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The parrot took the picture in his claw； turned his head from side
to side； and examined it curiously with either eye。 〃Upon my honor；〃
said he； 〃a very pretty face； very pretty： but then one sees so many
pretty women in one's travels that one can hardly… but hold… bless me！
now I look at it again… sure enough this is the princess Aldegonda：
how could I forget one that is so prodigious a favorite with me！〃
〃The princess Aldegonda！〃 echoed the prince； 〃and where is she to be
found？〃
〃Softly； softly；〃 said the parrot； 〃easier to be found than
gained。 She is the only daughter of the Christian king who reigns at
Toledo； and is shut up from the world until her seventeenth birth…day；
on account of some prediction of those meddlesome fellows the
astrologers。 You'll not get a sight of her； no mortal man can see her。
I was admitted to her presence to entertain her； and I assure you；
on the word of a parrot； who has seen the world； I have conversed with
much sillier princesses in my time。〃
〃A word in confidence； my dear parrot；〃 said the prince； 〃I am
heir to a kingdom； and shall one day sit upon a throne。 I see that you
are a bird of parts； and understand the world。 Help me to gain
possession of this princess； and I will advance you to some
distinguished place about court。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said the parrot； 〃but let it be a sinecure if
possible； for we wits have a great dislike to labor。〃
Arrangements were promptly made； the prince sallied forth from
Cordova through the same gate by which he had entered； called the
owl down from the hole in the wall； introduced him to his new
travelling companion as a brother savant； and away they set off on
their journey。
They travelled much more slowly than accorded with the impatience of
the prince； but the parrot was accustomed to high life； and did not
like to be disturbed early in the morning。 The owl； on the other hand；
was for sleeping at mid…day； and lost a great deal of time by his long
siestas。 His antiquarian taste also was in the way； for he insisted on
pausing and inspecting every ruin； and had long legendary tales to
tell about every old tower and castle in the country。 The prince had
supposed that he and the parrot； being both birds of learning； would
delight in each other's society； but never had he been more
mistaken。 They were eternally bickering。 The one was a wit； the
other a philosopher。 The parrot quoted poetry； was critical on new
readings and eloquent on small points of erudition； the owl treated
all such knowledge as trifling； and relished nothing but
metaphysics。 Then the parrot would sing songs and repeat bon mots
and crack jokes upon his solemn neighbor； and laugh outrageously at
his own wit； all which proceedings the owl considered as a grievous
invasion of his dignity； and would scowl and sulk and swell； and be
silent for a whole day together。
The prince heeded not the wranglings of his companions； being
wrapped up in the dreams of his own fancy and the contemplation of the
portrait of the beautiful princess。 In this way they journeyed through
the stern passes of the Sierra Morena； across the sunburnt plains of
La Mancha and Castile； and along the banks of the 〃Golden Tagus；〃
which winds its wizard mazes over one half of Spain and Portugal。 At
length they came in sight of a strong city with walls and towers built
on a rocky promontory； round the foot of which the Tagus circled
with brawling violence。
〃Behold；〃 exclaimed the owl； 〃the ancient and renowned city of
Toledo； a city famous for its antiquities。 Behold those venerable
domes and towers； hoary with time and clothed with legendary grandeur；
in which so many of my ancestors have meditated。〃
〃Pish！〃 cried the parrot； interrupting his solemn antiquarian
rapture； 〃what have we to do with antiquities； and legends； and your
ancestry？ Behold what is more to the purpose… behold the abode of
youth and beauty… behold at length； O prince； the abode of your
long…sought princess。〃
The prince looked in the direction indicated by the parrot； and
beheld； in a delightful meadow on the banks of the Tagus； a stately
palace rising from amidst the bowers of a delicious garden。 It was
just such a place as had been described by the dove as the residence
of the original of the picture。 He gazed at it with a throbbing heart。
〃Perhaps at this moment；〃 thought he； 〃the beautiful princess is
