aparentemente irreverentes, porque ellos mismos eran hijos de esta devoción desbordada y delirante. No se guardaba el silencio solemne de los lugares sagrados. Todos allí se hallaban como en su propia casa, como si la casa de su entrañable Virgen, su madre, su amada, la reina de los zaragozanos, fuera también la casa de sus hijos, sus criados y súbditos.
Atónito ante semejante fervor, que la familiaridad hacía más interesante, me abrí paso a empujones hasta la reja y vi la célebre imagen. ¿Quién no la ha visto, quién no la conoce, al menos por las innumerables esculturas y retratos que la han reproducido sin fin de un extremo al otro de la península?
She was at the left of the little altar which is in the depth of the chapel in a niche adorned with oriental luxury, a little statue, then as now.
A great profusion of wax candles illuminated her, and precious stones covered her clothing and crown, darting dazzling reflections. Gold and diamonds gleamed in the circlet about her face, in the votive bracelets hung upon her breast, and in the rings on her hands. A living creature would have given way under so great a weight of treasure.
Her garments, falling without folds, stretched straight from head to feet, and left visible only her hands. The child Jesus, sustained on her left side, revealed a bit of his brown little face between the brocade and the jewels.
The face of the Virgin, burnished by time, is also brown. A gentle serenity possesses her, symbol of her eternal blessedness. She looks outward, her sweet gaze scanning constantly the devoted concourse. There shines in her eyes a ray of the clearest light, and this artificial gleam seems like the intensity and fixedness of the human gaze.
It was difficult when I saw her for the first time to remain indifferent in the midst of that religious demonstration, and not to add a word to the concert of enthusiastic tongues talking with distinct voices to the Señora.