The alhambra irving, washington, 1783 1859; robinson, edward kilburn, 1883 editado 1915 by Francisco Javier

^3t?^.

Book Copyright }1Â°

The Alhambra

1915,

BY GINN AND COMPANY

4r.^ Cbt satftengum Bregg GlNN AND COMPANY PRIETORS BOSTON

•

PRO-

U.S.A.

DEC 15 1915

CQ)CI.A41«860

PREFACE ^^HERE

no better way

ration of Irving's "

to tell the story of the prepa-

Alhambra

than to quote from the

preface written by the author to accompany his revised edition of 185

Rough

drafts of

some

of the following tales and essays were

actually written during a residence in the

Alhambra

;

subsequently added, founded on notes and observations

others were

made

there.

Care was taken to maintain local coloring and verisimilitude so that the whole might present a faithful and living picture of that microcosm, that singular little world into which I had been fortuitously thrown and about which the external world had a very imperfect ;

;

idea.

was my endeavor scrupulously

half Oriental character

the grotesque

from

its

walls

cerning those

its

;

to depict its half Spanish,

mixture of the heroic, the poetic, and

to revive the traces of grace

;

to record the regal

;

who once

trod

its

courts

beautx' fast fading traditions con-

and the whimsical and

;

superstitious legends of the motley race

now burrowing among

ruins.

its

The papers in

and

and chivalrous

thus roughly sketched out lay for three or four years

portfolio, until

found myself

eve of returning to the United States.

them

London,

in 1832,

on the

then endeavored to arrange

for the press, but the preparations for departure did not allow

sufficient

rest

in I

leisure.

Several were thrown aside as incomplete

were put together somewhat

hastily

and

in rather a

the

crude and

chaotic manner.

In the present edition

have revised and rearranged the whole

work, enlarged some parts, and added others, including the papers [iii]

THE ALHAMBRA and have thus endeavored to render it more originally omitted complete and more worthy of the indulgent reception with which ;

has been favored.

The

text of this

revision.

volume has been taken from Irving's

few of the chapters, which were not essential

the narrative, have been omitted in order to keep the limits of the

book within a more readable compass, and here and

there a slight abridgment has

make It is

seemed advisable

in order to

the work entirely suitable for any age or class of readers. believed that the

charm of

this

masterpiece has in no

way been impaired by these few changes. The notes at the end of the volume have been arranged by pages so that they

may be

related easily to the passages

which

they explain without interrupting the reading of the text.

Thanks

are due to Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons, the pub-

lishers of Irving's works, for their kind permission to reprint

"The Alhambra."

It is

a pleasure also to acknowledge the

valuable assistance of Mr. lightful

Norman

Irving Black, whose de-

illustrations will enable the reader to picture

vividly in his

mind many

of the scenes described in this book, E. K. R.

[iv]

CONTENTS PAGE

THE JOURNEY

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE AUTHOR SUCCEEDS TO THE THRONE OF BOABDIL

INHABITANTS OF THE ALHAMBRA

THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS

THE

JESUITS' LIBRARY

ALHAMAR, THE FOUNDER OF THE ALHAMBRA

....

YUSEF ABUL HAGIG, THE FINISHER OF THE ALHAMBRA

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS

PANORAMA FROM THE TOWER OF COMARES

I02

THE BALCONY

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MASON

II4

THE COURT OF LIONS

120

MEMENTOS OF BOABDIL

130

LOCAL TRADITIONS

135

THE HOUSE OF THE WEATHERCOCK

VISITORS TO

-.142

^LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER

-J^

THE ALHAMBRA

163

THE GENERALIFE LEGEND OF PRINCE AHMED AL KAMEL; OF LOVE

169

OR,

THE PILGRIM 173

[v]

THE ALHAMBRA PAGE

LEGEND OF THE MOOR'S LEGACY

210

LEGEND OF THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES

234

LEGEND OF THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA

262

THE VETERAN

281

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY

284

GOVERNOR MANCO AND THE SOLDIER

292

THE CRUSADE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF ALCANTARA

SPANISH ROMANCE

LEGEND OF DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA

3'I

320

....

324

THE LEGEND OF THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER

332

THE AUTHOR'S FAREWELL TO GRANADA

345

NOTES

349

VOCABULARY

363

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE

The The The The

Gate of Justice

Alhambra from the Generalife Alhambra Wine Gate

—

Alhambra and the

Map showing

Sierra

Nevada

the Alhambra, Granada, and Surroundings

The Approach

to the

...

Alhambra

Granada from the Generalife

The Court

of Lions

Granada from the Alhambra

The Lion

Fountain, Court of Lions

Inside the Gate of Justice

The Alhambra and Valley of the Darro Tower of Comares and Court of Myrtles Granada The Alhambra from " San Miguel "

68 71

—

Caves of Gipsies

in the Albaicin

'77

Walls and Towers of the Alhambra

Fountain of Lindaraxa

The Queen's Chamber The Garden of Lindaraxa

Spanish Girls dancing

— Granada

102

Street of the Darro

iio

Street of the Albaicin

114

Street of the

Darro

Palace of Charles

117

The Hall of Justice The Court of Lions X'alley of the

The

127

Darro. at the Foot of the Sacro

Albaicin from the

123

Monto

....

Alhambra

130 135

Ruins of Old Aqueduct which once supplied the Alhambra with \Vater

137 r

vii 1

THEALHAMBRA PAGE

Up El

the Darro Valley

Bano de

Cara

149 16

of the Generalife

Generalife from the

Guadalquivir Bridge

The Generalife, Moro" (Seat

Tower

Comares

.171

— Cordova

Moor)

187

Court of the Generalife

Generalife from the

Tower

207

Alhambra

210

of the Princesses

234

Towers and Walls of the Alhambra Bridge Gate Cordova The Little Mosque Alhambra

249 262

—

Market-Place

View

— — Jaen

265

281

of the Tajo-Ronda

284

The Vermilion Towers

292

— Toledo Bridge of Alcantara — Toledo Bridge of Alcantara

Old Arab Mill

The

Cathedral

,320

— Guadalquivir

Garden of the Alcazar

Ciranada from " Silla del

the Alhambra, and of the

651

Court of the Generalife

The

142

Court of the Generalife

The Alhambra from a Window The Sanctum Sanctorum

139

— Toledo

324

— Seville

332

— Seville

345

[

viii

]

THE ALHAMBRA

^^l.-^:.'

.wtf^w mvitfC

THE GATE OF JUSTICE

/HkK-jf

^ÂŤ>_^:-^^*^#l:C;

THE ALHAMBRA THE JOURNEY N THE

spring of 1829, the author of this work,

whom

curiosity had brought into Spain, made a rambhng expe-

dition

member

from Seville to Granada of the Russian

embassy

in at

company with a Madrid.

friend,

Accident had

thrown us together from distant regions of the globe, and a similarity of taste led us to

wander together among the

romantic mountains of Andalusia. his eye,

Should these pages meet

wherever thrown by the duties of his

station,

whether

mingling in the pageantry of courts, or meditating on the truer glories of nature,

may

they recall the scenes of our

adventurous companionship, and with them the recollection of one, in

whom

remembrance

And

neither time nor distance will obliterate the

of his gentleness

and worth.

here, before setting forth, let

indulge in a few

previous remarks on Spanish scenery and Spanish travelling.

[3]

THE ALHAMBRA Many

are apt to picture Spain to their imaginations as a soft,

southern region, decked out with luxuriant charms of volup-

the contrary, though there are exceptions in

tuous

Italy.

some

of the maritime provinces, yet, for the greater part,

a stern,

melancholy country, with rugged mountains, and

long sweeping plains, destitute of trees, and indescribably silent

and lonesome, partaking of the savage and solitary What adds to this silence and loneli-

character of Africa.

ness

the absence of singing-birds, a natural consequence of

The

the want of groves and hedges.

and the eagle

vulture

are seen wheeling about the mountain cliffs

and soaring over

the plains, and groups of shy bustards stalk about the heaths

;

but the myriads of smaller birds, which animate the whole face of other countries, are

met with

Spain, and in those chiefly

among

in but

few provinces in

the orchards and gardens

which surround the habitations of man. In the interior provinces the traveller occasionally traverses great tracts cultivated with grain as far as the eye can reach,

waving

times with verdure, at other times naked and sun-

round

burnt, but he looks

in vain for the

hand

some

that has tilled

the

soil.

village

on a steep

hill

or rugged crag, with mouldering battlements

and ruined

watch-tower

length he perceives

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a stronghold,

Moorish inroad

;

in old times, against civil

custom among

for the

congregating together for mutual protection in

most parts of Spain,

war or

the peasantry of is still

kept up

consequence of the maraudings

of roving freebooters.

But though a great part of Spain ture of groves

and

forests,

mental cultivation, yet

its

and the

scenery

in unison with the attributes of

[4]

its

deficient in the garni-

softer

charms

noble in

people

;

its

and

of orna-

severity I

and

think that

THE JOURNEY I

better understand the proud, hardy, frugal,

and abstemi-

ous Spaniard, his manly defiance of hardships and contempt of effeminate indulgences, since

have seen the country

inhabits.

There

something,

too, in

the sternly simple features of

the Spanish landscape, that impresses on the soul a feeling

The immense

of sublimity.

Mancha, extending as terest in

from

some

their very

and of La

plains of the Castiles

can reach, derive an

far as the eye

in-

nakedness and immensity, and possess,

degree, the solemn grandeur of the ocean.

In rang-

ing over these boundless wastes, the eye catches sight here

and there of a straggling herd of herdsman, motionless as a

cattle

attended by a lonely

statue, with his

tapering up like a lance into the air

;

long slender pike

or beholds a long train

moving along the waste like a train of camels or a single horseman, armed with blunderbuss in the desert and stiletto, and prowling over the plain. Thus the country, of mules slowly ;

the habits, the very looks of the people, have something of

the Arabian character. is

The

general insecurity of the country

evinced in the universal use of weapons.

in the field, the

his knife.

The

town without

shepherd

musket and

in the plain, has his

wealthy villager rarely ventures to the market-

his trabnco, and, perhaps, a servant

a blunderbuss on his shoulder is

The herdsman

;

on foot with

and the most petty journey

undertaken with the preparation of a warlike enterprise.

The dangers

of the road produce also a

mode

of travelling

resembling, on a diminutive scale, the caravans of the East.

The

arrieros, or carriers, congregate in convoys,

in large

and well-armed

trains

ditional travellers swell their

strength.

on appointed days

and ;

set off

while ad-

number, and contribute

to their

commerce

of the

In this primitive way

[5]

the

THE ALHAMBRA The

country carried on. traffic,

muleteer

medium

the general

and the legitimate traverser of the

land, crossing the

peninsula from the Pyrenees even to the gates of Gibraltar.

lives frugally

and hardily

his alforjas of coarse cloth

hold his scanty stock of provisions

;

a leathern bottle, hanging

wine or water for a supply across

at his saddle-bow, contains

barren mountains and thirsty plains

upon the ground

his

bed

at night,

a mule-cloth spread

;

and

his pack-saddle his

His low but clean-limbed and sinewy form betokens

pillow.

strength

;

his

complexion

dark and sunburnt

olute, but quiet in its expression,

sudden emotion

;

his

demeanor

except

;

his eye res-

when kindled by

frank, manly,

and cour-

teous, and he never passes you without a grave salutation ""

Dios giiarde a nsted

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

! "

Va ustcd con Dios, Caballero

" !

God guard you " " God be with you, Cavalier As these men have often their whole fortune at stake upon '"

the burden of their mules, they have their weapons at hand,

slung to their saddles, and ready to be snatched out for desperate defence

but their united numbers render

;

them secure

against petty bands of marauders, and the solitary bandolero,

armed

to the teeth,

and mounted on

his

Andalusian steed,

hovers about them, like a pirate about a merchant convoy, without daring to assault.

The Spanish

muleteer has an inexhaustible stock of songs

and

ballads, with

The

airs are

which

to beguile his incessant wayfaring.

rude and simple, consisting of but few inflections.

These he chants

forth with a loud voice,

cadence, seated sideways on his mule,

and long, drawling

who seems

to listen

with infinite gravity, and to keep time with his paces to the tune.

The

couplets thus chanted are often old traditional

romances about the Moors, or some legend of a

[6]

saint,

THE JOURNEY some

love ditty

or,

;

what

is still

frequent,

some

ballad

or hardy bandolero, for the

about a bold contrabandista,

smuggler and the robber are poetical heroes among the com-

mon

Often, the song of the muleteer

people of Spain.

composed

some

at the instant,

and

relates to

frequent in Spain, and

inherited from the Moors, There in listening to these ditties

they

local scene, or

This talent of singing and

incident of the journey.

improvising

some

among

said to have

been

something wildly pleasing

the rude and lonely scenes

accompanied as they are by the occasional

illustrate,

jingle of the mule-bell. It

has a most picturesque effect also to meet a train of

muleteers in some mountain pass.

First

you hear the

of the leading mules, breaking with their simple

of the airy height

stillness

;

bells

melody the

perhaps, the voice of the

or,

muleteer admonishing some tardy or wandering animal, or chanting, at the ballad.

full

stretch of his lungs,

some

traditionaiy

length you see the mules slowly winding along

the cragged defile, sometimes descending precipitous so as to present themselves in

sometimes

toiling

up the deep

arid

cliffs,

relief against the sky,

full

chasms below you. As

they approach, you descry their gay decorations of worsted stuffs, tassels,

and saddle-cloths, while, as they pass

by, the

ever ready trabuco, slung behind the packs and saddles, gives a hint of the insecurity of the road.

The

ancient

kingdom

about to penetrate, of Spain.

shrub or

Vast tree,

of Granada, into

one of the most mountainous regions

sierras, or

chains of mountains, destitute of

and mottled with variegated marbles and

granites, elevate their sunburnt

sky

;

which we were

yet in their

summits against a deep-blue

rugged bosoms

[7]

lie

engulfed verdant and

THE ALHAMBRA valleys,

fertile

where

the

fig,

is,

garden strive for

aiiu the

tLcrrtdditcrc

mastery, and the very rock

the orange, and the citron,

were, compelled to yield

and

blossom with the

myrtle and the rose. In the wild passes of these mountains the sight of walled

towns and

among

villages, built like eagles' nests

the

cliffs,

and surrounded by Moorish battlements, or of ruined watchtowers perched on lofty peaks, carries the mind back to the

and Moslem warfare, and

chivalric days of Christian

romantic struggle for the conquest of Granada. these lofty sierras the traveller lead his horse

to the

In traversing

often obliged to alight, and

up and down the steep and jagged ascents and

Some-

descents, resembling the broken steps of a staircase.

times the road winds along dizzy precipices, without parapet to

guard him from the gulfs below, and then

down it

steep and dark and dangerous declivities.

will

Sometimes

struggles through rugged barrancos, or ravines,

winter torrents, the obscure path while, ever

and anon, the ominous

robbery and murder, erected on a

plunge

worn by

the conti-abaiidista

cross, the

mound

monument

of stones at

some

lonely part of the road, admonishes the traveller that he

among

the haunts of banditti, perhaps at that very

under the eye of some lurking bandolero.

winding through the narrow

mountain a herd of

have

Sometimes,

by a hoarse

him on some green

fold of the

Andalusian

fierce

combat of the arena.

moment

startled

valleys,

bellowing, and beholds above

;

felt,

bulls,

may

destined for the so express

it,

agreeable horror in thus contemplating, near at hand, these terrific

animals, clothed with tremendous strength, and rang-

ing their native pastures

almost to the face of

man

in :

untamed wildness, strangers know no one but the solitary

they

[8]

THE JOURNEY herdsman who

aj"ten<is

'^apoA

and even he

The low

dares not venture to approach them.

these bulls, and their menacing aspect as they look

from

times

bellowing of

down

rocky height, give additional wildness to the

their

savage scenery, I

tion

have been betrayed unconsciously into a longer than

travelling

;

disquisi-

intended on the general features of Spanish

but there

romance about

all

the recollections

of the Peninsula dear to the imagination.

As our regions,

and

proposed route to Granada lay through mountainous

where the roads are

said to be

little

better than mule-paths,

frequently beset by robbers,

travelling precautions.

we took due

Forwarding the most valuable part of

our luggage a day or two in advance by the arrieros, we retained merely clothing and necessaries for the journey

money

for the expenses of the road

of hard dollars by

men wary

way

traveller

we be

assailed.

who, having grudged

empty-handed

Caballcros like

little

and

surplus

;

them cannot

Unlucky

the too

this precaution, falls into

they are apt to give him a

sound rib-roasting for cheating them "

with a

of robber p7irse, to satisfy the gentle-

of the road should

their clutches

;

out

their

dues.

afford to scour the roads

and

risk the gallows for nothing."

A ing,

couple of stout steeds were provided for our

and a third

for our scanty luggage

own mount-

and the conveyance

of a sturdy Biscayan lad, about twenty years of age, to

be our guide, our groom, our

guard.

valet,

and

who was

at all times

our

For the latter office he was provided with a formida-

ble trabnco or carbine, with

which he promised

against rateros or solitary footpads like that of the

;

defend us

but as to powerful bands,

Sons of Ecija," he confessed they were

[9]

THE ALHAMBRA quite

beyond

He made much

his prowess.

vainglorious boast

about his weapon at the outset of the journey the discredit of his generalship,

was suffered

though, to

;

hang un-

loaded behind his saddle.

According

to our stipulations,

the

man from whom we

hired the horses was to be at the expense of their feed and

on the journey, as well as of the maintenance of

stabling

who of course was provided with funds we took care, however, to give the latter a that, though we made a close bargain with his

our Biscayan squire, for the purpose

private hint,

master,

was

;

all

in his favor, as,

he proved a good

both he and the horses should

and

true,

the

money provided

for their

This unexpected

pocket.

ent of a cigar,

won

live at

our

cost,

maintenance remain

man and his

largess, with the occasional pres-

his heart completely.

was, in truth,

a faithful, cheery, kind-hearted creature, as full of saws

and

proverbs as that miracle of squires, the renowned Sancho

whose name, by the

himself,

like a true Spaniard,

by,

we bestowed upon him,

and,

though treated by us with companion-

able familiarity, he never for a

moment,

utmost

in his

hilarity,

overstepped the bounds of respectful decorum.

Such were our minor preparations above

all

laid in

genuine disposition to be pleased true contrabandista style

travel in

;

taking things as

what a country inn

meal

all

With such

is it

disposition

for a traveller,

we found them,

classes

vagabond companionship.

Spain.

It is

and conditions

the true

in itself

an achievement

[lo]

way

and determination,

where the most miserable

as full of adventure as an enchanted castle, is

but

determining to travel in

;

rough or smooth, and mingling with in a kind of

for the journey,

an ample stock of good humor, and a

and every

Let others repine

at the

THE JOURNEY lack of turnpike roads

and sumptuous

and

hotels,

the

all

elaborate comforts of a country cultivated and civilized into

tameness and commonplace scramble

;

but give

the rude mountain

the roving, hap-hazard, wayfaring

;

the half wild

and hospitable manners, which impart such a true

yet frank

game-flavor to dear old romantic Spain

Thus equipped and

attended,

we cantered out of "< Fair morning of a bright May

Seville city " at half-past six in the

company with a

day, in

lady

and gentleman of our acquaint-

who rode a few miles with us, in the Spanish mode of taking leave. Our route lay through old Alcala de Guadaira

ance,

(Alcala on the river Aira), the benefactress of Seville, that supplies

with bread and water.

Here

live the

bakers

furnish Seville with that delicious bread for which

nowned

;

here are fabricated those roscas well

re-

known by

the

pan de Dios (bread of God) with we ordered our man, Sancho, to stock his

well-merited appellation of

which, by the way,

who

;

alforjas for the journey. Well has this beneficent little city been denominated the " Oven of Seville " well has it been ;

called Alcala de los

great part of

its

highway hence

Panaderos (Alcala of the Bakers), for a

inhabitants are of that handicraft,

to Seville

mules and donkeys laden with

and

and the

constantly traversed by lines of

great panniers

loaves

7'oscas.

Here

have said Alcala supplies Seville with water.

great tanks or reservoirs, of tion,

ducts.

whence water

The

its

ovens

its

water

its

bread.

Roman and Moorish

and

construc-

conveyed to Seville by noble aque-

springs of Alcala are almost as ;

are

to the

lightness,

attributed in

much vaunted

sweetness, and purity

some measure the

delicacy of

;

THE ALHAMBRA Here we

halted for a time, at the ruins of the old Moorish

from

castle, a favorite resort for picnic parties

we had passed many

a pleasant hour.

extent, pierced with loopholes

The Guadaira winds

foot of these ruins, pond-lilies,

where

Seville,

walls are of great

enclosing a huge square tower

masmoras, or subterranean grana-

or keep, with the remains of ries.

;

The

its

stream round the

whimpering among

hill,

at the

and

reeds, rushes,

and overhung with rhododendron, eglantine,

yel-

low myrtle, and a profusion of wild flowers and aromatic shrubs

;

while along

banks are groves of oranges,

its

citrons,

and pomegranates, among which we heard the early note

the nightingale.

picturesque bridge was thrown across the

one end of which was the ancient Moorish defended by a tower of yellow stone against the wall to dry, a group of peasant

and hard by

women

;

little river, at

mill of the castle,

a fisherman's net

in the river

in bright-colored dresses, crossing

the arched bridge, were reflected in the placid stream.

gether

The

hung

was his boat Alto-

was an admirable scene for a landscape-painter.

old Moorish mills, so often found on secluded streams,

are characteristic objects in Spanish landscape,

They

of the perilous times of old.

and suggestive

are of stone, and often in

the form of towers, with loopholes and battlements, capable of defence in those warlike days sides of the border

ravage, and v/hen

was subject

men had

when

the country on both

sudden inroad and hasty

to labor with their

weapons

hand, and some place of temporary refuge.

Our next

halting-place

was

remains of another Moorish nestling-place for storks,

campina, or

fertile

Gandul, where were the

castle,

with

its

and commanding

plain, with the

[13]

ruined tower, a

a view over a vast

mountains of Ronda

THE JOURNEY These

the distance.

when

castles

were strongholds

from the talas or forays

plains

to protect the

which they were

subject,

the fields of corn would be laid waste, the flocks

swept from

herds

the vast

pastures,

and,

and

together with

captive peasantry, hurried off in long cavalgadas across the borders.

At Gandul we found could not

once

tell

in the day,

guess-work. ing,

guessed

we ordered a

was

While

repast.

the good folks

;

time

until that

full

time to eat

that

was

;

was

so, alight-

in preparation,

there were but two or three and very poorly furnished. Yet here were

habitable,

the remains of grandeur

;

a terrace, where

may once have walked

gentle cavaliers

;

was, the clock only struck

once the residence of the Marquis of Gan-

All was gone to decay

rooms

two hours after noon

visited the palace, dul.

a tolerable posada

us what time of day

;

fair

dames and

a fish pond and

ruined garden, with grape-vines and date-bearing palm trees.

Here we were joined by a fat curate, who gathered a bouquet and presented it, very gallantly, to the lady who

of roses,

accompanied

us.

Below the palace was the

mill, with orange trees and aloes and a pretty stream of pure water. We took a seat the shade, and the millers, all leaving their work, sat down

in front,

and smoked with

us, for the

Andalusians are always ready

They were waiting for who came once a week to put

for a gossip.

the regular visit of the

barber,

all

arrived shortly afterwards

on a donkey, eager to display his new bags, just bought at a fair St.

John's day

mown

(in

;

their chins in order.

a lad of seventeen, mounted alforjas, or saddle-

price one dollar, to be paid

June), by which time he trusted to have

beards enough to put him in funds.

[13]

THE ALHAMBRA By the time the laconic clock of the castle had struck two we had finished our dinner. So, taking leave of our Seville friends,

and leaving the

barber,

set off

one of those vast

and miles there eller

who has

millers

common

in Spain,

neither house nor tree.

to traverse

it,

repeated showers of rain.

Our

under the hands of the

on our ride across the campina.

plains,

still

where

was

for miles

Unlucky the

trav-

exposed as we were to heavy and

There

no escape nor

shelter.

only protection was our Spanish cloaks, which nearly

covered

man and

horse, but

grew heavier every mile.

the

time we had lived through one shower we would see another slowly but inevitably approaching

;

fortunately, in the interval

there would be an outbreak of bright, warm, Andalusian sunshine,

which would make our cloaks send up wreaths of steam,

but which partially dried Shortly after sunset

among

the

hills.

them before the next drenching. we arrived at Arahal, a little town

found

in a bustle with a party of

who were patrolling the country to ferret out robThe appearance of foreigners like ourselves was an

miquclcts, bers.

unusual circumstance in an interior country town, and

Spanish towns of the kind are easily put

little

in a state of gossip

and wonderment by such an occurrence. Mine host, with two or three old wiseacre comrades in brown cloaks, studied our passports in a corner of the posada, while an Alguazil took notes by the dim light of a lamp. in foreign

Sancho

The

passports were

languages and perplexed them, but our Squire

assisted

them

in their

studies,

and magnified our

importance with the grandiloquence of a Spaniard,

meantime the magnificent

won

the hearts of

all

distribution of a

around us

community seemed put

;

in a little while the

in agitation

[14]

In the

few cigars had whole

make us welcome.

;

THE JOURNEY The

corrcgidor himself waited upon us, and a great rush-

bottomed arm chair was ostentatiously bolstered into our room by our landlady, for the accommodation of that important personage. us

The commander

lively,

campaign

of the patrol took supper with

laughing Andaluz,

talking,

who had made

South America, and recounted

his exploits in

and war with much pomp of phrase, vehemence of gesticulation, and mysterious rolling of the eye. He told us that love

he had a

list

all

the robbers in the country, and

son of them

ferret out every mother's

same time some

of his soldiers as an escort.

to protect you, sefiors

men

;

the sight of one

whole

sierra."

in his

own

enough

"One

at the

enough

know me, and know my

to spread terror

through a

We thanked him for his offer, but assured him,

strain, that

Squire Sancho

the robbers

meant

he offered us

;

with the protection of our redoubtable

we were

not afraid of

all

the ladrones of

Andalusia.

While we were supping with our drazvcansir

friend,

heard the notes of a guitar and the click of castanets, and presently a chorus of voices singing a popular

air.

fact,

mine host had gathered together the amateur singers and musicians, and the rustic belles of the neighborhood, and, on going forth, the courtyard or patio of the inn presented a scene of true Spanish

took our seats with mine

commander

archway opening into the court to

festivity.

host and hostess and the

;

of the patrol, under an

the guitar passed from hand

hand, but a jovial shoemaker was the (3rpheus of the place.

was a pleasant-looking

his sleeves

guitar with masterly

with a

fellow, with

huge black whiskers

were rolled up to his elbows. skill,

touched the

and afterwards danced a fandango

buxom Andalusian damsel, [^5]

to the great delight of the

THE ALHAMBRA But none of the females present could compare with mine host's pretty daughter, Pepita, who had slipped away and made her toilette for the occasion, and had covered her head with roses and who distinguished herself in a bolero spectators.

;

with a handsome young dragoon.

ordered our host to

wine and refreshment circulate freely among the company,

let

though there was a motley assembly of

yet,

and

teers,

The scene was

enjoyment.

soldiers,

mule-

no one exceeded the bounds of sober

villagers,

a study for a painter

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the

pic-

turesque group of dancers, the troopers in their half-military dresses, the peasantry

must

wrapped

in their

brown cloaks

nor

;

omit to mention the old meagre Alguazil, in a short

black cloak,

who took no

notice of anything going on, but

sat in a corner diligently writing

by the dim light of a huge

copper lamp, that might have figured in the days of

Don

Quixote.

The

following morning was bright and balmy, as a

morning ought at

to be, according to the poets.

seven o'clock, with

off,

all \k\Q.

posada

we pursued our way through a

with grain and beautifully verdant

when

the harvest

latter all hills,

of the

covered

but which in summer,

;

for, as in

were neither houses nor people

our ride of yester-

these fertile plains were

still

The

to be seen.

congregate in villages and strongholds

among

the

subject to the ravages

Moor.

At noon we came

where there was a group of

beside a brook in a rich meadow.

our mid-day meal. flowers

door to cheer us

at the

fertile country,

over and the fields parched and brown,

must be monotonous and lonely day, there

;

May

Leaving Arahal

was

Here we

trees,

make among wild

alighted to

really a luxurious spot,

and aromatic herbs, with birds singing around

[i6]

us.

THE WINE GATE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ALHAM BRA

THE ALHAMBRA ÂŤ

Knowing less tracts

the scanty larders of Spanish inns and the house-

we might have

we had taken

to traverse,

care to

have the alforjas of our squire well stocked with cold pro-

and

visions,

his bota, or leathern bottle,

gallon, filled to the

which might hold a

neck with choice Valdepenas wine.

we depended more upon these for our well-being than even his trabuco, we exhorted him to be more attentive in keeping them well charged and I must do him the justice to say that ;

namesake, the trencher-loving Sancho Panza, was never a

his

more provident purveyor. Though the

and the bota

alforjas

were frequently and vigorously assailed throughout the journey, they

had a wonderful power of

repletion, our vigilant

squire sacking everything that remained from our repasts at

the inns to supply these junketings by the roadside, which

were his delight.

the present occasion he spread quite a sumptuous

variety of

remnants on the greensward before

an excellent

ham brought from

;

us,

graced with

then, taking his seat

he solaced himself with what remained

at little distance,

the alforjas.

Seville

visit

or two to the bota

and chirruping as a grasshopper

filled

made him

merry

On my com-

with dew.

paring his contents of the alforjas to Sancho's skimming of the flesh-pots at the wedding of

the

common

Cammacho,

Don

well versed in the history of

found he was

Quixote, but, like

people of Spain, firmly believed

many

to be a true

history. " All that

happened a long time ago, senor,"

said he, with

an inquiring look. " "

A I

very long time,"

replied.

dare say more than a thousand years,"

dubiously.

[i8]

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

still

looking

THE JOURNEY " I dare say not less."

The

squire was satisfied.

hearted varlet more than

Sancho

for devotion to the trencher

by no other

Our

Nothing pleased the simple-

my comparing him

name throughout

repast being finished,

greensward under the

tree,

The

Spanish fashion.

warned us

to depart,

southeast.

Towards

;

to the

and he

renowned

called himself

the journey.

we spread our

cloaks on the

and took a luxurious

siesta, in the

clouding up of the weather, however,

and a harsh wind sprang up from the

five o'clock

arrived at Osuna, a town

of fifteen thousand inhabitants, situated

on the side of a

hill,

The posada was outside look. The evening being

with a church and a ruined castle. of the walls cold,

;

had a cheerless

the inhabitants were crowded round a brascro in a

chimney-corner looked like a

;

and the hostess was a dry old woman, who Every one eyed us askance as we

mummy.

entered, as Spaniards are apt to regard strangers respectful salutation

a cheery,

;

on our part, caballerobig them and touch-

and when we among them, lit our cigars, and passed the cigar-box round among them, our victory was complete. I have never known a Spaniard, whatever his rank or condition, who would suffer himself to be outdone in courtesy and to the common Spaniard the present of a cigar {puro) is irreing our sombreros, set Spanish pride at ease

;

took our seat

;

sistible.

Care, however, must be taken never to offer

present with an air of superiority and condescension

much

;

him a

too

of a caballero to receive favors at the cost of his dignity.

Leaving Osuna

an early hour the next morning, we

entered the sierra, or range of mountains.

through picturesque scenery, but lonely

;

The

road

wound

and a cross here

and there by the roadside, the sign of a murder, showed

['9]

that

THE ALHAMBRA the " robber haunts."

we were now coming among and

intricate country, with its silent plains

This wild

and valleys

inter-

sected by mountains, has ever been famous for banditti.

was here that

Omar

among

Ibn Hassan, a robber-chief

Moslems, held ruthless sway

the

in the ninth century, disputing

dominion even with the caliphs of Cordova.

This, too, was

a part of the regions so often ravaged during the reign of

Ferdinand and Isabella by Ali Atar, the old Moorish alcayde of Loxa, father-in-law of Boabdil, so that

was

called Ali

Atar's garden, and here "Jose Maria," famous in Spanish

brigand story, had his favorite lurking-places. In the course of the day we passed through Fuente Piedra, near a

lake of the

little salt

same name, a

beautiful

sheet of water, reflecting like a mirror the distant mountains.

now came

in sight of Antiquera, that old city of warlike

reputation, lying in the lap of the great sierra

through Andalusia.

which runs

noble vcga spread out before

it,

picture of mild fertility set in a frame of rocky mountains.

Crossing a gentle

river,

hedges and gardens,

we approached About

forth their evening song. gates.

Everything

ish stamp.

It lies

in this

too

foreign travel to have

nightfall

arrived at the

venerable city has a decidedly Span-

much its

the city between

which nightingales were pouring

out of the frequented track of

old usages trampled out.

Here

men still wearing the montciv, or ancient huntonce common throughout Spain while the young

observed old ing-cap,

men wore up

all

;

the

little

round-crowned

round, like a cup turned

the brim was set off with

The women,

too,

were

all

little

hat,

down

with brim turned

in its saucer

in mantillas

while

and basqiiinas. The

fashions of Paris had not reached Antiquera.

[20]

;

black tufts like cockades.

HE JOURNEY

Pursuing our course through a spacious at the

posada of San Fernando.

considerable of travel,

city, is,

street,

we put up

Antiquera, though a

observed, somewhat out of the track

had anticipated bad quarters and poor fare

at the

was agreeably disappointed, therefore, by a supper

inn.

table

amply supplied, and what were

still

acceptable,

Our man Sancho when he had the run

good clean rooms and comfortable beds. felt

himself as well off as his namesake

of the duke's kitchen, night, that

and

let

know, as

retired for the

had been a proud time for the alforjas.

Early in the morning (May 4th)

strolled to the ruins of

the old Moorish castle, which itself had been reared on the ruins of a

Roman

Here, taking

fortress.

mains of a crumbling tower, landscape, beautiful in association

;

for

and

itself,

was now

seat

on the

re-

enjoyed a grand and varied full

of storied

and romantic

in the very heart of the country

famous for the chivalrous contests between Moor and Christian.

Below me,

in its lap of hills, lay the old warrior city so

often mentioned in chronicle

and down yon

hill

and

ballad.

Out

of yon gate

paraded the band of Spanish cavaliers, of

highest rank and bravest bearing, to

make

that foray during

the war and conquest of Granada, which ended in the lamentable massacre

Andalusia

among

the mountains of Malaga, and laid

mourning.

Beyond spread out the vcga,

all

cov-

ered with gardens and orchards and fields of grain and

enamelled meadows, inferior only to the famous vega of Granada. like a

of the

the right the

Rock

of the Lovers stretched

cragged promontoiy into the plain, whence the daughter

Moorish alcayde and her

lover,

when

closely pursued,

threw themselves in despair.

The matin

peal from cliurch

and convent below me rang

[21]

THE ALHAMBRA sweetly in the morning air as

was beginning

The

descended.

throng with the populace, who

abundant produce of the vega

;

for this

market-place traffic in

the

the mart of an

In the market-place were abundance of

agricultural region.

freshly-plucked roses for sale

;

for not a

dame

or damsel of

Andalusia thinks her gala dress complete without a rose shining like a

gem among

her raven tresses.

found our

returning to the inn I

man Sancho

high

gossip with the landlord and two or three of his hangers-on.

had

just

been

telling

some marvellous

which mine host seemed piqued

story about Seville,

match with one equally

marvellous about Antiquera. There was once a fountain, he said, in

one of the public squares

mouth

the

called El

Fuente del Toro

Fountain of the Bull), because the water gushed frqm

(the

Underneath the

of a bull's head, carved of stone.

head was inscribed

frente del toro

Se hallen tesoro. (In front of the bull there

treasure.)

of the fountain, but lost their labor last

one knowing fellow construed the motto

way. ure

find

in the

it.

to himself,

Accordingly he came, to pieces

" Plenty of gold

digged in front

in a different

forehead {frente) of the bull that the treas-

to be found, said

knocked the head "

Many

and found no money. At

;

and

the

man

late at night, with a mallet,

and

and what do you think he found }

and diamonds

" !

cried Sancho, eagerly.

found nothing," rejoined mine host, dryly, "and he

ruined the fountain."

Here on

;

a great laugh

who

was

set

up by the landlord's hangers-

considered Sancho completely taken in by what

presume was one

mine

host's standing jokes.

[22]

;

THE

RNEY

J () If

we had a dehghtful and by gardens and orchards fragrant with the odors of spring and vocal with the nightingale. Leaving Antiquera

ride along the

at eight o'clock,

little river,

Our road passed round de

los

Rock

the

Enamorados), which rose

the course of the morning

above

was a great

toil

it,

above

Penon

hill,

with a three-pointed moun-

and the ruins of a Moorish

fortress.

bore the encouraging

name

of Calle

Real del Llano (the Royal Street of the Plain), but a greater

toil to

sit-

ascend a steep stony street leading up

into the city, although

still

us.

we passed through Archidona,

uated in the breast of a high tain towering

of the Lovers (El

in a precipice

descend from

this

mountain

city

was

on the

other side.

At noon we halted meadow among

little

in sight of hills

Archidona, in a pleasant

covered with olive

trees.

Our

cloaks were spread on the grass, under an elm by the side of a bubbling rivulet

;

our horses were tethered where they

might crop the herbage, and Sancho was alforjas.

had been unusually

told to

silent this

since the laugh raised at his expense, but

produce his

morning ever

now

his counte-

nance brightened, and he produced his aJforjas with an air

They contained

of triumph.

the contributions of four days'

journeying, but had been signally enriched by the foraging of the previous evening in the plenteous inn at Antiquera

and of

this

mine

seemed

to furnish

him with

a set-off to the banter

host.

frente del toro

Se hallen tesoro

would he exclaim, with a chuckling laugh, as he drew forth the heterogeneous contents one by one, in a series which

seemed

have no end.

P"irst

[23]

came

forth a shoulder of

;

THE ALHAMBRA roasted kid, very

partridge

paper

;

the worse for wear

little

then the residue of a

;

then an entire

;

then a great morsel of salted codfish wrapped in

ham

then the half of a

;

pullet,

together with several rolls of bread, and a rabble rout of oranges,

and walnuts.

raisins,

figs,

recruited with

some

His bota

excellent wine of

had been

also

At every

Malaga.

fresh apparition from his larder, he would enjoy our ludicrous surprise, throwing himself

laughter, and exclaiming,

Ah,

back on the grass, shouting with Frcnte del toro

knew where

del toro

the look of a

had a venerable gray beard, and was evidently

very old, supporting himself on a

bowed him down of a fine form.

;

he was

and

tall

staff,

erect,

yet age had

not

and had the wreck

wore a round Andalusian

and leathern breeches,

skin jacket,

his simple drollery,

who had almost

a solitary beggar approached,

gaiters,

hat, a sheep-

and sandals.

His

though old and patched, was decent, his demeanor

manly, and he addressed us with the grave courtesy that to

be remarked in the lowest Spaniard.

able

to find the tesoroT

While we were diverting ourselves with

dress,

frente

they thought Sancho a simpleton at Antiquera

seiiors,

but Sancho

pilgrim.

mood

for such a visitor

charity gave

him some

;

silver,

and

were

in a favor-

in a freak of capricious

a loaf of fine wheaten bread,

and a goblet of our choice wine of Malaga. He received them thankfully, but without any grovelling tribute of gratitude.

Tasting the wine, he held

slight

beam

draught,

such wine.

of surprise in his eye

It is It

many is

;

to the light, with a

then quaffing

years," said he, " since

blessed be such bread

" !

loaf,

bejidito sea tal

saying, he put

[^4]

off at

have tasted

a cordial to an old man's heart."

looking at the beautiful wheaten "'

Then, pan!''

in his wallet,

THE JOURNEY We

urged him '"

he,

the wine

to cat

on the

had either

spot.

No, senors," rephed

to drink or leave

but the bread

;

may take home to share with my family," Our man Sancho sought our eye, and reading permission there, gave the old man some of the ample fragments of our I

on condition, however, that he should

repast,

make

He that

down and

some little distance from and with a sobriety and decorum would have become a hidalgo. There was altogether a accordingly took his seat at

and began

us,

sit

a meal.

to eat slowly,

measured manner and a quiet self-possession about the old

man, that made

think that he had seen better days

picturesque and almost poetical in the phraseology.

him down it

for

some broken-down

cavalier.

set

was mistaken

;

was nothing but the innate courtesy of a Spaniard, and the

poetical turn of thought

and language often

employ and

destitute.

When

was a young man," said

nothing could harm or trouble ;

beggar, and Still

found

fifty years,

he had been a shepherd, but now he was out of

told us,

always gay

to be

For

the lowest classes of this clear-witted people.

his

though simple, had occasionally something

language, too,

now

but

;

was always

he,

well,

seventy-nine years of age, and a

heart begins to

fail

me."

he was not a regular mendicant

recently that want had driven

him

was not

to this degradation

until ;

and

he gave a touching picture of the struggle between hunger

and

pride,

when

abject destitution

was returning from tasted food for

some

Spain,

first

came upon him.

Malaga without money time,

;

he had not

and was crossing one of the great

where there were but few

plains

When

almost dead with hunger, he applied at the door of

[^5]

habitations.

THE ALHAMBRA (Excuse

tisted por

God's sake

us, brother, for

mode

usual

Perdon

a venta or country inn.

— the

was the reply

Spain of refusing a beggar.

Dios hermano

turned away,"

shame greater than my hunger, for my heart was yet too proud. I came to a river with high banks, and deep, rapid current, and felt tempted to throw myself in. said he, " with

What

should such an old, worthless, wretched

for

But when

away.

travelled

man

was on the brink of the current,

until

saw a country-seat

I live

turned

at a little dis-

tance from the road, and entered the outer gate of the court-

The door was

yard.

window.

at a

shut, but there

por Dios hermano

— and the window

at the gate,

thought

and covered

head to

lying at his gate, he uncovered

The

old

which was

his

way to

view on

its

pointed to the ruins of

with wine, he went on to left

under the

castle

laid

castle.

me my

food."

and rugged mountain.

his heart

warmed

His own house was

The

curate

and went

and notary

work

at the

His own son-in-law heard

What

they

they became suddenly rich, but kept

Thus the old man had once been next door was doomed never to get under the same roof.

secret.

to fortune, but

seeing

his native place, Archidona,

of the treasure,

;

while

little

the sound of their pickaxes and spades at night.

own

heart

down

In a

and gave

steep

place pointed out in their dreams.

their

myself

us a story of the buried treasure

next to the foundations of the

found, nobody knows

listed

crept out

head, had pity on

its castle.

tell

die.

by the Moorish king.

dreamed three times

came home

into his house,

man was on in full

Perdon

closed.

hour at hand, so

afterwards the master of the house

gray hairs, took

—

hunger overcame me, and

of the courtyard, but

gave way

were two young senoras

approached and begged;

[26]

THE JOURNEY have remarked that the

stories of treasure buried

by the

Moors, so popular throughout Spain, are most current

among

Kind nature consoles with shadows

the poorest people.

the lack of substantial.

and running streams poor

man

;

The the

man dreams of hungry man of banquets thirsty

of heaps of hidden

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nothing

gold

more opulent than the imagination

Our

;

and the

certainly

the King)

mountains, called Puerte del Rey (the Pass of

being one of the great passes into the

;

of Granada,

army.

brought us

territories

and the one by which King Ferdinand conducted

Towards sunset the in sight of the

road, winding round a

famous

which repulsed Ferdinand from implies guardian, and such

being one of

little

advanced guards.

its

walls.

its

was

was that the

Its

Arabic name

vega of Granada,

to the

was the stronghold of

latter collected his troops,

on that disastrous foray which ended

own

alcayde and his

tion at the gate, as

captivity.

hill,

frontier city of Loxa,

that fiery veteran, old Ali Atar, father-in-law of Boabdil

here

and

;

sallied forth

in the death of the old

From

commanding

its

posi-

were, of this mountain-pass, Loxa has

not unaptly been termed the key of Granada.

It is wildly

The

picturesque, built along the face of an arid mountain. ruins of a Moorish alcazar or citadel

which washes

of a beggar.

afternoon's ride took us through a steep and rugged

defile of the

his

for

fountains

crown a rocky mound

The

rises out of the centre of the town. its

river Xenil

winding among rocks, and groves, and

base,

gardens, and meadows, and crossed by a Moorish bridge.

Above

the city

all

savage and

sterile,

vegetation and the freshest verdure.

sented by the river reflecting groves

above the bridge

and gardens

;

below,

[^7]

below

the richest

similar contrast

placid

it is it

pre-

and grassy,

rapid, noisy,

and

THE ALHAMBRA The

tumultuous.

Nevada, the royal mountains of

Sierra

Granada, crowned with perpetual

boundary

to this varied landscape,

romantic Spain.

teristic of

we gave our horses inn, while we strolled about to the environs. As we crossed

Alighting at the entrance of the to

snow, form the distant

one of the most charac-

Sancho

to lead

them

to the

enjoy the singular beauty of

city,

the bridge to a fine alamcda, or public walk, the bells tolled

the hour of orison.

the sound the wayfarers, whether on

business or pleasure, paused, took off their hats, crossed themselves, still

and repeated

their

evening prayer

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a pious custom Altogether,

rigidly observed in retired parts of Spain.

was a solemn and beautiful evening scene, and we wandered on as the evening gradually closed, and the new moon began it

to glitter

between the high elms of the alameda.

were

roused from this quiet state of enjoyment by the voice of our trusty squire hailing us

out of breath. es

nada

nothing

cried he,

He came el

to us,

pobre SancJio no

Don Quixote T (Ah, sefiors, poor Sancho is without Don Quixote.) He had been alarmed at our sin

not coming to the inn

;

full of coiitrabandistas,

well

from a distance.

"Ah, senorcs,"

know

Loxa was such

a wild mountain place,

enchanters, and infiernos

;

he did not

what might have happened, and set out to seek

us, inquiring after

us of every person he met, until he traced

us across the bridge, and, to his great joy, caught sight of us strolling in the

The

alameda.

inn to which he conducted us was called the Corona,

or Crown, and

we found

quite in keeping with the charac-

ter of the place, the inhabitants of

which seem

still

to retain

The hostess was a young and handsome Andalusian widow. Her step was firm the bold, fiery spirit of the olden time.

[28]

.Jf..

^!^^n.

Bfffl}

'^^^^-^4;^}^%^{i^^,^.''"-

'M^ V -<

'-UaTI

,-i^.

THE ALHAMBRA AND THE SIERRA NEVADA

THE ALHAMBRA and

elastic

of her

her dark eye was

;

she was accustomed

She was age

full

fire

;

and the coquetry

and varied ornaments of her person, showed

air,

well

that

be admired.

matched by a brother, nearly about her own

they were perfect models of the Andalusian niajo and

;

maja.

was

and well formed, with a

vigorous,

tall,

olive complexion, a

clear

dark beaming eye, and curling chestnut

whiskers that met under his chin.

was gallantly dressed

in a short green velvet jacket, fitted to his shape, profusely

decorated with silver buttons, with a white handkerchief in

each pocket.

had breeches of the same, with rows of

buttons from the hips to the knees

;

neatly-plaited shirt;

a pink silk handkerchief

on the bosom of a a sash round the waist to match bottinas,

round his neck, gathered through a

ring,

;

or spatterdashes, of the finest russet leather, elegantly worked,

and open

the calf to

show

his stocking

;

and russet shoes,

setting off a well-shaped foot.

As he was

standing at the door, a horseman rode up and

entered into low and earnest conversation with him. dressed in a similar

man

about

style,

and almost with equal

thirty, square-built,

handsome, though

with strong

air.

was ;

features,

slightly pitted with the small-pox

and somewhat daring

a free, bold,

Roman

He finery

;

with

His powerful black

horse was decorated with tassels and fanciful trappings, and a couple of broad-mouthed blunderbusses saddle.

have seen in

had the

air of

hung behind the

one of those contrabandistas

good understanding with the brother of mine hostess if I

fact,

the mountains of Ronda, and evidently had a ;

mistake not, he was a favored admirer of the widow. the whole inn and

trabandista aspect,

its

nay,

inmates had something of a cou-

and a blunderbuss stood

[30]

a corner

;

THE JOURNEY The horseman

beside the guitar.

have mentioned passed evening in the posada, and sang several bold mountain romances with great spirit. As we were at supper, two poor I

his

Asturians put

in, in distress,

begging food and a night's lodg-

They had been waylaid by robbers as they came from a fair among the mountains, robbed of a horse which carried all their stock in trade, stripped of their money and most of ing.

their apparel, beaten for

having offered resistance, and

almost naked in the road.

generosity natural to him, ordered

and gave them a sum of money

them a supper and a bed, help them forward towards

home.

their

left

companion, with a prompt

the evening advanced, the dramatis perso?ice thickened.

man, about

large

came

strolling

sixty years of age, of powerful frame,

gossip with mine hostess.

in,

was

dressed in the ordinary Andalusian costume, but had a huge sabre tucked under his

something of a

arm

;

wore large moustaches, and had

swaggering

air. Every one seemed to him with great deference. Our man Sancho whispered to us that he was Don Ventura Rodriguez, the hero and champion of Loxa, famous for

lofty

regard

his

prowess and the strength of his arm.

French invasion he surprised he

first

sabre, killed some,

as brave.

rest prisoners.

fifth

and has dignified him with the

was amused

meanor.

and took the

king allows him a peseta (the

dollar) per day,

arm.

who were

asleep

secured their horses, then attacked them with his

ploit the

In the time of the

six troopers

For

this ex-

of a ditro, or title

to behold his swelling language

Don.

and de-

was evidently a thorough Andalusian, boastful

His sabre was always carries

his

hand or under

his

always about with him as a child does

[3x]

THE ALHAMBRA doll,

its

and

says,

When

draw

it,

the earth trembles

{tiembla la tierrd). I

sat until a late

hour listening to the varied themes of

this

motley group, who mingled together with the unreserve of a

Spanish posada. robbers,

had contTabaiidista songs,

guerrilla exploits,

stories

and Moorish legends. The

last

were from our handsome landlady, who gave a poetical account of the infiernos, or infernal regions of Loxa, in

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; dark

caverns,

which subterranean streams and waterfalls make a myste-

The common

rious sound.

people say that there are money-

up there from the time

coiners shut

of the Moors,

and that

the Moorish kings kept their treasures in those caverns. I

retired to

bed with

had seen and heard fallen asleep

that

when

imagination excited by

in this old warrior city.

all

that I

Scarce had

was aroused by a horrid din and uproar,

might have confounded the hero of La Mancha himself,

whose experience

seemed

for a

of Spanish inns

moment

ing into the town, or

talked had broken loose. reconnoitre.

the

sallied

forth,

half dressed,

was nothing more nor less than a charivari

to celebrate the nuptials of

Wishing him

was a continual uproar.

Moors were once more breakthe infiernos of which mine hostess

joy,

man with a buxom damsel. my more quiet bed, and slept

an old

returned to

soundly until morning.

While dressing, I amused myself in reconnoitring the populace from my window. There were groups of fine-looking young men in the trim fanciful Andalusian costume, with brown cloaks, thrown about them in true Spanish style, which cannot be imitated, and little round majo hats stuck on with a peculiar knowing air. They had the same galliard look which I have remarked among the dandy mountaineers of [32]

THE JOURNEY Ronda.

Indeed,

all this

part of Andalusia abounds with such

They

game-looking characters. villages,

seem

" horse to ride

about the towns and

loiter

have plenty of time and plenty of money,

and weapon

to wear."

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Great

gossips, great

smokers, apt at touching the guitar, singing couplets to their niaja belles, and famous dancers of the bolero. all

Throughout

Spain the men, however poor, have a gentlemanlike abun-

dance of

leisure,

seeming

to consider

cavalicro never to be in a hurry

gay as well as

leisurely,

the attribute of a true

but the Andalusians are

and have none of the squalid accom-

The adventurous contraband

paniments of idleness.

which

;

prevails throughout these

trade

mountain regions, and along

the maritime borders of Andalusia,

doubtless at the bottom

of this galliard character.

In contrast to the costume of these groups was that of two long-legged Valencians conducting a donkey, laden with

arti-

cles of merchandise, their musket slung crosswise over his

back, ready for action.

They wore round

jackets {Jalecos),

wide linen bragas or drawers scarce reaching to their knees

and looking

like kilts,

red fajas or sashes swathed tightly

round their waists, sandals of espartal or bass weed, colored kerchiefs round their heads

somewhat

in the style of turbans,

but leaving the top of the head uncovered

whole appearance having

much

;

in short, their

of the traditional Moorish

stamp.

leaving

mounted and

Loxa we were joined by and followed on

well armed,

petero or musketeer.

us into his quality. I it

cavalier,

well

foot by an csco-

He saluted us courteously, and soon let He was chief of the customs, or rather,

should suppose, chief of an armed company whose business is

to patrol the

roads and look out for coiitrabandistas.

THE ALHAMBRA The

escopetero was one of his guards.

In the course of our

drew from him some

particulars concerning

morning's ride

who have risen They come into

the smugglers, alry in Spain,

to be a kind of

ous parts, but especially from receive goods, to be

La Mancha

vessel,

which

In the daytime they

lie

;

sometimes

hover on a given night

They keep

part of the coast.

sometimes

;

smuggled on an appointed night across

the line at the plaza or strand of Gibraltar

meet a

mongrel chiv-

Andalusia, he said, from vari-

off a certain

together and travel in the night.

quiet in barrancos, gullies of the

mountains, or lonely farm-houses, where they are generally well received, as they their

kets

make

the family liberal presents of

much of the finery and trinworn by the wives and daughters of the mountain hamlets smuggled wares.

Indeed,

and farm-houses are presents from the gay and open-handed contrabandistas

Arrived

at the part of the coast

where a vessel

meet

them, they look out at night from some rocky point or headland.

they descry a

certed signal

sail

sometimes

;

near the shore they

make

a con-

consists in suddenly displaying a

lantern three times from beneath the folds of the cloak.

the signal

answered, they descend to the shore and prepare

The

for quick work.

vessel runs close in

;

all

her boats are

busy landing the smuggled goods, made up into snug packages for transportation on horseback. These are hastily thrown

on the beach, as horses,

hastily gathered

and then the contrabandistas

tains.

They

roads,

where

travel it

by the roughest, wildest, and most

When

solitary

almost fruitless to pursue them.

custom-house guards do not attempt course.

up and packed on the clatter off to the moun-

they hear of one of these bands returning

[34]

The

they take a different full

THE JOURNEY freighted through the mountains, they go out in force, some-

times twelve infantry and eight horsemen, and take their station

where the mountain

who

infantry,

lie

band

suffer the

defile

opens into the

ambush some then

to pass,

rise

The

plain.

distance within the defile,

and

fire

upon them. The

contrabandistas dash forward, but are met in front by the

horsemen. if

The contrabandistas, Some dismount, use

wild skirmish ensues.

hard pressed, become desperate.

their horses as breastworks,

and

cut the cords, let the packs

fall off

fire

over their backs

to delay the

endeavor to escape with their steeds.

Some

;

others

enemy, and

get off in this

way with the loss of their packages some are taken, horses, packages, and all others abandon everything, and make their escape by scrambling up the mountains. " And then," ;

;

cried Sancho, "j-^

who had been

haccn ladrones

listening with

legitimos,''

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; "and

a greedy ear,

then they become

legitimate robbers." I

could not help laughing at Sancho's idea of a legitimate

calling of the kind really the case

;

but the chief of customs told

that the smugglers,

when

was

thus reduced to

extremity, thought they had a kind of right to take the road,

and

lay travellers

under contribution,

until they

had collected

funds enough to mount and equip themselves in contrabandista style.

Towards noon our wayfaring companion took leave of us and turned up a steep defile, followed by his escopetero and ;

shortly afterwards

tered

upon the far-famed vega

Our trees

we emerged from

last

;

of Granada.

mid-day's repast was taken under a grove of olive

on the border of a

borhood

the mountains, and en-

rivulet.

for not far off

We were in a classical

neigh-

were the groves and orchards of the

[35]

THE ALHAMBRA Soto de Roma. This, according to fabulous tradition, was a

founded by Count Julian

treat

to console his

re-

daughter Florinda.

Moorish kings of Granada; and has

was a

modern times been granted to the Duke of Wellington. Our worthy squire made a half melancholy face as he drew

rural resort of the

forth, for the last time, the contents of his alforjas, lament-

ing that our expedition was drawing to a close, cavaliers,

said,

was a gay one

repast, however,

auspices.

for,

with such

Our made under such delightful cloud. The heat of the sun

he could travel to the world's end.

The day was

;

without a

was tempered by cool breezes from the mountains. us extended the glorious Vega.

Before

In the distance was romantic

Granada surmounted by the ruddy towers of the Alhambra, while far above

shone

the snowy summits of the Sierra Nevada

like silver.

Our

we spread our

repast finished,

siesta al fresco, lulled

flowers

and the notes of

the sultry hours were passed a time toad,

cloaks

and took our

last

humming of bees among the doves among the olive trees. When

by the

overtook a pursy

we resumed our

man, shaped not unlike a

little

and mounted on a mule.

After

journey.

into conversation with

fell

Sancho, and, finding we were strangers, undertook to guide us to a goodposada.

and knew the

was an escribano

thoroughly as his

city as

(notary),

own

dios senoirs! what a city you are going to see.

such squares said

such palaces "

" are you sure

"Good!

hixo —

colcJioncs

a good one

Ah, the Alhambra."

King Chicb in And how will my horses

fare

[36]

streets!

talk of,"

Salones grandes

of down).

said,

''Ah,

.''

de plurna (grand

— beds

Such

But the posada you

the best in Granada.

sleeping-rooms like

it is

—

pocket.

saloons —

seiiores,

" cried

— camas

you

Sancho.

luxurious will fare

I'HE

JOURNEY

Like King Chico's horses. Chocolate con lecJie y bollos para alniucrza'' (chocolate and milk with sugar cakes for breakfast), giving the squire a knowing" wink and a leer. After such satisfactory accounts, nothing more was to be

So we rode

desired on that head.

quietly on, the squab

little

notary taking the lead, and turning to us every

moment

with

some fresh exclamation about the grandeurs

Granada and

the famous times

Thus Indian

escorted, figs,

we were to have at the posada. we passed between hedges of

and through that wilderness

which the Vega

aloes

and

gardens with

embroidered, and arrived about sunset

Our officious little conductor conveyed and down another, until he rode into the

the gates of the city.

us up one street

courtyard of an inn where he appeared to be perfectly at

home.

Summoning

the landlord by his Christian name, he

committed us to his care as two cavalleros dc

niucJio valor,

worthy of his best apartments and most sumptuous

fare.

were instantly reminded of the patronizing stranger who

duced Gil Bias with such a flourish of trumpets

and hostess of the inn

We intro-

to the host

ordering trouts for his

at Pennaflor,

supper, and eating voraciously at his expense.

You know

not what you possess," cried he to the innkeeper and his wife. "

You have

a treasure in your house.

gentleman the eighth wonder of the world house

too good for Seiior Gil

in this

young

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nothing

in this

Behold

Bias of Santillane,

who

deserves to be entertained like a prince."

Determined that the

little

notary should not eat trouts at our

expense, like his prototype of Pennaflor,

him

supper

;

forbore to ask

nor had we reason to reproach ourselves with

ingratitude, for we found before morning the little varlet, who was no doubt a good friend of the landlord, had decoyed us into

one of the shabbiest /^j'<rc/<7j'

[37]

Granada.

X:*

,.â&#x20AC;&#x17E;. .

.^T*. '^^-}J^

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA "^O

THE

torical

traveller

and

imbued with a feeling

annals of romantic Spain, the

an object of devotion as

How many

Alhambra

the Caaba to

all

true

ballads,

much

Moslems.

legends and traditions, true and fabulous,

many songs and war and

for the his-

poetical, so inseparably intertwined in the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; how

Arabian and Spanish, of love and

chivalry, are associated with this Oriental pile

was the royal abode of the Moorish kings, where, surrounded with the splendors and refinements of Asiatic luxury, they

held dominion over what they vaunted as a terrestrial paradise,

and made

their last stand for

empire in Spain.

The

royal

palace forms but a part of a fortress, the walls of which,

studded with towers, stretch irregularly round the whole crest of a

hill,

a spur of the Sierra

and overlook the

city

;

Nevada or Snowy Mountains,

externally

[39]

it is

a rude congregation of

THE ALHAMBRA towers and battlements, with no regularity of plan nor grace

and giving

of architecture,

promise of the grace and

little

beauty which prevail within.

In the time of the Moors the fortress was capable of containing within

outward precincts an army of forty thousand

its

men, and served occasionally as a stronghold

of the sovereigns

After the kingdom had

against their rebellious subjects.

passed into the hands of the Christians, the Alhambra continued to be a royal demesne, and was occasionally inhabited

by the Castilian monarchs.

menced a sumptuous from completing

last royal residents

The emperor

palace within

its

walls,

Charles

by repeated shocks of earthquakes.

were Philip

and

made

gardens were placed in a state of repair,

The

Great

The palace and and a new suite of

for their reception.

apartments erected, and decorated by Italy.

The

his beautiful queen,

Elizabetta of Parma, early in the eighteenth century.

preparations were

com-

but was deterred

artists

brought from

sojourn of the sovereigns was transient, and after

their departure the palace once

more became desolate. Still some military state. The

the place was maintained with

governor held

immediately from the crown,

extended down into the suburbs of the

city,

pendent of the captain-general of Granada. garrison was kept up

;

its

jurisdiction

and was inde-

considerable

the governor had his apartments in

the front of the old Moorish palace, and never descended into fact,

Granada without some military parade. The fortress, in was a little town of itself, having several streets of

houses within

its

walls, together with

a Franciscan convent

and a parochial church.

The

desertion of the court, however, was a fatal blow to

the Alhambra.

Its beautiful halls

[40]

became

desolate,

and some

(VCffi/^ntf

i/7\rtf)fc

TfZAC/t

GRANADA FROM THE GENKRALIFE

THE ALHAMBRA of

them

fell to

ruin

;

the gardens were destroyed, and the

fountains ceased to play.

who

degrees the dwellings became

with a loose and lawless population: contrabandistas,

filled

availed themselves of

its

independent jurisdiction to carry

on a wide and daring course of smuggling, and thieves and rogues of

all

sorts,

who made

their place

this

of refuge

whence they might depredate upon Granada and its vicinity. The strong arm of government at length interfered the whole community was thoroughly sifted none were suffered ;

;

remain but such as were of honest character, and had

legitimate right to a residence

;

the greater part of the houses

were demolished and a mere hamlet church and the convent.

left,

with the parochial

During the recent troubles

Spain, when Granada was in the hands of the French, the Alhambra was garrisoned by their troops, and the palace was occasionally inhabited by the French commander. With that

enlightened taste which has ever distinguished the French nation in their conquests, this

monument

Moorish elegance

and grandeur was rescued from the absolute ruin and desolation that

were overwhelming

The

it.

roofs were repaired,

the saloons and galleries protected from the weather, the

gardens cultivated, the watercourses restored, the fountains

once more made to throw up their sparkling showers

;

and

Spain may thank her invaders for having preserved to her the

most beautiful and interesting of her

monuments.

the departure of the French they blew up several

towers of the outer wall, and tenable.

post

historical

soldiers,

left

the fortifications scarcely

Since that time the military importance of the at

an end.

The

garrison

whose principal duty

a handful of invalid

guard some of the outer

towers, which serve occasionally as a prison of state

[42]

;

and the

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA governor, abandoning the lofty

hill

of the

Alhambra, resides

Granada, for the more convenient despatch

in the centre of

of his official duties.

Our was a

of course,

first object,

on the morning

time-honored edifice

visit to this

however, and so minutely described by

;

after our arrival,

has been so often,

travellers, that I shall

not undertake to give a comprehensive and elaborate account of

but merely occasional

it,

sketches

with

parts,

the

and associations connected with them. Leaving our posada, and traversing the renowned square

incidents

Moorish jousts and

of the Vivarrambla, once the scene of

tournaments,

now

we proceeded

a crowded market-place,

along the Zacati'n, the main street of what, in the time of the

Moors, was the Great Bazaar, and where small shops and

narrow alleys

open place

still

retain the Oriental character.

Crossing an

in front of the palace of the captain-general,

ascended a confined and winding

street,

the

name

reminded us of the chivalric days of Granada.

which

called

the Calle, or street of the Gomeres, from a Moorish family

famous tecture,

chronicle and song.

This

street led

the

las

Granadas, a massive gateway of Grecian archi-

built

by Charles V, forming the entrance to the

Puerta de

domains of the Alhambra.

the gate were two or three ragged superannuated sol-

diers,

dozing on a stone bench, the successors of the Zegris

and the Abencerrages rusty-brown

ragged

cloak was

state of

;

while a

tall,

meagre

evidently intended

his nether garments,

varlet,

whose

conceal

was lounging

the

in the

sunshine and gossiping with an ancient sentinel on duty.

He to

joined us as

show us the

we entered

the gate, and offered his services

fortress.

[43]

THE ALHAMBRA have a

and did not

traveller's dislike to officious ciceroni,

altogether like the garb of the applicant. "

You

Ninguno mas; pncs,

scTior,

better

sir, I

are well acquainted with the place,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; (Nobody

;

in fact,

The common Spaniards have "

of expressing themselves.

appellation caught

once

new acquaintance assumed

soy

Jiijo

presume

" ?

de la Alhambra.''

Alhambra !) certainly a most poetic way son of the Alhambra " the

;

a son of the

the very tattered garb of

was

a dignity in

eyes.

emblematic of the fortunes of the place, and befitted the

progeny of a

title

ruin.

put some further questions to him, and found that his

was legitimate. His family had lived

in the fortress

from

generation to generation ever since the time of the Conquest. "

His name was Mateo Ximenes.

Then, perhaps,"

said

you may be a descendant from the great Cardinal Ximenes

Dios sabc

Christians.

but

God knows,

seiior

family in the Alhambra,

oldest

forget

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

may be

so.

