The Alhambra

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Washington Irving. The Alhambra

INTRODUCTION

THE JOURNEY

PALACE OF THE ALHAMBRA

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS. – THE AUTHOR SUCCEEDS TO THE THRONE OF BOABDIL

INHABITANTS OF THE ALHAMBRA

THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS

THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBERS

PANORAMA FROM THE TOWER OF COMARES

THE BALCONY

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MASON

THE COURT OF LIONS

MEMENTOES OF BOABDIL

THE HOUSE OF THE WEATHERCOCK

LEGEND OF THE ARABIAN ASTROLOGER

VISITORS TO THE ALHAMBRA

THE GENERALIFE

LEGEND OF PRINCE AHMED AL KAMEL; OR, THE PILGRIM OF LOVE

A RAMBLE AMONG THE HILLS

LEGEND OF THE MOOR'S LEGACY

THE TOWER OF LAS INFANTAS

LEGEND OF THE THREE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESSES

LEGEND OF THE ROSE OF THE ALHAMBRA

THE VETERAN

THE GOVERNOR AND THE NOTARY

GOVERNOR MANCO AND THE SOLDIER

A FÊTE IN THE ALHAMBRA

LEGEND OF THE TWO DISCREET STATUES

THE CRUSADE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF ALCÁNTARA

AN EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF A DIPLOMA

THE LEGEND OF THE ENCHANTED SOLDIER

THE AUTHOR'S FAREWELL TO GRANADA

Отрывок из книги

In the spring of 1829, the author of this work, whom curiosity had brought into Spain, made a rambling expedition from Seville to Granada in company with a friend, a member of the Russian Embassy at Madrid. 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.

And here, before setting forth, let me indulge in a few previous remarks on Spanish scenery and Spanish travelling. Many are apt to picture Spain to their imaginations as a soft southern region, decked out with the luxuriant charms of voluptuous Italy. On the contrary, though there are exceptions in some of the maritime provinces, yet, for the greater part, it is 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 character of Africa. What adds to this silence and loneliness, is the absence of singing-birds, a natural consequence of the want of groves and hedges. The vulture and the eagle 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 in but few provinces in Spain, and in those chiefly among the orchards and gardens which surround the habitations of man.

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On returning to the inn I found our man Sancho in high gossip with the landlord and two or three of his hangers-on. He had just been telling some marvellous story about Seville, which mine host seemed piqued to match with one equally marvellous about Antiquera. There was once a fountain, he said, in one of the public squares called Il fuente del toro (the fountain of the bull), because the water gushed from the mouth of the bull's head, carved of stone. Underneath the head was inscribed, —

In front of the bull there is treasure. Many digged in front of the fountain, but lost their labour and found no money. At last one knowing fellow construed the motto a different way. It is in the forehead frente of the bull that the treasure is to be found, said he to himself, and I am the man to find it. Accordingly he came, late at night, with a mallet, and knocked the head to pieces; and what do you think he found?

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