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image！〃 said he； 〃alas； thou art but an image！ Yet thy dewy eyes
beam tenderly upon me； those rosy lips look as though they would speak
encouragement： vain fancies！ Have they not looked the same on some
more happy rival？ But where in this wide world shall I hope to find
the original？ Who knows what mountains； what realms may separate us；
what adverse chances may intervene？ Perhaps now； even now； lovers
may be crowding around her； while I sit here a prisoner in a tower；
wasting my time in adoration of a painted shadow。〃
The resolution of Prince Ahmed was taken。 〃I will fly from this
palace；〃 said he； 〃which has become an odious prison； and； a pilgrim
of love； will seek this unknown princess throughout the world。〃 To
escape from the tower in the day； when every one was awake； might be a
difficult matter； but at night the palace was slightly guarded； for no
one apprehended any attempt of the kind from the prince； who had
always been so passive in his captivity。 How was he to guide
himself； however； in his darkling flight； being ignorant of the
country？
He bethought him of the owl； who was accustomed to roam at night；
and must know every by…lane and secret pass。 Seeking him in his
hermitage； he questioned him touching his knowledge of the land。
Upon this the owl put on a mighty self…important look。 〃You must know；
O prince；〃 said he； 〃that we owls are of a very ancient and
extensive family； though rather fallen to decay； and possess ruinous
castles and palaces in all parts of Spain。 There is scarcely a tower
of the mountains； or a fortress of the plains； or an old citadel of
a city； but has some brother or uncle； or cousin； quartered in it； and
in going the rounds to visit this my numerous kindred； I have pryed
into every nook and corner； and made myself acquainted with every
secret of the land。〃
The prince was overjoyed to find the owl so deeply versed in
topography； and now informed him； in confidence； of his tender passion
and his intended elopement； urging him to be his companion and
counsellor。
〃Go to！〃 said the owl； with a look of displeasure； 〃am I a bird to
engage in a love affair？ I whose whole time is devoted to meditation
and the moon？〃
〃Be not offended； most solemn owl；〃 replied the prince； 〃abstract
thyself for a time from meditation and the moon； and aid me in my
flight； and thou shalt have whatever heart can wish。〃
〃I have that already；〃 said the owl： 〃a few mice are sufficient
for my frugal table； and this hole in the wall is spacious enough
for my studies； and what more does a philosopher like myself desire？〃
〃Bethink thee； most wise owl； that while moping in thy cell and
gazing at the moon； all thy talents are lost to the world。 I shall one
day be a sovereign prince； and may advance thee to some post of
honor and dignity。〃
The owl； though a philosopher and above the ordinary wants of
life； was not above ambition； so he was finally prevailed on to
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 immacul