按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sacred Scriptures… 〃There was under his feet as it were a paved work
of a sapphire stone〃 （Exod。 xxiv。 10）； and again； 〃Behold I will lay
thy stones with fair colors； and lay thy foundations with
sapphires。〃 （Isaiah liv。 11。）
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； the azulejos of the
Spanish； the az…zulaj of the Arabs； have come to be commonly known
as Dutch tiles。
Important Negotiations。
The Author Succeeds to the
Throne of Boabdil。
THE DAY was nearly spent before we could tear ourselves from this
region of poetry and romance to descend to the city and return to
the forlorn realities of a Spanish posada。 In a visit of ceremony to
the Governor of the Alhambra； to whom we had brought letters； we dwelt
with enthusiasm on the scenes we had witnessed； and could not but
express surprise that he should reside in the city when he had such
a paradise at his command。 He pleaded the inconvenience of a residence
in the palace from its situation on the crest of a hill； distant
from the seat of business and the resorts of social intercourse。 It
did very well for monarchs； who often had need of castle walls to
defend them from their own subjects。 〃But senores；〃 added he； smiling；
〃if you think a residence there so desirable； my apartments in the
Alhambra are at your service。〃
It is a common and almost indispensable point of politeness in a
Spaniard； to tell you his house is yours。… 〃Esta casa es siempre a
la disposicion de Vm。〃 〃This house is always at the command of your
Grace。〃 In fact； any thing of his which you admire； is immediately
offered to you。 It is equally a mark of good breeding in you not to
accept it； so we merely bowed our acknowledgments of the courtesy of
the Governor in offering us a royal palace。 We were mistaken； however。
The Governor was in earnest。 〃You will find a rambling set of empty；
unfurnished rooms；〃 said he； 〃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 in a
royal abode； the palace of King Chico is at your service。〃
We took the Governor at his word； and hastened up the steep Calle de
los Gomeres； and through the Great Gate of Justice； to negotiate
with Dame Antonia； doubting at times if this were not a dream； and
fearing 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 little Dolores； whose good
graces we had propitiated on our first visit； and who hailed our
return to the palace with her brightest looks。
All； however； went smoothly。 The good Tia Antonia had a little
furniture to put in the rooms； but it 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。
The very next day we took up our abode in the palace； and never
did sovereigns share a divided throne with more perfect harmony。
Several days passed by like a dream； when my worthy associate； being
summoned to Madrid on diplomatic duties； was compelled to abdicate；
leaving me sole monarch of this shadowy realm。 For myself； being in
a manner a haphazard loiterer about the world and prone to linger in
its pleasant places； here have I been suffering day by day to steal
away unheeded； spellbound； for aught I know； in this old enchanted
pile。 Having always a companionable feeling for my reader； and being
prone to live with him on confidential terms； I shall make it a
point to communicate to him my reveries and researches during this
state of delicious thraldom。 If they have the power of imparting to
his imagination any of the witching charms of the place； he will not
repine at lingering with me for a season in the legendary halls of the
Alhambra。
At first it is proper to give him some idea of my domestic
arrangements； they are rather of a simple kind for the occupant of a
regal palace； but I trust they will be less liable to disastrous
reverses than those of my royal predecessors。
My quarters are at one end of the Governor's apartment； a suite of
empty chambers； in front of the palace； looking out upon the great
esplanade called la plaza de los algibes （the place of the
cisterns）； the apartment is modern； but the end opposite to my
sleeping…room communicates with a cluster of little chambers； partly
Moorish； partly Spanish； allotted to the chatelaine Dona Antonia and
her family。 In consideration of keeping the palace in order； the
good dame is allowed all the perquisites received from visitors； and
all the produce of the gardens； excepting that she is expected to
pay an occasional tribute of fruits and flowers to the Governor。 Her
family consists of a nephew and niece； the children of two different
brothers。 The nephew； Manuel Molina； is a young man of sterling
worth and Spanish gravity。 He had served in the army； both in Spain
and the West Indies； but is now studying medicine in the hope of one
day or other becoming physician to the fortress； a post worth at least
one hundred and forty dollars a year。 The niece is the plump little
black…eyed Dolores already mentioned； and who； it is said； will one
day inherit all her aunt's possessions； consisting of certain petty
tenements in the fortress； in a somewhat ruinous condition it is true；
but which； I am privately assured by Mateo Ximenes； yield a revenue of
nearly one hundred and fifty dollars； so that she is quite an
heiress in the eyes of the ragged son of the Alhambra。 I am also
informed by the same observant and authentic personage； that a quiet
courtship is going on between the discreet Manuel and his
bright…eyed cousin； and that nothing is wanting to enable them to join
their hands and expectations but his doctor's diploma； and a
dispensation from the Pope on account of their consanguinity。
The good dame Antonia fulfils faithfully her contract in regard to
my board and lodging； and as I am easily pleased； I find 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； yellow…haired lad； named Pepe； who
works in the gardens； and would fain have acted as valet； but； in
this； he was forestalled by Mateo Ximenes； 〃the son of the
Alhambra。〃 This alert and officious wight has managed； somehow or
other； to stick by me ever since I first encountered him at the
outer gate of the fortress； and to weave himself into all my plans；
until he has fairly appointed and installed himself my valet；
cicerone； guide； guard； and historio…graphic squire； and I have been
obliged to improve the state of his wardrobe； that he may not disgrace
his various functions； so that he has cast his old brown mantle； as
a snake does his skin； and now appears about the fortress with a smart
Andalusian hat and jacket； to his infinite satisfaction； and the great
astonishment of his comrades。 The chief fault of honest Mateo is an
over…anxiety to be useful。 Conscious of having foisted himself into my
employ； and that my simple and quiet habits render his situation a
sinecure； he is at his wit's ends to devise modes of making himself
important to my welfare。 I am； in a manner； the victim of his
officiousness； I cannot put my foot over the threshold of the
palace； to stroll about the fortress； but he is at my elbow； to
explain every thing I see； and if I venture to ramble among the
surrounding hills； he insists upon attending me as a guard； though I
vehemently suspect he would be more apt to trust to the length of
his legs than the strength of his arms； in case of attack。 After
all； however； the poor fellow is at times an amusing companion； he
is simple…minded； and of infinite good humor； with the loquacity and
gossip of a village barber； and knows all the small…talk of the
place and its environs； but what he chiefly values himself on； is
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