_The Crayon Miscellany. By the Author of the Sketch Book. No.
3--Containing Legends of the Conquest of Spain. Philadelphia: Carey,
Lea & Blanchard._
We feel it almost an act of supererogation to speak of this book,
which is long since in the hands of every American who has leisure for
reading at all. The matter itself is deeply interesting, but, as
usual, its chief beauty is beauty of style. The Conquest of Spain by
the Saracens, an event momentous in the extreme, is yet enveloped, as
regards the motives and actions of the principal _dramatis personæ_ in
triple doubt and confusion. To snatch from this uncertainty a few
striking and picturesque legends, possessing, at the same time, some
absolute portion of verity, and to adorn them in his own magical
language is all that Mr. Irving has done in the present instance. But
that he has done this little well it is needless to say. He does not
claim for the Legends the authenticity of history properly so
called,--yet all are partially _facts_, and however extravagant {65}
some may appear, they will all, to use the words of the author
himself, "be found in the works of sage and reverend chroniclers of
yore, growing side by side with long acknowledged truths, and might be
supported by learned and imposing references in the margin." Were we
to instance any one of the narratives as more beautiful than the rest,
it would be _The Story of the Marvellous and Portentous Tower_.