part10-第4章

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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　a　seal

ring　of　mixed　metal；　in　which　gold　and　silver　appeared　to　be

blended。　The　seal　bore　as　a　device　two　triangles　crossing　each

other；　so　as　to　form　a　star。　This　device　is　said　to　be　a　cabalistic

sign；　invented　by　King　Solomon　the　wise；　and　of　mighty　power　in　all

cases　of　enchantment；　but　the　honest　student；　being　neither　sage　nor

conjurer；　knew　nothing　of　the　matter。　He　took　the　ring　as　a　present

from　St。　Cyprian　in　reward　of　his　prayer；　slipped　it　on　his　finger；

made　a　bow　to　the　cross；　and　strumming　his　guitar；　set　off　merrily

on　his　wandering。

　　The　life　of　a　mendicant　student　in　Spain　is　not　the　most　miserable

in　the　world；　especially　if　he　has　any　talent　at　making　himself

agreeable。　He　rambles　at　large　from　village　to　village；　and　city　to

city；　wherever　curiosity　or　caprice　may　conduct　him。　The　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　with　several　quartos；　or　half…pence　in　the　morning。

As　he　presents　himself　from　door　to　door　in　the　streets　of　the　cities；

he　meets　with　no　harsh　rebuff；　no　chilling　contempt；　for　there　is　no

disgrace　attending　his　mendicity；　many　of　the　most　learned　men　in

Spain　having　commenced　their　career　in　this　manner；　but　if；　like　the

student　in　question；　he　is　a　good…looking　varlet　and　a　merry

companion；　and；　above　all；　if　he　can　play　the　guitar；　he　is　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　way　over　half　the　kingdom；　with　the　fixed　determination　to　visit

the　famous　city　of　Granada　before　his　return。　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　at　the　cottage　door　with　his　guitar；　he　delighted

the　simple　folk　with　his　ditties；　or　striking　up　a　fandango　or　bolero；

set　the　brown　country　lads　and　lasses　dancing　in　the　mellow

twilight。　In　the　morning　he　departed　with　kind　words　from　host　and

hostess；　and　kind　looks　and；　peradventure；　a　squeeze　of　the　hand

from　the　daughter。

　　At　length　he　arrived　at　the　great　object　of　his　musical

vagabondizing；　the　far…famed　city　of　Granada；　and　hailed　with　wonder

and　delight　its　Moorish　towers；　its　lovely　Vega　and　its　snowy

mountains　glistering　through　a　summer　atmosphere。　It　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　feet。

　　His　musical　talent；　his　happy　humor；　his　youth　and　his　good　looks；

won　him　a　universal　welcome　in　spite　of　his　ragged　robes；　and　for

several　days　he　led　a　gay　life　in　the　old　Moorish　capital　and　its

environs。　One　of　his　occasional　haunts　was　the　fountain　of

Avellanos；　in　the　valley　of　the　Darro。　It　is　one　of　the　popular

resorts　of　Granada；　and　has　been　so　since　the　days　of　the　Moors；　and

here　the　student　had　an　opportunity　of　pursuing　his　studies　of

female　beauty；　a　branch　of　study　to　which　he　was　a　little　prone。

　　Here　he　would　take　his　seat　with　his　guitar；　improvise

love…ditties　to　admiring　groups　of　majos　and　majas；　or　prompt　with　his

music　the　ever　ready　dance。　He　was　thus　engaged　one　evening；　when　he

beheld　a　padre　of　the　church　advancing　at　whose　approach　every　one

touched　the　hat。　He　was　evidently　a　man　of　consequence；　he　certainly

was　a　mirror　of　good　if　not　of　holy　living…　robust　and　rosy…faced；　and

breathing　at　every　pore；　with　the　warmth　of　the　weather　and　the

exercise　of　the　walk。　As　he　passed　along　he　would　every　now　and　then

draw　a　maravedi　out　of　his　pocket　and　bestow　it　on　a　beggar；　with　an

air　of　signal　beneficence。　〃Ah；　the　blessed　father！〃　would　be　the　cry；

〃long　life　to　him；　and　may　he　soon　be　a　bishop！〃

　　To　aid　his　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。　Ah；　such　a　damsel！　Andalus　from　head　to　foot：　from　the　rose

in　her　hair　to　the　fairy　shoe　and　lacework　stocking…　Andalus　in

every　movement；　in　every　undulation　of　the　body…　ripe；　melting

Andalus！　But　then　so　modest！…　so　shy！…　ever；　with　downcast　eyes；

listening　to　the　words　of　the　padre；　or；　if　by　chance　she　let　flash

a　side　glance；　it　was　suddenly　checked　and　her　eyes　once　more　cast

to　the　ground。

　　The　good　padre　looked　benignantly　on　the　company　about　the　fountain；

and　took　his　seat　with　some　emphasis　on　a　stone　bench；　while　the

handmaid　hastened　to　bring　him　a　glass　of　sparkling　water。　He　sipped

it　deliberately　and　with　a　relish；　tempering　it　with　one　of　those

spongy　pieces　of　frosted　eggs　and　sugar　so　dear　to　Spanish　epicures；

and　on　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　it　be　to　be　gathered　into　his　fold　with　such　a

