692 
recounted without. exaggeration ; but 
yet the recital is not altogether ques- 
tionable, because it is often. extraor- 
dinary, and even improbable. The 
facts here detailed, have all actually 
occurred, and evidently appertain to 
the times in question, although they 
are ‘sometimes. embellished by. the 
imagination of ihe writer. We are 
frequently presented with a true and 
ines picture of the hostilities, the 
manners, the passions, the vices, and 
the virtues ef thissingular people. The 
raost famous warriors, the most ce- 
lebrated beauties of the court of Gre- 
nada, appear’ by turns in those.affairs 
of gallantry which generally ended in 
aduel. Sometimes a Spanish cheva- 
tier challenges the bravest of the 
Moorish warriors; all burn for the 
combat, which is decided’ by lot, and 
he on whom it falls repairs full-of 
joy to his apartments, io prepare him- 
self for some memorable exploit. 
While he is getting ready his arms, a 
page brings him, on the part of the 
beauty whom headores, and by. whom 
he is tenderly beloved, a pesnon, or 
banner, richly embroidered by her own 
hand, and which is covered with. cy- 
phers and love devices. The cheva- 
lier receiving it with transport, imme-- 
diately adorus the end of his lance 
with ibis embiem of affection, which 
is to him a pledge of victory. At 
length the heuer of combat is an- 
nounced, and the Alhambra resounds 
with the noise of trumpets and cla- 
rineis. The combatant then leaves 
the city, and advancing into the plain 
of Grenada, there encounters his 
haughty adversary, who also marches 
to the sound of warlike instruments. 
Meanwhile the queen, and all the 
Jadies of the court seated in their bal- 
conies, beeome spectators of this noble 
combat. 
now advance against each othere with 
fury, and deal about deadly blows; 
ail that address or strength can achieve 
is employed both in the attack and 
defence ; every heart is moved, more 
especially that of the young Moorish 
or Christian virgin, whe in secret 
adores her brave knight. The en- 
gagement is not always deadly ; nay, 
it frequently occurs that the. con- 
queror finding his rival ready to faint 
through fatigue and weunds, gene- 
rously holds out his hands, and invites. 
him to stop the unequal combat. It 
is then that the two heroes, precipi- 
tating themselves in each other’s arms, 
The two gallant opponents. 
; ; 
Retrospect of French Literature---Voyages and. Travels. 
swear an eternal friendship, after which 
they joi their respective friends,. 
amidst the unanimous acclamations of 
both parties. _ lie Ate Ee 
At other times, the combat is more 
serious, for a troop of chevaliers sally 
out of the city at the head ofa little 
army, and go in quest of the Spa- 
niards. ‘The two hostile bodies at 
length behold and meet each other 3 
a terrible action ensues, in which the 
vulgar warriors fight in the crowd, 
and triumph or perish without glory, 
the bravest knights of both nations 
single each other out, and engage in 
single combat. After this, on their 
return from battle, and even from a 
defeat, the Arabians were accustomed 
to repair to a festival, and every 
knight engaging jn the Zambras -or 
Morisco dances, where love and plea- 
sure alone reigned, thus happily forget 
the occurrences of the day. All. 
their adventures, whether of gallantry 
or of war,were celebrated inromanees, 
-which flying from mouth to mouth,. 
in process of time became so many 
authentic iraditions, and it. is-from 
these, that ithe present work has been 
compiled. The original author was a 
Moor of Grenada, and therefore, it is 
not to be much wondered at, if he 
should prefer the Mahometans to the 
Christians, and consequently incline 
rather to the former than to the latter. 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
‘* Voyages dans })Amerique Meridion- 
ale,par Don Felix D’Azara, &c.”’ Tra- 
vels in South America, by Don Felix 
de Azara, commissary and command- 
-ant of the Spanish iimits in Paraguay, 
from the year 1781 until 1801; con- 
taining a geographical description of 
the river La Piata; the history of the 
discovery, and conquest of those coun- 
tries ; numerous details relative to their 
natural history, as well as the savage 
‘nations that inhabit them; a recital of 
the means employed by the Jesuits to 
subject and civilize the natives, &c. 
&c. Published from the author’s 
manuscripts, with a notice relative to 
his life and his*writings, by C. A. 
Walkenaer; enriched with notes by 
G. Cuvier, perpetual secretary. of the 
Class of Physical Sciences of the In- 
stitute, &c, To which is added, the 
natural history of the birds of Pata- 
guay, and La Plata, by the same au- 
thor: translated from the Spanish,ori- 
ginal, and augmented with a number 
of notes by Sonini; accompanied with 
an atlas containing twenty-five plates, 
4 vols. 
