it looks almost like a thread, it sends up a roar not less loud
than that of the breakers under Shakspeare's Cliff. The valley, opening
for its passage, gives to the view, first, the Tagus, on the opposite
bank of which lies the town of Montalban, dependant on the lords of the
castle; beyond it an extensive plain, dotted with castles and towns,
most of them on the road from Madrid to Talavera; and at the horizon the
Sierra del Duque, coated with snow from about half its height upwards.
The extent of the view is about sixty miles.

The outer enceinte of the castle of Montalban encloses a space of five
or six acres in extent, in which no buildings remain, with the exception
of the picturesque ruin of a small chapel in the centre. Like almost all
other residences possessed of scenery sufficiently precipitous, this
castle boasts its lover's leap. A projection of wall is pointed out,
looking over the most perpendicular portion of the ravine, to which a
tradition is attached, deprived by time of all tangible distinctness, if
ever it possessed any. The title given to the spot in this instance is
"The Leap of the Moorish Girl," Despenadera de la Mora. The position
will probably bear no comparison with the Leucadian promontory; nor is
it equal to the Pena de los Enamorados, near Antequera, in Andalucia,
immortal likewise in the annals of passion, and of which the authentic
story is preserved. Of those in our country I could name one--but I will
not, though few know it better--nor is it the meanest of its tribe. But
with these exceptions I know of none among the numerous plagiarisms of
the famous lover's leap of antiquity that offers to despair in search of
the picturesque more attractions than the Despenadera of Montalban.

[Illustration: CASTLE OF GUADAMUR.]

The best preserved castle of these environs, and the handsomest
building, is that of Guadamur. It is not large, but it is impossible for
a residence-fortress to be more complete, and more compact. It is
composed of three enclosures, one within the other, and forms a
quadrangle, with the addition of a lofty and massive tower, projecting
from one of the angles. The centre, or inner quadrangle, is about half
the height of the tower, and has, at its three remaining angles, and at
the centre of each front, an elegant circular turret. This portion of
the edifice formed a commodious and handsome residence. It was divided
into two stories, with vaulted ceilings,--the lower apart