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elope with the prince； and be his guide and mentor in his pilgrimage。
The plans of a lover are promptly executed。 The prince collected all
his jewels； and concealed them about his person as travelling funds。
That very night he lowered himself by his scarf from a balcony of
the tower； clambered over the outer walls of the Generalife； and；
guided by the owl； made good his escape before morning to the
mountains。
He now held a council with his mentor as to his future course。
〃Might I advise；〃 said the owl； 〃I would recommend you to repair
to Seville。 You must know that many years since I was on a visit to an
uncle； an owl of great dignity and power； who lived in a ruined wing
of the Alcazar of that place。 In my hoverings at night over the city I
frequently remarked a light burning in a lonely tower。 At length I
alighted on the battlements； and found it to proceed from the lamp
of an Arabian magician： he was surrounded by his magic books； and on
his shoulder was perched his familiar； an ancient raven who had come
with him from Egypt。 I am acquainted with that raven； and owe to him a
great part of the knowledge I possess。 The magician is since dead； but
the raven still inhabits the tower； for these birds are of wonderful
long life。 I would advise you； O prince； to seek that raven； for he is
a soothsayer and a conjurer； and deals in the black art； for which all
ravens； and especially those of Egypt； are renowned。〃
The prince was struck with the wisdom of this advice； and
accordingly bent his course towards Seville。 He travelled only in
the night； to accommodate his companion； and lay by during the day
in some dark cavern or mouldering watchtower； for the owl knew every
hiding hole of the kind； and had a most antiquarian taste for ruins。
At length one morning at daybreak they reached the city of
Seville； where the owl； who hated the glare and bustle of crowded
streets； halted without the gate； and took up his quarters in a hollow
tree。
The prince entered the gate； and readily found the magic tower；
which rose above the houses of the city； as a palm…tree rises above
the shrubs of the desert； it was in fact the same tower standing at
the present day； and known as the Giralda； the famous Moorish tower of
Seville。
The prince ascended by a great winding staircase to the summit of
the tower； where he found the cabalistic raven； an old； mysterious；
gray…headed bird； ragged in feather； with a film over one eye that
gave him the glare of a spectre。 He was perched on one leg； with his
head turned on one side； poring with his remaining eye on a diagram
described on the pavement。
The prince approached him with the awe and reverence naturally
inspired by his venerable appearance and supernatural wisdom。
〃Pardon me； most ancient and darkly wise raven；〃 exclaimed he； 〃if for
a moment I interrupt those studies which are the wonder of the
world。 You behold before you a votary of love； who would fain seek
your counsel how to obtain the object of his passion。〃
〃In other words；〃 said the raven； with a significant look； 〃you seek
to try my skill in palmistry。 Come； show me your hand； and let me
decipher the mysterious lines of fortune。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 said the prince； 〃I come not to pry into the decrees of
fate； which are hidden by Allah from the eyes of mortals； I am a
pilgrim of love； and seek but to find a clue to the object of my
pilgrimage。〃
〃And can you be at any loss for an object in amorous Andalusia？〃
said the old raven； leering upon him with his single eye； 〃above
all； can you be at a loss in wanton Seville； where black…eyed
damsels dance the zambra under every orange grove？〃
The prince blushed； and was somewhat shocked at hearing an old
bird with one foot in the grave talk thus loosely。 〃Believe me；〃
said he； gravely； 〃I am on none such light and vagrant errand as
thou dost insinuate。 The black…eyed damsels of Andalusia who dance
among the orange groves of the Guadalquivir are as naught to me。 I
seek one unknown but immaculate beauty； the original of this
picture； and I beseech thee； most potent raven； if it be within the
scope of thy knowledge or the reach of thy art； inform me where she
may be found。〃
The gray…headed raven was rebuked by the gravity of the prince。
〃What know I；〃 replied he； dryly； 〃of youth and beauty？ my visits
are to the old and withered； not the fresh and fair： the harbinger
