chronicle of the conquest of granada-第105章

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Aben　Comixa　was　sorely　troubled　by　this　opposition。　　He　knew　the　high　spirit　of　the　indomitable　Ayxa　and　her　influence　over　her　less　heroic　son；　and　wrote　an　urgent　letter　on　the　subject　to　his　friend；　the　count　de　Tendilla。　　The　latter　imparted　the　circumstance　to　the　Christian　sovereigns；　a　council　was　called　on　the　matter。　　Spanish　pride　and　etiquette　were　obliged　to　bend　in　some　degree　to　the　haughty　spirit　of　a　woman。　　It　was　agreed　that　Boabdil　should　sally　forth　on　horsebackthat　on　approaching　the　Spanish　sovereigns　he　should　make　a　slight　movement；　as　if　about　to　draw　his　foot　from　the　stirrup　and　dismount；　but　would　be　prevented　from　doing　so　by　Ferdinand；　who　should　treat　him　with　a　respect　due　to　his　dignity　and　elevated　birth。　　The　count　de　Tendilla　despatched　a　messenger　with　this　arrangement；　and　the　haughty　scruples　of　Ayxa　la　Horra　were　satisfied。*

*Salazar　de　Mendoza；　Chron。　del　Gran　Cardinal；　lib。　1；　c。　69；　p。　1；　　Mondajar；　His。　MS。；　as　cited　by　Alcantara；　t。　4；　c。　18。



CHAPTER　XCIX。

SURRENDER　OF　GRANADA。


The　night　preceding　the　surrender　was　a　night　of　doleful　lamentings　within　the　walls　of　the　Alhambra；　for　the　household　of　Boabdil　were　preparing　to　take　a　last　farewell　of　that　delightful　abode。　　All　the　royal　treasures　and　most　precious　effects　were　hastily　packed　upon　mules；　the　beautiful　apartments　were　despoiled；　with　tears　and　wailings；　by　their　own　inhabitants。　　Before　the　dawn　of　day　a　mournful　cavalcade　moved　obscurely　out　of　a　postern　gate　of　the　Alhambra　and　departed　through　one　of　the　most　retired　quarters　of　the　city。　　It　was　composed　of　the　family　of　the　unfortunate　Boabdil；　which　he　sent　off　thus　privately；　that　they　might　not　be　exposed　to　the　eyes　of　scoffers　or　the　exultation　of　the　enemy。　　The　mother　of　Boabdil；　the　sultana　Ayxa　la　Horra；　rode　on　in　silence；　with　dejected　yet　dignified　demeanor；　but　his　wife　Morayma　and　all　the　females　of　his　household　gave　way　to　loud　lamentations　as　they　looked　back　upon　their　favorite　abode；　now　a　mass　of　gloomy　towers　behind　them。　　They　were　attended　by　the　ancient　domestics　of　the　household；　and　by　a　small　guard　of　veteran　Moors　loyally　attached　to　the　fallen　monarch；　and　who　would　have　sold　their　lives　dearly　in　defence　of　his　family。　　The　city　was　yet　buried　in　sleep　as　they　passed　through　its　silent　streets。　　The　guards　at　the　gate　shed　tears　as　they　opened　it　for　their　departure。　　They　paused　not；　but　proceeded　along　the　banks　of　the　Xenil　on　the　road　that　leads　to　the　Alpuxarras；　until　they　arrived　at　a　hamlet　at　some　distance　from　the　city；　where　they　halted　and　waited　until　they　should　be　joined　by　King　Boabdil。　　The　night　which　had　passed　so　gloomily　in　the　sumptuous　halls　of　the　Alhambra　had　been　one　of　joyful　anticipation　in　the　Christian　camp。　　In　the　evening　proclamation　had　been　made　that　Granada　was　to　be　surrendered　on　the　following　day；　and　the　troops　were　all　ordered　to　assemble　at　an　early　hour　under　their　several　banners。　　The　cavaliers；　pages；　and　esquires　were　all　charged　to　array　themselves　in　their　richest　and　most　splendid　style　for　the　occasion；　and　even　the　royal　family　determined　to　lay　by　the　mourning　they　had　recently　assumed　for　the　sudden　death　of　the　prince　of　Portugal；　the　husband　of　the　princess　Isabella。　　In　a　clause　of　the　capitulation　it　had　been　stipulated　that　the　troops　destined　to　take　possession　should　not　traverse　the　city；　but　should　ascend　to　the　Alhambra　by　a　road　opened　for　the　purpose　outside　of　the　walls。　　This　was　to　spare　the　feelings　of　the　afflicted　inhabitants；　and　to　prevent　any　angry　collision　between　them　and　their　conquerors。　　So　rigorous　was　Ferdinand　in　enforcing　this　precaution　that　the　soldiers　were　prohibited　under　pain　of　death　from　leaving　the　ranks　to　enter　into　the　city。

The　rising　sun　had　scarce　shed　his　rosy　beams　upon　the　snowy　summits　of　the　Sierra　Nevada　when　three　signal　guns　boomed　heavily　from　the　lofty　fortress　of　the　Alhambra。　　It　was　the　concerted　sign　that　all　was　ready　for　the　surrender。　　The　Christian　army　forthwith　poured　out　of　the　city；　or　rather　camp；　of　Santa　Fe；　and　advanced　across　the　Vega。　　The　king　and　queen；　with　the　prince　and　princess；　the　dignitaries　and　ladies　of　the　court；　took　the　lead；　accompanied　by　the　different　orders　of　monks　and　friars；　and　surrounded　by　the　royal　guards　splendidly　arrayed。　　The　procession　moved　slowly　forward；　and　paused　at　the　village　of　Armilla；　at　the　distance　of　half　a　league　from　the　city。

