part10-第3章

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informant；　〃spurns　at　restraint　and　scoffs　at　thy　authority。〃　The　poet

was　instantly　dismissed　from　office。　The　loss　of　an　irksome　post　was

no　grievance　to　one　of　his　joyous　temperament；　but　he　soon

discovered　the　real　cause　of　his　removal。　The　Wali　was　his　rival。　He

had　seen　and　become　enamored　of　Hafsah。　What　was　worse；　Hafsah　was

dazzled　with　the　conquest　she　had　made。

　　For　a　time　Ahmed　treated　the　matter　with　ridicule；　and　appealed　to

the　prejudice　existing　between　the　Arab　and　Moorish　races。　Sidi　Abu

Said　was　of　a　dark　olive　complexion。　〃How　canst　thou　endure　that　black

man？〃　said　he；　scornfully。　〃By　Allah；　for　twenty　dinars　I　can　buy　thee

a　better　than　he　in　the　slave　market。〃

　　The　scoff　reached　the　ears　of　Sidi　Abu　Said　and　rankled　in　his

heart。

　　At　other　times；　Ahmed　gave　way　to　grief　and　tenderness；　recalling

past　scenes　of　happiness；　reproaching　Hafsah　with　her　inconstancy；　and

warning　her　in　despairing　accents　that　she　would　be　the　cause　of　his

death。　His　words　were　unheeded。　The　idea　of　having　the　son　of　the

Sultan　for　a　lover　had　captivated　the　imagination　of　the　poetess。

　　Maddened　by　jealousy　and　despair；　Ahmed　joined　in　a　conspiracy

against　the　ruling　dynasty。　It　was　discovered；　and　the　conspirators

fled　from　Granada。　Some　escaped　to　a　castle　on　the　mountains；　Ahmed

took　refuge　in　Malaga；　where　he　concealed　himself；　intending　to　embark

for　Valencia。　He　was　discovered；　loaded　with　chains　and　thrown　into

a　dungeon；　to　abide　the　decision　of　Sidi　Abu　Said。

　　He　was　visited　in　prison　by　a　nephew；　who　has　left　on　record　an

account　of　the　interview。　The　youth　was　moved　to　tears　at　seeing　his

illustrious　relative；　late　so　prosperous　and　honored；　fettered　like

a　malefactor。

　　〃Why　dost　thou　weep？〃　said　Ahmed。　〃Are　these　tears　shed　for　me？

For　me；　who　have　enjoyed　all　that　the　world　could　give？　Weep　not　for

me。　I　have　had　my　share　of　happiness；　banqueted　on　the　daintiest　fare；

quaffed　out　of　crystal　cups；　slept　on　beds　of　down；　been　arrayed　in

the　richest　silks　and　brocades；　ridden　the　fleetest　steeds；　enjoyed

the　loves　of　the　fairest　maidens。　Weep　not　for　me。　My　present

reverse　is　but　the　inevitable　course　of　fate。　I　have　committed　acts

which　render　pardon　hopeless。　I　must　await　my　punishment。〃

　　His　presentiment　was　correct。　The　vengeance　of　Sidi　Abu　Said　was

only　to　be　satisfied　by　the　blood　of　his　rival；　and　the　unfortunate

Ahmed　was　beheaded　at　Malaga；　in　the　month　Jumadi；　in　the　year　559

of　the　Hegira　（April；　1164）。　When　the　news　was　brought　to　the

fickle…hearted　Hafsah；　she　was　struck　with　sorrow　and　remorse；　and　put

on　mourning；　recalling　his　warning　words；　and　reproaching　herself　with

being　the　cause　of　his　death。

　　Of　the　after　fortunes　of　Hafsah　I　have　no　further　trace　than　that

she　died　in　Morocco；　in　1184；　outliving　both　her　lovers；　for　Sidi

Abu　Said　died　in　Morocco　of　the　plague　in　1175。　A　memorial　of　his

residence　in　Granada　remained　in　a　palace　which　he　built　on　the

banks　of　the　Xenil。　The　garden　of　Maumal；　the　scene　of　the　early　lives

of　Ahmed　and　Hafsah；　is　no　longer　in　existence。　Its　site　may　be

found　by　the　antiquary　in　poetical　research。



　　The　authorities　for　the　foregoing：　Alcantara；　Hist。　Granada。　Al

Makkari；　Hist。　Mohamed。　Dynasties　in　Spain。　Notes　and　illustrations　of

the　same　by　Gayangos。　Ibnu　Al　Kahttib；　Biograph。　Dic。；　cited　by

Gayangos。　Conde；　Hist。　Dom。　Arab。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　An　Expedition　in　Quest　of　a　Diploma。



