Their horses
pranced proudly and champed upon their bits, but their tramp caused no
more sound than if they had been shod with felt, and the riders were
all as pale as death. Among them rode a beautiful lady, with a crowned
head and long golden locks entwined with pearls. The housings of her
palfrey were of crimson velvet embroidered with gold, and swept the
earth; but she rode all disconsolate, with eyes ever fixed upon the
ground.
Then succeeded a train of courtiers magnificently arrayed in robes
and turbans of divers colors, and amidst them, on a cream-colored
charger, rode King Boabdil el Chico, in a royal mantle covered with
jewels, and a crown sparkling with diamonds. The little Sanchica
knew him by his yellow beard, and his resemblance to his portrait,
which she had often seen in the picture gallery of the Generalife. She
gazed in wonder and admiration at this royal pageant, as it passed
glistening among the trees; but though she knew these monarchs and
courtiers and warriors, so pale and silent, were out of the common
course of nature, and things of magic and enchantment, yet she
looked on with a bold heart, such courage did she derive from the
mystic talisman of the hand, which was suspended about her neck.
The cavalcade having passed by, she rose and followed. It
continued on to the great Gate of Justice, which stood wide open;
the old invalid sentinels on duty lay on the stone benches of the
barbican, buried in profound and apparently charmed sleep, and the
phantom pageant swept noiselessly by them with flaunting banner and
triumphant state.
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