chronicle of the conquest of granada-第102章

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od　firm；　battling　for　it　with　the　united　force　of　love　and　grief；　never　drawing　back　the　foot　while　they　had　hands　to　fight　or　fortune　to　befriend　them。*

*Abarca；　Reyes　de　Aragon；　R。　30；　c。　3。



CHAPTER　XCV。

CONFLAGRATION　OF　THE　CHRISTIAN　CAMP。BUILDING　OF　　　　　SANTA　FE。


The　moors　now　shut　themselves　up　gloomily　within　their　walls；　there　were　no　longer　any　daring　sallies　from　their　gates；　and　even　the　martial　clangor　of　the　drum　and　trumpet；　which　had　continually　resounded　within　the　warrior　city；　was　now　seldom　heard　from　its　battlements。　　In　the　midst　of　this　deep　despondency　a　single　disaster　in　the　Christian　camp　for　a　moment　lit　up　a　ray　of　hope　in　the　bosom　of　the　Moors。

The　setting　sun　of　a　hot　summer's　day；　on　the　10th　of　July；　shone　splendidly　upon　the　Christian　camp；　which　was　in　a　bustle　of　preparation　for　the　next　day's　service；　when　an　attack　was　meditated　on　the　city。　　The　camp　made　a　glorious　appearance。　　The　various　tents　of　the　royal　family　and　the　attendant　nobles　were　adorned　with　rich　hangings　and　sumptuous　devices　and　costly　furniture；　forming；　as　it　were；　a　little　city　of　silk　and　brocade；　where　the　pinnacles　of　pavilions　of　various　gay　colors；　surmounted　with　waving　standards　and　fluttering　pennons；　might　vie　with　the　domes　and　minarets　of　the　capital　they　were　besieging。

In　the　midst　of　this　little　gaudy　metropolis　the　lofty　tent　of　the　queen　domineered　over　the　rest　like　a　stately　palace。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz　had　courteously　surrendered　his　own　tent　to　the　queen：　it　was　the　most　complete　and　sumptuous　in　Christendom；　and　had　been　carried　about　with　him　throughout　the　war。　　In　the　centre　rose　a　stately　alfaneque；　or　pavilion；　in　Oriental　taste；　the　rich　hangings　being　supported　by　columns　of　lances　and　ornamented　with　martial　devices。　　This　central　pavilion；　or　silken　tower；　was　surrounded　by　other　compartments；　some　of　painted　linen　lined　with　silk；　and　all　separated　from　each　other　by　curtains。　　It　was　one　of　those　camp　palaces　which　are　raised　and　demolished　in　an　instant　like　the　city　of　canvas　which　surrounds　them。

As　the　evening　advanced　the　bustle　in　the　camp　subsided。　　Every　one　sought　repose；　preparatory　to　the　next　day's　trial。　　The　king　retired　early；　that　he　might　be　up　with　the　crowing　of　the　cock　to　head　the　destroying　army　in　person。　　All　stir　of　military　preparation　was　hushed　in　the　royal　quarters：　the　very　sound　of　minstrelsy　was　mute；　and　not　the　tinkling　of　a　guitar　was　to　be　heard　from　the　tents　of　the　fair　ladies　of　the　court。

The　queen　had　retired　to　the　innermost　part　of　her　pavilion；　where　she　was　performing　her　orisons　before　a　private　altar：　perhaps　the　peril　to　which　the　king　might　be　exposed　in　the　next　day's　foray　inspired　her　with　more　than　usual　devotion。　　While　thus　at　her　prayers　she　was　suddenly　aroused　by　a　glare　of　light　and　wreaths　of　suffocating　smoke。　　In　an　instant　the　whole　tent　was　in　a　blaze：　there　was　a　high　gusty　wind；　which　whirled　the　light　flames　from　tent　to　tent　and　wrapped　the　whole　in　one　conflagration。

Isabella　had　barely　time　to　save　herself　by　instant　flight。　　Her　first　thought　on　being　extricated　from　her　tent　was　for　the　safety　of　the　king。　　She　rushed　to　his　tent；　but　the　vigilant　Ferdinand　was　already　at　the　entrance　of　it。　　Starting　from　bed　on　the　first　alarm　and　fancying　it　an　assault　of　the　enemy；　he　had　seized　his　sword　and　buckler　and　sallied　forth　undressed　with　his　cuirass　upon　his　arm。

The　late　gorgeous　camp　was　now　a　scene　of　wild　confusion。　　The　flames　kept　spreading　from　one　pavilion　to　another；　glaring　upon　the　rich　armor　and　golden　and　silver　vessels；　which　seemed　melting　in　the　fervent　heat。　　Many　of　the　soldiers　had　erected　booths　and　bowers　of　branches；　which；　being　dry；　crackled　and　blazed　and　added　to　the　rapid　conflagration。　　The　ladies　of　the　court　fled；　shrieking　and　half　dressed；　from　their　tents。　　There　was　an　alarm　of　drum　and　trumpet；　and　a　distracted　hurry　about　the　camp　of　men　half　armed。　The　prince　Juan　had　been　snatched　out　of　bed　by　an　attendant　and　conveyed　to　the　quarters　of　the　count　de　Cabra；　which　were　at　the　entrance　of　the　camp。　　The　loyal　count　immediately　summoned　his　people　and　those　of　his　cousin　Don　Alonso　de　Montemayor；　and　formed　a　guard　round　the　tent　in　which　the　prince　was　sheltered。

