been ours; but his son Boabdil thwarted his plans, crippled his power, sowed treason in his palace, and dissension in his camp. May the curse of God light upon him for his treachery!" Such, we shall see, was his fate. Intense as became his remorse from overwhelming miseries, it was natural for one who knew not the impulses of heroic patriotism, to look for alleviation in the activities of repentance. Hence, when arranging the terms of surrender of Granada, he sought to secure to the Sultana Zoraya, who had adhered faithfully to his father through all his adversities, the patrimony left her by him. Toward her sonshis kindred of blood-it has been said, he showed fraternal kindness. But it is a fact, illustrative of the sure, though often slow fulfilment of justice, that while Boabdil perished in Africa, a participant in civil strife, and his issue became merged and forgotten in unknown being, his father's shield, that of Zoraya's children, has continued to give the blazon to that of their posterity to this day, as nobles of Spain; and still bears the Moorish motto-"God alone is Conqueror"-as if significant of the final and righteous issue of events, to which reference has been made in connection with the Tower of Comares.

Although, by reason of the massiveness and strength of the walls of this tower, they seem built for all time, yet so delicate is the interior decoration, that, speaking, of its wondrous Hall of Ambassadors and Vestibule, with other parts of the Alhambra Palace, as a whole, it may be said so fair, and yet so frail a fabric is it, that one might fancy it woven by the frosty fingers of some winter-sprite of the neighbouring snowy Sierra, to dis

appear when blown on by the breath of vernal zephyrs. And yet, light and fragile as it seems, with such studied reference to the perfection of material and construction, was it built, that, though wantonly and wickedly damaged by Spanish despoilers, the portion of it not entirely destroyed by royal command, is even now, after more than five centuries since its completion, better preserved than the palace erected by Charles V to supersede it, two centuries and a half later. The Arabic inscription on the great fountain of the Court of Lions is a fit apostrophe inspired by halls and courts, robed in glory as they once were when painted as by the rainbow, and perfumed by the fruits and flowers of Andalucia. "Blessed is He who gave the Imam Mohammed a mansion which in beauty exceeds all other mansions and where is a garden containing

wonders, the like of which God forbids should elsewhere be found!"

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CHAPTER XVI.

THE ALHAMBRA HILL, WALL, AND TOWERS. TORRE DE JUSTICIA. TORRE DE LOS PRISONES. TORRE DE LOS SIETE SUELOS-ROMANTIC STORIES CONNECTED THEREWITH. HISTORY SHOULD REFUSE TO ACCEPT TRADITIONS HOWEVER PLEASING ΤΟ THE FANCY. STORY OF THE CLOSURE OF THE PORTAL OF THE TORRE DE LOS SIETE SUELOS A FABLE. BOABDIL'S DEPARTURE FROM GRANADA. WHERE HE GAVE UP THE KEYS OF THE CITY. INTERESTING EVIDENCES RELATING TO THE SURRENDER. WORKS OF ART OFTEN MOST RELIABLE RECORDS. TORRE DE LA AGUA. TORRE DE LAS INFANTAS-VIEW THENCE. LEGEND OF THE INFANTAS. TORRE DE LA CAUTIVA. TORRE DE LA CANDIL. TORRE DE LOS PICOS. PUERTA DE LA HIERRA. CASA DEL OBSERVATORIO AND MOORISH MOSQUE. MOSLEM PANTHEON. ALCAZABA KASSABAH. TORRE DEL HOMENAGE. TORRE DEL ARMERIA. TORRE DE LA VELA. VIEW OF THE VEGA. BRIDGE OF PINOS. SANTA FÉ. ULTIMO SUSPIRO DEL MORO. SUBIA.

THE Alhambra Hill rises rapidly from the Plaza Nueva; and within the Gate of Charles V-Puerta de la Granadas-as already stated, has two upper plateaus. That to the east of a valley, consisting chiefly of the Campo de los Martyros, with the Vermilion Towers at

one end; and that to the west having upon it the Palace just described, together with a considerable area devoted to various purposes, enclosed by defensive walls and towers. Although nearly destroyed by the French on their abandonment of the Alhambra in 1812, yet this fortress part of the hill presents so many picturesque views, from the unhindered wildness of verdure which revels on its ruins, and it is so linked with interesting incidents of the past, that it may not be left unexplored without risk of regret. It helps to give material expression to the Arabian epoch in Spain-the sterner one of war, as the Palace marks the milder reign of peace. And yet portions of it will remind the rambler, of romantic legends whose witchery once beguiled his willing credulity, and still haunts the subterranean chambers and crumbling battlements of these defences.

The Alhambra plateau is higher than the Campo de los Martyros. This esplanade surrounded by walls and towers is an elongated, irregular oval, extending from east to west, and having a length of 2,690 feet, and a width of 730 feet. The wall and towers are built of a concrete of stone, earth, and lime, faced for the most part with brick; ferruginous ingredients giving them a more than usual redness; while the intense heat of an Andalucian sun has baked them into almost rocky hardness. The height of the wall is 27 feet, the average thickness 5 feet.

Taking the Torre de Justicia-already described—as a starting point, and passing eastward the Puerta del Carril, the Torre de los Prisones is soon seen lifting its broken battlements nearly on a line with the top of the port-holed southern wall. Enclosed gardens within

THE ALHAMBRA HILL, WALLS, AND TOWERS. 289

the Alhambra grounds prevent near approach to this tower. It is better seen from the outside, as are likewise two smaller (nameless) towers abutting upon the grounds of the Sieta Suelos Hotel, outside of the Alhambra enclosure. But by passing the Church of Sa. Maria within the enclosure, and taking the streets called Calle Real, and Calle de San Francisco, until the ruined Convent and Church of San Francisco-where once rested the bodies of the deceased Isabella and Ferdinand until the completion of their sepulchre in the Royal Chapel-are reached, a gate will be found on the opposite side of the way, giving entrance to a large garden and vineyard. Through these a path leads to the "Torre de los Siete Suelos "-Tower of the Seven Floors. This, in the time of the Moors, was a strongly defended position, with two stone arched floors below ground, and five above. A thousand fantastical stories are told by the common people about this Torre de los Siete Suelos, and the treasures buried in its deep vaults, the entrance to which is defended by horrid monsters subject alone to the power of enchantment. One of these, Washington Irving wrought into his exciting Legend of the Moor's Legacy." Many in later times would like to be as fortunate as Peregil, the watercarrier, therein told of, in getting their arms up to their elbows into jars of golden coin, and precious stones, by means of a perfumed taper and an incantation. Some however while actually engaged in the mysteries of the black art, still pursued even in our day, get plunged into utter darkness, like the alcalde, alguazil, and barber-there said to be buried-by the sudden going out of life's precious taper, with which they are groping

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