A view of Spain. Translated, Volume 5 |
Common terms and phrases
academy alcaldes Alphonso amongst ancient Andalusia appear Aragon Asturias Barcelona beautiful benefices Biscay bishops Cadiz called Castilian Catalonia celebrated century CHAP church classes colour composed Cordova council court custom dances degree dignity dramas dress ecclesiastical elegant established Estremadura excellent expence Ferdinand former France French Galicia genius grace Granada grand honour imitation kind king king of Aragon kingdom of Valencia knights labour ladies language latter leagues Leon Lopez Madrid manner mantela masters mayorazgos military Moors mountains Murcia nation native Navarre nobility noble Old Castile ORDER OF CALATRAVA order of Montesa physicians pieces poetry poets possessed present provinces provinces of Spain rank reals reign ribband Romans royal Saint Salamanca San Jago Saragossa Seville silver sometimes sovereign Spain Spaniards Spanish style success tain taste theatre tion Toledo tribunal verse wear women writers wrote
Popular passages
Page 86 - Greek mina, equal to $20, or about $60, if we reckon the difference in the value of money between that time and the present.
Page 267 - They are in general well proportioned, with a slender and delicate shape, small feet, well shaped legs, a face of a fine oval, black or rich brown hair, a mouth neither large nor small, but agreeable, red lips ; white and well set teeth, which they do not long preserve, however, owing to the little care they take of them. They have large and open eyes, usually black, or dark hazel, delicate and regular features, a peculiar suppleness, and a charming natural grace in their motions, with a pleasing...
Page 294 - ... vocal or instrumental music are given by the young men under the windows of their mistresses. 'Romanes, or pilgrimages, to celebrate chapels, or hermitages, on the eve of the festival of the patron saint, are very fashionable. The devotees, and those who accompany them from curiosity, or worse motives, pass the night either in the porch of the church or chapel, or in the neighboring fields, or under tents : men, women, and children, are huddled together; they eat, drink, laugh, sing, lie down...
Page 287 - They are accused of being vindictive, and hiding under a mild exterior their wishes and schemes of vengeance, till an opportunity offers of executing them in a safe and secret manner; but the hired assassins, formerly common in Valencia, have disappeared, and the people are daily becoming more civilized by the operation of wealth and prosperity. The Catalans are proud, haughty, violent in their passions ; rude in discourse and in action, turbulent, untractable, and passionately fond of independence...
Page 272 - Languedoc; the Galician to the Auvergnese ; the Andalusian to the Gascon. Some customs, however, and some traits of character, run through all the provinces. The national pride is every where the same. The Spaniard has the highest opinion of his nation and himself, which he energetically expresses by his gestures, words, and actions. This opinion is discovered in all ranks of...
Page 278 - ... accounted liberal professions. Laborde, who is so favourable in his views of the character of the Spaniards, and their marvellous improvement since the change from an Austrian to a Bourbon dynasty, admits that " the invincible indolence and hatred of labour which prevails in their national character, has at all times paralysed the government of their best princes, and impeded the success of their most brilliant enterprizes. All their own historians deplore the effects of this apathy, which has...
Page 269 - Andalusian women most adroit and seducing ; but the general disposition is nearly the same in all. There is a freedom in the manners and conversation of the Spanish women, which causes them to be judged unfavourably of by strangers ; but on further acquaintance, a man perceives that they appear to promise more than they grant, and that they do not even permit those freedoms which most women of other countries think there is no harm in allowing. A modern traveller, who is sometimes severe, often hasty...
Page 278 - ... precipitation. They have a proverb contrary to one of ours : — they say that one should never do to-day what may be put off till to-morrow. This .slowness of the Spaniards appears incompatible with the vivacity of their imagination ; it is the consequence of the distrust and circumspection that are natural to them ; but when their pride is irritated, their anger provoked, or their generosity stimulated, they wake in a moment from their apathy, and are capable of the most violent or the most...
Page 277 - The Spaniards are very reserved; they have little of those exterior demonstrations, of that deceitful show which is called politeness; They do not make advances to a stranger ; they wait for him to do it; they study him, and do not give themselves up to him till they think they know him ; even then it is with reserve.
Page 270 - Spanish ladies are agreeable, if they are sometimes well-informed, they owe it only to themselves, and in no degree to their education, which is almost totally neglected. If their native qualities were polished and unfolded by a careful instruction, they would become but too seductive.