Segovia by Sunset 



gymnasium, and the miniature cannons and mortars which 

 the boys are taught to manoeuvre with little ponies. 

 Taking leave of the captain, we now descended to the 

 banks of the Eresma, whence the view of the alcazar which 

 crowns the abutting end of a rocky promontory, whose base 

 is washed by a turn of the stream, tempted Harry to sketch 

 it in his pocket-book. 



While he was at work, and I sat by eating oranges under 

 a shady tree, two men drew near from behind. We were 

 rather afraid they would take us up before the authorities 

 for sketching the fortress ; but they only begged us to 

 d'lsimulate their curiosity in wishing to see the sketch, and 

 entered into conversation. Among other things they asked 

 if we were not Italians, as they judged us to be from our 

 manner of speaking the Castilian. 



Afterwards we endeavoured in vain to get into the 

 Templars' church, and the Parral convent. Ascending the 

 wooded and grassy glade, along which the river runs 

 beneath the long rocky ridge, the city above, lit by sunset, 

 flickered in the watery mirror like palaces of fire. The 

 aspect of Segovia from this valley is very striking and 

 beautiful. The brow of the rock is fringed with dilapidated 

 battlements, beyond which slope irregular terraces of quaint 

 old-fashioned houses, and the sky-line is broken by many 

 lofty towers and spires besides those of the alcazar and 

 cathedral. Far away beyond the gorge, snowy peaks deeply 

 tinged with purple carmine "stood up and took the 



evening." 



We agreed that Segovia and Cuenca were commendable 

 termini for a romantic honeymoon tour, supposing the 

 parties to be of suitable disposition ; that is to say, that the 

 lovely bride should have a taste for water-colours, and the 

 noble and stalwart bridegroom should be willing to carry 



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