part07-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



　　The　terrified　water…carrier　fell　on　his　knees；　and　made　a　full

relation　of　the　marvellous　manner　in　which　he　had　gained　his　wealth。

The　alcalde；　the　alguazil；　and　the　inquisitive　barber；　listened　with

greedy　ears　to　this　Arabian　tale　of　enchanted　treasure。　The　alguazil

was　dispatched　to　bring　the　Moor　who　had　assisted　in　the

incantation。　The　Moslem　entered　half　frightened　out　of　his　wits　at

finding　himself　in　the　hands　of　the　harpies　of　the　law。　When　he　beheld

the　water…carrier　standing　with　sheepish　looks　and　downcast

countenance；　he　comprehended　the　whole　matter。　〃Miserable　animal；〃

said　he；　as　he　passed　near　him；　〃did　I　not　warn　thee　against

babbling　to　thy　wife？〃

　　The　story　of　the　Moor　coincided　exactly　with　that　of　his

colleague；　but　the　alcalde　affected　to　be　slow　of　belief；　and　threw

out　menaces　of　imprisonment　and　rigorous　investigation。

　　〃Softly；　good　Senor　Alcalde；〃　said　the　Mussulman；　who　by　this　time

had　recovered　his　usual　shrewdness　and　self…possession。　〃Let　us　not

mar　fortune's　favors　in　the　scramble　for　them。　Nobody　knows　any

thing　of　this　matter　but　ourselves；　let　us　keep　the　secret。　There　is

wealth　enough　in　the　cave　to　enrich　us　all。　Promise　a　fair　division；

and　all　shall　be　produced；　refuse；　and　the　cave　shall　remain　for

ever　closed。〃

　　The　alcalde　consulted　apart　with　the　alguazil。　The　latter　was　an　old

fox　in　his　profession。　〃Promise　any　thing；〃　said　he；　〃until　you　get

possession　of　the　treasure。　You　may　then　seize　upon　the　whole；　and

if　he　and　his　accomplice　dare　to　murmur；　threaten　them　with　the

fagot　and　the　stake　as　infidels　and　sorcerers。〃

　　The　alcalde　relished　the　advice。　Smoothing　his　brow　and　turning　to

the　Moor；　〃This　is　a　strange　story；〃　said　he；　〃and　may　be　true；　but

I　must　have　ocular　proof　of　it。　This　very　night　you　must　repeat　the

incantation　in　my　presence；　If　there　be　really　such　treasure；　we

will　share　it　amicably　between　us；　and　say　nothing　further　of　the

matter；　if　ye　have　deceived　me；　expect　no　mercy　at　my　hands。　In　the

mean　time　you　must　remain　in　custody。〃

　　The　Moor　and　the　water…carrier　cheerfully　agreed　to　these

conditions；　satisfied　that　the　event　would　prove　the　truth　of　their

words。

　　Towards　midnight　the　alcalde　sallied　forth　secretly；　attended　by　the

alguazil　and　the　meddlesome　barber；　all　strongly　armed。　They　conducted

the　Moor　and　the　water…carrier　as　prisoners；　and　were　provided　with

the　stout　donkey　of　the　latter　to　bear　off　the　expected　treasure。　They

arrived　at　the　tower　without　being　observed；　and　tying　the　donkey　to　a

fig…tree；　descended　into　the　fourth　vault　of　the　tower。

　　The　scroll　was　produced；　the　yellow　taper　lighted；　and　the　Moor　read

the　form　of　incantation。　The　earth　trembled　as　before；　and　the

pavement　opened　with　a　thundering　sound；　disclosing　the　narrow

flight　of　steps。　The　alcalde；　the　alguazil；　and　the　barber　were　struck

aghast；　and　could　not　summon　courage　to　descend。　The　Moor　and　the

water…carrier　entered　the　lower　vault；　and　found　the　two　Moors

seated　as　before；　silent　and　motionless。　They　removed　two　of　the　great

jars；　filled　with　golden　coin　and　precious　stones。　The　water…carrier

bore　them　up　one　by　one　upon　his　shoulders；　but　though　a　strong…backed

little　man；　and　accustomed　to　carry　burdens；　he　staggered　beneath

