Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/135

 himself to the island of Candy for a superior class of sweet wines; and having bid adieu to his parents, and taken an affectionate farewell of his bride, started off tranquilly by sea. The Greek Christians being about to celebrate a festival, their women went to their baths to bathe, and amongst them went the bride. Here we must bear in mind that all the Turkish women, whenever they go out in the street, are entirely shrouded, except that they have a black kerchief, or veil, about two fingers wide, before their eyes, so that they can recognize everybody, but no one can recognize them. But, though the Christian Greek women are dressed in the same manner as the Turkish women, yet they do not shroud their faces, but only wear a thin kerchief over the head, and everybody can look them in the face.

Well, this beautiful and unfortunate bride, going with the rest to the bath, and not dreaming of any approaching misfortune, not only did not veil her face, but, like a young girl, stared in all directions. Just then one of the principal chiaouses unexpectedly came riding from the imperial court, with a large suite of servants, to his gardens, of which he possessed several by the sea side. Seeing the bride, he, with great excitement, admired her beauty, and cried out at the top of his voice: “Hai, hai, preruzel kisi; hai, hai!” “O, the most beautiful and lovely maiden!” Springing from his horse, he gave her his hand, and asked her whither she was going, and whose daughter she was. She, seeing so dignified and old a Turk,—for he was about eighty years old,—was frightened, fled amongst the other women, and gave him no answer; but the other women told him respectfully that they were going to the bath,