CJiristiaiios

" }

are the

viejos,

old

know we belong to some great family or other, whom. My father knows all about it he has the

;

coat-of-arms hanging up in his cottage, up in the fortress."

There to

not any Spaniard, however poor, but has

high pedigree.

ever,

The

first title

had completely captivated me, so

services of the " son of the

now found

some claim

of this ragged worthy, howI

gladly accepted the

Alhambra."

ourselves in a deep, narrow ravine,

filled

with beautiful groves, with a steep avenue, and various foot-

paths winding through

bordered with stone

it,

ornamented with fountains. To our of the

Alhambra

left

beetling above us

opposite side of the ravine,

;

we were

[44]

we beheld to

seats,

and

the towers

our right, on the

equally dominated by

PALACE OF THE A LH AM BRA rival

These, we were

towers on a rocky eminence.

told,

were

the torrcs bcrmcjas, or vermilion towers, so called from their

ruddy hue.

much been

Alhambra

anterior to the

built

They are of a date some suppose them to have others, by some wandering colony

one knows their

Romans

by the

;

origin.

Ascending the steep and shady avenue, we the foot of a huge square Moorish tower, forming

of Phoenicians.

arrived at

a kind of barbican, through

which passed the main entrance

Within the barbican was another group

to the fortress.

veteran invalids, one mounting guard at the portal, while the rest,

wrapped

benches.

their tattered cloaks,

This portal

tribunal held within for the

immediate

called the

its

of petty causes

trial

///

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a custom common

and occasionally alluded

Judges and

and they

all thy ^trtcs,

from the

Justice,

porch during the Moslem domination,

to the Oriental nations,

sacred Scriptures.

on the stone

slept

Gate of

to in the

thou make thee

officers shalt

judge the people with just

shall

judgment."

The

great vestibule, or porch of the gate,

immense Arabian

formed by an

arch, of the horseshoe form,

which springs

to half the height of the tower. is

engraven a gigantic hand.

keystone of the portal, key.

the keystone of this arch

Within the

vestibule,

on the

sculptured, in like manner, a gigantic

some knowledge of Mohammedan is the emblem of doctrine, the designating the five principal commandments of

Those who pretend

symbols affirm that the hand five fingers

the creed of Islam, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving, ablution,

and war against of the faith or of

infidels.

power

mitted to the prophet. will I lay

upon

;

The

key, say they,

the

emblem

the key of Daoud, or David, trans-

And

his shoulder

;

the key of the house of David

so he shall open and none shall

[45]

THE ALHAMBRA shut,

and he

The key we

and none

shall shut

shall

open." (Isaiah

xxii, 22.)

are told was emblazoned on the standard of the

Moslems in opposition to the Christian emblem of the cross, when they subdued Spain or Andalusia. It betokened the conquering power invested in the prophet. ""He that hath and the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth shutteth and no man openeth," (Rev, iii, 7.) ;

different explanation of these

emblems, however, was

given by the legitimate son of the Alhambra, and one more in unison with the notions of the

common

something of mystery and magic

to everything

have

all

people,

who

attach

Moorish, and

Moslem handed down

kinds of superstitions connected with this old

fortress.

According

Mateo,

was a

tradition

from the oldest inhabitants, and which he had from

his father

and grandfather, that the hand and key were magical devices on which the fate of the Alhambra depended. The Moorish king who

built

had sold himself under a magic

was a great magician, to the devil,

spell.

this

or, as

some

believed,

and had

laid the

means

had remained standing

whole fortress

and earthquakes, while Moors had fallen to ruin and almost disappeared. This spell, the tradition went on to say, would last until the hand on the outer arch should reach down and grasp the key, when the whole pile would tumble to pieces, and all the treasures buried beneath it by the Moors would for several years, in defiance of storms all

other buildings of the

be revealed.

After passing through the barbican, we ascended a narrow lane,

winding between

walls,

and came on an open esplanade

within the fortress, called the Plaza de los Aljibes, or Place of the Cisterns,

from great reservoirs which undermine

cut in the living rock by the

Moors [46]

to receive the

it,

water brought

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA by conduits from the Darro, for the supply of the fortress.

Here,

a well of

also, is

and coldest of water, taste of the

immense depth, furnishing the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; another

element in

its

of the delicate

crystal purity.

In front of this esplanade

by Charles V, and intended,

for the winter season

said, to eclipse the residence

of the Oriental edifice intended to

make way

for this

entrance was blocked up, so that

the present entrance to the Moorish palace

and almost humble

commenced

the splendid pile

was demolished

The grand

pile.

it is

Much

of the Moorish kings.

ple

purest

Moors, who were indefatigable in their exertions

to obtain that

massive

monument

With

portal in a corner.

through a simall

the massive

grandeur and architectural merit of the palace of Charles V,

we regarded

an arrogant intruder, and, passing by

Moslem

a feeling almost of scorn, rang at the

with

portal.

While waiting for admittance, our self-imposed cicerone, Mateo Ximenes, informed us that the royal palace was entrusted to the care of a worthy old maiden

dame

called

Uoiia Antonia-Molina, but who, according to Spanish custom, went by the more neighborly appellation of Tia Antonia

(Aunt Antonia), who maintained the Moorish

halls

While we

gardens in order and showed them to strangers.

were talking, the door was opened by a plump eyed Andalusian damsel,

whom Mateo

and

little

black-

addressed as Dolores,

but who, from her bright looks and cheerful disposition, evidently merited a merrier name.

Mateo informed me

whisper that she was the niece of Tia Antonia, and she was the good fairy

enchanted palace.

who was

in a

found

conduct us through the

Under her guidance we crossed

old, and were at once transported, as

the thresh-

by magic wand, into

other times and an Oriental realm, and were treading the

[47]

THE ALHAMBRA scenes of Arabian story.

Nothing could be

in greater con-

trast

than the unpromising exterior of the pile with the scene

now

before us.

one hundred and feet in breadth,

found ourselves

in a \2LSt patio, or court,

length,

fifty feet in

and upwards of eighty

paved with white marble, and decorated

each end with light Moorish peristyles, one of which supported an elegant gallery of fretted architecture.

Along the

mouldings of the cornices and on various parts of the walls were escutcheons and ciphers, and ters in

high

relief,

and Arabic charac-

cufic

repeating the pious mottoes of the

Moslem

monarchs, the builders of the Alhambra, or extolling their

Along the

grandeur and munificence.

extended an immense basin or tank

and twenty-four in depth,

five

Hence

it is

and

receiving

its

and

water from two marble vases.

called the Court of the Alberca (from al bccrkah,

to be seen it

a hundred

feet in length, twenty-seven in breadth,

the Arabic for a pond or tank).

were

centre of the court

{cstanqiie),

Great numbers of gold-fish

gleaming through the waters of the basin,

was bordered by hedges of

roses.

Passing from the Court of the Alberca under a Moorish archway,

we entered

of the edifice gives a

than

this, for

the renowned Court of Lions. No part more complete idea of its original beauty

none has suffered so

little

from the ravages of

time.

In the centre stands the fountain famous in song

story.

The

alabaster basins

still

an(;J

shed their diamond drops

the twelve lions which support them, and give the court

name,

The

still

cast forth crystal streams as in the days of Boabdil.

lions,

however, are unworthy of their fame, being of mis-

erable sculpture, the

The

;

its

court

is laid

work probably of some Christian

out in flower-beds, instead of

appropriate pavement of

tiles

or marble

[48]

;

its

captive.

ancient and

the alteration, an

limf

"X/ \lii

'k^n

"^^

THE COURT OF LIONS

THE ALHAMBRA made by the French when in posGranada. Round the four sides of the court are

instance of bad taste, was session of

Hght Arabian arcades of open

filigree

slender pillars of white marble, which

The

originally gilded.

supposed were

most parts

characterized by elegance

bespeaking a delicate and graceful

grandeur,

rather than

architecture, like that in

of the interior of the palace,

taste,

work, supported by it

and a disposition

to indolent enjoyment.

When

one

looks upon the fairy traces of the peristyles, and the apparently fragile fretwork of the walls,

that so

much

difficult to believe

has survived the wear and tear of centuries,

the shocks of earthquakes, the violence of war, and the quiet,

though no it

the whole

less baneful, pilferings of the tasteful traveller

almost sufficient to excuse the popular tradition that is

protected by a magic charm.

one side of the court a rich portal opens into the Hall

of the Abencerrages

so called from the gallant cavaliers of

who were here perfidiously massacred. some who doubt the whole story, but our humble

that illustrious line

There are cicerone

Mateo pointed out the very wicket

of the portal

through which they were introduced one by one into the Court of Lions, and the white marble fountain in the centre

which they were beheaded.

of the hall beside also certain broad

He showed

ruddy stains on the pavement, traces of

their blood, which, according to popular belief, can never

be effaced.

Finding we listened to him apparently with easy

faith,

added, that there was often heard at night, in the Court of Lions, a low confused sound, resembling the a multitude, and

now and then

tant clank of chains.

murmuring

a faint tinkling, like the dis-

These sounds were made by the [50]

spirits

PALACE OF THE AL HAM BRA of the

murdered Abencerrages

who

;

nightly haunt the scene

and invoke the vengeance of Heaven on

of their suffering their destroyer.

The sounds

in question

had no doubt been produced, as

had afterwards an opportunity of ascertaining, by the bubbhng currents and tinkling falls of water conducted under the pave-

ment through pipes and channels but

was too considerate

to supply the fountains

to intimate

;

such an idea to the

humble chronicler of the Alhambra. Encouraged by

my easy credulity, Mateo

ing as an undoubted

fact,

There was once an

Alhambra

show

gave

which he had from

invalid soldier, to strangers

;

me the follow-

his grandfather

who had charge

as he

of the

was one evening,

about twilight, passing through the Court of Lions, he heard footsteps

on the Hall of the Abencerrages

;

supposing some

strangers to be lingering there, he advanced to attend

upon

them, when to his astonishment he beheld four Moors richly dressed, with gilded cuirasses

and cimeters, and poniards

tering with precious stones.

They were walking

with solemn pace

;

and

but paused and beckoned to him.

glit-

fro,

The

old soldier, however, took to flight, and could never after-

wards be prevailed upon to enter the Alhambra. that

men sometimes

Thus it is upon fortune for it is the Moors intended to reveal

turn their backs

the firm opinion of Mateo, that

;

A successor to

the place where their treasures lay buried. invalid soldier

poor

;

was more knowing

;

the

he came to the Alhambra

but at the end of a year went off to Malaga, bought

houses, set up a carriage, and richest as well as oldest

men

still

lives there,

of the place

;

all

one of the

which, Mateo

sagely surmised, was in consequence of his finding out the

golden secret of these phantom Moors.

[5x]

THE ALHAMBRA now perceived

this

had made an invaluable acquaintance

son of the Alhambra, one

and firmly believed

history of the place,

memory was

who knew

and whose

it,

knowledge for which

stuffed with a kind of

have a lurking fancy, but which

the apocryphal

all

too apt to be considered

rubbish by less indulgent philosophers.

determined to

cultivate the acquaintance of this learned Theban,

Immediately opposite the Hall of the Abencerrages, a portal,

richly adorned, leads into a hall of less tragical associations. is

light

and

lofty, exquisitely

graceful in

its

architecture,

paved with white marble, and bears the suggestive name of the Hall of the

Two

Sisters.

each side of this hall are recesses or alcoves for

mans and couches, on which the voluptuous lords Alhambra indulged in that dreamy repose so dear Orientalists.

to the

cupola or lantern admits a tempered light

from above and a free circulation of is

otto-

of the

air

;

while on one side

heard the refreshing sound of waters from the Fountain

of the Lions,

and on the other side the

soft plash

from the

basin in the garden of Lindaraxa.

abundant supply of water, brought from the mountains

by old Moorish aqueducts, circulates throughout the palace, supplying halls or

When

its

baths and fish-pools, sparkling in jets within

murmuring has paid

in channels along the

its

tribute to the royal pile,

gardens and parterres, to the city, tinkling in

flows

down

and

visited

its

the long avenue leading

gushing in fountains, and main-

rills,

taining a perpetual verdure in those groves that

and beautify the whole

its

marble pavements.

hill

embower

of the Alhambra.

Those only who have sojourned

in the

ardent climates of

the South can appreciate the delights of an abode combining

[53]

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA the breezy coolness of the mountain with the freshness and

verdure of the valley.

While the

city

below pants with the

noontide heat, and the parched vega trembles to the eye, the delicate airs

from the Sierra Nevada play through these

lofty

bringing with them the sweetness of the surrounding

halls,

gardens.

Everything

invites

that

indolent repose,

the

and while the half-shut eye looks out from shaded balconies upon the glittering landscape, the bliss of

ear

southern climes

lulled

;

murmur

by the rustling of groves and the

running streams. I

forbear for the present, however, to describe the other

delightful apartments of the palace.

object

merely to

give the reader a general introduction into an abode where, if

so disposed, he

until

may

linger

we gradually become

and

loiter

familiar with

\S?>

with

day by day

all its localities.

ÂŤC'/?/>f/i/v irrifu^e

/9{Aif

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE AUTHOR SUCCEEDS TO THE THRONE OF BOABDIL V

^HE

day was nearly spent before we could tear ourself

from

this region of poetry

and romance

descend

the city and return to the forlorn realities of a Spanish

posada.

hambra,

In a to

visit of

whom we

ceremony

to the

had brought

Governor of the Al-

letters,

we dwelt with

en-

thusiasm on the scenes we had witnessed, and could not but express surprise that he should reside in the city

had such a paradise

at his

command. He pleaded

venience of a residence in the palace from the crest of a

hill,

distant

" But,

sefiors,"

them from

added he, smiling,

think a residence there so desirable,

Alhambra

did very well for monarchs,

often had need of castle walls to defend subjects.

situation

from the seat of business and the

resorts of social intercourse.

who own

its

when he

the incon-

are at your service."

[54]

their

you

apartments in the

IMPORTANT It is

common and

ness in a Spaniard, to es sieniprc

tell

you his house

of your Grace."

which you admire,

almost indispensable point of

a la dtsposicion dc Vin''

command

at the

N E C; O T I A T I O N

—

yours.

This house fact,

polite-

Esta casa always

anything of his

immediately offered to you.

It is

equally

mark of good breeding in you not to accept it so we merely bowed our acknowledgments of the courtesy of the Governor a

;

in offering us a royal palace.

The Governor was

in earnest.

were mistaken, however.

You

will find a

of empty, unfurnished rooms," said he;

rambling set

"but Tia Antonia,

who has charge of the palace, may be able to put them in some kind of order, and to take care of you while you are there. If you can make any arrangement with her for your accommodation, and are content with scanty fare

King Chico

abode, the palace of

Justice, to negotiate with this

in a royal

your service."

took the Governor at his word, and hastened up the

steep Calle de los Gomeres,

and through the Great Gate of

Dame

Antonia,

were not a dream, and fearing

— doubting

times

at times that the sage

Duena of the fortress might be slow to capitulate. We knew we had one friend at least in the garrison who would be in our favor, the bright-eyed

we had

little

propitiated on our

Dolores, whose good graces

first

visit,

and who hailed our

return to the palace with her brightest looks. All, however,

little

furniture

went smoothly.

The good Tia Antonia had

put in the rooms, but

was of the

commonest kind. We assured her we could bivouac on the floor. She could supply our table, but only in her own simple way we wanted nothing better. Her niece, Dolores, would wait upon us and at the word we threw up our hats ;

—

;

and the bargain was complete.

[55]

THE ALHAMBRA The

very next day

we took up our abode

in the palace,

never did sovereigns share a divided throne with fect

Several days passed by like a dream,

harmony.

worthy associate, being

was compelled shadowy realm.

duties,

of this

summoned

and per-

when my

Madrid on diplomatic

to abdicate, leaving

For myself, being

me in a

sole monarch manner a hap-

hazard loiterer about the world, and prone to linger in pleasant places, here have

been suffering day by day

away unheeded, spellbound, chanted

know,

to steal

in this old en-

Having always a companionable feeling for my to live with him on confidential terms, make it a point to communicate to him my reveries pile.

and being prone

reader, I

for aught

its

shall

and researches during

this state of delicious thraldom.

they have the power of imparting to his imagination any of the witching

charms of the

lingering with

place,

for a season in the

will

not repine at

legendary halls of

the Alhambra.

And

first it is

arrangements

proper to give him some idea of

;

pant of a regal palace

;

but

empty chambers,

upon the great esplanade Place of the Cisterns) opposite to

royal predecessors.

;

in front of the palace, looking out

called la Plaza de los Aljibes (the

the apartment

modern, but the end

sleeping-room communicates with a cluster of

chambers, partly Moorish, partly Spanish, allotted to the

cJidtelainc

Dona Antonia and

her family.

of keeping the palace in order, the all

less liable to

quarters are at one end of the Governor's apartment,

a suite of

little

trust they will

disastrous reverses than those of

my domestic

they are rather of a simple kind for the occu-

In consideration

good dame

the perquisites received from visitors, and

of the gardens,

excepting that she

[S6]

all

allowed

the produce

expected to pay an

''"1

!lffl|[|^ttllli|li 1^

^'V^.T,

,CfoA/f*.f* >/i\etNO- jfiii^CM.

THE LION FOUNTAIN-COURT OF LIONS

THE ALHAMBRA occasional tribute of fruits and flowers to the Governor.

Her

nephew and

two

family consists of a different brothers.

man

niece, the children of

The nephew, Manuel and Spanish

of sterling worth

army, both in Spain and the

in the

Molina,

gravity.

West

young

had served

Indies, but

now

studying medicine in the hope of one day or other becoming physician to the fortress, a post worth at least one hundred

and

The

forty dollars a year.

niece

the

eyed Dolores already mentioned, and who,

day inherit

all

plump it is

little

black-

said, will

one

her aunt's possessions, consisting of certain

somewhat ruinous conMateo nearly one hundred and fifty

petty tenements in the fortress, in a dition

it is

true, but which,

Ximenes, yield a revenue of dollars

so that she

;

privately assured by

quite an heiress in the eyes of the

ragged son of the Alhambra.

also informed

by the same

observant and authentic personage, that a quiet courtship

going on between the discreet Manuel and his bright-eyed

and that nothing

cousin, their

wanting to enable them to join

hands and expectations but

his doctor's diploma,

and a

dispensation from the Pope on account of their consanguinity.

The good dame Antonia

my board and

fulfils

faithfully her contract in

I am easily pleased I my fare excellent while the merry-hearted little Dolores keeps my apartment in order, and officiates as handmaid at meal-times. I have also at my command a tall, stuttering,

regard to find

lodging, and as

;

yellow-haired lad,

and would stalled

fain

named Pepe, who works

have acted as

valet,

in the gardens,

but in this he was fore-

by Mateo Ximenes, the "son of the Alhambra."

alert

and

stick

officious

This

wight has managed, somehow or other, to

ever since

first

encountered him at the outer

gate of the fortress, and to weave himself into

[58]

all

plans,

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS until

he has

fairly

been obliged

may

and historiographic

improve the

squire,

and

valet,

have

state of his wardrobe, that

not disgrace his various functions

his old

appointed and installed himself

cicerone, guide, guard,

so that he has cast

;

brown mantle, as a snake does

and now

his skin,

appears about the fortress with a smart Andalusian hat and jacket, to his infinite satisfaction,

of his comrades.

The

anxiety to be useful.

employ, and that

the threshold of the palace, to

attending

;

welfare. I

among

stroll

would be more apt

of the place self

and

if I

insists

ven-

upon

vehemently suspect he After

all,

however,

an amusing companion

at times

;

good humor, with the loquacity barber, and knows all the small-talk

infinite

village its

;

to trust to the length of his legs than the

simple-minded and of

and gossip of a

see

hills,

strength of his arms, in case of attack.

the poor fellow

am in a manmy foot over

about the fortress, but

the surrounding

as a guard, though

cannot put

elbow, to explain everything

ture to ramble

an over-

ends to devise modes

at his wit's

making himself important

is at

simple and quiet habits render his

ner the victim of his ofiiciousness

Mateo

Conscious of having foisted himself into

situation a sinecure,

and the great astonishment

chief fault of honest

environs

;

but what he chiefly values him-

his stock of local information,

having the most

marvellous stories to relate of every tower, and vault, and

gateway of the

fortress, in all of

which he places the most

implicit faith.

Most from

own account, who lived to during which he made but

of these he has derived, according to his

his grandfather, a little

legendary

the age of nearly a hundred years,

two migrations beyond the precincts of the

[59]

tailor,

fortress.

His shop,

THE ALHAMBRA was the resort of a knot of venerable gossips, where they would pass half the night talkfor the greater part of a century,

ing about old times, and the wonderful events and hidden

The whole

secrets of the place.

and acting of

by the walls of the Alhambra

them he

within

living,

this historical little tailor

within them he had been born,

;

breathed, and had his being

lived,

them he died and was

moving, thinking,

had thus been bounded

buried.

;

within

Fortunately for posterity his

ditionary lore died not with him.

The

tra-

when

authentic Mateo,

an urchin, used

his grandfather,

and of the gossiping group assembled round

be an attentive listener to the narratives of

the shopboard, and

thus possessed of a stock of valuable

knowledge concerning the Alhambra, not to be found

and well worthy the attention of every curious

in books,

traveller.

Such are the personages that constitute my regal household and I question whether any of the potentates, Moslem ;

or Christian,

who have preceded me

waited upon with greater .

When

I rise

in the

the gardens, brings

fidelity,

in the palace,

morning, Pepe, the stuttering lad from

a tribute of fresh-culled flowers, which

are afterwards arranged in vases by the skilful

hand of Dolores,

who

takes a feminine pride in the decoration of

meals are

made wherever

one of the Moorish

have been

or enjoyed a serener sway.

halls,

caprice dictates

;

my chambers. sometimes

sometimes under the arcades of the

Court of Lions, surrounded by flowers and fountains

when

walk out

;

and

conducted by the assiduous Mateo to

the most romantic retreats of the mountains, and delicious

haunts of the adjacent valleys, not one of which but scene of some wonderful

Though fond yet

the

tale.

of passing the greater part of

occasionally repair in the evenings to the

[60]

day alone,

little

domestic

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS This

Doiia Antonia.

circle of

generally held in an old Moorish chamber, which serves the good dame for parlor, kitchen, and hall of audience, and which must have boasted

some splendor

in the

time of the Moors,

from the traces yet remaining

made

modern times

we may judge

but a rude fireplace has been

;

one corner, the smoke from which

has discolored the walls and almost obliterated the ancient

arabesques.

window, with a balcony overhanging the

valley of the Darro,

here

take

lets

the cool evening breeze

and and milk, and mingle

frugal supper of fruit

There

with the conversation of the family. or mother-wit, as

;

a natural talent

about the Spaniards, which

called,

renders them intellectual and agreeable companions, what-

may be their condition in life, may have been their education add

or however imperfect

ever

;

vulgar

to this, they are never

nature has endowed them with an inherent dignity

;

The good Tia Antonia

of spirit. intelligent,

though uncultivated mind

woman ;

of strong and

and the bright-eyed

Dolores, though she has read but three or four books in the

whole course of her

life, has an engaging mixture of naivete and good sense, and often surprises me by the pungency of

her artless

sallies.

Sometimes the nephew entertains us by

reading some old comedy of Calderon or Lope de Vega, to

which he well as

evidently prompted by a desire to improve as

amuse

tification, first

act

levee of

the

his cousin little

Dolores

;

though, to his great mor-

damsel generally

falls

asleep before the

Sometimes Tia Antonia has a little humble friends and dependants, the inhabitants of

completed.

the adjacent hamlet, or the wives of the invalid soldiers.

These look up

to her with great deference, as the custodian

of the palace,

and pay

their court to her by bringing the

[6i]

THE ALHAMBRA news

rumors that may have straggled up

of the place, or the

from Granada.

In listening to these evening gossipings

have picked up many curious facts

and the

of the people

peculiarities of the neighborhood.

These are simple

details

of simple pleasures

them

nature of the place alone that gives portance.

and

tread haunted ground,

manners

illustrative of the

romantic associations.

banks of the Hudson,

From

earliest

first

interest

the

;

and im-

surrounded by

boyhood, when, on the

pored over the pages of old

Gines Perez de Hita's apocryphal but chivalresque history of the

civil

liers,

wars of Granada, and the feuds of

my waking

a subject of

dreams

a day-dream realized believe that

loiter

mur

gallant cava-

and often have

;

fancy the romantic halls of the Alhambra.

look

its

the Zegris and Abencerrages, that city has ever been

;

yet

can scarce credit

trod in

Behold for once

senses, or

do indeed inhabit the palace of Boabdil, and

down from

its

balconies

upon

chivalric Granada.

through these Oriental chambers, and hear the murof fountains

and the song of the nightingale

;

in-

hale the odor of the rose, and feel the influence ÂŠf the balmy climate,

almost tempted to fancy myself in the paradise

Mahomet, and

that the

plump

little

Dolores

one of the

bright-eyed houries, destined to administer to the happiness of true believers.

[62]

INHABITANTS OF THE ALHAMBRA

HAVE

often observed that the

has been tenanted bler are

its

in the

day of

more proudly a mansion its prosperity, the hum-

inhabitants in the day of

the palace of a king

commonly ends

its

decline,

and

that

being the nestling-

place of the beggar.

The Alhambra is in a rapid state of similar transition. Whenever a tower falls to decay, it is seized upon by some tatterdemalion family, who become joint-tenants, with the bats

and

owls, of

its

gilded halls

standards of poverty, out of I

its

;

and hang

their rags, those

windows and loopholes.

have amused myself with remarking some of the motley

characters that have thus usurped the ancient abode of royalty,

and who seem as to the

drama

placed here to give a farcical termination

human

mockery of a regal

title.

pride. It is

One

of these even bears the

little

old

[63]

woman named Maria

THE ALHAMBRA Antonia Sabonea, but who goes by the appellation of

She

Coquina, or the Cockle-queen. fairy

and a

;

fairy

no one seems

she

may be

know her

under the outer

of closet

Her

for

till

having,

Her

great merit

verily believe, as

many

Some

Nights.

of these

kind sits

one that passes

one of the merriest

;

little

a gift for story-telling,

command as Thousand and One

stories at her

the inexhaustible Scheherazade of the

ning tcrtidias of

in a

and singing from

night, with a ready joke for every

breathing.

and she

staircase of the palace,

though one of the poorest, she

women

can find out, for

habitation

in the cool stone corridor, plying her needle

morning

Reina

small enough to be a

for aught

origin.

have heard her relate in the eve-

Dame Antonia,

which she

occasionally

a humble attendant.

That there must be some little

fairy gift about this mysterious

woman, would appear from her extraordinary

old

since, notwithstanding her

being very

little,

very poor, she has had, according to her

husbands and a goon, little

who fairy

half,

own

account, five

reckoning as a half one a young dra-

died during courtship.

queen

luck,

very ugly, and

rival

personage to this

a portly old fellow with a bottle-nose,

who

goes about in a rusty garb, with a cocked hat of oilskin and a red cockade.

one of the legitimate sons of the Al-

hambra, and has lived here

all

his

life, filling

various offices,

such as deputy algnazil, sexton of the parochial church, and

marker towers.

of a fives-court, established at the foot of

as poor as a

rat,

but as proud as he

one of the is

ragged,

boasting of his descent from the illustrious house of Aguilar,

from which sprang Gonzalvo of Cordova, the grand captain. Nay, he actually bears the name of Alonzo de Aguilar, so

renowned

in the history of the

Conquest.

[64]

It is

a whimsical

INHABITANTS OF THE ALHAMBRA caprice of fortune to present, in the grotesque person of this

tatterdemahon, a namesake and descendant of the proud

Alonzo de Aguilar, the mirror of Andalusian chivalry, leading an almost mendicant existence about this once haughty fortress,

which

have been the

his ancestor aided to reduce lot of

the descendants of

yet such might

;

Agamemnon and

Achilles, had they lingered about the ruins of

this

motley community,

Mateo Ximenes,

siping squire, at least,

the

to form,

gos-

from their numbers

His boast of being a son of

a very important part.

Alhambra

Troy

find the family of

His family has inhabited

not unfounded.

the fortress ever since the time of the Conquest, handing

down an hereditary poverty from father to son not one of them having ever been known to be worth a viaravcdi. His father, by trade a ribbon-weaver, and who succeeded the historical tailor as the head of the family, is now near seventy ;

years of age, and lives in a hovel of reeds and plaster, built

The

by his own hands, just above the iron gate. consists of a crazy bed, a table,

wooden

;

chest, containing, besides his scanty clothing, the

"archives of the family."

These

than the papers of various generations

;

by which

are nothing

more nor

Most

less

lawsuits sustained by different

would seem

that,

with

apparent carelessness and good humor, they are a brood.

furniture

and two or three chairs

all

their

litigious

of the suits have been brought against gossip-

ing neighbors for questioning the purity of their blood, and

denying their being Cristianos viejos without Jewish or Moorish this jealousy

purse zils.

;

i.e.

fact,

old

Christians,

doubt whether

about their blood has not kept them so poor in

spending

The

taint.

all

on escnbanos and algnaan escutcheon suspended

their earnings

pride of the hovel

[65]

THE ALHAMBRA against the wall, in which are emblazoned quarterings of the

arms

and of various other noble

of the Marquis of Caiesedo,

houses, with which this poverty-stricken brood claim affinity.

As age,

Mateo himself, who he has done his utmost to

now about

thirty-five years of

to perpetuate his line and con-

tinue the poverty of the family, having a wife and a numer-

who

ous progeny,

How

hamlet. all

mysteries can

the kind

what

inhabit an almost dismantled hovel in the

they

manage

tell

to subsist,

only

who

sees into

the subsistence of a Spanish family of

;

always a riddle to

yet they do subsist, and,

;

The

more, appear to enjoy their existence.

wife takes

on the Paseo of Granada, with a child in her arms and half a dozen at her heels and the eldest daughter, her holiday

stroll

;

now verging

into

and dances gayly

There are two

womanhood, dresses her

hair with flowers,

to the castanets.

classes of people to

whom

life

long holiday, the very rich and the very poor they need do nothing to

;

seems one

one, because

the other, because they have nothing

but there are none

;

who understand

the art of doing

nothing and living upon nothing, better than the poor classes of Spain.

Climate does one

Give a Spaniard the shade a

bread, garlic,

little

and a

guitar,

poverty

and

let

with him

oil,

half,

and temperament the

summer and

and garbanzos, an old brown cloak

the world

roll

on as

has no disgrace.

a grandiose style, like his ragged cloak.

when in rags. The " sons

of the

Alhambra

of this practical philosophy. celestial paradise

hung over

at times to fancy that a

rest.

the sun in winter,

" are

It sits

Talk of upon him with

a hidalgo, even

pleases.

an eminent

illustration

the Moors imagined that the

this favored spot, so

gleam of the golden age

[66]

am still

inclined lingers

INHABITANTS OF THE ALHAMBRA They

about this ragged community.

idle all the

saints'

fetes

week, they are as observant of

days as the most laborious artisan.

and dancings

on the

possess nothing, they

Yet, though apparently

do nothing, they care for nothing.

hills

St.

Granada and

all

holy days and

They

its vicinity,

attend

all

light bonfires

John's eve, and dance away the moonlight

nights on the harvest-home of a small field within the precincts

which yield a few bushels of wheat.

of the fortress,

Before concluding these remarks,

must mention one of

the amusements of the place, which has particularly struck

me.

had repeatedly observed a long lean fellow perched

on the top of one of the towers, manoeuvring two or three though he were angling for the

fishing-rods, as

for

some time perplexed by the

erman, and

stars.

was

evolutions of this aerial fish-

perplexity increased on observing others em-

ployed in like manner on different parts of the battlements

and bastions

;

was not

until I consulted

Mateo Ximenes

that I solved the mystery. It

seems that the pure and

has rendered

it,

airy situation of this fortress

like the castle of

Macbeth, a

place for swallows and martlets,

who

prolific

sport about

breedingits

towers

in myriads, with the holiday glee of urchins just let loose

from school.

entrap these birds in their giddy circlings,

with hooks baited with

ments of the ragged

flies,

one of the favorite amuse-

" sons of the

Alhambra," who, with the

good-for-nothing ingenuity of arrant idlers, have thus invented the art of angling in the sky.

[67]

â&#x20AC;˘*^':-:

THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS N ONE

visits to

the old Moorish chamber where

the good Tia Antonia cooks her dinner and receives her

company,

observed a mysterious door in one corner,

leading apparently into the ancient part of the edifice. curiosity being aroused,

opened

it,

and found myself

narrow, blind corridor, groping along which

head of a dark winding the

Tower

Comares.

staircase, leading

Down

came

to the

down an angle

this staircase

darkling, guiding myself by the wall until

My in a

door at the bottom, throwing which open,

came I

descended

to a small

was suddenly

dazzled by emerging into the brilliant antechamber of the

Hall of Ambassadors

;

with the fountain of the Court of the

Alberca sparkling before me.

The antechamber

from the court by an elegant

gallery,

[68]

separated

supported by slender

THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS columns with spandrels of open work

in the Morisco style. antechamber are alcoves, and its ceiling stuccoed and painted. Passing through a magnifi-

At each end is

richly

cent portal,

of the

found myself

in the far-famed Hall of Ambaschamber of the Moslem monarchs. It be thirty-seven feet square and sixty feet high I

sadors, the audience is

said to

;

occupies the whole interior of the still

stuccoed and

;

decorated with

Comares

The

bears the traces of past magnificence.

beautifully

ness

Tower

;

and

walls are

Morisco fanciful-

the lofty ceiling was originally of the

material, with the usual frostwork stalactites

;

same favorite and pensile ornaments or

which, with the embellishments of vivid color-

ing and gilding, must have been gorgeous in the extreme.

gave way during an earthquake, and brought

Unfortunately,

down with

an immense arch which traversed the

hall.

was replaced by the present vault or dome of larch or

cedar,

with intersecting

and

ribs,

the whole curiously wrought

richly colored still Oriental in its character, reminding one of " those ceilings of cedar and vermilion that we read ;

of in the Prophets

and the Arabian Nights."

P'rom the great height of the vault above the windows, the

upper part of the

hall is almost lost in obscurity

;

yet there

a magnificence as well as solemnity in the gloom, as through it

we have gleams

Moorish

The

royal

a recess,

Vusef

seems

and the

brilliant tints of the

throne was placed opposite the entrance in

which (the

this the

of rich gilding

pencil.

still

bears an

Everything

throne of his empire.

inscription

intimating that

monarch who completed the Alhambra) made in this noble hall

have been calculated to surround the throne with im-

pressive dignity

and splendor

;

there was none of the elegant

[69]

THE ALHAMBRA voluptuousness which reigns in other parts of the palace.

The tower

of massive strength, domineering over the whole

and overhanging the steep

edifice

hillside.

three sides

Ambassadors are windows cut through the immense thickness of the walls and commanding extensive

of the Hall of

The balcony of the central window especially down upon the verdant valley of the DarrÂŠ, with its

prospects.

looks walks,

its

groves, and gardens.

tant prospect of the rival

the

left

enjoys a dis-

while directly in front rises the

;

its medley of streets, and and gardens, and once crowned by a fortress that power with the Alhambra. "Ill fated the man who

height of the Albaici'n, with

terraces,

vied in

lost all this

this

Vega

" !

exclaimed Charles V, as he looked forth from

window upon the enchanting scenery it commands. balcony of the window where this royal exclamation

The

was made, has of

late

become one

favorite resorts.

have just been seated there, enjoying the close of a long liant day.

The

sun, as he sank behind the purple mountains

Alhama, sent a stream of effulgence up the

Darro, that spread a melancholy of the

bril-

Alhambra

;

pomp

valley of the

over the ruddy towers

while the Vega, covered with a slight sultry

vapor that caught the setting distance like a golden sea. stillness of the hour,

ray,

seemed spread out

Not a breath

and though the

faint

in the

of air disturbed the

sound of music and

merriment now and then rose from the gardens of the Darro, it

but rendered more impressive the monumental silence of the

pile

which overshadowed me.

scenes in which like the

was one of those hours and

memory asserts an almost magical power

;

and,

evening sun beaming on these mouldering towers,

sends back her retrospective rays to light up the glories of the past.

[70]

^,^'I

-''

•

)

J V

•

AN k,A.

>^.;.\

II .

.^K;,i.sim)fffmM:i

•

"i^^/vetf- j5^^*»:

TOWER OF COMARES AND COURT OF MYRTLES

THE ALHAMBRA As

sat

watching the

Moorish

this

pile,

effect of the

was led

decHning dayhght upon

into a consideration of the light,

and voluptuous character prevalent throughout

elegant,

and

internal architecture,

to contrast

its

with the grand but

gloomy solemnity

of the Gothic edifices reared by the Spanish

The

very architecture thus bespeaks the oppo-

conquerors. site

and irreconcilable natures of the two warlike people who

so long battled here for the mastery of the Peninsula.

musing upon the singular

for-

degrees

fell into

a course of

tunes of the Arabian or Morisco-Spaniards, whose whole exist-

ence

as a tale that

is told,

and

certainly

most anomalous yet splendid episodes and durable as was call

They were

them.

or name.

history.

scarcely

Potent

know how

seem

of P2urope, they

have

all

the impetus

rush of the torrent. Their career of conquest, from

first

brilliant as the

cliffs

Moslem

of the Pyrenees,

victories of Syria

was as rapid

and

P-gypt.

Nay, had they not been checked on the plains of Tours, France,

all

facility as

a nation without a legitimate country

the rock of Gibraltar to the

and

forms one of the

remote wave of the great Arabian inundation, cast

upon the shores of the

their dominion,

all

Europe, might have been overrun with the same

the empires of the East, and the Crescent at this

day have glittered on the fanes of Paris and London. Repelled within the limits of the Pyrenees, the mixed hordes of Asia and Africa, that formed this great irruption,

gave up the Moslem principle of conquest, and sought establish in Spain a peaceful

and permanent dominion. As

conquerors, their heroism was only equalled by their moderation

;

whom

and

in both, for a time, they excelled the nations

they contended.

with

Severed from their native homes,

they loved the land given

them [72J

as they supposed by Allah,

THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS and strove

to embellish

with everything that could admin-

ister to the happiness of man.

their

power

in a

Laying the foundations of

system of wise and equitable laws, diligently

and sciences, and promoting

cultivating the arts

agriculture,

manufactures, and commerce, they gradually formed an empire unrivalled for

Christendom

;

prosperity by any of the empires of

its

and

diligently

drawing round them the graces

and refinements which marked the Arabian empire of the East, at the time of light of Oriental

its

greatest civilization, they diffused the

knowledge through the western regions

benighted Europe.

The

Arabian Spain became the resort of Christian

cities of

artisans, to instruct sities of

themselves in the useful

arts.

The

univer-

Toledo, Cordova, Seville, and Granada were sought

by the pale student from other lands

to acquaint himself with

the sciences of the Arabs and the treasured lore of antiquity

;

the lovers of the gay science resorted to Cordova and Granada, to

imbibe the poetry and music of the East

;

and the

steel-clad

warriors of the North hastened thither to accomplish themselves in the graceful exercises

the

Moslem monuments

and courteous usages of in Spain,

dova, the Alcazar of Seville, and the still

chivalry.

if the Mosque of CorAlhambra of Granada,

bear inscriptions fondly boasting of the power and per-

manency

of their dominion, can the boast be derided as arro-

gant and vain

Generation after generation, century after

century, passed away,

the land.

and

still

they maintained possession of

A period elapsed longer than that which

has passed

England was subjugated by the Norman Conqueror, and the descendants of Musa and Taric might as little anticipate being driven into exile across the same straits, traversed since

by their triumphant ancestors, as the descendants of Rollo

[73]

;

THE ALHAMBRA and William and

their veteran peers,

may dream

of being

driven back to the shores of Normandy.

With

Moslem empire

however, the

all this,

Spain was

but a brilliant exotic, that took no permanent root in the it

embellished.

Severed from

all

their neighbors in the

soil

West

by impassable barriers of faith and manners, and separated

by seas and deserts from their kindred of the East, the Morisco-Spaniards were an isolated people. Their whole existence was a prolonged, though gallant and chivalric, struggle for a foothold in a usurped land.

They were the outposts and

frontiers of Islamism.

The Pen-

was the great battle-ground where the Gothic conquerors of the North and the Moslem conquerors of the East met and insula

and the fiery courage of the Arab was at length subdued by the obstinate and persevering valor of the Goth. strove for mastery;

â&#x20AC;˘

Never was the annihilation

of a people

Where

more complete than

Ask the The exiled remnant of their once powerful empire disappeared among the barbarians of Africa, and ceased to be a nation. They have not even left a distinct name behind them, though for nearly eight centuries they were a distinct people. The home of their that of the Morisco-Spaniards.

shores of Barbary and

its

are they

desert places.

adoption, and of their occupation for ages, refuses to acknowl-

edge them, except as invaders and usurpers.

monuments

are

all

and dominion, as

few broken

that remain to bear witness to their

solitary rocks, left far in the interior, bear

testimony to the extent of some vast inundation. Such

Alhambra

;

power

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a Moslem

pile in the

an Oriental palace amidst the Gothic edifices of the West

memento of a who conquered, ruled, elegant

brave, intelligent, flourished,

[74]

the

midst of a Christian land ;

and graceful people,

and passed away.

THE iINCE

JESUITS' LIBRARY

indulging in the foregoing reverie,

curiosity

know something of the princes who left behind them this monument of Oriental taste and magnificence, and whose names still appear among has been aroused to

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the inscriptions on

descended from thing

is liable

its

walls.

gratify this curiosity, I have

and

this region of fancy

an imaginary

to take

tint,

fable,

where every-

and have carried

among

the dusty tomes of the old Jesuits' Library,

in the University.

This once boasted repository of erudition

researches

now a mere shadow its

its

former

self,

having been stripped

when among many ponderous

manuscripts and rarest works by the French,

masters of Granada

;

tomes of the Jesuit

still it

fathers,

contains,

which the French were careful

to leave behind, several curious tracts of

and, above

all,

number

Spanish

literature

;

of those antiquated parchment-bound

chronicles for which

have a particular veneration.

In this old library

have passed many delightful hours of

quiet,

undisturbed

literary foraging

;

for the keys of the doors

and bookcases were kindly intmsted

[75]

me, and

was

left

THE ALHAMBRA alone, to

rummage at my pleasure,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

a rare indulgence in these

sanctuaries of learning, which too often tantalize the thirsty

student with the sight of sealed fountains of knowledge.

In the course of these

visits I

gleaned a variety of facts

concerning historical characters connected with the Alhambra,

some

which

here subjoin, trusting they

acceptable to the reader.

may prove

-.â&#x20AC;˘-

-J^>^^

jfwV. y'M^i-

'li^

m^ ALHAMAR, THE FOUNDER OF THE

ALHAMBRA ^HE

Moors

miracle of -

founded

of art,

Granada regarded the Alhambra as a

and had a

tradition that the king

means whereof he procured the immense sums pended

who

dealt in magic, or at least in alchemy, by

in its erection.

view of his reign

brief

of gold exwill

show

known in Arabian history as Muhamed Ibn-1-Ahmar but his name in general is written simply Alhamar, and was given to him, we are told, on account the secret of his wealth.

;

of his ruddy complexion.

was of the noble and opulent

or tribe of Nasar,

and was born

Hegira 592 (a.d. 1195). told,

line of the

his birth the astrologers,

cast his horoscope according to

pronounced

Beni Nasar,

in Arjona, in the year of the

are

Oriental custom, and

highly auspicious; and a santon predicted for

[77]

THE ALHAMBRA him

a glorious career.

expense was spared

for the high destinies prognosticated. full

in fitting

him

Before he attained the

years of manhood, the famous battle of the Navas (or

plains) of

Tolosa shattered the Moorish empire, and even-

tually severed the

Moslems

from the Moslems of

of Spain

among

Factions soon arose

Africa.

the former, headed by

warlike chiefs ambitious of grasping the sovereignty of the Peninsula.

Alhamar became engaged

in these

wars

;

he was

the general and leader of the Beni Nasar, and, as such, he

opposed and thwarted the ambition of Aben Hud, who had raised

his

standard

among

the warlike

mountains of the

Alpuxaras, and been proclaimed king of Murcia and Granada.

Many

between these warring chieftains

conflicts took place

Alhamar dispossessed

;

his rival of several important places,

and was proclaimed king of Jaen by

his soldiery

;

but he

aspired to the sovereignty of the whole of Andalusia, for he

was of a sanguine

spirit

and

lofty ambition.

generosity went hand in hand

he secured by the other (a.d. 1238)

owed

;

and

His valor and

what he gained by the one

;

at the death of

he became sovereign of

all

allegiance to that powerful chief.

Aben Hud

the territories which

He made

his formal

entry into Granada in the same year, amid the enthusiastic

shouts of the multitude,

who

hailed

ble of uniting the various factions

him

as the only one capa-

which prevailed, and which

threatened to lay the empire at the mercy of the Christian princes.

Alhamar

established his court in

Granada

of the illustrious line of Nasar that sat

took immediate measures to put his

;

upon

little

he was the

first

a throne.

kingdom

ture of defence against the assaults to be expected

in a pos-

from

his

Christian neighbors, repairing and strengthening the frontier

[78]

;

ALHAMAR Not content with the

posts and fortifying the capital.

Moslem

visions of the

law, by

which every man

pro-

made

he raised a regular army to garrison his strongholds,

soldier,

allowing every soldier stationed on the frontier a portion of land for the support of himself, his horse, and his family,

thus interesting him in the defence of the

These wise precautions were

had a property.

I'he Christians, profiting by the

events.

the

soil in

Moslem power, were

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

which he by

justified

dismemberment

rapidly regaining their ancient ter-

ritories. James the Conqueror had subjected all Valencia, and Ferdinand the Saint sat down in person before Jaen,

Alhamar ventured

the bulwark of Granada. in

open

field,

met with a

but

comfited to his capital.

enemy

Jaen

signal defeat, still

oppose him

and

retired dis-

held out, and kept the

bay during an entire winter, but Ferdinand swore

camp until he had gained possession of the Alhamar found it impossible to throw reinforcements

not to raise his place.

into the besieged city

;

he saw that

by the investment of his insufficiency of his

of Castile.

capital,

means

Taking a sudden

privately to the Christian

its fall

must be followed

and was conscious of the

cope with the potent sovereign resolution, therefore,

he repaired

camp, made his unexpected appear-

ance in the presence of King Ferdinand, and frankly an" I

nounced himself as the king of Granada. hd, " confiding in your

protection.

Take

all I

good

faith, to

come," said

put myself under your

possess and receive

so saying, he knelt and kissed the king's

as your vassal "

hand

in token of

allegiance.

Ferdinand was won by

this instance of confiding faith,

determined not to be outdone late

enemy from

in generosity.

the earth, embraced

[79]

him

and

raised his

as a friend, and,

THE ALHAMBRA refusing the wealth he offered,

him sovereign

left

of his

dominions, under the feudal tenure of a yearly tribute, attend-

ance at the Cortes as one of the nobles of the empire, and service in

war with a certain number of horsemen.

more-

over conferred on him the honor of knighthood, and armed

him with It

his

own hands.

was not long

Alhamar was called upon King Ferdinand in his famous

after this that

for his military services, to aid

siege of Seville.

The Moorish king

sallied forth with five

hundred chosen horsemen of Granada, than the world

knew

lance.

was a humiliating

better

how

draw the sword against

manage the

whom none

steed or wield the

service, however, for they

had

their brethren of the faith,

Alhamar gained a melancholy distinction by his prowess renowned conquest, but more true honor by the humanity which he prevailed upon Ferdinand to introduce into the in this

When

usages of war.

1248 the famous

city of

Seville

surrendered to the Castilian monarch, Alhamar returned sad

and

full of

care to his dominions.

saw the gathering

ills

menaced the Moslem cause and uttered an ejaculation often used by him in moments of anxiety and trouble, How straitened and wretched would be our life, if our

that

;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

hope were not so spacious and extensive

One angoste

viiserabile scria nuestra vida, siiio fiicra tan dilatada

espaciosa mtestra esperanza

exploits.

patient

he beheld arches

honor of his martial

people thronged forth to see him with im-

for

his

benignant rule

Wherever he passed he was

El Ghalib

his return

which had been erected

The joy,

" .'

As he approached Granada on of triumph

" !

had won

all

hearts.

hailed with acclamations as

(the conqueror).

[80]

Alhamar gave

a melancholy

ALHAMAR shake of the head on hearing the appellation. " IVa Aldli

ilc

From

! "

(there

that time forward this exclamation

and the motto of emblazoned on

his descendants,

became

and appears

yoke

his motto, to this

his escutcheons in the halls of the

Alhamar had purchased peace by submission tian

Ic ghalib

no conqueror but God) exclaimed he.

to the Chris-

but he was conscious that, with elements so dis-

;

cordant and motives for hostility so deep and ancient, not be permanent.

"Arm

day

Alhambra.

could

Acting, therefore, upon the old maxim,

thyself in peace

and clothe thyself

improved the present interval of

tranquillity

summer," he

by fortifying his

dominions, replenishing his arsenals, and promoting those useful arts

the

which give wealth and

command

real power.

themselves by valor and prudence, and acceptable to the people.

and established

confided

had distinguished

of his various cities to such as

who seemed most

organized a vigilant police,

rigid rules for the administration of justice.

The poor and

the distressed always found ready admission

to his presence,

and he attended personally

and

redress.

and

infirm,

frequentl}'

;

and

to their assistance

erected hospitals for the blind, the aged,

all

those incapable of labor, and visited them

not on set days with

pomp and

form, so as to give

time for everjlhing to be put in order, and every abuse concealed, but suddenly

and unexpectedly, informing himself,

by actual observation and close inquiry, of the treatment of the sick, and the conduct of those appointed to administer to their relief.

visited in the

same

tion of the youth.

that the people at just

founded schools and

colleges,

which he

manner, inspecting personally the instruc-

established butcheries

and public ovens,

might be furnished with wholesome provisions

and regular

prices.

introduced abundant streams

[8i]

THE ALHAMBRA of water into the city, erecting baths

and canals

structing aqueducts

Vega.

these

means

in this beautiful city

and

warehouses

its

;

and fountains, and conand fertilize the

to irrigate

prosperity and abundance prevailed

gates were thronged with commerce,

filled

with luxuries and merchandise of

every clime and country.

moreover gave premiums and privileges

to the best

artisans

;

improved the breed of horses and other domestic

animals

;

encouraged husbandry

fertility

and increased the

;

lovely valleys of his

kingdom and

fostered also the growth

bloom

natural

making the

of the soil twofold by his protection,

like gardens.

fabrication of silk, until the

looms of Granada surpassed even those of Syria ness and beauty of their productions.

in the fine-

moreover caused

the mines of gold and silver and other metals, found in the

mountainous regions of his dominions, to be diligently worked,

and was the and

first

silver with

king of Granada who struck money of gold

name, taking great care that the coins

his

should be skilfully executed. It

was towards the middle of the thirteenth century, and

just after his return

from the siege of

menced the splendid

palace of the

ing the building of

person

;

Seville, that

Alhambra

;

he com-

superintend-

mingling frequently among

the artists and workmen, and directing their labors.

Though thus magnificent enterprises,

he was simple

enjoyments.

in his

treated

passed

him from

were daughters of the principal by him as friends and rational

much

in his

and moderate

in his

His dress was not merely void of splendor, but

so plain as not to distinguish

wives

works and great

in his person

of his time in his gardens

[82]

;

his subjects.

nobles,

His

and were

companions.

especially in those

ALHAMAR of the

Alhambra, which he had stored with the

and the most beautiful and aromatic

rarest plants

Here he decausing them to

flowers.

lighted himself in reading histories, or in

be read and related to him, and sometimes, in intervals of leisure,

employed himself

whom

for

in the instruction of his three sons,

he had provided the most learned and virtuous

masters.

As he had

frankly and voluntarily offered himself a tribu-

tary vassal to Ferdinand, so he always

remained

loyal to his

word, giving him repeated proofs of fidelity and attachment.

When that renowned monarch died in Seville in 1254, Alhamar sent ambassadors to condole with his successor, Alonzo X, and with them a gallant train of a hundred Moorish cavaliers of distinguished rank,

who were

to attend

round

the royal bier during the funeral ceremonies, each bearing

This grand testimonial of respect was

a lighted taper.

peated by the life

Moslem monarch during

on each anniversary

Santo,

Granada

when

re-

the remainder of his

of the death of

King Ferdinand

the hundred Moorish knights repaired from

and took

to Seville,

in the centre of the

their stations with lighted tapers

sumptuous cathedral round the cenotaph

of the illustrious deceased.

Alhamar age.

retained his faculties and vigor to an advanced

In his seventy-ninth year (a.u. 1272) he took the

on horseback, accompanied by the flower of resist

an invasion of his

territories.

the

field

his chivalry, to

army

sallied forth

from Granada, one of the principal adalidcs, or guides, who rode in the advance, accidentally broke his lance against the arch of the gate.

The

this circumstance,

which was considered an

treated

him

return.

counsellors of the king, alarmed by evil

omen, en-

Their supplications were

[83]

vain.

THE ALHAMBRA The king persisted, and was

ish chroniclers,

at noontide the

omen, say the Moor-

Alhamar was suddenly

fatally fulfilled.

struck with illness, and had nearly fallen from his horse.

was placed on a

and borne back towards Granada, but

litter

his illness increased to such a degree that they

Vega.

to pitch his tent in the

consternation, not

were obliged

His physicians were

knowing what remedy

filled

to prescribe.

with

In a

few hours he died, vomiting blood and in violent convulsions.

The

Castilian

was

by his side

prince,

Don

when he

brother of Alonzo

Philip,

His body was embalmed,

expired.

enclosed in a silver coffin, and buried in the Alhambra in a sepulchre of precious marble, amidst the unfeigned lamentations of his subjects, I

who

bewailed him as a parent.

have said that he was the

Nasar that

sat

founder of a history

upon

brilliant

a throne,

of the illustrious line of

may add

kingdom which

and romance as the

power and splendor

first

in the

last

that he

rallying-place of

Peninsula.

was the

ever be famous in

will

Though

Moslem

his under-

takings were vast, and his expenditures immense, yet his treasury was always

gave

full

;

rise to the story that

and

this

seeming contradiction

he was versed

magic

art,

and

possessed of the secret for transmuting baser metals into gold.

Those who have attended forth, will easily

to his domestic policy, as here set

understand the natural magic and simple

alchemy which made

his

ample treasury

[84]

to overflow.

;

ytfyt'^iAi/.'

tfi^'ihi,

YUSEF ABUL HAGIG, THE FINISHER OF THE

ALHAMBRA THE

^^O

foregoing particulars, concerning the

who once reigned

Moslem

add a monarch who completed and emthe Alhambra. Yusef Abul Hagig (or, as it is some-

princes

in these halls,

shall

brief notice of the

bellished

times written, Haxis) was another prince of the noble line of

Nasar.

ascended the throne of Granada

grace 1333, and

described by

Moslem

a noble presence, great bodily strength, ion

;

and the majesty of

his

in the year of

writers as having

and a

fair

complex-

countenance increased, say they,

by suffering his beard to grow to a dignified length and dyeing

black.

His manners were

gentle, affable,

and urbane

he carried the benignity of his nature into warfare, prohibiting

all

towards

wanton

cruelty,

women and

and enjoining mercy and protection

children, the aged

[85]

and

infirm,

and

all

THE ALHAMBRA friars

and other persons of holy and recluse

common

he possessed the courage

But though

life.

generous

spirits,

the

bent of his genius was more for peace than war, and though repeatedly obliged by circumstances to take up arms, he was generally unfortunate.

Among

other ill-starred enterprises, he undertook a great

campaign, in conjunction with the king of Morocco, against the kings of Castile and Portugal, but was defeated in the

memorable

battle of Salado,

blow to the Moslem power

which had nearly proved a deathin Spain.

Yusef obtained a long truce after this defeat, and now his character shone forth in its true lustre. He had an excellent

memory, and had stored

his

mind with

was altogether elegant and

his taste

counted the best poet of his time. instruction of his people

science and erudition

refined,

and he was

Devoting himself

and the improvement of

and manners, he established schools

;

ac-

to the

their morals

in all the villages, with

simple and uniform systems of education

;

he obliged every

hamlet of more than twelve houses to have a mosque, and purified the ceremonies of religion, lar

had crept the

and the

festivals

and popu-

amusements, from various abuses and indecorums which

city,

into

them.

attended vigilantly to the police of

establishing nocturnal guards

intending

all

municipal concerns.

and

patrols,

and super-

His attention was also

directed towards finishing the great architectural works comhis predecessors, and erecting others on his own The Alhambra, which had been founded by the good Alhamar, was now completed. Yusef constructed the beauti-

menced by

plans.

ful

Gate of

tress,

Justice,

forming the grand entrance

which he finished

of the courts

and

1348.

halls of the palace, as

[86],

to the for-

likewise adorned

may be

many

seen by the

ABUL HAGIG

YIFSEF on the

inscriptions

walls, in

built also the noble

which

his

name

mere mass of crumbling

fortunately a

probably exhibited in

repeatedly occurs.

Alcazar or citadel of Malaga, now un-

its

ruins, but

interior similar elegance

which most and magnifi-

cence with the Alhambra,

The

genius of a sovereign stamps a character upon his

The

time.

nobles of Granada,

imitating the elegant and

graceful taste of Yusef, soon filled the city of Granada with

magnificent palaces

;

the halls of which were paved with

mosaic, the walls and ceilings wrought in fretwork, and delicately gilded

and painted with azure, vermilion, and other minutely inlaid with cedar and other pre-

brilliant colors, or

cious

woods

lustre, the

;

specimens of which have survived,

lapse of several centuries.

had fountains, which threw up cool the air.

They had

curiously carved

jets of

Many

water to refresh and

wood

or stone,

and ornamented, and covered with

plates of

lofty towers also, of

metal that glittered in the sun.

Such was the

delicate taste in architecture that prevailed

people

insomuch

;

writer, "

Arabian

among

refined

and

this elegant

use the beautiful simile of an

that,

Granada,

silver vase filled with

One

in all their

of the houses

in the

days of Yusef, was as a

emeralds and jacinths."

anecdote will be sufficient to show the magnanimity

of this generous prince.

The

long truce which had succeeded

the battle of Salado was at an end, and every effort of Yusef to

renew

was

in vain.

His deadly

Castile, took the field with great force, raltar.

foe,

and

Alfonzo XI of

laid siege to Gib-

Yusef reluctantly took up arms, and sent troops

relief of

the place.

to the

In the midst of his anxiety, he received

tidings that his dreaded foe

had

fallen a victim to the plague.

Instead of manifesting exultation on the occasion, Yusef

[87]

THE ALHAMBRA mind

called to

the great qualities of the deceased, and was "

touched with a noble sorrow. has

one of

lost

its

Alas

" cried "he, " the world

most excellent princes

;

who

a sovereign "

knew how to honor merit, whether in friend or foe The Spanish chroniclers themselves bear witness !

magnanimity. According liers

to their accounts, the

to this

Moorish cava-

partook of the sentiment of their king, and put on mourn-

Even those of Gibraltar, who when they knew that the hostile

ing for the death of Alfonzo.

had been so closely invested,

monarch that

tians.

lay

dead in his camp, determined among themselves

movement The day on which

hostile

made against the Chriscamp was broken up, and the

should be the

army departed bearing the corpse

of Alfonzo, the

Moors

issued in multitudes from Gibraltar, and stood mute and

melancholy, watching the mournful pageant. erence for the deceased was observed by

manders on the

frontiers,

who

all

The same

rev-

the Moorish com-

suffered the funeral train to

pass in safety, bearing the corpse of the Christian sovereign

from Gibraltar

to Seville.

Yusef did not long survive the enemy he had so generously deplored.

In the year 1354, as he was one day praying in

the royal mosque of the Alhambra, a maniac rushed suddenly

from behind and plunged a dagger

in his side.

The

cries of

the king brought his guards and courtiers to his assistance.

They found him as

him

weltering in his blood.

to speak, but his

words were

He made some

unintelligible.

signs

They bore

senseless to the royal apartments, where he expired

most immediately.

The murderer was

cut to pieces,

and

al-

his

limbs burnt in public to gratify the fury of the populace.

The body

of the king

of white marble

;

was interred

in a

superb sepulchre

a long epitaph, in letters of gold

[88]

upon an

;

YUSEF ABITL HAGIG azure ground, recorded his virtues.

Here

renowned

for the graces of his person

a king and and virtuous

lies

martyr, of an illustrious line, gentle, learned,

and

;

manners

his

whose clemency, piety, and benevolence were extolled throughkingdom of Granada. He was a great prince an

out the

;

illustrious captain

standard-bearer

The mosque

;

a sharp sword of the

among still

has

exists

long since

remains inscribed

which once resounded with the

this

among

renowned

monument which

disappeared. the

ments of the Alhambra, and tion with

;

a valiant

the most potent monarchs," etc.

dying cries of Yusef, but the virtues

Moslems

delicate

will

pile,

[89]

and graceful orna-

be perpetuated in connec-

which

delight to beautify.

recorded his

His name, however,

was his pride and

<"-"••*•"*•»«

r!iffiUS

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS S

WAS

rambling one day about the Moorish

attention was, for the

halls,

time, attracted to a

first

door in a remote gallery, communicating apparently with some part of the Alhambra which I

attempted to open

it,

but

one answered, and the sound seemed

empty chambers.

had not yet explored.

was locked.

Here then was

knocked, but no

to reverberate

through

Here was the

a mystery.

castle. How was I to get at the dark up from the public eye ? Should I come night with lamp and sword, according to the pry-

haunted wing of the secrets here shut

privately at

ing custom of heroes of romance

;

or should

endeavor to

draw the secret from Pepe, the stuttering gardener ingenuous Dolores, or the loquacious Mateo

go frankly and openly ask her

all

about

it ?

to I

Dame

;

or the

Or should

Antonia, the chatelaine, and

chose the

[90]

latter course, as

being the

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS simplest though the least romantic

case.

;

and found, somewhat

disappointment, that there was no mystery in the

was welcome

to explore the apartment,

and there

was the key.

Thus as

provided,

had surmised,

returned forthwith to the door.

range of vacant chambers

to a

were quite different from the rest of the palace.

was nothing Moorish about ;

;

but they

The

though rich and antiquated, was European.

tecture,

lofty

opened,

it.

the ceilings, broken in

archi-

There

The first two rooms were many places, were of cedar,

deeply panelled and skilfully carved with fruits and flowers, intermingled with grotesque masks or faces.

The

had evidently

in ancient times been hung with now were naked and scrawled over by that class of aspiring travellers who defile noble monuments with their worthless names. The windows, dismantled and open to wind

walls

damask

;

but

and weather, looked out

into a

charming

little

den, where an alabaster fountain sparkled

secluded gar-

among

roses and and was surrounded by orange and citron trees, some of which flung their branches into the chambers. Beyond myrtles,

these rooms were two saloons, longer but less lofty, looking also into the garden.

ceilings

by no also

In the compartments of the panelled

were baskets of

mean hand, and

had been painted

fruit

and garlands

;

walls

the windows were in the

state with those of the other

fanciful suite of

The

in fresco in the Italian style, but the

paintings were nearly obliterated

same shattered

of flowers, painted

in tolerable preservation.

rooms terminated

chambers.

This

an open gallery with

balustrades, running at right angles along another side of the

garden.

The whole

apartment, so delicate and elegant in

decorations, so choice

and sequestered [91]

in its situation

its

along

THE ALHAMBRA this retired little

garden, and so different in architecture from

awakened an interest in its history. I was an apartment fitted up by Italian

the neighboring halls,

found on inquiry that artists in

the early part of the last century, at the time

Philip

and

Duke

Farnese, daughter of the the Alhambra.

sleeping-room.

of Parma, were expected at

was destined

One

of her train.

of the loftiest

narrow

Elizabetta,

which was

and

staircase,

Reina, or the queen's

One window

name

its

history.

for the fair

Tocador de

royal sleeping-room

commanded

little

its

embowered

secluded garden

which was decidedly Moorish

had

walled up, led up to

mirador of the Moorish

toilette.

the

other looked out into the

also

now

of El

prospect of the Generalife and

tioned,

ladies

chambers had been her

up as a boudoir

fitted

retains the

still

queen and the

for the

a delightful belvedere, originally a sultanas, but

when

second wife, the beautiful Elizabetta of

his

was

in-

fact the

its

terraces I

;

have men-

character,

Lindaraxa was

research gave

had never heard explained.

the few particulars

was a Moorish beauty who flourished

and

garden of Lindaraxa,

so often mentioned in descriptions of the Alhambra, but this

an-

known about

in the court of

who

little

her.

She

Muhamed

the Left-Handed, and was the daughter of his loyal adherent the Alcaide of Malaga,

who

driven from the throne.

riage to Nasar, a

Aben Hud

in his city

when

fidelity.

young Celtimerian prince descended from

the Just.

Their espousals were doubtless

brated in the royal palace, and their

passed

him

His daughter had her apartthe Alhambra, and was given by the king in mar-

was rewarded for his

ment

sheltered

regaining his crown, the Alcaide

among

these very bowers.

[93]

cele-

honeymoon may have

^^'-mh ''4<^"

m-;^

v-J-fif*!.

THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER

JiL^Ctl

THE ALHAMBRA Four centuries had elapsed since the

how much

away, yet

inhabited remained

delighted

Lindaraxa passed

of the fragile beauty of the scenes she

The garden

the fountain

;

fair

still

bloomed

still

which her charms may once have been reflected ter, it is true,

had

lost its

which she

presented the crystal mirror in

whiteness

;

the alabas-

the basin beneath, over-

;

run with weeds, had become the lurking-place of the but there

was something

in the very

interest of the scene,

speaking as

the irrevocable lot of

man and

The

did of that mutability,

his works.

all

desolation too of these chambers, once the abode of

and elegant

the proud

for

lizard,

decay that enhanced the

than

Elizabetta,

had a more touching charm

had beheld them

in their pristine splendor,

glittering with the pageantry of a court.

