part08-第1章

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！






　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Legend　of　the　Rose　of　the　Alhambra。



　　FOR　SOME　time　after　the　surrender　of　Granada　by　the　Moors；　that

delightful　city　was　a　frequent　and　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　which　Granada　was　rarely

honored　by　a　royal　guest。　The　palaces　of　the　nobility　remained

silent　and　shut　up；　and　the　Alhambra；　like　a　slighted　beauty；　sat　in

mournful　desolation；　among　her　neglected　gardens。　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　may　partly　have　been　owing　to

some　superstitious　notions　of　the　neighbors。　It　was　rumored　that　the

spirit　of　the　youthful　Zorahayda；　who　had　perished　in　that　tower；

was　often　seen　by　moonlight　seated　beside　the　fountain　in　the　hall；　or

moaning　about　the　battlements；　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　more　welcomed　by　the　royal

presence。　All　the　world　knows　that　Philip　V　was　the　first　Bourbon　that

swayed　the　Spanish　sceptre。　All　the　world　knows　that　he　married；　in

second　nuptials；　Elizabetta　or　Isabella　（for　they　are　the　same）；　the

beautiful　princess　of　Parma；　and　all　the　world　knows　that　by　this

chain　of　contingencies　a　French　prince　and　an　Italian　princess　were

seated　together　on　the　Spanish　throne。　For　a　visit　of　this　illustrious

pair；　the　Alhambra　was　repaired　and　fitted　up　with　all　possible

expedition。　The　arrival　of　the　court　changed　the　whole　aspect　of　the

lately　deserted　palace。　The　clangor　of　drum　and　trumpet；　the　tramp

of　steed　about　the　avenues　and　outer　court；　the　glitter　of　arms　and

display　of　banners　about　barbican　and　battlement；　recalled　the　ancient

and　warlike　glories　of　the　fortress。　A　softer　spirit；　however；　reigned

within　the　royal　palace。　There　was　the　rustling　of　robes　and　the

cautious　tread　and　murmuring　voice　of　reverential　courtiers　about

the　antechambers；　a　loitering　of　pages　and　maids　of　honor　about　the

gardens；　and　the　sound　of　music　stealing　from　open　casements。

　　Among　those　who　attended　in　the　train　of　the　monarchs　was　a　favorite

page　of　the　queen；　named　Ruyz　de　Alarcon。　To　say　that　he　was　a

favorite　page　of　the　queen　was　at　once　to　speak　his　eulogium；　for

every　one　in　the　suite　of　the　stately　Elizabetta　was　chosen　for　grace；

and　beauty；　and　accomplishments。　He　was　just　turned　of　eighteen；　light

and　lithe　of　form；　and　graceful　as　a　young　Antinous。　To　the　queen　he

was　all　deference　and　respect；　yet　he　was　at　heart　a　roguish

stripling；　petted　and　spoiled　by　the　ladies　about　the　court；　and

experienced　in　the　ways　of　women　far　beyond　his　years。

　　This　loitering　page　was　one　morning　rambling　about　the　groves　of　the

Generalife；　which　overlook　the　grounds　of　the　Alhambra。　He　had　taken

with　him　for　his　amusement　a　favorite　gerfalcon　of　the　queen。　In　the

course　of　his　rambles；　seeing　a　bird　rising　from　a　thicket；　he

unhooded　the　hawk　and　let　him　fly。　The　falcon　towered　high　in　the　air；

made　a　swoop　at　his　quarry；　but　missing　it；　soared　away；　regardless　of

the　calls　of　the　page。　The　latter　followed　the　truant　bird　with　his

eye；　in　its　capricious　flight；　until　he　saw　it　alight　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　the　Generalife。　It　was　in　fact　the　〃Tower

of　the　Princesses。〃

　　The　page　descended　into　the　ravine　and　approached　the　tower；　but

it　had　no　entrance　from　the　glen；　and　its　lofty　height　rendered　any

attempt　to　scale　it　fruitless。　Seeking　one　of　the　gates　of　the

fortress；　therefore；　he　made　a　wide　circuit　to　that　side　of　the

tower　facing　within　the　walls。

　　A　small　garden；　inclosed　by　a　trellis…work　of　reeds　overhung　with

myrtle；　lay　before　the　tower。　Opening　a　wicket；　the　page　passed

between　beds　of　flowers　and　thickets　of　roses　to　the　door。　It　was

closed　and　bolted。　A　crevice　in　the　door　gave　him　a　peep　into　the

interior。　There　was　a　small　Moorish　hall　with　fretted　walls；　light

marble　columns；　and　an　alabaster　fountain　surrounded　with　flowers。

In　the　centre　hung　a　gilt　cage　containing　a　singing　bird；　beneath

it；　on　a　chair；　lay　a　tortoise…shell　cat　among　reels　of　silk　and　other

articles　of　female　labor；　and　a　guitar　decorated　with　ribbons　leaned

against　the　fountain。

　　Ruyz　de　Alarcon　was　struck　with　these　traces　of　female　taste　and

elegance　in　a　lonely；　and；　as　he　had　supposed；　deserted　tower。　They

reminded　him　of　the　tales　of　enchanted　halls　current　in　the

Alhambra；　and　the　tortoise…shell　cat　might　be　some　spell…bound

princess。

　　He　knocked　gently　at　the　door。　A　beautiful　face　peeped　out　from　a

little　window　above；　but　was　instantly　withdrawn。　He　waited；　expecting

that　the　door　would　be　opened；　but　he　waited　in　vain；　no　footstep

was　to　be　heard　within…　all　was　silent。　Had　his　senses　deceived　him；

or　was　this　beautiful　apparition　the　fairy　of　the　tower？　He　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　his　plumed　bonnet；　and　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　little　damsel；

