silence. At the sound of the bell the carriages stopped, all who were sitting arose, those who were walking remained in the position in which this moment overtook them; all conversation was suspended, and every one repeated an inward prayer. The sign of the cross, which closed the prayer of each, was the signal for the breaking of this holy silence; every one gave a salutation to those who surrounded him, known or unknown, and then the stream flowed on unaltered in its course." (2) And those were days of bloodshed. Page 4. The reigns of Charles V. of Spain, and of Francis I. of France, present a series of bloody engagements, of which their contest respecting the imperial crown of Germany was but the commencement. In their quarrels the Milanese territory was frequently the cause as well as the scene of action. Henry VIII. of England was fully aware of the necessity of keeping the balance of power between these two ambitious potentates; and Pope Clement VII. was rendered fatally conscious of it by the entrance of Charles's armies into Rome, the barbarous plunder of that devoted city, and his own imprisonment. Historical precision is of minor importance in a poem simply fictitious, in which historical events are made use of only to bring out the leading incidents. I have not, therefore, thought it necessary to specify any particular battle between the two nations; I have merely availed myself of one of the victories gained by the Spanish monarch over Francis. M. Rocca méntions, in his account of Andalusia, that the scorching wind which comes from the east is called by the Andalusians the Medina wind. (4) The ample zaguan. Page 22. The entrance to most Andalusian dwelling-houses lies through a passage with two doors, one to the street, and another which opens into the Pateo (square). This passage is called Zaguan, a pure Arabic word, signifying a porch. Don Leucadio Doblado. (5) The black Montera cap.—Page 30. The Montera cap of black velvet, ornamented with frogs and tassels of the same colour, is much worn by the Sevillian gentlemen at bull-fights. Their tout ensemble on these occasions is highly picturesque, and not ungraceful. They wear a short loose jacket of silk, chintz, or dimity, the sleeves of which are not sewed to the body, but laced with broad ribands of a suitable colour, swelling gracefully round the top of the shoulder; a profusion of hanging buttons either silver or gold, mostly silver gilt twinkle in numerous rows round the wrists of these dresses. (6) The Banderilla in his hand remain'd.— Page 30. The Banderillero, or Banderilla, literally "little flag," is a shaft of two feet in length, pointed with a barbed steel, and gaily ornamented with sheets of painted paper. Don Leucadio Doblado. (7) Picadore.- Page 31. (8) Don Miguel like the Theban smiled serene, Rejoicing in the glory he had seen! — Page 33. () The aloe's stem was seen.— Page 68. M. Rocca speaks of the Aloe in Andalusia shooting up to the height of trees, and forming the usual hedge to their fields. (10) More than her tainted blood," the brand of Spain."—P.81. The least mixture of African, Indian, Moorish, or Jewish blood, taints a whole family to the most distant generations. It is a fact, that many of the grandees and titled noblesse of this country, derive a large portion of their blood from the Jews and the Morescoes. Their pedigree has been traced up to these cankered branches, in a manuscript book, which neither the influence of government nor the terrors of the Inquisition have been able completely to suppress. It is called Tizon de Espana, The brand of Spain. Don Leucadio Doblado. |