When

returned to

quarters, in the governor's apart-

ment, everything seemed tame and commonplace after the poetic region

could that its

had

left.

not change

would indeed be

The thought

suggested

itself

Why

quarters to these vacant chambers

living in the

Alhambra, surrounded by

gardens and fountains, as in the time of the Moorish sov-

ereigns.

and

family,

proposed the change to it

Dame Antonia and

occasioned vast surprise.

They could

her

not con-

ceive any rational inducement for the choice of an apartment

and

so forlorn, remote, frightful loneliness

;

solitary.

Dolores exclaimed

nothing but bats and owls

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and then a fox and wildcat kept

flitting

at its

about

in the vaults of the neigh-

The good Tia had The neighborhood was infested

boring baths, and roamed about at night.

more reasonable by vagrants hills

;

places

;

objections.

gypsies

swarmed

in the caverns of the adjacent

the palace was ruinous and easy to be entered in ;

many

the rumor of a stranger quartered alone in one of the

[94]

;

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS remote and ruined apartments, out of the hearing of the rest of the inhabitants, might tempt unwelcome visitors in the night, especially as foreigners were always supposed to be well stocked with

money.

humor, however, and

to be diverted

Mateo Ximenes, the doors and windows were soon placed

a state of tolerable security, and the sleeping-room of the

stately P21izabetta

prepared for

reception.

volunteered as a body-guard to sleep in I

from

was law with these good people. the assistance of a carpenter, and the ever offi-

So, calling in cious

was not

my will

did not think

With tions

all

but

;

worth while to put his valor to the proof.

the hardihood

had taken,

Mateo kindly

my antechamber

had assumed and

must confess the

first

these quarters was inexpressibly dreary.

all

the precau-

night passed in

do not think

was so much the apprehension of dangers from without that affected me, as the character of the place

strange associations

the tragical ends of there in splendor.

itself,

with

all

its

the deeds of violence committed there

many

of those

who had once

reigned

passed beneath the fated halls of the

my chamber, I called to mind me in the days of boyhood

tower of Comares on the way to a quotation, that used to thrill

" Fate

sits on these dark battlements and frowns And, as the portal opens to receive me, A voice in sullen echoes through the courts " Tells of a nameless deed !

The whole

leave of

when

family escorted

is left

my chamber

and took ;

and

heard their retreating steps die away along the waste

antechambers and echoing door,

one engaged on a perilous enterprise

galleries,

and turned the key of

was reminded of those hobgoblin to

stories

where the hero

accomplish the adventure of an enchanted house.

[95]

THE ALHAMBRA Even the thoughts of the fair Ehzabetta and the beauties who had once graced these chambers, now, by perversion of fancy, added to the gloom. Here was the

of her court

scene of their transient gayety and lovehness the traces of their elegance and enjoyment

where were they

phantoms

A I

Dust and ashes

memory

of the

here were

;

but what and

;

tomb

tenants of the

vague and indescribable awe was creeping over me.

would

have ascribed

fain

the thoughts of robbers

awakened by the evening's conversation, but something more unreal and absurd. of the nursery were

stitions

power over

among

reviving,

mind.

cast

was

and asserting

The whispering

my window

the citron-trees beneath

sinister.

felt

long-buried supertheir

Everything began to be affected

imagination.

by the working of

The

of the

wind

had something

eyes into the garden of Lindaraxa

the

;

groves presented a gulf of shadows, the thickets indistinct

and ghastly shapes.

chamber

itself

was glad

became

infected.

noise overhead

;

lamp

solitary

;

There was a

slight rustling

suddenly emerged from a broken

a bat

panel of the ceiling,

window, but

to close the

about the room and athwart

flitting

and as the

fateful bird almost flouted

my face

with his noiseless wing, the grotesque faces carved in high relief in the

cedar ceiling whence he had emerged seemed

mope and mow

me.

Rousing myself, and ness,

half smiling at this temporary weak-

resolved to brave

of the enchanted house forth to

make

;

out in the true spirit of the hero

so,

taking lamp in hand,

a tour of the palace.

sallied

Notwithstanding every

mental exertion the task was a severe one.

had

to traverse

waste halls and mysterious galleries, where the rays of the

[96]

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS lamp extended but it

a short distance

around me.

walked, as

were, in a mere halo of light, walled in by impenetrable

The

darkness.

vaulted corridors were as caverns

ings of the halls were lost in gloom.

recalled

been said of the danger from interlopers

the

ceil-

that

had

;

all

these remote

Might not some vagrant

and ruined apartments.

own shadow, echoes of

cast

upon the

my own

began

wall,

pause and look round.

The made me me.

to disturb

footsteps along the corridors

was traversing scenes fraught with

One dark

dismal recollections.

foe

lurking before or behind me, in the outer darkness

passage led down to the

mosque where Yusef, the Moorish monarch, the finisher of the Alhambra, had been basely murdered. In another place I trod the gallery where another monarch had been struck

down by

the poniard of a relative

whom

he had thwarted

his love.

low murmuring sound, as of

chains,

now reached me.

of the Abencerrages.

stifled voices

seemed

knew

through subterranean channels, but the night, and reminded it

had given

sounded strangely

of the dismal stories to which

ear was assailed by sounds too fearfully

be the work of fancy.

was crossing the Hall of

Ambassadors, low moans and broken ejaculations were, from beneath

feet.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; then again â&#x20AC;&#x201D; then

forth bowlings as of an animal

shrieks and inarticulate ravings.

Heard

and singular place the

thrilling.

effect

was

for further perambulation, but returned to

[97]

rose, as

in that I

They

paused and listened.

then appeared to be outside of the tower

Then broke

the Hall

be the rush of water

rise.

Soon, however, real lo

come from

and clanking

within. stifled

dead hour

had no desire

my chamber

with

THE ALHAMBRA more alacrity than I had sallied forth, and drew my breath more freely when once more within its walls and the door bolted behind me. When I awoke in the morning, with the sun shining in at my window and lighting up every part of the building with his cheerful and truth-telling beams, I could scarcely recall the shadows and fancies conjured up by infinitely

the gloom of the preceding night, or believe that the scenes

around me, so naked and apparent, could have been clothed with such imaginary horrors. the dismal bowlings and ejaculations

Still,

were not ideal

my handmaid

;

they were soon accounted

for,

had heard

however, by

Dolores, being the ravings of a poor maniac,

a brother of her aunt,

who was

subject to violent paroxysms,

during which he was confined in a vaulted room beneath the Hall of Ambassadors. In the course of a few evenings a thorough change took place in the scene

when

and

its

took possession of

The moon, which

associations.

my new

apartments was

invisible,

gradually gained each evening upon the darkness of the night,

and

length rolled in

full

splendor above the towers, pouring

a flood of tempered light into every court

den beneath lighted

;

my window,

and

hall.

The

gar-

before wrapped in gloom, was gently

the orange and citron trees were tipped with

ver, the fountain sparkled in the

sil-

moonbeams, and even the

blush of the rose was faintly visible. I

now

walls

felt

the poetic merit of the Arabic inscription on the

"How

beauteous

this

garden

of the earth vie with the stars of heaven.

with the vase of yon alabaster fountain

nothing but the

moon

an unclouded sky

where the flowers

;

What

filled

can compare

with crystal water ?

in her fulness, shining in the

" !

[98]

midst of

^••-^SsC

:vv?

'i,'^-

THE ALHAMBRA On

such heavenly nights

would

for hours at

sit

dow, inhaling the sweetness of the garden,

the checkered fortunes of those whose history was

shadowed out

when of

was

all

memorials around.

in the elegant

have

sallied out

another tour and wandered over the whole building

from

ous

;

first

tour

; '

how

but

longer dark and mysteri-

no longer peopled with shadowy foes

ing scenes of violence and murder beautiful

dimly

Sometimes,

and the clock from the distant cathedral

quiet,

Granada struck the midnight hour,

different

win-

and musing on

;

all

;

no longer

recall-

was open, spacious,

everything called up pleasing and romantic fancies

;

Lindaraxa once more walk^ed in her garden; the gay chivalry of

Moslem Granada once more

Lions

Who

climate and such a place

midnight

Andalusia

The temperature

perfectly ethereal.

spirits,

existence happiness. the effect

Court of

summer

of a

seem

lifted

feel a serenity of soul, a

elasticity of

frame, which render mere

up into a purer atmosphere buoyancy of

glittered about the

can do justice to a moonlight night in such a

;

But when moonlight

Under

enchantment.

its

added

to all this,

plastic

sway the

Alhambra seems to regain its pristine glories. Every rent and chasm of time, every mouldering tint and weather stain is

gone

;

the marble resumes

its

original whiteness, the long

colonnades brighten in the moonbeams, the halls are illuminated with a softened radiance, palace of an Arabian tale

What

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we

tread the enchanted

a delight, at such a time, to ascend to the

pavilion of the queen's toilette (El

Tocador de

airy

little

Reina),

which, like a bird-cage, overhangs the valley of the Darro, and

gaze from

its

light arcades

upon the moonlight prospect

the right, the swelling mountains of the Sierra Nevada, robbed

[looj

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS of their ruggedness

and softened

snowy summits gleaming

And

blue sky.

into a fairy land, with their

like silver clouds against the

deep

then to lean over the parapet of the Tocador

and gaze down upon Granada and the Albaicin spread out like a map below, all buried in deep repose the white palaces ;

and convents sleeping the vapory

Vega

in the

moonshine, and beyond

all

'these

fading away like a dreamland in the distance.

Sometimes the

faint click of castanets rise

from the Ala-

meda, where some gay Andalusians are dancing away the

summer

night.

Sometimes the dubious tones

the notes of an amorous voice of

some moonstruck Such

tell

of a guitar

and

perchance the whereabout

lover serenading his lady's window.

a faint picture of the moonlight nights

have

passed loitering about the courts and halls and balconies of this

most suggestive

pile

;

" feeding

fancy with sugared

suppositions," and enjoying that mixture of reverie and sensation it

which

steal

away existence

in a

has been almost morning before

been

lulled to sleep

southern climate I

have retired

;

so that

to bed,

and

by the falling waters of the fountain of

Lindaraxa.

[lOl]

tur>fi'^>i

4tif:!\^ /H/\{n

PANORAMA FROM THE TOWER OF COMARES T

IS a serene and beautiful morning; the sun has not

gained sufficient power to destroy the freshness of the .

its

What

night.

Tower

morning

Comares and take a

mount

to the

summit of the Granada and

bird's-eye view of

environs

Come

then, worthy reader

into this vestibule, into the Hall of

and comrade, follow my steps rich tracery, which opens

ornamented with

Ambassadors.

will

not enter the

hall,

however, but turn to this small door opening into the wall.

Have

a care

light,

yet

here are steep winding steps and but scanty this narrow, obscure,

and

spiral staircase the

proud monarchs of Granada and their queens have often

cended

to the battlements to

as-

watch the approach of invading

armies or gaze with anxious hearts on the battles in the Vega.

At length we have reached the terraced roof and may take moment while we cast a general eye over the

breath for a

[

102]

PANORAMA FROM TOWER OF COMARES splendid panorama of city and country, of rocky mountain,

verdant valley, and

fertile plain of castle, cathedral, Moorish and Gothic domes, crumbling ruins, and blooming groves. Let us approach the battlements and cast our eyes ;

towers,

immediately below.

See, on this side

we have

of the

Alhambra

courts

and gardens. At the foot of the tower

laid

the Alberca, with flowers

;

the pile

its

the

little

Moorish arcades

;

and

its

roses

its

famous

in the centre of

garden of Lindaraxa, buried

of the building, with

into

the Court of

the Court of Lions with

light

the whole plain

and can look down

to us

great tank or fishpool, bordered with

its

and yonder

fountain and

open

in the heart

and citrons and shrubbery of

emerald green.

That

Some

tress.

studded with square towers, strag-

belt of battlements,

gling round the brow of the

their massive

of the towers,

;

this

the outer boundary of the for-

you may perceive, are

fragments buried

Let us look on giddy height

hill, is

in ruins

northern side of the tower.

And

the groves of the steep hillside.

of the earthquakes

see

which from time

into consternation,

narrow glen below

from the mountains, little

river

a long fissure in

to time

winding

us,

and which, sooner or

the valley of the Darro

its

way under embowered

orchards and flower-gardens.

in old times for yielding gold,

and

It is its

;

The deep it

terraces,

and

a stream famous still

Some

sifted

of those

white paviHons, which here and there gleam from

[103]

opens

you see the

sands are

occasionally in search of the precious ore.

must

later,

which gradually widens as

some

have thrown

reduce this crumbling pile to a mere mass of ruin.

among

the very foundations of the tower rise above

the massive walls shows that the tower has been rent by

Granada

and

among vines, fig-trees, and aloes.

among

THE ALHAMBRA groves and vineyards, were rustic retreats of the Moors to enjoy the refreshment of their gardens.

compared by one of

their poets to so

Well have they been

many

pearls set in a

bed of emeralds.

The

airy palace, with

its tall

white towers and long arcades,

which breasts yon mountain, among pompous groves and

hanging gardens, Moorish kings,

months

to enjoy a

Alhambra.

summer

the Generalife, a

palace of the

which they resorted during the still

more breezy region than

The naked summit

you behold some shapeless

sultry

that of the

of the height above

it,

where

Moro, or

ruins, is the Silla del

Seat of the Moor, so called from having been a retreat of the unfortunate Boabdil during the time of an insurrection, where

he seated himself and looked down mournfully upon his rebellious city,

murmuring sound

valley.

It is

now and then

of water

from the aqueduct of yon Moorish

at the foot of the hill.

The avenue

of trees

Alameda, along the bank of the Darro, a the guitar

along

its

monks

walks.

may be heard at At present you

mill, nearly

beyond

the

favorite resort in

evenings and a rendezvous of lovers in the

when

from the

rises

summer

nights

a late hour from the benches see none but a few loitering

there and a group of water-carriers.

The

latter are

burdened with water-jars of ancient Oriental construction, such as were used by the Moors.

They have been

filled at

the cold and limpid spring called the Fountain of Avellanos.

Yon mountain

path leads to the fountain, a favorite resort of

Moslems as well as Christians Adinamar (Aynu-1-adamar), the

for this

;

said to be the

Fountain of Tears," men-

tioned by Ibn Batuta, the traveller, and celebrated in the histories

and romances of the Moors. [

iÂ°4]

PANORAMA FROM TOWER OF COM A RES You from for

start

nothing but a hawk that we have frightened

This old tower

his nest.

vagrant birds

;

chink and cranny, and while at night,

a complete breeding-place

the swallow and martlet abound in every

when

circle

all

moping owl comes out

about

the whole day long

other birds have gone to of

its

rest,

;

the

and utters its See how the hawk we have

lurking-place,

boding cry from the battlements.

dislodged sweeps away below us, skimming over the tops of the trees, I

and

sailing

to the ruins

see you raise your eyes to the

of mountains, shining like a white sky.

nada

It is

above the Generalife

snowy summit

summer

yon

pile

cloud in the blue

the Sierra Nevada, the pride and delight of Gra-

the source of her cooling breezes and perpetual ver-

;

dure, of her gushing fountains this glorious pile of

and perennial streams.

mountains which gives

combination of delights so rare fresh vegetation

and temperate

in airs

It is

Granada

a southern city,

that

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the

of a northern climate,

with the vivifying ardor of a tropical sun, and the cloudless azure of a southern sky.

this aerial treasury of snow,

which, melting in proportion to the increase of the

summer

sends down ri\ulets and streams through every glen

heat,

and gorge of the Alpuxarras, diffusing emerald verdure and fertility

throughout a chain of happy and sequestered valleys.

Those mountains may be

They dominate seen from

most distant

parts.

views their frosty peaks

as he

plain

its

well called the glory of Granada.

the whole extent of Andalusia, and

;

far off

The muleteer

from the

may be

hails

them,

sultry level of the

and the Spanish mariner on the deck of

his bark, far,

on the bosom of the blue Mediterranean, watches them

with a pensive eye, thinks of delightful Granada, and chants, in

low voice, some old romance about the Moors.

THE ALHAMBRA See

to the south at the foot of those

mountains a Hne of arid

down which a long train of mules is slowly moving. Here was the closing scene of Moslem domination. From the summit hills,

of one of those hills the unfortunate Boabdil cast back his last

look upon Granada, and gave vent to the agony of his soul.

Further this way these arid

It is

"The last sigh of the Moor."

the spot famous in song and story,

hills

slope

urious Vega, from which he had just

down

emerged

into the lux-

a blooming

wilderness of grove and garden, and teeming orchard, with the Xenil winding through

innumerable

rills

in silver links,

and feeding

which, conducted through ancient Moor-

;

ish channels, maintain the landscape in perpetual verdure.

Here were the beloved bowers and gardens, and rural pavilwhich the unfortunate Moors fought with such desperate valor. The very hovels and rude granges, now inhabited ions, for

by boors, show, by the remains of arabesques and other ful decoration, that

of the Moslems.

taste-

they were elegant residences in the days

Behold, in the very centre of this eventful

manner links the history of the Old World with that of the New. Yon line of walls and towers gleaming in the morning sun is the city of Santa Fe, built plain, a place

which

in a

by the Catholic sovereigns during the siege of Granada,

after

a conflagration had destroyed their camp. It was to these walls Columbus was called back by the heroic queen, and

within

them the

treaty

was concluded which led

covery of the Western World, the west fight

to the dis-

Behind yon promontory

the bridge of Pinos, renowned for

between Moors and Christians. At

many

a bloody

this bridge the

mes-

senger overtook Columbus when, despairing of success with the Spanish sovereigns, he was departing to carry his project of discovery to the court of France.

[io6]

;

PANORAMA FROM TOWER OF COMARES Above

the bridge a range of mountains bounds the

to the west,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the ancient

Among

Christian territories.

cern warrior towns

;

down

How

on either

side.

night or

fire at

was down

their heights

you may

dis-

still

and battlements seeming

on which they are

there a solitary atalaya, or

Vega

between Granada and the

their gray walls

of a piece with the rocks

tain peak, looks

barrier

Here and watchtower, perched on a mounbuilt.

were from the sky into the valley

often have these atalayas given notice,

smoke by

a cragged

day, of an approaching foe

defile of these

mountains, called the

Pass of Lope, that the Christian armies descended into the

Vega. (the

Round

the base of yon gray and naked mountain

mountain of

into the

bosom

Elvira), stretching

of the plain, the

come bursting into view, with of drum and trumpet.

its

bold rocky promontory

mvading squadrons would

flaunting banners and clangor

Plve hundred years have elapsed since Ismael ben Ferrag, a Moorish king of Granada, beheld from this very tower an

Vega

invasion of the kind, and an insulting ravage of the

on which occasion he displayed an instance of chivalrous magnanimity, often witnessed history," says an

Arabian

and noble deeds that and

will last

live forever in the

down on was

in the

writer, "

this parapet, in the year of

through

memory

and

Moslem

abounds of

all

princes,

"whose

generous actions succeeding ages,

man." â&#x20AC;&#x201D; But

will relate

Grace 13

let

sit

the anecdote.

19, that

Ismael ben Ferrag

beheld from this tower a Christian camp whitening the skirts

yon mountain of Elvira. The royal princes, Don Juan and Don Pedro, regents of Castile during the minority of of

Alphonso XI, had already caudete to Alcala

laid

waste the country from Al-

Real, capturing the castle of Illora,

[107]

and

THE ALHAMBRA setting fire to

its

suburbs, and they

now

carried their insult-

ing ravages to the very gates of Granada, defying the king to sally forth

and give them

Ismael, though a

young and

accept the challenge.

and awaited the gave up

all

intrepid prince, hesitated to

had not

hand,

sufficient force at

summoned from

arrival of troops

The

boring towns.

battle.

the neigh-

Christian princes, mistaking his motives,

hope of drawing him

forth,

and having glutted

themselves with ravage, struck their tents and began their

homeward march. Don Pedro led the van, and Don Juan brought up the rear, but their march was confused and irregular, the army being greatly encumbered by the spoils and captives they had taken.

this time

sources,

King Ismael had

received his expected

re-

and putting them under the command of Osmyn,

one of the bravest of his generals, sent them forth pursuit of the enemy.

The

mountains.

defiles of the

hot

Christians were overtaken in the

panic seized them

;

they were

completely routed, and driven with great slaughter across the

Both of the princes

borders.

Don Pedro was Juan was to the

lost in

moment

that

Don Juan was

treated.

an enemy, who had carried rav-

mand in a it

and

diligent search

was made

he only thought

for the body.

barranco and brought to Granada. be laid out in state on a lofty tapers, in

;

and a royal prince.

as a gallant cavalier

one of these

his father

Ismael forgot in a

age and insult to the very gate of his capital

him

His son wrote

the darkness of the night.

Moorish king, entreating that the body of

might be sought and honorably

The body of Don

lost their lives.

carried off by his soldiers, but that of

bier,

his

com-

was found

There Ismael caused surrounded by torches

halls of the

TioSl

By It

Alhambra.

Osmyn

PANORAMA FROM TOWER OF CO MARES and other of the of honor,

around

nf)blest

eavaUers were appointed as a guard

and the Christian eaptives were assembled

to pray

it.

In the meantime, Ismael wrote to the son of Prince Juan to

send a convoy for the body, assuring him

faithfully delivered

should be

In due time, a band of Christian

up.

cavaliers arrived for the purpose.

They were honorably

re-

ceived and entertained by Ismael, and, on their departure with the body, the guard of honor of the funeral

train' to

But enough

;

high above the mountains, and

on our heads.

hot beneath our feet

selves

cavaliers escorted

the frontier.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the sun

povirs his full fervor

Moslem

;

let

Already the terraced roof

us abandon

it,

and refresh our-

under the arcades by the Fountain of the Lions.

[109]

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;TTWZ-

mÂť^^ ,

l-/-->-l-

ill

/H./iv

THE BALCONY

HAVE

spoken of a balcony of the central window of

the Hall of Ambassadors. atory,

where

served as a kind of observ-

used often to take

seat,

and consider

not merely the heaven above but the earth beneath. the magnificent prospect which valley,

laid

the

and

open hill

plain, there to inspection

was a

little

commanded

of mountain,

busy scene of

immediately below.

Besides

human

life

the foot of

was an alamcda, or public walk, which, though not

more modern and splendid paseo of boasted a varied and picturesque concourse.

so fashionable as the

the Xenil,

still

Hither resorted the small gentry of the suburbs, together with the majos and majas, beaux and belles of the lower classes, in their

distas,

Andalusian dresses

;

swaggering contraban-

and sometimes half-muffled and mysterious loungers

of the higher ranks.

[no]

THE BALCONY was a moving picture of Spanish life and character, I dehghted to study and as the astronomer has his grand telescope with which to sweep the skies, and, as it It

which

;

were, bring the stars nearer for his inspection, so

smaller one, of pocket size, for the use of

with which

had a

observatory,

could sweep the regions below, and bring the

countenances of the motley groups so close as almost, times, to

make me

think

by the play and expression of their features.

was thus,

a manner, an invisible observer, and, without quitting solitude, could

throw myself

society,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

habits,

and fond,

could divine their conversation

rare advantage to

an instant into the midst of

one of somewhat shy and quiet

like myself, of

observing the drama of

life

without becoming an actor in the scene.

There was a considerable suburb lying below the Alhamnarrow gorge of the valley, and extending up

bra, filling the

the opposite built in the

hill

of the Albaicin.

Moorish

style,

fountains and open to the sky

much

during the

like myself, I

;

and

of their time in these courts,

summer

their domestic life

who

occasionally

Many

of the houses were

round patios, or

season,

courts, cooled

as the inhabitants passed

and on the terraced roofs

follows that

many

might be obtained by an

a glance at

aerial spectator

could look down on them from the clouds. amused myself with noting from this balcony

the gradual changes of the scenes below, according to the different stages of the day.

Scarce has the gray dawn streaked the sky, and the earliest

cock crowed from the cottages of the urbs give sign of reviving animation

dawning are precious

in the

hill-side, ;

when

the sub-

for the fresh hours of

summer season

in a sultry climate.

All are anxious to get the start of the sun, in the business of

[III]

THE ALHAMBRA The

the day.

journey

muleteer drives forth his loaded train for the

the traveller slings his carbine behind his saddle,

;

and mounts

his steed at the gate of the hostel

the brown

;

peasant from the country urges forward his loitering beasts, laden with panniers of sunny fruit and fresh dewy vegetables, for already the thrifty housewives are hastening to the market.

The sun

up and sparkles along the

melodiously through the pure, bright

The muleteer

hour of devotion.

before the chapel, thrusts his

and enters with hat

valley, tipping the

The matin

transparent foliage of the groves.

air,

resound

burdened animals

halts his

staff

bells

announcing the

through his belt behind,

hand, smoothing his coal-black hair, to

put up a prayer for a prosperous wayfaring across the sierra.

the morning advances, the din of labor augments on

every side

;

the streets are thronged with man, and steed,

and beast of burden, and there the surges of the ocean. the

hum and

there

hum and murmur,

bustle gradually decline

a pause.

The panting

for several hours there

the sun ascends to his meridian,

height of noon

at the

;

city sinks into lassitude,

a general repose.

and

The windows

are closed, the curtains drawn, the inhabitants retired into

the coolest recesses of their mansions lies

stretched on the

pavement beside

;

the brawny porter

his

burden

;

the peas-

ant and the laborer sleep beneath the trees of the promenade, lulled

by the sultry chirping of the locust.

deserted, except by the water-carrier,

who

The

streets are

refreshes the ear

by proclaiming the merits of his sparkling beverage, " colder than the mountain snow."

the sun declines, there

and when the vesper

bell

again a gradual reviving,

rings out his sinking knell,

all

nature seems to rejoice that the tyrant of the day has fallen.

[112]

THE BALCONY Now

begins the bustle of enjoyment,

forth to breathe the evening air,

when

and

the citizens pour

away the brief and gardens of the Darro and Xenil. the capricious scene assumes new features. revel

twilight in the walks

night closes,

Light after light gradually twinkles forth

here a taper from lamp before the image of a Saint. Thus, by degrees, the city emerges from the pervading gloom, and sparkles with scattered lights, like the a balconied

window

starry firmament.

and

street

and

;

there a votive

Now

break forth from court and garden,

lane, the tinkling of

the clicking of castanets

;

innumerable

guitars,

and

blending, at this lofty height, in a

faint but general concert. I

was one evening seated

in the balcony,

enjoying the

came rustling along the side of the hill, among the tree-tops, when my humble historiographer Mateo, light breeze that

who was

elbow, pointed out a spacious house, in an

obscure street of the Albaicin, about which he related, as nearly as

can

recollect, the following anecdote.

[113]

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MASON

^HERE was once upon a

time a poor mason, or brick-

Granada, who kept

layer, in

and

holidays,

yet,

with

all

his

the saints' days and

he grew

devotion,

poorer and poorer, and could scarcely earn bread for his

numerous

One

family.

night he was roused from his

sleep by a knocking at his door.

him

before

"Hark

tall,

opened

it,

first

and beheld-

meagre, cadaverous-looking person.

ye, honest

"I have

friend!" said the stranger;

observed that you are a good Christian, and one to be trusted

;

will

"With

you undertake a job

all

heart, Senor,

this very night

on condition that

" .?

paid

accordingly." "

That you

shall

;

but you must suffer yourself to be

blindfolded."

this the

mason made no

winked, he was

objection.

So, being hood-

led by the stranger through various

["4]

rough

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MASON and winding passages,

lanes ix)rtal

The

of a house.

until they

stopped before the

stranger then applied a key, turned

and opened what sounded

a creaking lock,

like a

ponderous

They entered, the door was closed and bolted, and the mason was conducted through an echoing corridor and a spacious hall to an interior part of the building. Here the door.

bandage was remctved from in

his eyes,

and he found himself

a court, dimly lighted by a single lamp.

In the centre

was the dry basin of an old Moorish fountain, under which

him to form a small vault, bricks hand for the purpose. He accordingly

the stranger requested

and mortar being

worked

night, but without finishing the job.

all

Just before

daybreak the stranger put a piece of gold into his hand,

and having again blindfolded him, conducted him back to his dwelling.

"Are you your work

willing,"

said

" Gladly, seiior, provided

"Well, then, to-morrow

he,

"to return and complete

so well paid."

" ?

did so, and

"Now,"

the vault

midnight

will call

again."

was completed.

"you must help me

said the stranger,

to bring

forth the bodies that are to be buried in this vault."

The poor mason's

hair rose

on his head

at these

words

he followed the stranger, with trembling steps, into a retired

chamber

of the mansion, expecting to behold

some ghastly

was relieved on perceiving three or standing in one corner. They were evidently

spectacle of death, but

four portly jars full

of money,

and

stranger carried

them

tomb.

The

and

traces of the

all

was with great labor that he and the

vault

forth

was then

and consigned them closed, the

work were

their

pavement replaced,

obliterated.

["5]

The mason was

THE ALHAMBRA again hoodwinked and led forth by a route different from that

After they had wandered for a

by which he had come.

long time through a perplexed maze of lanes and

The

halted.

hand

" :

bell toll

said he,

for matins.

until

you hear the cathedral

you presume to uncover your eyes

before that time, evil will befall you"

so saying, he departed.

amusing himself by weighing

waited faithfully,

the gold pieces in his hand, and clinking

The moment

other.

they

stranger then put two pieces of gold into his

Wait here,"

The mason

alleys,

them

the cathedral bell rang

against each

its

matin peal,

he uncovered his eyes, and found himself on the banks of the Xenil

;

whence he made the

best of his

way home, and

revelled with his family for a whole fortnight on the profits

work

of his two nights'

holidays,

and

from year

to year, while his family

at the

being a griping landlord.

moment from beneath " I

As he was

as gaunt

seated one eve-

money eyed him

for

you are very poor."

no denying the

owning many houses, and

for

The man

a pair of anxious shagged eyebrows.

told, friend, that

There

days and

saints'

grew up

door of his hovel, he was accosted by a rich old

curmudgeon, who was noted

and keep

little,

ragged as a crew of gypsies.

ning

which he was as poor as ever.

after

;

continued to work a

fact,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

senor,

speaks for

itself." '"

presume, then, that you

will

be glad of a job, and will

work cheap." "

That

cheap, 's

what

decay, which costs in repair, for it

want.

Granada."

have an old house fallen into

me more money than

nobody

up and keep

mason

master, as any I

will live in

;

it is

worth to keep

must contrive

together at as small expense as possible." [.ii6]

to patch

••rft

^*N»

H!%

(I 4.:. :-=iis;-:»?5i,--.

"ja,

STREET OF THE DARRO

THE ALHAMBRA The mason was

accordingly conducted to a large deserted

house that seemed going

empty

to ruin.

Passing through several

and chambers, he entered an inner

halls

his eye was caught by an old Moorish fountain.

moment,

for a

dreaming

for a

court,

where

paused

recollection of the place

came

over him, " Pray," said he, "

pest

miser,

who

upon him

who occupied !

house formerly

this

" cried the landlord

rich, and,

would leave

all

having no

relations,

his treasures to the

"it was an old

;

cared for nobody but himself.

immensely

was said

was thought he

Church.

" ?

died suddenly,

but nothing could be found but a few ducats in a leathern

The

purse.

worst luck has fallen on me,

the old fellow continues to occupy

and there

rent,

for,

since his death,

house without paying

The

no taking the law of a dead man.

people pretend to hear the clinking of gold

all

night in the

chamber where the old miser slept, as if he were counting over his money, and sometimes a groaning and moaning

Whether true or false, name on my house, and

about the court.

these stories have

brought a bad

not a tenant will

remain ""

in it."

Enough,"

mason sturdily "let me live in your some better tenant present, and I will

said the

house rent-free

until

engage

in repair,

to put

disturbs

it.

and

to quiet the troubled spirit that

good Christian and a poor man, and

not to be daunted by the Devil himself, even though he should

come

in the

The

shape of a big bag of money

his family into the house,

engagements. state

;

mason was

offer of the honest

moved with

little

and

little

" !

gladly accepted

and

he restored

;

fulfilled all his it

to its

former

the clinking of gold was no more heard at night in

[iiS]

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MASON the

chamber of the defunct miser, but began

day

in the

be heard by

pocket of the Hving mason. In a word, he increased

rapidly in wealth,

became one of the

the admiration of

richest

men

all

his neighbors,

Granada, and never

re-

vealed the secret of the vault until on his death-bed to his

son and

heir.

[^19]

THE COURT OF LIONS '^^HE

peculiar

power of

charm

dreamy palace

of this old

up vague

calling

reveries

its

and picturings of

the past, and thus clothing naked realities with the

memory and

illusions of the to

the imagination.

walk in these "vain shadows,"

delight

prone to seek those

Alhambra which are most favorable to this phanand none are more so than the Court of Lions, and its surrounding halls. Here the hand of time has fallen the lightest, and the traces of Moorish elegance parts of the

tasmagoria of the mind

and splendor

;

exist in almost their original brilliancy.

quakes have shaken the foundations of this rudest towers

;

yet see

all

Earth-

and rent

its

not one of those slender columns has

been displaced, not an arch of that light and given way, and

pile,

fragile

colonnade

the fairy fretwork of these domes, appar-

ently as unsubstantial as the crystal fabrics of a morning's frost, exist after

the lapse of centuries, almost as fresh as

from the hand of the Moslem

artist.

[120]

write in the midst of

THE COURT OF these

mementos

fountain, the legendary ;

of the past, in the fresh hour of early morn-

ing, in the fated Hall of the

LIO

The

Abencerrages.

monument

the lofty jet almost casts

blood-stained

of their massacre,

dew upon my

its

before

paper.

How

the ancient tale of violence and blood

difficult to reconcile

with the gentle and peaceful scene around

Everything here

appears calculated to inspire kind and happy feelings, for everything

delicate

and

The

beautiful.

very light

tenderly from above, through the lantern of a

and wrought as

brilliant

behold the Court of Lions, with

sunshine gleaming along

in its fountains.

The

lively

rising with a surge, darts

busy bee

toils

butterflies

its

away twittering over the

humming among

the flower-beds

hover from plant to plant, and

unison with

its

;

flutter

roofs

the

;

and painted

up and sport

air.

He, however, who would behold in

colonnades and sparkling

swallow dives into the court, and,

with each other in the sunny

falls

tinted

Through the ample and

fairy hands.

fretted arch of the portal

dome

this scene

under an aspect

him come when the

fortunes, let

shadows of evening temper the brightness of the throw a gloom into the surrounding

halls.

and

court,

Then nothing

can be more serenely melancholy, or more in harmony with the tale of departed grandeur.

At such

times

apt to seek the Hall of Justice, whose

deep shadowy arcades extend across the upper end of the court. Here was performed, in presence of Ferdinand and Isabella

and

their

triumphant court, the pompous ceremonial

High Mass, on taking possession

very cross

is still

of the

Alhambra. The

be seen upon the wall, where the

was erected, and where

officiated

the

altar

Grand Cardinal

Spain, and others of the highest religious dignitaries of the

[I.M]

;

THE ALHAMBRA land,

picture to myself the scene

when

this place

was

filled

with the conquering host, that mixture of mitred prelate and

shaven monk, and steel-clad knight and silken courtier crosses

and

crosiers

and

;

when

mingled

religious standards were

with proud armorial ensigns and the banners of the haughty chiefs of Spain,

lem

halls.

and flaunted

triumph through these Mos-

picture to myself Columbus, the future discoverer

of a world, taking his modest stand in a remote corner, the

humble and neglected spectator of the pageant.

see in

imagination the Catholic sovereigns prostrating themselves before the

altar,

and pouring forth thanks

for their victory

while the vaults resound with sacred minstrelsy, and the

deep-toned Te

The

Denm.

transient illusion

the fancy,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; monarch,

over,

priest,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the pageant

and warrior return

melts from into oblivion

Moslems over whom they exulted. The hall of their triumph is waste and desolate. The bat flits about its twilight vault, and the owl hoots from the neighboring Tower of Comares. with the poor

Entering the Court of the Lions a few evenings since,

was almost

startled at

For a moment one of the

seated near the fountain. of the place

seemed

realized

Barbary,

become visible. He proved, howmere ordinary mortal, a native of Tetuan, in

who had

he sold rhubarb, ish fluently,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

a shop in the Zacatin of Granada, where

trinkets,

and perfumes. As he spoke Span-

was enabled

and found him shrewd and

came up the

fictions

an enchanted Moor had broken

the spell of centuries, and ever, to be a

beholding a turbaned Moor quietly

hill

of the day in the

to hold conversation with him, intelligent.

occasionally in the

told

summer,

that he

to pass a part

Alhambra, which reminded him of the old

[122]

/-"^^ f

'' '' ".-

/VjiVM.1!<

il'fVI^IC

THE HALL OF JUSTICE

Cili,

THE ALHAMBRA palaces in Barbary, being built and adorned in similar style,

though with more magnificence.

As we walked

about the palace, he pointed out several of

much

the Arabic inscriptions, as possessing

"Ah,

"when

senor," said he,

poetic beauty.

the Moors held Granada,

they were a gayer people than they are nowadays.

They

They made

stanzas

thought only of love, music, and poetry.

upon every occasion, and could

make

all

He who

to music.

who had

the most tune-

any one asked for bread, the reply was

couplet

them

might be sure of favor and preferment.

ful voice,

days,

set

the best verses, and she

and the poorest beggar,

;

In those

Make me

he begged

rhyme,

would often be rewarded with a piece of gold." " lost

And

the popular feeling for poetry," said

among you

"By no

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as

sefior

in old times

The

then.

" entirely

means,

of the lower classes,

too

the people of Barbary, even those

;

still ;

make

couplets

but talent

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and

good ones

not rewarded as

rich prefer the jingle of their gold to the

was

sound

of poetry or music."

As he was

talking, his eye caught

which foretold perpetuity

one of the inscriptions

power and glory of the Mos-

to the

lem monarchs, the masters of this pile. He shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders, as he interpreted it. " Such might have been the case," said he; "the Moslems might still

have been reigning in the Alhambra, had not Boabdil

been a

traitor,

and given up his

capital to the Christians.

The

Spanish monarchs would never have been able to conquer

by open force." I

endeavored to vindicate the memory of the unlucky

Boabdil from this aspersion, and to show that the dissensions

[124]

;

THE COURT OF LIONS which led to the downfall of the Moorish throne originated

But the Moor would

in the cruelty of his tiger-hearted father.

admit of no

palliation.

Muley Abul Hassan," said he, " might have been cruel but he was brave, vigilant, and patriotic. Had he been properly seconded, Granada would still have been ours but his "

;

son Boabdil thwarted his plans, crippled his power, sowed

May

treason in his palace and dissension in his camp.

the

God light upon him for his treachery " With these words the Moor left the Alhambra. The indignation of my turbaned companion agrees with curse of

an anecdote related by a friend, who, in the course of a tour in Barbary,

had an interview with the Pacha of Tetuan. The

Moorish governor was particular

in his inquiries about Spain,

and especially concerning the favored region of Andalusia, the delights of Granada, and the remains of

The

replies

awakened

all

its

royal palace.

those fond recollections, so deeply

cherished by the Moors, of the power and splendor of their

Turning

ancient empire in Spain.

to his

Moslem

attendants,

the Pacha stroked his beard, and broke forth in passionate

lamentations that such a sceptre should have fallen from the

sway of true believers.

consoled himself, however, with

the persuasion that the power and prosperity of the Spanish nation were on the decline the

Moors would conquer

;

that a time

their rightful domains,

day was perhaps not far distant when

would again be offered up

Mohammedan Such

prince

sit

in the

who

and that the

Mohammedan

mosque

[1^5]

and a

Alhambra.

among

consider Spain, or Andaluz, as

ciently called, their rightful heritage, of

worship

of Cordova,

his throne in the

the general aspiration and belief

of Barbary,

would come when

the it

Moors

was an-

which they have been

THE ALHAMBRA These

despoiled by treachery and violence.

ideas are fostered

and perpetuated by the descendants of the exiled Moors of

among

Granada, scattered

Several of

the cities of Barbary.

these reside in Tetuan, preserving their ancient names, such as Paez

and Medina, and refraining from intermarriage with origin. Their

any families who cannot claim the same high vaunted lineage rarely

shown

regarded with a degree of popular deference

Mohammedan communities

any hereditary

distinction, excepting in the royal line.

These trial

families,

it is

said,

continue to sigh after the terres-

paradise of their ancestors, and to put up prayers in their

mosques on Fridays, imploring Allah

Granada

shall

to hasten the time

be restored to the faithful

an event

when which

they look forward as fondly and confidently as did the Chris-

Holy Sepulchre.

tian crusaders to the recovery of the it

added that some of them

retain the ancient

deeds of the estates and gardens of their ancestors

and even the keys

of the houses, holding

them

Nay,

maps and

Granada,

as evidences

of their hereditary claims, to be produced at the anticipated

day of restoration.

conversation with the

fate of Boabdil.

that bestowed

Moor

upon him by

The Unlucky. His

musing on the

his subjects, of El Zogoybi, or

misfortunes began almost in his cradle,

and ceased not even with

his death.

desire of leaving an honorable cruelly has

set

Never was surname more applicable than

If ever

name on

he cherished the

the historic page,

he been defrauded of his hopes

Who

how

there

that has turned the least attention to the romantic history of

the Moorish domination in Spain, without kindling with in-

dignation at the alleged atrocities of Boabdil

Who

has not

been touched with the woes of his lovely and gentle queen,

[126]

V::'

"^^ THK COURT OF LIONS

'^;

;

THE ALHAMBRA him

subjected by

Who has not

to a trial of life

and her two children, not

felt his

and death, on a

in a transport of passion

beheaded

in the

Who

has

affirmed, he ordered

Court of Lions

have been reiterated in various forms ballads, dramas,

and romances,

ough possession

of the public

;

they have passed into

until they

mind

All these charges

have taken too thor-

There Alhambra but

to be eradicated.

not a foreigner of education that visits the

sister

blood boil at the inhuman massacre of the gallant

Abencerrages, thirty-six of whom, to be

charge

false

been shocked by his alleged murder of his

asks for the fountain where the Abencerrages were beheaded,

and gazes with horror said to have

at the grated gallery

been confined

;

where the queen

not a peasant of the

Vega

the Sierra but sings the story in rude couplets, to the accom-

paniment of the very

his guitar, while

name

Never, however, was dered.

have examined

ters written

some eigns, I

all

foully

and unjustly

slan-

the authentic chronicles and

were

in the

let-

confidence of the Catholic sover-

actually present in the

have examined

to,

name more

by Spanish authors contemporary with Boabdil

whom

and

his hearers learn to execrate

of Boabdil.

all

camp throughout

the Arabian authorities

the war.

could get access

through the medium of translation, and have found noth-

ing to justify these dark and hateful accusations. of these tales Civil

Wars

may be

traced to a

work commonly

The most "The

called

of Granada," containing a pretended history of

the feuds of the Zegris and Abencerrages, during the last struggle of the Moorish empire. nally in Spanish,

and professed

The work appeared to

origi-

be translated from the

Arabic by one Gines Perez de Hita, an inhabitant of Murcia. It

has since passed into various languages, and Florian has

[138]

THE COURT OF LIONS taken from It

much

of the fable of his

Gonzalvo of Cordova,

has thus, in a great measure, usurped the authority of real

and

history,

currently believed by the people, and especially

The whole

the peasantry of Granada.

mass of give

falsity

fiction,

;

air of veracity.

however,

it,

could have been recorded by a

the wilful perversions of this

Moors being

and scenes depicted

compatible with their habits and their

confess there seems to

truths,

faith,

totally in-

writer.

something almost criminal great latitude

its

extrav-

and which never

Mohammedan

work

which

bears internal evidence of

the manners and customs of the

agantly misrepresented in

mingled with a few disfigured

undoubt-

edly to be allowed to romantic fiction, but there are limits

which

must not pass

;

and the names

dead, which belong to history, are no

than those of the illustrious living. too, that the

of the distinguished

be calumniated

One would have

thought,

unfortunate Boabdil had suffered enough for his

justifiable hostility to the Spaniards,

by being stripped of his

kingdom, wdthout having his name thus wantonly traduced,

and rendered a by-word and a theme of infamy land,

and

in the

very mansion of his fathers

[

129

]

in his native

f ,y>!^'

^\^'-J'X^Âť^

MEMENTOS OF BOABDIL

WHILE my

mind was

still

the unfortunate Boabdil,

mementos

him

still

sovereignty and misfortunes.

warm I

with the subject of

set forth to trace the

existing in this scene of his

In the Tower of

Comares,

immediately under the Hall of Ambassadors, are two vaulted rooms, separated by a narrow passage.

These are

said to

have been the prisons of himself and his mother, the virtuous

Ayxa

Horra,

Indeed, no other part of the tower would

have served for the purpose.

The

external walls of these

chambers are of prodigious thickness, pierced with small

windows secured by

iron bars.

narrow stone

gallery, with

a low parapet, extends along three sides of the tower just

below the windows, but ground.

From

this gallery,

a considerable height from the it is

presumed, the queen lowered

[130]

M EM

O S OF B O A B D E I

her son with the scarfs of herself and her female attendants

during the darkness of the night to the

where some

hillside,

of his faithful adherents waited with fleet steeds to bear to the

him

mountains.

Between three and four hundred years have elapsed, yet scene of the drama remains almost unchanged. As I

this

])aced the gallery,

imagination pictured the anxious queen

leaning over the parapet, listening, with the throbbings of a

mother's heart, to the

echoes of the horses' hoofs as her

last

son scoured along the narrow valley of the Darro. I

next sought the gate by which Boabdil

from the Alhambra, when about

With

kingdom.

Isabella, I

some

and

spirit,

superstitious feeling, he requested of

it.

His prayer, according

per-

to ancient

was complied with, through the sympathy of

and the gate was walled up.

some time

inquired for

length

to surrender his capital

monarchs that no one afterwards might be

mitted to pass through chronicles,

his last exit

the melancholy caprice of a broken

or perhaps with

the Catholic

made

my humble

in vain for

attendant,

such a portal.

Mateo Ximenes,

said

At must

be one closed up with stones, which, according to what he

had heard from his father and grandfather, was the gateway by which King Chico had mystery about

memory

it,

and

to the spot.

immense

Seven Floors (La Torre de

The gateway pile, called

the

los Siete Suelos).

the centre

Tower It is

of the

famous

neighborhood as the scene of strange apparitions and

Moorish enchantments. According it

There was

the fortress.

of the oldest inhabitant.

conducted

of what was once an

in the

left

had never been opened within the

Swinburne, the

was originally the great gate of entrance.

The

traveller,

antiquaries

THE ALHAMBRA of

Granada pronounce

royal residence It,

therefore,

the entrance to that quarter of the

where the king's body-guards were stationed.

might well form an immediate entrance and

exit to the palace

;

while the grand Gate of Justice served as

When

the entrance of state to the fortress.

Boabdil sallied

by this gate to descend to the Vega, where he was to

sur-

render the keys of the city to the Spanish sovereigns, he his vizier,

Aben Comixa,

to receive at the

left

Gate of Justice the

detachment from the Christian army and the

officers to

whom

the fortress was to be given up.

The once

Tower

redoubtable

of the

Seven Floors

a mere wreck, having been blown up with

French, when they abandoned the fortress. the wall

now

gunpowder by the Great masses of

scattered about, buried in luxuriant herbage, or

lie

overshadowed by vines and

The

fig-trees.

way, though rent by the shock,

still

remains

arch of the gate;

but the last wish

of poor Boabdil has again, though unintentionally, been fulfilled,

the portal

for

has been closed up by loose stones

gathered from the ruins, and remains impassable.

Mounting my horse, I followed up the route of the Moslem monarch from this place of his exit. Crossing the hill of Los Martyros, and keeping along the garden wall of a convent bearing the same name,

descended a rugged ravine beset

by thickets of aloes and Indian

figs,

and broken

that

this via dolorosa

was

fain to alight

its

and lead

horse.

;

partly, perhaps,

For the

through unwilling-

inhabitants should behold his humiliation

chiefly, in all probability, lest

tation.

descent was so steep

poor Boabdil took his sad departure to avoid

passing through the city ness that

and lined with caves and

The

hovels swarming with gypsies.

last reason,

;

might cause some popular

but agi-

undoubtedly, the detachment sent

to take possession of the fortress [

ascended by the same route.

132]

MEMENTOS OF BOABDIL Emerging from Gate of the

Mills),

Prado

called the

this

rough ravine, so

;

San Sebastian.

of melancholy

los

Molinos (the

upon the public promenade

issued forth

and pursuing the course of the Xenil,

arrived at a small chapel, once a mosque, of

full

and passing by the Puerta de

associations,

now

the Hermitage

Here, according to tradition, Boabdil sur-

rendered the keys of Granada to King Ferdinand.

Vega

slowly thence across the

to a village

rode

where the family

and household of the unhappy king awaited him,

for he

had

them forward on the preceding night from the Alhambra, his mother and wife might not participate in his personal

sent that

humiliation, or be exposed to the gaze of the conquerors.

Following on exiles,

in the route of the

melancholy band of royal

arrived at the foot of a chain of barren

and dreary

heights, forming the skirt of the Alpuxarra mountains.

the

summit

last

look at Granada

rows.

yond

La Cuesta de it,

;

bears a

name

Lagrimas

las

expressive of his sor-

(the Hill of Tears).

Be-

a sandy road winds across a rugged, cheerless waste,

doubly dismal to the unhappy monarch, as I

From

of one of these the unfortunate Boabdil took his

spurred

led to exile.

horse to the summit of a rock, where Boabdil

uttered his last sorrowful exclamation, as he turned his eyes

from taking a farewell gaze Suspiro del

wonder

Moro

at his

anguish

and such an abode yielding up

all

delights of

life.

was here,

it is still

times of

the honors of

Alhambra he seemed to be his line, and all the glories and

too, that his affliction

peril,

and had

resolute spirit.

can

the

reproach of his mother, Ayxa,

own

Who

being expelled from such a kingdom

With

denominated El Ultimo

Sigh of the Moor).

(the Last

was embittered by the

who had

him him her weep as a

so often assisted

vainly sought to instil into

You do [

well," said she, " to

^33]

THE ALHAMBRA woman

man

over what you could not defend as a

;

a speech

savoring more of the pride of the princess than the tenderness of the mother.

When

this

anecdote was related to Charles V, by Bishop

Guevara, the emperor joined in the expression of scorn at the

weakness of the wavering Boabdil. been

I," said the

haughty potentate,

Had " I

been he, or he

would rather have

made this Alhambra my sepulchre than have lived without a kingdom in the Alpuxarra." How easy it is for those in power and prosperity

How

little

to preach

heroism to the vanquished

can they understand that

value with the unfortunate,

when naught

Slowly descending the Hill of Tears, his

own

but let

life

loitering gait back to Granada, while

story of the unfortunate Boabdil over in

may

itself

life

rise in

remains

horse take

turned the

mind.

In sum-

moning up the particulars, I found the balance inclining in his favor. Throughout the whole of his brief, turbulent, and disastrous reign, he gives evidence of a mild

He,

character.

in the first instance,

won

people by his affable and gracious manners placable,

those

and never

who

inflicted

;

occasionally rebelled against him.

and

perplexity,

he was always

any severity of punishment upon

sonally brave, but wanted moral courage difficulty

and amiable

the hearts of his

;

was wavering and

irresolute.

feebleness of spirit hastened his downfall, while

him

was per-

and, in times of

This

deprived

of that heroic grace which would have given grandeur

and dignity the splendid

to his fate,

drama

and rendered him worthy of closing

of the

Moslem domination

[^34]

Spain.

;'ÂŤ^;>,

4./^^*^>^^>-;.:,-^.

V,'

^i'*

^ ,AV

l^*f/ftC

*)l*ft.

LOCAL TRADITIONS

^HE common people of Spain have an Oriental passion for story-telling, will

and are fond

of the marvellous.

They

gather round the doors of their cottages in sum-

mer evenings,

or in the great cavernous chimney-corners of

the voitas in the winter, and listen with insatiable delight to

miraculous legends of saints, perilous adventures of travellers,

and daring and

exploits of robbers

and

contr-abaiidistas.

The

wild

solitary character of the country, the imperfect diffusion

of knowledge, the scarceness of general topics of conversation,

and the romantic adventurous

in a land

where travelling

yet in

life

its

that every one leads

primitive state,

tribute to cherish this love of oral narration,

a strong infusion of the extravagant

and

incredible.

all

con-

produce

There

no theme, however, more prevalent and popular than that of treasures buried by the

Moors

;

pervades the whole country.

In traversing the wild sierras, the scenes of ancient foray and

[135]

THE ALHAM BRA exploit,

you cannot see a Moorish atalaya, or watch-tower,

perched

among

lage, but

the cHffs, or beethng above

its

rock-built vil-

your muleteer, on being closely questioned,

pend the smoking

of his cigarrillo to tell

gold buried beneath

its

foundations

alcdzaj' in a city but has

;

some

nor

tale of

will sus-

Moslem

there a ruined

golden tradition, handed down

its

from generation to generation

among

the poor people of the

neighborhood.

These, like most popular scanty groundwork of fact.

and Christian, which and

castles

were

fictions,

have sprung from some

During the wars between Moor

distracted this country for centuries, towns

liable frequently

and suddenly

change

owners, and the inhabitants, during sieges and assaults, were fain to bury their

money and

them

wells, as is often

in vaults

and

jewels in the earth, or hide

done

at the

present day

the despotic and belligerent countries of the East. At the

time of the expulsion of the Moors

also,

many

them con-

cealed their most precious effects, hoping that their exile would

be but temporary, and that they would be enabled to return

and

retrieve their treasures at

that

from time

some

future day.

to time hoards of gold

and

It is certain

have

silver coin

been accidentally digged up, after a lapse of centuries, from

among it

the ruins of Moorish fortresses and habitations

;

and

requires but a few facts of the kind to give birth to a thou-

sand

fictions.

The

stories thus originating

have generally something of

an Oriental tinge, and are marked with that mixture of the Arabic and the Gothic which seems to

everything in Spain, and especially in

southern provinces.

The hidden

wealth

its

to characterize

always laid under magic

secured by charm and talisman.

[136]

Sometimes

spell,

and

guarded by

"^â&#x20AC;¢f 1

THE ALHAMBRA uncouth monsters or Moors,

who

sit

less as statues,

its history, is

and various

sometimes by enchanted

armor, with drawn swords, but motion-

maintaining a sleepless watch for ages.

The Alhambra of

fiery dragons,

of course, from the peculiar circumstances

a stronghold for popular fictions of the kind

;

digged up from time to time, have con-

relics,

At one time an earthen

tributed to strengthen them.

vessel

was found containing Moorish coins and the skeleton of a cock, which, according to the opinion of certain shrewd inspectors,

must have been buried

alive.

vessel

was dug up containing a great

baked

clay,

scarabceiis or beetle of

covered with Arabic inscriptions, which was pro-

nounced a prodigious amulet of occult

who

the wits of the ragged brood

been

At another time

In this way Alhambra have

virtues.

inhabit the

set wool-gathering, until there is not a hall,

scene of some marvellous tradition.

Having,

nor tower,

made

the

trust, in

the

nor vault, of the old fortress, that has not been

preceding papers made the reader in some degree familiar with the localities of the Alhambra,

shall

now launch

out

largely into the wonderful legends connected with

and which

from various legendary scraps and hints picked up course of

it,

have diligently wrought into shape and form, perambulations,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

in the

antiquary works out a regular historical

in the

same manner that an document from a few

scattered letters of an almost defaced inscription. If

anything in these legends should shock the faith of the

remember the nature of the place and make due allowances. He must not expect here the same laws of probability that govern commonplace scenes and every-day life he must remember that he treads the halls over-scrupulous reader, he must

;

of an enchanted palace,

and

that

[m8]

all is

"haunted ground."

^â&#x20AC;˘'^-v

THE HOUSE OF THE WEATHERCOCK THE

brow of the

lofty hill of the Albaicin, the

highest part of Granada, and which rises from the

narrow valley of the Darro, directly opposite to the Alhambra, stands palace of the Moors. that

cost

all

that

is left

of what was once a royal

It has, in fact, fallen into

me much

trouble to find

it,

such obscurity,

though aided

Mateo Ximenes. centuries the name of The House

researches by the sagacious and all-knowing

This

edifice has

of the

borne for

Weathercock

(La Casa del Gallo de Viento), from

a bronze figure on one of

its turrets,

in ancient times, of a

warrior on horseback, and turning with every breeze.

This

weathercock was considered by the Moslems of Granada, a portentous talisman.

According

some

traditions,

bore

an Arabic inscription which has been rendered into Spanish

[T39]

THE ALHAMBRA

And

Dice

Que

asi se

into English

sabio

Aben Habuz,

defiende

Anduluz.

way, says Aben Habuz the Wise,

this

Andaluz guards against

This Aben Habuz, according

surprise.

some of the Moorish chronicles, was a captain in the invading army of Taric, one of the conquerors of Spain, who left him as Alcayde of

Granada.

supposed

perpetual warning to the

rounded by

foes,

their

have intended

Moslems

safety

depended upon

always on their guard and ready for the Others,

this effigy as a

of Andaluz,

sur-

that,

their

being

field.

among whom is the Christian historian Marmol, Aben Habus" to have been a Moorish Sultan

affirm " Badis of Granada,

and that the weathercock was intended as a

petual admonition of the instability of

ing the following words in Arabic "

Thus Ibn Habus

Moslem power,

per-

bear-

badise predicts Andalus shall one

day vanish and pass away."

Another version of

this portentous inscription is given

Moslem historian, on the authority of Sidi Hasan, a faquir who flourished about the time of Ferdinand and Isabella, and who was present at the taking down of the weathercock, when

the old Kassaba was undergoing repairs.

"I saw eyes

;

it,"

says

inscription in verse "

the venerable faquir,

my own

The palace at fair Granada presents a The horseman, though a solid body,

wind.'

"with

was of a heptagonal shape, and had the following talisman.'

turns with every

THE HOUSE OE THE WEATHERCOCK

â&#x20AC;˘

This

to a wise

man

reveals a mystery.

In a

little

while

comes a calamity to ruin both the palace and its owner.' " In effect it was not long after this meddling with the portentous weathercock that the following event occurred. old

Muley Abul Hassan, the king

under a

sumptuous

of Granada,

reviewing

pavilion,

his

was seated

troops,

who

paraded before him in armor of polished steel and gorgeous

mounted on

silken robes,

fleet

and equipped with

steeds,

swords, spears, and shields embossed with gold and silver,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

suddenly a tempest was seen hurrying from the southwest. In a

little

while black clouds overshadowed the heavens and

burst forth with a deluge of rain.

down from trees

;

Torrents came roaring

them rocks and

the mountains, bringing with

the Darro overflowed

its

banks

;

mills

away, bridges destroyed, gardens laid waste

rushed into the inhabitants,

Mosque.

city,

;

were swept

the inundation

undermining houses, drowning

their

and overflowing even the square of the Great

The

people rushed in affright to the mosques to

implore the mercy of Allah, regarding this uproar of the

elements as the harbinger of dreadful calamities

and, indeed,

;

according to the Arabian historian Al Makkari,

was but a

type and prelude of the direful war which ended in the

downfall of the I

Moslem kingdom

of Granada,

have thus given historic authorities sufficient to show

the portentous mysteries connected with the

Weathercock, and I now proceed Aben Habuz and

its

to relate

still

his palace

any doubt be entertained,

Ximenes and

House

of the

talismanic horseman.

;

more surprising things about for the truth of which, should

refer the dubious reader to

his fellow-historiographers of the

[mi]

Mateo

Alhambra.

(-â&#x20AC;˘'C -

'^ A

ti,f't.V>s

riÂťrt*

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER N OLD

times,

many hundred

years ago, there was a

Moorish king named Aben Habuz, who reigned over the

kingdom

of Granada.

was a

retired conqueror,

more youthful days led that he was grown feeble and superannuated, "languished for repose," and desired nothing more than to live at peace with all the world, to husband his laurels, and to enjoy in quiet the possessions he had wrested from his neighbors. It so happened, however, that this most reasonable and that

life

to say,

pacific old full

one who, having

of constant foray

in his

and depredation, now

monarch had young

of his early

were disposed to

rivals to deal

with

;

princes

passion for fame and fighting, and call

him

run up with their fathers.

to account for the scores

who

he had

Certain distant districts of his

1^42

the Arabian astrologer

lp:gend of own

territories, also,

which during the days of

his vigor

had treated with a high hand, were prone, now that he

lan-

for repose, to rise in rebellion and threaten to him in his capital. Thus he had foes on every side Granada is surrounded by wild and craggy mountains,

guished invest

and as

;

which hide the approach of an enemy, the unfortunate Aben

Habuz was kept in a constant state of vigilance and alarm, knowing in what quarter hostilities might break out. It was in vain that he built watch-towers on the moun-

not

tains,

and stationed guards

make

fires

an enemy.

every pass with orders to

by night and smoke by day, on the approach of

His

alert foes, baffling

every precaution, would

some unthought-of defile, ravage his lands very nose, and then make off with prisoners and

break out of

beneath his

booty to the mountains.

Was

ever peaceable and retired

conqueror in a more uncomfortable predicament

While Aben Habuz was harassed by these perplexities and molestations, an ancient Arabian physician arrived at his court. His gray beard descended to his girdle, and he had every mark of extreme age, yet he had travelled almost the whole way from Egypt on foot, with no other aid than a staff, marked with hieroglyphics. His fame had preceded him.

His name was Ibrahim

he was said

have lived

ever since the days of Mahomet, and to be son of

Abu Ayub,

;

He had, when Amru into Egypt,

the last of the companions of the Prophet. a child, followed the conquering

army

where he had remained many years studying the dark sciences,

and It

particularly magic,

among

the Egyptian priests.

was, moreover, said that he had found out the secret

of prolonging

life,

by means of which he had arrived to the

great age of upwards of two centuries, though, as he did not

[143]

THE ALHAMBRA discover the secret until well stricken in years, he could only

perpetuate his gray hairs and wrinkles.

This wonderful old king

;

man was

honorably entertained by the

who, like most superannuated monarchs, began to take

physicians into great favor.

would have assigned him an

apartment in his palace, but the astrologer preferred a cave in the side of the hill

which

above the

rises

city of

Granada,

being the same on which the Alhambra has since been

built.

caused the cave to be enlarged so as to form a spacious

and

lofty hall, with a circular hole at the top,

through which,

as through a well, he could see the heavens

and behold the

stars

even

mid-day.

The

walls of this hall were covered

with Egyptian hieroglyphics with cabalistic symbols, and with the figures of the stars in their signs.

with

ning

many implements, artificers of

were known only In a

This

hall

he furnished

fabricated under his directions by cun-

Granada, but the occult properties of which to himself.

while the sage Ibrahim became the bosom coun-

little

who applied to him for advice in every Aben Habuz was once inveighing against the

sellor of the king,

emergency.

injustice of his neighbors,

and bewailing the

restless vigilance

he had to observe to guard himself against their invasions

when he had

finished, the astrologer

remained

king, that,

moment, and then in

Egypt,

of old.

replied, "

Know,

;

silent for a

when

was

beheld a great marvel devised by a pagan priestess a mountain, above the city of Borsa,

and over-

looking the great valley of the Nile, was a figure of a ram,

and above

a figure of a cock, both of molten brass, and

Whenever the country was threatened ram would turn in the direction of the

turning upon a pivot. with invasion, the

enemy, and the cock would crow

[144]

;

upon

this the inhabitants

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER knew of the danger, and of the quarter from which was approaching, and could take timely means to guard

of the city it

against

it."

"Allah "

great!"

these mountains around in

time of danger

sleep in

The

Allah

Aben Habuz,

exclaimed the pacific

what a treasure would be such a ram ;

keep an eye upon

and then such a cock, great

how

securely

palace with such sentinels on the top

to I

crow

might

" !

astrologer waited until the ecstasies of the king had

subsided, and then proceeded

Amru

"After the victorious

finished his conquest of Egypt,

(may he I

and seeking

knowledge

for

remained among the

and ceremonies of

of the land, studying the rites

trous faith,

rest in peace

make myself master

which they are renowned.

had

priests

their idola-

of the hidden

was one day

seated on the banks of the Nile, conversing with an ancient

when he pointed

priest,

can teach thee,' said he,

mighty

in those

mid

mighty pyramids which rose

and with him taining

piles.

enclosed the

after his

art.

who knows I

;

This book was given

and was handed down from generaKing Solomon the Wise, and by its aid

fall,

he built the Temple of Jerusalem,

When

mummy

aided in rearing that stupendous pile

How

possession of the builder of the pyramids

buried a wondrous book of knowledge, con-

tion to generation to

alone

All that

In the centre of the central pyra-

the secrets of magic and

all

Adam

who

nothing to the knowledge locked

a sepulchral chamber, in which

of the high-priest

to the

mountains out of the neighboring desert.

all

came into the known to Him

things.'

heard these words of the Egyptian

heart burned to get possession of that book.

[I4S]

could

priest,

command

THE ALHAMBRA many

the services of

and

of a

number

of the soldiers of our conquering army,

of the native Egyptians

with these

work, and pierced the solid mass of the pyramid,

set

until,

came upon one of its interior and hidden passages. Following this up, and threading a fearful laby-

after great

rinth,

toil,

penetrated into the very heart of the pyramids, even

to the sepulchral

priest

the

had

mummy,

at length it

chamber, where the

lain for ages.

unfolded

many wrappers and bandages, and

found the precious volume on

with a trembling hand, and groped

mid, leaving the

of the high-

broke through the outer cases of

its

mummy

its

bosom.

my way

seized

out of the pyra-

dark and silent sepulchre,

its

there to await the final day of resurrection and judgment." "

Son

Abu Ayub,"

been a great avail to

traveller, is

exclaimed

"This

is,

all

and seen marvellous things but of what ;

king!

magic

man "

of Borsa I

arts,

of genii to accomplish

can

" thou hast

the secret of the pyramid, and the volume of

knowledge of the wise Solomon structed in

Aben Habuz,

" ?

the study of that book

in-

and can command the assistance

The mystery

plans.

of the Talis-

therefore familiar to me, and such a talisman

make, nay, one of greater virtues." wise son of

Abu Ayub,"

were such a talisman than

all

cried

Aben Habuz,

"better

the watch-towers on the

hills,

and sentinels upon the borders. Give me such a safeguard, and the riches of my treasury are at thy command."

