xecuted by an
invading army, which might be disbanded during the winter months. This
system, he maintained, would inevitably reduce the city by famine to the
necessity of a surrender.

No sooner was the last phrase uttered, than all present in an instant
struck by the same thought, turned towards the sleeper; and the greater
number, filled with suspicion respecting the reality of his slumbers,
addressed significant looks to the king, the intention of which could
not be mistaken, and which boded no good to Alonzo. Whatever might have
been the feelings of the Moor at this moment, he took no further notice
of the incident, and allowed his guest to terminate his nap when he
thought proper.

When the death of Sancho took place before Zamora, Alonzo was still at
Toledo. The intelligence being conveyed to him by a confidential
messenger from his sister, he lost no time in taking leave of his host,
who wished him success with every demonstration of friendship, and
repairing to Burgos. There, after some hesitation, the nobles consented
to his investiture with the sovereignty. During his brilliant reign he
resisted several tempting opportunities of breaking with his Moorish
ally and former host, and thus adding to his dominions,--and preserved
his friendship and loyalty unstained. After the death of the Moorish
king, he, however, speedily fell out with his successor. War was
declared on both sides, and it was resolved to attack Toledo. The well
known result was, the taking of the town after seven years, the time
mentioned in the garden of Galiana, and by means of the annually
repeated devastation of the Vega, according to the plan imagined and
described in the above mentioned conversation.

Returning by the Rose-tree Walk, immediately on approaching the bridge,
an advanced portion of the cliff which bounds the road on the left
detaches itself from the rest towards the summit, which rises in a
circular form. On it stands the Castle of San Servando, one of the most
picturesque of the Arab remains existing in this part of Spain. The
origin of this fort is uncertain. Some attribute it to the Romans, and
consider the Moorish windows and ornaments to be subsequent additions,
from their being constructed with bricks instead of the same stone as
the rest of the walls. But this is not a sufficient reason, since the
same peculiarity exists in all the Arab edifices in Toledo. In fact, the
reason is evident. The hard black sort of stone u