"Did ever nobler being tread the earth than that cavalier in
crimson?" cried Zayda, the eldest of the sisters. "See how proudly
he bears himself, as though all around him were his slaves!"
"But notice that one in green!" exclaimed Zorayda. "What grace! what
elegance! what spirit!"
The gentle Zorahayda said nothing, but she secretly gave
preference to the cavalier in blue.
The princesses remained gazing until the prisoners were out of
sight; then heaving long-drawn sighs, they turned round, looked at
each other for a moment, and sat down, musing and pensive, on their
ottomans.
The discreet Kadiga found them in this situation; they related
what they had seen, and even the withered heart of the duenna was
warmed. "Poor youths!" exclaimed she, "I'll warrant their captivity
makes many a fair and high-born lady's heart ache in their native
land! Ah my children, you have little idea of the life these cavaliers
lead in their own country. Such prankling at tournaments! such
devotion to the ladies! such courting and serenading!"
The curiosity of Zayda was fully aroused; she was insatiable in
her inquiries, and drew from the duenna the most animated pictures
of the scenes of her youthful days and native land. The beautiful
Zorayda bridled up, and slyly regarded herself in a mirror, when the
theme turned upon the charms of the Spanish ladies; while Zorahayda
suppressed a struggling sigh at the mention of moonlight serenades.
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