Retrospect of French Literature--- History . 
At this very period, the Moslems 
had brought their female slaves from 
the recesses of their harems, in order ~ 
to render them at once the charm 
and the ornament of society. In con- 
sequence of the assiduity of their la- 
bours, they had forced a fruitful soil 
to double its treasures, by increasing 
its products. The country appeared 
at the same time adorned with useful 
monuments of all kinds, and the ara 
chitecture, which was bold, elegant, 
and singular, gave pleasure even to 
those who had visited Italy, and thus 
converted Spain into a classical region. 
Meanwhile the inhabitants either in- 
vented or improved all the useful arts, 
they assiduously cultivated the sci- 
ences, rendered themselves famous 
for their poetry; and as if to render 
the whole more singular, this was ef- 
fected in the midst ‘of battles, of plea- 
sures, and of romantic adventures, 
which seemed to constitute the sole 
occupation of their lives. 
Yet this extreme dégree of civili- 
zation, this rapid passage to a state 
which did not accord with their anci- 
ent traditions and their ancient man- 
ners, and above all their’ religious 
prejudices, constituted the principal 
cause of their destruction. Without 
losing, perhaps, any portion of that 
courage which among them seemed 
‘to be hereditary, their affection to 
theircountry gradually diminished, and 
was at length wholly extinguished. In 
this state of affairs, the Spaniards'to ok 
advantage of their intestine divisions, 
to conquer the Moorish nations one 
‘after another, by subduing the differ- 
ent provioces which these foreigners 
had overrun. And when they had 
forced them to retreat to the last por- | 
tion of the country which remaimed 
in their possession, these valiant Gre- 
nadins presented themselves before the 
enemy, not as a people animated by 
one common interest, and inflamed 
alike by patriotism and a zeal for 
. religion, but as a multitude divided by 
hatred, pride, and-rivalship, desti- 
tute of national spirit, and almost of 
religious principles. Such a situation, 
we are told, isthe constant precursor 
of the fall of empires, and the Spani- 
_ ards, in addition to this, found a mul- 
titude of traitors in Grenada: among — 
these were the Abencerrages, one of 
_ the most illustrious: families among 
the Arabs, and hitherto greatly at- 
'» tached, not only to the prosperity of 
’ their country, but also eminently zea. 
601 
lous for the conservation of its con- 
quests. 
While they were at the head of one 
portion of the nobility, the Zegris,who 
in their manners possessed something 
of the ancient rudeness, and ferocious 
valour of the African Moors, directed 
the councils of those who were their 
rivals. These two houses, which were 
actuated by an implacable hatred 
against each other, filled all Grenada 
with troubles and factions, without 
its being in the power of the feeble 
monarchs who reigned in that capital, 
and who were driven from the throne 
one after the other, to oppose their 
tumultuous proceedings. In. fine, to- 
wards the the latter periods of their 
history, we find two or three kings 
reigning at once, and such was the 
disorder, that whole cities and pro. 
vinces passed in succession under the 
dominion of the Christians, 
While formidable armies were me- 
nacing the capital, and a total and 
sudden destruction seemed to be ine- 
_vitable, the Moors were either need- 
lessly wasting that precious blood 
which . appertained to the state, or 
plunging into those voluptuous fol- 
lies so celebrated in Spain by the ap- 
pellations of the delights of Grenada. 
‘* The sun,” says our author, ‘* never 
lighted that devoted city, but to wit- 
ness new festivals, and new disasters. 
The kings, chevaliers, and. ladies ; 
nay, all the people, seduced and borne 
away by an inconceivable frenzy, were 
never satisfied with carousals, . feasts, 
and running at the ring. It frequently 
occurred also, that ferocious duels oc- 
casioned blood to be spilt, amidst their 
zambras, or dances, their serenades, 
and their nocturnal amours. In the. 
mean time, the kingdom possessed 
great warriors, but not a single great 
man; and while ihe Mahometans were 
thus destitute of leaders, the Castil- 
‘lians enjoyed a great king in the per- 
son of Isabella, two audacious and 
cunning politicians im Xinnenes and 
Ferdinand, and a number of accom- 
plished soldiers among their princi- 
pal chevaliers.”’ 
This work ought to be considered 
as a collection of the most remark- 
able events which signalized the last 
moments of the kingdom of Grenada. 
Itis not on one hand, to be deemed 
aromance, nor on the other a‘ grand 
history ; but something between both. 
Truth, indeed, is not scrupulously 
sought aftey by the author, and then 
reconnted — 