blushing；　〃my　aunt　has　forbidden　it。〃

　　〃I　do　beseech　you；　fair　maid…　it　is　the　favorite　falcon　of　the

queen。　I　dare　not　return　to　the　palace　without　it。〃

　　〃Are　you　then　one　of　the　cavaliers　of　the　court？〃

　　〃I　am；　fair　maid；　but　I　shall　lose　the　queen's　favor　and　my　place；

if　I　lose　this　hawk。〃

　　〃Santa　Maria！　It　is　against　you　cavaliers　of　the　court　my　aunt　has

charged　me　especially　to　bar　the　door。〃

　　〃Against　wicked　cavaliers　doubtless；　but　I　am　none　of　these；　but　a

simple　harmless　page；　who　will　be　ruined　and　undone　if　you　deny　me

this　small　request。〃

　　The　heart　of　the　little　damsel　was　touched　by　the　distress　of　the

page。　It　was　a　thousand　pities　he　should　be　ruined　for　the　want　of

so　trifling　a　boon。　Surely　too　he　could　not　be　one　of　those

dangerous　beings　whom　her　aunt　had　described　as　a　species　of　cannibal；

ever　on　the　prowl　to　make　prey　of　thoughtless　damsels；　he　was　gentle

and　modest；　and　stood　so　entreatingly　with　cap　in　hand；　and　looked

so　charming。

　　The　sly　page　saw　that　the　garrison　began　to　waver；　and　redoubled　his

entreaties　in　such　moving　terms　that　it　was　not　in　the　nature　of

mortal　maiden　to　deny　him；　so　the　blushing　little　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　basquina　set　off　the　round　but

delicate　symmetry　of　her　form；　which　was　as　yet　scarce　verging　into

womanhood。　Her　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　was　tinged　by　the　ardor　of　a　southern　sun；　but　it　served　to

give　richness　to　the　mantling　bloom　of　her　cheek；　and　to　heighten

the　lustre　of　her　melting　eyes。

　　Ruyz　de　Alarcon　beheld　all　this　with　a　single　glance；　for　it

became　him　not　to　tarry；　he　merely　murmured　his　acknowledgments；　and

then　bounded　lightly　up　the　spiral　staircase　in　quest　of　his　falcon。

　　He　soon　returned　with　the　truant　bird　upon　his　fist。　The　damsel；

in　the　mean　time；　had　seated　herself　by　the　fountain　in　the　hall；

and　was　winding　silk；　but　in　her　agitation　she　let　fall　the　reel

upon　the　pavement。　The　page　sprang　and　picked　it　up；　then　dropping

gracefully　on　one　knee；　presented　it　to　her；　but；　seizing　the　hand

extended　to　receive　it；　imprinted　on　it　a　kiss　more　fervent　and　devout

than　he　had　ever　imprinted　on　the　fair　hand　of　his　sovereign。

　　〃Ave　Maria；　senor！〃　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　it　was　the

way；　at　court；　of　expressing　the　most　profound　homage　and　respect。

　　Her　anger；　if　anger　she　felt；　was　easily　pacified；　but　her　agitation

and　embarrassment　continued；　and　she　sat　blushing　deeper　and　deeper；

with　her　eyes　cast　down　upon　her　work；　entangling　the　silk　which　she

attempted　to　wind。

　　The　cunning　page　saw　the　confusion　in　the　opposite　camp；　and　would

fain　have　profited　by　it；　but　the　fine　speeches　he　would　have

uttered　died　upon　his　lips；　his　attempts　at　gallantry　were　awkward　and

ineffectual；　and　to　his　surprise；　the　adroit　page；　who　had　figured

with　such　grace　and　effrontery　among　the　most　knowing　and

experienced　ladies　of　the　court；　found　himself　awed　and　abashed　in　the

presence　of　a　simple　damsel　of　fifteen。

　　In　fact；　the　artless　maiden；　in　her　own　modesty　and　innocence；　had

guardians　more　effectual　than　the　bolts　and　bars　prescribed　by　her

vigilant　aunt。　Still；　where　is　the　female　bosom　proof　against　the

first　whisperings　of　love？　The　little　damsel；　with　all　her

artlessness；　instinctively　comprehended　all　that　the　faltering

tongue　of　the　page　failed　to　express；　and　her　heart　was　fluttered　at

beholding；　for　the　first　time；　a　lover　at　her　feet…　and　such　a　lover！

　　The　diffidence　of　the　page；　though　genuine；　was　short…lived；　and

he　was　recovering　his　usual　ease　and　confidence；　when　a　shrill　voice

was　heard　at　a　distance。

　　〃My　aunt　is　returning　from　mass！〃　cried　the　damsel　in　affright；　〃I

pray　you；　senor；　depart。〃

　　〃Not　until　you　grant　me　that　rose　from　your　hair　as　a　remembrance。〃

　　She　hastily　untwisted　the　rose　from　her　raven　locks。　〃Take　it；〃

cried　she；　agitated　and　blushing；　〃but　pray　begone。〃

　　The　page　took　the　rose；　and　at　the　same　time　covered　with　kisses　the

fair　hand　that　gave　it。　Then；　placing　the　flower　in　his　bonnet；　and

taking　the　falcon　upon　his　fist；　he　bounded　off　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。　〃A　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　is　not

safe！〃

　　The　vigilant　Fredegonda　was　one　of　the　most　wary　of　ancient

spinsters。　She　had　a　becoming　terror　and　distrust　of　what　sh