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第6节

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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

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