The Alhambra . hem tono other guardianship. Mohamed the Left-handed was acknowledged to be a wiseking by his courtiers, and was certainly so considered by him-self. The prediction of the astrologers caused him but littledisquiet, trusting to his ingenuity to guard his daughters andoutwit the Fates. The threefold birth was the last matrimonial trophy of themonarch : his queen bore him no more children, and died 3O0 THE ALHAMBRA within a few years, bequeathing her infant daughters to his love,and to the fideHty of the discreet Kadiga. Many years had yet to elapse before the Princesses wouldarriv
The Alhambra . hem tono other guardianship. Mohamed the Left-handed was acknowledged to be a wiseking by his courtiers, and was certainly so considered by him-self. The prediction of the astrologers caused him but littledisquiet, trusting to his ingenuity to guard his daughters andoutwit the Fates. The threefold birth was the last matrimonial trophy of themonarch : his queen bore him no more children, and died 3O0 THE ALHAMBRA within a few years, bequeathing her infant daughters to his love,and to the fideHty of the discreet Kadiga. Many years had yet to elapse before the Princesses wouldarrive at that period of danger—the marriageable age. It isgood, however, to be cautious in time, said the shrewdmonarch ; so he determined to have them reared in the royalcastle of Salobreiia. This was a sumptuous palace, incrusted,as it were, in a powerful Moorish fortress on the summit of ahill 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 luxuriesand amusements, in the midst of which they passed their lives involuptuous indolence. Here the princesses remained, immuredfrom the world, but surrounded by enjoyment, and attended byfemale slaves who anticipated their wishes. They had delightfulgardens for their recreation, filled with the rarest fruits andflowers, wuth aromatic groves and perfumed baths. On threesides the castle looked down upon a rich valley, enamelled withall kinds of culture, and bounded by the lofty Alpuxarramountains ; on the other side it overlooked the broad sunny this delicious abode, in a propitious climate, and under acloudless sky, the three princesses grew up into wondrousbeauty; but, though all reared alike, they gave early tokens of LEGEND OF THE THREE BEAUTHUL PRINCESSES 301 diversity of character. Their names were Zayda, Zorayda, andZorahayda; and such was their order of seniority, for there hadbeen precisely thr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondon, bookyear190
