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show us the fortress。
I have a traveller's dislike to officious ciceroni； and did not
altogether like the garb of the applicant。
〃You are well acquainted with the place； I presume？〃
〃Ninguno mas； pues senor； soy hijo de la Alhambra。〃… （〃Nobody
better； in fact； sir； I am a son of the Alhambra！〃）
The common Spaniards have certainly a most poetical way of
expressing themselves。 〃A son of the Alhambra！〃… the appellation
caught me at once； the very tattered garb of my new acquaintance
assumed a dignity in my eyes。 It was emblematic of the fortunes of the
place； and befitted the progeny of a ruin。
I put some farther questions to him； and found that his title was
legitimate。 His family had lived in the fortress from generation to
generation ever since the time of the conquest。 His name was Mateo
Ximenes。 〃Then； perhaps；〃 said I； 〃you may be a descendant from the
great Cardinal Ximenes？〃… 〃Dios sabe！ God knows； senor！ It may be
so。 We are the oldest family in the Alhambra… Cristianos viejos； old
Christians； without any taint of Moor or Jew。 I know we belong to some
great family or other； but I forget whom。 My father knows all about
it： he has the coat…of…arms hanging up in his cottage； up in the
fortress。〃… There is not any Spaniard； however poor； but has some
claim to high pedigree。 The first title of this ragged worthy；
however； had completely captivated me； so I gladly accepted the
services of the 〃son of the Alhambra。〃
We now found ourselves in a deep narrow ravine； filled with
beautiful groves； with a steep avenue； and various footpaths winding
through it； bordered with stone seats； and ornamented with
fountains。 To our left； we beheld the towers of the Alhambra
beetling above us； to our right； on the opposite side of the ravine；
we were equally dominated by rival towers on a rocky eminence。
These； we were told； were the Torres Vermejos； or vermilion towers； so
called from their ruddy hue。 No one knows their origin。 They are of
a date much anterior to the Alhambra： some suppose them to have been
built by the Romans； others； by some wandering colony of
Phoenicians。 Ascending the steep and shady avenue； we arrived at the
foot of a huge square Moorish tower； forming a kind of barbican；
through which passed the main entrance to the fortress。 Within the
barbican was another group of veteran invalids； one mounting guard
at the portal； while the rest； wrapped in their tattered cloaks； slept
on the stone benches。 This portal is called the Gate of Justice；
from the tribunal held within its porch during the Moslem
domination； for the immediate trial of petty causes： a custom common
to the oriental nations； and occasionally alluded to in the Sacred
Scriptures。 〃Judge and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates；
and they shall judge the people with just judgment。〃
The great vestibule； or porch of the gate； is formed by an immense
Arabian arch； of the horseshoe form； which springs to half the
height of the tower。 On the keystone of this arch is engraven a
gigantic hand。 Within the vestibule； on the keystone of the portal； is
sculptured； in like manner； a gigantic key。 Those who pretend to
some knowledge of Mohammedan symbols； affirm that the hand is the
emblem of doctrine； the five fingers designating the five principal
commandments of the creed of Islam； fasting； pilgrimage；
alms…giving； ablution； and war against infidels。 The key； say they； is
the emblem of the faith or of power； the key of Daoud or David；
transmitted to the prophet。 〃And the key of the house of David will
I lay upon his shoulder； so he shall open and none shall shut； and
he shall shut and none shall open。〃 （Isaiah xxii。 22。） The key we
are told was emblazoned on the standard of the Moslems in opposition
to the Christian emblem of the cross； when they subdued Spain or
Andalusia。 It betokened the conquering power invested in the
prophet。 〃He that hath the key of David； he that openeth and no man
shutteth； and shutteth and no man openeth。〃 （Rev。 iii。 7。）
A different explanation of these emblems； however； was given by
the legitimate son of the Alhambra； and one more in unison with the
notions of the common people； who attach something of mystery and
magic to every thing Moorish； and have all kind of superstitions
connected with this old Moslem fortress。 According to Mateo； it was
a tradition handed down from the oldest inhabitants； and which he
had from his father and grandfather； that the hand and key were
magical devices on which the fate of the Alhambra depended。 The
Moorish king who built it was a great magician； or； as some
believed； had sold himself to the devil； and had laid the whole
fortress under a magic spell。 By this means it had remained standing
for several hundred years； in defiance of storms and earthquakes；
while almost all other buildings of the Moors had fallen to ruin；
and disappeared。 This spell； the tradition went on to say； would
last until the hand on the outer arch should reach down and grasp
the key； when the whole pile would tumble to pieces； and all the
treasures buried beneath it by the Moors would be revealed。
Notwithstanding this ominous prediction； we ventured to pass through
the spell…bound gateway； feeling some little assurance against magic
art in the protection of the Virgin； a statue of whom we observed
above the portal。
After passing through the barbican； we ascended a narrow lane；
winding between walls； and came on an open esplanade within the
fortress； called the Plaza de los Algibes； or Place of the Cisterns；
from great reservoirs which undermine it； cut in the living rock by
the Moors to receive the water brought by conduits from the Darro； for
the supply of the fortress。 Here； also； is a well of immense depth；
furnishing the purest and coldest of water； another monument of the
delicate taste of the Moors； who were indefatigable in their exertions
to obtain that element in its crystal purity。
In front of this esplanade is the splendid pile commenced by Charles
V； and intended； it is said； to eclipse the residence of the Moorish
kings。 Much of the oriental edifice intended for the winter season was
demolished to make way for this massive pile。 The grand entrance was
blocked up； so that the present entrance to the Moorish palace is
through a simple and almost humble portal in a corner。 With all the
massive grandeur and architectural merit of the palace of Charles V；
we regarded it as an arrogant intruder； and passing by it with a
feeling almost of scorn； rang at the Moslem portal。
While waiting for admittance； our self…imposed cicerone； Mateo
Ximenes； informed us that the royal palace was intrusted to the care
of a worthy old maiden dame called Dona Antonia…Molina； but who；
according to Spanish custom； went by the more neighborly appellation
of Tia Antonia （Aunt Antonia）； who maintained the Moorish halls and
gardens in order and showed them to strangers。 While we were
talking； the door was o