204

DECAY OF THE MOORISH CITIES.

nation recurs to Cordova, in all its original glory, when it contained six hundred mosques, seven hundred baths, two hundred thousand houses, and gave laws to eighty cities of the first order. It was in this city that the victorious natives of Damascus were fixed, on the first irruption of the Arabs, while those of Emessa were stationed at Seville: and Grenada was colonized by ten thousand horsemen of Syria and Irak; the children of the purest and the most noble of the Arabian tribes."

"If the Spaniards," said Edward, "had in any degree preserved the former prosperity of these cities, at this day the change of power would be indifferent; but it rests on the testimony of Moorish history, and seems like a fable, when we compare it with the present reality."

"And the Arabs," said Ellen, were neither gloomy nor tyrannical to the Spaniards, till irritated by the losses they sustained: they were goaded by the implacable hatred of the Christians into some degree of retaliation."

"Many traits are reported of their sprightliness and wit," said Mr. Delville. "I recollect a story told of Alhaken, that bears a strong resemblance to Gascoigne and our prince Henry."

"Tell it us, papa, here, in the very chapel of Mahomet; nothing can be better chosen !"

Such were the entreaties of the young people, and Mr. Delville complied with them.

MOORISH GASCOIGNE.

205

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.

206

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.

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.

The

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. 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