part06-第7部分

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art　but　a　parrot？〃

　　The　parrot　was　nettled　at　the　question。　〃I　have　consoled　many

beautiful　ladies　in　my　time；〃　said　he；　〃but　let　that　pass。　At

present　I　come　ambassador　from　a　royal　prince。　Know　that　Ahmed；　the

prince　of　Granada；　has　arrived　in　quest　of　thee；　and　is　encamped

even　now　on　the　flowery　banks　of　the　Tagus。〃

　　The　eyes　of　the　beautiful　princess　sparkled　at　these　words　even

brighter　than　the　diamonds　in　her　coronet。　〃O　sweetest　of　parrots；〃

cried　she；　〃joyful　indeed　are　thy　tidings；　for　I　was　faint　and

weary；　and　sick　almost　unto　death　with　doubt　of　the　constancy　of

Ahmed。　Hie　thee　back；　and　tell　him　that　the　words　of　his　letter　are

engraven　in　my　heart；　and　his　poetry　has　been　the　food　of　my　soul。

Tell　him；　however；　that　he　must　prepare　to　prove　his　love　by　force

of　arms；　to…morrow　is　my　seventeenth　birth…day；　when　the　king　my

father　holds　a　great　tournament；　several　princes　are　to　enter　the

lists；　and　my　hand　is　to　be　the　prize　of　the　victor。〃

　　The　parrot　again　took　wing；　and　rustling　through　the　groves；　flew

back　to　where　the　prince　awaited　his　return。　The　rapture　of　Ahmed　on

finding　the　original　of　his　adored　portrait；　and　finding　her　kind

and　true；　can　only　be　conceived　by　those　favored　mortals　who　have

had　the　good　fortune　to　realize　day…dreams　and　turn　a　shadow　into

substance：　still　there　was　one　thing　that　alloyed　his　transport…

this　impending　tournament。　In　fact；　the　banks　of　the　Tagus　were

already　glittering　with　arms；　and　resounding　with　trumpets　of　the

various　knights；　who；　with　proud　retinues；　were　prancing　on　towards

Toledo　to　attend　the　ceremonial。　The　same　star　that　had　controlled　the

destiny　of　the　prince　had　governed　that　of　the　princess；　and　until　her

seventeenth　birth…day　she　had　been　shut　up　from　the　world；　to　guard

her　from　the　tender　passion。　The　fame　of　her　charms；　however；　had　been

enhanced　rather　than　obscured　by　this　seclusion。　Several　powerful

princes　had　contended　for　her　hand；　and　her　father；　who　was　a　king

of　wondrous　shrewdness；　to　avoid　making　enemies　by　showing　partiality；

had　referred　them　to　the　arbitrament　of　arms。　Among　the　rival

candidates　were　several　renowned　for　strength　and　prowess。　What　a

predicament　for　the　unfortunate　Ahmed；　unprovided　as　he　was　with

weapons；　and　unskilled　in　the　exercise　of　chivalry！　〃Luckless　prince

that　I　am！〃　said　he；　〃to　have　been　brought　up　in　seclusion　under　the

eye　of　a　philosopher！　Of　what　avail　are　algebra　and　philosophy　in

affairs　of　love？　Alas；　Eben　Bonabben！　why　hast　thou　neglected　to

instruct　me　in　the　management　of　arms？〃　Upon　this　the　owl　broke

silence；　preluding　his　harangue　with　a　pious　ejaculation；　for　he　was　a

devout　Mussulman。

　　〃Allah　Akbar！　God　is　great！〃　exclaimed　he；　〃in　his　hands　are　all

secret　things…　he　alone　governs　the　destiny　of　princes！　Know；　O

prince；　that　this　land　is　full　of　mysteries；　hidden　from　all　but　those

who；　like　myself；　can　grope　after　knowledge　in　the　dark。　Know　that

in　the　neighboring　mountains　there　is　a　cave；　and　in　that　cave　there

is　an　iron　table；　and　on　that　table　there　lies　a　suit　of　magic

armor；　and　beside　that　table　there　stands　a　spell…bound　steed；　which

have　been　shut　up　there　for　many　generations。〃

　　The　prince　stared　with　wonder；　while　the　owl；　blinking　his　huge

round　eyes；　and　erecting　his　horns；　proceeded。

　　〃Many　years　since；　I　accompanied　my　father　to　these　parts　on　a

tour　of　his　estates；　and　we　sojourned　in　that　cave；　and　thus　became

I　acquainted　with　the　mystery。　It　is　a　tradition　in　our　family　which　I

have　heard　from　my　grandfather；　when　I　was　yet　but　a　very　little

owlet；　that　this　armor　belonged　to　a　Moorish　magician；　who　took　refuge

in　this　cavern　when　Toledo　was　captured　by　the　Christians；　and　died

here；　leaving　his　steed　and　weapons　under　a　mystic　spell；　never　to

be　used　but　by　a　Moslem；　and　by　him　only　from　sunrise　to　mid…day。　In

that　interval；　whoever　uses　them　will　overthrow　every　opponent。〃

　　〃Enough；　let　us　seek　this　cave！〃　exclaimed　Ahmed。

　　Guided　by　his　legendary　mentor；　the　prince　found　the　cavern；　which

was　in　one　of　the　wildest　recesses　of　those　rocky　cliffs　which　rise

around　Toledo；　none　but　the　mousing　eye　of　an　owl　or　an　antiquary

could　have　discovered　the　entrance　to　it。　A　sepulchral　lamp　of

everlasting　oil　shed　a　solemn　light　through　the　place。　On　an　iron

table　in　the　centre　of　the　cavern　lay　the　magic　armor；　against　it

leaned　the　lance；　and　beside　it　stood　an　Arabian　steed；　caparisoned

for　the　field；　but　motionless　as　a　statue。　The　armor　was　bright　and

unsullied　as　it　had　gleamed　in　days　of　old；　the　steed　in　as　good

condition　as　if　just　from　the　pasture；　and　when　Ahmed　laid　his　hand

upon　his　neck；　he　pawed　the　ground　and　gave　a　loud　neigh　of　joy　that

shook　the　walls　of　the　cavern。　Thus　amply　provided　with　〃horse　and

rider　and　weapon　to　wear；〃　the　prince　determined　to　defy　the　field

in　the　impending　tourney。

　　The　eventful　morning　arrived。　The　lists　for　the　combat　were　prepared

in　the　vega；　or　plain；　just　below　the　cliff…built　walls　of　Toledo；

where　stages　and　galleries　were　erected　for　the　spectators；　covered

with　rich　tapestry；　and　sheltered　from　the　sun　by　silken　awnings。

All　the　beauties　of　the　land　were　assembled　in　those　galleries；

while　below　pranced　plumed　knights　with　their　pages　and　esquires；

among　whom　figured　conspicuously　the　princes　who　were　to　contend　in

the　tourney。　All　the　beauties　of　the　land；　however；　were　eclipsed　when

the　princess　Aldegonda　appeared　in　the　royal　pavilion；　and　for　the

first　time　broke　forth　upon　the　gaze　of　an　admiring　world。　A　murmur　of

wonder　ran　through　the　crowd　at　her　transcendent　loveliness；　and　the

princes　who　were　candidates　for　her　hand；　merely　on　the　faith　of　her

reported　charms；　now　felt　tenfold　ardor　for　the　conflict。

　　The　princess；　however；　had　a　troubled　look。　The　color　came　and

went　from　her　cheek；　and　her　eye　wandered　with　a　restless　and

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；