their　weight；　and　found；　when　slung　on　each　side　of　his　donkey；　they

were　as　much　as　the　animal　could　bear。

　　〃Let　us　be　content　for　the　present；〃　said　the　Moor；　〃here　is　as　much

treasure　as　we　can　carry　off　without　being　perceived；　and　enough　to

make　us　all　wealthy　to　our　heart's　desire。〃

　　〃Is　there　more　treasure　remaining　behind？〃　demanded　the　alcalde。

　　〃The　greatest　prize　of　all；〃　said　the　Moor；　〃a　huge　coffer　bound

with　bands　of　steel；　and　filled　with　pearls　and　precious　stones。〃

　　〃Let　us　have　up　the　coffer　by　all　means；〃　cried　the　grasping

alcalde。

　　〃I　will　descend　for　no　more；〃　said　the　Moor；　doggedly；　〃enough　is

enough　for　a　reasonable　man…　more　is　superfluous。〃

　　〃And　I；〃　said　the　water…carrier；　〃will　bring　up　no　further　burden　to

break　the　back　of　my　poor　donkey。〃

　　Finding　commands；　threats　and　entreaties　equally　vain；　the　alcalde

turned　to　his　two　adherents。　〃Aid　me〃　said　he；　〃to　bring　up　the

coffer；　and　its　contents　shall　be　divided　between　us。〃　So　saying　he

descended　the　steps；　followed　with　trembling　reluctance　by　the

alguazil　and　the　barber。

　　No　sooner　did　the　Moor　behold　them　fairly　earthed　than　he

extinguished　the　yellow　taper；　the　pavement　closed　with　its　usual

crash；　and　the　three　worthies　remained　buried　in　its　womb。

　　He　then　hastened　up　the　different　flights　of　steps；　nor　stopped

until　in　the　open　air。　The　little　water…carrier　followed　him　as　fast

as　his　short　legs　would　permit。

　　〃What　hast　thou　done？〃　cried　Peregil；　as　soon　as　he　could　recover

breath。　〃The　alcalde　and　the　other　two　are　shut　up　in　the　vault。〃

　　〃It　is　the　will　of　Allah！〃　said　the　Moor　devoutly。

　　〃And　will　you　not　release　them？〃　demanded　the　Gallego。

　　〃Allah　forbid！〃　replied　the　Moor；　smoothing　his　beard。　〃It　is

written　in　the　book　of　fate　that　they　shall　remain　enchanted　until

some　future　adventurer　arrive　to　break　the　charm。　The　will　of　God　be

done！〃　so　saying；　he　hurled　the　end　of　the　waxen　taper　far　among　the

gloomy　thickets　of　the　glen。

　　There　was　now　no　remedy；　so　the　Moor　and　the　water…carrier　proceeded

with　the　richly　laden　donkey　toward　the　city；　nor　could　honest　Peregil

refrain　from　hugging　and　kissing　his　long…eared　fellow…laborer；　thus

restored　to　him　from　the　clutches　of　the　law；　and　in　fact；　it　is

doubtful　which　gave　the　simple　hearted　little　man　most　joy　at　the

moment；　the　gaining　of　the　treasure；　or　the　recovery　of　the　donkey。

　　The　two　partners　in　good　luck　divided　their　spoil　amicably　and

fairly；　except　that　the　Moor；　who　had　a　little　taste　for　trinketry；

made　out　to　get　into　his　heap　the　most　of　the　pearls　and　precious

stones　and　other　baubles；　but　then　he　always　gave　the　water…carrier　in

lieu　magnificent　jewels　of　massy　gold；　of　five　times　the　size；　with

which　the　latter　was　heartily　content。　They　took　care　not　to　linger

within　reach　of　accidents；　but　made　off　to　enjoy　their　wealth

undisturbed　in　other　countries。　The　Moor　returned　to　Africa；　to　his

native　city　of　Tangiers；　and　the　Gallego；　with　his　wife；　his　children；

and　his　donkey；　made　the　best　of　his　way　to　Portugal。　Here；　under

the　admonition　and　tuition　of　his　wife；　he　became　a　personage　of

some　consequence；　for　she　made　the　worthy　little　man　array　his　long

body　and　short　legs　in　doublet　and　hose；　with　a　feather　in　his　hat　and

a　sword　by　his　side；　and　laying　aside　his　familiar　appellation　of

