the city by the Bridge of San Martín, you front the gate of the
Cambrón, so called from the brambles that grew about that small,
charming, pinnacled edifice, which was built upon the spot of
Wamba's old gate in Alfonso VI's time, and was then completely
Moorish in style. In 1576 it was restored and took on its present
half renaissance, half classical aspect." Ib., p. 295.]

[Footnote 6: Puente de San Martín. "The imposing _Puente de San
Martín_, which spans the Tagus to the west of the town, was built in
1212 and renewed in 1390. It consists of five arches, that in the
center being about 100 ft. in height Each end is guarded by a
gate-tower.... The gorge of the Tagus here is very imposing."
Baedeker, _Spain and Portugal_ (1901), p. 150.]

El tiempo que faltaba para emprender el camino de la frontera y
concluir de ordenar las huestes reales, discurría en medio de fiestas
públicas, lujosos convites y lucidos torneos, hasta que, llegada al
fin la víspera del día señalado de antemano por S.A.[1] para la salida
del éjercito, se dispuso un postrer sarao, con el que debieran
terminar los regocijos.

[Footnote 1: S. A. Abbreviation for Su Alteza, 'His Highness,' a
title given to the kings of Spain down to the Austrian dynasty, and
now applied to princes and regents.]

La noche del sarao, el alcázar[1] de los reyes ofrecía un aspecto
singular. En los anchurosos patios, alrededor de inmensas hogueras, y
diseminados sin orden ni concierto, se veía una abigarrada multitud de
pajes, soldados, ballesteros y gente menuda, quienes, éstos aderezando
sus corceles y sus armas y disponiendolos para el combate; aquéllos