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The Tower Of Las InfantasThe Tower Of Las Infantas
The Tower Of Las Infantas
In an evening`s stroll up a narrow glen, overshadowed by fig trees,
pomegranates, and myrtles, which divides the lands of the fortress from those
of the Generalife, I was struck with the romantic appearance of a Moorish
tower in the outer wall of the Alhambra, rising high above the tree-tops, and
catching the ruddy rays of the setting sun. A solitary window at a great
height commanded a view of the glen; and as I was regarding it, a young female
looked out, with her head adorned with flowers. She was evidently superior to
the usual class of people inhabiting the old towers of the fortress; and this
sudden and picturesque glimpse of her reminded me of the descriptions of
captive beauties in fairy tales. These fanciful associations were increased on
being informed by my attendant Mateo, that this was the Tower of the
Princesses (la Torre de las Infantas); so called, from having been, according
to tradition, the residence of the daughters of the Moorish kings. I have
since visited the tower. It is not generally shown to strangers, though well
worthy attention, for the interior is equal, for beauty of architecture, and
delicacy of ornament, to any part of the palace. The elegance of the central
hall, with its marble fountain, its lofty arches, and richly fretted dome; the
arabesques and stucco-work of the small but well-proportioned chambers, though
injured by time and neglect, all accord with the story of its being anciently
the abode of royal beauty.
The little old fairy queen who lives under the staircase of the Alhambra,
and frequents the evening tertulias of Dame Antonia, tells some fanciful
traditions about three Moorish princesses, who were once shut up in this tower
by their father, a tyrant king of Granada, and were only permitted to ride out
at night about the hills, when no one was permitted to come in their way under
pain of death. They still, according to her account, may be seen occasionally
when the moon in is the full, riding in lonely places along the mountain side,
on palfreys richly caparisoned and sparkling with jewels, but they vanish on
being spoken to.
But before I relate any thing further respecting these princesses, the
reader may be anxious to know something about the fair inhabitant of the tower
with her head dressed with flowers, who looked out from the lofty window. She
proved to be the newly-married spouse of the worthy adjutant of invalids; who,
though well stricken in years, had had the courage to take to his bosom a
young and buxom Andalusian damsel. May the good old cavalier be happy in his
choice, and find the Tower of the Princesses a more secure residence for
female beauty than it seems to have proved in the time of the Moslems, if we
may believe the following legend!
[See Tower Of The Princesses]
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