of fate am I； who croak bodings of death from the chimney top； and
flap my wings at the sick man's window。 You must seek elsewhere for
tidings of your unknown beauty。〃
〃And where can I seek if not among the sons of wisdom； versed in the
book of destiny？ Know that I am a royal prince； fated by the stars；
and sent on a mysterious enterprise on which may hang the destiny of
empires。〃
When the raven heard that it was a matter of vast moment； in which
the stars took interest； he changed his tone and manner； and
listened with profound attention to the story of the prince。 When it
was concluded； he replied； 〃Touching this princess； I can give thee no
information of myself； for my flight is not among gardens； or around
ladies' bowers； but hie thee to Cordova； seek the palm…tree of the
great Abderahman； which stands in the court of the principal mosque：
at the foot of it thou wilt find a great traveller who has visited all
countries and courts； and been a favorite with queens and
princesses。 He will give thee tidings of the object of thy search。〃
〃Many thanks for this precious information；〃 said the prince。
〃Farewell； most venerable conjurer。〃
〃Farewell； pilgrim of love；〃 said the raven； dryly； and again fell
to pondering on the diagram。
The prince sallied forth from Seville； sought his fellow…traveller
the owl； who was still dozing in the hollow tree； and set off for
Cordova。
He approached it along hanging gardens； and orange and citron
groves； overlooking the fair valley of the Guadalquivir。 When
arrived at its gates the owl flew up to a dark hole in the wall； and
the prince proceeded in quest of the palm…tree planted in days of yore
by the great Abderahman。 It stood in the midst of the great court of
the mosque； towering from amidst orange and cypress trees。 Dervises
and Faquirs were seated in groups under the cloisters of the court；
and many of the faithful were performing their ablutions at the
fountains before entering the mosque。
At the foot of the palm…tree was a crowd listening to the words of
one who appeared to be talking with great volubility。 〃This；〃 said the
prince to himself； 〃must be the great traveller who is to give me
tidings of the unknown princess。〃 He mingled in the crowd； but was
astonished to perceive that they were all listening to a parrot； who
with his bright green coat； pragmatical eye； and consequential
top…knot； had the air of a bird on excellent terms with himself。
〃How is this；〃 said the prince to one of the bystanders； 〃that so
many grave persons can be delighted with the garrulity of a chattering
bird？〃
〃You know not whom you speak of；〃 said the other； 〃this parrot is
a descendant of the famous parrot of Persia； renowned for his
story…telling talent。 He has all the learning of the East at the tip
of his tongue； and can quote poetry as fast as he can talk。 He has
visited various foreign courts； where he has been considered an oracle
of erudition。 He has been a universal favorite also with the fair sex；
who have a vast admiration for erudite parrots that can quote poetry。〃
〃Enough；〃 said the prince； 〃I will have some private talk with
this distinguished traveller。〃
He sought a private interview； and expounded the nature of his
errand。 He had scarcely mentioned it when the parrot burst into a
fit of dry rickety laughter that absolutely brought tears in his eyes。
〃Excuse my merriment；〃 said he； 〃but the mere mention of love always
sets me laughing。〃
The prince was shocked at this ill…timed mirth。 〃Is not love；〃
said he； 〃the great mystery of nature； the secret principle of life；
the universal bond of sympathy？〃
〃A fig's end！〃 cried the parrot； interrupting him； 〃prithee where
hast thou learned this sentimental jargon？ trust me； love is quite out
of vogue； one never hears of it in the company of wits and people of
refinement。〃
The prince sighed as he recalled the different language of his
friend the dove。 But this parrot； thought he； has lived about the
court； he affects the wit and the fine gentleman； he knows nothing
of the thing called love。 Unwilling to provoke any more ridicule of
the sentiment which filled his heart； he now directed his inquiries to
the immediate purport of his visit。
〃Tell me；〃 said he； 〃Most accomplished parrot； thou who hast every
where been admitted to the most secret bowers of beauty； hast thou
in the course of thy travels met with the original of this portrait？〃
The parrot took the picture in his claw； turned his head from side
to