This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1881. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... cavaliers, oh, splendid banquets, oh, feverish enjoyments of a prosperity which seemed everlasting! It is rather a new pleasure to cough a little before these empty sepulchres, as invalids do sometimes to test their strength, and to hear the echo of your robust voice, which assures you that you are young and healthful. In the interior of the palace is a large court, surrounded by busts in mezzo-relievo, which represent the Roman emperors, and a beautiful staircase and spacious galleries on the upper floor. I coughed, and the echo replied: "What health!" --so I went out comforted. A drowsy porter showed me on the same square another palace, which I had not noticed, and told me that in that one was born the great king Philip II, from whom Valladolid received the title of city; " Yon know, sir, Philip the second, son of Charles the fifth, father of . . . ." "/ know, I know" I hastened to reply, to save myself from the narrative, and, giving a gloomy glance at the dismal palace, I moved on. Opposite the royal palace is the Convent of the Dominicans of San Pablo, with a facade in the Gothic style, so rich, and overloaded with statuettes, basreliefs and ornaments of every kind, that the half would suffice to embellish an immense palace. The sun lay on it at that moment and the effect was magnificent. While I stood contemplating, at my ease, that labyrinth of sculpture, from which it is difficult to take one's eyes after looking at it, a little beggar, of seven or eight years of age, who was seated in a distant corner of the square, dashed from his place as if hurled from a sling, and, rushing toward me, said: "Oh, sir!--oh, sir! How fond I am of you!" This is something new, I thought, for the poor to make declarations of love. He came and planted himself befo...