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She was an Andalusian by birth； whose Christian name is forgotten；
being mentioned in Moorish legends by no other appellation than that
of the discreet Kadiga… and discreet in truth she was； as her whole
history makes evident。 No sooner had the Moorish king held a little
private conversation with her； than she saw at once the cogency of his
reasoning； and undertook his cause with her young mistress。
〃Go to； now！〃 cried she； 〃what is there in all this to weep and wail
about？ Is it not better to be mistress of this beautiful palace；
with all its gardens and fountains； than to be shut up within your
father's old frontier tower？ As to this Mohamed being an infidel； what
is that to the purpose？ You marry him； not his religion： and if he
is waxing a little old； the sooner will you be a widow； and mistress
of yourself； at any rate； you are in his power； and must either be a
queen or a slave。 When in the hands of a robber； it is better to
sell one's merchandise for a fair price； than to have it taken by main
force。〃
The arguments of the discreet Kadiga prevailed。 The Spanish lady
dried her tears； and became the spouse of Mohamed the Left…handed； she
even conformed； in appearance； to the faith of her royal husband；
and her discreet duenna immediately became a zealous convert to the
Moslem doctrines： it was then the latter received the Arabian name
of Kadiga； and was permitted to remain in the confidential employ of
her mistress。
In due process of time the Moorish king was made the proud and happy
father of three lovely daughters； all born at a birth： he could have
wished they had been sons； but consoled himself with the idea that
three daughters at a birth were pretty well for a man somewhat
stricken in years； and left…handed！
As usual with all Moslem monarchs； he summoned his astrologers on
this happy event。 They cast the nativities of the three princesses；
and shook their heads。 〃Daughters； O king！〃 said they； 〃are always
precarious property； but these will most need your watchfulness when
they arrive at a marriageable age； at that time gather them under your
wings； and trust them to no other guardianship。〃
Mohamed the Left…handed was acknowledged to be a wise king by his
courtiers； and was certainly so considered by himself。 The
prediction of the astrologers caused him but little disquiet； trusting
to his ingenuity to guard his daughters and outwit the Fates。
The three…fold birth was the last matrimonial trophy of the monarch；
his queen bore him no more children； and died within a few years；
bequeathing her infant daughters to his love； and to the fidelity of
the discreet Kadiga。
Many years had yet to elapse before the princesses would arrive at
that period of danger… the marriageable age： 〃It is good； however；
to be cautious in time；〃 said the shrewd monarch； so he determined
to have them reared in the royal castle of Salobrena。 This was a
sumptuous palace； incrusted； as it were； in a powerful Moorish
fortress on the summit of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean sea。 It
was a royal retreat； in which the Moslem monarchs shut up such of
their relatives； as might endanger their safety； allowing them all
kinds of luxuries and amusements； in the midst of which they passed
their lives in voluptuous indolence。
Here the princesses remained； immured from the world； but surrounded
by enjoyment； and attended by female slaves who anticipated their
wishes。 They had delightful gardens for their recreation； filled
with the rarest fruits and flowers； with aromatic groves and
perfumed baths。 On three sides the castle looked down upon a rich
valley； enamelled with all kinds of culture； and bounded by the lofted
Alpuxarra mountains； on the other side it overlooked the broad sunny
sea。
In this delicious abode； in a propitious climate； and under a
cloudless sky； the three princesses grew up into wondrous beauty； but；
though all reared alike； they gave early tokens of diversity of
character。 Their names were Zayda； Zorayda； and Zorahayda； and such
was their order of seniority； for there had been precisely three
minutes between their births。
Zayda； the eldest； was of an intrepid spirit； and took the lead of
her sisters in every thing； as she had done in entering into the
world。 She was curious and inquisitive； and fond of getting at the
bottom of things。
Zorayda had a great feeling for beauty； which was the reason； no
doubt； of her delighting to regard her own image in a mirror or a
fountain； and of her fondness for flowers； and jewels； and other
tasteful ornaments。
As to Zorahayda； the youngest； she was soft and timid； and extremely
sensitive； with a vast deal of disposable tenderness； as was evident
from her number of pet…flowers； and pet…birds； and pet…animals； all of
which she cherished with the fondest care。 Her amusements； too； were
of a gentle nature； and mixed up with musing and reverie。 She would
sit for hours in a balcony； gazing on the sparkling stars of a
summer's night； or on the sea when lit up by the moon； and at such
times； the song of a fisherman； faintly heard from the beach； or the
notes of a Moorish flute from some gliding bark； sufficed to elevate
her feelings into ecstasy。 The least uproar of the elements；
however； filled her with dismay； and a clap of thunder was enough to
throw her into a swoon。
Years rolled on smoothly and serenely； the discreet Kadiga； to
whom the princesses were confided； was faithful to her trust； and
attended them with unremitting care。
The castle of Salobrena； as has been said； was built upon a hill
on the seacoast。 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。
〃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。
Every day the curious Zayda renewed her inquiries； and every day the
sage duenna repeated her stories； which were listened to with profound
interest； though with frequent sighs； by her gentle auditors。 The
discreet old woman awoke at length to the mis