part03-第7节

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feet。　I　paused　and　listened。　They　then　appeared　to　be　outside　of　the

tower…　then　again　within。　Then　broke　forth　howlings　as　of　an　animal…

then　stifled　shrieks　and　inarticulate　ravings。　Heard　in　that　dead　hour

and　singular　place；　the　effect　was　thrilling。　I　had　no　desire　for

further　perambulation；　but　returned　to　my　chamber　with　infinitely　more

alacrity　than　I　had　sallied　forth；　and　drew　my　breath　more　freely　when

once　more　within　its　walls　and　the　door　bolted　behind　me。　When　I　awoke

in　the　morning；　with　the　sun　shining　in　at　my　window　and　lighting　up

every　part　of　the　building　with　his　cheerful　and　truth…telling

beams；　I　could　scarcely　recall　the　shadows　and　fancies　conjured　up

by　the　gloom　of　the　preceding　night；　or　believe　that　the　scenes　around

me；　so　naked　and　apparent；　could　have　been　clothed　with　such　imaginary

horrors。

　　Still；　the　dismal　howlings　and　ejaculations　I　had　heard　were　not

ideal；　they　were　soon　accounted　for；　however；　by　my　handmaid

Dolores：　being　the　ravings　of　a　poor　maniac；　a　brother　of　her　aunt；

who　was　subject　to　violent　paroxysms；　during　which　he　was　confined

in　a　vaulted　room　beneath　the　Hall　of　Ambassadors。

　　In　the　course　of　a　few　evenings　a　thorough　change　took　place　in

the　scene　and　its　associations。　The　moon；　which　when　I　took　possession

of　my　new　apartments　was　invisible；　gradually　gained　each　evening　upon

the　darkness　of　the　night；　and　at　length　rolled　in　full　splendor　above

the　towers；　pouring　a　flood　of　tempered　light　into　every　court　and

hall。　The　garden　beneath　my　window；　before　wrapped　in　gloom；　was

gently　lighted　up；　the　orange　and　citron　trees　were　tipped　with

silver；　the　fountain　sparkled　in　the　moonbeams；　and　even　the　blush

of　the　rose　was　faintly　visible。

　　I　now　felt　the　poetic　merit　of　the　Arabic　inscription　on　the

walls：　〃How　beauteous　is　this　garden；　where　the　flowers　of　the　earth

vie　with　the　stars　of　the　heaven！　What　can　compare　with　the　vase　of

yon　alabaster　fountain　filled　with　crystal　water？　Nothing　but　the　moon

in　her　fulness；　shining　in　the　midst　of　an　unclouded　sky！〃

　　On　such　heavenly　nights　I　would　sit　for　hours　at　my　window

inhaling　the　sweetness　of　the　garden；　and　musing　on　the　checkered

fortunes　of　those　whose　history　was　dimly　shadowed　out　in　the

elegant　memorials　around。　Sometimes；　when　all　was　quiet；　and　the　clock

from　the　distant　cathedral　of　Granada　struck　the　midnight　hour；　I　have

sallied　out　on　another　tour　and　wandered　over　the　whole　building；

but　how　different　from　my　first　tour！　No　longer　dark　and　mysterious；

no　longer　peopled　with　shadowy　foes；　no　longer　recalling　scenes　of

violence　and　murder；　all　was　open；　spacious；　beautiful；　every　thing

called　up　pleasing　and　romantic　fancies；　Lindaraxa　once　more　walked　in

her　garden；　the　gay　chivalry　of　Moslem　Granada　once　more　glittered

about　the　Court　of　Lions！　Who　can　do　justice　to　a　moonlight　night　in

such　a　climate　and　such　a　place？　The　temperature　of　a　summer

midnight　in　Andalusia　is　perfectly　ethereal。　We　seem　lifted　up　into

a　purer　atmosphere；　we　feel　a　serenity　of　soul；　a　buoyancy　of　spirits；

an　elasticity　of　frame；　which　render　mere　existence　happiness。　But

when　moonlight　is　added　to　all　this；　the　effect　is　like　enchantment。

Under　its　plastic　sway　the　Alhambra　seems　to　regain　its　pristine

glories。　Every　rent　and　chasm　of　time；　every　mouldering　tint　and

weather…stain　is　gone；　the　marble　resumes　its　original　whiteness；

the　long　colonnades　brighten　in　the　moonbeams；　the　halls　are

illuminated　with　a　softened　radiance…　we　tread　the　enchanted　palace　of

an　Arabian　tale！

　　What　a　delight；　at　such　a　time；　to　ascend　to　the　little　airy

pavilion　of　the　queen's　toilet　（el　tocador　de　la　Reyna）；　which；　like　a

bird…cage；　overhangs　the　valley　of　the　Darro；　and　gaze　from　its

light　arcades　upon　the　moonlight　prospect！　To　the　right；　the

swelling　mountains　of　the　Sierra　Nevada；　robbed　of　their　ruggedness

and　softened　into　a　fairy　land；　with　their　snowy　summits　gleaming　like

silver　clouds　against　the　deep　blue　sky。　And　then　to　lean　over　the

parapet　of　the　Tocador　and　gaze　down　upon　Granada　and　the　Albaycin

spread　out　like　a　map　below；　all　buried　in　deep　repose；　the　white

palaces　and　convents　sleeping　in　the　moonshine；　and　beyond　all　these

the　vapory　Vega　fading　away　like　a　dream…land　in　the　distance。

　　Sometimes　the　faint　click　of　castanets　rises　from　the　Alameda；　where

some　gay　Andalusians　are　dancing　away　the　summer　night。　Sometimes

the　dubious　tones　of　a　guitar　and　the　notes　of　an　amorous　voice；

tell　perchance　the　whereabout　of　some　moon…struck　lover　serenading　his

lady's　window。

　　Such　is　a　faint　picture　of　the　moonlight　nights　I　have　passed

loitering　about　the　courts　and　halls　and　balconies　of　this　most

suggestive　pile；　〃feeding　my　fancy　with　sugared　suppositions；〃　and

enjoying　that　mixture　of　reverie　and　sensation　which　steal　away

existence　in　a　southern　climate；　so　that　it　has　been　almost　morning

before　I　have　retired　to　bed；　and　been　lulled　to　sleep　by　the

falling　waters　of　the　fountain　of　Lindaraxa。