He is equally anxious to see his own country, and to be reconciled
to the church; and the cavaliers have promised, that, if we are
disposed to become man and wife, on returning to our native land, they
will provide for us handsomely."
In a word, it appeared that this extremely discreet and provident
old woman had consulted with the cavaliers and the renegado, and had
concerted the whole plan of escape. The eldest princess immediately
assented to it; and her example, as usual, determined the conduct of
her sisters. It is true, the youngest hesitated, for she was gentle
and timid of soul, and there was a struggle in her bosom between
filial feeling and youthful passion: the latter, however, as usual,
gained the victory, and with silent tears, and stifled sighs, she
prepared herself for flight.
The rugged hill on which the Alhambra is built was, in old times,
perforated with subterranean passages, cut through the rock, and
leading from the fortress to various parts of the city, and to distant
sally-ports on the banks of the Darro and the Xenil. They had been
constructed at different times by the Moorish kings, as means of
escape from sudden insurrections, or of secretly issuing forth on
private enterprises. Many of them are now entirely lost, while
others remain, partly choked with rubbish, and partly walled up;
monuments of the jealous precautions and warlike stratagems of the
Moorish government.
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