The　idea　that　this　was　a　stratagem　of　the　Moors　soon　subsided；　but　it　was　feared　they　might　take　advantage　of　it　to　assault　the　camp。　The　marques　of　Cadiz；　therefore；　sallied　forth　with　three　thousand　horse　to　check　any　advance　from　the　city。　　As　they　passed　along　the　whole　camp　was　a　scene　of　hurry　and　consternationsome　hastening　to　their　posts　at　the　call　of　drum　and　trumpet；　some　attempting　to　save　rich　effects　and　glittering　armor　from　the　tents；　others　dragging　along　terrified　and　restive　horses。

When　they　emerged　from　the　camp　they　found　the　whole　firmament　illuminated。　　The　flames　whirled　up　in　long　light　spires；　and　the　air　was　filled　with　sparks　and　cinders。　　A　bright　glare　was　thrown　upon　the　city；　revealing　every　battlement　and　tower。　　Turbaned　heads　were　seen　gazing　from　every　roof；　and　armor　gleamed　along　the　walls；　yet　not　a　single　warrior　sallied　from　the　gates：　the　Moors　suspected　some　stratagem　on　the　part　of　the　Christians　and　kept　quietly　within　their　walls。　　By　degrees　the　flames　expired；　the　city　faded　from　sight；　all　again　became　dark　and　quiet；　and　the　marques　of　Cadiz　returned　with　his　cavalry　to　the　camp。

When　the　day　dawned　on　the　Christian　camp　nothing　remained　of　that　beautiful　assemblage　of　stately　pavilions　but　heaps　of　smouldering　rubbish；　with　helms　and　corselets　and　other　furniture　of　war；　and　masses　of　melted　gold　and　silver　glittering　among　the　ashes。　　The　wardrobe　of　the　queen　was　entirely　destroyed；　and　there　was　an　immense　loss　in　plate；　jewels；　costly　stuffs；　and　sumptuous　armor　of　the　luxurious　nobles。　　The　fire　at　first　had　been　attributed　to　treachery；　but　on　investigation　it　proved　to　be　entirely　accidental。　The　queen　on　retiring　to　her　prayers　had　ordered　her　lady　in　attendance　to　remove　a　light　burning　near　her　couch；　lest　it　should　prevent　her　sleeping。　　Through　heedlessness；　the　taper　was　placed　in　another　part　of　the　tent　near　the　hangings；　which；　being　blown　against　it　by　a　gust　of　wind；　immediately　took　fire。

The　wary　Ferdinand　knew　the　sanguine　temperament　of　the　Moors；　and　hastened　to　prevent　their　deriving　confidence　from　the　night's　disaster。　　At　break　of　day　the　drums　and　trumpets　sounded　to　arms；　and　the　Christian　army　issued　forth　from　among　the　smoking　ruins　of　their　camp　in　shining　squadrons；　with　flaunting　banners　and　bursts　of　martial　melody；　as　though　the　preceding　night　had　been　a　time　of　high　festivity　instead　of　terror。

The　Moors　had　beheld　the　conflagration　with　wonder　and　perplexity。　When　the　day　broke　and　they　looked　toward　the　Christian　camp；　they　saw　nothing　but　a　dark　smoking　mass。　　Their　scouts　came　in　with　the　joyful　intelligence　that　the　whole　camp　was　a　scene　of　ruin。　　In　the　exultation　of　the　moment　they　flattered　themselves　with　hopes　that　the　catastrophe　would　discourage　the　besiegersthat；　as　in　former　years；　their　invasion　would　end　with　the　summer　and　they　would　withdraw　before　the　autumnal　rains。

The　measures　of　Ferdinand　and　Isabella　soon　crushed　these　hopes。　They　gave　orders　to　build　a　regular　city　upon　the　site　of　their　camp；　to　convince　the　Moors　that　the　siege　was　to　endure　until　the　surrender　of　Granada。　　Nine　of　the　principal　cities　of　Spain　were　charged　with　the　stupendous　undertaking；　and　they　emulated　each　other　with　a　zeal　worthy　of　the　cause。　　〃It　verily　seems；〃　says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃as　though　some　miracle　operated　to　aid　this　pious　work；　so　rapidly　did　arise　a　formidable　city；　with　solid　edifices　and　powerful　walls　and　mighty　towers；　where　lately　had　been　seen　nothing　but　tents　and　light　pavilions。　　The　city　was　traversed　by　two　principal　streets　in　form　of　a　cross；　terminating　in　four　gates　facing　the　four　winds；　and　in　the　centre　was　a　vast　square　where　the　whole　army　might　be　assembled。　　To　this　city　it　was　proposed　to　give　the　name　of　Isabella；　so　dear　to　the　army　and　the　nation；　but　that　pious　princess；〃　adds　Antonio　Agapida；　〃calling　to　mind　the　holy　cause　in　which　it　was