"
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.
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