He will give thee tidings of the object of thy search."
"Many thanks for this precious information," said the prince.
"Farewell, most venerable conjurer."
"Farewell, pilgrim of love," said the raven, dryly, and again fell
to pondering on the diagram.
The prince sallied forth from Seville, sought his fellow-traveller
the owl, who was still dozing in the hollow tree, and set off for
Cordova.
He approached it along hanging gardens, and orange and citron
groves, overlooking the fair valley of the Guadalquivir. When
arrived at its gates the owl flew up to a dark hole in the wall, and
the prince proceeded in quest of the palm-tree planted in days of yore
by the great Abderahman. It stood in the midst of the great court of
the mosque, towering from amidst orange and cypress trees. Dervises
and Faquirs were seated in groups under the cloisters of the court,
and many of the faithful were performing their ablutions at the
fountains before entering the mosque.
At the foot of the palm-tree was a crowd listening to the words of
one who appeared to be talking with great volubility. "This," said the
prince to himself, "must be the great traveller who is to give me
tidings of the unknown princess." He mingled in the crowd, but was
astonished to perceive that they were all listening to a parrot, who
with his bright green coat, pragmatical eye, and consequential
top-knot, had the air of a bird on excellent terms with himself.
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