In　the　mean　time；　the　grand　cardinal　of　Spain；　Don　Pedro　Gonzalez　de　Mendoza；　escorted　by　three　thousand　foot　and　a　troop　of　cavalry；　and　accompanied　by　the　commander　Don　Gutierrez　de　Cardenas　and　a　number　of　prelates　and　hidalgos；　crossed　the　Xenil　and　proceeded　in　the　advance　to　ascend　to　the　Alhambra　and　take　possession　of　that　royal　palace　and　fortress。　　The　road　which　had　been　opened　for　the　purpose　led　by　the　Puerta　de　los　Molinos；　or　Gate　of　Mills；　up　a　defile　to　the　esplanade　on　the　summit　of　the　Hill　of　Martyrs。　　At　the　approach　of　this　detachment　the　Moorish　king　sallied　forth　from　a　postern　gate　of　the　Alhambra；　having　left　his　vizier；　Yusef　Aben　Comixa；　to　deliver　up　the　palace。　　The　gate　by　which　he　sallied　passed　through　a　lofty　tower　of　the　outer　wall；　called　the　Tower　of　the　Seven　Floors　（de　los　siete　suelos）。　　He　was　accompanied　by　fifty　cavaliers；　and　approached　the　grand　cardinal　on　foot。　　The　latter　immediately　alighted；　and　advanced　to　meet　him　with　the　utmost　respect。　　They　stepped　aside　a　few　paces；　and　held　a　brief　conversation　in　an　under　tone；　when　Boabdil；　raising　his　voice；　exclaimed；　〃Go；　senor；　and　take　possession　of　those　fortresses　in　the　name　of　the　powerful　sovereigns　to　whom　God　has　been　pleased　to　deliver　them　in　reward　of　their　great　merits　and　in　punishment　of　the　sins　of　the　Moors。〃　　The　grand　cardinal　sought　to　console　him　in　his　reverses；　and　offered　him　the　use　of　his　own　tent　during　any　time　he　might　sojourn　in　the　camp。　　Boabdil　thanked　him　for　the　courteous　offer；　adding　some　words　of　melancholy　import；　and　then；　taking　leave　of　him　gracefully；　passed　mournfully　on　to　meet　the　Catholic　sovereigns；　descending　to　the　Vega　by　the　same　road　by　which　the　cardinal　had　come。　　The　latter；　with　the　prelates　and　cavaliers　who　attended　him；　entered　the　Alhambra；　the　gates　of　which　were　thrown　wide　open　by　the　alcayde　Aben　Comixa。　　At　the　same　time　the　Moorish　guards　yielded　up　their　arms；　and　the　towers　and　battlements　were　taken　possession　of　by　the　Christian　troops。

While　these　transactions　were　passing　in　the　Alhambra　and　its　vicinity　the　sovereigns　remained　with　their　retinue　and　guards　near　the　village　of　Armilla；　their　eyes　fixed　on　the　towers　of　the　royal　fortress；　watching　for　the　appointed　signal　of　possession。　　The　time　that　had　elapsed　since　the　departure　of　the　detachment　seemed　to　them　more　than　necessary　for　the　purpose；　and　the　anxious　mind　of　Ferdinand　began　to　entertain　doubts　of　some　commotion　in　the　city。　At　length　they　saw　the　silver　cross；　the　great　standard　of　this　crusade；　elevated　on　the　Torre　de　la　Vela；　or　Great　Watch…tower；　and　sparkling　in　the　sunbeams。　　This　was　done　by　Hernando　de　Talavera；　bishop　of　Avila。　　Beside　it　was　planted　the　pennon　of　the　glorious　apostle　St。　James；　and　a　great　shout　of　〃Santiago！　Santiago！〃　rose　throughout　the　army。　　Lastly　was　reared　the　royal　standard　by　the　king…at…arms；　with　the　shout　of　〃Castile！　Castile！　for　King　Ferdinand　and　Queen　Isabella！〃　　The　words　were　echoed　by　the　whole　army；　with　acclamations　that　resounded　across　the　Vega。　　At　sight　of　these　signals　of　possession　the　sovereigns　sank　upon　their　knees；　giving　thanks　to　God　for　this　great　triumph；　the　whole　assembled　host　followed　their　example；　and　the　choristers　of　the　royal　chapel　broke　forth　into　the　solemn　anthem　of　''Te　Deum　laudamus。〃

The　king　now　advanced　with　a　splendid　escort　of　cavalry　and　the　sound　of　trumpets；　until　he　came　to　a　small　mosque　near　the　banks　of　the　Xenil；　and　not　far　from　the　foot　of　the　Hill　of　Martyrs；　which　edifice　remains　to　the　present　day　consecrated　as　the　hermitage　of　St。　Sebastian。　　Here　he　beheld　the　unfortunate　king　of　Granada　approaching　on　horseback　at　the　head　of　his　slender　retinue。　　Boabdil　as　he　drew　near　made　a　movement　t