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                                  THE ALHAMBRA


                              by Washington Irving





              Preface to the Revised Edition。



  Rough draughts of some of the following tales and essays were

actually written during a residence in the Alhambra; others were

subsequently added; founded on notes and observations made there。 Care

was taken to maintain local coloring and verisimilitude; so that the

whole might present a faithful and living picture of that microcosm;

that singular little world into which I had been fortuitously

thrown; and about which the external world had a very imperfect

idea。 It was my endeavor scrupulously to depict its half Spanish; half

Oriental character; its mixture of the heroic; the poetic; and the

grotesque; to revive the traces of grace and beauty fast fading from

its walls; to record the regal and chivalrous traditions concerning

those who once trod its courts; and the whimsical and superstitious

legends of the motley race now burrowing among its ruins。

  The papers thus roughly sketched out lay for three or four years

in my portfolio; until I found myself in London; in 1832; on the eve

of returning to the United States。 I then endeavored to arrange them

for the press; but the preparations for departure did not allow

sufficient leisure。 Several were thrown aside as incomplete; the

rest were put together somewhat hastily and in rather a crude and

chaotic manner。

  In the present edition I have revised and re…arranged the whole

work; enlarged some parts; and added others; including the papers

originally omitted; and have thus endeavored to render it more

complete and more worthy of the indulgent reception with which it

has been favored。

                                                  W。 I。

  Sunnyside; 1851。

                      The Journey。



  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。 Should these pages meet his eye; wherever

thrown by the duties of his station; whether mingling in the pageantry

of courts; or meditating on the truer glories of nature; may they

recall the scenes of our adventurous companionship; and with them

the recollection of one; in whom neither time nor distance will

obliterate the remembrance of his gentleness and worth。

  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。

  In the interior provinces the traveller occasionally traverses great

tracts cultivated with grain as far as the eye can reach; waving at

times with verdure; at other times naked and sunburnt; but he looks

round in vain for the hand that has tilled the soil。 At length; he

perceives some village on a steep hill; or rugged crag; with

mouldering battlements and ruined watchtower; a strong…hold; in old

times; against civil war; or Moorish inroad; for the custom among

the peasantry of congregating together for mutual protection is

still kept up in most parts of Spain; in consequence of the maraudings

of roving freebooters。

  But though a great part of Spain is deficient in the garniture of

groves and forests; and the softer charms of ornamental cultivation;

yet its scenery is noble in its severity; and in unison with the

attributes of its people; and I think that I better understand the

proud; hardy; frugal and abstemious Spaniard; his manly defiance of

hardships; and contempt of effeminate indulgences; since I have seen

the country he inhabits。

  There is something too; in the sternly simple features of the

Spanish landscape; that impresses on the soul a feeling of

sublimity。 The immense plains of the Castiles and of La Mancha;

extending as far as the eye can reach; derive an interest from their

very nakedness and immensity; and possess; in some degree; the

solemn grandeur of the ocean。 In ranging over these boundless

wastes; the eye catches sight here and there of a straggling herd of

cattle attended by a lonely herdsman; motionless as a statue; with his

long slender pike tapering up like a lance into the air; or; beholds a

long train of mules slowly moving along the waste like a train of

camels in the desert; or; a single horseman; armed with blunderbuss

and stiletto; and prowling over the plain。 Thus the country; the

habits; the very looks of the people; have something of the Arabian

character。 The general insecurity of the country is evinced in the

universal use of weapons。 The herdsman in the field; the shepherd in

the plain; has his musket and his knife。 The wealthy villager rarely

ventures to the market…town without his trabuco; and; perhaps; a

servant on foot with a blunderbuss on his shoulder; and the most petty

journey is undertaken with the preparation of a warlike enterprise。

  The dangers of the road produce also a mode of travelling;

resembling; on a diminutive scale; the caravans of the east。 The

arrieros; or carriers; congregate in convoys; and set off in large and

well…armed trains on appointed days; while additional travellers swell

their number; and contribute to their strength。 In this primitive

way is the commerce of the country carried on。 The muleteer is the

general medium of traffic; and the legitimate traverser of the land;

crossing the peninsula from the Pyrenees and the Asturias to the

Alpuxarras; the Serrania de Ronda; and even to the gates of Gibraltar。

He lives frugally and hardily: his alforjas of coarse cloth hold his

scanty stock of provisions; a leathern bottle; hanging at his

saddle…bow; contains wine or water; for a supply across barren

mountains and thirsty plains; a mule…cloth spread upon the ground is

his bed at night; and his pack…saddle his pillow。 His low; but

clean…limbed and sinewy form betokens strength; his complexion is dark

and sunburnt; his eye resolute; but quiet in its expression; except

when kindled by sudden emotion; his demeanor is frank; manly; and

courteous; and he never passes you without a grave salutation: 〃Dios

guarde a usted!〃 〃Va usted con Dios; Caballero!〃 (〃God guard you!〃

〃God be with you; Cavalier!〃)

  As these men have often their whole fortune at stake upon the burden

of their mules; they have their weapons at hand; slung to their

saddles; and ready to be snatched out for desperate defence; but their

united numbers render them secure against petty bands of marauders;

and the solitary bandolero; armed to the teeth; and mounted on his

Andalusian steed; hovers about them; like a pirate about a merchant

convoy; without daring to assault。

  The Spanish muleteer has an inexhaustible stock of songs and

ballads; with which to beguile his incessant wayfaring。 The airs are

rude and simple; consisting of but few infl

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