Peregil；　assume　the　more　sonorous　title　of　Don　Pedro　Gil：　his

progeny　grew　up　a　thriving　and　merry…hearted；　though　short　and

bandy…legged　generation；　while　Senora　Gil；　befringed；　belaced；　and

betasselled　from　her　head　to　her　heels；　with　glittering　rings　on　every

finger；　became　a　model　of　slattern　fashion　and　finery。

　　As　to　the　alcalde　and　his　adjuncts；　they　remained　shut　up　under

the　great　Tower　of　the　Seven　Floors；　and　there　they　remain　spell…bound

at　the　present　day。　Whenever　there　shall　be　a　lack　in　Spain　of　pimping

barbers；　sharking　alguazils；　and　corrupt　alcaldes；　they　may　be

sought　after；　but　if　they　have　to　wait　until　such　time　for　their

deliverance；　there　is　danger　of　their　enchantment　enduring　until

doomsday。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Tower　of　Las　Infantas。



　　IN　AN　evening's　stroll　up　a　narrow　glen；　overshadowed　by　fig

trees；　pomegranates；　and　myrtles；　which　divides　the　lands　of　the

fortress　from　those　of　the　Generalife；　I　was　struck　with　the

romantic　appearance　of　a　Moorish　tower　in　the　outer　wall　of　the

Alhambra；　rising　high　above　the　tree…tops；　and　catching　the　ruddy　rays

of　the　setting　sun。　A　solitary　window　at　a　great　height　commanded　a

view　of　the　glen；　and　as　I　was　regarding　it；　a　young　female　looked

out；　with　her　head　adorned　with　flowers。　She　was　evidently　superior　to

the　usual　class　of　people　inhabiting　the　old　towers　of　the　fortress；

and　this　sudden　and　picturesque　glimpse　of　her　reminded　me　of　the

descriptions　of　captive　beauties　in　fairy　tales。　These　fanciful

associations　were　increased　on　being　informed　by　my　attendant　Mateo；

that　this　was　the　Tower　of　the　Princesses　（la　Torre　de　las

Infantas）；　so　called；　from　having　been；　according　to　tradition；　the

residence　of　the　daughters　of　the　Moorish　kings。　I　have　since

visited　the　tower。　It　is　not　generally　shown　to　strangers；　though　well

worthy　attention；　for　the　interior　is　equal；　for　beauty　of

architecture；　and　delicacy　of　ornament；　to　any　part　of　the　palace。　The

elegance　of　the　central　hall；　with　its　marble　fountain；　its　lofty

arches；　and　richly　fretted　dome；　the　arabesques　and　stucco…work　of　the

small　but　well…proportioned　chambers；　though　injured　by　time　and

neglect；　all　accord　with　the　story　of　its　being　anciently　the　abode　of

royal　beauty。

　　The　little　old　fairy　queen　who　lives　under　the　staircase　of　the

Alhambra；　and　frequents　the　evening　tertulias　of　Dame　Antonia；　tells

some　fanciful　traditions　about　three　Moorish　princesses；　who　were　once

shut　up　in　this　tower　by　their　father；　a　tyrant　king　of　Granada；　and

were　only　permitted　to　ride　out　at　night　about　the　hills；　when　no

one　was　permitted　to　come　in　their　way　under　pain　of　death。　They

still；　according　to　her　account；　may　be　seen　occasionally　when　the

moon　is　in　the　full；　riding　in　lonely　places　along　the　mountain

side；　on　palfreys　richly　caparisoned　and　sparkling　with　jewels；　but

they　vanish　on　being　spoken　to。

　　But　before　I　relate　any　thing　further　respecting　these　princesses；

the　reader　may　be　anxious　to　know　something　about　the　fair

inhabitant　of　the　tower　with　her　head　dressed　with　flowers；　who　looked

out　from　the　lofty　window。　She　proved　to　be　the　newly…married　spouse

of　the　worthy　adjutant　of　invalids；　who；　though　well　stricken　in

years；　had　had　the　courage　to　take　to　his　bosom　a　young　and　buxom