Val de Cabras 



style of complimentary dialogue, which was principally 

 modelled on Don Quixote's conversations with princesses 

 and shepherdesses. Nevertheless, they took it all as a 

 compliment, and laughed as much as if they understood all 

 our best jokes and sublimest metaphors. 



There was none of the party who, in my eyes, eclipsed the 

 charms of my original Facunda ; but Harry, I am sorry to 

 say, proved faithless to his Casta, who being mounted on a 

 slow donkey, rather lagged behind : but I did not see that 

 he bettered himself greatly ; and, indeed, to say the truth, 

 any three of the whole party might have sat for the portraits 

 of those feas aldeanas ^ whom Sancho persuaded his master 

 to believe beauteous princesses. 



The road now turned to the right, and leaving the broad 

 valley of the Jucar, entered a narrow, picturesque defile, 

 watered by a smaller tributary stream. Great pines, which 

 had planted themselves in the clefts and ledges of its rocky 

 walls, waved their dark arms overhead, and here and there 

 the surrounding mountains lifted their lofty eaves into our 

 narrow-bounded horizon. 



The ravine widened, and along the expanding valley we 

 caught a glimpse of Val de Cabras through the pines. Our 

 party's spirits rose higher and higher as they approached 

 their hearths and ollas ; and the motley rout, amid much 

 clatter of tongues, and laughter, and snatches of songs, 

 entered the little village about sunset. 



Casta had assured us that her house was amply provided 

 with all things ; but we knew the specious hay de todo (there 

 is of everything) too well, and insisted on the maiden's taking 

 a dishful of cold mutton-chops from the Parador. These had 

 been wrapped in a rag, and stowed in their alforjas^ and they 

 came in well at our supper ; for the house only possessed 



' Ugly villageresses. 



328 



