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In an evening's stroll up a narrow glen, overshadowed
by fig trees, pomegranates, and myrtles,
that 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, that rose high above the tree-tops,
and caught 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 that inhabit 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 of my mind 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

[figure description] Page 178.[end figure description]

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 is in 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

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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!

p226-183

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