　　ONE　OF　the　most　important　occurrences　in　the　domestic　life　of　the

Alhambra；　was　the　departure　of　Manuel；　the　nephew　of　Dona　Antonia；　for

Malaga；　to　stand　examination　as　a　physician。　I　have　already　informed

the　reader　that；　on　his　success　in　obtaining　a　degree　depended　in　a

great　measure　the　union　and　future　fortunes　of　himself　and　his

cousin　Dolores；　at　least　so　I　was　privately　informed　by　Mateo　Ximenes；

and　various　circumstances　concurred　to　corroborate　his　information。

Their　courtship；　however；　was　carried　on　very　quietly　and

discreetly；　and　I　scarce　think　I　should　have　discovered　it；　if　I　had

not　been　put　on　the　alert　by　the　all…observant　Mateo。

　　In　the　present　instance；　Dolores　was　less　on　the　reserve；　and　had

busied　herself　for　several　days　in　fitting　out　honest　Manuel　for　his

expedition。　All　his　clothes　had　been　arranged　and　packed　in　the

neatest　order；　and　above　all　she　had　worked　a　smart　Andalusian

travelling　jacket　for　him　with　her　own　hands。　On　the　morning　appointed

for　his　departure；　a　stout　mule　on　which　he　was　to　perform　the　journey

was　paraded　at　the　portal　of　the　Alhambra；　and　Tio　Polo　（Uncle

Polo）；　an　old　invalid　soldier；　attended　to　caparison　him。　This　veteran

was　one　of　the　curiosities　of　the　place。　He　had　a　leathern　visage；

tanned　in　the　tropics；　a　long　Roman　nose；　and　a　black　beetle　eye。　I

had　frequently　observed　him　reading；　apparently　with　intense　interest；

an　old　parchment…bound　volume；　sometimes　he　would　be　surrounded　by　a

group　of　his　brother　invalids；　some　seated　on　the　parapets；　some　lying

on　the　grass；　listening　with　fixed　attention；　while　he　read　slowly　and

deliberately　out　of　his　favorite　work；　sometimes　pausing　to　explain　or

expound　for　the　benefit　of　his　less　enlightened　auditors。

　　I　took　occasion　one　day　to　inform　myself　of　this　ancient　book；　which

appeared　to　be　his　vade　mecum；　and　found　it　to　be　an　odd　volume　of　the

works　of　Padre　Benito　Geronymo　Feyjoo；　and　that　one　which　treats　about

the　Magic　of　Spain；　the　mysterious　caves　of　Salamanca　and　Toledo；

the　Purgatory　of　San　Patricio　（St。　Patrick）；　and　other　mystic　subjects

of　the　kind。　From　that　time　I　kept　my　eye　upon　the　veteran。

　　On　the　present　occasion；　I　amused　myself　with　watching　him　fit　out

the　steed　of　Manuel　with　all　the　forecast　of　an　old　campaigner。　First；

he　took　a　considerable　time　in　adjusting　to　the　back　of　the　mule　a

cumbrous　saddle　of　antique　fashion；　high　in　front　and　behind；　with

Moorish　stirrups　like　shovels；　the　whole　looking　like　a　relic　of　the

old　armory　of　the　Alhambra；　then　a　fleecy　sheepskin　was　accommodated

to　the　deep　seat　of　the　saddle；　then　a　maleta；　neatly　packed　by　the

hand　of　Dolores；　was　buckled　behind；　then　a　manta　was　thrown　over　it

to　serve　either　as　cloak　or　couch；　then　the　all…important　alforjas；

carefully　stocked　with　provant；　were　hung　in　front；　together　with

the　bota；　or　leathern　bottle　for　either　wine　or　water；　and　lastly

the　trabuco；　which　the　old　soldier　slung　behind；　giving　it　his

benediction。　It　was　like　the　fitting　out　in　old　times　of　a　Moorish

cavalier　for　a　foray　or　a　joust　in　the　Vivarrambla。　A　number　of　the

lazzaroni　of　the　fortress　had　gathered　round；　with　some　of　the

invalids；　all　looking　on；　all　offering　their　aid；　and　all　giving

advice；　to　the　great　annoyance　of　Tio　Polo。

　　When　all　was　ready　Manuel　took　leave　of　the　household；　Tio　Polo　held

his　stirrup　while　he　mounted；　adjusted　the　girths　and　saddle；　and

cheered　him　off　in　military　style；　then　turning　to　Dolores；　who

stood　admiring　her　cavalier　as　he　trotted　off；　〃Ah　Dolorocita；〃

exclaimed　he；　with　a　nod　and　a　wink；　〃es　muy　guapo　Manuelito　in　su

Xaqueta〃　（〃Ah　Dolores；　Manuel　is　mighty　fine　in　his　jacket。〃）　The