The astrologer immediately set of the monarch.

work

to gratify the wishes

caused a great tower to be erected upon

the top of the royal palace, which stood on the brow of the hill

of the Albaicin.

The tower was

from Egypt, and taken,

said,

[146

built of stones

brought

from one of the pyramids.

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOCxER In the upper part of the tower was a circular

with win-

hall,

dows looking towards every point of the compass, and before each window was a table, on which was arranged, as on a chess-board, a

mimic army

and

of horse

with the effigy

foot,

of the potentate that ruled in that direction,

wood.

carved of

all

each of these tables there was a small lance, on

which were engraved certain characters.

This

hall

was kept

constantly closed, by a gate of brass, with a great lock of

the key of which was in possession of the king.

steel,

the top of the tower was a bronze figure of a Moorish

horseman, fixed on a

pivot, with a shield

lance elevated perpendicularly.

was towards the

The

on one arm, and

face of this

keeping guard over

his

horseman if

any

foe were at hand, the figure would turn in that direction,

and

would

city,

level the lance as

When

its

virtues,

gratified.

but

Aben Habuz was

and longed as ardently

vasion as he had ever sighed after repose.

soon

;

for action.

talisman was finished,

this

impatient to try

for

all

in-

His desire was

Tidings were brought, early one morning, by

the sentinel appointed to watch the tower, that the face of the

bronze horseman was turned towards the mountains of Elvira,

and

that his lance pointed directly against the Pass of Lope.

" Let the

drums and trumpets sound to arms, and alert," said Aben Habuz.

all

Granada be put on the "

king," said the astrologer, "

quieted, nor your warriors called to

let

not your city be dis-

arms

;

we need no

aid of

force to deliver you from your enemies. Dismiss your attendants,

and

The

let

us proceed alone to the secret hall of the tower."

ancient

Aben Habuz mounted

the staircase of the

more ancient Ibrahim. They unlocked the brazen door and entered. The window tower, leaning on the

arm

of the

[U7]

still

THE ALHAMBRA direction," said the astrologer,

lies

the danger; approach.

and behold the mystery of the

king,

King Aben Habuz approached

table."

the seeming chess-board,

on which were arranged the small wooden he perceived that they were

his surprise,

" In this

Lope was open.

that looked towards the Pass of

effigies,

all

when,

The

in motion.

horses pranced and curveted, the warriors brandished their

weapons, and there was a faint sound of drums and trumpets,

and the clang of arms, and neighing of steeds

louder, nor

distinct,

hum

than the

summer-fly, in the drowsy ear of him

;

but

all

of the bee, or the

who

lies at

noontide

in the shade.

" Behold,

"a proof that thy They must be advancing through yonder mountains, by the Pass of Lope. Would you produce a panic and confusion amongst them, and cause them king," said the astrologer,

enemies are even now

in the field.

to retreat without loss of

life,

but-end of this magic lance

and carnage,

;

strike these effigies with the

would you cause bloody feud

strike with the point."

Aben

livid streak passed across the countenance of

Habuz

he seized the lance with trembling eagerness

;

his

gray beard wagged with exultation as he tottered toward the table "

"' :

think

Son of Abu Ayub," exclaimed " we will have a little blood

saying, he thrust the magic lance into

effigies,

upon each It

some

of the

pigmy

and belabored others with the but-end, upon which

the former

he, in chuckling tone,

fell

as dead

upon the

board,

other, began, pell-mell, a

was with

difficulty the astrologer

the most pacific of monarchs,

absolutely exterminating

his

foes

[148]

;

and the

rest turning

chance-medley

fight.

could stay the hand

and prevent him from at

length he prevailed

COURT OF THE GENERALIFE

THE ALHAMBRA upon him

and

to leave the tower,

send out scouts to the

mountains by the Pass of Lope.

They returned with

the intelUgence that a Christian

had advanced through the heart of the sight of Granada,

them

;

where

they had turned

a dissension

their

had broken out among

weapons against each

much slaughter had retreated over the Aben Habuz was transported with joy on efficacy of the talisman. " At length," said

after

life

of tranquillity,

wise son of

and have

Abu Ayub, what

reward for such a blessing "

The wants

few and simple

all

army

Sierra, almost within

my can

and

border.

thus proving the he, "

enemies I

other,

shall lead

power.

bestow on thee in

man and a philosopher, O king, are me but the means of fitting up my hermitage, and I am content."

of an old ;

cave as a suitable

grant

""How noble is the moderation of the truly wise " exclaimed Aben Habuz, secretly pleased at the cheapness of the recompense. He summoned his treasurer, and bade him !

dispense whatever sums might be required by Ibrahim to

complete and furnish his hermitage.

The astrologer now gave orders to have various chambers hewn out of the solid rock, so as to form ranges of apartments connected with to

his astrological hall

;

these he caused

be furnished with luxurious ottomans and divans, and the

walls to be

hung with

the richest silks of Damascus.

an old man," said he, "and can no longer stone couches, and these

damp

rest

and aromatic

oils.

bones on

walls require covering."

had baths too constructed, and provided with

of perfumes

For a bath," said

all

kinds

he, "

necessary to counteract the rigidity of age, and to restore freshness and suppleness to the frame withered by study."

LKGKNI) OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER He silver

caused the apartments to be hung with innumerable

and

which he

crystal lamps,

with a fragrant

filled

oil

prepared according to a receipt discovered by him in the

tombs of Egypt.

This

was perpetual

oil

in its nature,

and

The

diffused a soft radiance like the tempered light of day. light of the sun," said he, "

too gairish

and violent

eyes of an old man, and the light of the lamp

for the

more congenial

to the studies of a philosopher."

The treasurer daily demanded

King Aben Habuz groaned

of to

fit

complaints to the king. given

this hermitage,

The

his shoulders

have patience," said he; "this old of a philosophic retreat

from the

and of the vast ruins of Eg}'pt and so

will the

the right

;

man

sums

his

had been

royal word, however,

Aben Habuz shrugged

;

at the

and he carried

must

has taken his idea

interior of the pyramids,

but

all

things have an end,

furnishing of his cavern."

The king was

the hermitage was at length complete, and formed

a sumptuous subterranean palace.

While the philosophic Ibrahim passed his time in his herAben Habuz carried on furious campaigns

mitage, the pacific in efifigy in

man,

and

his tower.

was a glorious thing

like himself, of quiet habits, to

an old easy,

be enabled to amuse himself in his chamber by brushing

away whole armies

like so

For a time he rioted

many swarms

make

incursions

;

flies.

in the indulgence of his

and even taunted and insulted to

for

have war made

humors,

his neighbors, to induce

them

but by degrees they grew wary from

repeated disasters, until no one ventured to invade his ritories.

on the peace establishment, with air

;

ter-

For many months the bronze horseman remained his lance elevated in the

and the worthy old monarch began

[151]

repine at the

THE ALHAMBRA want of

his

accustomed

monotonous

tranquiUity.

sport,

and

length, one day, the tahsmanic

grow peevish

at his

horseman veered sud-

made a dead point toGuadix. Aben Habuz hastened to

denly round, and lowering his lance,

wards the mountains of

magic

his tower, but the

quiet

table in that direction

not a single warrior was in motion.

remained

Perplexed

at the

circumstance, he sent forth a troop of horse to scour the

mountains and reconnoitre.

They returned

after three days'

absence. " have searched every mountain pass," said they, "but

not a helm nor spear was stirring. in the course of our foray,

All that

we have found

was a Christian damsel of surpass-

ing beauty, sleeping at noontide beside a fountain,

whom we

have brought away captive."

damsel of surpassing beauty! " exclaimed Aben Habuz,

his eyes into

The

;

"let her be conducted

was accordingly conducted into

beautiful damsel

presence. that

gleaming with animation presence."

She was arrayed with

all

had prevailed among the Gothic Spaniards

of the Arabian conquest.

;

which hung by her

The

Around her neck

which was suspended a were

like sparks of fire

Aben Habuz. " who and what art thou ?

withered yet combustible heart of "

cried he, "

The daughter

lately ruled

silver lyre,

side.

flashes of her dark eye

women,"

time

and jewels sparkled on her

forehead, rivalling the lustre of her eyes. to

at the

Pearls of dazzling whiteness were

entwined with her raven tresses

was a golden chain,

his

the luxury of ornament

"Fairest of

of one of the Gothic princes,

over this land.

The

armies of

on the

who

but

father have

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER been destroyed, as

by magic,

among

these mountains

has been driven into exile, and his daughter

"Beware,

maybe one

king!" whispered Ibrahim, "this

of those northern sorceresses of

whom we

assume the most seductive forms

to beguile the unwary.

thinks

;

a captive."

have heard, who

Me-

read witchcraft in her eye, and sorcery in every

movement.

Doubtless this

enemy pointed

the

out by the

talisman." "

Son

man,

Abu Ayub,"

replied the king, " thou art a wise

grant, a conjurer for aught

versed in the ways of woman.

harm

in her

she

;

know

;

but thou art

to this damsel,

little

see no

look upon, and finds favor in

fair to

eyes."

Further remonstrances of the astrologer only provoked a

more peremptoiy reply from the monarch, and they parted in

high displeasure.

mitage

;

The

sage shut himself up in his her-

ere he departed, however, he gave the king one

more warning

beware of his dangerous captive.

the old

man

in love that will listen to counsel

study was

how

Gothic beauty. true, but

had not youth

then he had riches

;

The shops

old,

all

;

silks, jewels,

that Asia

and Africa

upon the

prin-

All kinds of spectacles and festivities were devised for

her entertainment

eant.

Granada were ransacked

most precious merchandise of the East

yielded that was rich and rare, were lavished

fights

His only

recommend him,

and when a lover

precious gems, exquisite perfumes,

cess.

render himself amiable in the eyes of the

generally generous. for the

But where

;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Granada

The Gothic

;

minstrelsy, dancing, tournaments, bullfor a time

was a scene of perpetual pag-

princess regarded

all

this splendor with

the air of one accustomed to magnificence.

[153]

She received

THE ALHAMBRA everything as a homage due to her rank, or rather to her for beauty

beauty

;

rank.

Nay, she seemed

the

monarch

lofty in its exactions

even than

to take a secret pleasure in exciting

expenses that made his treasury shrink, and

then treating his extravagant generosity as a mere matter of

With

course.

all

his assiduity

venerable lover could not

any impression on her heart. is true,

and munificence,

nod

made

She never frowned on him,

Whenever he began

but then she never smiled.

There was a mystic

plead his love, she struck her silver lyre.

charm

the

also,

himself that he had

flatter

In an instant the monarch began to

in the sound.

a drowsiness stole over him, and he gradually sank into

;

a sleep.

length a danger burst on the head of

against which his talisman yielded

surrection broke out in his very capital

rounded by an armed life

rabble,

of the Christian damsel.

spirit

was awakened

When

his life

in-

sur-

and the

spark of his ancient warlike

monarch.

sallied forth,

and crushed the insurrection quiet

An was

his palace

in the breast of the

head of a handful of his guards he to flight,

;

who menaced

Aben Habuz,

him no warning.

the

put the rebels

in the bud.

was again restored, he sought the

astrologer,

who still remained shut up in his hermitage. Aben Habuz approached him with a conciliatory tone. O wise son of Abu Ayub," said he, "well didst thou pre"'

dict

thou

dangers to

who

art so

me from

this captive beauty

quick at foreseeing

peril,

tell

what

then,

should do

to avert it."

" Put from thee the infidel damsel "

Sooner would

part with

Habuz.

[154]

who

the cause."

kingdom," cried Aben

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER "

Thou art in danger "Be not harsh and phers

of losing both," repHed the astrologer.

angry,

most profound of philoso-

consider the double distress of a monarch and a lover,

;

me from

and devise some means of protecting which

for power,

its

cares,

would that

;

care not

had some

might take refuge from the world, and

and pomps, and

all

and devote the remainder

troubles,

days to tranquillity and love."

The his

where

the evils by

care not for grandeur,

languish only for repose

quiet retreat

menaced.

astrologer regarded

him

moment from under

for a

bushy eyebrows.

And

what wouldst thou give,

could provide thee such

a retreat ? " Thou shouldst

might

be,

liveth,

name

within

thy

own reward

the scope of

and whatever

;

power, as

soul

should be thine."

Thou

hast heard,

king, of the garden of

rem, one of

the prodigies of Arabia the happy." " I

have heard of that garden

Koran, even I

;

in the chapter entitled

recorded in the

The Dawn

of Day.'

have, moreover, heard marvellous things related of

pilgfims

who had been

wild fables, visited

but

considered them

such as travellers are wont to

tell

who have

king, the tales of travellers," rejoined

the astrologer, gravely, of knov/ledge brought

"for they contain precious

from the ends of the

the palace and garden of

listen

;

remote countries."

" Discredit not,

them

Mecca

true

;

I rem,

what

earth.

rarities

have seen them with mine own eyes

adventure,

for

object of your request.

['55]

has

generally told of

bearing

;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

upon the

THE ALHAMBRA "In my younger I

tended

days,

when

Arab

a mere

Aden, one of them strayed from the I

searched

and

wearied

for several

faint,

When

awoke

and beheld noble

entered,

places

but

;

were

all

wandered on

the

side

found myself

until

streets,

vain,

lost.

until,

came

the

scanty

gate of

well.

city.

and squares, and market-

and without an inhabitant.

silent

and was

rest

but

days,

myself down at noontide, and

laid

under a palm-tree

slept

after

of the desert,

In traversing the desert of

father's camels.

to a

sumptuous

palace, with a

garden adorned with fountains and fish-ponds, and groves

and

flowers,

still

no one was

loneliness,

and orchards laden with delicious hastened to depart

the gate of the

city, I

was no longer

extended before " In

the

Upon

to be seen.

but

;

and, after issuing forth at

turned to look upon the place, but

be seen

;

fruit

which, appalled at this

nothing but the

;

silent

desert

eyes.

neighborhood

met with an aged

dervise,

learned in the traditions and secrets of the land, and related to

him what had

famed garden of It

befallen

only appears at

me.

'This,' said he, 'is the far-

one of the wonders of the

I rem,

desert.

times to some wanderer like thyself,

gladdening him with the sight of towers and palaces and garden-walls overhung with richly-laden fruit trees, and then vanishes, is

leaving nothing but a lonely desert.

the story of

it.

In old times,

habited by the Addites,

when

And

this country

King Sheddad,

was

finished,

and he saw

its

in-

the son of Ad,

the great-grandson of Noah, founded here a splendid

When

this

was

city.

grandeur, his heart

was puffed up with pride and arrogance, and he determined to build a royal palace,

with gardens which should rival

[156]

all

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER Koran of the celestial paradise. But the curse heaven fell upon him for his presumption. He and his

related in the

from the

subjects were swept

and

which hides them from human

and

earth,

and gardens, were

palace,

laid

his splendid city

under a perpetual

sight,

spell,

excepting that they are

seen at intervals, by way of keeping his sin in perpetual

remembrance.' "

This

story,

king,

my mind

dwelt in

and

;

and the wonders in after-years,

and was possessed

Eg^-pt,

Solomon the Wise, garden of Irem.

instructed sight.

had been

the book of knowledge of

determined to return and

did so, and

had seen, ever

when

found

revisit the

revealed to

took possession of the palace of Shed-

dad,

and passed several days

genii

who watch

his

mock

paradise.

over the place were obedient to

The magic

power, and revealed to

garden had been, as

were, conjured into existence, and

by which

garden,

was rendered

king, can

mountain above thy spells

And am

wise son of

trembling with

for thee,

city.

Such a palace and

invisible.

make

not

even here, on the

know

" ?

Abu Ayub

" !

"thou

eagerness,

exclaimed art

Aben Habuz,

Contrive

such a paradise, and ask any reward, even to the half

kingdom."

"Alas!"

replied the other,

man, and a philosopher, and I

indeed,

traveller

and hast seen and learned marvellous things of

the secret

all

not in possession of the book of knowl-

edge of Solomon the Wise "

the spells by which the whole

ask

the

first

"thou knowest

easily satisfied

beast of burden, with

enter the magic portal of the palace."

[157]

its

;

all

load,

an old

the reward

which

shall

THE ALHAMBRA The monarch

gladly agreed to so moderate a stipulation,

and the astrologer began above

immediately

hill,

his work.

the summit of the

hermitage,

subterranean

his

caused a great gateway or barbican to be erected, opening

through the centre of a strong tower.

There was an outer and within

vestibule or porch, with a lofty arch,

a portal secured by massive gates.

stone of the portal the astrologer, with his the figure of a huge key

;

the key-

own hand, wrought

and on the keystone of the outer

arch of the vestibule, which was loftier than that of the portal,

he carved a gigantic hand. These were potent talismans, over

which he repeated many sentences

When two days tations

engaged

his astrological hall,

an unknown tongue.

gateway was finished, he shut himself up for

this

on the third he ascended the

;

whole day on

summit.

its

in secret

incan-

and passed the

hill,

a late hour of the night he

came down, and presented himself before Aben Habuz.

"At

length,

the

summit

of the

hill

desired.

man

accomplished.

devised, or the heart of

sumptuous

contains

whole mountain

halls

and

galleries,

and fragrant baths

delicious gardens, cool fountains,

word, the

labor

stands one of the most delectable

palaces that ever the head of

man

"my

king," said he,

converted

into

;

in a

paradise.

mighty

Like the garden of

Irem,

charm, which hides

from the view and search of mortals,

protected

excepting such as possess the secret of "

Enough

" !

cried

morning with the session."

first

Aben Habuz, light

The happy monarch

will

slept

its

by a

talismans."

joyfully,

" to-morrow-

ascend and take posbut

little

that night.

Scarcely had the rays of the sun begun to play about the

snowy summit

of the Sierra Nevada,

[^58]

when he mounted

his

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER steed, and,

accompanied only by a few chosen attendants, narrow road leading up the hill.

ascended a steep and

Beside him, on a white palfrey, rode the Gothic princess, her whole

sparkling with jewels,

dress

neck was suspended her

The

silver lyre.

while round

her

astrologer walked

on the other side of the king, assisting his steps with his hieroglyphic

staff,

he never mounted steed of any kind.

for

Aben Habuz looked

see

the towers of

the

palace

brightening above him, and the embowered terraces of

gardens stretching along the heights

;

its

but as yet nothing of

" That is the mystery and safeguard of the place," said the astrologer, " nothing can be

the kind was to be descried.

discerned until you have passed the spell-bound gateway,

and been put

in possession of the place."

they approached the gateway, the astrologer paused,

and pointed out

the

king the mystic

carved upon the portal of " are the talismans

the

arch.

key,

neither

hand and key

These," said he,

which guard the entrance

Until yonder hand shall reach

dise.

to this para-

down and

seize that

mortal power nor magic artifice can prevail

against the lord of this mountain."

While Aben Habuz was gazing, with open mouth and silent

wonder,

at these

mystic talismans, the palfrey of the

princess proceeded, and

bore her in at the portal, to the

very centre of the barbican.

"Behold," cried the the

first

animal with

astrologer, its

"my

promised reward;

burden which should enter the

magic gateway."

Aben Habuz of

the

ancient

smiled at what he considered a pleasantry

man

;

but

when he found him

earnest, his gray beard trembled with indignation.

[159]

be in

THE ALHAMBRA "Son tion

the

Abu Ayub,"

this

first

Take

thine

pledged

The

of wealth

The

}

enter load

and

who

the

}

" cried the astrologer, scornfully

;

not the book of knowledge of Solomon the Wise,

and through earth

promise

heart."

What need

have

equivoca-

stables,

treasury,

but dare not raise thy thoughts to her

;

delight of "

the strongest mule in

that should

load,

its

with the most precious things of

the meaning of

beast of burden with

this portal.

"what

said he, sternly,

Thou knowest

;

the

command

princess

claim her as

princess looked

of the secret treasures of the

mine by

down

right

;

thy royal word

own."

haughtily from her palfrey, and

a light smile of scorn curled her rosy lip at this dispute be-

tween two gray-beards for the possession of youth and beauty.

The wrath "

of the

monarch got the

Base son of the desert," cried

many

arts,

but

know me

better of his discretion.

he, " thou

for thy master,

mayst be master

and presume not

to juggle with thy king."

"My

master!

monarch

my king!"

echoed the astrologer,

of a mole-hill to claim

the talismans of

Solomon

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; "the

sway over him who possesses

Farewell,

Aben Habuz,

reign over

thy petty kingdom, and revel in thy paradise of fools

me,

So earth

will

laugh at thee in

;

for

philosophic retirement."

saying, he seized the bridle of the palfrey, smote the

with

his

staff,

and sank with the Gothic princess

through the centre of the barbican.

The

earth closed over

them, and no trace remained of the opening by which they

had descended.

Aben Habuz was ment.

struck

dumb

for a time with astonish-

Recovering himself, he ordered a thousand workmen

[i6o]

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER and spade,

to dig, with pickaxe

vain or

the flinty

;

bosom it

way, the earth

little

ranean palace of the astrologer

;

Where once had been an With

of primeval rock.

filled in

the

;

again

mouth

hill,

leading to the subter-

but

was nowhere

to be

entrance, was a solid surface

the disappearance of Ibrahim ceased

The bronze horseman remained

the benefit of his talismans.

with his face turned toward the

fixed,

digged, but in

Aben Habuz sought

out.

of the cavern at the foot of the

found.

ground where the

of the hill resisted their implements

they did penetrate a

as fast as they threw

into the

They digged and

astrologer had disappeared.

hill,

and

his spear

pointed to the spot where the astrologer had descended, as if

there

still

lurked the deadliest foe of

From time

Aben Habuz.

time the sound of music, and the tones of a

female voice, could be faintly heard from the bosom of the hill

;

and a peasant one day brought word

in the

by which he had crept terranean

hall, in

to hold a

Aben Habuz sought but

all in

vain.

magic sway over

the fissure

spell of the

human

on a magnificent

to the silver lyre of the prin-

his senses.

in the rock, but

renewed the attempt

The

to be counteracted

sat the astrologer,

and nodding

which seemed

again closed.

he looked down into a sub-

in, until

which

divan, slumbering cess,

to the king, that

preceding night he had found a fissure in the rock,

was

to unearth his rival,

hand and key was too potent

power.

to the

summit

the mountain, the site of the promised palace and garden,

remained a naked waste

;

either the boasted elysium

of it

was

hidden from sight by enchantment, or was a mere fable of the astrologer.

The world

charitably supposed the latter,

and

some used to call the place "The King's Folly"; while others named it " The Fool's Paradise." [i6i]

THE ALHAMBRA To add

to the chagrin of

Aben Habuz,

he had defied and taunted, and cut up

whom

the neighbors

at his leisure while

master of the talismanic horseman, finding him no longer

made

protected by magic spell,

from

all

pacific of

sides,

inroads into his territories

and the remainder of the

monarchs was a

life

of the

most

series of turmoils.

At length Aben Habuz died, and was buried. Ages have The Alhambra has been built on the eventful mountain, and in some measure realizes the fabled delights of the garden of I rem. The spell-bound gateway still exists since rolled away.

entire, protected

no doubt by the mystic hand and key, and

now forms the Gate of Justice, the grand entrance to the fortress. Under that gateway, it is said, the old astrologer remains in his subterranean hall,

nodding on

his divan, lulled

by the

silver lyre of the princess.

The

who mount guard at the summer nights

old invalid sentinels

hear the strains occasionally in the

;

gate

and,

yielding to their soporific power, doze quietly at their posts.

Nay, so drowsy an influence pervades the place, that even those

who watch by day may

generally be seen nodding on

the stone benches of the barbican, or sleeping under the neigh-

boring trees in all

;

so that in fact

Christendom.

endure from age to the astrologer,

All

to age.

this,

The

the drowsiest military post

say the ancient legends, will princess will remain captive

and the astrologer bound up

magic slum-

ber by the princess, until the last day, unless the mystic shall

hand

grasp the fated key, and dispel the whole charm of this

enchanted mountain.

[162]

VISITORS TO

FOR

nearly three months had

dream

During

had been the

this lapse of

everything in the freshness of

yet shed

its brilliant

On my ;

;

a longer term

prede-

in full

arrival I

had found

the foliage of the trees

the pomegranate had not

crimson blossoms

Xenil and the Darro were

many

lot of

May

tender and transparent

still

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

time the progress of the season

had wrought the usual change.

was

enjoyed undisturbed

Alhambra,

of sovereignty in the

of quiet than cessors.

THE ALHAMBRA

bloom

the orchards of the

;

the rocks were

;

hung

with wild flowers, and Granada seemed completely surrounded

by a wilderness of roses

;

among which innumerable

gales sang, not merely in the night, but

Now

the advance of

summer had

silenced the nightingale,

look

parched and

and the

all

withered the rose and

distant country

sunburnt, though

nightin-

day long.

perennial

began

verdure

reigned immediately round the city and in the deep narrowvalleys at the foot of the

snow-capped mountains.

[163]

THE ALHAMBRA The Alhambra possesses among which

retreats graduated to the heat of

the most peculiar

the weather,

subterranean apartment of the baths.

This

the ahnost

still

retains

its

ancient Oriental character, though stamped with the touching

traces of decline.

the entrance, opening into a small court

formerly adorned with flowers, light

and graceful

a hall, moderate in size, but

in architecture.

and Morisco arches.

pavement

alabaster fountain in the centre of the

up a

water to cool the place.

jet of

overlooked by a small

It is

gallery supported by marble pillars

still

throws

each side are deep

alcoves with raised platforms, where the bathers, after their ablutions, reclined

on cushions, soothed

by the fragrance of the perfumed

music from the chambers, privacy

;

still

Beyond

gallery.

retired

;

this

soft

hall are the interior

the smictinn saiictormn of female

for here the beauties of the

luxury of the baths.

to voluptuous repose

and the notes of

air

Harem

indulged in the

soft mysterious light reigns

through

the place, admitted through small apertures {bimbrcras) in the vaulted ceiling. to be seen,

reclined.

The

traces of ancient elegance are

and the alabaster baths

The

which the sultans once

prevailing obscurity and silence have

who

these vaults a favorite resort of bats,

day flit

in the

still

made

nestle during the

dark nooks and corners, and on being disturbed,

mysteriously about the twilight chambers, heightening, in

an indescribable degree, their

air of desertion

and decay.

In this cool and elegant, though dilapidated retreat, which had the freshness and seclusion of a grotto, of the day as

passed the sultiy hours

summer advanced, emerging towards

sunset

;

and

bathing, or rather swimming, at night in the great reservoir of

the main court.

In this way

was enabled

in a

measure

counteract the relaxing and enervating influence of the climate.

[164]

M>^^

\"l

.<*>

'â&#x20AC;¢<

^l'^f:t^'<iWm^f>:

fyoP.'^.-^fV

/^Vt.f\iC PiLACi-

THE SANCTUM SANCTORUIM

THE ALHAMBRA My dream of to

an end.

absolute sovereignty, however,

arms, which reverberated

among

old cavalier with a

number

Hall of the Ambassadors.

the towers as

had been taken by surprise.

come up from the Alhambra

came

at length

was roused one morning by the report of

fire-

the castle

found an

sallying forth,

of domestics in possession of the

his palace in

was an ancient count who had

Granada

to pass a short time in

for the benefit of purer air and who, being and inveterate sportsman, was endeavoring to get

a veteran

;

an appetite for his breakfast by shooting the balconies.

was a harmless amusement

;

swallows from for though,

the alertness of his attendants in loading his pieces, he was

enabled to keep up a brisk

fire,

seemed to enjoy the skimming in circles

sport,

and

him

could not accuse

Nay, the birds themselves

of the death of a single swallow.

want of

to deride his

skill,

and twittering

close to the balconies,

as they darted by.

The

arrival of this old

gentleman changed essentially the

aspect of affairs, but caused no jealousy nor collision. tacitly

shared the empire between us, like the

last

kings of

Granada, excepting that we maintained a most amicable ance. its

adjacent halls, while

maintained peaceful possession of

the regions of the bath and the

We took

alli-

reigned absolute over the Court of the Lions and

little

garden of Lindaraxa.

our meals together under the arcades of the court,

where the fountains cooled the

air,

and bubbling

rills

ran

along the channels of the marble pavement.

In the evenings a domestic circle would gather about the

worthy old riage,

cavalier.

The

countess, his wife by a second mar-

would come up from the

city

accompanied by her

daughter Carmen, an only child, a charming

[i66]

little

being,

stepstill

VISITORS TO THE ALHAMBRA Then

her girlish years.

official

his steward,

possessions,

and other

and agents of

officers

who brought him up

and formed

city,

there were always

some

of his

dependants, his chaplain, his lawyer, his secretary,

evening party of

his

his extensive

the news or gossip of the trcsillo or

Thus

ombre.

he held a kind of domestic court, where each one paid him deference, and sought to contribute to his amusement, with-

however, any appearance of

out,

self-respect.

fact,

demeanor of the count pride,

servility,

or any sacrifice of

nothing of the kind was exacted by the ;

for whatever

may

be said of Spanish

rarely chills or constrains the intercourse of social

or domestic

life.

Among

no people are the

relations

between

kindred more unreserved and cordial, or between superior

and dependant more free from haughtiness on the one and obsequiousness on the other. still

remains in Spanish

life,

side,

In these respects there

especially in the provinces,

much

of the vaunted simplicity of the olden time.

The most eyes,

interesting

member

of this family group, in

was the daughter of the count, the lovely

She was but about sixteen years of considered a mere child, though the

age,

little

and appeared

idol of the family,

Her form had

not yet attained

full

going

generally by the childlike but endearing appellation of

Nina.

Carmen.

maturity and de-

velopment, but possessed already the exquisite symmetiy and pliant grace so prevalent in this country.

Her

blue eyes, fair

complexion, and light hair were unusual in Andalusia, and

gave a mildness and gentleness to her demeanor in contrast to the usual fire of

guileless at the

Spanish beauty, but in unison with the

and confiding innocence of her manners.

She had

same time the innate aptness and versatility of her Whatever she undertook to do

fascinating countrywomen.

[167]

THE ALHAMBRA she did well and apparently without

She

effort.

sang, played

the guitar and other instruments, and danced the picturesque

dances of her country to admiration, but never seemed to

Everything was spontaneous, prompted by

seek admiration.

her own gay

The

spirits

and happy temper.

presence of this fascinating

little

being spread a new

charm about the Alhambra, and seemed to be in unison with While the count and countess, with the chaplain

the place.

or secretary, were playing their

game

of tresillo under the

vestibule of the Court of Lions, she, attended by Dolores,

who

acted as her maid of honor, would

sing or,

some

sit

accompanying herself on the

fountains, and,

of those popular romances which

what was

still

taste,

some

by one of the guitar,

abound

would

in Spain,

traditional ballad

about the Moors.

Never

shall

think of the

Alhambra without remembering happy and innocent girl-

this lovely little being, sporting in

hood

its

marble

halls,

dancing to the sound of the Moorish

castanets, or mingling the silver warbling of her voice with

the music of

its

fountains.

[i68j

((iii«(i«Hi"«

„ii!i;'i?^?iiJi^

THE GENERALIFE TT TTIGH

above the Alhambra, on the breast of the

mountain, amidst embowered gardens and stately

terraces,

the Generalife

Here size

are

still

towers and white walls of

a fairy palace, full of storied recollections.

be seen the famous cypresses of enormous

which flourished

tradition has

and

;

rise the lofty

in the

time of the Moors, and which

connected with the fabulous story of Boabdil

his sultana.

Here

are preserved the portraits of

the romantic

drama of the Conquest.

many who

figured in

Ferdinand and

Isabella,

Ponce de Leon, the gallant Marquis of Cadiz, and Garcilaso de

Vega, who slew

in desperate fight

Tarfe the Moor, a

champion of Herculean strength. Here too hangs a portrait which has long passed for that of the unfortunate Boabdil, but which

said to be that of

Aben Hud,

[169]

the Moorish king

;

THE AL HAM BRA from

whom

descended the princes of Almeria.

of these princes,

who

and was Christian-

Isabella towards the close of the Conquest,

ized by the

name

From one

joined the standard of Ferdinand and

Don Pedro

de Granada Venegas, was

descended the present proprietor of the palace, the Marquis

The

of Campotejar.

proprietor, however, dwells in a foreign

land, and the palace has no longer a princely inhabitant.

Yet here

flowers,

fruits,

delicate air

everything to delight a southern voluptuary

fragrance, green arbors and myrtle hedges,

Here

and gushing waters.

had an opportunity

of witnessing those scenes which painters are fond of depict-

ing about southern palaces and gardens.

was the

saint's

day of the count's daughter, and she had brought up several of her youthful

companions from Granada,

long summer's day

Moorish palaces. entertainment. itself in

among

A visit

to sport

away a

the breezy halls and bowers of the

to the Generalife

Here some

of the gay

was the morning's

company dispersed

groups about the green walks, the bright fountains,

the flights of Italian steps, the noble terraces and marble balustrades. in

Others,

an open gallery or

among whom I was one, took their seats colonnade commanding a vast prospect

with the Alhambra, the

city,

and the Vega,

the distant horizon of mountains

mering

to the eye in

summer

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

sunshine.

the all-pervading tinkling of the guitar

came stealing up from the valley way down the mountain we descried a

tanets

trees,

far below,

a dreamy world,

all

and

glim-

While thus seated, and click of the cas-

of the Darro, festive party

and

half-

under the

enjoying themselves in true Andalusian style

;

some

lying on the grass, others dancing to the music.

All these sights and sounds, together with the princely seclusion of the place, the sweet quiet which prevailed around, [

170]

â&#x20AC;¢

HT^

THEALHAMBRA and the

delicious serenity of the weather,

had a witching

effect

upon the mind, and drew from some of the company, versed in local story, several of the popular fancies

connected with stuff as

this old

dreams are made

Moorish palace of," but out of

the following legend, which to

;

and

traditions

they were " such

them

have shaped

hope may have the good fortune

prove acceptable to the reader.

[172

]

^u4?f

(f^J>f^AÂť flavin*

awe^

LEGEND OF PRINCE AHMED AL KAMEL OR,

^^HERE

THE PILGRIM OF LOVE

was once a Moorish king of Granada, who whom he named Ahmed, to which

had but one son, his

The

courtiers

Perfect,

added the surname of Al Kamel, or

from the indubitable signs of superexcellence

which they perceived

him them

trologers countenanced

in his very infancy. in

everything in his favor that could

and a prosperous sovereign. his destiny,

The

as-

their foresight, predicting

One

make

a perfect prince

cloud only rested upon

and even that was of a roseate hue

he would

be of an amorous temperament, and run great perils from the tender passion.

If,

however,

he could be kept from

the allurements of love until of mature age, these dangers

would be averted, and his course of

To mined

life

thereafter be one uninterrupted

felicity.

prevent

all

danger of the kind, the king wisely deter-

to rear the prince in a seclusion

[173]

where he would never

THE ALHAMBRA see a female face, nor hear even the

name

For

this

purpose he

on the brow of the

hill

built a beautiful palace

of love.

above the Alhambra, in the midst of delightful gardens, but

surrounded by

known

being, in fact, the

lofty walls,

the present day by the

name

same palace

of the Generalife.

In this palace the youthful prince was shut up, and intrusted

and

to the guardianship

and dryest

of the wisest

the greatest part of his

instruction of of

Eben Bonabben, one

Arabian sages, who had passed

life in

Egypt, studying hieroglyphics,

and making researches among the tombs and pyramids, and in an Egyptian mummy than in the

who saw more charms

most tempting of living beauties. The sage was ordered to he instruct the prince in all kinds of knowledge but one,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

was

to be kept utterly ignorant of love.

tion for the purpose

Use every

"but remember,

of that forbidden

knowledge while under your

Eben Bonabben,

shall answer for it."

visage of the wise esty's heart

head

Under the up

son learns aught care,

man

your head

withered smile came over the dry

Bonabben

at the

menace.

Let your majis

about

vigilant care of the philosopher, the prince

in the seclusion of the palace

nothing of love, or

likely to give lessons in the idle passion.-*

black slaves to attend upon

it.

be as easy about your son, as mine a

precau-

you may think proper," said the king,

him

and

its

gardens.

grew

had

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; hideous mutes who knew

they did, had not words to communicate

His mental endowments were the peculiar care of Eben

him the prince made

Bonabben, who sought

to initiate

but in this of Egypt was soon evident that he had no turn ;

into the abstruse lore little

progress,

and

for philosophy.

was, however, amazingly ductile for a youthful prince,

ready to follow any advice, and always guided by the

[174]

last

AHMED AL KAMEL He

counsellor.

suppressed his yawns, and listened patiently

to the long and learned discourses of Eben Bonabben, from which he imbibed a smattering of various kinds of knowledge, and thus happily attained his twentieth year, a miracle

of princely

About

wisdom

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but

this time,

of the prince.

totally

ignorant of love.

however, a change came over the conduct completely abandoned his studies, and

took to strolling about the gardens, and musing by the side

of the fountains. his various

had been taught a

accomplishments

;

music among

little

now engrossed

a great part

and a turn for poetry became apparent. The sage Eben Bonabben took the alarm, and endeavored to work these idle humors out of him by a severe course of algebra but

of his time,

;

the prince turned from algebra,"

said he

" ;

with distaste.

an abomination

something that speaks more

The "

sage

Here

cannot endure

head

his dry

an end to philosophy," thought he.

his pupil,

me.

want

to the heart."

Eben Bonabben shook

has discovered he has a heart

upon

" !

He now

and saw that the

at the

words.

The

prince

kept anxious watch

latent tenderness of his

nature was in activity, and only wanted an object.

wan-

dered about the gardens of the Generalife in an intoxication of feelings of

would

sit

his lute

throw

which he knew not the cause.

plunged in a delicious reverie

and draw from aside,

By degrees mate objects

;

Sometimes he

then he would seize

the most touching notes, and then

and break forth

into sighs

this loving disposition

and

began

ejaculations.

to extend to inani-

he had his favorite flowers, which he cherished

with tender assiduity

and there was one

;

then he became attached to various

in particular, of a graceful

trees,

form and droop-

ing foliage, on which he lavished his amorous devotion, carving

[175]

THE ALHAMBRA name on

his

bark, hanging garlands on

its

singing couplets in

its

praise, to the

Eben Bonabben was alarmed at this pupil. He saw him on the very brink edge â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the

Trembling

own

his

might reveal

least hint

branches, and

head, he hastened to draw

and shut him up

of forbidden knowl-

him the

fatal secret.

and the

security of

him from the seductions highest tower of

in the

and com-

It contained beautiful apartments,

the Generalife.

manded an almost boundless

his lute.

excited state of his

for the safety of the prince

of the garden,

its

accompaniment of

prospect, but was elevated far

above that atmosphere of sweets and those witching bowers so dangerous to the feelings of the too susceptible

What was restraint

and

beguile the tedious hours

hausted almost

all

had been instructed, when

Fortunately

He ;

had ex-

and

alge-

Eben Bonabben

in lineal transmis-

Solomon the Wise, who had been taught

of Sheba.

this

Egypt, in the language of birds

by a Jewish Rabbin, who had received

Queen

kinds of agreeable knowledge

bra was not to be mentioned.

sion from

Ahmed.

be done, however, to reconcile him to

by the

the very mention of such a study, the

eyes of the prince sparkled with animation, and he applied

himself to

with such avidity, that he soon became as great

an adept as his master.

The tower

was no longer a solitude he hand with whom he could converse. The

of the Generalife

had companions

;

acquaintance he formed was with a hawk,

first

nest in a crevice of the lofty battlements, far

and wide

little

air,

in quest of prey.

to like or

esteem in him.

The

exploits.

[176]

built his

whence he soared

prince, however, found

was a mere

swaggering and boastful, whose talk was

and carnage, and desperate

who

all

pirate of the

about rapine

AHMED AL KAMEL His next acquaintance was an owl, a mighty wise-looking with a huge head and staring eyes, who sat blinking

bird,

and goggling

at night.

day

all

in a hole in the wall, but

had great pretensions

roamed

forth

wisdom, talked some-

thing of astrology and the moon, and hinted at the dark sciences

he was grievously given

;

prince found his prosings even

Eben Bonabben.

of the sage

Then

to metaphysics, and the more ponderous than those

there was a bat, that

hung

all

day by his heels

the dark corner of a vault, but sallied out in slipshod style at

He, however, had but twilight ideas on

twilight.

all

subjects,

derided things of which he had taken but an imperfect view,

and seemed

to take delight in nothing.

Besides these there was a swallow, with

was

at first

bustling,

much

taken.

was a smart

and forever on the wing

;

whom

the prince

talker, but restless,

seldom remaining long

enough for any continued conversation.

turned out in

who did but skim over the know everything, but knowing

the end to be a mere smatterer, surface of things, pretending to

nothing thoroughly.

These were the only feathered associates with whom' the prince had any opportunity of exercising his newly acquired language frequent

;

the tower was too high for any other birds to

it.

soon grew weary of his new acquaintances,

whose conversation spoke so to the heart,

little

to the

and gradually relapsed

head and nothing

into his loneliness.

winter passed away, spring opened with

all

its

bloom and

verdure and breathing sweetness, and the happy time arrived for birds to pair

and build

their nests.

Suddenly, as

were,

a universal burst of song and melody broke forth from the

groves and gardens of the Generalife, and reached the prince

[177]

THE ALHAMBRA in the solitude of his tower.

—

From

every side he heard the

—

love love chanted forth, love same universal theme and responded to in every variety of note and tone. The prince listened in silence and perplexity. " What can be this love," thought he, " of which the world seems so full, and

which

his friend

know nothing the hawk. The

.-'

applied for information to

answered

ruffian bird

birds of

You must apply," said he, " to the earth, who are made for the prey

the

scorn

'" :

air.

him with

"This

retreat.

of us princes of delight.

of this thing called love."

prince turned from

owl in his

war, and fighting

and know nothing

warrior,

The

trade

in a tone of

vulgar peaceable

disgust,

and sought the

a bird," said he, "of peaceful

and may be able to solve my question." So he asked the owl to tell him what was this love about which all the habits,

birds in the groves below were singing.

Upon

this the

nights," said he, "are taken up

days in ruminating in

to these singing birds of

them

to I

—

despise

cannot sing

;

owl put on a look of offended dignity.

them and

upon

cell

whom

all

you

that

talk,

have

never listen

learnt.

Allah be praised,

their themes.

a philosopher,

and research, and

in study

and know nothing

of this

thing called love."

The

prince

now

repaired to the vault, where his friend the

bat was hanging by the heels, question.

The

pish expression.

nap with such an fly

Why

idle question

by twilight, when

thank heaven for

morning's

" said he, peevishly.

birds are asleep,

all

it.

and propounded the same most snap-

his nose into a

do you disturb

myself with their concerns. I

bat wrinkled

only

and never trouble

neither bird nor beast, and

have found out the villany of the

[^78]

AHMEDALKAMEL whole of them, and hate them one and a misanthrope

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and know nothing

a last resort, the prince

all.

In a word,

of this thing called love."

now sought

the swallow, and

stopped him just as he was circling about the summit of the

The

tower.

swallow, as usual, was in a prodigious hurry, and "

had scarce time to make a reply. "

pursuits to follow, that subject.

sand a

Upon my

have so much public business to attend

have every day a thousand

importance to examine

affairs of

moment

word,

have had no time

of leisure for these

little

thing called love."

and so many on the

to think

visits to

pay

a thou-

;

into, that leave

know nothing

not

In a

sing-song matters.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

a citizen of the world

word," said he,

to,

of this

saying, the swallow dived into the

moment. The prince remained disappointed and perplexed, but with his curiosity still more piqued by the difficulty of gratifying valley,

and was out of sight

While

it.

tower.

The

Bonabben,"

wisdom

the

remain "

this

mood,

in a

his ancient guardian entered the

prince advanced eagerly to meet him. cried he, " thou hast revealed to of the earth

;

in utter ignorance,

prince

lias

but to

but there

and would

make

Eben

me much

one thing of which

fain be informed."

the inquiry, and everything

within the limited range of his servant's intellect

at his

command." "Tell me, then,

most profound of sages, what

nature of this thing called love

Eben Bonabben was

struck as with a thunderbolt.

trembled and turned pale, and loosely ' '

What

felt as

his head

could suggest such a question to idle a

[179J

word?

sat but

his shoulders.

where could he have learnt so

the

" .-*

prince,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

THE ALHAMBRA The prince led him to the window of the tower. " Listen, Eben Bonabben," said he. The sage Hstened. The nightingale sat in a thicket below the tower, singing to his paramour,

the rose

;

from every blossomed spray and tufted grove rose melody and love love love was still the

a strain of

unvarying "

Allah Akbar "

ben. of

—

;

Who

God

keep

turning to

air

Ahmed — "O my

dangerous knowledge.

Know

ills

bitterness

and

strife

conspire to betray

" it

.''

prince," cried he, "shut

Close thy mind against

that this love

of wretched mortality.

of half the

from the heart

this secret

thine ears to these seductive strains. this

—

great!" exclaimed the wise Bonab-

shall pretend to

man, when even the birds of the

Then

—

strain.

It is this

the cause

which produces

between brethren and friends

causes treacherous murder and desolating war. sorrow, weary days and sleepless nights, are

its

which

;

Care and

attendants.

withers the bloom and blights the joy of youth, and brings on

and

premature old age.

Allah preserve thee,

the

ills

prince, in total ignorance of this thing called love

The

griefs of

sage

Eben Bonabben

prince plunged in

still

hastily

leaving

retired,

deeper perplexity.

was

attempted to dismiss the subject from his mind

;

the

in vain it

still

con-

tinued uppermost in his thoughts, and teased and exhausted

him with vain

conjectures.

Surely, said he to himself, as he

listened to the tuneful strains of the birds, there in those notes

;

no sorrow

everything seems tenderness and joy.

be a cause of such wretchedness and

strife,

why

If love

are not these

birds drooping in solitude, or tearing each other in pieces,

instead of fluttering cheerfully about the groves, or sporting

with each other

lay

among

the flowers

.''

one morning on his couch, meditating on

[iSo]

this

AHMED AL KAMEL The window

inexplicable matter. to

of his

chamber was open

admit the soft morning breeze, which came laden with the

perfume of orange-blossoms from the valley of the Darro. voice of the nightingale was faintly heard, still chanting

The

the wonted theme.

the prince was listening and sighing,

there was a sudden rushing noise in the air

pursued by a hawk, darted

on the

;

a beautiful dove,

window, and

in at the

fell

panting

while the pursuer, balked of his prey, soared off

floor,

to the mountains.

The

prince took up the gasping bird, smoothed

and nestled

in his

he put

caresses,

When

bosom.

golden cage, and offered

in a

own hands, the whitest and The bird, however,

feathers,

its

he had soothed

finest of

by his

with his

it,

wheat and the purest

refused food, and sat drooping

of water.

and pining, and uttering piteous moans. "

What

aileth thee

" said "

thing thy heart can wish "'

Alas, no

love

Too

well can

not separated from

in the

happy spring-time,

" !

echoed Ahmed.

thou then

bird, canst

" !

" ;

and that too

heart,

the very season of love

Hast thou not every-

replied the dove

the partner of

Ahmed.

tell

what

prince.

It is

pray thee, love

pretty

" .''

the torment of one,

the felicity of two, the strife and enmity of three.

It is

charm which draws two beings together, and unites them by delicious sympathies,

making

you are drawn by these "

other being

;

ties of

old teacher

but he

happiness to be with each

other, but misery to be apart.

Is there

no being

tender affection

Eben Bonabben

often tedious, and

myself happier without his society."

[i8i]

whom

" }

better than

any

occasionally feel

THE ALHAMBRA "

That

not the sympathy

mean.

great mystery and principle of of youth

and behold how

at this blest

Every created being has sings to

paramour

its

and yon

in the dust,

its

season

mate

Alas,

;

speak of love, the

the intoxicating revel

Look all

prince

forth,

nature

prince,

of love.

is full

the most insignificant bird

the very beetle wooes

;

butterflies

which you see

above the tower and toying in the loves.

life

the sober delight of age.

;

air,

happy

are

its

lady-beetle

fluttering high in

each other's

many

hast thou spent so

of the

precious days of youth without knowing anything of love

no gentle being of another sex

Is there

filled

heart,

and

" .-'

begin to understand," said the prince, sighing

a tumult

ing the cause

little

" ;

such

have more than once experienced, without know;

and where should

seek for an object such

as you describe in this dismal solitude.?

beautiful prin-

your bosom with a soft tumult of pleasing pains and

tender wishes " I

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no

who has ensnared your

cess nor lovely damsel

.-*

further conversation ensued, and the

first

amatory

lesson of the prince was complete. '"

Alas

" !

said he, "

love be indeed such a delight,

interruption such a misery, Allah forbid that

its

the joy of any of

its

votaries."

and

should mar

opened the cage, took out

it, carried it to the window. Go, happy bird," said he, " rejoice with the partner of thy

the dove, and having fondly kissed "'

heart in the days of youth and spring-time.

make

can never enter

The dove the

Why

should

thee a fellow-prisoner in this dreary tower, where love

air,

flapped

its

wings in rapture, gave one vault into

and then swooped downward on whistling wings

the blooming bowers of the Darro.

[1S2]

! ;

AHMED AL KAMEL The way

him with

prince followed

The

repining.

bitter

his eyes,

and then gave

singing of the birds, which

once delighted him, now added to his bitterness.

His eyes flashed rance

.''

Why

Bonabben.

Why am

much

its

raptures

The

Why

Behold

about which

which all

rejoices with I

mate.

Why

has

" .''

all

further reserve was useless

had acquired the dangerous and forbidden

for the prince

revealed to him, therefore, the predictions

and the precautions that had been taken

of the astrologers

in his education to avert the threatened evils.

its

have sought instruc-

enjoyment

its

find the

nature

youth been wasted without a knowledge of

sage Bonabben saw that

knowledge.

in this abject igno-

has the great mystery and prin-

alone debarred

Every created being

this is the love

the sage

so learned

revel of delight.

tion.

when next he beheld

been withheld from me,

meanest insect

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the strain.

hast thou kept

cried he.

ciple of life

This

fire

Love

now understood

Alas, poor youth! he

love! love!

prince," added

he, "

life is

"And

your hands.

now,

Let the

king, your father, discover that you have learned the passion of love while

answer for

The age,

under

guardianship, and

of his

easily listened to the

remonstrances of his

tutor,

since nothing pleaded against them.

attached to

head must

young men

prince was as reasonable as most

and

it."

Besides, he really was

Eben Bonabben, and being

as yet but theoretically

acquainted with the passion of love, he consented to confine the knowledge of

to his

own bosom,

rather than endanger

the head of the philosopher.

His discretion was doomed, however,

[^83]

be put to

still

;

THE ALHAMBRA A

further proofs.

few mornings afterward, as he was rumi-

nating on the battlements of the tower, the dove which had

been released by him came hovering in the

upon

fearlessly

The prince he, " who can

fondled fly,

parted

reward for

to his heart.

Happy

Where

prince,

liberty.

beheld below

air, I

of fruits

and

hast thou been

whence

flowers.

bring you tidings

In the wild compass of

which extends over plain and mountain, as the

bird," said

" In a far country, in

and alighted

were, with the wings of the morning

to the uttermost parts of the earth. "

since

air,

his shoulder.

me It

was soaring

a delightful garden with

was

in a

all

in the centre of the

was a

stately palace.

one of the bowers

after

weary

flight.

kinds

green meadow, on the

banks of a wandering stream, and alighted in

flight,

the green bank below

garden

to repose

me was

youthful princess, in the very sweetness and bloom of her years.

She was surrounded by female

herself,

who decked her

attendants,

young

with garlands and coronets of flowers

but no flower of field or garden could compare with her for loveliness.

Here, however, she bloomed in secret, for the

garden was surrounded by high

was permitted

to enter.

When

walls,

and no mortal man

beheld this beauteous maid,

thus young and innocent and unspotted by the world, thought, here

the being formed by heaven to inspire

prince with love."

The heart of

description was a spark of

Ahmed

ment had

;

all

fire

the combustible

once found an object, and he conceived an

immeasurable passion for the princess.

couched

the latent amorousness of his tempera-

wrote a

letter,

the most impassioned language, breathing his

[184]

AHMED AL KAMEL unhappy thraldom

fervent devotion, but bewailing the

of his

which prevented him from seeking her out and throwing himself at her feet. He added couplets of the person,

most tender and moving eloquence, for he was a poet by and inspired by love. He addressed his letter "To

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

nature,

the

Unknown

Beauty, from the captive Prince

then perfuming

musk and

with

roses,

Ahmed

he gave

" ;

the dove.

"Away,

trustiest of

messengers!"

mountain, and valley, and

river,

said he.

and plain

;

nor set foot on earth, until thou hast given this mistress of

The dove

"Fly over

rest not in bower, letter to the

heart."

soared high in

away

with

his eye until

air,

and taking

The

one undeviating direction.

his course darted

prince followed him

he was a mere speck on a cloud, and

gradually disappeared behind a mountain.

Day

after

of love, but

day he watched for the return of the messenger

he watched

of forgetfulness,

in vain.

when towards

ful bird fluttered into his

expired.

The arrow

breast, yet

began

to accuse

apartment, and falling at his feet

some wanton archer had pierced

he had struggled with the lingerings of

execute his mission.

him

sunset one evening the faith-

life

his to

the prince bent with grief over this

gentle martyr to fidelity, he beheld a chain of pearls round his neck, attached to which,

enamelled picture.

very fiower of her years.

beauty of the garden

had she received his

beneath his wing, was a small

represented a lovely princess in the

;

but

letter

It was doubtless the unknown who and where was she ? how

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

and was

token of her approval of his passion of the faithful

dove

left

this picture sent as a

Unfortunately the death

everything in mystery and doubt.

THE ALHAMBRA The

prince gazed on the picture

tears.

pressed

to his lips it

" Beautiful

said he,

thy

look

happy

;

alas,

Have they not looked

rival

.<*

But where

separate

Who

;

with

sat for

thou

art but ;

an image

those rosy lips

though they would speak encouragement

find the original

may

dewy eyes beam tenderly upon me

Yet

fancies

image

to his heart

almost in an agony of tenderness.

hours contemplating "

swam

his eyes

till

and

the same on

vain

some more

in this wide world shall I hope to knows what mountains, what realms

what adverse chances may intervene

.-'

Perhaps now, even now, lovers may be crowding around her, while

sit

here a prisoner in a tower, wasting

time in

adoration of a painted shadow."

The from

resolution of Prince

this palace,"

prison

;

Ahmed

said he,

matter

;

which has become an odious

and, a pilgrim of love, will seek this

cess throughout the world,"

the day,

when

" I will fly

was taken.

unknown

prin-

escape from the tower in

every one was awake, might be a

difficult

but at night the palace was slightly guarded

;

for

one apprehended any attempt of the kind from the prince,

who had always been

he to guide himself, however, in his darkling ignorant of the country

}

was accustomed to roam lane and secret pass.

questioned this the

know,

his

his hermitage,

by-

knowledge of the land. Upon

prince," said he, " that

we owls

and extensive family, though rather

was

being

and must know every

Seeking him

him touching

flight,

bethought him of the owl, who

at night,

owl put on a mighty self-important look.

sess ruinous castles

How

so passive in his captivity.

and palaces

"You must

are of a very ancient

fallen to decay,

and pos-

in all parts of Spain.

There

scarcely a tower of the mountains, or a fortress of the plains,

[i86]

.^<^A

THE GENERALIFE, THE ALHAMBRA, AND GRANADA FROM "SILLA DEL MORO" (SEAT OF THE MOOR)

THE ALHAMBRA or an olcf citadel of a

cousin quartered in

my numerous ner,

;

kindred,

some

but has

and

brother, or uncle, or

going the rounds

to visit this

have pried into every nook and cor-

and made myself acquainted with every secret of the land."

The in

city,

prince was overjoyed to find the owl so deeply versed

now informed him,

topography, and

in confidence, of his

tender passion and his intended elopement, urging him to

be his companion and counsellor. " I is

said the owl, with a look of displeasure

engage

a bird to

in a love-affair

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

moon

devoted to meditation and the "

;

whose whole time "

not offended, most solemn owl," replied the prince;

abstract thyself for a time

and aid

flight,

from meditation and the moon,

and thou

shalt

have whatever heart

can wish."

"I have

that already," said the owl;

sufficient for

spacious enough

and

frugal table,

for

studies

philosopher like myself desire

"Bethink cell

thee,

and gazing I

some post

vailed

mentor

The

life,

and what more does a

all

honor and dignity."

was not above ambition, so he was

to elope with the prince,

and be

all

his jewels,

as travelling funds. his scarf

finally pre-

his guide

and

his pilgrimage.

plans of a lover are promptly executed.

collected

in thy

thy talents are lost to the

though a philosopher and above the ordinary

owl,

wants of

one day be a sovereign prince, and may advance

world.

The

moon,

are

most wise owl, that while moping

at the

thee to

shall

;

"a few mice

this hole in the wall

The

and concealed them about

prince

his person

That very night he lowered himself by

from a balcony of the tower, clambered over the

[i88]

AHMED AL KAMEL outer walls of the Generalife, and, guided by the owl,

good

his escape before

He now

morning

made

to the mountains.

held a council with his mentor as to his future

course, "

Might

advise," said the owl, "

was on a

who

visit to

burning in a lonely tower.

battlements, and found

Arabian magician

raven

who had come

still

possess.

many

years since

length

to proceed

that place.

alighted on the

from the lamp of an

was perched

his familiar,

with him from Egypt.

owe

him a

The magician

an ancient acquainted

great part of the knowl-

since dead, but the raven

inhabits the tower, for these birds are of wonderful long

would advise you,

prince, to seek that raven, for

life.

a soothsayer and a conjurer, and deals in the black

for

remarked a

city I frequently

he was surrounded by his magic books,

his shoulder

with that raven, and

edge

that

wing of the Alcazar of

hoverings at night over the

and on

would recommend you

an owl of great dignity and power,

uncle,

lived in a ruined

light

You must know

to repair to Seville.

which

all

ravens,

and

especially those

art,

Egpyt, are

renowned."

The

prince was struck with the

and accordingly bent

wisdom

of this advice,

his course towards Seville.

He travelled

only in the night to accommodate his companion, and lay by

during the day in some dark cavern or mouldering watchtower, for the owl

knew every

had a most antiquarian

hiding-hole of the kind, and

taste for ruins.

length one morning at breakfast they reached the city

of Seville,

crowded

where the owl, who hated the glare and bustle of

streets,

halted without the gate, and took up his

quarters in a hollow tree.

[189]

THE ALHAMBRA The

prince entered the gate, and readily found the magic

tower, which rose above the houses of the city, as a palm-tree rises

above the shrubs of the desert

tower standing

at the

;

present day, and

was

in fact the

known

same

as the Giralda,

the famous Moorish tower of Seville.

The summit an

prince ascended by a great winding staircase to the of the tower,

old, mysterious,

where he found the

raven

cabalistic

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

gray-headed bird, ragged in feather, with

a film over one eye that gave him the glare of a spectre.

He side,

was perched on one

leg,

with his head turned on one

poring with his remaining eye on a diagram described

on the pavement.

The

him with the awe and reverence

prince approached

naturally inspired by his venerable appearance

natural wisdom.

raven," exclaimed he, " studies

moment

for a

which are the wonder

fore you a votary of love,

who would

let

interrupt those

of the world.

You

behold be-

fain seek your counsel

how to obtain the object of his passion." "In other words," said the raven, with "you seek to try my skill in palmistry. your hand, and

and super-

Pardon me, most ancient and darkly wise

a significant look,

Come, show me

decipher the mysterious lines of

fortune." "

Excuse me," said the prince,

come not

to pry into

the decrees of fate, which are hidden by Allah from the eyes of mortals

;

a pilgrim of love,

clue to the object of

and seek but

pilgrimage.

to find a

seek one unknown

but immaculate beauty, the original of this picture

beseech thee, most potent raven,

thy knowledge or the reach of thy

may be

found."

[190]

art,

;

and

be within the scope of

inform

me where

she

;

AHMED AL KAMEL The gray-headed raven was rebuked by

the gravity of the

prince. "

My fair

I," replied he, dryly, " of

What know

the harbinger of fate

from the chimney-top, and

You must

window.

known "

the old and withered, not to the fresh and

visits are to ;

youth and beauty

who croak bodings

flap

wings

of death

at the sick

man's

seek elsewhere for tidings of your un-

beauty."

And where

can

seek

among

not

versed in the book of destiny

the sons of wisdom,

Know

that

a royal

and sent on a mysterious enterprise

prince, fated by the stars,

on which may hang the destiny of empires."

When the

raven heard that

which the

stars

was a matter of vast moment,

took interest, he changed his tone and

manner, and listened with profound attention

When

the prince.

this princess, I

flight is

to the story of

was concluded, he replied

" :

Touching

can give thee no information of myself, for

not

among

gardens, or around ladies' bowers

but hie thee to Cordova, seek the palm-tree of the great

Abderahman, which stands

mosque

at the

;

who has

foot of

the court of

the principal

thou wilt find a great traveller

visited all countries

with queens and princesses.

and

courts,

and been a

will give

favorite

thee tidings of the

object of thy search." "

Many

prince. "'

thanks for this precious information," said the

" Farewell,

most venerable conjurer."

Farewell, pilgrim of love," said the raven, dryly,

again

fell to

The

and

pondering on the diagram.

prince sallied forth from Seville, sought his fellow-

traveller the owl, set off for

who was

still

dozing in the hollow

Cordova.

[191]

tree,

and

THEALHAMBRA He

approached

along hanging gardens and orange and

citron groves, overlooking the fair valley of the Guadalquivir.

When

arrived at

its

gates the owl flew

to a dark hole in

the wall, and the prince proceeded in quest of the palm-tree

planted in days of yore by the great Abderahman.

stood

midst of the great court of the mosque, towering from

in the

amidst orange and cypress trees.

Dervises and faquirs were

seated in groups under the cloisters of the court, and

many

of the faithful were performing their ablutions at the fountains

before entering the mosque.

the foot of the palm-tree was a crowd listening to the

words of one who appeared ity.

traveller

who

mingled

they were

all

is to

give

of a bird

tidings of the

in the crowd, but

must be the great

unknown

was astonished

princess."

to perceive that

and consequential top-knot, had the

air

on excellent terms with himself.

How

"that so

this," said the prince to

many

"You know " this parrot

renowned

not

whom

" .?

you speak of," said the other;

a descendant of the famous parrot of Persia,

for his story-telling talent.

of the East at the tip of his tongue,

he can

one of the by-standers,

grave persons can be delighted with the

garrulity of a chattering bird

fast as

listening to a parrot, who, with his bright-green

coat, pragmatical eye,

be talking with great volubil-

" This," said the prince to himself,

talk.

has

all

the learning

and can quote poetry as

has visited various foreign courts,

where he has been considered an oracle of erudition. been a universal favorite also with the

fair sex,

has

who have

vast admiration for erudite parrots that can quote poetry." "

Enough,"

said the

prince, "

will

talk with this distinguished traveller."

[192]

have some private

AHMED AL KAMEL He

sought a private interview, and expounded the nature

of his errand.

burst into a

fit

had scarcely mentioned

when

the parrot

of dry rickety laughter, that absolutely brought

Excuse my merriment," said he, "but mere mention of love always sets me laughing." The prince was shocked at this ill-timed mirth. "Is not "

tears into his eyes,

the

love," said he, " the great mystery of nature, the secret prin" ciple of life, the universal bond of sympathy .-'

fig's

" prithee

end

The

the

cried

parrot,

where hast thou learned

Trust me, love in the

quite out of

company

interrupting

him

this sentimental jargon

vogue

;

one never hears of

;

and people of refinement."

of wits

prince sighed as he recalled the different language of

his friend the dove.

But

this parrot,

thought he, has lived

about the court, he affects the wit and the fine gentleman, he

knows nothing of the thing called love. Unwilling to provoke any more ridicule of the sentiment which filled his heart, he

now directed " Tell

his inquiries to the immediate purport of his visit. me," said he, " most accomplished parrot, thou who

hast everywhere been admitted to the most secret bowers of beauty, hast thou in the course of thy travels "

original of this portrait

The

parrot took the picture in his claw, turned his head

from side

and examined

to side,

"Upon my

one can hardly

forget one that

where

many

pretty

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but hold â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

enough,

"The

curiously with either eye,

honor," said he, "a very pretty face, very pretty;

but then one sees so

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sure

met with the

.''

this is is

Princess

women

in one's travels that

me! now I look at it again how could the Princess Aldegonda bless

so prodigious a favorite with

" !

Aldegonda!" echoed the prince; "and

she to be found

" ?

[193]

THE ALHAMBRA "'

Softly, softly," said the parrot, " easier to

She

gained.

be found than

the only daughter of the Christian king

reigns at Toledo, and

who

shut up from the world until her

seventeenth birthday, on account of some prediction of those

meddlesome of her

no mortal man can see

;

presence to entertain her, and

who has seen

a parrot

much "

her.

sillier

princesses in

word

in confidence,

see that you are a bird of parts,

heir to a

Help me

was admitted

kingdom, and

to her

have conversed with

my time." my dear parrot,"

not get a sight

'11

assure you, on the word of

the world,

You

fellows the astrologers.

shall

one day

said the prince.

sit

upon a throne.

and understand the world.

gain possession of this princess, and

will

advance you to some distinguished place about court." "'

With

cure

all

heart," said the parrot

possible, for

" but let

;

be a sine-

wits have a great dislike to labor."

the prince sallied Arrangements were promptly made forth from Cordova through the same gate by which he had :

entered

savant,

down from the hole in the wall, innew travelling companion as a brother

called the owl

;

troduced him to his

and away they

They

travelled

set off

much more

impatience of the prince

high

life,

ing.

