chronicle of the conquest of granada-第107章

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arrogante）。　　Then　followed　the　army　in　shining　columns；　with　flaunting　banners　and　the　inspiring　clamor　of　military　music。　　The　king　and　queen　（says　the　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　looked　on　this　occasion　as　more　than　mortal：　the　venerable　ecclesiastics；　to　whose　advice　and　zeal　this　glorious　conquest　ought　in　a　great　measure　be　attributed；　moved　along　with　hearts　swelling　with　holy　exultation；　but　with　chastened　and　downcast　looks　of　edifying　humility；　while　the　hardy　warriors；　in　tossing　plumes　and　shining　steel；　seemed　elevated　with　a　stern　joy　at　finding　themselves　in　possession　of　this　object　of　so　many　toils　and　perils。　As　the　streets　resounded　with　the　tramp　of　steeds　and　swelling　peals　of　music　the　Moors　buried　themselves　in　the　deepest　recesses　of　their　dwellings。　　There　they　bewailed　in　secret　the　fallen　glory　of　their　race；　but　suppressed　their　groans；　lest　they　should　be　heard　by　their　enemies　and　increase　their　triumph。

The　royal　procession　advanced　to　the　principal　mosque；　which　had　been　consecrated　as　a　cathedral。　　Here　the　sovereigns　offered　up　prayers　and　thanksgivings；　and　the　choir　of　the　royal　chapel　chanted　a　triumphant　anthem；　in　which　they　were　joined　by　all　the　courtiers　and　cavaliers。　　Nothing　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　could　exceed　the　thankfulness　to　God　of　the　pious　king　Ferdinand　for　having　enabled　him　to　eradicate　from　Spain　the　empire　and　name　of　that　accursed　heathen　race；　and　for　the　elevation　of　the　cross　in　that　city　wherein　the　impious　doctrines　of　Mahomet　had　so　long　been　cherished。　　In　the　fervor　of　his　spirit　he　supplicated　from　heaven　a　continuance　of　its　grace　and　that　this　glorious　triumph　might　be　perpetuated。*　The　prayer　of　the　pious　monarch　was　responded　to　by　the　people；　and　even　his　enemies　were　for　once　convinced　of　his　sincerity。

*The　words　of　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　are　little　more　than　an　echo　　of　those　of　the　worthy　Jesuit　father　Mariana　（1。　25；　c。　18）。


When　the　religious　ceremonies　were　concluded　the　court　ascended　to　the　stately　palace　of　the　Alhambra　and　entered　by　the　great　Gate　of　Justice。　　The　halls　lately　occupied　by　turbaned　infidels　now　rustled　with　stately　dames　and　Christian　courtiers；　who　wandered　with　eager　curiosity　over　this　far…famed　palace；　admiring　its　verdant　courts　and　gushing　fountains；　its　halls　decorated　with　elegant　arabesques　and　storied　with　inscriptions；　and　the　splendor　of　its　gilded　and　brilliantly　painted　ceilings。

It　had　been　a　last　request　of　the　unfortunate　Boabdiland　one　which　showed　how　deeply　he　felt　the　transition　of　his　fatethat　no　person　might　be　permitted　to　enter　or　depart　by　the　gate　of　the　Alhambra　through　which　he　had　sallied　forth　to　surrender　his　capital。　　His　request　was　granted；　the　portal　was　closed　up；　and　remains　so　to　the　present　daya　mute　memorial　of　that　event。*

*Garibay；　Compend。　Hist。；　lib。　40；　c。　42。　　The　existence　of　this　　gateway　and　the　story　connected　with　it　are　perhaps　known　to　few；　　but　were　identified　in　the　researches　made　to　verify　this　history。　　The　gateway　is　at　the　bottom　of　a　tower　at　some　distance　from　the　　main　body　of　the　Alhambra。　　The　tower　had　been　rent　and　ruined　by　　gunpowder　at　the　time　when　the　fortress　was　evacuated　by　the　French。　　Great　masses　lie　around　half　covered　by　vines　and　fig　trees。　　A　poor　　man；　by　the　name　of　Mateo　Ximenes；　who　lives　in　one　of　the　halls　　among　the　ruins　of　the　Alhambra；　where　his　family　has　resided　for　　many　generations；　pointed　out　to　the　author　the　gateway；　still　　closed　up　with　stones。　　He　remembered　to　have　heard　his　father　and　　grandfather　say　that　it　had　always　been　stopped　up；　and　that　out　of　　it　King　Boabdil　had　gone　when　he　surrendered　Granada。　　The　route　of　　the　unfortunate　king　may　be　traced　thence　across　the　garden　of　the　　convent　of　Los　Martyros；　and　down　a　ravine　beyond；　through　a　street　　of　gypsy　caves　and　hovels；　by　the　gate　of　Los　Molinos；　and　so　on　to　　the　Hermitage　of　St。　Sebastian。　　None　but　an　antiquarian；　however；　　will　be　able　to　trace　it　unless　aided　by　the　humble　historian　of　the　　place；　　Mateo　Ximenes。


