to spoil, if
I failed to give attraction to a fine subject, I found that my ideas
were further confirmed by the encouragement of some of the most eminent
amongst my fellow-countrymen. I accordingly engaged in the undertaking,
the result of which is the following Romance.

With regard to the hero, I cannot well determine whether he ever existed
or not. In spite of my researches, I have no other authority for his
reality than the well known comedy of the celebrated Calderon de la
Barca, entitled "_La nina de Gomez Arias_." The probability is, that
Calderon took the hint of this comedy, according to a generally
prevailing custom in his time, from some legend or tradition now lost.
Be this as it may, it is enough that such characters as Gomez Arias are
unfortunately within the pale of human nature. I have endeavoured,
however, to soften the character, as it is depicted, from that of an
utterly abandoned libertine into a man of extraordinary ambition; for
great passions, though they cannot palliate crime, are nevertheless not
inconsistent with a dereliction of moral and legal ties.

To conclude my prefatory reasons for not writing a long preface, there
is one point on which I am anxious to appeal to the indulgence of my
readers. It is obvious that the work being written in English by a
Spaniard, must bear some traces of its foreign descent. In extenuation
of these unavoidable faults of style and language, I can only entreat
that the English public will extend the same generous sympathy and
benevolence to the errors of the author, which it has already evinced,
in far more important matters, on behalf of his unfortunate
fellow-countrymen.

GOMEZ ARIAS;

OR,

THE MOORS OF THE ALPUJARRAS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

The ancient city of Granada has ever proved a source of gratification to
those who have occupied themselves with the investigation of its earlier
history. It abounds with objects curious and interesting; and is no less
celebrated for the conspicuous place which it holds in the page of
Spanish history, than for the more pleasing associations of chivalry
and romance. Situated at the base of the snow-capt mountains of the
_Sierra Nevada_, and extending into the luxuriant plain of the _Vega_,
it seems placed by nature as a barrier between an eternal winter and a
constant spring--

"Not as elsewhere with fervours frosts severe,
Or clouds with calms divide the happy hours,
But heave