chronicle of the conquest of granada-第109章

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pon　the　spot；　multitudes　were　driven　back　into　the　river；　which　was　already　crowded　with　passing　troops。　A　dreadful　confusion　took　place；　the　horse　trampled　upon　the　foot；　the　enemy　pressed　on　them　with　fearful　slaughter；　those　who　escaped　the　sword　perished　by　the　stream；　the　river　was　choked　by　the　dead　bodies　of　men　and　horses　and　by　the　scattered　baggage　of　the　army。　In　this　scene　of　horrible　carnage　fell　Boabdil；　truly　called　El　Zogoybi；　or　the　Unluckyan　instance；　says　the　ancient　chronicler；　of　the　scornful　caprice　of　fortune；　dying　in　defence　of　the　kingdom　of　another　after　wanting　spirit　to　die　in　defence　of　his　own。*

*Marmol；　Descrip。　de　Africa；　p。　1；　1。　2；　c。　40；　idem；　Hist。　Reb。　de　　los　Moros；　lib。　1；　c。　21。


The　aspersion　of　the　chronicler　is　more　caustic　than　correct。　　Boabdil　never　showed　a　want　of　courage　in　the　defence　of　Granada；　but　he　wanted　firmness　and　decision：　he　was　beset　from　the　first　by　perplexities；　and　ultimately　by　the　artifices　of　Ferdinand　and　the　treachery　of　those　in　whom　he　most　confided。*

*In　revising　this　account　of　the　ultimate　fortunes　of　Boabdil　the　　author　has　availed　himself　of　facts　recently　brought　out　in　　Alcantara's　History　of　Granada；　which　throw　strong　lights　on　　certain　parts　of　the　subject　hitherto　covered　with　obscurity。


ZORAYA；　THE　STAR　OF　THE　MORNING。

Notwithstanding　the　deadly　rivalship　of　this　youthful　sultana　with　Ayxa　la　Horra；　the　virtuous　mother　of　Boabdil；　and　the　disasters　to　which　her　ambitious　intrigues　gave　rise；　the　placable　spirit　of　Boabdil　bore　her　no　lasting　enmity。　　After　the　death　of　his　father　he　treated　her　with　respect　and　kindness；　and　evinced　a　brotherly　feeling　toward　her　sons　Cad　and　Nazar。　　In　the　capitulations　for　the　surrender　of　Granada　he　took　care　of　her　interests；　and　the　possessions　which　he　obtained　for　her　were　in　his　neighborhood　in　the　valleys　of　the　Alpuxarras。　　Zoraya；　however；　under　the　influence　of　Queen　Isabella；　returned　to　the　Christian　faith；　the　religion　of　her　infancy；　and　resumed　her　Spanish　name　of　Isabella。　　Her　two　sons；　Cad　and　Nazar；　were　baptized　under　the　names　of　Don　Fernando　and　Don　Juan　de　Granada；　and　were　permitted　to　take　the　titles　of　infantas　or　princes。　　They　intermarried　with　noble　Spanish　families；　and　the　dukes　of　Granada；　resident　in　Valladolid；　are　descendants　of　Don　Juan　（once　Nazar）；　and　preserve　to　the　present　day　the　blazon　of　their　royal　ancestor；　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　and　his　motto；　Le　Galib　ile　Ala；　God　alone　is　conqueror。


FATE　OF　ABEN　COMIXA。

An　ancient　chronicle　which　has　long　remained　in　manuscript；　but　has　been　published　of　late　years　in　the　collection　of　Spanish　historical　documents；*　informs　us　of　the　subsequent　fortunes　of　the　perfidious　Aben　Comixa。　　Discarded　and　despised　by　Boabdil　for　his　treachery；　he　repaired　to　the　Spanish　court；　and　obtained　favor　in　the　eyes　of　the　devout　queen　Isabella　by　embracing　the　Christian　religion；　being　baptized　under　her　auspices　with　the　name　of　Don　Juan　de　Granada。　He　even　carried　his　zeal　for　his　newly…adopted　creed　so　far　as　to　become　a　Franciscan　friar。　　By　degrees　his　affected　piety　grew　cool　and　the　friar's　garb　became　irksome。　　Taking　occasion　of　the　sailing　of　some　Venetian　galleys　from　Almeria；　he　threw　off　his　religious　habit；　embarked　on　board　of　one　of　them；　and　crossed　to　Africa；　where　he　landed　in　the　dress　of　a　Spanish　cavalier。

