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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
to her by bringing the news of the place； or the rumors that may
have straggled up from Granada。 In listening to these evening
gossipings I have picked up many curious facts； illustrative of the
manners of the people and the peculiarities of the neighborhood。
These are simple details of simple pleasures； it is the nature of
the place alone that gives them interest and importance。 I tread
haunted ground； and am surrounded by romantic associations。 From
earliest boyhood； when； on the banks of the Hudson； I first pored over
the pages of old Gines Perez de Hytas's apocryphal but chivalresque
history of the civil wars of Granada； and the feuds of its gallant
cavaliers； the Zegries and Abencerrages； that city has ever been a
subject of my waking dreams； and often have I trod in fancy the
romantic halls of the Alhambra。 Behold for once a day…dream
realized； yet I can scarce credit my senses； or believe that I do
indeed inhabit the palace of Boabdil； and look down from its balconies
upon chivalric Granada。 As I loiter through these Oriental chambers；
and hear the murmur of fountains and the song of the nightingale； as I
inhale the odor of the rose； and feel the influence of the balmy
climate； I am almost tempted to fancy myself in the paradise of
Mahomet； and that the plump little Dolores is one of the bright…eyed
houris； destined to administer to the happiness of true believers。