Pluming his wings for a moment, adjusting his bright green coat, and
elevating his top-knot, the parrot perched himself beside her with a
gallant air: then assuming a tenderness of tone, "Dry thy tears,
most beautiful of princesses," said he, "I come to bring solace to thy
heart."
The princess was startled on hearing a voice, but turning and seeing
nothing but a little green-coated bird bobbing and bowing before
her; "Alas! what solace canst thou yield," said she, "seeing thou
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.
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