors　hidden　in

the　caves　of　the　mountains；　and　thought　it　might　be　one　of　these；

who　had　made　a　sudden　irruption　from　his　den。　All　agreed　that　no

mere　ordinary　mortal　could　have　wrought　such　wonders；　or　unhorsed　such

accomplished　and　stalwart　Christian　warriors。

　　The　owl　flew　forth　at　night　and　hovered　about　the　dusky　city；

perching　on　the　roofs　and　chimneys。　He　then　wheeled　his　flight　up　to

the　royal　palace；　which　stood　on　a　rocky　summit　of　Toledo；　and　went

prowling　about　its　terraces　and　battlements；　eavesdropping　at　every

cranny；　and　glaring　in　with　his　big　goggling　eyes　at　every　window

where　there　was　a　light；　so　as　to　throw　two　or　three　maids　of　honor

into　fits。　It　was　not　until　the　gray　dawn　began　to　peer　above　the

mountains　that　he　returned　from　his　mousing　expedition；　and　related　to

the　prince　what　he　had　seen。

　　〃As　I　was　prying　about　one　of　the　loftiest　towers　of　the　palace；〃

said　he；　〃I　beheld　through　a　casement　a　beautiful　princess。　She　was

reclining　on　a　couch　with　attendants　and　physicians　around　her；　but

she　would　none　of　their　ministry　and　relief　When　they　retired　I　beheld

her　draw　forth　a　letter　from　her　bosom；　and　read　and　kiss　it；　and　give

way　to　loud　lamentations；　at　which；　philosopher　as　I　am；　I　could　but

be　greatly　moved。〃

　　The　tender　heart　of　Ahmed　was　distressed　at　these　tidings。　〃Too　true

were　thy　words；　O　sage　Eben　Bonabben；〃　cried　he；　〃care　and　sorrow

and　sleepless　nights　are　the　lot　of　lovers。　Allah　preserve　the

princess　from　the　blighting　influence　of　this　thing　called　love！〃

　　Further　intelligence　from　Toledo　corroborated　the　report　of　the　owl。

The　city　was　a　prey　to　uneasiness　and　alarm。　The　princess　was　conveyed

to　the　highest　tower　of　the　palace；　every　avenue　to　which　was　strongly

guarded。　In　the　mean　time　a　devouring　melancholy　had　seized　upon

her；　of　which　no　one　could　divine　the　cause…　she　refused　food　and

turned　a　deaf　ear　to　every　consolation。　The　most　skilful　physicians

had　essayed　their　art　in　vain；　it　was　thought　some　magic　spell　had

been　practised　upon　her；　and　the　king　made　proclamation；　declaring

that　whoever　should　effect　her　cure　should　receive　the　richest　jewel

in　the　royal　treasury。

　　When　the　owl；　who　was　dozing　in　a　corner；　heard　of　this

proclamation；　he　rolled　his　large　eyes　and　looked　more　mysterious　than

ever。

　　〃Allah　Akbar！〃　exclaimed　he；　〃happy　the　man　that　shall　effect　that

cure；　should　he　but　know　what　to　choose　from　the　royal　treasury。〃

　　〃What　mean　you；　most　reverend　owl？〃　said　Ahmed。

　　〃Hearken；　O　prince；　to　what　I　shall　relate。　We　owls；　you　must

know；　are　a　learned　body；　and　much　given　to　dark　and　dusty　research。

During　my　late　prowling　at　night　about　the　domes　and　turrets　of

Toledo；　I　discovered　a　college　of　antiquarian　owls；　who　hold　their

meetings　in　a　great　vaulted　tower　where　the　royal　treasury　is

deposited。　Here　they　were　discussing　the　forms　and　inscriptions　and

designs　of　ancient　gems　and　jewels；　and　of　golden　and　silver

vessels；　heaped　up　in　the　treasury；　the　fashion　of　every　country　and

age；　but　mostly　they　were　interested　about　certain　relics　and

talismans　that　have　remained　in　the　treasury　since　the　time　of

Roderick　the　Goth。　Among　these　was　a　box　of　sandal…wood　secured　by

bands　of　steel　of　Oriental　workmanship；　and　inscribed　with　mystic

characters　known　only　to　the　learned　few。　This　box　and　its　inscription

had　occupied　the　college　for　several　sessions；　and　had　caused　much

long　and　grave　dispute。　At　the　time　of　my　visit　a　very　ancient　owl；

who　had　recently　arrived　from　Egypt；　was　seated　on　the　lid　of　the

