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one by one and hang about Hadji Morato's garden； waiting for me
there until I came。 These directions I gave each one separately；
with orders that if they saw any other Christians there they were
not to say anything to them except that I had directed them to wait at
that spot。
This preliminary having been settled； another still more necessary
step had to be taken； which was to let Zoraida know how matters
stood that she might be prepared and forewarned； so as not to be taken
by surprise if we were suddenly to seize upon her before she thought
the Christians' vessel could have returned。 I determined； therefore；
to go to the garden and try if I could speak to her； and the day
before my departure I went there under the pretence of gathering
herbs。 The first person I met was her father； who addressed me in
the language that all over Barbary and even in Constantinople is the
medium between captives and Moors； and is neither Morisco nor
Castilian； nor of any other nation； but a mixture of all languages； by
means of which we can all understand one another。 In this sort of
language； I say； he asked me what I wanted in his garden； and to
whom I belonged。 I replied that I was a slave of the Arnaut Mami
（for I knew as a certainty that he was a very great friend of his）；
and that I wanted some herbs to make a salad。 He asked me then whether
I were on ransom or not； and what my master demanded for me。 While
these questions and answers were proceeding； the fair Zoraida； who had
already perceived me some time before； came out of the house in the
garden； and as Moorish women are by no means particular about
letting themselves be seen by Christians； or； as I have said before；
at all coy； she had no hesitation in coming to where her father
stood with me； moreover her father； seeing her approaching slowly；
called to her to come。 It would be beyond my power now to describe
to you the great beauty； the high…bred air； the brilliant attire of my
beloved Zoraida as she presented herself before my eyes。 I will
content myself with saying that more pearls hung from her fair neck；
her ears； and her hair than she had hairs on her head。 On her
ankles； which as is customary were bare； she had carcajes （for so
bracelets or anklets are called in Morisco） of the purest gold； set
with so many diamonds that she told me afterwards her father valued
them at ten thousand doubloons； and those she had on her wrists were
worth as much more。 The pearls were in profusion and very fine； for
the highest display and adornment of the Moorish women is decking
themselves with rich pearls and seed…pearls； and of these there are
therefore more among the Moors than among any other people。
Zoraida's father had to the reputation of possessing a great number；
and the purest in all Algiers； and of possessing also more than two
hundred thousand Spanish crowns； and she； who is now mistress of me
only； was mistress of all this。 Whether thus adorned she would have
been beautiful or not； and what she must have been in her
prosperity； may be imagined from the beauty remaining to her after
so many hardships； for； as everyone knows； the beauty of some women
has its times and its seasons； and is increased or diminished by
chance causes； and naturally the emotions of the mind will heighten or
impair it； though indeed more frequently they totally destroy it。 In a
word she presented herself before me that day attired with the
utmost splendour； and supremely beautiful； at any rate； she seemed
to me the most beautiful object I had ever seen； and when； besides；
I thought of all I owed to her I felt as though I had before me some
heavenly being come to earth to bring me relief and happiness。
As she approached her father told her in his own language that I was
a captive belonging to his friend the Arnaut Mami； and that I had come
for salad。
She took up the conversation； and in that mixture of tongues I
have spoken of she asked me if I was a gentleman； and why I was not
ransomed。
I answered that I was already ransomed； and that by the price it
might be seen what value my master set on me； as I had given one
thousand five hundred zoltanis for me； to which she replied； 〃Hadst
thou been my father's； I can tell thee； I would not have let him
part with thee for twice as much； for you Christians always tell
lies about yourselves and make yourselves out poor to cheat the
Moors。〃
〃That may be； lady；〃 said I； 〃but indeed I dealt truthfully with
my master； as I do and mean to do with everybody in the world。〃
〃And when dost thou go？〃 said Zoraida。