pet…lamb　for　a　companion！〃

　　But　no　such　good　fare　was　likely　to　befall　him。　In　vain　he　essayed

those　powers　of　pleasing　which　he　had　found　so　irresistible　with

country　curates　and　country　lasses。　Never　had　he　touched　his　guitar

with　such　skill；　never　had　he　poured　forth　more　soul…moving　ditties；

but　he　had　no　longer　a　country　curate　or　country　lass　to　deal　with。

The　worthy　priest　evidently　did　not　relish　music；　and　the　modest

damsel　never　raised　her　eyes　from　the　ground。　They　remained　but　a

short　time　at　the　fountain；　the　good　padre　hastened　their　return　to

Granada。　The　damsel　gave　the　student　one　shy　glance　in　retiring；　but

it　plucked　the　heart　out　of　his　bosom！

　　He　inquired　about　them　after　they　had　gone。　Padre　Tomas　was　one　of

the　saints　of　Granada；　a　model　of　regularity；　punctual　in　his　hour

of　rising；　his　hour　of　taking　a　paseo　for　an　appetite；　his　hours　of

eating；　his　hour　of　taking　his　siesta；　his　hour　of　playing　his　game　of

tresillo；　of　an　evening；　with　some　of　the　dames　of　the　Cathedral

circle；　his　hour　of　supping；　and　his　hour　of　retiring　to　rest；　to

gather　fresh　strength　for　another　day's　round　of　similar　duties。　He

had　an　easy　sleek　mule　for　his　riding；　a　matronly　housekeeper

skilled　in　preparing　tit…bits　for　his　table；　and　the　pet　lamb；　to

smooth　his　pillow　at　night　and　bring　him　his　chocolate　in　the　morning。

　　Adieu　now　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。　He

sought　the　mansion　of　the　padre。　Alas！　it　was　above　the　class　of

houses　accessible　to　a　strolling　student　like　himself。　The　worthy

padre　had　no　sympathy　with　him；　he　had　never　been　Estudiante

sopista；　obliged　to　sing　for　his　supper。　He　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。　He　serenaded　her　balcony　at　night；　and　at　one　time　was　flattered

by　the　appearance　of　something　white　at　a　window。　Alas；　it　was　only

the　nightcap　of　the　padre。

　　Never　was　lover　more　devoted；　never　damsel　more　shy：　the　poor

student　was　reduced　to　despair。　At　length　arrived　the　eve　of　St。　John；

when　the　lower　classes　of　Granada　swarm　into　the　country；　dance　away

the　afternoon；　and　pass　midsummer'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　moment　they　have　a　beautifying　power。　The　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　of　the　river；　the　rocks　which　border　it；　the　terraced

gardens　which　overhang　it　were　alive　with　variegated　groups；　dancing

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　little　bridge　over　the　Darro。　He　cast　a　wistful　glance　upon　the

merry　scene；　where　every　cavalier　had　his　dame；　or；　to　speak　more

appropriately；　every　Jack　his　Jill；　sighed　at　his　own　solitary

state；　a　victim　to　the　black　eye　of　the　most　unapproachable　of

damsels；　and　repined　at　his　ragged　garb；　which　seemed　to　shut　the　gate

of　hope　against　him。

　　By　degrees　his　attention　was　attracted　to　a　neighbor　equally

solitary　with　himself　This　was　a　tall　soldier；　of　a　stern　aspect　and

grizzled　beard；　who　seemed　posted　as　a　sentry　at　the　opposite

pomegranate。　His　face　was　bronzed　by　time；　he　was　arrayed　in　ancient

Spanish　armor；　with　buckler　and　lance；　and　stood　immovable　as　a

statue。　What　surprised　the　student　was；　that　though　thus　strangely

equipped；　he　was　totally　unnoticed　by　the　passing　throng；　albeit

that　many　almost　brushed　against　him。

　　〃This　is　a　city　of　old…time　peculiarities；〃　thought　the　student；

〃and　doubtless　this　is　one　of　them　with　which　the　inhabitants　are

too　familiar　to　be　surprised。〃　His　own　curiosity；　however；　was

awakened；　and　being　of　a　social　disposition；　he　accosted　the　soldier。

　　〃A　rare　old　suit　of　armor　that　which　you　wear；　comrade。　May　I　ask

what　corps　you　belong　to？〃

　　The　soldier　gasped　out　a　reply　from　a　pair　of　jaws　which　seemed　to

have　rusted　on　their　hinges。

　　〃The　royal　guard　of　Ferdinand　and　Isabella。〃

　　〃Santa　Maria！　Why；　it　is　three　centuries　since　that　corps　was　in

service。〃

　　〃And　for　three　centuries　have　I　been　mounting　guard。　Now　I　trust

my　tour　of　duty　draws　to　a　close。　Dost　thou　desire　fortune？〃

　　The　student　held　up　his　tattered　cloak　in　reply。

　　〃I　understand　thee。　If　thou　hast　faith　and　courage；　follow　me；　and

thy　fortune　is　made。〃

　　〃Softly；　comrade；　to　follow　thee　would　require　small　courage　in

one　who　has　nothing　to　lose　but　life　and　an　old　guitar；　neither　of

much　value；　but　my　faith　is　of　a　different　matter；　and　not　to　be　put

in　temptation。　If　it　be　any　criminal　act　by　which　I　am　to　mend　my

fortune；　think　not　my　ragged　cloak　will　make　me　undertake　it。〃

　　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。　I　am　a　Cristiano　viejo；　trust　in　me　and　fear　no　evil。〃

　　The　student　followed　him　wondering。　He　observed　that　no　one　heeded

their　conversation；　and　that　the　soldier　made　his　way　throug