sporting beneath those shady bowers； or pacing with delicate step
those stately terraces； or reposing beneath those lofty roofs！〃 As
he looked more narrowly he perceived that the walls of the garden were
of great height； so as to defy access； while numbers of armed guards
patrolled around them。
The prince turned to the parrot。 〃O most accomplished of birds；〃
said he； 〃thou hast the gift of human speech。 Hie thee to yon
garden； seek the idol of my soul； and tell her that Prince Ahmed； a
pilgrim of love； and guided by the stars； has arrived in quest of
her on the flowery banks of the Tagus。〃
The parrot； proud of his embassy； flew away to the garden； mounted
above its lofty walls； and after soaring for a time over the lawns and
groves； alighted on the balcony of a pavilion that overhung the river。
Here； looking in at the casement； he beheld the princess reclining
on a couch； with her eyes fixed on a paper； while tears gently stole
after each other down her pallid cheek。
Pluming his wings for a moment； adjusting his bright green coat； and
elevating his top…knot； the parrot perched himself beside her with a
gallant air： then assuming a tenderness of tone； 〃Dry thy tears；
most beautiful of princesses；〃 said he； 〃I come to bring solace to thy
heart。〃
The princess was startled on hearing a voice； but turning and seeing
nothing but a little green…coated bird bobbing and bowing before
her； 〃Alas！ what solace canst thou yield；〃 said she； 〃seeing thou
art but a parrot？〃
The parrot was nettled at the question。 〃I have consoled many
beautiful ladies in my time；〃 said he； 〃but let that pass。 At
present I come ambassador from a royal prince。 Know that Ahmed； the
prince of Granada； has arrived in quest of thee； and is encamped
even now on the flowery banks of the Tagus。〃
The eyes of the beautiful princess sparkled at these words even
brighter than the diamonds in her coronet。 〃O sweetest of parrots；〃
cried she； 〃joyful indeed are thy tidings； for I was faint and
weary； and sick almost unto death with doubt of the constancy of
Ahmed。 Hie thee back； and tell him that the words of his letter are
engraven in my heart； and his poetry has been the food of my soul。
Tell him； however； that he must prepare to prove his love by force
of arms； to…morrow is my seventeenth birth…day； when the king my
father holds a great tournament； several princes are to enter the
lists； and my hand is to be the prize of the victor。〃
The parrot again took wing； and rustling through the groves； flew
back to where the prince awaited his return。 The rapture of Ahmed on
finding the original of his adored portrait； and finding her kind
and true； can only be conceived by those favored mortals who have
had the good fortune to realize day…dreams and turn a shadow into
substance： still there was one thing that alloyed his transport…
this impending tournament。 In fact； the banks of the Tagus were
already glittering with arms； and resounding with trumpets of the
various knights； who； with proud retinues； were prancing on towards
Toledo to attend the ceremonial。 The same star that had controlled the
destiny of the prince had governed that of the princess； and until her
seventeenth birth…day she had been shut up from the world； to guard
her from the tender passion。 The fame of her charms； however； had been
enhanced rather than obscured by this seclusion。 Several powerful
princes had contended for her hand； and her father； who was a king
of wondrous shrewdness； to avoid making enemies by showing partiality；
had referred them to the arbitrament of arms。 Among the rival
candidates were several renowned for strength and prowess。 What a
predicament for the unfortunate Ahmed； unprovided as he was with
weapons； and unskilled in the exercise of chivalry！ 〃Luckless prince
that I am！〃 said he； 〃to have been brought up in seclusion under the
eye of a philosopher！ Of what avail are algebra and philosophy in
affairs of love？ Alas； Eben Bonabben！ why hast thou neglected to
instruct me in the management of arms？〃 Upon this the owl broke
silence； preluding his harangue with a pious ejaculation； for he was a
devout Mussulman。
〃Allah Akbar！ God is great！〃 exclaimed he； 〃in his hands are all
secret things… he alone governs the destiny of princes！ Know； O
prince； that this land is full of mysteries； hidden from all but those
who； like myself； can grope after knowledge in the dark。 Know that
in the neighboring mountains there is a cave； and in that cave there
is an iron table； and on that