〃To…morrow； I think；〃 said I； 〃for there is a vessel here from
France which sails to…morrow； and I think I shall go in her。〃
〃Would it not be better；〃 said Zoraida； 〃to wait for the arrival
of ships from Spain and go with them and not with the French who are
not your friends？〃
〃No；〃 said I； 〃though if there were intelligence that a vessel
were now coming from Spain it is true I might； perhaps； wait for it；
however； it is more likely I shall depart to…morrow； for the longing I
feel to return to my country and to those I love is so great that it
will not allow me to wait for another opportunity； however more
convenient； if it be delayed。〃
〃No doubt thou art married in thine own country；〃 said Zoraida； 〃and
for that reason thou art anxious to go and see thy wife。〃
〃I am not married；〃 I replied； 〃but I have given my promise to marry
on my arrival there。〃
〃And is the lady beautiful to whom thou hast given it？〃 said
Zoraida。
〃So beautiful；〃 said I； 〃that； to describe her worthily and tell
thee the truth； she is very like thee。〃
At this her father laughed very heartily and said； 〃By Allah；
Christian； she must be very beautiful if she is like my daughter；
who is the most beautiful woman in all this kingdom： only look at
her well and thou wilt see I am telling the truth。〃
Zoraida's father as the better linguist helped to interpret most
of these words and phrases； for though she spoke the bastard language；
that； as I have said； is employed there； she expressed her meaning
more by signs than by words。
While we were still engaged in this conversation； a Moor came
running up； exclaiming that four Turks had leaped over the fence or
wall of the garden； and were gathering the fruit though it was not yet
ripe。 The old man was alarmed and Zoraida too； for the Moors commonly；
and； so to speak； instinctively have a dread of the Turks； but
particularly of the soldiers； who are so insolent and domineering to
the Moors who are under their power that they treat them worse than if
they were their slaves。 Her father said to Zoraida； 〃Daughter；
retire into the house and shut thyself in while I go and speak to
these dogs； and thou； Christian； pick thy herbs； and go in peace；
and Allah bring thee safe to thy own country。〃
I bowed； and he went away to look for the Turks； leaving me alone
with Zoraida； who made as if she were about to retire as her father
bade her； but the moment he was concealed by the trees of the
garden； turning to me with her eyes full of tears she said； Tameji；
cristiano； tameji？〃 that is to say； 〃Art thou going； Christian； art
thou going？〃
I made answer； 〃Yes； lady； but not without thee； come what may： be
on the watch for me on the next Juma； and be not alarmed when thou
seest us； for most surely we shall go to the land of the Christians。〃
This I said in such a way that she understood perfectly all that
passed between us； and throwing her arm round my neck she began with
feeble steps to move towards the house； but as fate would have it （and
it might have been very unfortunate if Heaven had not otherwise
ordered it）； just as we were moving on in the manner and position I
have described； with her arm round my neck； her father； as he returned
after having sent away the Turks； saw how we were walking and we
perceived that he saw us； but Zoraida； ready and quickwitted； took
care not to remove her arm from my neck； but on the contrary drew
closer to me and laid her head on my breast； bending her knees a
little and showing all the signs and tokens of ainting； while I at the
same time made it seem as though I were supporting her against my
will。 Her father came running up to where we were； and seeing his
daughter in this state asked what was the matter with her； she；
however； giving no answer； he said； 〃No doubt she has fainted in alarm
at the entrance of those dogs；〃 and taking her from mine he drew her
to his own breast； while she sighing； her eyes still wet with tears；
said again； 〃Ameji； cristiano； ameji〃… 〃Go； Christian； go。〃 To this
her father replied； 〃There is no need； daughter； for the Christian
to go； for he has done thee no harm； and the Turks have now gone； feel
no alarm； there is nothing to hurt thee； for as I say； the Turks at my
request have gone back the way they came。〃
〃It was they who terrified her； as thou hast said； senor；〃 said I to
her father； 〃but since she tells me to go； I have no wish to displease
her： peace be with thee； and with thy leave I will come back to this
garden for herbs if need be； for my master says there are nowhere
better herbs for salad then here。〃
〃Come back for any tho