96 THE COURT OF PRAGUE. 



dren regularly descended from their mountains with a load of wood 

 on their shoulders (a very scarce article throughout the whole coun- 

 try), and which they came to dispose of, at Almissa during the time of 

 the market where also were disposed of a few dozen of eggs, which 

 the Morlakian women hatched, if we may be allowed the expression, 

 by some mysterious process. The garrison, for whom the most 

 trifling incident was a spectacle, would mingle with the population, 

 and with the natural vivacity of French soldiers, endeavour by signs 

 to enter into conversation with the new comers. 



Among the crowd of women who supplied the market, and who 

 apparently sought to outvie each other in dirt and ugliness, a 

 dashing young Serjeant of the company had distinguished a maiden, 

 who had scarcely seen eleven summers, and whose features, although 

 partly hidden by a thick layer of dirt, were distinguished by an ex- 

 quisite delicacy of outline that would have done honour to a princess; 

 her figure was cast in nature's finest mould, and her legs naked al- 

 most to the knee, were beautifully turned ; while her eyes, that had 

 not yet acquired the savage expression which so strongly charac- 

 terizes the looks of the women of her nation, were dark and lustrous: 

 in fact, by the most fastidious connoiseur in female beauty, she 

 would have been considered a beautiful brunette. 



The Serjeant was not the only one, who had remarked this moun- 

 tain belle; she afforded a subject of conversation for the whole detach- 

 ment, who used to style her the Morlakian ; but her real name, at 

 least that by which she was known by her country-people, was 

 Mloda.* Mloda, with her diadem of tinsel, ornamented with three 

 rows of small pieces of silver and copper money, strung on a wire 

 thread, presented certainly a most extraordinary appearance. But 

 unfortunately Mloda, like her companions, was absolutely ignorant of 

 the use of oblations. To her honour, however, it must be mentioned 

 she was unconscious of being so beautiful ; and, besides her particular 

 style of beauty that so captivated her French admirers, would not 

 have rivetted a single look on her native mountains : her youthful 

 charms contrasted singularly with those of her companions' unheeded 

 charms, that were almost constantly oppressed by a pair of hideous 

 hands crossed upon the bosom, when some little Morlakian monster, 

 clamorous for food, did not publicly dispute with them their pos- 

 session. Still Mloda was a coquette in her own way ; she coveted 

 beyond every thing every small piece of money that her beautiful 

 eyes lighted on, but then she loved them only for the purpose of 

 decking her head-dress after the fashion of her country. The most 

 ardent of her admirers soon perceived the ruling passion of this 

 young maiden's mind. On every market day, therefore, he studiously 

 sought to translate her eggs or wood into head-gear, pierced before 

 hand, in order no doubt that the timid and innocent Morlakian 

 should not mistake the nature of the gift, and the pure intentions of 

 the donor. Mloda always accepted them, but it was with the sullen 

 gratitude of the savage, that overwhelmed her admirer with despair. 

 Often would he on these occasions cast a look upon his presents that 



* A young maiden. 



