The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-15
WHOLE NO. 236.

| crescent. When sat in the hall Of the Aben'
cerrages, suffered my mind to conjure up all
that had read Of that illlstrious line. In the
proudest days OF Moslem domination, the
Abencerages were the soul Of every thing
noble and chiyalrous. The veterans Of the
family, who sat in the royal council, were the
foremost to devise those heroic enterprises,
which carried dismay into the territories of the
Christians; and what the sages Of the family
devised, the young men Of the name were the
foremost 10 execute. In all services Of ha-
gard; in all adventurous forays, and hair
breadth hazards, the Abencerrages were sure
TO win the brightest laurels. In those noble
recreations, too, which bear so close an aft
nifty to war in the tilt and tourney, the riding
at the ring, and the daring bull-fght still the
Abencerrages carried off the palm. None
could equal them for the splendor of their ar
ray, the gallantry Of their devices for their
noble bearing, and glorious horsemanship.
Their open-handed munificence made them
the idols Of the populace, while their lofty
magnanimity, and perfect faith, gained them
golden opinions from the generous and high.
minded. Never were they known to decry
the merits of a rival, or to betray the confd-
ings OF friend; and the word of an Aben-
cerrage' was guarantee that never admitted
of doubt.
And then their devotion to the fair! Never
did Moorish beauty consider the fame Of her
charms established, until she had an Abencer-
rage for a lover and never did an Abencer.
rage prove recreant to his VOWS. Lovely Gra-
NADIA! City of delights Who ever bore
the favors Of thy danes more proudly Oh their
casques, or championed them more CALAMITY
IN the chivalrous tits Of the Viyarambla Or
who ever made thy moon-lit balconies, thv
gardens of myrtes and roses, of oranges.
cltrons, and polnegranates, respond to more
tender serenades
speak with enthusiasm on this theme for
il is connected with the recollection Of one of
the sweetest evenings and sweetest scenes
that ever ! enjoyed in Spain. One Of the
greatest pleasures Of the Spaniards is, TO sit
in the beautiful summer evenings, and listen
to traditional ballads, and tales about the wars
of the Moors and Christians, and the buenas
andanzas' 'grandes hechos,' the good for
tunes' and great exploits of the hardy war
riors Of yore. 1t is worthy Of remark, also,
that many of. these songs, or romances, as
they are called, celebrate the proves and
magnanimity in war, and the tenderness and
fidelity in love Of the Moorish cavaliers, once
their most formidable and hated foes. But
centuries have elapsed, to extinguish the
bigotry of the xealot; and the once detested
warriors Of Grenada are now held up by
Spanish poets, as the mirrors of chivalric vir-
tue. #.n@ .m.o. r..
Such was the amusement of the evening in
question. A number of us were seated in the
Hall of the Abencerrages, listening TO one Of
the most gifted and fascinating beings that
had ever met with in my wanderings. She
was young and beautiful; and light and ethe-
real; full of fire, and spirit, and pure enthu-
siasm. She wore the fancilul Andalusian
dress; touched the guitar with speaking elo-
quence improvised with wonderful facility;
and as she became excited by her theme, or
by the rapt attention Of her auditors, would
pour forth in the richest and most melodious
strains, succession of couplets, full of strik-
ing description, or striking narration, andcom-
posed, as was assured, at the moment Most
of these were suggested by the place, and re-
lated to the ancient glores Of Grenada, and
the prowess Of her chivalry. The Abencer-
RACES were her favorite heroes, she felt wo-
mans admiration Of their gallant courtesy, and
high souled honor; and it was touching and
inspiring to hear the praises Of that generous
but devoted race, chanted in this fated hall of
their calamity, by the lips Of Spanish beauty.
Among the subjects Of which she treated,
was tale OF Moslem honor, and old-fashion-
ed Spanish courtesy, which made strong
impression on me. She disclaimed all merit
of invention, however, and said she had mere
ly dilated into verse a popular tradition; and,
indeed have since found the main facts in
serted at the end of Condos History of the
Domination Of the Arabs, and the story itself
embodied in the form Of an episode in the
Diana of Montenegro. From these sources,
| have drawn it forth, and endeayored to shape
it according to my recollection of the version
Of the beautiful minstrel but alas what can
supply the want of that voice, that look, that
form, that action, which gave magical effect
to her chant, and held every one rapt IN
breathess admiration Should this mere
travestie Of her inspired numbers ever meet
her eye, in her stately abode at Grenada, may
it meet with that indulgence which belongs to
her benignant nature. Happy should be, If
it could awaken in her bosom one kind recol-
lection of the lonely stranger and soJourner,
for whose qualification she did not think it
beneath her to exert those fascinating powers,
which were the delight of brilliant crcles and
who will ever recall with enthusiasm the happy
evening passed in listening TO her strains, in
the moon. lit halls Of the Ahambra.
GEoFFREY CRAYoN.
THE ABENCERRAGE.
A SPANISH TALE.
r