little　damsel　blushed　and　laughed；　and　ran　into　the　house。

　　Days　elapsed　without　tidings　from　Manuel；　though　he　had　promised

to　write。　The　heart　of　Dolores　began　to　misgive　her。　Had　any　thing

happened　to　him　on　the　road？　Had　he　failed　in　his　examination？　A

circumstance　occurred　in　her　little　household　to　add　to　her　uneasiness

and　fill　her　mind　with　foreboding。　It　was　almost　equal　to　the　escapado

of　her　pigeon。　Her　tortoise…shell　cat　eloped　at　night　and　clambered　to

the　tiled　roof　of　the　Alhambra。　In　the　dead　of　the　night　there　was　a

fearful　caterwauling；　some　grimalkin　was　uncivil　to　her；　then　there

was　a　scramble；　then　a　clapper…clawing；　then　both　parties　rolled　off

the　roof　and　tumbled　from　a　great　height　among　the　trees　on　the　hill

side。　Nothing　more　was　seen　or　heard　of　the　fugitive；　and　poor　Dolores

considered　it　but　the　prelude　to　greater　calamities。

　　At　the　end　of　ten　days；　however；　Manuel　returned　in　triumph；　duly

authorized　to　kill　or　cure；　and　all　Dolores'　cares　were　over。　There

was　a　general　gathering　in　the　evening；　of　the　humble　friends　and

hangers…on　of　Dame　Antonio　to　congratulate　her；　and　to　pay　their

respects　to　el　Senor　Medico；　who；　peradventure；　at　some　future　day；

might　have　all　their　lives　in　his　hands。　One　of　the　most　important

of　these　guests　was　old　Tio　Polo；　and　I　gladly　seized　the　occasion

to　prosecute　my　acquaintance　with　him。　〃Oh　senor；〃　cried　Dolores；　〃you

who　are　so　eager　to　learn　all　the　old　histories　of　the　Alhambra。　Tio

Polo　knows　more　about　them　than　any　one　else　about　the　place。　More

than　Mateo　Ximenes　and　his　whole　family　put　together。　Vaya…　vaya…

Tio　Polo；　tell　the　senor　all　those　stories　you　told　us　one　evening；

about　enchanted　Moors；　and　the　haunted　bridge　over　the　Darro；　and

the　old　stone　pomegranates；　that　have　been　there　since　the　days　of

King　Chico。〃

　　It　was　some　time　before　the　old　invalid　could　be　brought　into　a

narrative　vein。　He　shook　his　head…　they　were　all　idle　tales；　not

worthy　of　being　told　to　a　caballero　like　myself。　It　was　only　by

telling　some　stories　of　the　kind　myself　I　at　last　got　him　to　open

his　budget。　It　was　a　whimsical　farrago；　partly　made　up　of　what　he

had　heard　in　the　Alhambra；　partly　of　what　he　had　read　in　Padre　Feyjoo。

I　will　endeavor　to　give　the　reader　the　substance　of　it；　but　I　will　not

promise　to　give　it　in　the　very　words　of　Tio　Polo。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Legend　of　the　Enchanted　Soldier。



　　EVERYBODY　has　heard　of　the　Cave　of　St。　Cyprian　at　Salamanca；　where

in　old　times　judicial　astronomy；　necromancy；　chiromancy；　and　other

dark　and　damnable　arts　were　secretly　taught　by　an　ancient　sacristan；

or；　as　some　will　have　it；　by　the　devil　himself；　in　that　disguise。

The　cave　has　long　been　shut　up　and　the　very　site　of　it　forgotten；

though；　according　to　tradition；　the　entrance　was　somewhere　about　where

the　stone　cross　stands　in　the　small　square　of　the　seminary　of

Carvajal；　and　this　tradition　appears　in　some　degree　corroborated　by

the　circumstances　of　the　following　story。

　　There　was　at　one　time　a　student　of　Salamanca；　Don　Vicente　by　name；

of　that　merry　but　mendicant　class；　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　them　to　pursue　their　studies　through　the　ensuing　term。　He

was　now　about　to　set　forth　on　his　wanderings；　and　being　somewhat

musical；　slung　on　his　back　a　guitar　with　which　to　amuse　the　villagers；

and　pay　for　a　meal　or　a　night's　lodgings。

　　As　he　passed　by　the　stone　cross　in　the　seminary　square；　he　pulled

off　his　hat　and　made　a　short　invocation　to　St。　Cyprian；　for　good　luck；

when　casting　his　eyes　upon　the　earth；　he　perceived　something　glitter

at　the　foot　of　the　cross。　On　picking　it　up；　it　proved　to　be