Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/123

 ride to that spot with their principal horses, leading them by ten, fifteen, or more, by leading-reins, and when one horse is tired, the youths who ride the races mount another, till all are wearied. Among these youths was a merry, pleasant fellow, who was courting the wife—others said the daughter—of a certain pasha. He had six most exquisitely beautiful horses, so that nothing could be more beautiful, and everything upon them was of gold and precious stones; and he was so swift that no one could get the better of him in a race, for he sprang down from his horse as though he flew, and taking up his wand, got into the saddle, as though he had never been on the ground, chasing the rest just like a bird, and darting away from them again, so that no one could catch him: besides, he was so quick in seizing the wands, and changing them from one hand to the other, that his agility is scarcely credible; and he, therefore, obtained praise from all. Next to him was a Moor, or Arab, the chamberlain of a pasha, who also exhibited great quickness, but was, nevertheless, not equal to the first, neither had he such swift horses. When they had played for about two or three hours, tired their horses, and galloped till they were satisfied, a kind of penalty was laid upon those who had lost, and a mahraman, i. e. a handkerchief embroidered with gold, or a bow and arrows, or something else, was given by the maidens to him who had behaved best. This is a far different knightly amusement to what there is with us; for when we meet as good friends, we do nothing but