The

day,

and

and did not owl,

;

their journey.

slowly than accorded with the

but the parrot was accustomed to

be disturbed early in the morn-

like to

mid-

siestas.

His

on the other hand, was for sleeping

lost a great deal of

time by his long

antiquarian taste also was in the way

;

for

he insisted on

pausing and inspecting every ruin, and had long legendary tales to tell

The

about every old tower and castle in the country.

prince had supposed that he and the parrot, being both

birds of learning,

would delight [

194]

each other's society, but

AHMED AL KAMEL never had he been more mistaken.

The one was

bickering.

The

a wit,

They were

eternally

the other a philosopher.

parrot quoted poetry, was critical on

eloquent on small points of erudition

new readings and

the owl treated

;

all

and relished nothing but metaphysics. Then the parrot would sing songs and repeat bon

such knowledge as

trifling,

mots and crack jokes upon his solemn neighbor, and laugh outrageously at

his

own

wit

all

;

which proceedings the

owl considered as a grievous invasion of his dignity, and

would scowl and sulk and

swell,

and be

whole

silent for a

day together.

The

prince heeded not the wranglings of his companions,

being wrapped up in the dreams of his own fancy and the contemplation of the portrait of the beautiful princess. this

way they journeyed through the

Sierra Morena, across the sunburnt plains of

and

Castile,

and along the banks of the

which winds

walls of

its

Portugal.

La Mancha

Golden Tagus,"

wizard mazes over one half of Spain and

length they

and towers

stern passes of the

built

came

in sight of a strong city with

on a rocky promontory, round the foot

which the Tagus circled with brawling violence. " Behold," exclaimed the owl, " the ancient

city of

Toledo

a city famous for

;

those venerable

domes and

its

towers,

and renowned

antiquities.

Behold

hoary with time and

clothed with legendary grandeur, in which so

many

ancestors have meditated." " Pish

" !

cried the parrot, interrupting his

quarian rapture,

"what have we

legends, and your ancestry

purpose

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; behold

at length,

}

do with

Behold what

solemn

antiquities, is

the abode of youth and beauty

anti-

and

to the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; behold

â&#x20AC;˘

prince, the abode of your long-sought princess."

[x95]

THE ALHAMBRA The

prince looked in the direction indicated by the parrot,

and beheld,

green meadow on the banks of

in a delightful

the Tagus, a stately palace rising from amidst the bowers of a delicious garden.

was

just such a place as

had been

described by the dove as the residence of the original of the

picture. this

gazed at

moment," thought

with a throbbing heart he,

"the

" perhaps at

;

beautiful princess

sport-

ing beneath those shady bowers, or pacing with delicate step those stately terraces, or reposing beneath those lofty roofs

As he

" !

looked more narrowly, he perceived that the walls of

the garden were of great height, so as to defy access, while

numbers of armed guards

The

patrolled around them. '"

prince turned to the parrot, said he,

of birds,"

Hie thee

thou hast the

yon garden

;

Ahmed,

her that Prince

most accomplished

gift of

seek the idol of

human

a pilgrim of love,

soul,

speech.

and

and guided

tell

.by

the stars, has arrived in quest of her on the flowery banks of the Tagus."

The

parrot,

proud of his embassy, flew away

mounted above

its

lofty walls,

and

to the garden,

after soaring for a time

over the lawns and groves, alighted on the balcony of a pavilion that overhung the river.

Here, looking

in at the case-

ment, he beheld the princess reclining on a couch, with her eyes fixed on a paper, while tears gently stole after each other

down her

Pluming green

coat,

his

pallid cheek.

wings for a moment, adjusting his bright-

and elevating

his top-knot, the parrot

himself beside her with a gallant air

The

;

perched

then assuming a ten-

Dry thy tears, most beautiful of "I come to bring solace to thy heart."

derness of tone, said

;

princesses,"

princess was startled on hearing a voice, but turning,

[196]

AHMED AL KAMEL and seeing nothing but a little green-coated bird bobbing and bowing before her, "Alas! what solace canst thou yield," said she, " seeing thou art but a parrot

" ?

The parrot was nettled at the question. " I have consoled many beautiful ladies in my time," said he; "but let that pass. At present I come ambassador from a royal prince. Know that Ahmed, the Prince of Granada, has arrived in quest of thee, and is encamped even now on the flowery banks of the Tagus."

The

eyes of the beautiful princess sparkled at these words,

even brighter than the diamonds est of parrots," cried she, "joyful

her coronet.

sweet-

indeed are thy tidings, for

and weary, and sick almost unto death with doubt of the constancy of Ahmed. Hie thee back, and tell him that the words of his letter are engraven in my heart, and I

was

faint

been the food of

his poetry has

that he

must prepare

morrow

seventeenth birthday,

holds a great tournament lists,

and

The

my hand

rapture of

portrait,

Tell him, however,

when

the king,

his return.

on finding the original of

and finding her kind and

true,

his adored

can only be conceived

who have had

the good fortune to

day-dreams and turn a shadow into substance

there was one thing that alloyed his transport

to-

several princes are to enter the

;

where the prince awaited

Ahmed

ing tournament.

;

my father,

to be the prize of the victor."

by those favored mortals realize

soul.

took wing, and rustling through the

parrot again

groves, fiew back to

The

prove his love by force of arms

fact,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

this

;

still

impend-

the banks of the Tagus were already

and resounding with trumpets of the various knights, who, with proud retinues, were prancing on towards Toledo to attend the ceremonial. The same star that glittering with arms,

[

197

]

THE ALHAMBRA had controlled the destiny of the prince had governed that

and

of the princess,

until her seventeenth birthday she

had

been shut up from the world, to guard her from the tender

The fame

passion.

of her charms, however,

hanced rather than obscured by erful princes

who was

had contended for her hand

enemies by showing

and unskilled I

partiality,

Among

" !

had referred them

as he

said he,

in affairs of love

Upon

this the

harangue with a pious

for

Luckless prince

have been brought up in seclusion

Of what

avail are algebra

Eben Bonabben me in the management

Alas,

hast thou neglected to instruct

arms

to the arbit-

was with weapons, "'

in the exercise of chivalry

under the eye of a philosopher

father,

making

the rival candidates were several

Ahmed, unprovided

and philosophy

why

Several pow-

and her

;

and prowess. What a predicament

for strength

the unfortunate

that

had been en-

a king of wondrous shrewdness, to avoid

rament of arms.

renowned

this seclusion.

owl broke silence, preluding his for

ejaculation,

he was a devout

Mussulman. "Allah Akbar hands are princes

all

secret

Know,

hidden from

knowledge

God

great!" exclaimed he; "in his

things â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he alone governs the

prince, that this land

is full

Know that

and

in the

neighboring moun-

in that cave there is

that table there lies a suit of

shut up there for

table,

which have been

generations."

prince stared with wonder, while the owl, blinking his

huge round "

many

an iron

magic armor, and beside

that table there stands a spell-bound steed,

The

destiny of

of mysteries,

but those who, like myself, can grope after

all

in the dark.

tains there is a cave,

and on

eyes,

Many years

and erecting

since

his horns, proceeded.

accompanied

[198]

father to these parts

AHMED AL KAMEL on a tour of

his estates,

thus became

which

in our family I

and we sojourned

in that cave

acquainted with the mystery. I

was yet but a very

who

and

;

a tradition

my grandfather, when

have heard from

httle owlet, that this

a Moorish magician,

It is

armor belonged

took refuge in this cavern

Toledo was captured by the Christians, and died here,

when leav-

ing his steed and weapons under a mystic spell, never to be

used but by a Moslem, and by him only from sunrise to mid-day.

In that interval, whoever uses them

overthrow

will

every opponent." "

Enough

let

Guided by

us seek this cave

exclaimed Ahm.ed,

his legendary mentor,

the prince found the

cavern, which was in one of the wildest recesses of those

rocky

which

cliffs

rise

around Toledo

;

none but the mousing

eye of an owl or an antiquary could have discovered the entrance to

emn

light

it.

sepulchral lamp of everlasting

through the place.

of the cavern lay the

and beside field,

magic armor, against

had gleamed

good condition as

hand upon

laid his

shed a

sol-

in the centre

leaned the lance,

stood an Arabian steed, caparisoned for the

but motionless as a statue.

unsullied as

oil

an iron table

just

The armor was

bright and

in days of old, the steed in as

from the pasture, and when

his neck,

Ahmed

he pawed the ground and gave

a loud neigh of joy that shook the walls of the cavern.

amply provided with

" horse

and rider and weapon

Thus

to wear,"

the prince determined to defy the field in the impending

tourney.

The

eventful

were prepared

morning

arrived.

The

lists

for the

combat

in the z>ega, or plain, just before the cliff-built

walls of Toledo,

where stages and

galleries

were erected for

the spectators, covered with rich tapestry, and sheltered from [

199]

THE ALHAMBRA the sun by silken awnings.

assembled

All the beauties of the land were

those galleries, while below pranced plumed

knights with their pages and esquires, conspicuously the princes

who were

among whom

figured

contend in the tourney.

when

All the beauties of the land, however, were eclipsed the Princess

Aldegonda appeared

for the first time broke forth

world.

murmur

transcendent loveliness for her hand, merely

upon the gaze

an admiring

wonder ran through the crowd

;

and

in the royal pavilion,

her

and the princes who were candidates

on the

faith of

her reported charms,

now felt tenfold ardor for the conflict. The princess, however, had a troubled

look.

The

color

came and went from her cheek, and her eye wandered with a restless and unsatisfied expression over the plumed throng of

knights.

encounter,

The trumpets were about sounding for the when the herald announced the arrival of a

strange knight, and

Ahmed

rode into the

field.

steel

helmet studded with gems rose above his turban, his cuirass

was embossed with gold, his cimeter and dagger were of the workmanship of Fez, and flamed with precious stones. A

round shield was the lance of

at his shoulder,

charmed

virtue.

The

and

in his

hand he bore

caparison of his Arabian

steed was richly embroidered and swept the ground, and the air, and neighed with more beholding the array of arms. The lofty and graceful demeanor of the prince struck every eye, and when his appellation was announced, " The Pilgrim of Love," a universal flutter and agitation prevailed among the fair dames in the galleries.

proud animal pranced and snuffed the

joy at once

When Ahmed

presented himself at the

they were closed against

him

;

[200]

none but

lists,

princes,

however,

he was

AHMED AL KAMEL told,

were admitted

engage

Still

was the

to the contest.

declared his

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he

name

was a Moslem, and could not a tourney where the hand of a Christian princess

and rank.

worse

prize.

surrounded him with haughty and and one of insolent demeanor and Herculean frame sneered at his light and youthful form, and scoffed at his amorous appellation. The ire of the prince

The

rival

menacing

princes

aspects,

was roused.

defied

his rival

the encounter.

took distance, wheeled, and charged

and

;

magic lance, the brawny scoffer was

of the

but, alas

had to deal with a demoniac horse and armor nothing could

action,

control

everything that presented

;

and simple, and grieving

his subjects

and

his guests.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they were unhorsed threw

off

forth to

Alas!

his robes,

he in

steed

the lance over-

;

at his

The king stormed and raged

exploits.

once

his

the gentle prince was

carried pell-mell about the field, strewing low, gentle

;

The Arabian

them.

charged into the thickest of the throng turned

from

tilted

Here the prince would have paused,

saddle.

They

at the first touch

involuntary

at this outrage

ordered out

as fast as they

with high and

own

came

all

his guards

up.

The king

grasped buckler and lance, and rode

awe the stranger with the presence

of majesty

majesty fared no better than the vulgar;

and lance were no respecters of persons

;

to the

itself.

the steel

dismay of

Ahmed, he was borne full tilt against the king, and in a moment the royal heels were in the air, and the crown was rolling in the dust.

At spell

this

moment

resumed

its

the sun reached the meridian

power

;

the magic

the Arabian steed scoured across

the plain, leaped the barrier, plunged into the Tagus,

[201]

swam

THE ALHAMBRA raging current, bore the prince breathless and amazed

its

to the cavern,

the iron table.

and resumed

The

his station,

hke a

statue, beside

prince dismounted right gladly, and re-

placed the armor, to abide the further decrees of

fate.

Then

seating himself in the cavern, he ruminated on the desperate

which this demoniac steed and armor had reduced Never should he dare to show his face at Toledo after inflicting such disgrace upon its chivalry, and such an outstate to

him.

rage on

its

What,

king.

too,

would the princess think of so

rude and riotous an achievement

winged messengers

forth his

resorted to city,

was

all

Full of anxiety, he sent

to gather tidings.

The

parrot

the public places and crowded resorts of the

and soon returned with a world of gossip. All Toledo in consternation.

less to the palace

;

The

princess had been borne off sense-

the tournament had ended in confusion

;

every one was talking of the sudden apparition, prodigious

and strange disappearance of the Moslem knight. Some pronounced him a Moorish magician, others thought him a demon who had assumed a human shape, while others

exploits,

related traditions of enchanted warriors hidden in the caves of the mountains,

who had made that

and thought

might be one of these,

a sudden irruption from his den.

All agreed

no mere ordinary mortal could have wrought such won-

ders, or

unhorsed such accomplished and stalwart Christian

warriors.

The city,

owl flew forth at night and hovered about the dusky

perching on the roofs and chimneys.

his flight

to the royal palace,

mit of Toledo, and went prowling about

its

terraces

tlements, eavesdropping at every cranny, and his big goggling eyes at every

then wheeled

which stood on a rocky sum-

window where

[202]

and

bat-

glaring in with

there was a light

AHMED AL KAMEL so as to throw two or three maids of honor into

fits.

was

dawn began to peer above the mountains he returned from his mousing expedition, and related

not until the gray that

what he had seen.

to the prince "'

was prying about one of the

palace," said he, "

She was

princess.

loftiest

towers of the

beheld through a casement a beautiful

reclining

on a couch with attendants and

physicians around her, but she would none of their ministry

and

relief.

letter

When

they retired,

beheld her draw forth a

from her bosom, and read and

loud lamentations

;

kiss

it,

and give way am,

at which, philosopher as I

could

but be greatly moved."

The tender heart of Ahmed was distressed at these tidings. Too true were thy words, O sage Eben Bonabben," cried

;

" care

and sorrow and

Allah

lovers.

preserve

the

sleepless nights are the lot of

princess

influence of this thing called love

from the blighting

" !

Further intelligence from Toledo corroborated the report of the owl.

The

city

was a prey

princess was conveyed

to uneasiness

and alarm.

the highest tower of

the

which was strongly guarded.

In the

meantime a devouring melancholy had seized upon

her, of

palace, every

avenue

which no one could divine the cause

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; she refused food and

turned a deaf ear to every consolation. physicians had essayed their art in vain

The most ;

skilful

was thought

some magic spell had been practised upon her, and the king made proclamation, declaring that whoever should effect her cure should receive the richest jewel in the royal treasury.

When

the owl,

proclamation,

who was dozing

in a corner,

heard of this

he rolled his large eyes and looked more

mysterious than ever.

[203]

;

THE ALHAMBRA "

"Allah Akbar

exclaimed he, "happy the

know what

should he but

shall effect that cure,

man

that

choose

from the royal treasury." "

What mean

Hearken,

you, most reverend owl

what

prince, to

" said

Ahmed.

shall relate.

you must know, are a learned body, and much given

During

and dusty research.

domes and

the

late

turrets of Toledo,

antiquarian owls,

who

owls,

dark

prowling at night about discovered a college of

hold their meetings in a great vaulted

tower where the royal treasury

deposited.

Here they were

discussing the forms and inscriptions and designs of ancient

gems and up

jewels,

and of golden and

silver vessels,

heaped

the treasury, the fashion of every country and age

but mostly they were interested about certain relics and

mans

talis-

that have remained in the treasury since the time of

Among

Roderick the Goth.

these was a box of sandal-wood

secured by bands of steel of Oriental workmanship, and

known only

inscribed with mystic characters

few.

This box and

its

for several sessions,

dispute.

to the learned

inscription had occupied the college

and had caused much long and grave my visit a very ancient owl, who had

the time of

recently arrived from Egypt, was seated on the lid of the

box, lecturing

upon the

inscription,

and he proved from

that the coffer contained the silken carpet of the throne of

Solomon the Wise

;

which doubtless had been brought

Toledo by the Jews who took refuge there

after the downfall

of Jerusalem."

When

the owl had concluded his antiquarian harangue,

heard," said he, " from the sage

Eben Bonabben,

have

of the

won-

the prince remained for a time absorbed in thought.

derful properties of that talisman, which disappeared at the

[204]

AHMED AL KAMEL fall

Doubtless Toledo. is

and was supposed

of Jerusalem,

lost to

mankind.

remains a sealed mystery to the Christians of

If I

can get possession of that carpet,

fortune

secure."

The next day

the prince laid aside his rich

arrayed himself in the simple garb of an

Arab

attire,

and

of the desert.

dyed his complexion to a tawny hue, and no one could

him the splendid warrior who had caused With staff at the tournament. in hand, and scrip by his side, and a small pastoral reed, he repaired to Toledo, and presenting himself at the gate of the royal palace, announced himself as a candidate for the reward have recognized

such admiration and dismay

The guards would have What can a vagrant Arab

offered for the cure of the princess.

driven

him away with

blows.

pretend to do," said they, " in a case where the

like thyself

most learned of the land have

failed

The

king, however,

overheard the tumult, and ordered the Arab to be brought into his presence.

"Most

potent king," said

Ahmed, "you behold

before

you a Bedouin Arab, the greater part of whose life has been passed in the solitudes of the desert. These solitudes, it is

known, are the haunts of demons and

well

evil spirits,

who

beset us poor shepherds in our lonely watchings, ehter into

and possess our flocks and herds, and sometimes render even the patient camel furious is

music

;

against these, our counter

and we have legendary

this

power

its

we chant and

pipe, to cast

and possess

fullest force.

be any

evil influence of

the kind that holds a spell over thy daughter,

head

to free

her from

its

sway." [

charm

handed down from

of a gifted line,

generation to generation, that forth these evil spirits.

airs

205

]

pledge

THE ALHAMBRA The

king,

who was

man

and knew

of understanding,

the wonderful secrets possessed by the Arabs, was inspired

with hope by the confident language of the prince.

con-

ducted him immediately to the lofty tower, secured by several doors, in the cess.

summit

was the chamber of the prin-

of which

The windows opened upon a

terrace with balustrades,

commanding a view over Toledo and country. The windows were darkened,

the surrounding

all

for the princess lay

within, a prey to a devouring grief that refused

The

several wild Arabian airs

had learnt from

The

alleviation.

all

prince seated himself on the terrace, and performed

his

pastoral pipe,

his attendants in the Generalife at

princess continued insensible, and the doctors

which he Granada.

who were

present shook their heads and smiled with incredulity and

contempt

length the prince laid aside the reed, and,

simple melody, chanted the amatory verses of the

to a

which had declared his passion.

The

princess recognized the strain

to her heart

;

she raised her

her eyes and streamed fell

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

letter

fluttering joy stole

head and listened

;

tears rushed to

down her cheeks her bosom rose and She would have asked for the ;

with a tumult of emotions.

minstrel to be brought into her presence, but maiden coyness

held her silent.

Ahmed discreet

The king read

her wishes, and at his

The

was conducted into the chamber. :

volumes.

command

lovers were

they but exchanged glances, yet those glances spoke

Never was triumph of music more complete. The

rose had returned to the soft cheek of the princess, the fresh-

ness lo her

lip,

and the dewy

light to her languishing eyes.

All the physicians present stared at each other with aston-

ishment. tion

The king regarded

mixed with awe.

the

Arab minstrel with admira-

Wonderful youth [206]

" !

exclaimed he,

THE ALHAMBRA "'

thou shalt henceforth be the

and no other prescription

first

physician of

court,

take but thy melody.

will I

For

the present receive thy reward, the most precious jewel in

treasury."

king," replied

precious stones.

Ahmed, " One relic

care not for silver or gold

hast thou

thy treasury,

handed down from the Moslems who once owned Toledo a

box of sandal-wood containing a silken carpet

and

that box,

give

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

content."

All present were surprised at the moderation of the Arab,

and

still

more when the box

the carpet drawn forth.

with

Hebrew and Chaldaic

of sandal-wood

was of

fine

characters.

was brought and

green

The

silk,

covered

court physicians

looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and smiled at

the

simplicity

this

new

practitioner,

who

could be

content with so paltry a fee.

"This carpet," said the prince, "once covered the throne Solomon the Wise it is worthy of being placed beneath ;

the feet of beauty."

So saying, he spread it on the terrace beneath an ottoman then seating that had been brought forth for the princess ;

himself at her feet "

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

said he, " shall counteract

Who,"

book of

fate

Know,

Behold

These words were

scarcely

air,

bearing

off the

from

written in the

became a

have long loved

the Pilgrim of Love!

his lips

when

little

and then disappeared [208]

the carpet

prince and the princess.

king and the physicians gazed after straining eyes until of a cloud,

and

king, that your daughter

each other in secret.

rose in the

what

Behold the prediction of the astrologers verified.

The

with open mouths and

speck on the white bosom

in the blue vault of heaven.

AHMED AL KAMEL

â&#x20AC;˘

The king

in a rage

this," said

he,

possession

"Alas,

" that thou

we knew not

sir,

Solomon,

of the wise

it is

its it

The king assembled in the

his court to strel,

for

meet him.

Ahmed

of his father,

The

nature, nor could

we decipher

to place

through the

air."

His march was long and toilsome.

The king

restitu-

himself came forth with

all

In the king he beheld the real min-

had succeeded

on the death

to the throne

and the beautiful Aldegonda was was suffered

and etiquette with princes. feasts

his sultana.

when he found

to continue in her faith

particularly pious, but religion

was a succession of

the

a mighty army, and set off for Granada

Christian king was easily pacified

his daughter

was

" ?

Vega, he sent a herald to demand

tion of his daughter.

possessed of magic power, and can

in pursuit of the fugitives.

Encamping

How

be indeed the carpet of the throne

owner from place

its

his treasurer.

hast suffered an infidel to get

such a tahsman

inscription of the box.

transport

summoned

;

that

not that he

always a point of pride

Instead of bloody battles, there

and

rejoicings, after

which the king

returned well pleased to Toledo, and the youthful couple

continued to reign, as happily as wisely, in the Alhambra. It is

proper to add that the owl and the parrot had severally

followed the prince by easy stages to Granada travelling by night,

and stopping

possessions of his family of every

town and

Ahmed

city

;

the former hereditary

the latter figuring in gay circles

his route.

gratefully requited the services

rendered on his pilgrimage.

He appointed

which they had

the owl his prime-

minister, the parrot his master of ceremonies. to say that

;

at the various

It is

needless

never was a realm more sagely administered, nor

a court conducted with

more exact [209]

punctilio.

LEGEND OF THE MOOR'S LEGACY "UST

within the fortress of the Alhambra, in front of

the royal palace, S=:y

a broad open esplanade, called the

Place or Square of

from

time of the Moors.

Moorish

well, cut

Cisterns

(La Plaza

los

from being undermined by reservoirs of

Aljibes), so called

water, hidden

the

sight,

and which have existed from the

At one

corner of this esplanade

through the living rock to a great depth,

is cold as ice and clear as crystal. The made by the Moors are always in repute, for it is well known what pains they took to penetrate to the purest and sweetest springs and fountains. The one of which we now

the water of which wells

speak

famous throughout Granada, insomuch that water-

some bearing great water-jars on their shoulders, others driving asses before them laden with earthen vessels, are ascending and descending the steep woody avenues of the Alhambra, from early dawn until a late hour of the night. carriers,

Fountains and wells, ever since the scriptural days, have

been noted gossiping-places in hot climates [_>io]

;

and

at the well

THE MOOR'S LEGACY a kind of perpetual club kept up during

in question there is

women, and other curious who sit here on the stone

the livelong day, by the invalids, old

do-nothing folk of the fortress,

benches, under an awning spread over the well to shelter the

from the sun, and dawdle over the gossip of the

toll-gatherer fortress,

and question every water-carrier that

the news of the

city,

they hear and see.

arrives about

and make long comments on everything

Not an hour

housewives and idle maid-servants

of the day but loitering

may be

seen, lingering,

with pitcher on head or in hand, to hear the last of the endless tattle of these worthies.

Among there

the water-carriers

who once

resorted to this well,

was a sturdy, strong-backed, bandy-legged

named Pedro

begun business with merely a great earthen carried

upon

little

Gil, but called Peregil for shortness,

his shoulder

and was enabled

;

jar

by degrees he rose

fellow,

who had

which he

in the world,

purchase an assistant of a correspondent

being a stout shaggy-haired donkey.

class of animals,

each side of this his long-eared aide-de-camp, in a kind of pannier, were slung his water-jars, covered with fig-leaves to protect

them from the

water-carrier

The

all

sun.

There was not a more industrious

Granada,

nor one more merry withal.

rang with his cheerful voice as he trudged after

streets

summer note that resounds agiia through the Spanish towns: " Qtneji guiere agua his donkey, singing forth the usual

mas

fvia

que la

colder than

snow

nicvc 1

Alhambra, cold as

Who ice

f â&#x20AC;&#x201D; "Who

wants water

wants water from the well of the

and

clear as

crystal

served a customer with a sparkling glass, a pleasant

word

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x201D; water

that caused a smile

;

was a comely dame or dimpling damsel,

[2II]

and it

.''

When

was always with if,

perchance,

was always with a

THE ALHAMBRA compliment

to her beauty that

was

of the civilest, pleasantest,

who sings Under all

not he heart.

his Cares

and

all

Granada

one

Yet

it is

and happiest of mortals.

this air of

merriment, honest Peregil had

had a large family of ragged

troubles.

who were hungry and clamorous

young swallows, and beset him with

home

food whenever he came mate, too,

Peregil

for being

loudest and jokes most that has the lightest

children to support, nest of

Thus

irresistible.

the Gallego was noted throughout

their outcries for

of an evening.

who was anything

as a

had a help-

She had

but a help to him.

been a village beauty before marriage, noted for her dancing the bolero and rattling the castanets

;

skill at

and she

still

retained her early propensities, spending the hard earnings of honest Peregil in frippery, and laying the very

under requisition for junketing

Sundays and

saints' days,

With

all this

she was a

;

Spain than the days of

little

thing more of a lie-abed, and, above

water

accommodates the yoke of matrimony Peregil bore

children with as jars

;

and,

all

meek to

first

else, to

to the to

shorn lamb, submissive

the

the heavy dispensations of wife and a spirit as his

donkey bore the water-

however he might shake

never ventured

some-

houses of her gossip neighbors.

He, however, who tempers the wind neck.

of a slattern,

a gossip of the

all,

neglecting house, household, and everything

loiter slipshod in the

and those innumerable holidays,

which are rather more numerous the week.

donkey

parties into the country

his

ears

private,

question the household virtues of

his

slattern spouse.

He loved

his children, too,

seeing in them his

even as an owl loves

own image

its

owlets,

multiplied and perpetuated

for they were a sturdy, long-backed, bandy-legged

[21.]

little

;

brood.

THE MOOR'S LEGACY The

great pleasure of honest Peregil was,

whenever he could and had a handful of niaratake the whole litter forth with him, some

afford himself a scanty holiday, %'cdis to spare, to

some tugging at his skirts, and some trudging to treat them to a gambol among the orchards,

in his arms, at his heels,

of the

and

Vega, while

was dancing with her holiday

his wife

friends in the Angosturas of the Darro.

was a

hour one summer night, and most of the

late

had desisted from their

water-carriers

been uncommonly sultry cious moonlights

;

The day had

toils.

the night was one of those deli-

which tempt the inhabitants of southern

climes to indemnify themselves for the heat and inaction of the day, by lingering in the open

and enjoying

air,

Customers

pered sweetness until after midnight.

were therefore

still

abroad.

journey to the well," said he little

tem-

Peregil, like a considerate, pains-

taking father, thought of his hungry children.

piichero for the

its

for water

ones."

One more

to himself, " to earn a

Sunday's

saying, he trudged manfully

up the steep avenue of the Alhambra, singing as he went,

and now and then bestowing a hearty thwack with a cudgel on the flanks of his donkey, either by way of cadence song, or refreshment to the animal lieu of

provender in Spain for

When

;

beasts of burden.

all

arrived at the well, he found

one except a

deserted by every

Moorish garb, seated on a

solitary stranger in

stone bench in the moonlight.

to the

for dry blows serve in

Peregil paused at

first

and

regarded him with surprise, not unmixed with awe, but the

Moor said

feebly beckoned

;

"aid

him

approach.

to return to the city,

and

faint

and

will

pay thee

ill,"

double what thou couldst gain by thy jars of water."

The honest

heart of the

little

[213]

water-carrier

was touched

THE ALHAMBRA "

with compassion at the appeal of the stranger. bid," said he, "that

common on

his

act of humanity."

donkey, and set

Moslem being

God

for-

should ask fee or reward for doing a

off

accordingly helped the

Moor

slowly for Granada, the poor

weak that it was necessary to hold him on him from falling to the earth.

the animal to keep

When

demanded

they entered the city the water-carrier "

whither he should conduct him. faintly, " I

Alas

" !

said the

have neither home nor habitation

ger in the land.

Suffer

to lay

head

Moor,

a stran-

this night

beneath

;

thy roof, and thou shalt be amply repaid."

Honest Peregil thus saw himself unexpectedly saddled with an

infidel guest, but

he was too humane

to refuse a night's

shelter to a fellow-being in so forlorn a plight

Moor

ducted the sallied forth

The

to his dwelling.

open-mouthed

as usual

latter

"What brought

a vagrant

infidel

home

dog approaches.

companion," cried she, "is

at this late "

wife would

still

lived in a hovel, she

her house

;

stiffnecked, sisted the

you have

quiet, wife," replied the

the

little

"here

a poor

Gallego

;

home

wouldst thou turn

forth to perish in the streets

The

this

hour to draw upon us the eyes of

sick stranger, without friend or

him

the tur-

their mother.

stepped forth intrepidly, like a ruffling hen before

when

the inquisition

"Be

who had

on hearing the tramp of

baned stranger, and hid themselves behind her brood

so he con-

when they beheld

the donkey, ran back with affright

The

;

children,

;

" .?

have remonstrated, for although she

was a furious water-carrier,

and refused

poor Moslem

stickler for the credit of

however, for once was

bend beneath the yoke.

to alight,

[214]

as-

and spread a mat and a

THE MOOR'S LEGACY sheep-skin for him, on the ground, in the coolest part of the

house

being the only kind of bed that his poverty afforded.

;

In a

which defied

sions,

The

water-carrier.

interval of his

and addressing him

he, "

hand.

in a

albornoz, or cloak, and

If I die, I

his

head

;

bequeath you this box

so saying, he

opened

his

of sandal-wood,

friend," replied

God

grant,

may

Gallego, "that you

laid his

to his

end," said

enjoy your treasure, whatever

said

" :

showed a small box

strapped round his body. little

he called him

fits

low voice

as a reward for your charity";

the worthy

of the simple

skill

eye of the poor patient acknowledged his

side,

fear

seized with violent convul-

the ministering

all

During an

kindness.

Moor was

while the

little

may

many years to The Moor shook

live

be."

hand upon the box, and would have

something more concerning

it,

but

his

returned with increasing violence, and in a

convulsions

little

while he

expired.

The

water-carrier's wife

was now as one

distracted.

This

comes," said she, "of your foolish good-nature, always running into scrapes to oblige others.

when

this corpse is

to prison as shall

found

murderers

;

and

What

our house if

will

}

become shall

we escape with our

of us

be sent

lives,

be ruined by notaries and algiiazils!'

Poor Peregil was in equal tribulation, and almost repented himself of having done a good deed. struck him.

"It

length a thought

not yet day," said he;

the dead body out of the

city,

the banks of the Xenil.

dwelling, and no one will

and bury

"I can convey in the

sands on

one saw the Moor enter our

know anything

of-

his death."

So said, so done. The wife aided him they rolled the body of the unfortunate Moslem in the mat on which he had ;

[-^15]

THE ALHAMBRA expired, laid for the

across the ass,

banks of the

ill-luck

would have

carrier a barber

and Peregil

set out with

named

it,

there lived opposite to the water-

Pedrillo Pedrugo, one of the

most

prying, tattling, and mischief-making of his gossip tribe.

was a weasel-faced, spider-legged ing

varlet,

supple and insinuat-

the famous barber of Seville could not surpass

;

his universal knowledge of the affairs of others,

no more power of retention than a he slept but with one eye ered, so that

that

even

at a time,

in his sleep

was going on.

Certain

sieve.

all

was

at night,

said that

he might see and hear

it is,

for

and kept one ear uncovall

he was a sort of scandalous

cus-

the rest of his fraternity.

This meddlesome barber heard Peregil arrive hour

him

and he had

chronicle for the quidnuncs of Granada, and had

tomers than

river.

and the exclamations of

his wife

His head was instantly popped out of a

little

an unusual

and children.

window which

served

him

man

Moorish garb into his dwelling. This was so strange

as a look-out,

and he saw

his neighbor assist a

an occurrence that Pedrillo Pedrugo slept not a wink that

Every

night.

five

minutes he was at his loophole, watching

the lights that gleamed through the chinks of his neighbor's door, his

and before daylight he beheld Peregil

sally forth with

donkey unusually laden.

The

inquisitive barber

was

in a fidget

;

he slipped on his

clothes, and, stealing forth silently, followed the water-carrier at a distance, until

of the Xenil,

he saw him dig a hole

in the

sandy bank

and bury something that had the appearance

of a dead body.

The

barber hied

him home, and

fidgeted about his shop,

setting everything upside down, until sunrise.

[216]

then took

;

THE MOOR'S LEGACY a basin under his arm, and sallied forth to the house of his daily

customer the Alcalde.

The Alcalde had in a chair,

Pedrillo

just risen.

Pedrugo seated him

threw a napkin round his neck, put a basin of hot

water under his chin, and began to mollify his beard with his fingers.

" Strange doings

newsmonger

at the

and murder, and "'

Hey I

" said

same

burial all in

— how — what !

who played

Pedrugo,

—

time,

" strange "

one night

doings

barber and !

Robbery,

you say," cried the Alcalde.

that

say," replied the barber, rubbing a piece of soap over

the nose and

mouth

of the dignitary, for a Spanish barber

disdains to employ a brush,

—

say that Peregil the Gal-

lego has robbed and murdered a Moorish Mussulman, and

buried him, this blessed night.

lilaldita sea la Jioche "

Accursed be the night for the same "

But how do you know

Be patient, Senor, and you

.''

demanded

shall

then recounted

—

hear

him by the nose and

replied Pedrillo, taking

over his cheek.

all this

;

all

the Alcalde.

all

about

it,"

sliding a razor

that he had seen,

going through both operations at the same time, shaving his beard,

washing

dirty napkin, while

the

his chin,

and wiping him dry with a

he was robbing, murdering, and burying

Moslem.

Now

so happened that this Alcalde was one of the most

same time most griping and corrupt Granada. It could not be denied, how-

overbearing, and at the

curmudgeons

in all

justice, for he sold it at presumed the case in point to be one of murder and robbery doubtless there must be a rich spoil how was it to be secured into the legitimate hands of the law t

ever, that its

he set a high value upon

weight in gold.

;

[217]

THE ALHAMBRA for as to merely entrapping the delinquent

feeding the gallows

—

but entrapping the booty

;

that

—

would be would

that

be enriching the judge, and such, according to his creed, was

So thinking, he summoned

the great end of justice.

presence his trustiest algiiasil varlet,

—a

gaunt,

to his

hungry-looking

according to the custom of his order, in the

clad,

ancient Spanish garb, a broad black beaver turned up at sides

a quaint _ruff

;

shoulders

;

its

a small black cloak dangling from his

rusty black under-clothes that set off his spare

wiry frame, while in his hand he bore a slender white wand,

Such was the

the dreaded insignia of his office.

hound

of the ancient Spanish breed, that he put

traces of the unlucky water-carrier,

and

legal blood-

and such was

upon the speed

his

he was upon the haunches of poor Peregil

certainty, that

before he had returned to his dwelling, and brought both

him and

The "

donkey before the dispenser of

his

Alcalde bent upon him one of the most

Hark

ye, culprit

knees of the prit

there

known

little

Gallego smite together,

no need of denying thy

me.

to reason.

gallows

The man

was a Moor, an less in a

fit

is I

infidel,

the

— "hark

guilt,

frowns.

made

everything

merciful,

and readily

been murdered

enemy

of our faith.

listen

was doubt-

water-carrier called ;

alas

will

render up the property of which

thou hast robbed him, and we

innocence

house

in thy

of religious zeal that thou hast slain him. ;

the

ye, cul-

the proper reward for the crime

that has

be indulgent, therefore

The poor

terrific

roared he, in a voice that

thou hast committed, but

his

justice.

will

hush the matter up."

upon

all

the saints to witness

not one of them appeared

;

and

they

had the Alcalde would have disbelieved the whole calendar.

The

water-carrier related the whole story of the dying

[218]

Moor

THE MOOR'S LEGACY with the straightforward simplicity of truth, but "

vain.

" that this

Moslem had

carrier,

all

" ?

hope

he had nothing but a small box of sandal- wood,

your worship," replied the water-

to be saved,

which he bequeathed '

was

neither gold nor jewels, which were

the object of thy cupidity "

Wilt thou persist in saying," demanded the judge,

box of sandal-wood

reward for

services."

a box of sandal-wood

exclaimed

the Alcalde, his eyes sparkling at the idea of precious jewels. "

And where

"An '.it is in

box

this

where have you concealed

" it

please your grace," replied the water-carrier, "it

one of the panniers of

mule, and heartily at the

service of your worship."

had hardly spoken the words, when the keen algjiasil

darted

and reappeared

off,

and trembling hand treasure

;

all

was expected

The

box of sandal-wood.

an instant with the mysterious

Alcalde opened

with an eager

pressed forward to gaze upon the to contain

;

when,

to their disap-

pointment, nothing appeared within, but a parchment

scroll,

covered with Arabic characters, and an end of a waxen taper.

When

there

nothing to be gained by the conviction of

a prisoner, justice, even in Spain,

apt to be impartial.

The

Alcalde, having recovered from his disappointment, and found that there

was

really

no booty

in the case,

now

listened dis-

passionately to the explanation of the water-carrier, which

was corroborated by the testimony of his wife.

Being con-

him from him to carry off the Moor's sandal-wood and its contents, as the well-

vinced, therefore, of his innocence, he discharged arrest

;

nay, more, he permitted

legacy, the

box of

merited reward of his humanity in

payment

of costs

;

and charges.

[219]

but he retained his donkey

THE ALHAMBRA Behold the unfortunate

Gallego reduced once more

little

own water-carrier, and trudging Alhambra with a great earthen jar

to the necessity of being his

up to the well of the upon his shoulder. As he toiled up the

in the heat of a

hill

his usual good-hunior forsook him.

would he

" to

cry,

rob a poor

sistence, of the best friend

remembrance

at the

man

he had

Dog

of the

in the

of the beloved

summer noon,

of an Alcalde

means

world

then

his labors,

Ah, donkey

heart!" would he exclaim, resting his burden on a

and wiping the sweat from

stone,

And

companion of

the kindness of his nature would break forth. "

of his sub-

all

" !

heart

warrant

To add

warrant

his brow,

— "ah,

thou missest the water-jars

— poor beast

to his afflictions, his wife received

" !

him, on his

home, with whimperings and repinings

return

donkey

thou thinkest of thy old master

;

she had

vantage-ground of him, having warned him not commit the egregious act of hospitality which had brought on him all these misfortunes and, like a knowing woman, clearly the

;

she took every occasion to throw her superior sagacity in his teeth.

her children lacked food, or needed a new garment, "'

she could answer with a sneer, heir to

King Chico

of the

Alhambra

to :

your father

— he

ask him to help you

out of the Moor's strong box."

Was

ever poor mortal so soundly punished for having done

a good action spirit,

but

still

The unlucky

Peregil was grieved in flesh and

he bore meekly with the railings of his spouse.

length, one evening, when, after a hot day's

taunted him in the usual manner, he lost did not venture to retort

upon

all

toil,

patience.

her, but his eye rested

she

He upon

the box of sandal-wood, which lay on a shelf with lid half [

220

]

THE MOOR'S LEGACY open, as

laughing in mockery

up, he dashed

was the day that

floor.

Unlucky

ever set eyes on thee," he cried, " or

sheltered thy master beneath

Seizing

at his vexation.

with indignation to the

roof

" !

the box struck the floor, the lid flew wide open, and

the parchment scroll rolled forth.

some time

Peregil sat regarding the scroll for silence.

At length

rallying his ideas, "

he, " but this writing

Moor seems

have guarded

up therefore, he put as he

may be

some importance,

with such care

in his

Who knows," .-*

moody thought as the

Picking

bosom, and the next morning,

was crying water through the

streets,

he stopped

who sold and asked him to

the shop of a Moor, a native of Tangiers,

trinkets

and perfumery

explain

in the

Zacati'n,

the contents.

The Moor

read the scroll attentively, then stroked his

beard and smiled. of incantation

"This manuscript,"

under the power of enchantment.

and

virtue that the strongest bolts

rock " I

itself, will

Bah

" !

said he, "is a

little

said to have such

nay the adamantine

yield before

cried the

bars,

Gallego, " what

is all

that to

no enchanter, and know nothing of buried treasure."

saying, he shouldered his water-jar, left the scroll in the

hands of the Moor, and trudged forward on his

That evening, however, at

form

for the recovery of hidden treasure that

the well of the Alhambra, he found a

assembled

at the place,

usual at that

and

number

of gossips

their conversation, as

shadowy hour, turned upon old

tales

and

not un-

traditions

Being all poor as rats, they dwelt upon the popular theme of enchanted

of a supernatural nature.

with peculiar fondness

daily rounds.

as he rested himself about twilight

[221

]

THE ALHAMBRA Moors

riches left by the

Above

in various parts of the

Alhambra.

they concurred in the belief that there were great

all,

treasures buried deep in the earth under the

Tower

of the

Seven Floors.

These

made an unusual impression on

stories

the

mind

the honest Peregil, and they sank deeper and deeper into his

down

thoughts as he returned alone "

after

If,

tower

there should be treasure hid beneath

all,

and

;

the scroll

to get at

had well-nigh

the darkling avenues.

with the

left

Moor should

that

enable

In the sudden ecstasy of the thought he

let fall his water-jar.

That night he tumbled and

tossed,

and could scarcely get

a wink of sleep for the thoughts that were bewildering his

Bright and early he repaired to the shop of the Moor,

brain.

and

him

told

all

that

was passing

read Arabic," said he tower,

and

try the effect of the

worse

off

than before

equally "

;

the treasure

all

but

of itself

;

we may

must be read

" Say no

" !

will

are

discover."

at midnight,

reach.

cried the

by the light of a of

Without such a taper the

little it

Gallego

"' ;

have such

here in a moment."

home, and soon returned with the end of

felt

and smelled of

costly perfumes," said he, is

taper that he had found in the box of sandal-wood.

The Moor This

fails,

avail."

saying, he hastened

wax

" this writing is not sufficient

;

a taper at hand, and will bring

yellow

compounded and prepared, the ingredients

which are not within scroll is of

;

can

together to the

succeeds,

"You

mind.

we go

charm

Hold," replied the Moslem

taper singularly

in his

" suppose

;

it.

Here

"combined with

the kind of taper specified in the

[222]

are rare

this yellow

scroll.

While

and wax. this

THE MOOR'S LEGACY burns, the strongest walls

open.

Woe

extinguished. It

and most

will

secret caverns will remain

who

him, however,

lingers within until

was now agreed between them

very night.

remain enchanted with the treasure."

charm

to try the

that

when nothing was they ascended the woody hill of

a late hour, therefore,

and

stirring but bats

owls,

the Alhambra, and approached that awful tower, shrouded

many

traditionary

the light of a lantern they groped their

way through

by trees and rendered formidable by so tales.

bushes, and over fallen stones, to the door of a vault beneath the tower.

With

and trembling they descended a flight the rock. It led to an empty chamber,

fear

of steps cut into

damp and

drear,

deeper vault.

many

leading into as of the

floor

from which another

flight of steps led to a

In this way they descended four several vaults,

fourth was solid

tradition, there

and though, according

;

remained three vaults

still

below,

to be impossible to penetrate farther, the residue

up by strong enchantment. and

chilly,

The

and had an earthy

air of this vault

smell,

They paused here

forth any rays.

flights,

one below the other, but the

and the

was

said

being shut

was damp

light scarce cast

for a time, in breathless

suspense, until they faintly heard the clock of the watch-tower strike

midnight

;

upon

diffused an odor of

this they

lit

the

waxen

myrrh and frankincense and

taper,

which

storax.

The Moor began to read in a hurried voice. He had scarce finished when there was a noise as of subterraneous thunder. The earth shook, and the floor, yawning open, disclosed a flight of steps.

and by the

Trembling with awe, they descended,

light of the lantern

found themselves

vault covered with Arabic inscriptions.

another

In the centre stood

a great chest, secured with seven bands of steel, at each end of

[223]

THEALHAMBRA which

sat

an enchanted Moor

in armor, but motionless as a

statue, being controlled by the power of the incantation.

Before the chest were several jars

and precious stones.

arms up

filled

with gold and silver

In the largest of these they thrust their

to the elbow,

and

at every dip

of broad yellow pieces of

hauled forth handfuls

Moorish gold, or bracelets and

ornaments of the same precious metal, while occasionally a necklace of Oriental pearl would stick to their fingers.

Still

and breathed short while cramming

their

they trembled

pockets with the spoils

;

and

glaring upon

many

cast

the two enchanted Moors, who

them with unwinking

a fearful glance at

grim and motionless,

sat

eyes.

length, struck

with a sudden panic at some fancied noise, they both rushed

up the

staircase,

apartment,

tumbled over one another into the upper

overturned and extinguished the waxen taper,

and the pavement again closed with a thundering sound. Filled with dismay, they did not pause until they had groped their way out of the tower, and beheld the shining through the trees.

stars

Then, seating themselves upon

the grass, they divided the spoil,

determining to content

themselves for the present with this mere skimming of the jars,

but to return on

To make

the bottom.

some

future night

and drain them

sure of each other's good faith, also,

they divided the talismans between them, one retaining the scroll

and the other the taper

light hearts

and

;

this done, they set off with

well-lined pockets for Granada.

they wended their way

whispered a word of counsel

down

the

hill,

the shrewd

in the ear of the

simple

Moor little

water-carrier.

"Friend Peregil,"

said he, "all this affair

a profound secret until

we have secured

must be kept

the treasure, and

THE MOOR'S LEGACY conveyed

out of harm's way.

the ear of the Alcalde,

a whisper of

gets to

undone

are

" Certainly," replied the Gallego, " nothing can be

true."

"Friend Peregil," man, and

"you

the Moor,

said

make no doubt can keep

are a discreet

a secret

;

but you have

a wife." "

She

shall not

know

word

of it," replied the

little

water-

carrier, sturdily.

Enough,"

said the

Moor, "

depend upon thy

discretion

and thy promise."

Never was promise more

and sincere

positive

what man can keep a secret from his wife

;

but, alas

such a one as Peregil the water-carrier,

who was one

most loving and

tractable of husbands.

he found his wife moping in a corner. she as he entered, "you 've come at until this

hour of the night.

home another Moor

last,

his return

Mighty after

Certainly not of the

home,

well," cried

rambling about

wonder you have not brought

as a house-mate."

Then

bursting into

she began to wring her hands and smite her breast.

tears,

"Unhappy woman that I am! " exclaimed she, "what will of me My house stripped and plundered by lawyers

become and

.''

algitazils

brings

;

home bread

husband a do-no-good, that no longer to his family, but

day and night, with infidel Moors children

beg

what

become

will

in the streets

of us

.-â&#x20AC;˘

he could not help whimpering

hand

children

shall all

have to

as full as his pocket, his

Honest Peregil was so moved by the that

goes rambling about

O my

and not

distress of his spouse also.

His heart was

be restrained.

Thrusting

into the latter he hauled forth three or four broad

[225]

;

THE ALHAMBRA gold-pieces,

woman the

and slipped them

meaning

gold and dangled

little

Before she could recover

Gallego drew forth a chain of

before her, capering with exultation, his

mouth distended from ear "

to ear.

What hast thou been doing, Peregil ? "

" surely thou hast not been committing

The it

exclaimed the wife

murder and robbery

idea scarce entered the brain of the poor

became a

hanging pendent from

of pacifying his wife,

little

" !

than a

bandy-legged Gallego

and, overcome by the horrors

;

conjured up by imagination, could the poor

woman

She saw a prison and

certainty with her.

gallows in the distance, and a

What

The poor

and could not understand

of this golden shower.

from her surprise, the

bosom.

into her

stared with astonishment,

fell

man do

into violent hysterics.

had no other means

and dispelling the phantoms of her

fancy, than by relating the whole story of his

good fortune.

This, however, he did not do until he had exacted from her

the most solemn promise to keep

a profound secret from

every living being.

describe her joy would be impossible.

She flung her

arms round the neck of her husband, and almost strangled him with her caresses. " Now, wife," exclaimed the little man, with honest Moor's legacy

exultation,

"what say you now

Henceforth never abuse

the

for helping a

fellow-creature in distress."

The

honest Gallego retired to his sheep-skin mat, and

slept as soundly as

on a bed of down.

She emptied the whole contents

Not so

of his pockets

his wife.

upon the

mat, and sat counting gold pieces of Arabic coin, trying on

necklaces and earrings, and fancying the figure she should

one day make when permitted

to enjoy her riches.

[226]

THE MOOR'S LEGACY On

morning the honest Gallego took a broad

the following

golden coin, and repaired with Zacati'n to offer

The

the ruins of the Alhambra.

found

jeweller saw that

Arabic inscription, and was of the purest gold however, but a third of

its

was perfectly content. his

little

flock,

and

value, with

Peregil

shop

to a jeweller's

for sale, pretending to have

it it

in the

among had an

he offered,

;

which the water-carrier

now bought new

clothes for

kinds of toys, together with ample

all

provisions for a hearty meal, and returning to his dwelling,

dancing around him, while he capered

set all his children

in the midst, the happiest of fathers.

The

wife of the water-carrier kept her promise of secrecy

For a whole day and a

with surprising strictness.

half she

went about, with a look of mystery and a heart swelling almost to bursting

;

yet she

rounded by her gossips. herself a

few

of ordering a

bugles,

and a

airs,

her peace, though sur-

held

It is true

she could not help giving

apologized for her ragged dress, and talked

new basqnina, all trimmed with gold lace and new lace mantilla. She threw out hints of her

husband's intention of leaving off his trade of water-carrying, as

did not altogether agree with his health.

thought they should that the children for there

all retire

to the country for the

fact,

might have the benefit of the mountain

was no living

she

summer, air,

in the city in this sultry season.

The neighbors stared at each other, and thought the poor woman had lost her wits and her airs and graces and elegant ;

pretensions were the theme of universal scoffing and merri-

ment among her If

friends the

moment

her back was turned.

she restrained herself abroad, however, she indemnified

herself at

home, and putting a string

of rich Oriental pearls

round her neck, Moorish bracelets on her arms, and an aigrette

[227]

THE ALHAMBRA diamonds on her head,

in her slattern rags to

admire herself

backwards and forwards

sailed

now and then

about the room,

broken mirror.

in a

of her simple vanity, she could not resist,

showing herself

on one occasion,

window, to enjoy the

effect of

her

on the passers by.

finery

As some

at the

stopping

Nay, in the impulse

the fates would have

was

barber,

it,

Pedrillo Pedrugo, the meddle-

moment sitting idly in his shop on when his ever-watchful eye

at this

the opposite side of the street,

In an instant he was at

caught the sparkle of a diamond.

his loophole reconnoitring the slattern spouse of the water-

decorated with the splendor of an Eastern bride.

carrier,

sooner had he taken an accurate inventory of her orna-

ments, than he posted a

little

with

off

all

speed to the Alcalde.

while the hungry algiiazil was again on the scent, and

before the day was over the unfortunate Peregil was once

more dragged "

How

voice. left

into the presence of the judge. villain

this,

"You

told

" !

cried the Alcalde, in a furious

that the infidel

nothing behind but an empty

who

coffer,

died in your house

and now

hear of

your wife flaunting in her rags decked out with pearls and

diamonds.

Wretch

that thou art

spoils of thy miserable victim,

that

The full

swing on the gallows

already tired of waiting for thee." terrified water-carrier fell

relation

the

gained his wealth.

Moslem

his knees,

and made a

Alcalde, the algnaail, and the in-

enchanted treasure.

bring the

marvellous manner in which he had

The

quisitive barber listened with tale of

prepare to render up the

and

Moor who had

greedy ears to this Arabian

The

algiiazil

was despatched

assisted in the incantation.

The

entered, half frightened out of his wits at finding

[22S]

THE MOOR'S LEGACY When

himself in the hands of the harpies of the law.

beheld the water-carrier standing with sheepish looks and

downcast countenance, he comprehended the whole matter.

"Miserable animal," said he, as he passed near him, "did I

not warn thee against babbling to thy wife

The lief,

Moor

story of the

his colleague

" .-'

coincided exactly with that of

but the Alcalde affected to be slow of be-

;

and threw out menaces

imprisonment and rigorous

investigation. " Softly,

good Seiior Alcalde,"

said the

Mussulman, who

by this time had recovered his usual shrewdness and possession.

Let us not mar fortune's favors

for them.

Nobody knows anything

selves

us keep the secret.

;

let

the cave to enrich us shall

be produced

;

all.

refuse,

self-

scramble

in the

of this matter but our-

There

Promise a

wealth enough

fair division,

and the cave

shall

and

in all

remain forever

closed."

The Alcalde was an old fox he,

consulted apart with the "

in his profession.

dare to murmur, threaten as infidels

he and his accomplice

them with the

fagot and the stake

and sorcerers."

The Alcalde turning to the

relished the advice.

Moor: "This

and may be true

;

but

Smoothing

If there

brow and

must have ocular proof of

be really such treasure, we

us,

his

a strange story," said he,

very night you must repeat the incantation in

tween

latter

You may

"until you get possession of the treasure.

then seize upon the whole, and

The

alg?ia;:il.

Promise anything," said

will

my it

and say nothing further of the matter

deceived me, expect no mercy at

time you must remain in custody."

[229]

hands.

it.

This

presence.

amicably be;

ye have

In the mean-

THE ALHAMBRA The Moor and

the water-carrier cheerfully agreed to these

conditions, satisfied that the event would prove the truth of their words.

Towards midnight the Alcalde

sallied forth secretly, at-

tended by the algiiasil and the meddlesome barber, strongly armed. carrier

They conducted

prisoners,

donkey of the

latter to

and were

the

Moor and

provided

all

the water-

with

the

stout

They

bear off the expected treasure.

arrived at the tower without being observed, and tying the

donkey

fig-tree,

descended

the fourth vault of

into

the tower.

The

scroll

was produced, the yellow waxen taper

and the Moor read the form of incantation.

The

lighted,

earth trem-

bled as before, and the pavement opened with a thundering

The

sound, disclosing the narrow flight of steps.

Alcalde,

the alguazil, and the barber were struck aghast, and could

not

summon

courage to descend.

carrier entered the lower vault,

The Moor and

seated as before, silent and motionless. of the great jars, filled with golden coin

The

water-carrier bore

ders, but

when slung on each side of much as the animal could bear.

" is

little

man, and accustomed

his donkey, they

Let us be content for the present," said the Moor

much

ceived,

stones.

his shoul-

he staggered beneath their weight, and

found, as

They removed two and precious

them up one by one upon

though a strong-backed

to carry burdens,

the water-

and found the two Moors

treasure as

and enough

'" ;

were

here

we can carry off without being permake us all wealthy to our heart's

desire." " Is there

treasure remaining behind

the Alcalde.

[230]

}

demanded

THE MOOR'S LEGACY "

greatest prize of all," said the Moor, " a

The

bound with bands of

and

steel,

huge

coffer

with pearls and precious

filled

stones," "

Let us have up the coffer by

means," cried the grasp-

all

ing Alcalde. "

descend for no more," said the Moor, doggedly

will

"enough

enough

man

for a reasonable

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; more

;

super-

fluous,"

And

burden

I," said the water-carrier, " will

back of

to break the

Finding commands,

threats,

bring up no further

poor donkey,"

and entreaties equally

"Aid me,"

the Alcalde turned to his two adherents, he,

"to bring up the

vided

with

followed

coffer,

between us,"

and

trembling

reluctance

said

contents shall be di

its

he descended

saying,

vain,

the

the steps,

algtiazil

and

the barber.

sooner did the

Moor behold them

he extinguished the yellow taper usual

its

beneath

it.

air.

as fast as his short legs

What in

the pavement closed with

;

then hastened up the different flights of steps, nor

hast thou done

"The

recover breath,

earthed than

and the three worthies remained buried

crash,

stopped until in the open

him

fairly

The

little

water-carrier followed

would permit,

" cried Peregil, as

.''

soon as he could

Alcalde and the other two are shut

the vault,"

" It is the will of

And will

Allah forbid

Allah

" said

you not release them

" It is written

" !

the Moor, devoutly, ,?

demanded

replied the Moor,

in the

book

the Gallego.

smoothing

his beard.

of fate that they shall remain

enchanted until some future adventurer arrive to break the

THE ALHAMBRA The

charm.

God be done " so saying, he hurled waxen taper far among the gloomy thickets

will

the end of the

of the glen.

There was now no remedy carrier city,

;

so the

Moor and

the water-

proceeded with the richly laden donkey toward the

nor could honest Peregil refrain from hugging and

kiss-

ing his long-eared fellow-laborer, thus restored to him from the clutches of the law

gave the simple-hearted

;

and, in fact,

little

man most

doubtful which

joy at the

moment,

the gaining of the treasure, or the recovery of the donkey.

The two and

fairly,

trinketry,

partners in good luck divided their spoil amicably

who had

except that the Moor,

made

little

taste for

out to get into his heap the most of the pearls

and precious stones and other baubles, but then he always gave the water-carrier

in lieu

gold, of five times the size, with

magnificent jewels of massy

which the

latter

was

heartily

They took care not to linger within reach of accimade off to enjoy their wealth undisturbed in other countries. The Moor returned to Africa, to his native city of content.

dents, but

Tangiers, and the Gallego, with his wife, his children, and his donkey,

made

the best of his

way

Portugal.

Here,

under the admonition and tuition of his wife, he became a personage of some consequence, for she made the worthy little

man

array his long body and short legs in doublet and

hose, with a feather in his hat

and a sword by

his side,

and

laying aside his familiar appellation of Peregil, assume the

more sonorous

title

Don Pedro

Gil

his

progeny grew up

a thriving and merry-hearted, though short and bandy-legged generation, while Senora Gil, befringed, belaced, and betasselled

from her head

to her heels, with glittering rings

every finger, became a model of slattern fashion and finery.

THE MOOR'S LEGACY As

to the

Alcalde and his adjuncts, they remained shut

up under the great Tower of the Seven Floors, and there they remain spellbound at the present day. shall be a lack in zils,

Whenever

there

Spain of meddling barbers, sharking algua-

and corrupt alcaldes, they may be sought

after

;

but

they have to wait until such time for their deliverance, there is

danger of their enchantment enduring

[233]

until

doomsday.

LEGEND OF THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES

N OLD

times there reigned a Moorish king in Granada,

whose name was Mohamed,

which

the appellation of El Hayzari, or

Some

his subjects

"The

added

Left-handed."

say he was so called on account of his being really

more expert with

his sinister than his dexter

hand

;

others,

because he was prone to take everything by the wrong end, or, in is,

other words, to

mar wherever he meddled.

either through misfortune or

tinually in trouble

;

thrice

was he driven from

and on one occasion barely escaped in the disguise of a fisherman.

was blundering

;

his throne

his throne,

to Africa with his

Still

life,

he was as brave as he

and though left-handed, wielded

to such purpose, that

Certain

mismanagement, he was con-

his cimeter

he each time re-established himself upon

by dint of hard fighting.

[234]

Instead, however, of

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES learning stiffened

wisdom from his left arm

annals of Granada

The

in wilfulness.

nature which he thus brought

may be learned by

hardened his neck, and

adversity, he

those

evils of a public

upon himself and

who

will

his

kingdom

delve into the Arabian

the present legend deals but with his

;

domestic policy.

this

Mohamed was one

his courtiers, a

day riding forth with a train of

by the foot of the mountain of Elvira, he met

band of horsemen returning from a foray

into the land of

They were conducting a long string of mules laden with spoil, and many captives of both sexes, among whom the monarch was struck with the appearance of a beautiful damsel, richly attired, who sat weeping on a low the Christians.

palfrey

and heeded not the consoling words

who rode beside her. The monarch was struck with her of the captain of the troop,

beauty, and, on inquiring

found that she was the daughter

of the Alcalde of a frontier fortress, that

and sacked

duenna

of a

had been surprised

Mohamed

in the course of the foray.

claimed

her as his royal share of the booty, and had her conveyed to the Alhambra.

melancholy sought to

;

There everything was devised

make her

foe of her country

The monarch,

;

The Spanish maid

his queen.

repulsed his addresses

;

he was an

name

infidel

;

at first

he was the open

what was worse, he was stricken

in years

finding his assiduities of no avail, determined

to enlist in his favor the dueujia,

the lady.

to soothe her

and the monarch, more and more enamored,

who had been

She was an Andalusian by

birth,

forgotten, being mentioned in

captured with

whose Christian

Moorish legends by

no other appellation than that of the discreet Kadiga discreet in truth she was, as her

;

and

whole history makes evident.

[^35]

;

THE ALHAMBRA No

sooner had the Moorish king held a Httle private conver-

sation with her, than she

saw

once the cogency of his

young

soning, and undertook his cause with her ""

now

to,

weep and

" !

cried she

wail about

beautiful palace, with

all

what

there in

not better to be mistress of this

its

gardens and fountains, than to

be shut up within your father's old frontier tower this

Mohamed

You marry old, the at

any

what

infidel,

him, not his religion

sooner

rate,

being an

will

you are

this to

all

" ;

rea-

mistress.

and

;

that to the purpose

waxing a

little

you be a widow, and mistress of yourself power, and must either be a queen

in his

or a slave."

The arguments

of the

Spanish lady dried her

Mohamed

discreet

the Left-handed

;

Kadiga

prevailed.

she even conformed, in appear-

ance, to the faith of her royal husband

;

and her

duenna immediately became a zealous convert doctrines

of Kadiga,

was then the

received the

latter

and was permitted

employ of her

The

and became the spouse of

tears,

remain

discreet

Moslem Arabian name

to the

in the confidential

mistress.

made the proud and happy born at the same time. As usual with all Moslem monarchs, he summoned his astrologers on this happy event. They cast the nativities of In time the Moorish king was

father of three lovely daughters,

all

the three princesses, and shook their heads.

king!"

Daughters,

"are always precarious property; but

said they,

when they arrive at time gather them under your

these will most need your watchfulness a marriageable age

wings, and trust

Mohamed

;

at that

them

no other guardianship."

the Left-handed was acknowledged to be a wise

king by his courtiers, and was certainly so considered by

[236]

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES The

himself. little

prediction of the astrologers caused

disquiet, trusting to his ingenuity to

him but

guard his daughters

and outwit the Fates.

The queen

died within a few years, bequeathing her infant

daughters to his love, and to the

fidelity

of the discreet

Kadiga.

Many

years had yet to elapse before the princesses would

arrive at that period of is

marriageable age.

" It

them reared in the royal sumptuous palace, incrusted,

so he determined to have

;

castle of Salobrena.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the

good, however, to be cautious in time," said the shrewd

monarch as

danger

This was a

summit

were, in a powerful Moorish fortress on the

hill

overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

retreat, in

which the Moslem monarchs shut up such of

relatives as

might endanger their safety

their

allowing them

;

was a royal

all

kinds of luxuries and amusements, in the midst of which they passed their lives in voluptuous indolence.

Here the princesses remained, immured from the but surrounded by enjoyment, and attended by female

who

They had

anticipated their wishes.

with aromatic groves and perfumed baths.

all

down upon

slaves

delightful gardens

for their recreation, filled with the rarest fruits

the castle looked

world,

and

flowers,

three sides

a rich valley, enamelled with

kinds of culture, and bounded by the lofty Alpuxarra

mountains

sunny

;

the

other

side

overlooked

the

broad

sea.

In this delicious abode, in a propitious climate, and under a cloudless sky, the three princesses

beauty

;

but though

all

of diversity of character.

grew up

into

wondrous

reared alike, they gave early tokens

Their names were Zayda, Zorayda,

and Zorahayda.

[237]

THE ALHAMBRA Zayda, the eldest, was of an intrepid

spirit,

and took the

lead of her sisters in everything, as she had done in entering

She was curious and

into the world.

inquisitive,

and fond of

getting at the bottom of things.

Zorayda had a great feeling for beauty, which was the reason, no doubt, of her delighting to regard her in a mirror or a fountain,

and

jewels,

and other

and of her fondness

own image for flowers,

ornaments.

tasteful

Zorahayda, the youngest, she was soft and timid,

and extremely sensitive, with a vast deal of disposable tenderness, as was evident from her number of pet-flowers, and and pet-animals,

pet-birds,

the fondest care.

which she cherished with

for hours in a balcony, gazing

a summer's night, or on the sea

and

too,

and mixed up with musing and

nature, sit

all

Her amusements,

were of a gentle

reverie.

She would

on the sparkling

when

lit

stars of

up by the moon

;

such times, the song of a fisherman, faintly heard

from the beach, or the notes of a Moorish

flute

from some

gliding bark, sufficed to elevate her feelings into ecstasy.

The

least

dismay

;

uproar of the elements, however,

and a clap of thunder was enough

filled

her with

throw her into

a swoon.