The　Spanish　sovereigns　fixed　their　throne　in　the　presence…chamber　of　the　palace；　so　long　the　seat　of　Moorish　royalty。　　Hither　the　principal　inhabitants　of　Granada　repaired　to　pay　them　homage　and　kiss　their　hands　in　token　of　vassalage；　and　their　example　was　followed　by　deputies　from　all　the　towns　and　fortresses　of　the　Alpuxarras　which　had　not　hitherto　submitted。

Thus　terminated　the　war　of　Granada；　after　ten　years　of　incessant　fighting；　equalling　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　the　far…famed　siege　of　Troy　in　duration；　and　ending；　like　that；　in　the　capture　of　the　city。　　Thus　ended　also　the　dominion　of　the　Moors　in　Spain；　having　endured　seven　hundred　and　seventy…eight　years　from　the　memorable　defeat　of　Roderick；　the　last　of　the　Goths；　on　the　banks　of　the　Guadalete。　　The　authentic　Agapida　is　uncommonly　particular　in　fixing　the　epoch　of　this　event。　　This　great　triumph　of　our　holy　Catholic　faith；　according　to　his　computation；　took　place　in　the　beginning　of　January　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1492；　being　3655　years　from　the　population　of　Spain　by　the　patriarch　Tubal；　3797　from　the　general　deluge；　5453　from　the　creation　of　the　world；　according　to　Hebrew　calculation；　and　in　the　month　Rabic；　in　the　eight　hundred　and　ninety…seventh　year　of　the　Hegira；　or　flight　of　Mahomet；　whom　may　God　confound！　saith　the　pious　Agapida。




APPENDIX。


The　Chronicle　of　the　Conquest　of　Granada　is　finished；　but　the　reader　may　be　desirous　of　knowing　the　subsequent　fortunes　of　some　of　the　principal　personages。

The　unfortunate　Boabdil　retired　with　his　mother；　his　wife；　his　son；　his　sister；　his　vizier　and　bosom…counsellor　Aben　Comixa；　and　many　other　relatives　and　friends；　to　the　valley　of　Purchena；　where　a　small　but　fertile　territory　had　been　allotted　him；　comprising　several　towns　of　the　Alpuxarras；　with　all　their　rights　and　revenues。　　Here；　surrounded　by　obedient　vassals；　devoted　friends；　and　a　loving　family；　and　possessed　of　wealth　sufficient　to　enable　him　to　indulge　in　his　habitual　luxury　and　magnificence；　he　for　a　time　led　a　tranquil　life；　and　may　have　looked　back　upon　his　regal　career　as　a　troubled　dream　from　which　he　had　happily　awaked。　　Still；　he　appears　to　have　pleased　himself　with　a　shadow　of　royalty；　making　occasionally　progresses　about　his　little　domains；　visiting　the　different　towns；　receiving　the　homage　of　the　inhabitants；　and　bestowing　largesses　with　a　princely　hand。　　His　great　delight；　however；　was　in　sylvan　sports　and　exercises；　with　horses；　hawks；　and　hounds；　being　passionately　fond　of　hunting　and　falconry；　so　as　to　pass　weeks　together　in　sporting　campaigns　among　the　mountains。　　The　jealous　suspicions　of　Ferdinand　followed　him　into　his　retreat。　　No　exertions　were　spared　by　the　politically　pious　monarch　to　induce　him　to　embrace　the　Christian　religion　as　a　means　of　severing　him　in　feelings　and　sympathies　from　his　late　subjects；　but　he　remained　true　to　the　faith　of　his　fathers；　and　it　must　have　added　not　a　little　to　his　humiliation　to　live　a　vassal　under　Christian　sovereigns。

His　obstinacy　in　this　respect　aggravated　the　distrust　of　Ferdinand；　who；　looking　back　upon　the　past　inconstancy　of　the　Moors；　could　not　feel　perfectly　secure　in　his　newly…conquered　territories　while　there　was　one　within　their　bounds　who　might　revive　pretensions　to　the　throne　and　rear　the　standard　of　an　opposite　faith　in　their　behalf。　He　caused；　therefore；　a　vigilant　watch　to　be　kept　upon　the　dethroned　monarch　in　his　retirement；　and　beset　him　with　spies　who　were　to　report　all　his　words　and　actions。　　The　reader　will　probably　be　surprised　to　learn　that　the　foremost　of　these　spies　was　Aben　Comixa！　Ever　since　the　capture　and　release　of　the　niece　of　the　vizier　by　the　count　de　Tendilla；　Aben　Comixa　had　kept　up　a　friendly　correspondence　with　that　nobleman；　and　through　this　channel　had　gradually　been　brought　over　to　the　views　of　Ferdinand。　　Documents　which　have　gradually　come　to　light　leave　little　doubt　that　the　vizier　had　been　corrupted　by　the　bribes　and　promises　of　the　Spanish　king；　and　had　greatly　promoted　his　views　in　the　capitulation　of　Granada。　　It　is　certain　that　he　subsequently　received　great　estates　from　the　Christian　sovereigns。　　While　residing　in　confidential　friendship