Page:Lands of the Saracen 1859.djvu/424

CHAPTER XXXV.

 

GRANADA AND THE ALHAMBRA.

 

Mateo Ximenez, the Younger — The Cathedral of Granada — A Monkish Miracle — Catholic Shrines — Military Cherubs — The Royal Chapel — The Tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella — Chapel of San Juan de Dios — The Albaycin — View of the Vega — The Generalife — The Alhambra — Torra de la Vela — The Walls and Towers — A Visit to Old Mateo — The Court of the Fish-pond — The Halls of the Alhambra — Character of the Architecture — Hall of the Abencerrages — Hall of the Two Sisters — The Moorish Dynasty in Spain.

 

"Who has not in Granada been,
Verily, he has nothing seen."

Andalusian Proverb.

 

Granada, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1852.

Immediately on reaching here, I was set upon by an old gentleman who wanted to act as guide, but the mozo of the hotel put into my hand a card inscribed "Don Mateo Ximenez, Guide to the celebrated Washington Irving," and I dismissed the other applicant. The next morning, as the mozo brought me my chocolate, he said; "Señor, el chico is waiting for you." The "little one" turned out to be the son of old Mateo, "honest Mateo," who still lives up in the Alhambra, but is now rather too old to continue his business, except on great occasions. I accepted the young Mateo, who spoke with the greatest enthusiasm of Mr. Irving, avowing that the whole family was devoted to him, in life and death. It was still