box　lecturing　upon　the　inscription；　and　he　proved　from　it　that　the

coffer　contained　the　silken　carpet　of　the　throne　of　Solomon　the

wise；　which　doubtless　had　been　brought　to　Toledo　by　the　Jews　who

took　refuge　there　after　the　downfall　of　Jerusalem。〃

　　When　the　owl　had　concluded　his　antiquarian　harangue　the　prince

remained　for　a　time　absorbed　in　thought。　〃I　have　heard；〃　said　he；

〃from　the　sage　Eben　Bonabben；　of　the　wonderful　properties　of　that

talisman；　which　disappeared　at　the　fall　of　Jerusalem；　and　was　supposed

to　be　lost　to　mankind。　Doubtless　it　remains　a　sealed　mystery　to　the

Christians　of　Toledo。　If　I　can　get　possession　of　that　carpet；　my

fortune　is　secure。〃

　　The　next　day　the　prince　laid　aside　his　rich　attire；　and　arrayed

himself　in　the　simple　garb　of　an　Arab　of　the　desert。　He　dyed　his

complexion　to　a　tawny　hue；　and　no　one　could　have　recognized　in　him　the

splendid　warrior　who　had　caused　such　admiration　and　dismay　at　the

tournament。　With　staff　in　hand；　and　scrip　by　his　side；　and　a　small

pastoral　reed；　he　repaired　to　Toledo；　and　presenting　himself　at　the

gate　of　the　royal　palace；　announced　himself　as　a　candidate　for　the

reward　offered　for　the　cure　of　the　princess。　The　guards　would　have

driven　him　away　with　blows。　〃What　can　a　vagrant　Arab　like　thyself

pretend　to　do；〃　said　they；　〃in　a　case　where　the　most　learned　of　the

land　have　failed？〃　The　king；　however；　overheard　the　tumult；　and

ordered　the　Arab　to　be　brought　into　his　presence。

　　〃Most　potent　king；〃　said　Ahmed；　〃You　behold　before　you　a　Bedouin

Arab；　the　greater　part　of　whose　life　has　been　passed　in　the

solitudes　of　the　desert。　These　solitudes；　it　is　well　known；　are　the

haunts　of　demons　and　evil　spirits；　who　beset　us　poor　shepherds　in

our　lonely　watchings；　enter　into　and　possess　our　flocks　and　herds；　and

sometimes　render　even　the　patient　camel　furious；　against　these　our

counter…charm　is　music；　and　we　have　legendary　airs　handed　down　from

generation　to　generation；　that　we　chant　and　pipe；　to　cast　forth

these　evil　spirits。　I　am　of　a　gifted　line；　and　possess　this　power　in

its　fullest　force。　If　it　be　any　evil　influence　of　the　kind　that

holds　a　spell　over　thy　daughter；　I　pledge　my　head　to　free　her　from　its

sway。〃

　　The　king；　who　was　a　man　of　understanding　and　knew　the　wonderful

secrets　possessed　by　the　Arabs；　was　inspired　with　hope　by　the

confident　language　of　the　prince。　He　conducted　him　immediately　to

the　lofty　tower；　secured　by　several　doors；　in　the　summit　of　which

was　the　chamber　of　the　princess。　The　windows　opened　upon　a　terrace

with　balustrades；　commanding　a　view　over　Toledo　and　all　the

surrounding　country。　The　windows　were　darkened；　for　the　princess　lay

within；　a　prey　to　a　devouring　grief　that　refused　all　alleviation。

　　The　prince　seated　himself　on　the　terrace；　and　performed　several　wild

Arabian　airs　on　his　pastoral　pipe；　which　he　had　learnt　from　his

attendants　in　the　Generalife　at　Granada。　The　princess　continued

insensible；　and　the　doctors　who　were　present　shook　their　heads；　and

smiled　with　incredulity　and　contempt：　at　length　the　prince　laid

aside　the　reed；　and；　to　a　simple　melody；　chanted　the　amatory　verses　of

the　letter　which　had　declared　his　passion。

　　The　princess　recognized　the　strain…　a　fluttering　joy　stole　to　her

heart；　she　raised　her　head　and　listened；　tears　rushed　to　her　eyes

and　streamed　down　her　cheeks；　her　bosom　rose　and　fell　with　a　tumult　of

emotions。　She　would　have　asked　for　the　minstrel　to　be　brought　into　her

presence；　but　maiden　coyness　held　her　silent。　The