Washington Irving Elaarif 



for." For truly, when we compare the reality (by day- 

 light) with the description, Washington Irving appears the 

 cunninger man of the two. 



But when the moon arises above the pass of Loja, and 

 strikes across the Vega, pointing its towers with silver, and 

 dancing on its streams ; then, as her beams creep slowly 

 from corner to corner along Alhambra's walls, piercing the 

 slender-shafted arches, and lighting up the delicate tracery 

 of the interior — then, reality, robed in moonshine, becomes 

 romance indeed — then, the shadowy outlines of a real 

 enchanted palace tremble upside down in the Berkah's 

 watery mirror ; and the very indifferent lions which stand 

 (godfathers to their court) round the alabaster fountain 

 become imposing quadrupeds, and vindicate their high 

 renown. 



We had formerly been disappointed with the Alhambra, 

 having, with our usual luck, seen it first on the wrong side, 

 where it hardly can be seen at all. Then within, though 

 very fine, it is not so richly decorated as the Alcazar of 

 Seville, the site and extent of which are, however, greatly 

 inferior. Altogether, let the traveller prepare to be disap- 

 pointed as much with Granada as he has been accustomed 

 to be at other celebrated places, and with other celebrated 

 beauties or celebrated men. Where was there ever a first 

 impression which could stand against the fatal reaction of 

 previous eulogy ? 



We went to see the Cartuxa Convent this morning, where 

 there is a large series of cleverish amateur paintings of 

 martyrdoms, &c., by one Cotan, an ancient monk of the 

 Carthusian order. There was one picture of a saint, sup- 

 posed by himself and his pious friends to have died in the 

 odour of sanctity, who on arriving in the other world 

 appears to have been most unpleasantly undeceived. 



23^ 