Years to

whom

trust,

hill

down

on smoothly and serenely

;

the discreet Kadiga,

the princesses were confided, was faithful to her

and attended them with unremitting

The a

rolled

castle of Salobrena, as has

on the

sea-coast.

the profile of the

overhanging the

was

built

upon

of the exterior walls straggled

hill,

until

sea, with

fitted

care.

said,

One

reached a jutting rock

a narrow sandy beach at

laved by the rippling billows.

rock had been

been

up as a

pavilion, with latticed

[238]

its

foot,

small watch-tower on this

windows

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES to

Here the princesses used

admit the sea-breeze.

to pass

the sultry hours of mid-day.

The

curious Zayda was one day seated at a

window

of the

pavihon, as her sisters, reclining on ottomans, were taking

Her

the siesta or noontide slumber.

was attracted which came coasting along, with measured strokes

to a galley

drew

with armed men.

The

of the oar.

tower,

number

near, she observed that

sisters,

and

all

The

Among

sight.

and of noble presence carried themselves,

;

lattice

which screened

the prisoners were three Spanish

They were

cavaliers, richly dressed.

curious

three peeped cautiously

through the close jalousies of the

them from

filled

on the narrow

soldiers landed

beach, conducting several Christian prisoners.

Zayda awakened her

was

galley anchored at the foot of the

Moorish

attention

and the

in the flower of youth,

lofty

manner

which they

though loaded with chains and surrounded

with enemies, bespoke the grandeur of their souls. cesses gazed with intense

and breathless

interest.

The

prin-

Cooped up

among female attendants,

seeing

nothing of the male sex but black slaves, or the rude

fisher-

as they

men

had been

in this castle

of the sea-coast,

it is

not to be wondered at that the ap-

pearance of three gallant cavaliers, in the pride of youth and

manly beauty, should produce some commotion " in

Did ever nobler being tread the earth than

crimson

" cried

how proudly he were his slaves " "

in their

Zayda, the eldest of the

bears himself, as though

See

around him

" !

But notice that one

green

" !

What grace what elegance what The gentle Zorahayda said nothing, !

that cavalier

sisters.

all

bosom.

preference to the cavalier in blue.

[239]

exclaimed Zorayda. " spirit

but she secretly gave

THE ALHAMBRA The

princesses remained gazing until the prisoners were

out of sight

then, heaving long-drawn sighs, they turned

;

round, looked at each other for a moment, and sat down,

musing and pensive, on

The related

what they had seen

duenna was warmed.

the " I

their ottomans.

Kadiga found them

discreet

'11

in this situation.

warrant their captivity makes

many a

lady's heart ache in their

native land

you have

life

own

little

idea ot the

Such prankling

country.

to the ladies

fair

and high-born

children,

these cavaliers lead in their

tournaments

such courting and serenading

The curiosity of Zayda was in

They

and even the withered heart of " Poor youths " exclaimed she,

;

fully

aroused

;

such devotion

" !

she was insatiable

her inquiries, and drew from the duenna the most animated

pictures of the scenes of her youthful days

and native

The

regarded herself

beautiful Zorayda bridled up,

a mirror,

when

the Spanish ladies

and

slyly

land.

the theme turned upon the charms of ;

while Zorahayda suppressed a struggling

sigh at the mention of moonlight serenades.

Every day the

Zayda renewed

curious

her

and every day the sage duenna repeated her were listened sighs, at

to with

profound

by her gentle auditors.

interest,

The

stories,

which

though with frequent

discreet old

woman awoke

length to the mischief she might be doing.

been accustomed

inquiries,

She had

to think of the princesses only as children

;

but they had imperceptibly ripened beneath her eye, and

now bloomed able age.

before her three lovely damsels of the marriageis

time,

thought the duenna, to give notice

to the king.

Mohamed

the Left-handed' was seated one morning on a

divan in a cool hall of the Alhambra,

[240]

when

a slave arrived

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES from the

Salobrena, with a message from the

fortress of

sage Kadiga, congratulating him on the anniversary of his

The

daughters' birthday.

a delicate

slave at the

on a couch of vine and

and a nectarine, with

fig-leaves, lay a peach,

their

sweetness upon them, and ripeness. of fruits

all

The monarch was and

an apricot,

bloom and down and dewy in the early stage of

tempting

versed in the Oriental language

and rapidly divined the meaning

flowers,

emblematical offering.

this

" So," said he,

astrologers

What is men they

all

very good

" the critical period pointed out

arrived

to be

age.

done

by the

daughters are at a marriageable

They

are shut

up from the eyes

are under the eyes of the discreet Kadiga,

;

but

still

they are not under

was prescribed by the astrologers.

same time presented

basket, decorated with flowers, within which,

little

my own

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

eye, as

must gather them under

wing, and trust to no other guardianship."

saying, he ordered that a tower of the

Alhambra should

be prepared for their reception, and departed at the head of his guards for the fortress of Salobrena,

home

conduct them

in person.

About three years had elapsed since Mohamed had beheld and he could scarcely credit his eyes at the wonderful change which that small space of time had made in their appearance. During the interval, they had passed that wondrous boundary line in female life which separates the crude, unformed, and thoughtless girl from the blooming, blushing, meditative woman. It is like passing from the flat, bleak, uninteresting plains of La Mancha to the voluptuous valleys and swelling hills of Andalusia. Zayda was tall and finely formed, with a lofty demeanor his daughters,

[241]

THE ALHAMBRA and a penetrating

She entered with

and made a profound reverence

decided step, treating

eye.

him more

stately

and

Mohamed, Zorayda

as her sovereign than her father.

was of the middle height, with an alluring look and swimming gait,

and a sparkling beauty, heightened by the assistance

She approached her father with a smile, kissed his hand, and saluted him with several stanzas from a popular Arabian poet, with which the monarch was delighted. Zorahayda was shy and timid, smaller than her sisters, and with

the toilette.

a beauty of that tender, beseeching kind which looks for

fondness and protection.

She was

little fitted

command,

like her elder sister, or to dazzle, like the second, but

was

bosom of manly affection, to nestle within it, and be content. She drew near to her father, with a timid and almost faltering step, and would have taken his hand to kiss but on looking up into his face, and seeing it beaming with a paternal smile, the tenderness of her nature broke forth, and she threw herself upon his neck. rather formed to creep to the

;

Mohamed the

Left-handed surveyed his blooming daughters

with mingled pride and perplexity, for while he exulted in their charms, he bethought himself of the prediction of the astrologers.

Three daughters

three daughters

he repeatedly to himself, "and

Here watch

tempting Hesperian

all

fruit,

" !

muttered

of a marriageable age! that requires a

dragon

" !

prepared for his return to Granada, by sending heralds

before him,

commanding every one

by which he was to pass, and that

to all

keep out of the road doors and windows

should be closed at the approach of the princesses.

This

done, he set forth, escorted by a troop of black horsemen of hideous aspect,

and clad

in shining armor.

[242

]

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES The

princesses rode beside the king, closely veiled, on

beautiful white palfreys, with velvet caparisons, embroidered

with gold, and sweeping the ground

;

the bits and stirrups

were of gold, and the silken bridles adorned with pearls and

The palfreys were covered with little silver bells, which made the most musical tinkling as they ambled gently along. Woe to the unlucky wight, however, who lingered in the way when he heard the tinkling of these bells the guards were ordered to cut him down without precious stones.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

mercy.

The took,

cavalcade was drawing near to Granada,

soldiers with a

convoy of prisoners.

soldiers to get out of the way, so they

on the

their faces like.

when

over-

on the banks of the river Xenil, a small body of Moorish

Among

whom the

was too

late for the

threw themselves on

earth, ordering their captives to

do the

the prisoners were the three identical cavaliers

They

princesses had seen from the pavilion.

either

did not understand, or were too haughty to obey the order,

and remained standing and gazing upon the cavalcade as

approached.

The

ire of

the monarch was kindled at this flagrant defi-

ance of his orders.

Drawing

his cimeter,

and pressing

for-

ward, he was about to deal a left-handed blow that might

have been

fatal to at least

one of the gazers, when the prin-

cesses crowded round him, and implored

oners

;

mercy

for the pris-

even the timid Zorahayda forgot her shyness, and

became eloquent uplifted cimeter, self at his feet.

their behalf.

when "Let

Mohamed

paused,

with

the captain of the guard threw him-

not your highness," said he, " do a

deed that may cause great scandal throughout the kingdom. These are three brave and noble Spanish knights, who have

[243]

THE ALHAMBRA been taken

and may bring great ransoms."

birth,

king. let

fighting like lions

in battle,

they are of high

;

Enough

" said the

spare their lives, but punish their audacity

I will

them be taken

to the

Vermilion Towers, and put

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

hard

labor."

Mohamed was making one of his usual left-handed blunders. In the tumult and agitation of this blustering scene, the veils

had been thrown back, and the

of the three princesses

ance of their beauty revealed

and

;

the king had given that beauty time to have

In those days people

in love

fell

at present, as all ancient stories

radi-

prolonging the parley, its

full effect.

much more suddenly than make manifest. It is not a

matter of wonder, therefore, that the hearts of the three cavaliers

were completely captured

added

to their admiration.

though no

especially as gratitude

It is a little singular,

was

however,

each of them was enraptured

less certain, that

with a several beauty.

;

to the princesses, they

were more

than ever struck with the noble demeanor of the captives,

and cherished valor

in their breasts all that they

and noble

The

had heard of

their

lineage.

cavalcade resumed

its

march

;

the three princesses

rode pensively along on their tinkling palfreys,

now and then

stealing a glance behind in search of the Christian captives,

and the

latter

were conducted to their

allotted prison in the

Vermilion Towers.

The

residence provided for the princesses was one of the

most dainty that fancy could devise.

was

in a tower

some-

what apart from the main palace of the Alhambra, though connected with mit of the fortress,

hill.

by the wall which encircled the whole sum-

and had,

one side

at its

foot,

looked into the interior of the a small garden

[244]

filled

with the

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES rarest flowers.

the other side

overlooked a deep em-

bowered ravine separating the grounds of the Alhambra from those of the GeneraHfe. The interior of the tower was divided into small fairy apartments, beautifully

Arabian

style,

surrounding a lofty

which rose almost

and

to the

ceilings of the hall

summit

in the

Ught

the vaulted roof of

of the tower.

The

walls

were adorned with arabesque and

fretwork, sparkling with gold

the centre of the marble

ornamented

hall,

and with

brilliant pencilling.

pavement was an

alabaster fountain,

round with aromatic shrubs and flowers, and throwing up a jet of water that cooled the whole edifice and had a lulling sound. Round the hall were suspended cages of gold and set

silver wire, containing singing-birds of the finest

plumage

or sweetest note.

The princesses had been represented as always cheerful when in the castle of the Salobrefia the king had expected to see them enraptured with the Alhambra. To his surprise, ;

however, they began to pine, and grow melancholy, and satisfied

with everything around them.

The

dis-

flowers yielded

them no fragrance, the song of the nightingale disturbed their night's rest, and they were out of all patience with the alabaster fountain, with its eternal drop-drop and splash-splash, from morning

The sition,

till

king,

night and from night

who was somewhat

took this at

that his daughters

mind expands and

first in

morning.

high dudgeon

had arrived its

till

of a testy, tyrannical dispo-

desires augment.

children," said he to himself,

artificers in

but he reflected

They are no longer

"they are women grown, and

require suitable objects to interest them." tion, therefore, all the

;

an age when the female

put in requisi-

dressmakers, and the jewellers, and the

gold and silver throughout the Zacati'n of Granada,

[345]

THE ALHAMBRA and the princesses were overwhelmed with robes of silk, and tissue, and brocade, and cashmere shawls, and necklaces of

and diamonds, and

pearls

and

manner

all

and

rings,

bracelets,

and

was of no

All, however,

pale and languid

avail

;

the princesses continued

in the midst of their finery,

and looked

at his wits'

dence

in his

whims and

end.

had

The king

three blighted rose-buds, drooping from one stalk.

was

anklets,

of precious things.

in general a laudable confi-

own judgment, and never took

advice.

The

caprices of three marriageable damsels, however,

are sufficient," said he, " to puzzle the shrewdest head." for

once in his

The person

life

he called

whom

in the aid of counsel.

he applied was the experienced

duenna. " Kadiga," said the king, "

most discreet women the most trustworthy

in the ;

now wish you upon the

them

to health

and

be one of the

have always con-

daughters.

Fathers

they repose such confidence

to find out the secret

princesses,

to devise

malady that

some means

;

preying

of restoring

and cheerfulness."

Kadiga promised

whom

whole world, as well as one of

for these reasons

tinued you about the persons

cannot be too wary in

know you

implicit obedience.

In fact she knew

of the malady of the princesses than they themselves.

Shutting herself up with them, however, she endeavored to insinuate herself into their confidence. " dear children, what is the reason you are so dismal

and downcast

in so beautiful a place, "

thing that heart can wish

The

where you have every-

}

princesses looked vacantly round the apartment, and

sighed.

[246]

THE THREE BEAUTIEUL PRINCESSES "

What

more, then, would you have

wonderful parrot that talks of

Shall

languages, and

get you the

the delight

Granada

Odious

screaming

all

exclaimed the princess Zayda.

bird, that chatters

words without ideas

horrid,

one must

be without brains to tolerate such a pest." " Shall

divert

man,

What

Morocco " I

" ?

monkey! faugh!"

mimic "

send for a monkey from the rock of Gibraltar, to

you with his antics

delicate

hate the nauseous animal."

They

say he has a voice as fine as a w^oman's."

terrified at the sight of these black slaves," said the

Zorahayda

"Ah! my woman,

"the detestable

;

say you to the famous black singer Casem, from

.''

Zorayda

cried

;

child,

slyly,

" besides I

have

lost all relish for

music."

you would not say so," replied the old

had you heard the music

heard

last eve-

whom we met on our What is the matter that

ning, from the three Spanish cavaliers

journey.

But

bless

me, children

you blush so and are

such a

flutter

Nothing, nothing, good mother

Well

evening, labor.

;

and they did

very guards seemed like statues, or

songs

me of my !

last

cavaliers resting after their day's

playing on the guitar, so gracefully, and the

others sang by turns

forgive

pray proceed,"

;

was passing by the Vermilion Towers

saw the three

One was

" ?

could not help being

native country.

And

in such style, that the

men

enchanted.

moved

then to see three such

noble and handsome youths in chains and slavery

Here the kind-hearted " Perhaps, mother,

Allah

hearing the " I

old woman could not restrain her tears,

you could manage

of these cavaliers," said Zayda.

[247]

to procure us a sight

THE ALHAMBRA "I

think," said Zorayda,

music would be quite

little

reviving."

The

timid Zorahayda said nothing, but threw her arms

round the neck of Kadiga. " Mercy on me " exclaimed the

discreet

what are you talking

be the death of us

all

of,

children

Your

but what of that

;

he heard of such a thing.

sure, these cavaliers are evidently well-bred

youths

woman,

old

father would

and high-minded

they are the enemies of our

faith,

and you must not even think of them but with abhorrence."

There

an admirable intrepidity

when about

ticularly

in the

be deterred by dangers and prohibitions.

hung round

their old duenna,

and declared

that a refusal

;

among

of a guitar

the Moors,

was a Spaniard born, and had the

lingerings of Christianity in her heart.

The

the most faithful

faith in imitation of her mistress, like a

trusty follower, yet she

how

princesses

the most discreet

mere tinkling

Besides, though she had been so long

contrive

not to

but was she to see three beautiful prin-

cesses break their hearts for the

and changed her

The

will, paris

and coaxed, and entreated, would break their hearts.

What could she do ? She was certainly old woman in the whole world, and one of servants to the king

female

the marriageable age, which

So she

set

about to

the wish of the princesses might be gratified.

Christian captives, confined in the Vermilion Towers,

were under the charge of a big-whiskered, broad-shouldered renegade, called Hussein Baba,

most itching palm.

She went

who was him

reputed to have a

and slipping a broad piece of gold into his hand, " Hussein Baba," said she,

privately,

mistresses the three princesses,

who

are shut

the tower, and in sad want of amusement, have heard of the

[248]

V'*^^ ,.-1;,

r-'

li':.

" '1^^ ^'^

^''

i-.'k^

.^.tr-. T'

/â&#x20AC;¢I

THE ALHAMBRA musical talents of the three Spanish cavaliers, and are desir-

ous of hearing a specimen of their too kind-hearted to refuse "

What

my own

and

tower

should discover "'

have

skill.

sure you are

so innocent a gratification."

head

set

grinning over the gate

would be the reward,

for that

the king

it."

danger of anything of the kind

managed and

them

so that the

whim

the affair

;

may be You know

of the princesses

their father be never the wiser.

may

gratified,

the deep

ravine outside of the walls which passes immediately below

the tower.

Put the three Christians to work there, and

them play and sing, as if for their own recreation. In this way the princesses will be able to hear them from the windows of the tower, and you may the intervals of their labor,

let

be sure of their paying well for your compliance."

the good old

woman

concluded her harangue, she

kindly pressed the rough hand of the renegado, and within

left

another piece of gold.

Her eloquence was

irresistible.

The

very next day the

three cavaliers were put to work in the ravine.

noontide heat,

when

their fellow-laborers

the shade, and the guard nodding drowsily seated themselves

among

the

herbage

During the

were sleeping

tower, and sang a Spanish roundelay to the

at his post, they

the foot of the

accompaniment

of the guitar.

The

glen was deep, the tower was high, but their voices

rose distinctly in the stillness of the

summer noon.

princesses listened from their balcony

they had been taught

;

the Spanish language by their duenna, and were the tenderness of the song. contrary,

was

terribly shocked,

The

moved by

discreet Kadiga,

"Allah preserve us

[250]

The

on the "

cried

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES she, " they are singing a love-ditty, addressed to yourselves.

Did ever mortal hear of such audacity ? I will run and have them soundly bastinadoed."

to the

slave-master,

"What

bastinado such gallant cavaliers, and for singing so "

charmingly!

The

horror at the idea. old

woman was

With

all

mistresses.

and

a time

;

though air,

effect

come to their She made no further

amorous

ditty of the cavaliers.

was finished, the princesses remained

at length

faint

upon her

rosy bloom had already

objection, therefore, to the it

Be-

easily appeased.

have a beneficial

cheeks, and their eyes began to sparkle.

When

with

filled

her virtuous indignation, the good

of a placable nature,

music seemed

sides, the

young

three beautiful princesses were

Zorayda took up a

and trembling

the burden of which

lute,

voice, warbled a

was, "

The

rose

silent for

and with a sweet, little

Arabian

concealed

among

her leaves, but she listens with delight to the song of the nightingale,"

From

time forward the cavaliers worked almost daily

this

in the ravine.

The

considerate Hussein Baba became

and more indulgent, and post.

daily

more prone

to sleep at his

For some time a vague intercourse was kept up by

popular songs and romances, which in some measure re-

sponded

each other, and breathed the feelings of the

By degrees the princesses showed themselves at the when they could do so without being perceived by guards. They conversed with the cavaliers also, by means

parties.

balcony,

the

of flowers, with the symbolical language of

mutually acquainted to

its

;

which they were

the difficulties of their intercourse

added

charms, and strengthened the passion they had so struggle

singularly

conceived

difficulties,

and thrives the most hardily on the scantiest

;

for

love

[-^51]

delights

with soil.

;

THE ALHAMBRA The change

effected in the looks

and

spirits of

the prin-

cesses by this secret intercourse, surprised and gratified the

king

left-handed

discreet Kadiga,

but no one was more elated than the

;

who

considered

owing

all

her able

management.

length there was an interruption in this telegraphic cor-

respondence

;

for several days the cavaliers ceased to

The

their appearance in the glen.

the tower in vain.

In vain they stretched their swan-like

necks from the balcony ingales in their cage tian lovers

;

make

princesses looked out from

;

in vain

they sang like captive night-

nothing was to be seen of their Chris-

not a note responded from the groves.

Kadiga

The

and " Ah, my children cried she, " I saw what all this would come to, but you would have your way you may now hang up your lutes on the willows. The Spanish cavaliers are ransomed by their families they are down in Granada, and preparing to return to their discreet

sallied forth

soon returned with a face

full

in quest of

of trouble,

intelligence,

;

native country."

The ings.

three beautiful princesses were in despair at the tid-

Zayda was indignant

at the slight

put upon them, in

thus being deserted without a parting word.

Zorayda wrung

her hands and cried, and looked in the glass, and wiped away her tears, and cried afresh.

The

gentle Zorahayda leaned

over the balcony and wept in silence, and her tears

among

by drop cavaliers

had so often been seated.

The

Kadiga did

discreet

fell

drop

the flowers of the bank, where the faithless

all in

her power to soothe their

"Take comfort, my children," said she, "this is nothing when you are used to it. This is the way of the world. Ah when you are as old as I am, you will know sorrow.

[353]

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES how

to value these

among

their loves ville,

and

men.

I 'II

warrant these cavahers have

the Spanish beauties of Cordova and Se-

soon be serenading under their balconies, and

will

thinking no more of the Moorish beauties in the Alhambra.

Take comfort,

children,

and drive them from

of the discreet

Kadiga only redoubled

therefore,

your hearts."

The comforting words

the distress of the three princesses, and for two days they

continued inconsolable.

good old woman entered

the

morning

of the third the

their apartment,

ruffling with

all

indignation.

"Who would

have believed such insolence in mortal man!

exclaimed she, as soon as she could find words to express herself

rightly served for having connived at

deception of your worthy father.

this

" but

;

Never

talk

of your Spanish cavaliers,"

Why, what

has happened, good Kadiga.?" exclaimed the

princesses in breathless anxiety. " is

What

has happened

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; treason has happened

almost as bad, treason has been proposed

most

faithful of subjects, the trustiest of

;

and

duennas

children, the Spanish cavaliers have dared to

me, that

should persuade you to

and become

Here the

their wives

fly

to !

or,

what

me, the Yes,

tamper with

with them to Cordova,

" !

excellent old

woman

covered her face with her

hands, and gave way to a violent burst of grief and indignation.

pale

The and

three beautiful princesses turned pale and red,

red,

and trembled, and looked down, and

looks at each other, but said nothing.

woman tion,

sat

cast shy

Meantime the

old

rocking backward and forward in violent agita-

and now and then breaking out [^53]

into

exclamations

THE ALHAMBRA "

That ever

should live to be so insulted

faithful of servants

At length

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the most

" !

who had most

the eldest princess,

and

spirit

always took the lead, approached her, and laying her hand

upon her shoulder, "Well, mother,"

we were

willing to fly with these

ing up, " Possible," echoed she

Have not

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

woman paused

old

Christian cavaliers

such a thing possible

The good

"supposing

said she,

suddenly

her grief, look-

" to be sure

;

possible.

the cavaliers already bribed Hussein Baba, the

renegado captain of the guard, and arranged the whole plan

But then,

to think

deceiving your father! your father,

who has placed such confidence in me! " Here the worthy woman gave way to a fresh burst of grief, and began again to rock "'

backward and forward, and

wring her hands.

But our father has never placed any confidence

said the eldest princess, " but has trusted to bolts

in us,"

and

bars,

and treated us as captives."

"Why,

that

true enough," replied the old

pausing in her grief

"he has indeed

;

woman, again

treated you

most un-

reasonably, keeping you shut up here, to waste your bloom in a

moping

jar.

But, then, to

"And

where we

old tower, like roses left to wither in a flowerfly

from your native land

not the land

shall live in

fly to

freedom

" !

the native land of our mother,

}

And

shall

we not each have

a youthful husband in exchange for a severe old father.? "

Why,

that again

must confess,

into her grief,

all

very true ;

;

and your

father,

but what then," relapsing

would you leave

brunt of his vengeance "

rather tyrannical

behind

cannot you

fly

bear the

" .-â&#x20AC;˘

By no means, my good Kadiga [254]

;

with us

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES "

Very

true,

child

;

and

when

to tell the truth,

talked

the matter over with Hussein Baba, he promised to take care of me,

would accompany you

bethink you,

The

am "

flight

Christian faith was the original faith of our mother,"

sure, are

;

"I am ready

embrace

it,

and

so,

sisters,"

Right again," exclaimed the old woman, brightening up;

was the original

your mother, and

faith of

her then to take care of your souls, and they are

now

in a fair

way

and

who

equally anxious to see his

be reconciled to the Church that, if

are disposed to

;

and the

own

have

native

country, and to

cavaliers have

become man and

a Spaniard

by birth, and comes from a place not far from

children,

resolved to return to the faith.

talked on the subject with Hussein Baba,

town.

promised

rejoice to see that

be saved. Yes,

it.

and have remained a Christian

too was born a Christian, heart,

she

bitterly did

lament on her death-bed that she had renounced

but then,

;

said the eldest princess I

your

children, are you willing to renounce the

your father

faith of

wife,

promised

on return-

ing to our native land, they will provide for us handsomely."

In a word, provident old

appeared that this extremely discreet and

woman had

consulted with the cavaliers and

the rcnegado, and had concerted the whole plan of escape.

The

eldest princess immediately assented to

it,

ample, as usual, determined the conduct of her true, the soul,

sisters.

ex-

It is

youngest hesitated, for she was gentle and timid of

and there was a struggle

feeling

and her

and youthful passion

;

the

her bosom between latter,

gained the victory, and with silent tears and she prepared herself for

flight.

[255]

filial

however, as usual, stifled

sighs

THE ALHAMBRA The rugged

hill

on which the Alhambra

built was, in

old times, perforated with subterranean passages cut through

the rock and leading from the fortress to various parts of the city

and

to distant sally-ports

on the banks of the Darro and

They had been constructed at different times by the Moorish kings as means of escape from sudden insurthe Xenil.

rections, or of secretly issuing forth

on private enterprises.

Many

partly

choked with rubbish, and partly walled up,

them

are

now

entirely lost, while others remain,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; monu-

ments of the jealous precautions and warlike stratagems

By one

the Moorish government.

Baba had undertaken sally-port beyond the walls sein

were

be ready with

Hus-

of these passages

conduct the princesses to a

where the

of the city,

fleet steeds, to

cavaliers

bear the whole party

over the borders.

The appointed

night arrived

had been locked up as in

deep

usual,

;

the tower of the princesses

and the Alhambra was buried

Towards midnight the

sleep.

Kadiga

discreet

listened

from the balcony of a window that looked into the garden, Hussein Baba, the rcjicgado, was already below, and gave the appointed signal.

The duenna

fastened the end of a

ladder of ropes to the balcony, lowered

into the

garden

and descended. The two eldest princesses followed her with princess,

when

came

to the turn of the

youngest

Zorahayda, she hesitated and trembled.

Several

beating hearts

;

but

times she ventured a delicate as often

drew

foot

little

upon the

back, while her poor

little

more and more the longer she delayed. She look back into the silken chamber sure, like a bird in a cage

who

could

tell

;

ladder,

cast a wistful

she had lived in

but within

and

heart fluttered

it,

she was secure

;

what dangers might beset her should she

[256]

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES the wide world

flutter forth into

she bethought her

foot was instantly and anon she thought of her father, and But fruitless is the attempt to describe the

upon the ladder shrank back. conflict in the

Now

and her

of her gallant Christian lover,

little

;

bosom

one so young and tender and loving,

but so timid and so ignorant of the world.

In vain her sisters implored, the due una scolded, and the

rcnegado blasphemed beneath the balcony

the gentle

little

Moorish maid stood doubting and wavering on the verge of elopement tempted by the sweetness of the sin, but terrified ;

at its perils.

Every moment increased the danger of discovery. tramp was heard.

distant

rounds," cried Princess,

the

descend

The

renegado

instantly,

"if

Zorahayda was for a moment

patrols are walking their

linger,

perish.

leave you."

in fearful agitation

then

;

loosening the ladder of ropes, with desperate resolution she flung

from the balcony.

"It

power

decided!" cried she; "flight

The two

eldest princesses

was advancing

;

now

out of

dear sisters

were shocked

and would

of leaving her behind, patrol

Allah guide and bless ye,

at the

" !

thoughts

have lingered, but the

fain

the renegado was furious, and they

were hurried away to the subterraneous passage. They groped their

way through a fearful labyrinth, cut through the heart and succeeded in reaching, undiscovered,

of the mountain,

an iron gate that opened outside of the cavaliers

were waiting

soldiers of the guard,

The

to receive

walls.

The Spanish

them, disguised as Moorish

commanded by

the renegado.

lover of Zorahayda was frantic

she had refused to leave the tower

[257]

;

when he

learned that

but there was no time

! ;

THE ALHAMBRA The two

to waste in lamentations.

behind

their lovers, the discreet

renegado, and they

set off at a

all

princesses were placed

Kadiga mounted behind the round pace

in the direction

Pass of Lope, which leads through the mountains

of the

towards Cordova.

They had not proceeded drums

far

when

they heard the noise of

and trumpets from the battlements of the Alhambra,

Our

flight is discovered

have

distance

all

fleet

steeds,

" said the renegado.

the night

and scoured across the

They put spurs to Vega. They attained

their horses,

which stretches

promontory into the

one on our

the foot of the mountain of Elvira,

like a

gado paused and

listened.

traces,

shall

plain. The reneAs yet," said he, "there is no make good our escape to the

While he spoke, a

mountains."

and we may

dark,

replied the cavaliers.

pursuit,"

light blaze

sprang up on

the top of the watch-tower of the Alhambra. " Confusion

" cried the renegado, " that bale fire will put

the guards of the passes on the

all

Spur

Away

mad,

—

they dashed

echoed from rock skirts the

the bale

there

—

no time

alert.

Away

away

lost."

the clattering of their horses' hoofs

to rock, as they

swept along the road that

rocky mountain of Elvira.

they galloped on,

Alhambra was answered in every direction blazed on the atalayas, or watch-towers of

the

fire of

light after light

the mountains. "'

Forward

oath,

forward

"to the bridge,

reached there

" cried the renegado, with

—

" !

the promontory of the mountains, and arrived famous Bridge of Finos, that crosses a rushing

They doubled in sight of the

many an

to the bridge, before the alarm has

[258]

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES stream often dyed with Christian and their confusion, the tower

and

Moslem

blood.

on the bridge blazed with

lights

armed men. The rcncgado pulled up his his stirrups, and looked about him for a

glittered with

steed,

rose

moment

then beckoning to the cavaliers, he struck

;

off

from

some distance, and dashed into The cavaliers called upon the princesses to cling its waters. to them, and did the same. They were borne for some distance down the rapid current, the surges roared round them, the road, skirted the river for

but the beautiful princesses clung to their Christian knights,

and never uttered a complaint. The

cavaliers attained the

opposite bank in safety, and were conducted by the rcncgado,

by rude and unfrequented paths and wild barrancos, through the heart of the mountains, so as to avoid

city of

the regular

all

In a word, they succeeded in reaching the ancient

passes.

Cordova

friends was

;

where

their restoration to their country

and

celebrated with great rejoicings, for they were of

The

the noblest families.

were forthwith

beautiful princesses

bosom of the Church, and, after being in due form made regular Christians, were rendered happy

received into the all

wives.

In our hurry to

make good

across the river, and

the fate of the discreet Kadiga.

Hussein Baba

in the

the escape of the princesses

up the mountains, we forgot

She had clung

mention

like a cat to

scamper across the Vega, screaming

many an oath from the whiskered when he prepared to plunge his steed into her terror knew no bounds. " Grasp me not so

every bound, and drawing

rcncgado the river,

;

but

tightly," cried

Hussein Baba

;

" hold

on by

belt

and fear

nothing." She held firmly with both hands by the leathern but when he belt that girded the broad-backed rcncgado ;

[259]

THE ALHAMBRA halted with the cavaHers to take breath

on the mountain

summit, the duenna was no longer to be seen.

"What in

has become of Kadiga

cried the princesses

alarm.

"Allah alone knows!" replied the renegado

came

when

loose

was swept with done! but

"my

the midst of the river, and

down

was an embroidered

There was no time

The

the stream.

belt,

will of

belt

Kadiga

Allah be

and of great price."

to waste in idle regrets

yet bitterly

;

did the princesses bewail the loss of their discreet counsellor.

That excellent old woman, however, did not half of her nine lives in the water

;

lose

more than

a fisherman,

who was

drawing his nets some distance down the stream, brought her to land, and was not a draught.

What

further

little

astonished at his miraculous

became

of the discreet Kadiga, the

legend does not mention

;

certain

that she evinced her

discretion in never venturing within the reach of

Mohamed

the Left-handed.

Almost as little is known of the conduct of that sagacious monarch when he discovered the escape of his daughters, and the deceit practised upon him by the most faithful of servants.

was the only instance

which he had called in

the aid of counsel, and he was never afterwards guilty of a similar weakness. to

known

took good care, however,

guard his remaining daughter, who had no disposition to

elope

;

thought, indeed, that she secretly repented hav-

ing remained behind

now and then she was

seen leaning

on the battlements of the tower, and looking mournfully towards the mountains in the direction of Cordova, and

sometimes the notes of her plaintive ditties, in

lute

were heard accompanying

which she was said to lament the

[260]

loss of

THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES her sisters and her lover, and to bewail her solitary

life.

She

died young, and, according to popular rumor, was buried in a vault beneath the tower, rise to

The

more than one

and her untimely

fate has given

traditionary fable.

following legend, which seems in

spring out of the foregoing story,

some measure

too closely connected-

names to be entirely doubted. The Count's some of her young companions, to whom it

with high historic daughter, and

was read parts of

in it

one of the evening

tertullias,

had much appearance of

who was much more versed than truths of the

reality

thought certain ;

and Dolores,

they in the improbable

Alhambra, believed every word of

[261]

it.

y^-

•,.

.-.

-v,

iT,

.•_.%

;

^•.

LEGEND OF THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA

FOR

some time

Granada by the

after the surrender of

Moors, that deHghtful

was a frequent and

city

favorite

residence of the Spanish sovereigns, until they were

frightened away by successive shocks of earthquakes, which

toppled

down

various houses, and

made

the old

Moslem

towers rock to their foundation.

Many, many years then

rolled away, during

The

was rarely honored by a royal guest. nobility

remained

silent

and shut up

like a slighted beauty, sat in

neglected gardens.

;

which Granada palaces of the

and the Alhambra,

mournful desolation among her

The Tower

of the Infantas, once the

residence of the three beautiful Moorish princesses, partook of the general desolation

;

the spider spun her

web athwart

the gilded vault, and bats and owls nestled in those chambers that

had been graced by the presence of Zayda, Zorayda, and

Zorahayda.

The

neglect of this tower

[262

]

may have been

partly

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA owing

some

superstitious notions of the neighbors.

rumored that the

was

perished in that tower, was often

who had seen by moonhght seated

beside the fountain in the

moaning about the

the youthful Zorahayda,

spirit of

hall,

battle-

ments, and that the notes of her silver lute would be heard at

midnight by wayfarers passing along the glen.

At length

the city of Granada was once

was the

first

the world

Bourbon

knows

more welcomed

All the world knows that Philip

by the royal presence.

swayed the Spanish sceptre. All

that

that he married, in second nuptials, Eliza-

betta or Isabella (for they are the same), the beautiful prin-

Parma

knows that by this chain contingencies a PYench prince and an Italian princess

cess of of

;

and

the world

all

were seated together on the Spanish throne. this illustrious pair, the

with

all

possible expedition.

The

arrival of the court

the whole aspect of the lately deserted palace.

drum and

and outer

P'or a visit of

Alhambra was repaired and

The

fitted

changed clangor

trumpet, the tramp of steed about the avenues

court, the glitter of

arms and display of banners

about barbican and battlement, recalled the ancient and warlike glories of the fortress.

within the royal

palace.

softer spirit, however, reigned

There was the

rustling of robes

and the cautious tread and murmuring voice of reverential courtiers about the ante-chambers, a loitering of pages

and

maids of honor about the gardens, and the sound of music stealing

from open casements.

Among was a

To to

those

favorite

who

attended in the train of the monarchs

page of the queen, named Ruiz de Alarcon.

say that he was a favorite page of the queen was at once

speak his eulogium, for every one in the suite of the

stately

Elizabetta was

chosen for grace, and beauty, and

[263]

THE ALHAMBRA accomplishments.

was

and

just turned of eighteen, light

lithe of

form, and graceful as a young Antinous.

he was

all

To the queen

deference and respect, yet he was at heart a roguish

stripling, petted

and spoiled by the

ladies about the court.

This loitering page was one morning rambling about the groves of the Generalife, which overlook the grounds of the

Alhambra.

had taken with him for

favorite gerfalcon of the queen. bles,

his

amusement a

In the course of his ram-

seeing a bird rising from a thicket, he unhooded the

hawk and let him fly. The made a swoop at his quarry,

falcon towered high in the

but missing

gardless of the calls of the page.

The

it,

air,

soared away, re-

latter followed the

its capricious flight, until he saw upon the battlements of a remote and lonely tower, in the outer wall of the Alhambra, built on the edge of a ravine that separated the royal fortress from the grounds of

truant bird with his eye, in it

alight

the Generalife.

was

in fact the

The page descended tower, but

"Tower

and approached the

into the ravine

had no entrance from the glen, and

height rendered any attempt to scale

one of the gates of the

its

lofty

Seeking

fruitless.

fortress, therefore,

circuit to that side of the

of the Princesses."

he made a wide

tower facing within the walls.

small garden, enclosed by a trellis-work of reeds over-

hung with

myrtle, lay before the tower.

Opening

a wicket,

the page passed between beds of flowers and thickets of roses to the door.

the door gave

was closed and bolted.

him a peep

into the interior.

crevice in

There was a

small Moorish hall with fretted walls, light marble columns,

and an alabaster fountain surrounded with centre it,

on a

hung a

gilt

flowers.

cage containing a singing-bird

chair, lay a tortoise-shell cat

[264]

among

;

In the

beneath

reels of silk

and

THE LITTLE M O SQ U E â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A L H A M B RA

THE ALHAMBRA other articles of female labor, and a guitar decorated with ribbons leaned against the fountain.

Ruiz de Alarcon was struck with these traces of female

and elegance

taste

They reminded him

deserted tower.

as he

in a lonely and,

had supposed,

of the tales of enchanted

current in the Alhambra; and the tortoise-shell cat

halls

might be some spell-bound princess.

He knocked out from a

gently at the door.

little

beautiful face

window above, but was

peeped

instantly withdrawn.

waited, expecting that the door would be opened, but he

waited in vain

Had

silent.

no footstep was

;

to be

heard within

his senses deceived him, or

apparition the fairy of the tower

was

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

all

was

this beautiful

knocked again, and

more loudly. After a little while the beaming face once more peeped forth it was that of a blooming damsel of ;

fifteen.

The page immediately

doffed

plumed bonnet, and

his

entreated in the most courteous accents to be permitted to

ascend the tower in pursuit of his falcon. I dare not open the door, Senor," replied the damsel, blushing, " my aunt has forbidden it." '"

do beseech you,

of the queen. " '"

am,

place, is

charged

fair if I

maid

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the favorite falcon

dare not return to the palace without

Are you then one

"It "'

fair

maid

;

of the cavaliers of the court

but

lose this

aunt has

especially to bar the door."

these, but a simple, harmless page, if

and

hawk."

Against wicked cavaliers doubtless, but

undone

it."

" }

shall lose the queen's favor

against you cavaliers of the court

little

you deny

who

will

this small request."

[266]

am none

be ruined and

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA The

heart of the

of the page. for the

damsel was touched by the distress

little

was a thousand

want of so

be one of those

trifling

pities

a boon.

he should be ruined

Surely too he could not

dangerous beings

whom

her aunt had

described as a species of cannibal, ever on the prowl to

prey of thoughtless damsels

make

he was gentle and modest,

;

and stood so entreatingly with cap

hand, and looked

so charming.

The

sly

page saw that the garrison began

to waver,

and

redoubled his entreaties in such moving terms that

not in the nature of mortal maiden to deny him

so the

blushing

little

;

was

warden of the tower descended, and opened

the door with a trembling hand, and

if the page had been charmed by a mere glimpse of her countenance from the window, he was ravished by the full-length portrait now

revealed to him.

Her Andalusian bodice and

trim hasqtnna set off the

round but delicate symmetry of her form, which was as yet scarce verging into

Her

womanhood.

glossy hair was parted

on her forehead with scrupulous exactness, and decorated with a fresh-plucked rose, according to the universal custom of

the country.

It is

true her complexion

ardor of a southern sun, but

was tinged by the

served to give richness to the

mantling bloom of her cheek, and to heighten the lustre of her melting eyes.

Ruiz de Alarcon beheld

became him not

to tarry

;

all this

with a single glance, for

he merely murmured his acknowl-

edgments, and then bounded lightly up the

spiral staircase

in quest of his falcon.

soon returned with the truant bird upon his

fist.

The

damsel, in the meantime, had seated herself by the fountain

[267]

THE ALHAMBRA and was winding

in the hall,

picked

sented it,

but in her agitation she

;

imprinted on

a kiss more fervent and devout than he

had ever imprinted on the "'

silk

upon the pavement. The page sprang and up, then dropping gracefully on one knee, prebut, seizing the hand extended to receive to her

the reel

let fall

fair

hand

of his sovereign.

Setior ! " exclaimed the damsel, blushing

still

deeper with

confusion and surprise, for never before had she received

such a salutation.

The modest page made

a thousand apologies, assuring her

was the way

of expressing the

at court

most profound

homage and respect. Her anger, if anger she agitation

felt, was easily pacified, but her and embarrassment continued, and she sat blushing

deeper and deeper, with her eyes cast down upon her work, entangling the

silk

which she attempted

The cunning page saw and would

fain

the confusion in the opposite camp,

have profited by

but the fine speeches he

it,

would have uttered died upon his lantry

lips

were awkward and ineffectual

adroit page,

among

who had

to wind.

;

his attempts at gal-

and

to his surprise, the

figured with such grace and effrontery

the most knowing and

experienced ladies of the

found himself awed and abashed in the presence of a

court,

simple damsel of

The

fifteen.

diffidence of the page,

though genuine, was short-

lived,

and he was recovering

when

a shrill voice was heard at a distance.

affright "

aunt ;

Not

his usual ease

returning from mass

and confidence,

" cried the

damsel

pray you, Senor, depart."

until

you grant

that rose

remembrance."

[268]

from your hair as a

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA She

untwisted

hastily

"Take

cried

it,"

she,

the

from her raven

rose

locks,

"but pray

and blushing,

agitated

begone,"

The page

took the rose, and at the same time covered

with kisses the fair hand that gave flower in his bonnet,

bounded

off

Then, placing the

it.

and taking the falcon upon

his

fist,

through the garden, bearing away with him the

heart of the gentle Jacinta.

When

the vigilant aunt arrived at the tower, she remarked

the agitation of her niece, and an air of confusion in the hall

;

but a word of explanation sufficed.

gerfalcon had

pursued his prey into the hall," "

Mercy on us to think of a falcon flying into the tower. Did ever one hear of so saucy a hawk ? Why, the very bird !

in the cage

The

not safe

vigilant

ancient spinsters.

" !

Fredegonda was one of the most wary of

She had a becoming

terror

and

distrust of

what she denominated "the opposite sex," which had gradually increased through a long

The

life

of celibacy.

niece was the orphan of an officer

the wars.

recently been transferred

shadowing care she vegetated

blooming beneath a comparison entirely accidental

brier.

ing rose

fallen in

from her sacred asylum obscurity,

for,

;

to tell

peasantry of

hood had given her the appellation of Alhambra."

[269]

this

her

the truth,

her seclusion, and, with that poetical turn the

an open-

Nor indeed

and dawning beauty had caught the public

the people of Andalusia,

the

under whose over-

immediate guardianship of her aunt,

fresh

who had

She had been educated in a convent, and had

" the

eye,

even

common

the neighbor-

Rose

of the

THE ALHAMBRA The wary tempting

and

aunt continued to keep a faithful watch over her

Httle niece as

It is true

the good lady was

tinkling of guitars lit

had been successful.

now and then discomposed by

and chanting of

groves beneath the tower

;

the

from the moon-

love-ditties

but she would exhort her niece

her ears against such idle minstrelsy, assuring her that

to shut it

long as the court continued at Granada,

flattered herself that her vigilance

was one of the

by which simple

arts of the opposite sex,

maids were often lured

undoing. Alas

to their

what chance

with a simple maid has a dry lecture against a moonlight

serenade

.''

length

King

Philip cut short his sojourn at Granada,

and suddenly departed with

gonda watched the

all

The

his train.

royal pageant as

vigilant Frede-

issued forth from the

Gate of Justice and descended the great avenue leading to the

When

city.

the last banner disappeared from her sight,

she returned exulting to her tower, for over.

ground

all

her surprise, a light Arabian steed pawed the

at the wicket-gate of the

garden

;

—

saw through the thickets of roses a youth ered dress, at the feet of her niece. footsteps he gave a tender adieu, barrier of reeds

to her horror she

in gayly embroid-

the sounds of her

bounded

and myrtles, sprang upon

was out of sight

The

her cares were

lightly over the

his horse,

tender Jacinta, in the agony of her grief,

her arms, she broke forth into

shall

mi!"

cried she;

never see him more

"Gone! your feet

— who

gone.''

lost all

Throwing herself sobs and tears.

thought of her aunt's displeasure. " Aj/ de

and

instant.

into

"he's gone! he's gone! and " !

— what

" ?

[270J

youth

that I

saw

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA "A '"

who came

queen's page, aunt,

A queen's

faintly, "

page, child

to bid

farewell."

echoed the vigilant Fredegonda,

and when did you become acquainted with the queen's

page?" "

The morning

came

that the gerfalcon

was the queen's gerfalcon, and he came "

into the tower.

in pursuit of it."

know

that there are no gerfalcons young prankling pages, and it is precisely such simple birds as thee that they pounce upon." Days, weeks, months, elapsed, and nothing more was heard of the page. The pomegranate ripened, the vine yielded up silly,

girl

silly

half so dangerous as these

its fruit,

the autumnal rains descended in torrents from the

mountains

;

the Sierra Nevada became covered with a snowy

mantle, and wintry blasts howled through the halls of the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Alhambra still he came not. The winter passed away. ^ Again the genial spring burst forth with song and blossom and balmy zephyr until

;

the snows melted from the mountains,

none remained but on the

glistening through the sultry

lofty

summer

summit

air.

Still

Nevada,

nothing was

heard of the forgetful page.

In the meantime the poor thoughtful.

Her former

abandoned, her

little

Jacinta grew pale and

occupations and amusements were

silk lay entangled,

her guitar unstrung, her

flowers were neglected, the notes of her bird unheeded,

her eyes, once so bright, were If

dimmed

any solitude could be devised

love-lorn damsel

to foster the passion of a

would be such a place as the Alhambra,

where everything seems disposed mantic reveries.

It is a

produce tender and

very paradise for lovers

then to be alone in such a paradise but forsaken

and

with secret weeping.

[

271]

;

ro-

how hard

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and not merely alone,

THE ALHAM BRA " Alas,

child

silly

would the

and immaculate

staid

when she found her niece in one of her " did I not warn thee against the wiles desponding moods Fredegonda

say,

—

and deceptions of these men

What

couldst thou expect,

from one of a haughty and aspiring family

too,

— thou

orphan, the descendant of a fallen and impoverished line

assured,

the youth were

true, his father,

who

one of

the proudest nobles about the court, would prohibit his union

with one so humble and portionless as thou.

and drive these

resolution therefore,

Pluck up thy

idle notions

from thy

mind."

The words to

to indulge

immaculate P^edegonda only served

of the

increase the in

melancholy of her niece, but she sought

private.

had

night, after her aunt

midsummer

a late hour one

retired to rest, she

remained alone

in the hall of the tower, seated beside the alabaster founIt was here that the faithless page had first knelt and kissed her hand it was here that he had often vowed eternal fidelity. The poor little damsel's heart was overtain.

;

laden with sad and tender recollections, her tears began to flow,

and slowly

fell

drop by drop into the fountain.

degrees the crystal water became agitated, and bubble

— bubble —

boiled

up and was tossed

— bubble —

about,

until

a female figure, richly clad in Moorish robes, slowly rose to view.

Jacinta was so frightened that she fled from the hall

did not venture to return.

what she had seen

The

and

next morning she related

her aunt, but the good lady treated

as a fantasy of her troubled mind, or

supposed she had fallen

asleep and dreamt beside the fountain.

Thou

hast been

thinking of the story of the three Moorish princesses that

[272]

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA once inhabited

tower,"

this

continued she,

"and

has

entered into thy dreams." '"

What

story,

Thou

hast certainly heard of the three princesses, Zayda,

aunt

know nothing

who were

Zorayda, and Zorahayda,

The two

it."

confined in this tower by

the king their father, and agreed to cavahers.

with three Christian

fly

accomplished their escape, but the

first

third failed in her resolution, and,

said,

died in this

tower." "

now

have heard of

recollect to

it,"

"Thou mayest well weep over her " for the lover of

moaned

his

fate," continued the aunt,

Zorahayda was thy ancestor.

Moorish love

he married a Spanish

;

but time cured

lady,

from

whom

seen

no fantasy of the brain,"

confident.

which

indeed

be the

visit will

'11

long be-

of his grief,

That which

said she to herself, "

spirit of

have heard lingers about

be afraid

the

him

and

thou art descended."

Jacinta ruminated over these words.

"and

said Jacinta,

have wept over the fate of the gentle Zorahayda."

have I

the gentle Zorahayda,

this tower, of

what should

watch by the fountain to-night

— perhaps

be repeated."

Towards midnight, when everything was took her seat in the

hall.

quiet,

she again

the bell in the distant watch-

tower of the Alhambra struck the midnight hour, the fountain

was again agitated

;

and bubble

— bubble — bubble —

tossed about the waters until the Moorish female again rose

She was young and beautiful her dress was rich with jewels, and in her hand she held a silver lute. Jacinta trembled and was faint, but was reassured by the soft and plaintive voice of the apparition, and the sweet expression to view.

;

of her pale, melancholy countenance.

[273]

THE ALHAMBRA "Daughter

Why

"what

of mortality," said she,

do thy tears trouble

plaints disturb the quiet watches of the night " I

my "

weep because

of the faithlessness of

and forsaken

solitary

Take comfort

;

thee?

aileth

and thy sighs and

fountain,

man, and

bemoan

state."

thy sorrows

may

Thou

yet have an end.

beholdest a Moorish princess, who, like thee, was unhappy

in her love.

Christian knight, thy ancestor,

and would have borne of his church.

courage equal to the

was a convert

evil genii are

to the

heart, but

till

heart,

bosom lacked

For

too late.

this

permitted to have power over me, and this

tower until some pure Christian

deign to break the magic

the task

lingered

won my

and

to his native land

my faith, and

remain enchanted in will

Wilt thou undertake

spell.

" ?

" I will," replied the damsel, trembling. "

Come

hither, then,

and

fear not

dip thy hand in the

;

and baptize

fountain, sprinkle the water over me,

the

manner

pelled,

and

of thy faith

;

after

so shall the enchantment be dis-

troubled spirit have repose."

The damsel advanced

with faltering steps, dipped her hand

in the fountain, collected water in the palm,

and sprinkled

over the pale face of the phantom.

The

latter

smiled with ineffable benignity.

She dropped

her silver lute at the feet of Jacinta, crossed her white arms

upon her bosom, and melted from merely as

sight, so that

Jacinta retired from the hall filled with

She at

seemed

a shower of dewdrops had fallen into the fountain.

scarcely closed her eyes that night

;

awe and wonder. when she awoke

but

daybreak out of a troubled slumber, the whole appeared to

her like a distempered dream.

[274]

descending into the

hall,

THE ROSE OF THE

ALHAM BRA

however, the truth of the vision was established, for beside the fountain she beheld

the

silver

lute

glittering

the

morning sunshine.

She hastened to her aunt, to relate all that had befallen her, and called her to behold the lute as a testimonial of If the good lady had any lingering removed when Jacinta touched the instrushe drew forth such ravishing tones as to thaw

the reality of her story. doubts, they were

ment, for

even the frigid bosom of the immaculate Fredegonda, that

Nothing but

region of eternal winter, into a genial flow.

supernatural melody could have produced such an effect.

The extraordinary power of the lute became every day more and more apparent. The wayfarer passing by the tower was detained, and, as

The

were, spell-bound in breathless ecstasy.

very birds gathered in the neighboring trees, and hushing

own strains, listened in charmed silence. Rumor soon spread the news abroad. The

their

Granada thronged

to the

Alhambra

inhabitants of

catch a few notes

of the transcendent music that floated about the

Tower

Las Infantas.

The

lovely

her retreat.

who should

little

The

minstrel was at length drawn forth from

rich

and powerful of the land contended

entertain and do honor to her

;

or rather,

who

should secure the charms of her lute to draw fashionable

throngs to their saloons.

Wherever she went her

vigilant

aunt kept a dragon watch at her elbow, awing the throngs of impassioned admirers

The

who hung

on her

strains.

report of her wonderful powers spread from city to

Malaga, Seville, Cordova, the

in raptures

theme

;

all

city.

became successively mad on

nothing was talked of throughout Andalusia but

the beautiful minstrel of the Alhambra.

[275]

How

could

THE ALHAMBRA among a people so musical and Andalusians, when the lute was magical in otherwise

the minstrel inspired by love

While

all

gallant as the its

Andalusia was thus music mad, a different mood Philip V, as

prevailed at the court of Spain.

was a miserable hypochondriac, and subject to

Sometimes he would keep

fancies.

together,

powers, and

his

well

known,

kinds of

all

bed for weeks

groaning under imaginary complaints.

other

times he would insist upon abdicating his throne, to the great

annoyance of

his royal spouse,

who had

a strong relish for

the splendors of a court and the glories of a crown, and

guided the sceptre of her imbecile lord with an expert and steady hand.

Nothing was found royal

megrims

as the

to be so efficacious in dispelling the

power of music

;

the queen took care,

therefore, to have the best performers, both vocal

and

in-

strumental, at hand, and retained the famous Italian singer Farinelli about the court as a kind of royal physician.

the

moment we

treat of,

however, a freak had come

over the mind of this sapient and illustrious Bourbon that

surpassed illness,

all

former vagaries.

which

After a long spell of imaginary

set all the strains of Farinelli

and the consulta-

tions of a whole orchestra of court fiddlers at defiance, the

monarch

fairly, in

idea,

gave up the ghost, and considered

himself absolutely dead.

This would have been harmless enough, and even convenient both to his queen and courtiers, had he been content to

remain

in the quietude befitting a

dead

man

;

but to their

annoyance he insisted upon having the funeral ceremonies performed over him, and,

began

to their inexpressible perplexity,

grow impatient, and

to revile bitterly at

[276]

them

for

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA What

negligence and disrespect, in leaving him unburied.

was

be done

was monstrous

disobey the king's positive

in the eyes of the

punctilious court

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but

commands

obsequious courtiers of a

obey him, and bury him

alive,

would be downright regicide In the midst of this fearful dilemma a rumor reached the

who was The queen despatched

court of the female minstrel

Andalusia.

all

summon

turning the brains of missions in

all

haste

her to St. Ildefonso, where the court at that time

resided.

Within a few days, as the queen with her maids was walking

honor

in those stately gardens, intended, with

their

avenues and terraces and fountains, to eclipse the glories of the far-famed minstrel was conducted into her

Versailles,

presence.

The

imperial Elizabetta gazed with surprise at the

youthful and unpretending appearance of the

had

the world madding.

set

Andalusian dress, her

She was

silver lute in

being that

little

her picturesque

hand, and stood with

modest and downcast

eyes, but with a simplicity

ness of beauty that

still

bespoke her

' "

and

the Rose

fresh-

the

Alhambra."

usual she was accompanied by the ever-vigilant Frede-

gonda,

who gave

the whole history of her parentage and If the stately Elizabetta

had

been interested by the appearance of Jacinta, she was

still

descent to the inquiring queen.

more pleased when she though impoverished

learnt that she

line,

and that her father had bravely

fallen in the service of the crown.

renown,"

said she, "

was of a meritorius

" If thy

and thou canst

powers equal thy

cast forth this evil spirit

that possesses thy sovereign, thy fortunes shall henceforth

care,

and honors and wealth attend thee." [277]

THE ALHAMBRA make

Impatient to

of her skill, she led the

trial

way

once to the apartment of the moody monarch. Jacinta followed with downcast eyes through

files

of guards

They arrived at length at a great chamber hung with black. The windows were closed to exclude the light of day a number of yellow wax tapers in and crowds of courtiers.

;

silver

sconces diffused a lugubrious

and dimly revealed

light,

the figures of mutes in mourning dresses, and courtiers glided about with noiseless step and woe-begone visage.

who In

the midst of a funeral bed or bier, his hands folded on his breast,

and the

tip of his

nose just

visible, lay

extended

this

would-be-buried monarch.

The queen

entered the chamber in silence, and pointing

to a footstool in sit

an obscure corner, beckoned

down and commence. At first she touched her

to Jacinta to

lute with a faltering hand, but

gathering confidence and animation as she proceeded, drew forth such soft aerial

believe

mortal.

harmony, that

to the

ail

present could scarce

monarch, who had already con-

it down for some angelic melody or the music of the spheres. By degrees the theme was varied, and the voice of the minstrel accompanied the instrument. She poured forth one of the legendary

sidered himself in the world of spirits, he set

ballads treating of the ancient glories of the

the achievements of the Moors.

Her whole

the theme, for with the recollections of the associated the story of her love.

sounded with the animating heart of the monarch.

sat

up on

strain.

floor,

Alhambra was

funeral-chamber

and gazed around

began to kindle â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

at length,

he called for sword and buckler.

[278]

re-

entered into the gloomy

raised his head

his couch, his eye

leaping upon the

The

Alhambra and

soul entered into

;

THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA The triumph was complete and, as

;

of music, or rather of the enchanted lute,

the

demon of melancholy was cast forth man brought to life. The windows

were, a dead

of the apartment

were thrown open

;

the glorious effulgence

of Spanish sunshine burst into the late lugubrious all

chamber

eyes sought the lovely enchantress, but the lute had fallen

from her hand, she had sunk upon the

and the next

earth,

moment was clasped to the bosom of Ruiz de Alarcon. The nuptials of the happy couple were celebrated soon afterwards with great splendor, and the Rose of the

Alham" But

bra became the ornament and delight of the court.

hold

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not

jumping

so fast"

to the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

hear the reader exclaim; "this

end of a story

at a furious rate

know how Ruiz de Alarcon managed for his long neglect? "

First let us

to account to Jacinta

Nothing more easy

;

the venerable,

time-honored excuse, the opposition to his wishes by a proud, pragmatical old father

;

besides,

young people who

one another soon come

bury

when once they meet.

all

past grievances

really like

an amicable understanding, and

But how was the proud, pragmatical old father reconciled

match

to the

that,

his

scruples were easily overcome by

a word or two from the queen, especially as dignities and

rewards were showered upon the blooming favorite of royalty. Besides, the lute of Jacinta, you know, possessed a magic

power, and could control the most stubborn head and hardest breast.

And what came Oh, that

of the enchanted lute

proves the truth of the whole story.

some time

the most curious matter of

in the family, but

That

all,

lute

and

plainly

remained

was purloined and carried

[-79]

for off,

THE ALHAMBRA as was supposed, by the great singer Farinelli, in pure jeal-

ousy.

his death

were ignorant of silver, transferred

strings

still

retain

its

passed into other hands in mystic powers, and melting

the strings to an old

Cremona

something of their magic

in the reader's ear, but let

bewitching the whole world,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

it is

[280]

down

the

fiddle.

The

word

virtues.

go no further: that

who

Italy,

fiddle is

now

the fiddle of Paganini

>.^.< --

THE VETERAN A MONG

the curious acquaintances

bles about the fortress,

^f=^\

j]L colonel of Invalids,

one of the Moorish towers. of telling,

was a

made

ram-

was a brave and battered old

who was His

nestled like a

history,

hawk

which he was fond

tissue of those adventures,

mishaps, and

vicissitudes that render the life of almost every Spaniard

of note as varied

was

among

and whimsical as the pages of Gil Bias.

America

at twelve years of age,

and reckoned

the most signal and fortunate events of his

having seen General Washington. a part in

all

life,

his

Since then he had taken

the wars of his country

;

he could speak experi-

mentally of most of the prisons and dungeons of the Peninsula

;

had been lamed of one

leg, crippled in his

hands, and

so cut up and carbonadoed that he was a kind of walking

monument

of the troubles of Spain,

scar for every battle

and

broil, as

on which there was a

every year of captivity was

notched upon the tree of Robinson Crusoe.

[281]

The

greatest

;

THE ALHAMBRA misfortune of the brave old cavalier, however, appeared to

have been his having commanded of peril

Malaga during a time

and confusion, and been made a general by the inthem from the invasion of the French.

habitants, to protect

This had entailed upon him a number of just claims upon government, that

feared would employ

him

dying

until his

day in writing and printing petitions and memorials, to the great disquiet of his mind, exhaustion of his purse,

ance of his friends

not one of

;

whom

could

and pen-

him

visit

with-

out having to listen to a mortal document of half an hour in length,

and

away

to carry

This, however,

pocket.

half a

dozen pamphlets

the case throughout Spain

where you meet with some worthy wight brooding

in ;

his

every-

in a corner,

and nursing up some pet grievance and cherished wrong.

who

Besides, a Spaniard

may be

ernment, for the I

has a lawsuit, or a claim upon gov-

considered as furnished with employment

remainder of his

life.

visited the veteran in his quarters in the

upper part of

Wine Tower. His room was small and commanded a beautiful view of the Vega. It

the Torre del Vino, or but snug,

was arranged with a a brace of pistols,

soldier's precision.

all

against the wall, with a sabre side,

use.

dozen books, formed his

mouldy volume reading.

had a

hats,

one for parade, and

small shelf, containing library,

of philosophical

side by

some

one of which, a

maxims, was his

half

little

old

favorite

This he thumbed and pondered over day by day

applying every it

and a cane hanging

and above them two cocked

one for ordinary

Three muskets and

bright and shining, were suspended

little

maxim

tinge of

to his

own

wholesome

the injustice of the world. [

^^82

]

particular case, provided bitterness,

and treated

THE VETERAN Yet he was

social

and kind-hearted, and provided he could

be diverted from his wrongs and his philosophy, was an entertaining companion. fortune,

and enjoy

the course of

like these old weather-beaten sons of

their

visits to

rough campaigning anecdotes. the one in question,

curious facts about an old military

who seems

commander

learnt

some

of the fortress,

have resembled him in some respects, and to

have had similar fortunes in the wars.

These

particulars have

been augmented by inquiries among some of the old inhabitants of the place, particularly the father of

whose

traditional stories the

to the reader

was a

worthy

favorite hero.

[283]

Mateo Ximenes,

about to introduce

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY N FORMER

times

there ruled,

Alhambra, a doughty old lost

the

one arm

name

governor." soldier,

wore

campaigning

cavalier,

the wars, was

governor of the

who, from having

commonly known by

El Gobernador Manco, or "the one-armed

in fact prided

his

himself upon being an old

moustaches curled up to his eyes, a pair of

boots,

and a toledo as long as a

spit,

with his

pocket-handkerchief in the basket-hilt.

was, moreover, exceedingly proud and punctilious, and

tenacious of

all

his privileges

and

dignities.

Under

his

sway

the immunities of the Alhambra, as a royal residence and

domain, were rigidly exacted.

one was permitted

to enter

the fortress with fire-arms, or even with a sword or

unless he were of a certain rank

;

staff,

and every horseman was

obliged to dismount at the gate, and lead his horse by the

[284]

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY Now

bridle.

midst of the

as the hill of the city of

of the capital,

Granada, being, as

must

the captain-general,

an hnpcrinni in

Alhambra it

rises

from the very

were, an excrescence

at all times

be somewhat irksome to

who commands

the province, to have thus

independent post

inipcrio, a petty

in the very

was rendered the more galling, in the present instance, from the irritable jealousy of the old centre of his domains.

governor, that took

and

fire

on the

least question of authority

and from the loose vagrant character of the people who had gradually nestled themselves within the jurisdiction

;

and thence carried on a system

fortress, as in a sanctuary,

of roguery

and depredation

at the

expense of the honest

inhabitants of the city.

Thus

there was a perpetual feud and heart-burning be-

tween the captain-general and the governor, the more virulent

on the part of the

latter,

neighboring potentates

The

his dignity. in the Plaza

inasmuch as the smallest of two always the most captious about

stately palace of the captain-general stood

Nueva, immediately

at the foot of the hill of

Alhambra and here was always a bustle and parade of guards, and domestics, and city functionaries. A beetling

the

;

bastion of the fortress overlooked the palace and public square in.

front of

;

and on

this bastion the old

occasionally strut backwards

and forwards, with

girded by his side, keeping a wary eye like

hawk reconnoitring

governor would

his

down upon

Toledo

his rival,

quarry from his nest in a

dry tree.

Whenever he descended parade state

;

into the city,

was in grand

on horseback, surrounded by his guards an ancient and unwieldy Spanish

coach,

carved timber and

gilt leather, [

-^85

;

or in his edifice

drawn by eight mules, with ]

THE ALHAMBRA running footmen, outriders, and lackeys

;

on which occasions

he flattered himself he impressed every beholder with awe and admiration as vicegerent of the king though the wits ;

who

of Granada, particularly those of the captain-general,

were apt

loitered about the palace

to sneer at his petty parade,

and, in allusion to the vagrant character of his subjects, to greet

One

him with the most

of the

two doughty have

all

rivals

appellation of " the king of the beggars."

sources of dispute between these

fruitful

was the right claimed by the governor

intended for the use of himself or his garrison. this privilege

had given

rise to extensive

of contrabatidistas took

their

degrees

smuggling.

nest

abode in the hovels of the

and the numerous caves

fortress

things passed free of duty through the city that were

in its vicinity,

and drove

a thriving business under the connivance of the soldiers of

the garrison.

