THE ALHAMBRA 47 



in reality it is most regular, although irregular in 

 appearance ; the compass of the geometrician 

 had more to do in planning it than the genius of 

 the artist ; but its lines are so many, and their 

 combinations change so rapidly, that the scheme 

 is only to be comprehended after a long and 

 patient study." 



The azulejos which face the walls date from 

 the time of Charles V. In the centre of the hall 

 is the marble basin beside which the Beni Serraj 

 are fabled to have been slain. 



Opposite this hall, on the north side of the 

 Lions' Court, is the Sala de las Dos Hermanas 

 (or, of the Two Sisters), so called after two twin 

 slabs of marble let into the pavement. An 

 exquisite arch gives admittance from the court 

 to a narrow corridor, which communicates on the 

 right with the upper storey, and with the mirador 

 or latticed balcony, from which the ladies of the 

 Harem would gaze into the patio below. The 

 hall is as rich, as graceful, as suggestive of Eastern 

 luxury and repose as that which we have just 

 left. In each wall is an arched opening, two being 

 entrances, the others admitting to alcoves some- 

 what more shut off than in other parts of the 

 Alhambra. Above each arch is a window corre- 

 sponding to the apartments in the upper storey, 

 now vanished. The roof exhibits the same 

 marvellous combinations of geometrical forms, 



