Page 324 (1/2)

This preli been settled, another still more necessary step

had to be taken, which was to let Zoraida kno ht be prepared and forewarned, so as not to be taken by surprise if ere suddenly to seize upon her before she thought the Christians' vessel

could have returned I deterarden and try

if I could speak to her; and the day beforeherbs The first person I e 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 es, by means of which we can all understand one another In

this sort of language, I say, he asked ed I replied that I was a slave of the Arnaut Mareat 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 , the fair Zoraida, who had already

perceived arden, and

as Moorish wo themselves be

seen by Christians, or, as I have said before, at all coy, she had no

hesitation in co to where her father stood withslowly, called to her to coreat beauty, the high-bred

air, the brilliant attire of my beloved Zoraida as she presented herself

beforethat

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