The

vigilance of the captain-general

sulted his legal adviser

cscribano, or notary,

was aroused.

con-

and factotum, a shrewd, meddlesome

who

rejoiced in an opportunity of per-

plexing the old potentate of the Alhambra, and involving him in a

maze

to insist

through the gates of his

him

of legal subtleties.

upon the right

in vindication of

city,

and penned a long

letter for

Governor Manco was a

the right.

cut-and-thrust

straightforward

advised the captain-general

examining every convoy passing

old

who hated an

soldier,

escribano worse than the devil, and this one in particular

worse than

all

"What!"

other cscribanos.

said he,

curling

" does the captain-general set his

confusions upon to

}

'11

let

his

man

moustaches of the

him see an

be baffled by schoolcraft."

[286]

pen

fiercely,

to practise

old soldier

not

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY He

pen and scrawled a short

seized his

crabbed

letter in a

hand, in which, without deigning to enter into argument, he insisted

on the

right of transit free of search,

and denounced

who

should lay his

vengeance on any custom-house

officer

unhallowed hand on any convoy protected by the

Alhambra. While

flag of the

was agitated between the so happened that a mule laden

this question

two pragmatical potentates,

with supplies for the fortress arrived one day at the gate of Xenil, by which its

way

to the

old corporal,

was a man

was

to traverse a

Alhambra.

suburb of the

The convoy was headed by

city

a testy

who had long served under the governor, and own heart as rusty and stanch as an

after his

;

old Toledo blade.

they approached the gate of the

city,

the corporal placed

Alhambra on the pack-saddle of the mule, and drawing himself up to a perfect perpendicular, advanced the banner of the

with his head dressed to the front, but with the wary side-

glance of a cur passing through hostile ground and ready for a snap "

Who

and a

snarl.

goes there

" said the sentinel at the gate.

"Soldier of the Alhambra!" said the corporal, without turning his head. "

What have you

charge

" .''

" Provisions for the garrison." " Proceed."

The

marched

corporal

straight forward,

convoy, but had not advanced

custom-house

officers

" Hallo there

many

followed by the

paces before a posse of

rushed out of a small toll-house.

" cried the leader.

" Muleteer,

halt,

and

open those packages."

The

corporal wheeled round and drew himself

[287]

in battle

THE ALHAMBRA " Respect the flag of the

array.

Alhambra," said he

;

" these

things are for the governor." ''

Ajfigo for the governor and 2ifigo for his

flag.

Muleteer,

halt, I say."

" Stop the

convoy

ing his musket.

The house

your peril

" cried the corporal, cock-

" Muleteer, proceed."

muleteer gave his beast a hearty thwack

officer

the corporal levelled his piece and shot

The The kicks,

street

was immediately

old corporal

and

cuffs,

was

seized,

the custom-

;

sprang forward and seized the halter

;

whereupon

him dead.

an uproar.

and

undergoing sundry

after

and cudgellings, which are generally given

impromptu by the mob

penalties of the law, he

was loaded with irons and conducted

Spain as a foretaste of the after

to the city prison, while his

ceed with the convoy, after

comrades were permitted it

to pro-

had been well rummaged,

the Alhambra.

The

old governor was in a towering passion

of this insult to his flag

and capture of

time he stormed about the Moorish

when he heard

his corporal.

For a

and vapored about

halls,

down fire and sword upon the palace of the captain-general. Having vented the first ebullition of his wrath, he despatched a message demanding the surrender of the corporal, as to him alone belonged the right of sitting in judgment on the offences of those under his command. the bastions, and looked

The

captain-general, aided by the

pen of the delighted

escri-

bano, replied at great length, arguing that, as the offence had

been committed within the walls of his his civil officers,

The governor

was

city,

and against one of

clearly within his proper jurisdiction.

rejoined by a repetition of his

captain-general gave a sur-rejoinder of

[288]

still

demand

;

the

greater length

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY and

legal

acumen

the governor became hotter and

;

peremptory in his demands, and the captain-general cooler

and more copious

in his replies

;

until the old lion-hearted

soldier absolutely roared with fury at being thus entangled

meshes of legal controversy. While the subtle cscribano was thus amusing himself

in the

the expense of the governor, he was conducting the the corporal, who, prison,

mewed up

in a

trial

narrow dungeon of the

had merely a small grated window

which

show

his

iron-bound visage and receive the consolations of his friends.

mountain of written testimony was

heaped up,

diligently

according to Spanish form, by the indefatigable cscribano the corporal was completely overwhelmed by

it.

;

was

convicted of murder, and sentenced to be hanged. It was in vain the governor sent down remonstrance and menace from the Alhambra. The fatal day was at hand, and

the corporal was put in capilla, that of the prison, as

execution, that they

and repent them of

to say, in the chapel

always done with culprits the day before

may

meditate on their approaching end

their sins.

Seeing things drawing to extremity, the old determined to attend to the

affair in person.

he ordered out his carriage of guards, rumbled city.

him

down

state,

For

governor

this

purpose

and, surrounded by his

the avenue of the

Alhambra

Driving to the house of the cscribano, he

into the

summoned

to the portal.

The

eye of the old governor gleamed like a coal at behold-

ing the smirking

man

of the law advancing with an air of

exultation.

What

to death

this I hear," cried he, " that "

one of

soldiers

}

[289]

you are about

to put

;

THE ALHAMBRA "

All according to law

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

all

in strict

form of

justice," said

the self-sufficient escribano, chuckling and rubbing his hands " I

;

can show your Excellency the written testimony in the case." " Fetch

The escribano bustled

hither," said the governor.

having another opportunity of

into his office, delighted with

displaying his ingenuity at the expense of the hard-headed

He returned with a satchel

veteran.

full of

papers, and began

to read a long deposition with professional volubility.

this

time a crowd had collected, listening with outstretched necks

and gaping mouths. " Prithee,

man, get into the

throng, that

The

may

carriage, out of this pestilent

the better hear thee," said the governor.

escribano entered the carriage, when, in a twinkling,

the door was closed, the coachman smacked his whip,

mules, carriage, guards, and rate,

all

dashed

leaving the crowd in gaping

off at

wonderment

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

a thundering ;

nor did the

governor pause until he had lodged his prey in one of the strongest dungeons of the Alhambra.

then sent down a flag of truce in military

posing a

cartel, or

The

the notary.

exchange of prisoners,

Plaza

Nueva

"Oho!

gave orders, of the

swung

and forthwith caused a in the centre of the

for the execution of the corporal.

game.?" said Governor Manco.

that the

beetling

said he, in a

soldier

refusal,

be erected

and immediately a gibbet was reared on the verge

great

Now,"

and strong,

tall

style, pro-

the corporal for

pride of the captain-general was piqued

he returned a contemptuous gallows,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

when you

off

bastion that

message please

;

overlooked the

to the captain-general,

Plaza. '"

hang

but at the same time that he

in the square, look

dangling against the sky."

[290]

to see

your escribano

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY The

captain-general was inflexible

in the square

;

the

drums

troops were paraded

;

beat, the bell tolled.

An immense

multitude of amateurs gathered together to behold the exe-

cution.

the other hand, the governor paraded his garri-

son on the bastion, and tolled the funeral dirge of the notary

from the Torre de

The

Campana, or Tower of the

Bell.

notary's wife pressed through the crowd, with a whole

progeny of

little

embryo escribanos

her heels, and throw-

ing herself at the feet of the captain-general, implored him not to sacrifice the herself

life

of her husband,

and her numerous

little

you know the old governor he

too well," said she, " to

put his threat into execution,

will

The

and the welfare of

ones, to a point of pride

was sent up

The

to the

hooded

Alhambra, under a guard,

friar,

escribano was

to the cartel.

The once

The corpo-

in his gallows

but with head erect and a face of

demanded

in exchange, according

bustling and self-sufficient

the law was drawn forth from his alive.

soldier."

captain-general was overpowered by her tears and

garb, like a iron.

"for

doubt that

you hang the

lamentations, and the clamors of her callow brood. ral

;

All his flippancy and conceit had evaporated said,

had nearly turned gray with

a downcast, dogged look, as

man

dungeon more dead than

still

affright, felt

;

his hair,

and he had

the halter round

his neck.

The old governor stuck his one arm akimbo, and for a moment surveyed him with an iron smile. " Henceforth, my friend," said he, " moderate your zeal in hurrying others to

the gallows

;

be not too certain of your safety, even though

you should have the law on your side care

how you

;

and above

play off your schoolcraft another time

old soldier."

[291]

all,

take

upon an

v^^"{;'^n^is.kW

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER 'HILE Governor Manco,

or the

"one-armed,"

kept up a show of mihtary state in the Alhambra,

ually cast

he became nettled

upon

his fortress,

rogues and contrabandistas. tate

at the

reproaches contin-

being a nestling-place of

a sudden, the old poten-

determined on reform, and setting vigorously

to work,

ejected whole nests of vagabonds out of the fortress and

the gypsy caves with which the surrounding

combed.

sent out

soldiers, also,

hills are

honey-

to patrol the avenues

and footpaths, with orders to take up all suspicious persons. One bright summer morning a patrol, consisting of the testy old corporal

who had

of the notary, a trumpeter,

distinguished himself in the affair

and two

privates,

was seated un-

der the garden-wall of the Generalife, beside the road which leads

down from

the Mountain of the Sun,

[292]

when they heard

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER the tramp of a horse, and a male voice singing in rough though

not unmusical tones an old Castilian campaigning-song.

Presently they beheld a sturdy, sunburnt fellow, clad in the

ragged garb of a foot-soldier, leading a powerful Arabian horse caparisoned in the ancient Morisco fashion.

Astonished

at the sight of a strange soldier

descending,

steed in hand, from that solitary mountain, the corporal stepped

and challenged him,

forth "'

Who

goes there

" ?

friend." "

and what are you ? poor soldier just from the wars, with a cracked crown and empty purse for a reward."

this

time they were enabled to view him more narrowly.

had a black patch across

grizzled beard,

added

his forehead,

which, with a

to a certain dare-devil cast of counte-

nance, while a slight squint threw into the whole an occasional

gleam of roguish good-humor.

Having answered the questions seemed "

May

of the patrol, the soldier

to consider himself entitled to

ask," said he, " what city

foot of the hill

make

others in return.

which

that

see at the

" ?

"What

city!" cried the trumpeter; "come, that's too Here 's a fellow lurking about the Mountain of the Sun, and demands the name of the great city of Granada

bad.

Granada

Perhaps not

can !

be possible

" rejoined the

" ?

trumpeter

;

"and perhaps you

have no idea that yonder are the towers of the Alhambra." "

with

Son

of a trumpet," replied the stranger, ;

this

be indeed the Alhambra,

matters to reveal to the governor."

[293]

"do

not

trifle

have some strange

THE ALHAMBRA "You

will

we mean eter

have an opportunity," said the corporal, "for

to take

you before him."

had seized the bridle of the

time the trump-

this

steed, the

two privates had

each secured an arm of the soldier, the corporal put himself in

gave the word, "Forward

front,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; march!"

and away

they marched for the Alhambra.

The

sight of a ragged foot-soldier

brought

by the

in captive

and a

fine

Arabian horse,

patrol, attracted the attention of all

the idlers of the fortress, and of those gossip groups that

generally assemble about wells and fountains at early dawn.

The wheel

of the cistern paused in

its

rotations,

shod servant-maid stood gaping, with pitcher

corporal passed by with his prize.

and the

slip-

in hand, as the

motley train gradually

gathered in the rear of the escort.

Knowing nods and winks and to another.

" It

said another;

conjectures passed from one

a deserter," said one

;

Acojitrabafidista,"

bandolero," said a third;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;-until

was

affirmed that a captain of a desperate band of robbers had

been captured by the prowess of the corporal and his " Well, well," said the old cronies,

or not, if

let

him get out

he can, though he

one

of the grasp of old Governor

patrol.

to another, "captain

Manco

but one-handed."

Governor Manco was seated

one of the inner

halls of

the Alhambra, taking his morning's cup of chocolate.

de-

mure, dark-eyed damsel of Malaga, the daughter of his housekeeper, was attending upon him.

damsel, who, with

all

The world

hinted that the

her demureness, was a sly

buxom

bag-

gage, had found out a soft spot in the iron heart of the old

When

word

was brought that a suspicious stranger had been taken

lurk-

governor, and held complete control over him.

ing about the fortress,

and was

actually in the lower court, in

[294]

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER durance of the corporal, waiting the pleasure of his Excellency, the pride and stateliness of office swelled the

demure damsel, he it

his moustaches, took his seat in a

assumed a

large high-backed chair,

dier

of the

called for his basket-hilted sword, girded

to his side, twirled

pect,

bosom

Giving back his chocolate-cup into the hands of the

governor.

was brought

in, still

and forbidding

assol-

closely pinioned by his captors,

and

guarded by the corporal. lute, self-confident air,

bitter

The

and ordered the prisoner

into his presence.

maintained, however, a reso-

and returned the sharp, scrutinizing

look of the governor with an easy squint, which by no

means

pleased the punctilious old potentate. '"

him

Well, culprit," said the governor, after he had regarded for a

yourself "

moment

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who

soldier,

silence,

what have you

to say for

are you.''" just

from the wars, who has brought away

nothing but scars and bruises." '

soldier

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; humph â&#x20AC;&#x201D; -

derstand you have

him "'

a fine

a foot-soldier by your garb.

Arabian horse.

too from the wars, besides your scars

May

please your Excellency,

to tell about that horse.

derful things to relate.

Indeed

un-

presume you brought and bruises."

have something strange

have one of the most won-

Something too

security of this fortress, indeed of

all

that concerns the

Granada.

But

matter to be imparted only to your private ear, or in presence of such only as are in your confidence."

The governor

considered for a moment, and then directed

the corporal and his

men

to withdraw, but to post

outside of the door, and be ready at a

call.

nodding towards the handmaid, who had air of great curiosity, " this

damsel

[295]

themselves

This damsel,"

loitered with

of great secrecy

and

THE ALHAMBRA and

discretion, rest

be trusted with anything,"

When

had withdrawn, the soldier commenced his

was a

smooth-tongued

fluent,

the

all

story.

and had a command

varlet,

language above his apparent rank. "'

May

but

"I am, as I some hard service,

please your Excellency," said he,

before observed, a soldier, and have seen

term of enlistment being expired,

was discharged,

not long since, from the army at Valladolid, and set out on foot for

native village in Andalusia,

the sun went

Old "

Yesterday evening

was traversing a great dry plain of

Castile,"

Hold

Castile

down

some two

Even

cellency

" cried the governor, "

this

you say

Old

,-â&#x20AC;˘

or three hundred miles from this,"

so," replied the soldier, coolly, "

had strange things

what

to relate

than true, as your Excellency

;

Ex-

told your

but not more strange

you

will find, if

will

deign

a patient hearing." " Proceed,

said

culprit,"

the governor,

twirling

his

moustaches, "

the sun went down," continued the soldier, "

my eyes about in search as my sight could reach saw that with

make my bed on

knapsack for a pillow

knows

such a night's lodging

cast

there were no signs of habitation,

should have to

old soldier, and

of quarters for the night, but as far

that to is

The governor nodded

;

the naked plain,

but your Excellency

one who has been

in the wars,

no great hardship," assent,

he drew his pocket-

handkerchief out of the basket-hilt to drive away a

fly that

buzzed about his nose, "'

Well, to

make

a long story short," continued the soldier,

trudged forward for several miles until

[296]

came

to a bridge

;

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER over a deep ravine, through which ran a httle thread of water,

ahnost dried up by the

summer

At one end

heat.

bridge was a Moorish tower, the upper end

Here, thinks

a vault in the foundation quite entire.

good place

make

a halt

and took a hearty drink, and

was parched with

;

went down

for the water thirst

was pure and sweet,

took out an onion and a few crusts, which were visions,

wallet, I

all

make my

supper,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; intending afterwards

quarter myself for the night in the vault of the tower

from the wars, as your Excellency, who

an old

and

;

would have been for a campaigner

capital quarters they

pro-

and seating myself on a stone on the margin of the

stream, began to

may

to the stream,

then, opening

;

of the

in ruins, but

all

just

soldier,

suppose."

have put up gladly with worse in

time," said the

governor, returning his pocket-handkerchief into the

hilt of

his sword. "

While

soldier, "

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

was

was quietly crunching

heard something

By and

the tramp of a horse.

from a door

crust," pursued the

within the vault

stir

by a

make

out what he was, by the starlight.

solitary place.

among

to lose

;

"He

;

still

had a

surprise he

had a suspicious

and

fair

myself

he might be a bandolero

my poverty, crunched my crust.

led his horse to the water, close by

ting, so that

To my

sat

forth

could not well

might be a mere wayfarer,

thank heaven and

listened

the ruins of a tower, in that wild

he might be a contrabandista

what of that

by the water's

in the foundation of the tower, close

edge, leading a powerful horse by the bridle.

look to be lurking

;

man came

had nothing

where

was

sit-

opportunity of reconnoitring him.

was dressed

[297]

in a

Moorish garb, wdth a

THE ALHAMBRA and a polished skull-cap that I distinguished upon it. His horse, too, was

cuirass of steel,

by the reflection of the stars

harnessed in the Morisco fashion, with great shovel stirrups.

led him, as

I said,

to the side of the stream, into

which

the animal plunged his head almost to the eyes, and drank until I

thought he would have burst.

Comrade,' said

when

sign

your steed drinks well

muzzle bravely into the

horse plunges his

a good

it 's

;

water.'

He may

well drink,' said the stranger, speaking with a

Moorish accent

;

a good year since he had

hife

last

draught.'

"'By

Santiago,' said

you

soldier, will

fact, I felt

even the camels

'that beats

But come, you seem

seen in Africa.

down and

sit

to be

put up with an

have

take part of a soldier's fare

the want of a companion

and was willing

something of a

infidel.

Excellency well knows, a soldier

.-â&#x20AC;˘

in this lonely place,

Besides, as your

never very particular

about the faith of his company, and soldiers of

all

countries

are comrades on peaceable ground."

The governor " Well, as

such as 'I

again nodded assent.

him

to share

could not do less in

common

hospitality.

was saying,

was, for

invited

have no time to pause for meat or drink,' said he,

a long journey to

make

Andalusia,' said he.

Exactly

.''

said

route,' said I

see your horse

carry double.'

'11

have

;

'so, as

eat with me, perhaps you will let

you.

before morning.'

In what direction

supper,

you won't stop and

me mount and

of a powerful frame

[298]

;

ride with '11

warrant

;

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER " "Agreed," said the trooper;

and

civil

and

would not have been

soldierlike to refuse, especially as

had offered

So up he mounted, and up

supper with him.

mounted behind him. "

Hold fast,' said Never fear me,'

From

seemed

said

my I,

steed goes like the wind.'

and so

off

set.

a walk the horse soon passed to a trot, from a trot

to a gallop, It

he,

and from a gallop

harum-scarum scamper.

to a

rocks, trees, houses, everything flew hurry-

scurry behind us. '"

What town

is this

Segovia,' said he

;

.? '

said

and before the word was out of

mouth, the towers of Segovia were out of

sight.

his

swept

up the Guadarama Mountains, and down by the Escurial and we skirted the walls of Madrid, and we scoured away across the plains of La Mancha. In this way we went up and down

hill

sleep,

glimmering "

dale,

by towers and

cities, all

buried in deep

plains,

and

and not

and across mountains, and

rivers,

just

in the starlight.

To make

a long story short,

fatigue your

Excellency, the trooper suddenly pulled up on the side of a

mountain. journey.' tion

;

Here we

are,'

all

he,

the

end of our

looked about, but could see no signs of habita-

nothing but the mouth of a cavern.

saw multitudes of people back,

said

some on

While

looked

Moorish dresses, some on horse-

foot, arriving as if

borne by the wind from

points of the compass, and hurrying into the mouth of the

cavern like bees into a hive.

Before

could ask a question,

the trooper struck his long Moorish spurs into the horse's

and dashed in with the throng. We passed along a winding way, that descended into the very bowels of steep

flanks,

[299]

THE ALHAMBRA the mountain.

and

up, by Httle

what caused stronger,

and

shields,

on, a hght

began

glimmer

gHmmerings of day, but It grew stronger and see everything around. I now

Hke the

httle,

first

could not discern.

and enabled me

noticed, as

right

As we pushed

we passed

along, great caverns, opening to the

cuirasses,

hanging against the walls

In some there were

an arsenal.

halls in

left, like

and helmets, and

and

lances,

in others there

;

and cimeters,

were great heaps

of warlike munitions and camp-equipage lying upon the ground. " It

would have done your Excellency's heart good, being

an old

soldier, to

have seen such grand provision for war.

were long rows of horsemen

Then,

in other caverns, there

armed

to the teeth, with lances raised

ready for the

all

saddles, like so

field

many

but they

;

statues.

all

and banners unfurled,

sat motionless in their

In other halls were warriors

sleeping on the ground beside their horses, and foot-soldiers in

groups ready to

fall

into the ranks.

All were in old-

fashioned Moorish dresses and armor. " Well, your Excellency, to cut a long story short,

length entered an

immense

cavern, or

grotto-work, the walls of which

gold and

and

all

silver,

and

may

say palace, of

seemed to be veined with diamonds and sapphires

to sparkle with

kinds of precious stones.

the upper end sat a

Moorish king on a golden throne, with his nobles on each side,

and a guard of African blacks with drawn cimeters. in, and amounted to

All the crowd that continued to flock

thousands and thousands, passed one by one throne,

each paying homage

as he passed.

before

Some

his

of the

multitude were dressed in magnificent robes, without stain or blemish, and sparkling with jewels

and enamelled armor

;

others in burnished

while others were in mouldered and

[300]

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER mildewed garments, and

and covered with " I

had hitherto held

knows

tongue, for your Excellency well

when

questions

comrade,' said

'what

the meaning of

This,' said the trooper,

Know, O Christian, army of Boabdil the

What

many

could keep silent no longer.

"'Prithee,

battered and dented

all

not for a soldier to ask

on duty, but all this

armor

rust.

this

and

a great

that you see before last

you

fearful mystery.

you the court and

king of Granada.'

tell

cried

Boabdil and his

court were exiled from the land hundreds of years agone,

and

all

died in Africa.'

Moor

;

recorded in your lying chronicles,' replied the

but

know

that Boabdil

and the warriors who made

the last struggle for Granada were tain

by powerful enchantment.

that

marched

render,

they

forth

were a mere

demons, permitted

Christian sovereigns. friend, that all

chantment.

Spain

There

from Granada

all

shut up in the moun-

phantom

the time of the surof

train

assume those shapes

And is

furthermore

spirits

and

to deceive the

let

a country under the

tell

power

you,

of en-

not a mountain cave, not a lonely watch-

tower in the plains, nor ruined castle on the

some spell-bound warriors sleeping from age its

and army

for the king at

vaults, until the sins are expiated for

hills,

but has

to age within

which Allah per-

mitted the dominion to pass for a time out of the hands of the faithful.

Once every

year,

on the eve of

St.

John, they

are released from enchantment, from sunset to sunrise, and

permitted to repair here to pay

homage

to their sovereign

and the crowds which you beheld swarming [301

]

into the cavern

I'HE

ALHAMBRA

Moslem warriors from my own part, you saw

are

For

Old

where

Castile,

their haunts in all parts of Spain.

the ruined tower of the bridge in

have now wintered and summered for

many hundred years, and where I must be back again by daybreak. As to the battalions of horse and foot which you beheld drawn up in array in the neighboring caverns, they are the spell-bound warriors of Granada.

book of

fate, that

when

the enchantment

descend from the mountain

will

resume

his throne in the

broken, Boabdil

head of

at the

Alhambra and

his

this

Moslem '

And when

Allah alone knows

hand

in the

parts

all

Peninsula and restore

rule.'

was

army,

sway of Granada,

and gathering together the enchanted warriors from Spain, will reconquer the

the

It is written in

;

shall this :

happen

.''

said

we had hoped

the day of deliverance

but there reigns at present a vigilant governor

Alhambra, a stanch old

soldier, well

known

Governor

Manco. While such a warrior holds command of the very outpost,

and stands ready

the mountain, tent to rest

upon

their arms.'

Here the governor larly,

fear Boabdil

check the

and

first

from

irruption

his soldiery

must be con-

raised himself

somewhat perpendicu-

adjusted his sword, and twirled up his moustaches.

To make

a long story short,

and not

Excellency, the trooper, having given

mounted from "'Tarry

fatigue your

this account, dis-

his steed.

'and guard

here,' said he,

and bow the knee

to Boabdil.'

steed while

saying, he strode

among the throng that pressed forward to the throne. " What 's to be done thought I, when thus left .''

myself

;

shall I wait here until this infidel returns to

away to

whisk

GOVERNOR MANCO AND THE SOLDIER me I

off

make

his goblin steed, the

the most of

hobgoblin community

? '

soldier's

as your Excellency well knows. to

Lord knows where

an avowed enemy of the

mind

soon made up,

to the horse,

he belonged

and the realm, and was a of war. So hoisting myself

faith

according to the rules

fair prize

or shall

;

time and beat a retreat from this

from the crupper into the saddle,

turned the reins, struck

the Moorish stirrups into the sides of the steed, and put to

make

the best of his

As we

had entered.

horsemen

way out

scoured by the halls where the Moslem

sat in motionless battalions,

clang of armor and a hollow

murmur

thought

There was now a sound behind me clatter of a

overtook me.

of voices.

forth

gave the

speed.

like a rushing blast

thousand hoofs

was borne along

heard the

steed another taste of the stirrups and doubled

heard the

him

which he

of the passage by

;

a countless throng

in the press,

and hurled

from the mouth of the cavern, while thousands of

shadowy forms were swept

off

every direction by the

four winds of heaven. " In the whirl

and confusion of the scene

When

senseless to the earth.

brow

lying on the

beside

;

of a

hill,

for in falling,

bridle, which,

came

was thrown

myself,

was

with the Arabian steed standing

my arm

had slipped within the

presume, prevented his whisking

off to

Old

Castile.

Your Excellency may

easily

judge of

surprise,

looking round, to behold hedges of aloes and Indian figs and other proofs of a southern climate, and to see a great city

below me, with towers, and palaces, and a grand cathedral. "

descended the

was afraid

hill cautiously,

mount him

again, lest

[303]

leading

steed, for

he should play

me some

THE ALHAMBRA As

slippery trick. let

descended

into the secret that

and that

was

actually

met with your

was Granada that

who

patrol,

lay before

me,

under the walls of the Alhambra,

the fortress of the redoubted Governor Manco, the terror of all

enchanted Moslems.

When

heard

this,

determined

once to seek your Excellency, to inform you of

had seen, and

warn you

undermine you, that you may take measures in time your fortress, and the kingdom itself, from this

army

that lurks in the very bowels of the

"And

prithee, friend,

and

guard

intestine

land."

you who are a veteran campaigner,

and have seen so much service," would you advise

that

all

of the perils that surround

said the governor,

how

to proceed, in order to prevent this

" evil

"It

not for a humble private of the ranks," said the

soldier, modestly,

"to pretend

to instruct a

your Excellency's sagacity, but Excellency might cause

mountains

all

appears to

commander

that your

the caves and entrances into the

be walled up with solid mason-work, so that

Boabdil and his army might be completely corked up in their subterranean habitation."

The governor now

placed his

arm akimbo, with

resting on the hilt of his Toledo, fixed his eye soldier,

other,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

" So, to

and gently wagging friend," said he,

his

hand

his

upon the

head from one side

to the

then you really suppose

be gulled with this cock-and-bull story about enchanted

mountains and enchanted Moors another word.

old soldier

you have an older soldier outgeneralled.

.''

Hark

you may

to deal with,

guards there

[304]

ye, culprit be, but

you

and one not

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not

'11

find

easily

put this fellow in irons."

GOVERNOR MANCO AND THE SOLDIER The demure handmaid would have

put in a word in favor

of the prisoner, but the governor silenced her with a look.

they were pinioning the soldier, one of the guards

something of bulk

in his pocket,

and drawing

a long leathern purse that appeared to be well it

filled.

felt

found

forth,

Holding

by one corner, he turned out the contents upon the

table

make Out tumbled rings and jewels, and rosaries of pearls, and sparkling diamond crosses, and a profusion of ancient golden coin, some of which fell jingling to the floor, and rolled away to the uttermost parts of the before the governor, and never did freebooter's bag

more gorgeous

delivery.

chamber.

For a time the functions of

was a universal scramble

justice

were suspended

;

there

The

after the glittering fugitives.

governor alone, who was imbued with true Spanish pride, maintained his stately decorum, though his eye betrayed a anxiety until the last coin and jewel was restored to

little

the sack, "

was

just

going to

tell

your Excellency when

was

interrupted," said the stranger, "that on taking possession of the trooper's horse,

hung

at the

unhooked a leathern sack which

saddle-bow, and which

presume contained

when Moors overran the country." " Mighty well at present you will make up your mind to take up your quarters in a chamber of the Vermilion Tower, the plunder of his campaignings in the days of old,

the

;

which, though not under a magic as

spell, will

hold you as safe

any cave of your enchanted Moors."

"Your Excellency prisoner, coolly.

any accommodation

will

do as you think proper," said the

shall

be thankful to your Excellency for

in the fortress.

[305]

soldier

who

has been

THE ALHAMBRA your Excellency well knows,

in the wars, as

Provided

about his lodgings. regular rations, I

manage

shall

not particular

have a snug dungeon and

make myself

would only entreat that while your Excellency

comfortable. is

so careful

about me, you would have an eye to your fortress, and think

on the hint

dropped about stopping up the entrances

the mountain."

Here ended the

The

scene.

prisoner was conducted to a

strong dungeon in the Vermilion Tower, the Arabian steed

was led

was deposited

To of old this

in his

Excellency's strong box.

explain these prompt and rigid measures on the part

Governor Manco,

proper to observe, that about

time the Alpuxarra Mountains in the neighborhood of

Granada were the

Excellency's stable, and the trooper's sack

to his

command

terribly infested

of a daring chief

was accustomed

by a gang of robbers, under

named Manuel

to prowl about

Borasco,

who

the country, and even to

enter the city in various disguises, to gain intelligence of the

departure of convoys of merchandise, or travellers with welllined purses,

whom

they took care to waylay in distant and

solitary passes of the road.

These repeated and daring

out-

rages had awakened the attention of government, and the

commanders

of the various posts

to be on the

alert,

and

Governor Manco was

to take

had received instructions

all

suspicious stragglers.

particularly zealous in

consequence of

the various stigmas that had been cast upon his fortress,

and he now doubted not he had entrapped some formidable desperado of this gang. In the meantime the story took wind, and became the

talk,

not merely of the fortress, but of the whole city of Granada. It

was

said that the noted robber

[306]

Manuel Borasco, the

terror

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE SOLDIER of the Alpuxarras,

had

fallen into the clutches of old

Gov-

ernor Manco, and been cooped up by him in a dungeon of

Tower

the Vermilion

Tower, as a sister

hill,

;

and every one who had been robbed

marauder. The Vermilion known, stands apart from the Alhambra on separated from the main fortress by the ravine

by him flocked

to recognize the

well

passes the main avenue.

down which

There were no outer

walls, but a sentinel patrolled before the tower.

of the

chamber

and looked upon a small esplanade.

grated,

Granada repaired

folks of

The window

which the soldier was confined was strongly

Here the good

to gaze at him, as they

would

a laughing hyena, grinning through the cage of a menagerie.

Nobody, however, recognized him for Manuel Borasco, for that terrible robber

was noted for a ferocious physiognomy,

and had by no means the good-humored squint of the prisoner.

came not merely from the city, but from all parts of but nobody knew him, and there began to be doubts in the minds of the common people whether there might not be some truth in his story. That Boabdil and his army were shut up in the mountain, was an old tradition Visitors

the country

;

which many of the ancient inhabitants had heard from their

Numbers went up

fathers.

to the

Mountain of the Sun,

rather of St. Elena, in search of the cave mentioned by the soldier ing,

and saw and peeped

;

no one knows how

remains there to

this

day

into the deep, dark pit, descend-

far, into

the mountain, and which

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the fabled entrance

to the sub-

terranean abode of Boabdil.

By degrees

people.

the soldier

became popular with the common is by no means the

freebooter of the mountains

opprobrious character in Spain that a robber country

;

on the contrary, he

any other

a kind of chivalrous personage

[307]

THE ALHAMBRA There

in the eyes of the lower classes. tion, also, to cavil at the

many began

murmur

Governor Manco, and

always a disposi-

conduct of those in

to look

command

;

and

high-handed measures of old

at the

upon the prisoner

in the light

of a martyr.

The

moreover, was a merry, waggish fellow, that

soldier,

had a joke

one who came near his window, and a

for every

soft speech for every female. also,

and would

ditties, to

sit

had procured an old

the delight of the

women

would assemble on the esplanade

the

first

in the

who

evening and dance

off his

found favor in the eyes of the

demure handmaid was perfectly

of the neighborhood,

Having trimmed

boleros to his music. his sunburnt face

guitar,

by his window and sing ballads and love-

rough beard,

and the

fair,

of the governor declared that his squint

This kind-hearted damsel had from

irresistible.

evinced a deep sympathy in his fortunes, and having

in vain tried to mollify the governor,

had

set to

to mitigate the rigor of his dispensations.

work

privately

Every day she

brought the prisoner some crumbs of comfort which had fallen

from the governor's

larder,

together with,

table, or

now and

been abstracted from his

then, a consoling bottle of

choice Valdepenas, or rich Malaga.

While

this petty treason

was going on

in the very centre

of the old governor's citadel, a storm of open war was brew-

ing up of gold

among

his external foes.

The circumstance

of a bag

and jewels having been found upon the person of

the supposed robber, had been reported, with gerations, in Granada.

many

was immediately started by the governor's inveterate the captain-general.

exag-

question of territorial jurisdiction

insisted that the prisoner

rival,

had been

captured without the precincts of the Alhambra, and within

[308]

GOVERNOR MAN CO AND THE SOLDIER He demanded

the rules of his authority.

his body, therefore,

and the spolia opinta taken with him. The feuds ran high. The governor was furious, and swore, rather than surrender his captive,

he would hang him up within the Alhambra, as

a spy caught within the purlieus of the fortress.

The

captain-general threatened to send a body of soldiers

to transfer the prisoner

from the Vermilion Tower

to the

before-

"Let them come,"

city.

hand with them.

said he;

must

rise bright

take in an old soldier."

"they'll find

and

early

who would

accordingly issued orders to have

the prisoner removed, at daybreak, to the donjon keep within

"And d'ye my

the walls of the Alhambra. to his

" tap at

demure handmaid,

before cock-crowing, that

The day dawned,

may

hear, child," said he

door,

and wake me

see to the matter myself."

the cock crowed, but nobody tapped at

the door of the governor.

The sun

rose

high above the

mountain-tops, and glittered in at his casement, ere the gov-

ernor was awakened from his morning dreams by his veteran corporal,

who

him with

stood before

terror

stamped upon

his

iron visage. "

off

gone

" cried the corporal, gasping for

breath. "

Who 's

"The

.-*

soldier

His dungeon

how he

— who gone — the robber — the "

off

empty, but the door locked

has escaped out of

Who

devil, for

saw him

;

aught

know.

no one knows

it."

" last

"Your handmaid

;

.''

she brought him his supper."

" Let her be called instantly."

Here was new matter of confusion. The chamber of the demure damsel was likewise empty her bed had not been ;

[309]

THE ALHAMBRA slept in.

She had doubtless gone off with the

culprit, as

she had

appeared for some days past to have frequent conversations with him.

This was wounding the old governor he had scarce time to wince

broke upon his view. his strong stracted,

it,

when new misfortunes

going into his cabinet he found

box open, the leather purse of the trooper ab-

and with

a couple of corpulent bags of doubloons.

But how, and which way, had the old peasant,

in a tender part, but

who

lived in a cottage

fugitives escaped

by the roadside leading

a powerful steed, just before daybreak, passing

mountains.

just distinguish a

had looked out

at his

into the

casement, and could

horseman, with a female seated before him.

" Search the stables

" cried

Governor Manco. The

were searched. All the horses were the Arabian steed. the manger, and on to

he had heard the tramp of

into the Sierra, declared that

stables

in their stalls, excepting

In his place was a stout cudgel, tied to it

a label bearing these words,

Governor Manco, from an Old Soldier."

[310]

gift

-"• "^"^^ " .ji^JV^ ^^ '"'%4?lp=>*i. ,-yBn

ST VV

-fc

•'

i[-.^^. .*.»»*

.1-

--^

THE CRUSADE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF ALCANTARA N THE

course of a morning's research

among

chronicles in the Library of the University, a

little

the old

came upon

episode in the history of Granada, so strongly

characteristic of the bigot zeal

which sometimes inflamed the

Christian enterprises against this splendid but devoted that

was tempted

bound volume

which

draw it

lay

forth

city,

from the parchment-

entombed, and submit

to the

reader.

In the year of redemption, 1394, there was a valiant and devout grand master of Alcantara, named Martin Yanez de

Barbudo,

who was

inflamed with a vehement desire to serve

God and

fight the

Moors.

Unfortunately for this brave and

pious cavalier, a profound peace existed between the Christian

HI had just ascended the throne and Yusef ben Mohammed had succeeded to the

and Moslem powers. Henry of Castile,

THE ALHAMBRA throne of Granada, and both were disposed to continue the

The grand

peace which had prevailed between their fathers.

master looked with repining

which decorated his

Moorish banners and weapons,

castle hall, trophies of the exploits of his

predecessors, and repined at his fate to exist in a period of

such inglorious

tranquillity.

length his impatience broke through

all

bounds, and

seeing that he could find no public war in which to engage,

he resolved is

war

to carve out a little

for himself.

Such

at least

the account given by some ancient chronicles, though others

give the following as the motive for this sudden resolution to

go campaigning.

the grand master was one day seated at table with sev-

eral of his cavaliers, a

man

suddenly entered the

meagre, and bony, with haggard countenance and All recognized him for a hermit,

now

his youth, but

led a

life

who had been

"Cavaliers," said he,

"why

your weapons resting against the the faith lord "

Holy

grand master,

bound up by

that

ye here

wall, while the

ad-

seemed with

idly,

enemies of " .-*

seeing the wars are over and our swords

peace

" .?

words," replied the hermit.

seated late at night at the entrance of

the heavens,

fiery eye.

what wouldst thou have us do," asked the

treaties of

"Listen to

sit

fist

over the fairest portion of the land

father, "

with a

tall,

a soldier in

of penitence in a cave.

vanced to the table and struck upon of iron.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

hall,

I fell

presented to me.

into a reverie, I

"As

was

cave, contemplating

and a wonderful vision was

beheld the moon, a mere crescent, yet

luminous as the brightest

silver,

over the kingdom of Granada.

and

While

hung I

in the

heavens

was looking

behold there shot forth from the firmament a blazing

it,

star,

THE CRUSADE which, as

went, drew after

they assailed the

moon and

whole firmament was

it all

drove

the stars of heaven

from the skies

;

and

;

and the

with the glory of that blazing

filled

star.

While mine eyes were yet dazzled by this wondrous sight, some one stood by me, with snowy wings and a shining countenance.

O man

of prayer,' said he,

master of Alcantara, and held.

the

the blazing

tell

him

star,

Moslem emblem, from

get thee to the grand

of the vision thou hast be-

destined to drive the crescent,

Let him boldly draw

the land.

the sword and continue the good work begun by Pelazo of old,

and victory

will assuredly attend his banner.'

The grand master

listened to the hermit as to a

from heaven, and followed

messenger

his counsel in all things.

advice he despatched two of his stoutest warriors, cap-a-pie,

on an embassy

his

armed

Moorish king. They entered

to the

the gates of Granada without molestation, as the nations

were

at peace,

and made

their

way

to the

they were promptly admitted to the king, in the Hall of Ambassadors.

roundly and hardly.

They

come,

Alhambra, where

who

received

them

delivered their message king, from

Yaiiez de Barbudo, grand master of Alcantara,

Don Martin who affirms

the faith of Jesus Christ to be true and holy, and that of

Mahomet

false

maintain

the

and detestable contrary,

hand

;

and he challenges thee

hand,

single

combat.

Shouldst thou refuse, he offers to combat with one hundred cavaliers against

number number

two hundred,

or, in like

proportion, to the

of one thousand, always allowing thy faith a double of champions.

Remember,

king, that thou canst

not refuse this challenge, since thy prophet, knowing the impossibility of maintaining his doctrines by argument, has

commanded

his followers to enforce

them with the sword."

;

THE ALHAMBRA "

The beard The master

King Yusef trembled with

of Alcantara," said he, "

indignation.

madman

such a message, and ye are saucy knaves to bring

saying, he ordered the ambassadors to be

a dungeon, by

way

them a

of giving

and they were roughly treated on populace,

and

who were

thrown into

lesson in diplomacy

their

way

;

thither by the

exasperated at this insult to their sovereign

their faith.

The grand master

of Alcantara could scarcely credit the

tidings of the maltreatment of his messengers

mit rejoiced he,

send

it."

when they were repeated

to him.

;

but the her"

God," said

has blinded this infidel king for his downfall.

has sent no reply to thy defiance, consider shal thy forces, therefore

;

march forward

not until thou seest the gate of Elvira.

wrought

enemy

will

thy favor.

There

be overthrown

;

Since he

Mar-

accepted.

Granada

pause

;

miracle will be

be a great battle

will

;

the

but not one of thy soldiers will

be slain."

The grand master

upon every warrior zealous in the him in this crusade. In a little while three hundred horsemen and a thousand foot-soldiers rallied under his standard. The horsemen were veterans, seasoned to battle, and well armed but the infantry were raw and called

Christian cause to aid

;

undisciplined.

The

victory,

the grand master was a that the

however, was to be miraculous

man

of surpassing faith,

weaker the means the greater the miracle.

forth confidently,

therefore, with

his

little

and knew

sallied

army, and the

hermit strode ahead, bearing a cross on the end of a long pole,

and beneath

the pennon of the Order of Alcantara.

they approached the city of Cordova they were over-

taken by messengers, spurring in

[314]

all

haste, bearing missives

;

THE CRUSADE from the Castilian monarch, forbidding the enterprise. The grand master

man of a single mind and a single will man of one idea, " Were I on any other

vvas a

in other words, a

errand," said he, "

from

should obey these letters as coming

lord the king

;

but

sent by a higher power

In compliance with

than the king.

its

vanced the cross thus far against the

commands infidels

;

and

have adit

would

be treason to the standard of Christ to turn back without

achieving

errand."

So the trumpets were sounded the cross was again reared and the band of zealots resumed their march. As they passed through the streets of Cordova the people were amazed ;

aloft,

multitude to

at the

beholding a hermit bearing a cross ;

but

when

head of a warlike

they learnt that a miraculous victory

was

be effected and Granada destroyed, laborers and artisans

threw by the implements of their handicrafts and joined in the crusade

;

while a mercenary rabble followed on with

a view of plunder.

number

who

of cavaliers of rank

lacked faith in the

promised miracle, and dreaded the consequences of

this un-

provoked irruption into the country of the Moor, assembled at the bridge of the

Guadalquivir and endeavored to dissuade

the grand master from crossing. expostulations, or

menaces

was deaf

the parley by their clamors

;

were enraged

his followers

;

this opposition to the cause of the faith

;

to prayers, at

they put an end to

the cross was again reared and

borne triumphantly across the bridge.

The

multitude increased as

proceeded

grand master had reached Alcala

;

by the time the

Real, which stands on a

mountain overlooking the Vega of Granada, upwards of thousand

men on

foot

had joined

[315]

his standard.

five

THE ALHAMBRA At Alcala came

forth

of Aguilar, his brother

Alonzo Fernandez de Cordova, Lord

Diego Fernandez, Marshal of

and other cavaliers of valor and experience.

Castile,

Placing them-

way of the grand master, " What madness is " the Moorish king has two this, Don Martin ? " said they hundred thousand foot-soldiers and five thousand horse within his walls what can you and your handful of cavaliers and selves in the

;

your noisy rabble do against such force disasters

who have this

crossed these rocky borders with ten times your

Think,

force.

too, of the

mischief that will be brought upon

kingdom by an outrage

of your rank

Pause,

Bethink you of the

which have befallen other Christian commanders,

of the kind

committed by a man

and importance, a grand master of Alcantara.

entreat you, while the truce

yet unbroken.

Await

within the borders the reply of the king of Granada to your challenge.

he agree to meet you singly, or with champions

two or three, out in

will

God's name

;

be your individual contest, and fight if

refuse,

great honor and the disgrace will

Several cavaliers,

master with devoted

and suggested

who had zeal,

you may return home with fall

upon the Moors."

hitherto followed the grand

were moved by these expostulations,

him the

policy of listening to this advice.

" Cavaliers," said he, addressing himself to

nandez de Cordova and his companions, "

Alonzo Fer-

thank you for

the counsel you have so kindly bestowed

upon me, and

were merely in pursuit of individual glory

it.

faith,

But

am engaged

which God

to achieve a great

to effect

your hearts

triumph of the

by miracle through

fail

might be swayed

means.

to you, cavaliers," turning to those of his followers

had wavered,

who

you, or you repent of hav-

ing put your hands to this good work, return, in God's name,

THE CRUSADE my

and

none

proceed

For myself, though

blessing go with you.

to stand by until

;

but this holy hermit, yet will

have

assuredly

have planted this sacred standard on the

walls of Granada, or perished in the attempt." '"

Don

Martin Yaiiez de Barbudo," replied the cavaliers,

men

are not

to turn our backs

and

on, therefore,

death

By ward

be to the death, be assured to the

will follow thee."

this

time the

forward

upon our commander, but in caution. Lead

We spoke

however rash his enterprise.

" !

common

soldiers

shouted they.

became impatient. " ForForward in the cause of

So the grand master gave signal, the hermit again reared the cross aloft, and they poured down a defile of the faith

mountain, with solemn chants of triumph.

That night they encamped

at the river of

Azores, and the

next morning, which was Sunday, crossed the borders.

pause was at an atalaya or solitary tower,

rock

;

a frontier post to

give notice of invasion. Espi'a (the

before

Tower

Their

upon a keep a watch upon the border, and

first

was thence called El Torre del

of the Spy).

and summoned

built

The grand master

halted

petty garrison to surrender.

its

was answered by a shower of stones and arrows, which wounded him in the hand and killed three of his men.

"How

this,

father.?"

me that not "True, my son;

assured

infidel

king

;

said

one of

but

meant

what need

the hermit;

"you

followers would be slain!

in the great battle of the

there of miracle to aid in the

capture of a petty tower.?"

The grand master was

satisfied.

ordered wood to be

piled against the door of the tower to burn

down.

In the

meantime provisions were unloaded from the sumpter-mules, [317]

;

THE ALHAMBRA and the crusaders, withdrawing beyond bow-shot, on the grass

work before them.

day's

startled

The

to a repast to strengthen

them

sat

down

for the arduous

While thus engaged, they were

by the sudden appearance of a great Moorish host.

atalayas had given the alarm by

"an enemy

the mountain tops of

fire

and smoke from

and the

across the border,"

king of Granada had sallied forth with a great force to the encounter.

The

battle.

hundred horsemen

The grand master

ordered his three

dismount and

on foot

fight

The Moors, however, charged

of the infantry.

from the

that they separated the cavaliers

prevented their uniting. cry,

arms and

crusaders, nearly taken by surprise, flew to

prepared for

so suddenly

foot-soldiers

The grand master gave battle,

and

Still

digious slaughter.

they fought fearlessly, and

The hermit mingled

his

but were surrounded

by a countless host and assailed with arrows, stones,

and arquebuses.

and

the old war

"Santiago! Santiago! and close Spain!"

knights breasted the fury of the

in support

darts,

made

pro-

in the hottest of the

In one hand he bore the cross, in the other he brand-

fight.

ished a sword, with which he dealt about

him

like a maniac,

slaying several of the enemy, until he sank to the ground

covered with wounds.

saw too only

late

The grand master saw him

the fallacy of his prophecies.

made him

fight the

overpowered by numbers. his holy zeal. all

killed, la

Not one turned

fought until they

many taken

Real.

When the

of the cavaliers

fell.

prisoners

his

;

all

found

and

until

he also

fell

cavaliers emulated

back nor asked for mercy

to the foot-soldiers,

many were

the residue escaped to Alcala

Moors came

were

fiercely,

His devoted

fall,

Despair, however,

to strip the slain, the

[318]

be in front.

wounds

THE CRUSADE Such was the catastrophe of this fanatic enterprise. The Moors vaunted it as a decisive proof of the superior sanctity of their faith, and extolled their king to the skies when he returned in triumph to Granada.

was

shown

satisfactorily

enterprise of an individual,

to the express orders

of the king of Castile, the peace of the two

not interrupted.

was the

that this crusade

and contrary

kingdoms was

Nay, the Moors evinced a feeling of respect

for the valor of the unfortunate grand master,

and readily

Don Alonzo Fernandez de Cordova, who came from Alcala to seek it. The Christians of the gave up his body to

frontier united in paying the last sad honors to his

His body was placed upon a of the

Order of Alcantara

of his confident hopes

before

it.

bier,

and the broken

;

and

fatal

memory.

covered with the pennon cross, the

emblem

disappointment, was borne

In this way his remains were carried

back

funeral procession, through the mountain tract which he had

traversed so resolutely.

Wherever

passed, through a town

or village, the populace followed, with tears and lamentations,

bewailing him as a valiant knight and a martyr to the

His body was interred

in the chapel of the

faith.

convent of Santa

Maria de Almocovara, and on his sepulchre may

still

seen engraven in quaint and antique Spanish the following testimonial to his bravery

"HERE LIES ONE WHOSE HEART NEVER KNEW FEAR" (Aqui yaz aquel que par neua cosa nunca eve pavor en seu corazon)

[319]

^ShSUj:

^ItS^'"^'""'^

SPANISH ROMANCE

N THE

latter part of

sojourn in the Alhambra,

made

frequent descents into the Jesuits' Library of the University icles,

;

and rehshed more and more the old Spanish chron-

which

found there bound in parchment.

those quaint histories which treat of the times

lems maintained a foothold in the Peninsula. bigotry

and occasional

spicy, Oriental

not to be found in other records of the times, which

flavor,

were merely European. is

a country apart

;

Spain, even at the present

fact,

severed in history, habits, manners,

and modes of thinking, from

all

the rest of Europe.

It is

romance has none of the sentimenof modern European romance it is chiefly derived

romantic country tality

delight in

intolerance, they are full of noble acts

and generous sentiments, and have a high,

day,

when the MosWith all their

from the

;

but

its

;

brilliant regions of the Itast,

minded school

of Saracenic chivalry.

[320]

and from the high-

SPANISH ROMANCE The Arab tion,

invasion and conquest brought a higher civiHza-

and a nobler

style of thinking, into

The

Gothic Spain,

Arabs were a quick-witted, sagacious, proud-spirited, and

and were imbued with Oriental science and Wherever they established a seat of power, it

poetical people, literature.

became a

seemed

degrees, occupancy

as invaders,

whom

to give

right to their foothold in the land

upon

and ingenious

rallying-place for the learned

they softened and refined the people

;

and

;

they conquered.

them an

hereditary

they ceased to be looked

and were regarded as

rival

The

neighbors.

Peninsula, broken up into a variety of states, both Christian

and Moslem, became,

for

centuries,

a great campaigning-

ground, where the art of war seemed to be the principal business of man, and was carried to the highest pitch of

The

romantic chivalry.

ence of

faith,

original

gradually lost

of opposite creeds,

ances, offensive

its

ground of rancor.

differ-

Neighboring

states,

hostility,

were occasionally linked together

and defensive

some

cent were to be seen side by side, fighting against

common enemy.

In times of peace, too, the noble youth of

either faith resorted to the to school

alli-

so that the cross and cres-

;

same

cities,

Christian or Moslem,

themselves in military science.

Even

porary truces of sanguinary wars, the warriors

in the

tem-

who had

re-

cently striven together in the deadly conflicts of the field, laid

met at tournaments, jousts, and other military festivities, and exchanged the courtesies of gentle and generous spirits. Thus the opposite races became freaside their animosity,

quently mingled together in peaceful intercourse, or rivalry took place, acts,

was

in those high courtesies

which bespeak the accomplished

cavalier.

any

and nobler

Warriors, of

opposite creeds, became ambitious of transcending each other

[321

]

THE ALHAMBRA in

magnanimity as well as

upon

tues were refined

Indeed, the chivalric

valor.

sometimes fastidious and

to a degree

constrained, but at other times inexpressibly noble

The

ing.

vir-

and

affect-

annals of the times teem with illustrious instances

of high-wrought courtesy, romantic generosity, lofty disinter-

estedness, and punctilious honor, that

and poems, or have been celebrated ballads,

warm

These have furnished themes

read them.

which are as the

the very soul to

for national plays

in those all-pervading

and thus

life-breath of the people,

have continued to exercise an influence on the national char-

which centuries of vicissitude and decline have not

acter,

been able to destroy

so that, with

;

all

and they

their faults,

are many, the Spaniards, even at the present day, are, on

many

points, the

most high-minded and proud-spirited people

of Europe.

It is true,

the sources

affectations

its

the romance of feeling derived from

have mentioned, has,

and extremes.

times pompous and grandiloquent

like all other

romance,

renders the Spaniard at

It ;

prone to carry the puii-

donor, or point of honor, beyond the bounds of sober sense

and sound morality

disposed, in the midst of poverty, to

;

and to look down with sovereign disdain upon " arts mechanical," and all the gainful pur-

affect the

grande

caballcTo,

suits of plebeian life fills

but this very inflation of

;

his brain with vapors,

nesses

;

protects

and though

him from

mankind

pling

down

;

while

him above a thousand meanhim in indigence, ever

often keeps

vulgarity.

In the present day, the low levels of

lifts

spirit,

life,

when popular

literature

running into

and luxuriating on the vices and

and when the universal pursuit of gain

follies

tram-

the early growth of poetic feeling, and wearing

out the verdure of the soul,

question whether

[322]

would not

SPANISH ROMANCE be of service for the reader occasionally to turn to these records of prouder times and loftier

modes

of thinking

;

and

steep himself to the very lips in old Spanish romance.

With these preliminary ing's reading

suggestions, the fruit of a morn-

and rumination

the University,

will give

in the old Jesuits'

him a legend

in point,

from one of the venerable chronicles alluded

[323]

to.

Library of

drawn

forth

LEGEND OF DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA N THE

cloisters of the ancient

Benedictine convent of

Santo Domingo,

at Silos, in Castile, are the

yet magnificent

monuments

Among

chivalrous family of Hinojosa.

mouldering

of the once powerful and

these reclines the

marble figure of a knight, in complete armor, with the

hands pressed together, as

tomb

in prayer.

one side of

his

sculptured in relief a band of Christian cavaliers,

capturing a cavalcade of male and female Moors

;

on the

other side, the same cavaliers are represented kneeling before

altar.

monuments,

unintelligible,

The

The tomb,

most of the neighboring

almost in ruins, and the sculpture

nearly

excepting to the keen eye of the antiquary.

story connected with the

sepulchre,

however,

preserved in the old Spanish chronicles, and ing purport.

[324]

still

to the follow-

DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA In old times, several hundred years ago, there was a noble

named Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa, which had stood the brunt of many

Castilian cavalier,

lord of a border castle,

a Moorish foray. troops,

had seventy horsemen as his household

of the ancient

all

hard riders, and

men

Castilian proof

of iron

Moorish lands, and made his name His

borders.

castle-hall

huntsman

kinds, steeds for the chase,

all

When

sport of falconry.

was

to beat

terrible

throughout the

;

Don Munio

his prowess.

and rejoiced

hounds of

and hawks for the towering

not engaged in warfare his delight

up the neighboring

did he ride forth without his hand, or a

stark warriors,

was covered with banners, cimeters,

and Moslem helms, the trophies of was, moreover, a keen

;

with these he scoured the

;

hawk upon

forests

;

and scarcely ever

hound and horn, a boar-spear fist, and an attendant train

his

huntsmen.

His

wife, Doiia

nature,

little fitted

turous a knight

when he

;

Maria Palacin, was of a gentle and timid to

sallied forth

a prayer did she offer

this

be the spouse of so hardy and adven-

and many a

upon up

tear did the poor lady shed,

his daring enterprises,

and many

for his safety.

doughty cavalier was one day hunting, he stationed

himself in a thicket, on the borders of a green glade of the

and dispersed

forest,

drive

his followers to rouse the

toward his stand.

game, and

had not been here long, when

came prankling over the They were unarmed, and magnificently dressed

a cavalcade of Moors, of both sexes,

forest-lawn.

in robes of tissue lets

and embroidery,

rich shawls of India, brace-

and anklets of gold, and jewels that sparkled

in the sun.

the head of this gay cavalcade rode a youthful cavalier,

superior to the rest in dignity and loftiness of demeanor,

[325]

THE ALHAMBRA and veil,

in splendor of attire beside him was a damsel, whose blown aside by the breeze, displayed a face of surpassing ;

and eyes

beauty,

cast

down

maiden modesty, yet beaming

with tenderness and joy.

Don Munio thanked and exulted

prize,

at the

his stars for sending

thought of bearing

the glittering spoils of these infidels.

horn to his

he gave a

him such a

home

to his wife

Putting his hunting-

that rung through the His huntsmen came running from all quarters, and the astonished Moors were surrounded and made captives. lips,

blast

forest.

The

beautiful

Moor wrung her hands

young Moorish

in despair,

most piercing

female attendants uttered the

and her

The

cries.

cavalier alone retained self-possession.

inquired the

name

this troop of

horsemen.

who commanded it was Don Munio

of the Christian knight

When

told that

Sancho de Hinojosa, his countenance lighted up. Approaching that cavalier, and kissing his hand, " Don Munio Sancho," said he,

have heard of your fame as a true and valiant

knight, terrible in arms, but schooled in the noble virtues of

Such do

chivalry.

trust to find you.

Abadil, son of a Moorish Alcalde,

celebrate in

nuptials with this lady

your power, but

I ;

In me you behold am on the way to

chance has thrown us

Take all demand what ransom you think

confide in your magnanimity.

our treasure and jewels

;

proper for our persons, but suffer us not to be insulted nor dishonored,"

When

the good knight heard this appeal, and beheld the

beauty of

the youthful pair,

tenderness and courtesy.

his

"God

heart was touched with forbid," said he, "that

should disturb such happy nuptials. shall

ye be, for fifteen days, and immured within

[326]

prisoners in troth

castle,

DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA where

claim, as conqueror, the right of celebrating your

espousals."

saying, he despatched one of his fleetest

horsemen

advance, to notify Doiia Maria Palacin of the coming of this bridal party

while he and his huntsmen escorted the caval-

;

cade, not as captors, but as a guard of honor.

near to the

castle,

hung

the banners were

trumpets sounded from the battlements

;

they drew

and the

out,

and on

their nearer

approach, the drawbridge was lowered, and

Dona Maria

came

and knights,

forth to

meet them, attended by her

her pages and her minstrels. Allifra,

Don Munio

with

all

kinds collected from the country

and the wedding of the Moorish lovers was celebrated

;

all

castle

possible state

was given up

and jousts

and

to joy

at the ring,

and

days the

fifteen

There were

revelry.

bull-fights,

tiltings

and banquets, and

When

the fifteen days

an end, he made the bride and bridegroom mag-

nificent presents,

safely

For

festivity.

dances to the sound of minstrelsy.

were

In the meantime,

into the castle.

sent forth missives in every direction, and had

viands and dainties of

round

bride,

her arms, kissed her with the tenderness of a

and conducted her

sister,

ladies

She took the young

and conducted them and

beyond the borders.

their attendants

Such, in old times, were the

courtesy and generosity of a Spanish cavalier.

Several years after this event, the king of Castile sum-

moned

his nobles to assist

Moors.

my fate,

in a

campaign against the

Don Munio Sancho was among

to the call, with seventy

warriors.

him

lis wife,

horsemen,

will

the

answer

first to

stanch and well-tried

Doiia Maria, hung about his neck.

lord! " exclaimed she,

and when

all

"how

"Alas,

often wilt thou tempt thy

thy thirst for glory be appeased

" !

THE ALHAMBRA "One for the

this is over, liers in

The

more," replied

battle

honor of

Castile,

I will

lay

and

make

here

battle

more,

that,

when

vow

sword, and repair with

cava-

pilgrimage to the sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem,"

cavaliers

all

him

joined with

some degree soothed

felt in

Don Munio, "one I

and Dona Maria

in the vow,

in spirit

;

she saw with a

still,

heavy heart the departure of her husband, and watched his

banner with wistful eyes,

until

among

disappeared

the trees

of the forest.

The king

of Castile led his

army

to the plains of

where they encountered the Moorish

The

battle

was long and bloody

wavered and were as often refused to leave the

by the energy of their

covered with wounds, but

The

field.

Salmanara,

near to Ucles.

the Christians repeatedly

;

rallied

Don Munio was

commanders.

host,

Christians at length gave

way, and the king was hardly pressed, and in danger of

being captured.

Don Munio rescue.

called

Now

Fall to, like brave

upon

men

lose our lives here,

Rushing with

his cavaliers to follow

the time," cried he,

his

him

and

fight for the true faith,

we gain

a better

men between

to the

prove your loyalty.

life

hereafter."

the king and his pursuers,

they checked the latter in their career, and gave time for

monarch

their

They

all

to escape

fought to the

;

but they

fell

last gasp.

victims to their loyalty.

Don Munio was

out by a powerful Moorish knight, but having been in the right arm,

The

battle

he fought

being over, the

to disadvantage,

Moor paused

singled

wounded

and was

slain.

to possess himself

of the spoils of this redoubtable Christian warrior.

When

unlaced the helmet, however, and beheld the countenance of

Don Munio, he

gave a great cry and smote his breast.

[328]

;

DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA "Woe The

me!"

cried he,

"I have

flower of knightly virtue

slain

the most

benefactor!

magnanimous

cavaliers

While the battle had been raging on the Dofia Maria Palacin remained in her keenest anxiety.

Her

plain of Salmanara,

castle,

a prey to the

eyes were ever fixed on the road that

from the country of the Moors, and often she asked the

led

watchman

One

of the tower, "

" ?

" a

numerous train There are mingled Moors and Chris-

valley.

The banner

tians.

" I see," cried he,

his horn.

winding up the

seest thou

evening, at the shadowy hour of twilight, the warden

sounded

ings

What

lord

is in

the advance.

exclaimed the old seneschal;

triumph, and brings captives

Then

"my

Joyful

tid-

lord returns in

the castle. courts rang

with shouts of joy; and the standard was displayed, and the

trumpets were sounded, and the drawbridge was lowered, and

Dona Maria went

forth with her ladies,

and her knights, and

her pages, and her minstrels, to welcome her lord from the

But as the

wars. bier,

train

drew nigh, she beheld a sumptuous

covered with black velvet, and on

taking his repose his head,

and

his

lay a warrior, as

he lay in his armor, with his helmet on

sword

in his hand, as

one who had never

been conquered, and around the bier were the escutcheons of the house of Hinojosa.

A number of Moorish cavaliers attended the bier, with emblems of mourning, and with dejected countenances and ;

their leader cast himself at the feet of Dofia Maria,

his face in his hands.

whom but

She beheld

him

and hid

the gallant Abadil,

she had once welcomed with his bride to her castle

who now came

unknowingly

with the body of her lord,

slain in battle

[329]

whom

he had

THE ALHAMBRA The

sepulchre erected in the cloisters of the convent of

Santo Domingo was achieved

expense of the Moor

at the

Abadil, as a feeble testimony of his grief for the death of the

good knight

The

Don Munio, and

memory.

his reverence for his

tender and faithful Doiia Maria soon followed her lord

One one

tomb.

to the

of the stones of a small arch, beside

Hie jacct Maria Pala cin, uxor Muiwnis Sancij Dc Fiiiojosa " Here lies Maria Palacin, wife of Munio Sancho de Hinojosa, The legend of Don Munio Sancho does not conclude with his death. On the same day on which the battle took place on the plain of Salmanara, a chaplain of the Holy Temple at his sepulchre,

the following simple inscription: "

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Jerusalem, while standing at the outer gate, beheld a train of Christian cavaliers advancing, as lain

he knew the foremost to be with

whom

Hastening

Don Munio Sancho de

he had been well acquainted to the patriarch,

rank of the pilgrims

went forth with

told

The

at the gate.

all

chap-

They

faces

of the honorable

patriarch, therefore,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

carried their helmets

were deadly

pale.

Hinojosa,

former times.

and monks,

due honor. There were

seventy cavaliers beside their leader, warriors.

him

a grand procession of priests

and received the pilgrims with

their

The

in pilgrimage.

was a native of Spain, and as the pilgrims approached,

They

looked either to the right or to the

all

stark

in their

and

lofty

hands, and

greeted no one, nor left,

but entered the

and kneeling before the sepulchre of our Saviour, performed their orisons in silence. When they had conchapel,

cluded, they rose as

to depart,

and the patriarch and

his

attendants advanced to speak to them, but they were no more to be seen.

Every one marvelled what could be the meaning

of this prodigy.

The

patriarch carefully noted

down

the day,

DON MUNIO SAN C HO DE HINOJOSA and sent

to Castile to learn tidings of

Don Munio Sancho

de Hinojosa.

specified, that

worthy knight, with seventy of his followers,

had been

received for reply, that, on the very day

slain in battle.

These, therefore, must have been

the blessed spirits of those Christian warriors,

vow

their

Such was

of pilgrimage to the

Holy Sepulchre

Castilian faith in the olden time,

come

to fulfil

at Jerusalem.

which kept

its

word, even beyond the grave.

any one should doubt of the miraculous apparition of

phantom knights, let him consult the History of the Kings of Castile and Leon," by the learned and pious Fray '"

these

Prudencio de Sandoval, Bishop of Pamplona, where he find

recorded in the " History of

on the hundred and second page. to be lightly

abandoned

It is too

to the doubter.

