One of the exterior walls straggled down the
profile of the hill, until it reached a jutting rock overhanging the
sea, with a narrow sandy beach at its foot, laved by the rippling
billows. A small watchtower on this rock had been fitted up as a
pavilion, with latticed windows to admit the sea-breeze. Here the
princesses used to pass the sultry hours of mid-day.
The curious Zayda was one day seated at a window of the pavilion, as
her sisters, reclining on ottomans, were taking the siesta or noontide
slumber. Her attention was attracted to a galley which came coasting
along, with measured strokes of the oar. As it drew near, she observed
that it was filled with armed men. The galley anchored at the foot
of the tower: a number of Moorish soldiers landed on the narrow beach,
conducting several Christian prisoners. The curious Zayda awakened her
sisters, and all three peeped cautiously through the close jalousies
of the lattice which screened them from sight. Among the prisoners
were three Spanish cavaliers, richly dressed. They were in the
flower of youth, and of noble presence; and the lofty manner in
which they carried themselves, though loaded with chains and
surrounded with enemies, bespoke the grandeur of their souls. The
princesses gazed with intense and breathless interest. Cooped up as
they had been in this castle among female attendants, seeing nothing
of the male sex but black slaves, or the rude fishermen of the
sea-coast, it is not to be wondered at that the appearance of three
gallant cavaliers, in the pride of youth and manly beauty, should
produce some commotion in their bosom.
Pages:
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311