While thus seated, the all-pervading
tinkling of the guitar and click of the castanets came stealing up
from the valley of the Darro, and half way down the mountain we
descried a festive party under the trees enjoying themselves in true
Andalusian style, some lying on the grass, others dancing to the
music.
All these sights and sounds, together with the princely seclusion of
the place, the sweet quiet which prevailed around, and the delicious
serenity of the weather had a witching effect upon the mind, and
drew from some of the company, versed in local story, several of the
popular fancies and traditions connected with this old Moorish palace;
they were "such stuff as dreams are made of," but out of them I have
shaped the following legend, which I hope may have the good fortune to
prove acceptable to the reader.
Legend of Prince Ahmed al Kamel
or, The Pilgrim of Love.
THERE was once a Moorish king of Granada who had but one son, whom
he named Ahmed, to which his courtiers added the surname of al
Kamel, or the perfect, from the indubitable signs of superexcellence
which they perceived in him in his very infancy. The astrologers
countenanced them in their foresight, predicting every thing in his
favor that could make a perfect prince and a prosperous sovereign. One
cloud only rested upon his destiny, and even that was of a roseate
hue: he would be of an amorous temperament, and run great perils
from the tender passion.
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