From the deceased hermit's neck a small packet was suspended, containing a lock of auburn hair, and on the envelope, the following words were written, in Anselmo's hand. "For thee have I passed a life of celibacy and seclusion!--for disobeying thy sacred injunctions have I been sorely chastened!--Sainted Virgin! plead for me with our Heavenly Father, that the sins I have committed in this world may be forgiven in that which is to come!"
It was evident,--said the worthy Padre, concluding his long story,--it was evident, Don Carlos, that his prayer could be addressed to no other than the Holy Virgin, Mother of our blessed Saviour,--and, consequently, that the lock of hair must have been her's. It was accordingly sent to Toledo, and deposited in the church of _San Juan de los Reyes_,--where a magnificent urn--now probably melted down into some atheistical French Marshal's soup tureen--enclosed for many years the precious relic. What became of the poignard I know not.
The pious Anselmo was buried with great pomp, and numberless miracles have been wrought at his grave;--the mischievous fairy feared to return to a place purified by so holy a person;--the passage leading to the subterranean apartments has long been filled up;--and the miraculous bridge decayed and was carried away by the stream.
We have put up a cross to scare away evil spirits; but they nevertheless say, that strange noises are yet heard, and flickering lights occasionally seen in the vicinity. I do not attach much credit to such tales. "_Fallax vulgi judicium_," (the good Father loved a scrap of Latin) and--producing from his pocket a white cambric handkerchief, and wiping his forehead with it, as if to show he had some notion of the use to which the cavern was at the present day applied, he added--"I dare say you are equally sceptical."--I will now, Don Carlos, wish you a pleasant _Siesta_--"_Dios guard' usted._"[108]
DEPARTURE FOR MALAGA--SCENERY ON AND DANGERS OF THE ROAD TO EL BURGO--FINE VIEW FROM CASARABONELA--AN INDEPENDENT INNKEEPER--A SPANISH BATTLE, ATTENDED WITH MORE DECISIVE RESULTS THAN USUAL--DESCRIPTION OF CASARABONELA--COMELINESS OF ITS WASHING NYMPHS--ROAD TO MALAGA--RIVER GUADALJORCE--SIGILA OF THE ROMANS--CARTAMA.