Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/136

 that she was a bride, and whose daughter she was. He then, to be the better able to gaze at her, immediately cried out that he wished to accompany her, which they could not prevent him from doing. He walked all the way at her side, and was the more inflamed with uncontrollable love the further he accompanied her. After accompanying her to the bath, he squeezed her hand and said:—“Allah, sakla, scbibenum dzanum!” “God protect thee, my soul!” and mounting his horse, went his way.

Next day, as soon as morning came, that grey-haired old Turk rode to the maiden’s father, and earnestly entreated him to give him his daughter in marriage, promising that he would provide her with a good dower, and be a friend to her parents. Her father was greatly terrified at this request, and told him, as was the fact, that she was already betrothed, and the day named for the wedding, humbly begging him not to take it ill, and saying, that, being a simple man, he was not worthy to be connected with so distinguished a lord, and give him his daughter in marriage. The Turk, on hearing this excuse, said:—“But her boundless loveliness deserves to be loved not only by me, but by the Emperor himself; wherefore. I entreat thee, give me thy daughter!” When then the father continued to excuse himself by saying that he had already given her to another, and that, according to the Christian custom, it could not be otherwise, the Turk was enraged, and said:—“Well, I will know whether it can be otherwise or not.” Having uttered this threat, he went immediately to the imperial court, obtained leave to marry a Christian, and gave instant orders to put the father and mother of the bride in