A text-book of modern spanish [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION.The peninsula bounded by the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean and the waters of the Atlantic is a geographical unity, but a unity in no other respect. From the remotest ages it has been the battle-ground of races, rehgions and languages the most diverse. Basques, Celtiberians, Phoenicians, Romans, Suevi, Goths, Franks, Arabs and Mauritanians have successively contributed to the population, the language and the monuments of the peninsula. The mountainous nature of the country and its long separation into kingdoms and provinces have prevented a feeling of national unity and fostered local rivalries and jealousies. The inhabitants of the several districts regard themselves as Castilians, Andalusians, Catalonians or Galicians rather than as Spaniards. They refuse to their sovereign the title of King of Spain, and place a confederate stamp upon his oflBcial designation " Rey de las Espanas," King of the Spains.The comprehensive words " Spain" and " Spanish" are misleading except when used as geographical or political designations; for the diversity of the climate and natural features of the country is equalled by that of the characteristics and language of the inhabitants. Strictly speaking there is no Spanish language. To say nothing of Portuguese, the diversities of dialect are so great that Catalán, Andaluz and Gallego are mutually unintelligible; and all degrees of variety lie between these extremes. The central position of Castile, and the political ascendency acquired by it as early as the Xlth century have caused the dialect there spoken to be acknowledged as the typical language of Spain. It has been cultivatediü