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第5章

part02-第5章

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  My quarters are at one end of the Governor's apartment; a suite of

empty chambers; in front of the palace; looking out upon the great

esplanade called la plaza de los algibes (the place of the

cisterns); the apartment is modern; but the end opposite to my

sleeping…room communicates with a cluster of little chambers; partly

Moorish; partly Spanish; allotted to the chatelaine Dona Antonia and

her family。 In consideration of keeping the palace in order; the

good dame is allowed all the perquisites received from visitors; and

all the produce of the gardens; excepting that she is expected to

pay an occasional tribute of fruits and flowers to the Governor。 Her

family consists of a nephew and niece; the children of two different

brothers。 The nephew; Manuel Molina; is a young man of sterling

worth and Spanish gravity。 He had served in the army; both in Spain

and the West Indies; but is now studying medicine in the hope of one

day or other becoming physician to the fortress; a post worth at least

one hundred and forty dollars a year。 The niece is the plump little

black…eyed Dolores already mentioned; and who; it is said; will one

day inherit all her aunt's possessions; consisting of certain petty

tenements in the fortress; in a somewhat ruinous condition it is true;

but which; I am privately assured by Mateo Ximenes; yield a revenue of

nearly one hundred and fifty dollars; so that she is quite an

heiress in the eyes of the ragged son of the Alhambra。 I am also

informed by the same observant and authentic personage; that a quiet

courtship is going on between the discreet Manuel and his

bright…eyed cousin; and that nothing is wanting to enable them to join

their hands and expectations but his doctor's diploma; and a

dispensation from the Pope on account of their consanguinity。

  The good dame Antonia fulfils faithfully her contract in regard to

my board and lodging; and as I am easily pleased; I find my fare

excellent; while the merry…hearted little Dolores keeps my apartment

in order; and officiates as handmaid at meal…times。 I have also at

my command a tall; stuttering; yellow…haired lad; named Pepe; who

works in the gardens; and would fain have acted as valet; but; in

this; he was forestalled by Mateo Ximenes; 〃the son of the

Alhambra。〃 This alert and officious wight has managed; somehow or

other; to stick by me ever since I first encountered him at the

outer gate of the fortress; and to weave himself into all my plans;

until he has fairly appointed and installed himself my valet;

cicerone; guide; guard; and historio…graphic squire; and I have been

obliged to improve the state of his wardrobe; that he may not disgrace

his various functions; so that he has cast his old brown mantle; as

a snake does his skin; and now appears about the fortress with a smart

Andalusian hat and jacket; to his infinite satisfaction; and the great

astonishment of his comrades。 The chief fault of honest Mateo is an

over…anxiety to be useful。 Conscious of having foisted himself into my

employ; and that my simple and quiet habits render his situation a

sinecure; he is at his wit's ends to devise modes of making himself

important to my welfare。 I am; in a manner; the victim of his

officiousness; I cannot put my foot over the threshold of the

palace; to stroll about the fortress; but he is at my elbow; to

explain every thing I see; and if I venture to ramble among the

surrounding hills; he insists upon attending me as a guard; though I

vehemently suspect he would be more apt to trust to the length of

his legs than the strength of his arms; in case of attack。 After

all; however; the poor fellow is at times an amusing companion; he

is simple…minded; and of infinite good humor; with the loquacity and

gossip of a village barber; and knows all the small…talk of the

place and its environs; but what he chiefly values himself on; is

his stock of local information; having the most marvellous stories

to relate of every tower; and vault; and gateway of the fortress; in

all of which he places the most implicit faith。

  Most of these he has derived; according to his own account; from his

grandfather; a little legendary tailor; who lived to the age of nearly

a hundred years; during which he made but two migrations beyond the

precincts of the fortress。 His shop; for the greater part of a

century; was the resort of a knot of venerable gossips; where they

would pass half the night talking about old times; and the wonderful

events and hidden secrets of the place。 The whole living; moving;

thinking; and acting; of this historical little tailor; had thus

been bounded by the walls of the Alhambra; within them he had been

born; within them he lived; breathed; and had his being; within them

he died; and was buried。 Fortunately for posterity; his traditionary

lore died not with him。 The authentic Mateo; when an urchin; used to

be an attentive listener to the narratives of his grandfather; and

of the gossip group assembled round the shopboard; and is thus

possessed of a stock of valuable knowledge concerning the Alhambra;

not to be found in books; and well worthy the attention of every

curious traveller。

  Such are the personages that constitute my regal household; and I

question whether any of the potentates; Moslem or Christian; who

have preceded me in the palace; have been waited upon with greater

fidelity; or enjoyed a serener sway。

  When I rise in the morning; Pepe; the stuttering lad from the

gardens; brings me a tribute of fresh culled flowers; which are

afterwards arranged in vases; by the skilful hand of Dolores; who

takes a female pride in the decorations of my chamber。 My meals are

made wherever caprice dictates; sometimes in one of the Moorish halls;

sometimes under the arcades of the Court of Lions; surrounded by

flowers and fountains: and when I walk out; I am conducted by the

assiduous Mateo; to the most romantic retreats of the mountains; and

delicious haunts of the adjacent valleys; not one of which but is

the scene of some wonderful tale。

  Though fond of passing the greater part of my day alone; yet I

occasionally repair in the evenings to the little domestic circle of

Dona Antonia。 This is generally held in an old Moorish chamber;

which serves the good dame for parlor; kitchen and hall of audience;

and which must have boasted of some splendor in the time of the Moors;

if we may judge from the traces yet remaining; but a rude fireplace

has been made in modern times in one corner; the smoke from which

has discolored the walls; and almost obliterated the ancient

arabesques。 A window; with a balcony overhanging the valley of the

Darro; lets in the cool evening breeze; and here I take my frugal

supper of fruit and milk; and mingle with the conversation of the

family。 There is a natural talent or mother wit; as it is called;

about the Spaniards; which renders them intellectual and agreeable

companions; whatever may be their condition in life; or however

imperfect may have been their education: add to this; they are never

vulgar; nature has endowed them with an inherent dignity of spirit。

The good Tia Antonia is a woman of strong and intelligent; though

uncultivated mind; and the bright…eyed Dolores; though she has read

but three or four books in the whole course of her life; has an

engaging mixture of naivete and good sense; and often surprises me

by the pungency of her artless sallies。 Sometimes the nephew

entertains us by reading some old comedy of Calderon or Lope de

Vega; to which he is evidently prompted by a desire to improve; as

well as amuse his cousin Dolores; though; to his great

mortification; the little damsel generally falls asleep before the

first act is completed。 Sometimes Tia Antonia has a little levee of

humble friends and dependents; the inhabitants of the adjacent hamlet;

or the wives of the invalid soldiers。 These look up to her with

great deference; as the custodian of the palace; and pay their court

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