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MOORISH GASCOIGNE.

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"Alhaken, the favourite son and successor of Abderahmen, knew how to choose good judges. Wishing to add a pavilion to his gardens, he proposed to a neighbouring proprietor to sell him his field. On his refusal, the prince's servants took possession of it by force, and built the pavilion upon it. The proprietor went and made his complaint to the cadi* of Cordova. Abu Becri ben Wefid, persuaded that a sovereign was not permitted any more than the least of his subjects, to take what belonged to another, went immediately to Agohara, where the king was in his newly-built pavilion. The cadi was mounted on an ass, and carried an empty sack before him, which he craved permission to fill with earth. The prince, though surprised, granted his request. When it was full,

him in placing it

he requested the king to assist on his ass. The king, looking upon the whole as a joke, consented; but it was so heavy, that he could scarcely lift it.

"Prince of the faithful,' said Abu Becri, in a severe tone, 'this sack, which you cannot lift, contains but a small part of the field you have usurped. When you appear before God, how will you bear its entire weight?'

"Struck by this noble lesson, Alhaken returned

* Cadi, judge.

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VARIETY OF OPINIONS.

the field, and made its owner a present of the pavilion with all its contents."

Frank and Ellen gave this story unqualified praise, and declared that Abu Becri was a Turkish Gascoigne but Edward could not go so far, and contended, that from the known excellent character of Alhaken, and his own capacity of judge, he had nothing to fear from the violence of his sovereign; but that the English justice, on the contrary, had every thing to dread from a prince not scrupulous in his actions, and in whose person he had degraded the royal dignity.

"Much may be said on both sides," said Mr. Delville; "though I confess you have argued on your own side with great shrewdness."

They now left the chapel, having completely wearied the patience of their guide. On coming out of the Mosque, they observed, upon a stone platform above the river, a monument, representing Raphael, the guardian angel of the city. Upon enquiring its date, they were informed that a devout archbishop, who held the see of Cordova many years ago, dreamed that Raphael appeared and proclaimed himself the guardian of the city. The prelate commemorated his dream by the erection of a handsome monument.

"Such expensive dreams have gone out of fashion in modern times," said Mr. Delville.

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Cordova had now little to attract their attention; every thing within it was stamped with the withering hand of decay. Three days after they left it, Seville, the queen of Andalusia, was seen amidst her orange-groves, and encircled by the broad glittering waters of the Guadalquiver.

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SEVILLE.

CHAPTER XVI.

SEVILLE-MOORISH HABITS PATIO INFANT

CAPU

CHIN-VESPER BELL-THE SPANISH PROTESTANTS— CATHEDRAL-TOMB OF COLUMBUS-GARDEN OF THE ALCAZER-BOLERO.

SEVILLE is said to have been founded by the Phonicians. Strabo, Pliny, and Ptolemy speak of it as already an ancient town in their days. The Romans gave it the name of Julia; and under the auspices of Julius Cæsar, embellished it so much, that they may be considered as its founders. The Gothic kings resided there till they removed to Toledo, when Seville passed under the yoke of the Arabs; till, in 1248, after the siege of a year, it was conquered by Ferdinand II. king of Castille and Leon. The Moors, to the number of three hundred thousand, emigrated to Grenada and Africa. It is a common proverb in Spain, "That those who have not seen Seville have not seen a wonder." Spain is the only country that has many capitals. This is accounted for by the different nations that have possessed the north

A SPANISH HOUSE IN THE SOUTH.

209

and south of the kingdom. Seville is the capital of the south, Valencia of the east.

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Now," said Edward, on their return through the town, from a walk; I see, for the first time, the customs of a southern people, and trace the remains of Moorish habits; among which, the most remarkable is the contempt for chairs: in most of the shops I saw the people sitting upon mats."

"And the patio," said Mr. Delville, " and the scrupulous cleanness of the streets."

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'Pray, papa," said Ellen, "what do you call the patio ?"

"I forgot you were not with us this morning. The patio is an inner square within the house, and separated from the entrance-passage by cast-iron doors, through which the persons inside may be seen. It is open to the sky; but the sun scarcely enters it, and there is always a contrivance by which an awning may be drawn over it. The floor is of marble, or painted Valencia tiles. Sometimes a fountain plays in the centre, and a choice selection of sweet-smelling flowers are placed around in ornamental vases; there the inmates escape from the noon-day heat; and there every family assembles in the evening, to converse, see their friends, play the guitar, and sip lemonade."

"I remarked," said Mrs. Delville,

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