Page:The venture; an annual of art and literature.djvu/90

 Once upon a time there dwelt in a city of Portugal a rich merchant who had a discreet and clever son, well seen in all the accomplishments that would befit a youth of birth, versed in Latin and Greek, a graceful dancer, a skilful player on the guitar and all other instruments, a perfect horseman and expert in every warlike exercise; insomuch that if his merit were regarded rather than his birth, he might adorn the court of the greatest monarch in the world. Being thus accomplished, his father could not train him to traffic as he would fain have done, for this the youth disdained, and would rather mate with the nobles and show forth his skill in their exercises than earn all the treasure his father promised him. Insomuch that at four and twenty he was putting no hand to his father's business, not by reason of ill habits or disobedience, but following his own way, by which he deemed some time to attain to honour. One day his father bade him go and market at Medina fair; but he made some seemly excuse, and said that if his father so willed he would go as a merchant to Fez, with which we were then at peace. And this he said not as having a mind to buy and sell, for his thoughts were set on higher things, but he longed to behold the pastimes and exercises of the African horsemen, and the Moorish jennets, so renowned throughout the world. And his father gave him three thousand crusadoes, and he departed in a ship with other merchants, some going to prove what the Moors might have to sell, and others what the Moors might desire to buy. And thus having come to that city, everyone went whither his inclination led him, some to