[33^]

will

King Don Alonzo VI," precious a legend

,<r

ctOHHttty* 4«»l«'<»6 iflAZK

THE LEGEND OF THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER VERYBODY

has heard of the Cave of St. Cyprian

Salamanca, where in old times judicial astronomy,

necromancy, chiromancy, and other dark and damnable arts were secretly taught by an ancient sacristan as

some

The

will

have

it,

cave has long been shut up and the very

forgotten

;

site

though, according to tradition, the entrance was

somewhere about where the stone

cross stands in the small

square of the seminary of Carvajal pears in

or,

;

by the Devil himself, in that disguise.

;

and

this tradition ap-

some degree corroborated by the circumstances

the following story.

There was

one time a student of Salamanca,

cente by name, of that merry but mendicant class,

Don

Vi-

who

set

out on the road to learning without a penny in pouch for the journey, and who, during college vacations, beg from town to

town and

village to village to raise funds to enable

to pursue their studies

through the ensuing term.

[332]

them

was

THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER now about

to set forth

what musical, slung on

his

back a guitar with which

wanderings

;

and being someto

amuse

the villagers, and pay for a meal or a night's lodging.

he passed by the stone cross in the seminary square,

he pulled

his hat

off

and made a short invocation

Cyprian, for good luck earth,

On in

when

;

he perceived something

picking

up,

which gold and

casting his

glitter at

St.

eyes upon the

the foot of the cross.

proved to be a seal-ring of mixed metal,

The

appeared to be blended.

silver

seal

bore as a device two triangles crossing each other, so as to

form a

This device

star.

said to be a cabalistic sign, in-

vented by King Solomon the Wise, and of mighty power

enchantment

in all cases of

;

but the honest student, being

knew nothing

neither sage nor conjurer,

of the matter.

took the ring as a present from St. Cyprian in reward of his prayer

slipped

;

and strumming

The

life

his finger,

bow

of a mendicant student in Spain

miserable in the world, especially

ing himself agreeable. village,

made

his guitar, set off merrily

and

city to

The

conduct him.

city,

to the cross,

his wandering.

not the most

he has any talent

mak-

rambles at large from village to

wherever curiosity or caprice may

country curates, who, for the most part,

have been mendicant students in their time, give him shelter for the night,

and a comfortable meal, and often enrich him

As he

with several qnaj-tos or half-pence in the morning. presents himself from door to door in the streets of the

he meets with no harsh is

rebuff,

no disgrace attending

learned

men

manner

;

but

in if,

cities,

chilling contempt, for there

his mendacity,

many

of the

most

Spain having commenced their career in this like the student in question,

looking varlet and a merry companion, and, above

a good-

all,

THE ALHAMBRA can play the guitar, he

sure of a hearty

welcome among

the peasants, and smiles and favors from their wives and daughters.

In this way, then, did our ragged and musical son of learning

make

his

determination to

way over

visit

half the

kingdom

;

with the fixed

the famous city of Granada before his

Sometimes he was gathered for the night into the fold of some village pastor sometimes he was sheltered under the humble but hospitable roof of the peasant. Seated return.

;

at the cottage-door with his guitar,

folk with his ditties

;

or striking up

he delighted the simple ?i

fandango

or bolero, set

the brown country lads and lasses dancing in the mellow twilight.

and the

In the morning he departed with kind words from host

hostess,

and kind looks and, peradventure, a squeeze of

hand from the daughter.

length he arrived at the great object of his musical

vagabondizing, the far-famed city of Granada, and hailed with

wonder and delight its

its Moorish towers, its lovely vega, and snowy mountains glistening through a summer atmosphere. is needless to say with what eager curiosity he entered its

gates and wandered through

its

streets,

and gazed upon

its

Oriental monuments.

Every female face peering through a window or beaming from a balcony was to him a Zorayda or a Zelinda, nor could he meet a stately

dame on

the

Alameda

but he was ready to fancy her a Moorish princess, and to

spread his student's robe beneath her

His musical

talent, his

feet.

happy humor,

good looks won him a universal welcome robes, capital

and

his youth,

for several days he led a gay life in the old

and

its

environs.

One

and

in spite of his

Moorish

of his occasional haunts

the fountain of Avellanos, in the valley of Darro.

[334]

his

ragged

It is

was one

THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER and has been so since the and here the student had an opportunity

of the popular resorts of Granada,

days of the Moors

;

of pursuing his studies of female beauty to

which he was a

little

Here he would take ditties to

his

a branch of study

;

prone.

his seat with his guitar, improvise love-

admiring groups of majos and nuyas, or prompt with

music the ever-ready dance.

was thus engaged one

evening when he beheld a padre of the church advancing, at

whose approach every one touched the

dently a

good

man

of consequence

not of holy living

hat.

was

evi-

he certainly was a mirror of

;

robust and rosy-faced, and breath-

;

ing at every pore with the warmth of the weather and the

As he

exercise of the walk.

now and then draw it

on a beggar with an

blessed father! "

may he soon To aid his

passed along he would every

a viaravedi out of his pocket and bestow air of signal beneficence.

would be the cry; "long

be a bishop

life to

Ah, the

him, and

" !

steps in ascending the

hill

he leaned gently now

and then on the arm of a handmaid, evidently the pet-lamb of this kindest of pastors.

head

to foot

;

Ah, such a damsel

from the rose

But then so modest

lacework stocking.

Andalus from

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

so shy

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

with downcast eyes, listening to the words of the padre if

by chance she

let

flash

a side glance,

checked and her eyes once more cast

The good padre looked

and

in her hair, to the fairy shoe

to the

ever, ;

or,

was suddenly

ground.

benignantly on the company about

some emphasis on a him a He sipped it deliberately and with

the fountain, and took his seat with

stone bench, while the handmaid hastened to bring glass of sparkling water.

a relish, tempering frosted eggs

with one of those spongy pieces of

and sugar so dear

[335]

Spanish epicures, and on

;

THE ALHAMBRA returning the glass to the hand of the damsel pinched her

cheek with " "

infinite loving-kindness.

Ah, the good pastor

" whispered the student to himself

what a happiness would

with such a pet-lamb for a companion

But no such good

was

fare

;

be to be gathered into his fold

" !

him.

likely to befall

In vain

he essayed those powers of pleasing which he had found so with country curates and country lasses.

irresistible

had he touched

his guitar with such skill

poured forth more soul-moving

ditties,

;

Never

never had he

but he had no longer

a country curate or country lass to deal with.

The worthy

and the modest damsel They remained but

priest evidently did not relish music,

never raised her eyes from the ground. a short time at the fountain

glance in retiring

;

but

inquired about

was one of the

the good padre hastened their

;

The damsel gave

return to Granada.

plucked the heart out of his bosom

them

after they

his

;

his hours of eating

;

hour of playing his game of

some and

;

his

of the

his

dames

for his riding

paring

;

trcsillo,

rest, to

Adieu now

;

of an evening, with his

hour of supping,

gather fresh strength for

had an easy sleek

a matronly housekeeper skilled in pre-

tid-bits for his table

pillow at night

regularity

his hour of taking his siesta

another day's round of similar duties.

mule

model of

hour of taking a paseo for

of the cathedral circle

hour of retiring to

had gone. Padre Tomas

saints of Granada, a

punctual in his hour of rising

an appetite

the student one shy

;

and the pet-lamb,

and bring him

smooth

his

his chocolate in the morning.

to the gay, thoughtless life of the student

;

the

side glance of a bright eye had been the undoing of him.

Day and

night he could not get the image of this most

modest damsel out of

his

mind.

sought the mansion of

THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER the padre.

Alas

was above the

class of

sympathy with him

houses accessible

The worthy

to a strolling student like himself.

padre had no

he had never been estiidiante

;

obliged to sing for his supper.

sopista,

blockaded the house

by day, catching a glance of the damsel now and then as she appeared at a casement

but these glances only fed his

;

flame without encouraging his hope.

cony

at night,

and

one time was

ance of something white

at a

serenaded her

flattered

window.

Alas,

bal-

by the appearit

was only the

nightcap of the padre.

Never was lover more devoted

;

never damsel more shy

the poor student was reduced to despair. the eve of St. John, into the country,

when

At length

;

arrived

the lower classes of Granada

swarm

dance away the afternoon, and pass mid-

summer's night on the banks of the Darro and the Xenil,

Happy

are they

who on

this eventful night

can wash their

faces in those waters just as the cathedral bell tells midnight, for at that precise

The

moment

they have a beautifying power.

student, having nothing to do, suffered himself to be

carried

away by the holiday-seeking throng

until

he found

himself in the narrow valley of the Darro, below the lofty hill

and ruddy towers of the Alhambra. The dry bed

river

;

the rocks which

which overhang

it,

were

border

;

the

terraced

of the

gardens

alive with variegated groups, danc-

ing under the vines and fig-trees to the sound of the guitar

and

castanets.

The

student remained for

some time

in doleful

dumps,

leaning against one of the huge misshapen stone pomegranates

which adorn the ends of the

cast a wistful glance

cavalier

had his dame

;

little

bridge over the Darro.

upon the merry scene, where every or, to speak more appropriately, every [337]

THE AL HAM BRA Jack his

Jill

sighed at his

;

own

solitary state, a victim to the

black eye of the most unapproachable of damsels, and repined

ragged garb, which seemed to shut the gate of hope

at his

against him.

degrees his attention was attracted to a neighbor equally

This was a tall soldier, of a stern aspect and grizzled beard, who seemed posted as a sentry at the solitary with himself.

His face was bronzed by time

opposite pomegranate.

was arrayed

and stood immovable as a

lance,

;

ancient Spanish armor, with buckler and

statue.

What

surprised the

student was, that though thus strangely equipped, he was

unnoticed by the passing throng, albeit that

totally

many

almost brushed against him.

"This

student, "

a city of old time peculiarities," thought the

and doubtless

this is

one of them with which the

inhabitants are too familiar to be surprised." osity,

he accosted the "

May

armor that which you wear, comrade.

ask what corps you belong to

seemed

soldier to

" .?

gasped out a reply from a pair of jaws which

have rusted on their hinges.

The

Santa Maria

royal guard of !

Ferdinand and Isabella."

Why,

it is

three centuries since that corps

in service."

And for three centuries have I Now I trust my tour of duty draws "

desire fortune

The "

curi-

soldier.

rare old suit of

The

was

His own

however, was awakened, and being of a social disposition,

been mounting guard. to a close.

Dost thou

" }

student held up his tattered cloak in reply.

understand thee.

me, and thy fortune

thou hast faith and courage, follow

made."

[338]

THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER " Softly, comrade, to follow thee would require small cour-

age in one who has nothing to lose but neither of

and not

value

;

but

my faith

to be put in temptation.

am to mend my fortune, make me undertake it."

which will

much

life

is it

and an old

guitar,

of a different matter,

be any criminal act by

think not

ragged coat

The soldier turned on him a look of high displeasure. " My sword," said he, " has never been drawn but in the cause of the faith and the throne.

me and

fear

a Cristiano vicjo

trust in

;

evil."

The student followed him wondering. He observed that no one heeded their conversation, and that the soldier made his way through the various groups of idlers unnoticed, as if invisible.

Crossing the bridge, the soldier led the way by a narrow

and steep path past a Moorish

mill

and aqueduct, and up the

ravine which separates the domains of the Generalife from

those of the Alhambra.

The

the red battlements of the

and the convent suing day.

The

bells

last ray of

latter,

the sun shone upon

which beetled

were proclaiming the

was dark and about.

;

ravine was overshadowed by fig-trees, vines,

and myrtles, and the outer towers and walls of the

flit

above

far

festival of the en-

lonely,

fortress.

and the twilight-loving bats began

length the soldier halted at a remote and ruined

tower, apparently intended to guard a Moorish aqueduct.

struck the foundation with the but-end of his spear.

bling sound was heard, and the solid stones

yawned

He rum-

apart,

leaving an opening as wide as a door. " Enter in the name of the Holy Trinity," said the soldier,

"and

fear nothing."

The

student's heart quaked, but he

the sign of the cross, muttered his

[339]

Ave Maria, and

made

followed

THE ALHAMBRA his mysterious guide into a

deep vault cut out of the sohd

rock under the tower, and covered with Arabic inscriptions.

The

hewn along one

soldier pointed to a stone seat

the vault.

Behold," said he, "

The

years."

side of

couch for three hundred "

bewildered student tried to force a joke.

the blessed St.

said he, " but

Anthony,"

you mu^t have

slept

soundly, considering the hardness of your couch." " On the contrary, sleep has been a stranger to these eyes incessant watchfulness has been I

doom.

Listen to

was one of the royal guards of Ferdinand and Isabella

was taken prisoner by the Moors

made

one of

confined a captive in this tower.

When

;

but

their sorties,

and

preparations were

to surrender the fortress to the Christian sovereigns, I

was prevailed upon by an Alfaqui, a Moorish

him

in secreting

vault.

was

some

justly

upon me happened

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

punished for

guard his treasures.

to him, for

mained ever ;

priest, to aid

of the treasures of Boabdil in this

The

fault.

an African necromancer, and by his infernal

away

;

lot.

Alfaqui was

arts, cast

a spell

Something must have

he never returned, and here have

since, buried alive.

re-

Years and years have rolled

earthquakes have shaken this

hill

;

have heard stone

by stone of the tower above tumbling to the ground, in the natural operation of time vault set both time "

;

but the spell-bound walls of this

and earthquakes

Once every hundred

years,

at defiance.

on the

festival of St.

the enchantment ceases to have thorough sway

;

John,

per-

mitted to go forth and post myself upon the bridge of the Darro, where you met me, waiting until some one shall arrive

who may have power

to break this

magic

spell.

mounted guard there in vain. I walk concealed from mortal sight. You are the erto

[340]

have hith-

as in a cloud, first

accost

THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER me

now

for

three hundred years.

behold the reason,

see

on your finger the seal-ring of Solomon the Wise, which is proof against all enchantment. With you it remains to

me from

deliver

dungeon, or

this awful

to leave

keep

guard here for another hundred years."

The

student listened to this tale in mute wonderment.

had heard many

enchantment

them

tales of treasures shut

in the vaults of the

He now felt

as fables.

up under strong

Alhambra, but had treated

the value of the seal-ring, which

had, in a manner, been given to

him by

though armed by so potent a talisman,

Cyprian.

St.

to find himself tetc-a-tctc in such a place with soldier,

an enchanted

who, according to the laws of nature, ought

been quietly

in his

Still,

was an awful thing have

grave for nearly three centuries.

personage of this kind, however, was quite out of the

ordinary run, and not to be trifled with, and he assured him

he might rely upon his friendship and good-will

do every-

thing in his power for his deliverance. "

trust to a

motive more powerful than friendship," said

the soldier.

pointed to a ponderous iron coffer, secured by locks "

inscribed with Arabic characters. " contains countless treasure in gold

Break the magic

stones.

spell

one half of

by which

But

The

aid of a Christian priest

essary.

damsel

The to

coffer,"

said he,

enthralled,

and

be thine."

this treasure shall " how I to do it

That

and jewels and precious

.''

and a Christian maid

priest to exorcise the

nec-

powers of darkness

;

the

touch this chest with the seal of Solomon. This

must be done

at night.

But have a

care.

This

solemn

work, and not to be effected by the carnal-minded.

[341]

The

;

THE ALHAMBRA must be a Cristiano

priest

must mortify the

;

and

he comes here, by a rigorous

flesh, before

hours

fast of four-and-twenty

a model of sanctity

vicjo,

and as

to the

maiden, she

must be above reproach, and proof against temptation. Linger not in finding such aid.

end

;

In three days

furlough

is at

not delivered before midnight of the third,

shall

have to mount guard for another century." "

Fear not," said the student, "

priest

and damsel you describe

admission to this tower

have in

but

;

eye the very

how am

to regain

" .*

The seal of Solomon will open the way for thee." The student issued forth from the tower much more gayly than he had entered. The wall closed behind him, and remained

The

solid as before.

next morning he repaired boldly to the mansion of

the priest, no longer a poor strolling student, his

way with

a guitar

thrumming

but an ambassador from the shadowy

;

world, with enchanted treasures to bestow.

particulars

are told of his negotiation, excepting that the zeal of the

worthy priest was easily kindled old soldier of the faith

at the idea of rescuing

the very clutches of Satan dispensed, what churches

;

and then what alms might be

built,

and how many poor

enriched with the Moorish treasure

to the

a shy glance

ambassador began

The

relatives

immaculate handmaid, she was ready to lend

her hand, which was

and

and a strong-box of King Chico from

all

that was required, to the pious

now and then might be

to find favor in her

greatest difficulty, however,

good padre had

and twice the

modest eyes.

was the

fast to

which the

Twice he attempted it, was too strong for the spirit. It was

to subject himself. flesh

work

believed, the

[342]

THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER only on the third day that he was enabled to withstand the temptations of the cupboard

whether he would hold out

At a

late

;

but

was

still

until the spell

question

was broken.

hour of the night the party groped their way up

the ravine by the light of a lantern, and bearing a basket

demon of hunger so soon demons should be laid in the Red Sea. of Solomon opened their way into the tower.

with provisions for exorcising the as the other

The seal They found

the soldier seated on the enchanted strong-box,

The exorcism was performed in due The damsel advanced and touched the locks of the with the seal of Solomon. The lid flew open and

awaiting their arrival. style.

coffer

;

such treasures of gold and jewels and precious stones as

upon the eye Here 's cut and come again " cried the ingly, as he proceeded to cram his pockets. " Fairly and softly," exclaimed the soldier. flashed

student, exult-

Let us get

the coffer out entire, and then divide."

They

accordingly went to work with might and main

was a

difficult task

;

but

;

the chest was enormously heavy, and

While they were thus employed the good dominie drew on one side and made had been imbedded there

for centuries.

a vigorous onslaught on the basket, by

demon

hunger which was raging

way

of exorcising the

in his entrails.

while a fat capon was devoured, and washed potation of Valdepenas

;

and, by

In a

down by

way of grace

little

a deep

after meat,

gave a kind-hearted kiss to the pet-lamb who waited on him. It it

was quietly done forth as its

effects.

despair

;

in a corner, but the tell-tale walls babbled

triumph.

Never was chaste

salute

more awful

the sound the soldier gave a great cry of

the coffer, which was half raised,

[343]

fell

back in

its

THE ALHAMBRA place and was locked once more.

and damsel

Priest, student,

found themselves outside of the tower, the wall of which closed with a thundering

broken

soon

his fast too

When

jar.

Alas

the good padre had

recovered from his surprise, the student would have

re-entered the tower, but learnt to his dismay that the damsel,

had

in her fright,

let fall

the seal of

Solomon

;

remained

within the vault.

In a word, the cathedral bell tolled midnight; the spell

was renewed the soldier was doomed to mount guard for another hundred years, and there he and the treasure remain ;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and

to this day his

handmaid.

all

because the kind-hearted padre kissed

Ah, father

father

said the

student,

shaking his head ruefully, as they returned down the ravine, "'

kiss

fear there

was

less of the saint

than the sinner in that

" !

Thus ends There

the legend as far as

has been authenticated.

a tradition, however, that the student had brought

off treasure

enough

in his

pocket to set him up in the world

;

that he prospered in his affairs, that the worthy padre gave

him the pet-lamb

marriage, by

blunder in the vault

;

way

amends

for the

that the immaculate damsel proved a

pattern for wives as she had been for handmaids.

The

story of the enchanted soldier remains

popular traditions of Granada, though told

ways

;

the

common

people affirm that he

still

one of the a variety of

mounts guard

on midsummer eve, beside the gigantic stone pomegranate on the bridge of the Darro but remains invisible excepting ;

to such lucky mortal as

may

possess the seal of Solomon.

[344]

THE AUTHOR'S FAREWELL TO GRANADA 'Y

SERENE

and happy reign

was suddenly brought

to a close

the

Alhambra

letters

which

reached me, while indulging in Oriental luxury in the cool hall of the baths,

Moslem

elysium, to mingle once

ness of the dusty world.

and turmoils,

was

Alhambra But

summoning me away from my

How

more was

in the bustle

endure

its

commonplace,

encounter

after such a life of repose

and

and reverie

its !

busitoils

How

after the poetry of the

little

preparation was necessary for

twQ-wheeled vehicle, called a tartaua, very

departure.

much resembling

cart, was to be the travelling equipage of a young Englishman and myself through Murcia, to Alicant and and a long-limbed varlet, Valencia, on our way to France

a covered

;

[345]

;

THE ALHAMBRA who had been was

robber,

a contrabandista, and, for aught

be our guide and guard.

The

were soon made, but the departure was the day was

after

postponed

gering about

social

little

when

that

at length the

them

also, in

heart of

little

day arrived,

Dolores, at

bade a

which to

Dame

least,

had

;

and

intended departure, con-

kind feelings were reciprocated.

a leave-taking at the good

overflow.

hn-

eyes.

world

been moving, had become singularly endeared vinced

Day

difficulty.

day after day was spent

;

and domestic

the concern evinced by

knew, a

haunts, and day after day they

favorite

appeared more dehghtful in

The

preparations

Indeed,

did not dare venture

Antonia's

;

was brimful and ready

silent adieu to the palace

mates, and descended into the city as

upon

saw the

and

soft

for

its in-

intending to return.

There, however, the tartana and the guide were ready so, after

taking a noon-day's repast with

at the posado,

set out with

fellow-traveller

him on our journey.

Humble was the cortege and melancholy' the departure of Manuel, the nephew of Tia AnEl Rey Chico the Second tonia, Mateo, my officious but now disconsolate squire, and !

two or three old invalids of the Alhambra, with

grown

off

into gossiping companionship, ;

for

sally forth several

out,

had come down

had

to see

one of the good old customs of Spain,

accompany him

whom

miles to meet a coming friend, and to

as far

his departure.

Thus then we

set

our long-legged guard striding ahead, with his escopeta his shoulder

tartana,

;

Manuel and Mateo on each

and the old

At some

little

side of the

invalids behind.

distance to the north of Granada, the road

gradually ascends the hills

;

here

[346]

alighted and walked

FAREWELL TO GRANADA slowly with Manuel,

who took

this occasion to confide to

the secret of his heart and of

all

those tender concerns be-

tween himself and Dolores, with which

had been already

informed by the all-knowing and all-revealing Mateo Ximenes.

His doctor's diploma had prepared the way for their union, and,

he could get the post of Medico of the

happiness would be complete

judgment and good helpmate

;

congratulated

him on the

possible felicity on their union.

all

was indeed a sorrowful parting when

fortress, his

he had shown in his choice of a

taste

and invoked

took leave of

them slowly descend the hills now and then turning round to wave me a last adieu. Manuel, these good people and saw

had cheerful prospects

true,

Mateo seemed fall

from the

perfectly cast

brown cloak and

weaving

and the poor

;

officiousness,

hold on

down.

to console him, but It

was

station of prime-minister

to his old

really

;

him a grievous

and historiographer,

his starveling mystery of ribbon-

notwithstanding his occasional

devil,

had, somehow, or other, acquired a stronger

sympathies than

was aware

been a consolation in parting, could

of. I

tales

;

for the importance

and gossip and

panionship in which strolls,

local I

had elevated

opened a new career has since become

much

that

its

told

had appeared

had con-

to give to his

knowledge, and the frequent com-

had indulged him

his idea of his

would have

have anticipated

the good fortune in store for him, and to which tributed

poor

him

;

in the course of

own

my and

qualifications

and the son of the Alhambra

regular and well-paid cicerone

;

inso-

he has never been obliged to resume

the ragged old brown cloak in which

first

found him.

Towards sunset I came to where the road wound into the mountains, and here I paused to take a last look at Granada. [347]

THE ALHAMBRA The the at

on which

hill

commanded

stood

a glorious view of

the Vega, and the surrounding mountains.

city,

an opposite point of the compass from La Cuesta de

Lagrimas

was las

" last sigh of

(the Hill of Tears) noted for the

now could realize something of the feelings of poor Boabdil when he bade adieu to the paradise he was leaving behind, and beheld before him a rugged and sterile road conducting him to exile. The setting sun as usual shed a melancholy effulgence on the Moor."

the ruddy towers of the Alhambra.

Tower

the balconied window of the

many

indulged in so

sun

Vega

all its

set.

summer evening was

gathering

everything was lovely, but tenderly and sadly

hasten from this prospect," thought I

will carry

away a

recollection of

these thoughts

little

farther

pursued

and

" before the it

clothed in

my way among

the pleasantest dreams of a

think has been but too

the

moun-

Granada, the Vega, and the

Alhambra were shut from my view

may

had

beauty."

With tains.

groves

parting gaze.

I Vk'ill

;

The bosky

were richly gilded with the sun-

city

shine, the purple haze of a

so, to

could faintly discern

delightful reveries.

and gardens about the over the

of Comares, where

life,

;

and thus ended one of

which the reader perhaps

much made up

[348]

of dreams.

NOTES THE JOURNEY Page 3. The author's traveling companion was Prince Dolgorouki, who was the Russian minister at the court of Persia when the revised edition of "The Alhambra" was pubHshed in 1851. Page 6. Gibraltar is derived from the Arabic and means " the mountain of Tarik."

Tarik was the commander of the Moorish and Berber

who overthrew King Roderick and opened

forces

the country to

the Moors.

Page

From

the

first

of the eighth until the

end of the

fifteenth

century southern Spain was the scene of an almost constant conflict for

supremacy between the Moslems, or Mohammedans, and the In 711 an invading force of Arabs and Berbers crossed

Christians.

over from northern Africa and attacked the Spaniards

at the Guadawhere they fought the greatest battle in early Spanish history. The king of Spain, Roderick, was killed with the flower of his army. This opened the way for the easy conquest of the country. At once hordes of Mohammedan immigrants poured in and within a few years gained control of nearly all the territory south of the Pyrenees. Next they crossed into France, hoping to extend their conquest over much of western Europe, but after some few successes they were repulsed in a hard-fought battle near Tours in 732. This ended their attempts to extend their conquest beyond Spain. During

lete River,

the next five centuries they conducted, with varied success, a pictur-

esque warfare with the kingdoms which then made up the Spanish peninsula.

By 1250

they had been forced back into the south of

Spain, where for two centuries tainous in

its

kingdom

of Granada,

more they held

1492 by Ferdinand and Isabella. This Mohammedan invasion influenced Spain states.

in a

finally

way

driven

that

made

from that of any of the other EuroThe Moors, as the Mohammedans of the country were

history peculiarly different

pean

moun-

control of the

from which they were

[349]

THE ALHAMBRA called,

developed their

civilization to its highest level at a

time

when

Europe was passing through one of its darkest periods. Agriculture, commerce, science, and the arts flourished under the patronage of the Moors and the other inhabitants of the country, who had become more or less amalgamated into a single nation. Universities were filled with thousands of students. The cities were beautified until they were a delight to behold. In the city of Cordova the rest of

alone, with

half million inhabitants,

its

were three thousand mosques,

a number of stately palaces, three hundred public baths, and a famous university.

anywhere

The

city

was probably

that time without an equal

the world.

The magnificent palace of the Alhambra (so called from the Arabic word al-ha/fira'ti, " red," on account of the coral tint of the plaster on its walls) was built for the Moorish kings of Granada, and is a worthy example of the culture of the period. It was the greatest achievement of Arabic architecture.

For an admirable account of the

conflict that prevailed

between

the Christians and the Mohammedans during these times, one should consult Irving's " Conquest of Granada."

Sancho Panza was the servant of Don Quixote, the : whose exploits is the most famous romance in Spanish literature. It was written by Cervantes (first published in Madrid, 1605), and represents a weak-minded country gentleman of inflammable temperament who had spent much of his time reading tales of chivalry. With his squire, Sancho Panza, he goes in quest of knightly adventure, of which his excited imagination finds no end. To him windmills become giants, solitary inns are castles, and galley slaves seem to be oppressed gentlemen. His ludicrous efforts to perform knightly service and Sancho Panza's humorous statements of the

Page

Sanclio

id.

story of

truthful condition of affairs

have furnished rich entertainment

readers of Spanish and to those also of the

which

Don

to the

many languages

into

Quixote " has been translated.

Cervantes wrote "

Don

Quixote " as a parody upon

many

of the

absurd works of chivalry that had been published, and also as a protest against a

Page

"It at

may be

all kinds of useful labor. a word derived from the Arabic, meaning a " castle."

then popular prejudice against

Alcald

as well to note here that the alforjas are square pockets

each end of a long cloth about a foot and a half wide, formed by

[350]

NOTES turning up its extremities. The and the pockets hang on each invention.

The

bota

with a narrow neck. which perplexed me bottles." Irving

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Page Page Page

cloth

then thrown over the saddle,

side like saddlebags.

It is

an Arab

a leathern bag or bottle, of portly dimensions,

It is also oriental.

Hence

the scriptural caution

boyhood, not to put new wine into old

caballeroing : addressing them as gentlemen.

19.

prayer.

28.

07'isoti :

30.

spatferdashes

a covering for the legs to protect the trousers

and stockings.

Page

Don

a Spanish

title

meaning "

Sir " or " Mr.," of

somewhat

dignity than SeTior.

36.

According

the legend, Count Julian was

commander

Ceuta, one of the strongest Spanish forts on the north coast of

For an insult offered to his daughter by Roderick, the Spanish king, Count Julian delivered his fortress to the Moors and entered their army. Africa.

The Vega

Granada was a great

plain over a

hundred miles

circumference, surrounded by lofty mountains, and cultivated with

such care that

Page

37.

Gil Bias

appeared :

like a vast garden.

the hero of a French romance of the

same name

by Le Sage, published in 171 5. In many ways Gil Bias French what Don Quixote is to the Spanish.

to the

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA Page

39.

The

Caaba, or Kaaba,

a cube-shaped, flat-roofed building

mosque at Mecca, the most sacred shrine of the Moslems, or Mohammedans. It contains the sacred black stone said to have been originally a ruby that came down from heaven, toward which all Moslems face during their devotions. Page 40. royal demesne : estates under the immediate control of the in the center of the great

crown.

Page

43. Piierta de las Granadas : Gate of the Pomegranates. The word Gra7!ada means " Pomegranate," and on the arms of the city the pomegranate is inscribed. Zegris and the Abencerrages : two Moorish families of Granada famous in Spanish romance. They were supposed to have been bitter

[351]

THE ALHAMBRA enemies, struggling against each other constantly, and to have met a tragic destruction in the

Page

Alhambra

Mohammedanism

at the

known

hands of King Abu Hassan.

meanwas founded by Mohammed in the early part of the seventh century, and is based chiefly upon the teachings of the Old Testament, with additions and alterations. The Bible of the Mohammedans is the Koran, and it contains much of the Old Testament, although Mohammed presented it as having come to him in the form of original revelations from the 45.

as the religion of Islam,

entire submission to the will of

God.

angel Gabriel.

Mohammed was born in the desert. When

Mecca about 750 A.D., and was brought about forty years old he spent much of his at

time in contemplation, doubtless due to the effect upon his mind of

what he had gathered from his contact with Judaism, Christianity, and Arabic lore, chiefly on two journeys to Syria. He soon declared himself to be the subject of revelations which convinced him that he was the apostle and prophet of God. His first converts were members of his family, who were followed by a number of his friends adherents numbered about fifty. The people of Mecca in 614 rose against him, and a part of his followers fled to Abyssinia for safety. His converts increased at first by small numbers, but as time passed, his teachings spread with growing rapidity, especially in Medina. In 622 the Meccans again opposed him", and he was compelled to flee from their city to Medina on the twentieth of June of that year. This is known as the hejira (the flight) and marks the beginning of the Mohammedan Era. From this time on military aggressiveness was combined with religious zeal, and Mohammed in 624 won a battle from the Meccans. The following year he was defeated by them in another conflict. The success of his religious campaign increased steadily, however, and one tribe of Arabs after another was converted until in 631 a rather definite Mohammedan Empire was established. In 632, the year in which he made his last pilgrimage to Mecca, he died while planning an expedition against the Byzantine Empire. His followers carried on their conquests over Syria, Persia, and into Spain, and finally captured Constantinople, extending their belief until it embraced millions of people. until his

Page

48.

sacred

cufic

the kind of characters used in ancient times in the

Mohammedan

books.

[352]

;

NOTES Page

52.

apocryphal : of doubtful authority. : arrangements of flower beds of varying shapes with

parterres

walks between.

Page

53.

an unpracticed eye the

light relievos

and

fanciful ara-

besques which cover the walls of the Alhambra appear to have been sculptured by the hand, with a minute and patient labor, an inexhaustible variety of detail, yet a general uniformity

design truly astonishing vaults

and

;

may

this

and harmony

especially be said of the

and cupolas, which are wrought like honeycombs, or froststalactites and pendants which confound the beholder

work, with

with the seeming intricacy of their patterns.

when

ceases, however,

discovered that this

it is

The astonishment is all

stucco-work

moulds and skilfully joined so as and form. This mode of diapering

plates of plaster of Paris, cast in

form patterns of every size and stuccoing the vaults with grotto-work, was invented in Damascus, but highly improved by the Moors in Morocco, to whom Saracenic architecture owes its most graceful and fanciful details. The process by which all this fairy tracery was produced was ingeniously simple. The wall in its naked state was divided off by lines crossing at right angles, such as artists use in copying a picture over these were drawn a succession of intersectto

walls with arabesques,

;

ing segments of

circles.

the aid of these the artists could

work

with celerity and certainty, and from the mere intersection of the plain

and curved

lines arose the interminable variety of patterns

and

the general uniformity of their character.^ "

Much

polas

;

gilding

and the

was used

interstices

in the stucco-work, especially of the cu-

were

delicately pencilled with

such as vermilion and lapis

brilliant

on with the whites of eggs. The primitive colors alone were used, says Ford, by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Arabs, in the early period of art and they prevail in the Alhambra whenever the artist has been Arabic or colors,

lazuli, laid

;

Moorish.

It is

remarkable

how much

of their original brilliancy

remains after the lapse of several centuries. "

The lower

feet, is

part of the walls in the saloons, to the height of several

incrusted with glazed

tiles,

joined like the plates of stucco-

On some of them are emblazoned the escutcheons of the Moslem kings, traversed with a band work, so as to form various patterns.

See Urquhart,

Pillars of Hercules,

[353]

Book

III, chap.

viii.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

;

THE ALHAMBRA and motto.

These glazed

tiles

Arabic) are of Oriental origin

dom from vermin

;

{azulejos in Spanish, az-zulaj in their coolness, cleanliness,

render them admirably

and

free-

fitted in sultry climates for

and fountains, incrusting bathing-rooms, and lining the Ford is inclined to give them great antiquity. From their prevailing colors, sapphire and blue, he deduces that they may have formed the kind of pavements alluded to in the sacred " There was under his feet as it were a paved work of Scriptures a sapphire stone" (Exod. xxiv, lo); and again, "Behold I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires " paving

halls

walls of chambers.

(Isa. liv,

1).

These glazed or porcelain tiles were introduced into Spain at an early date by the Moslems. Some are to be seen among the Moorish ruins which have been there upwards of eight centuries. Manufactures of them still exist in the Peninsula, and they are much used in the best Spanish houses, especially in the southern provinces, for

paving and lining the summer apartments. " The Spaniards introduced them into the Netherlands when they had possession of that country. The people of Holland adopted them with avidity, as wonderfully suited to their passion for household cleanliness and thus these Oriental inventions have come to Irving be commonly known as Dutch tiles." ;

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE AUTHOR SUCCEEDS TO THE THRONE OF BOABDIL Page

Boabdil was the

54.

nada.

last of the Moorish kings to rule over Grawas he who surrendered the Alhambra to Ferdinand and

Isabella in 1492.

Page

bhiotiac

55.

open

air,

a military term meaning to pass the night in the

without encamping, ready for action.

Here

means

sleep without a regular bed.

Page

perquisites

56.

fees

58.

persons

may

something received

in addition to regular

wages

tips.

;

The Roman Catholic Church prohibits marriage between who are related within certain degrees. This prohibition some

removed by the church authorities who, by have been given power by the Pope to grant

cases be

virtue of their office,

dispensations.

[354]

NOTES INHABITANTS OF THE ALHAMBRA Page

Scheherazade

64.

who

the character

Arabian Nights. marker of a Jives-court

relates the stories in the

one who keeps score for a

ball

game

called Fives.

Page

Agamemnon and

65.

Achilles

two who were most prominent

Greek legendary history the Troy. Homer's Troy and of many of the deeds in

in the capture of

Iliad tells of the ten years' siege of

of these heroes.

Page

quarterings

66.

in the

Middle Ages emblems or devices were

pictured on the shields of knights, and afterwards embroidered on the surcoat or garment worn over the coat of mail from this came the designation " coat of arms." These devices were of practical use, ;

since they identified the wearer,

whose

face,

when

in battle,

was

concealed by the visor of his helmet.

At first every knight chose his emblem according to his fancy, and all sorts of animals, imaginary monsters, plants, and forms of many other objects were used. When possible, the symbol suggested a the name, title, or some distinguishing quality of its bearer custom which has its counterpart among the American Indians.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

became numerous, great confusion arose, same emblem was often taken by different knights. In the course of time it was found necessary to regulate the bearing of coats of arms, as they were made hereditary and descended from

these coats of arms

for the

their original bearer to his heirs.

This regulation respecting coats of arms was intrusted to heralds, officers appointed by their sovereigns, and who had vari-

who were

ous other duties to perform, such as to marshal processions, superintend public ceremonies, bear messages of courtesy or defiance

between princes or knights, and justs,

and

all

take charge of tournaments,

other exercises of chivalry.

escutcheon represents an old knightly shield, with a coat of

arms depicted upon

Where

a family

it.

arms, the escutcheon

entitled is

by inheritance

to bear several coats of

divided into parts called quarterings, upon

each of which the different emblems are emblazoned.

[355]

THE ALHAMBRA 67. The reference of " Macbeth."

Page

to the

Duncan. This

opening

lines of scene vi, in

castle hath a pleasant seat

;

Act

the air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. This guest of summer, Banquo.

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve. By his loved mansionry, that the heaven's breath Smells wooingly here

jutty, frieze,

Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird

Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed, The air is delicate. :

THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS Page Page

6g. spandrels 72.

the spaces between adjoining arches.

Cfesce^it : the crescent, or figure of the

new moon,

used for

Mohammedanism.

the symbol of

ALHAMAR, THE FOUNDER OF THE ALHAMBRA Page Page

77.

satiton

The

Moslem

saint or hermit.

Las Navas de Tolosa, one of the most famous in Spanish history, was fought between the Spanish and the Moors in 1 21 2. It was a great victory for the Spanish and marks the be78.

battle of

ginning of the decline of the Moorish Empire in Spain.

Page

80.

Cortes

assembly of the states

;

the legislative body of Spain.

YUSEF ABUL HAGIG Page

86.

The

battle of Salado

was fought October

30,

1340, on the

banks of the small river Salado. After their utter defeat in this battle the Moors made no further attempts to conquer Spain.

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS Page 90. Pepe Page

92.

ing on

means

this is the diminutive

belvedere

some

form of Joseph.

a small structure on the top of a building open-

attractive prospect

on one or more

" beautiful view."

[356]

sides.

The word

NOTES "

One

of the things in which the

the marriage of their nobles

;

hence

Moorish kings interfered was came that all the senors at-

tached to the royal person were married in the palace and there was always a chamber destined for the ceremony." Irving

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Page

ioi.

Albaicin

this section is

called Gipsies, although formerly

now it

;

by the

largely inhabited

was the

seat of the

so-

Moorish

nobility.

PANORAMA FROM THE TOWER OF COMARES Page

Ibn Batuta : a famous Arabian traveler and geographer, Tangier about 1377. Among the lands which he visited were northern and central Africa, western and central Asia, Russia, India, and China. His " Travels " have been translated into several i

04.

born

languages.

THE BALCONY Page is

112.

the

matin

call

bell: the bell for

morning prayer; the vesper

bell

for evening prayer.

THE COURT OF LIONS Page Page

phantasmagoria : a series of illusive images or armorial ensigns : flags bearing coats of arms. Te Deiim : a Christian hymn of ancient origin. i

20.

fancies.

122.

MEMENTOS OF BOABDIL Page

The minor

details of the surrender of Granada were stated ways even by eyewitnesses. Irving, in his " Conquest of Granada," endeavored to adjust them according to what seemed

132.

in different

to be the best authorities.

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER Page

50.

for a

Page the

ottoman

number

a stuffed seat without a back, or a circular seat

of people, originally used in Turkey.

dervise : the name of Mohammedans who affect

156.

a class of religious persons

among

great austerity, living partly in the

monasteries, and partly leading a solitary

[357]

life.

THE ALHAMBRA Page 157. Solovwn tlie Wise: mon to have had power over he obtained vast treasures

Arabic legends represent King Soloall

that

sorts of evil spirits,

were in

through

whom

For disobedi-

their keeping.

commands many

of these genii were inclosed in great from which they were unable to escape. In his book of knowledge was recorded the charms by which he worked his magic spells. The Arabian Nights contains a story of one of these genii who was sealed in a bottle by King Solomon. Page i 60. juggle : to play false.

ence to his

bottles sealed

his seal,

LEGEND OF PRINCE AHMED AL KAMEL Page Page

mute

74.

176.

one who has been deprived of speech.

Rabbi>i

"my

a rabbi, literally

master," a

title

applied in

modern Jewish usage to those authorized to decide legal and religious matters. By persons not Hebrews it is often applied to any one ministering to a Jewish congregation, to distinguish him from a Christian clergyman.

Page

89.

black art

the performance of

190.

name given

superhuman

Middle Ages to magic, or by the supposed aid of evil

in the

acts

supernatural powers.

spirits or

Page

Seville is called

Giralda."

by the Spaniards

the spire of the cathedral

" is

The

beautiful city of the

a large statue of Faith,

which turns with the wind. It is from the \erh girar, "to turn," that the statue and the tower get their name. Page 194. parts : as used here, great talents. Page 197. lists: the ground or field inclosed for combat between knights was called the

lists.

" enter the

lists

was

engage in

a contest.

Page

200.

Fez

tance where

Page

the capital of Morocco, a city of commercial impor-

many

articles of fine

workmanship were made.

205. pastoral reed : shepherd's pipe, a musical instrument

from the

made

joint of a reed.

LEGEND OF THE MOOR'S LEGACY Page

223. viyrrh^ frankincense^ storax : fragrant, aromatic gums, burned as incense in religious or other rites.

[358]

NOTES LEGEND OF THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES Page

234.

left

and right hands, so

duenna: same

236.

cast the nativity

by which

as duena. ascertaining the position of the stars at

was supposed

that the events of one's

This used to be practiced by astrologers.

be foretold.

called

as the skillful, or dexterous, side.

235.

birth,

hatids

usually regarded as the unlucky, or disastrous, side

left is

and the right

Page Page

and dexter

sinister

because the

It is

life

the

could

same

as casting one's horoscope.

Page

242.

Hesperian fruit

the golden apples of the garden of the

Hesperides, supposed in mythology to be guarded by the Hesperids, their mother,

Page Page

and a dragon.

244.

several: here

248.

itching

palm

means

one

figuratively speaking, he has his

Page

251.

bastinado

soles of the feet

Page

256.

;

hand out

for

money

all

palm when, the time.

beat with a stick or cudgel, especially on the

an Eastern punishment.

sally-ports

fortifications,

" different."

said to have an itching

back gates or doors in the outer works of

reached by underground passages.

LEGEND OF THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA Page

264.

Antinous

a youth of

much

page, attendant, and favorite of the

gerfalcon

grace and beauty

Roman emperor

who was

Hadrian.

a large species of falcon or hawk, a bird with a short-

and rapid flight. It was formerly trained and game. When at rest its eyes were covered by a hood, which was removed when it was freed to pursue

hooked beak, strong

claws,

for the pursuit of other birds

its

Page

quarry.

276.

hypochondriac

megrims

lowness of

Farinelli : born

a person afflicted with extreme melancholy. spirits

;

whims.

Naples, 1705; died at Bologna,

He was

Italy,

1782.

a celebrated soprano, " the most remarkable singer, perhaps, has ever lived " {Grove).

who Page 280. Paganini :

a famous Italian violinist.

THE VETERAN Page

281.

carbonadoed : slashed from

[359]

fighting.

THE ALHAMBRA THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY Page 284. Toledo : many weapons of

a sword

made

in the city of Toledo, Spain,

GOVERNOR MANGO AND THE Page Page Page

where

great excellence were manufactured.

a playful, saucy young

SO1.JIER

woman

294.

a baggage

298.

Santiago

308.

Valdepehas and Mdlaga are wines that are highly esteemed

St.

;

flirt.

James.

in Spain.

Page

309. spolia opima : valuable booty or pillage. In the history of Rome, when a Roman general killed an opposing general with his own hand he was said to have secured the spolia opitna^ which was the highest triumph that he could attain.

CRUSADE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF ALCANTARA Page

313.

cap-a-pie: from head to foot; in Spanish this

de pies

a cabeza.

LEGEND OF DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA Page

the sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem : the Holy Sepulwhich the body of Christ lay between the time of his burial and resurrection. To recover this from the infidels who had cap-

328.

cher, in

tured Jerusalem in the seventh century, was the object of the Crusades, in

which many knights and others

participated.

Individual

pilgrims and small bands also frequently attempted to reach the

Holy Sepulcher.

THE LEGEND OF THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER Page

332.

sacristan

officer of the

church

who

has charge of the

and its contents and other valuables and records. Page 333. The seal of Solomon : the device consists of two equilateral triangles interlaced so as to form a star and surrounded by a circle. According to Arab tradition, when the Most High gave Solomon the choice of blessings and he chose wisdom, there came from heaven a ring, on which this device was engraven. This mystic talisman was the arcanum of his wisdom, felicity, and grandeur by sacristy

;

[360]

NOTES this

he governed and prospered.

In consequence of a temporary

lapse from virtue he lost the ring in the sea and

was at once reduced men. By penitence and prayer he made his pe; with the Deity, was permitted to find his ring again in a fish, and thus rccov^V/J his celestial gifts. That he might not utterly lose hem again, he communicated others the secret of the marvelous to the 'evel of ordinary .'

iing.

The

signet of

Solomon

have held potent control over

Page

339.

Ave Maria :

the

first

Mary," a prayer of devotion

Page

341.

the

Wise

is believed by tradition to demons, and enchantments. words of the Latin form of the " Hail

genii,

in the

Roman

Catholic Church.

exorcise: to drive out by religious or magical agencies.

[361]

VOCABULARY This vocabulary is intended only to give the pronunciation of Spanish and other words with which the student or reader may not, be familiar, and to supply at the same time as a matter of convenience the definitions of most of the Spanish words and a few others that occur in the text of The Alhambra." In cases where Spanish and Moorish expressions occur but once, and are accompanied by their English equivalents, it has seemed "'

unnecessary

A star (*) A dagger

to include the translations here.

indicates that the (t)

first

indicates that th

gwah

ben'se ray jez)

Alcala

Aben Comixa (ah'ben co mee'sha) Aben Hud (ah'ben hood') Abu Ayub (ah'boo ah yoob')

Aden

ah thah lee'thace) guides

(ay'den)

Adinamar

(ah' dyohs'

\onc

alcalde (ahl cahl'day) gove7iior

Alcantara (ahl cahn'tah rah)

Alcaudete (ahl cow day'tay) (al

cah'thar)

Alfaqui

(al

(ahl

day gon'dah)

tuft of

Alhamar

gwah

theel') a constable

(ah lah mar')

Atar (ah lee' ah tar') AI Kamel (al kah'mel) Allah Akbar

(ah lah may'dah)

(al lah'

Albaicin (ahl by theen')

Allifra (ah lyee'frah)

Alberca (ahl ber'cah)

Al Makkari

albornoz( ahl bornoath') <<'(? rj-(?7i;iff/,?w

Almeria

stuff; cloak 7vhich forms

Moorish

df-ess

an Arabic ivord

fah kee')

alguazil (ahl

plume or

(i'rah)

Alameda

lah' lah *ray-

alforjas (ahl for'hahs) saddlebags

(ah'med)

feathers or ge?iis

Aira

Real (ahl cah

Aldegonda

lar')

aigrette (ai gret') a

cah lah' day

meatiing a fojiifed castle

syllable] say nyo'race)

Ahmed

(ahl

di'rah)

alcazar

Ah, dios seiiores

rolled.

th in this.

ahl')

(ah dee nah mar')

Aguilar (ah ghee

word should be

be pronounced like

(ab der rah'mahn)

Abencerrages

adalides

Alcalade Guadaira

Abadil (ah bah deel')

Abderahman

r in the

paii of the

(ahl

ak'bar)

mak kah ree') may ree'ah)

(al

Alonzo Fernandez de Cordova (ahlon tho fehr nahn'dayth day cor'-

alcaide (al ky'day)

do vah)

[363]

THE ALHAMBRA Alpuxarra

(* ahl

Caaba (cah'aba)

poo hah'rah)

Andalusia (an da loo'shi

caballero (cah bah lyay'ro) gentleman

Calderon (cawl'der un)

Andaluz (ahn dah looth') Angosturas (an gos too'rahs)

Calle de los

Aqui yaz aquel que par neua cosa nunca eve pavor en seu corazon (ah kee' yahth' ah kel' kay par nay'wah co'sah noon'cah ay'vay pah vor' en seow co rah thon') Arahal (ah rah

ahl')

Archidona

chee do'nah)

Armu

(ar

Gomeres

(cah'lyay day

lohs go may'race)

Antiquera (ahn tee kay'rah)

Real

Calle

Llano

del

(cah'lyay

* ray ahl' del lyah'no)

Cammacho (cahm mah'cho) campina(cahmpee'nyah)yt';-;^//^//(7/ÂŤ

Campotejar (cahm po tay hahr') cap-a-pie(cap a pe.&')from theFi-ench,

fneaning " from head to foot." /n

Spanish

(ar'moo)

arrieros (* ah ryay'rohs) can-iers

this is

"de pies

a cabeza

capilla (cah pee'lyah)

Asturian (as too'ri an)

Casern (cah'sem)

atalaya (ah tah lah'yah) watch-to-ii'er

cavalgada (cah vahl gah'dah) caval-

Avellanos (ah vay lyah'nohs)

Ave Maria

(ah'vay

mah

cade

ree'a'h)

de mi (i'day mee') %voe is me ! la Horra (ah'ee sha lah hor'ra)

Ayxa

;

procession or train usually

ofpeople on horseback cavaliero (cah vah Xyay'ro) gentleman cavalleros de

mucho

lyay'rohs day

bandolero (ban do lay'ro) barranco

oiitlazv

bah rahn'co) fissure in

basquina (bahskee'nyah) upperpetticoat 7Vorn by Spanish 7vomcn

unmusical serenade after a wedding chatelaine (shat'e lain) keeper of the

bastinado (bas tin ay'do)

castle

belvedere (bel vay day'ray) " beautiful

view "

Ipr')

gentlemen of great valor Chaldaic (cal day'ic) charivari (shah ree vah'ree) a noisy

a hill

bendito sea

valor (cah vah-

moo'cho vah

;

see notes

tal

pan (bendee'to

say'-

Chico (chee'co) chocolate con leche y bollos para almuerza (cho co lah'tay cone lay'chay

ah tahr pahn') Beni Nasar (beh nee' nah'sar) Boabdil (bo ahb deel')

ciceroni

ahl-

(chee chay ro'nee) guides

and explain

bolero (bo lay'ro) a Spanish dance

7oho shoui

much movement of the arms bon mot (bong mo')

places of inte7-est

with

bota (bo'tah) leathern

pah'rah

bo'lyohs

mwehr'thah)

cigarrillo

(* thee

gah

strangers

ree'lyo)

ciga-

rette

bottle

bottinas (bo tee'nahs) spatterdashes

Comares

bragas (brah'gahs) drainers

contrabandista (con trah bahn dees'-

brasero (brah say'ro) a pan of coals

[364]

tah)

(co mah'race)

smuggler

VOCABULARY Cordova (cor'do vah) Corona (co ro'nah) corregidor (* co ray he Cortes

(cor'tace)

states

viejo

Cristiano

dor') iiiayor

of the body of Spain

(crees tyah'noh

vyay'hoh) a descendant of Christians one whose ancestry has no

Don Vicente

Cyprian

(sip'ri

tis

per-

so'nee) the characters in the play

drawcansir (draw'can

duena (dway'nyah) ge7ie rally

braggart

sir)

woman,

old

aft

employed in looking after

young ladies

of Moots, Jews, or other non-

duenna

Christian peoples

(don vee thayn'tay)

dramatis personae (dram'a

;

trace

(don vain-

too'rah * ro dree'gaith)

assejnbly

the legislative

;

Don Ventura Rodriguez

(doo en'a)

same

the

"dueiia"

an)

duro (doo'ro) dollar

Darro (* dah'ro) Dice el sabio Aben Habuz que asi se defiende el Andaluz (dee'thay el sah'byo ah'ben ah booth' kay ah see' say day fyen'day el ahn-

dah looth') Diego Fernandez

Eben Bonabben

El Fuente del Toro

fehr-

(el gah'lib)

El Gobernador

Manco

(el

go'behr-

nah dor' mahn'co)

nahn'dayth)

Dios guarde a usted (dyohs' [one syllable'] gwar'day ah t oos tayth') Dios sabe (dyohs' [one

El Hayzari

(el hi

Elizabetta

zah ree')

Farnese

(ay lee zah-

bet'tah ov far nay'say)

syllable] sah'-

El Pefion de los Enamorados

bay)

Dolores (do lo'race)

the

pay nyone' day

Sorrow-

los

(el

ay nah mo-

rah'thos)

ful"

Dona Antonia-Molina (do'nyah to'nyah

Dona Maria

ahn-

Palacin (do'nyah mah-

ays

yah'nyayth

Don

po'bray sahn'cho no'

nah'thah seen don kee ho'-

day

El Tocador

(don

(el t to

cah

El Torre del Espia

(el

El Ultimo Suspiro del

de Ilinojosa

(don moo'nyo sahn'cho day eeno ho'sah) Don Pedro de Granada Venegas (don pay'dro day grab nah'dah

thor')

* to'ray del

ays pee'ah)

bar-

boo'do)

Don Munio Sancho

(el

tay)

Don Juan (don hwahn') Don Martin Yafiez de Barbudo teen'

pobre Sancho no es nada sin

Quixote

lee'nah)

ree'ah pah lah theen')

mar

fwen'tay del

(el

to'ro)

El Ghalib

(dyay'go

(eb'en bo nab'ben)

Ecija (ay'thee hah)

tee

Elvira

(el

[365

(el

zo goi bee')

frente del toro se hallen tesoro

(en fren'tay del to'ro say ah'lyen tay so'ro)

vay nay'gahs)

(el ool'-

vee'rah)

El Zogoybi

Moro

soos pee'ro del mo'ro)

THE ALHAMBRA escopetero (ays co pay tay'ro) vuisketeer

escribano (ays cree bah 'no) laivyer,

grande caballero (grahn'day cahbah lyay'ro) grand gentlemaii Guadalquivir (gwah dahl kee veer')

Guadix

notary

gwah

theesh')

espartal (ays par tahl') bass weed

Esta casa es siempre a

Vm.

sicion

dispo-

cah'sah

(ays'tah

ays syaym'pray ah lah dees posee thyon day vways'trah mehrthayth'; last th as in this

Haxis (ha shees') Hegira (hej'i rah) Hesperian (hes pee'ri an) Ilic jacet Maria Palacin, uxor Mujay'set

estudiante sopista (aystoodyahn'tay

myoo

so pees'tah) a student living on

jo'sa)

hidalgo

charity

man el

Santo

no'nis

san'si

(fer'di

nand

dahl'go) a Spanish noble-

of the lower class

cording

to the

Rlohammedati

(fee'go)/^ Fray Prudencio de Sandoval (fry proo dain'thyo day sahn do vahl')

Hussein Baba (hoo Ibn Batuta

(ib'n

Fredegonda

(fray

Ibn Habuz

Fuente

Piedra

figo

day gon'dah) (fwain'tay

Ibn-1-Ahmar

Ibrahim

ba too'ta)

badise (ib'n ah booth'

(ib nal

(ib ra

chick-

peas, a sort of pulse like large peas,

tnuch used in Spain (gar thee lah'-

imperium in imperio (im pee'ri um in im pee'ri o) a go%)e7~nment ivithin a government Infanta (een fahn'tah) infiernos (een fyehr'nohs)

so day lah vay'gah)

Generalife (hay nay rah lee'fay)

Irem

ov sahn tee lyahn') Gines Perez de Hita pay'rayth day ee'tah)

Ismael ben Ferrag

(go may'race)

Gonzalvo (gon thahl'vo) Granada (gra nah'da)

infernal

regions

Gil Bias of Santillane (zheel' blahs'

Gomeres

ahh'mar)

heem')

lUora (ee lyo'rah)

(gar bahn'thohs)

Vega

sine' bah'bah)

Ildefonso (eel day fon'so)

Gallego (gah lyay'go) galliard (gal'yard)

Garcilaso de la

ac-

belief

ahl bah dee'say)

lah

pyay'drah)

garbanzos

fin o-

eftdowed with unfading youth,

san'to)

dee

houries (hoo'riz) beautiful 7naidens

fajas (fah'hahs) sashes

Ferdinand

De Finojosa (hick' ma ri'a pal'a sin uck'sor

nonis Sancij

)

estanque (ays tahn'kay) tank

(hee nace'

(ir'em) (is

mah

ayl'

fehr rahg')

Jacinta (hah theen'tah)

Jaen (hah

ain')

jalecos (hah lay'cohs) jackets

[366]

ben

VOCABULARY jalousie

Manuel Borasco (mah nwayl' bo-

(zhah loo zee') an inside

rahs'co)

Toiiidino-l'lind tvith slats

Jose Maria (ho say'

mah

Manuel

ree'ah)

Molina (mah nwayl' mo-

lee'nah)

maravedi

Kadiga (ka dee'ga) Kassaba (kahs'a bah)

La casa

las

day

cways'tah

Lagrimas lahs

(lah

lah'gree-

Marquis of Caiesedo (mar'kwis ov ki ay say'do)

Marquis of Gandul (mar'kwis

gahn

mahs) ladrones (lah dro'nace) thieves, rob-

dool')

Martin Yanez

Barbudo

(mar-

teen' yah'nyayth day bar boo'do)

bers

La Mancha (lah mahn'chah) La Nina (lah nee'nyah) La Reina Coquina (lah ray'nah

masmoras co-

Suelos (lah

los Siete

*to ray day lohs syay'tay sway'lohs) (lin

Mateo

Ximenes

(mah

tay'o

hee-

tain soldiers

bodies ivhich efnit light

Mahomet (ma

medico (may'dee ko) physician Medina (ma dee'na) miquelets (mee kay layts') moun-

da rah'sha)

Lope de Vega (lo'pay day vay'gah) Los Martyros (lohs mar tee'rohs) Loxa (lo'hah) lumbreras (loom bray'rahs) any

mirador

ing cap Morisco (mo

rah thor') balcony or

ris'co)

Muley Abul Hassan (mooli'

ah'-

bool ha'san)

Murcia (moor'thyah)

loiver class

say'ah lah no'chay)

Manco (mahn'co) (man

mee

Mohamed (mo ah'mayd) montero (mon tay'ro) ancient hunt-

hom'et)

majo (mah'ho) Malaga (mah'lah gah) Maldita sea la noche (mahl dee'tah

100 men.,

room generally on the roof of the house

maja (mah'hah) " majo and maja " means beanx and belles of the

mantilla

subter-

may'nace)

La Torre de

Lindaraxa

(mahs mo'rahs)

ranean gi-anaries

kee'nah)

for

old

aii

an to'nyah sah bo nay'ah)

del Gallo de Viento (lah

cah'sah del gah'lyo day vyain'to)

La Cuesta de

(mar a vay'dy)

Spanish coin of small value Maria Antonia Sabonea (mah ree'ah

til'a)

head covering

made of

lace, silk,

Musa (moo'sah) naivete (nah eev tay')

Navas (nah'vahs) Ninguno mas'; pues, sefior, soy hijo de la Alhambra (ning goo'no

mahs', pwes', say nyor', soy ee'ho

day lah ah lahm'brah)

other material

[367

THE ALHAMBRA Omar Ibn Hassan

(o'mar ib'n ha'-

Puerta de las Granadas (pwehr'tah

day lahs tgiah nah'thahs)"' Pome-

san)

ombre (om'bray) a game played by three people ; same as "tresillo" Osuna (o soo'nah)

granate Gate"

Puerte del punctilio

Rey (pwehr'tay

(punk

til'e o)

del ray)

most

caj-eful

observation of nice points of

pacha (pa shah') a Moslem governor

pundonor (poon do

of a province Paez (pah'ayth)

nor') sensitive-

ness on the point of

Dios

pan de

(pahn'

day dyohs'

eti-

and ceremony

quette

honor

puro (poo'ro) cigar

[one syllable^)

quarto (kwar'to) halfpenny

pannier (pan'yer) ivicker basket (par

parterres

tair')

a^-rangetnents

Que angostay

miserabile seria nues-

tra vida, sino fuera tan

of flower beds of varying shapes with walks between

dilatada

paseo (pah say'o) pro?nenade, walk

y espaciosa nuestra esperanza (kay ahng gohs'tah ee mee say-

patio (pah'tyo) courtyard

rah'bee lay

Pedrillo

Pedrugo (pay dree'lyo pay-

trah

see no' fway ray

t dee lah tah'thah ee ayspah thyo'sah nways'trah ays pay-

rahn'thah)

Pepe (pay'pay) Perdon usted por Dios hermano

quidnunc (kwid'nungk)"what now?" one who

(pehr dohn' oos taid' por dyohs' [one syllable'] ehr mah'no)

Peregil (pay ray heel')

peseta (pay say'tah) a coin equal in to

nways'-

say ree'ah

vee'thah

tahn'

droo'go)

Pedro Gil (pay'dro heel') Pennaflor (pay nyah flor')

value

the fifth

that

curious

knozo all

going on

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

agua mas fria Quien quiere agua que la nieve (kyayn' [o)ie syllable] kyay'ray ah'gwah, ah'gwah mahs free'ah kay lah nyay'vay)

of a duro, or

dollar

Pinos (pee'nohs)

rateros (* rah tay'rohs) solitaiy foot-

Plaza de los Aljibes (plah'thah day

pads renegado (ren e gay'do)

lohs ahl hee'bace)

Nueva (plah'thah nway'vah) Ponce de Leon (pon'thay day layPlaza

less to

otte faith-

principle or party, especially

a person

who forsakes one

religious

faith for another; in Spain, one

ohn') (t po sah'thah) lodging house Prado (t prah'tho) puchero (poo chay'ro) a dish composed of beef ham, chick-peas, and

who has renounced

posada

Christianity

roscas (* rohs'cahs) round, twisted loaves of bread Ruiz de Alarcon lar cohn')

other vegetables

[3 68]

rweeth' day ah-

VOCABULARY Salado

Tagus

sah lah'tho)

(tay'gus)

Salamanca (sah lah mahng'ca) Salmanara (sahl mah nah'rah)

talas (tah'lahs)_/^);v?i'j-

Salobrefia (sah lo bray'nyah)

Taric (tah'ric)

Salones grandes

tartana (tar tah'nah) a two-tvhecled

Tarfe

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; camas de luxo â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

colchones de pluma (sah lo'nays

(tar'fay)

vehicle

grahn'dace, cah'mahs day loo'ho,

Te Deum

cohl cho'nays day ploo'mah)

tertulias

Sancho Panza (sang'ko pan'za) San Fernando (sahn' fehr nahn'do) Santa Fe (sahn'tah fay') Santa Maria de Almocovara (sahn'tah

mah

day

ree'ah

ahl

for evening

cotiversation

tesoro (tay so'ro) treasure (tait ah tait') alone; a French expression, meaning lite7--

tete-a-tete

ally "

co-

head

Tetuan

vah'rah)

dee'um)

(tee'

(tehr too'lyahs) gatherings

head

(teh twahn')

Santiago (sahn tyah'go)

Tia Antonia (tee'ah ahn to'nyah)

scarabaeus (scar a bee'us)

tiembla

Scheherezade

(sheh hay reh zah'-

Torre del Vino

deh)

Segovia (say go'vyah) se

tierra

lah

hacen ladrones legitimos (say

(* to'ray del vee'no)

bermejas

torres

ah'then lah dro'nace lay hee'tee-

(tyem'blah

* tyay'rah)

(*to'race

may'hahs) vermilion

behr-

to-oers

trabuco (trah boo'co) a blmtderhuss or gun

mohs) seneschal (sen'e shul)

aii

officer in

and digintaries in the Middle Ages who had charge of feasts and domestic cere-

tresillo (tray see'lyo) a

the houses of princes

by three people

same

game plaved as

''ombre"

Ucles (oo'klace)

monies

senor (say nyor')

sir,

mister

Sheddad (shed dahd') Sidi Hasan (see'dee ha'san) Sierra Morena (* syay'rah mo

Valdepeiias (vahl day pay'nyahs) Valencia (vah lain'thyah)

Va ray'-

nah) Sierra

oos tayth' con dyohs' \one

Nevada

syay'rah

nay-

siesta al fresco

vega (vay'gah) a fertile plain ventas (vain'tahs) poor inns on roads

(si

far fro t)

es'ta ahl fres'co)

t070us or 7'illages

via dolorosa (vi'a dol o ro'sa) " sor-

a siesta, or jiap, in the open air

syl-

cah bah lyay'ro)

lable]

vah'thah)

Silla del

usted con Dios, Caballero (vah'

(see'lyah del mo'ro)

sombrero (som bray'ro) Soto de Roma (so'to day * ro'mah) spolia opima (spo'li a o pi'ma)

rowful

[369]

ghalib

lib

way

ile

lei lah')

Alah (wa

lay' gah'-

THE ALH AMBRA Xenil (hay neel')

Zacatin (thah cah teen')

Zayda Yusef Abul Hagig (yoo'sef ah'bool ha gheeg') Yusef ben Mohammed (yoo'sef ben mo ham'med)

(zi'da)

Zegris (thay grees')

Zorahayda (zo ra hi'da) Zorayda (zo ri'da)

[370]