*Padilla；　Cronica　de　Felipe　el　Hermosa；　cap。　18；　y　19；　as　cited　　by　Alcantara。


In　a　private　interview　with　Abderraman；　the　Moorish　king　of　Bujia；　he　related　his　whole　history；　and　declared　that　he　had　always　been　and　still　was　at　heart　a　true　Mahometan。　　Such　skill　had　he　in　inspiring　confidence　that　the　Moorish　king　took　him　into　favor　and　appointed　him　governor　of　Algiers。　　While　enjoying　his　new　dignity　a　Spanish　squadron　of　four　galleys；　under　the　celebrated　count　Pedro　de　Navarro；　anchored　in　the　harbor　in　1509。　　Aben　Comixa　paid　the　squadron　a　visit　of　ceremony　in　his　capacity　of　governor；　gave　the　count　repeated　fetes；　and　in　secret　conversations　with　him　laid　open　all　the　affairs　of　the　king　of　Bujia；　and　offered；　if　the　count　should　return　with　sufficient　force；　to　deliver　the　city　into　his　hands　and　aid　him　in　conquering　the　whole　territory。　　The　count　hastened　back　to　Spain　and　made　known　the　proposed　treachery　to　the　Cardinal　Ximenes；　then　prime　minister　of　Spain。　　In　the　following　month　of　January　he　was　sent　with　thirty　vessels　and　four　thousand　soldiers　to　achieve　the　enterprise。　　The　expedition　of　Navarro　was　successful。　He　made　himself　master　of　Bujia　and　seized　in　triumph　on　the　royal　palace；　but　he　found　there　the　base　Aben　Comixa　weltering　in　his　blood　and　expiring　under　numerous　wounds。　　His　treachery　had　been　discovered；　and　the　vengeance　of　the　king　of　Bujia　had　closed　his　perfidious　career。


DEATH　OF　THE　MARQUES　OF　CADIZ。

The　renowned　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques…duke　of　Cadiz；　was　unquestionably　the　most　distinguished　among　the　cavaliers　of　Spain　for　his　zeal；　enterprise；　and　heroism　in　the　great　crusade　of　Granada。　He　began　the　war　by　the　capture　of　Alhama；　he　was　engaged　in　almost　every　inroad　and　siege　of　importance　during　its　continuance；　and　was　present　at　the　surrender　of　the　capital；　the　closing　scene　of　the　conquest。　　The　renown　thus　acquired　was　sealed　by　his

death；　which　happened　in　the　forty…eighth　year　of　his　age；　almost　immediately　at　the　close　of　his　triumphs　and　before　a　leaf　of　his　laurels　had　time　to　wither。　　He　died　at　his　palace　in　the　city　of　Seville　on　the　27th　day　of　August；　1492；　but　a　few　months　after　the　surrender　of　Granada；　and　of　an　illness　caused　by　exposures　and　fatigues　undergone　in　this　memorable　war。　　That　honest　chronicler；　Andres　Bernaldez；　the　curate　of　Los　Palacios；　who　was　a　contemporary　of　the　marques；　draws　his　portrait　from　actual　knowledge　and　observation。　　He　was　universally　cited　（says　he）　as　the　most　perfect　model　of　chivalrous　virtue　of　the　age。　　He　was　temperate；　chaste；　and　rigidly　devout；　a　benignant　commander；　a　valiant　defender　of　his　vassals；　a　great　lover　of　justice；　and　an　enemy　to　all　flatterers；　liars；　robbers；　traitors；　and　poltroons。

His　ambition　was　of　a　lofty　kind：　he　sought　to　distinguish　himself　and　his　family　by　heroic　and　resounding　deeds；　and　to　increase　the　patrimony　of　his　ancestors　by　the　acquisition　of　castles；　domains；　vassals；　and　other　princely　possessions。　　His　recreations　were　all　of　a　warlike　nature；　he　delighted　in　geometry　as　applied　to　fortifications；　and　spent　much　time　and　treasure　in　erecting　and　repairing　fortresses。　　He　relished　music；　but　of　a　military　kindthe　sound　of　clarions　and　sackbuts；　of　drums　and　trumpets。　Like　a　true　cavalier；　he　was　a　protector　of　the　sex　on　all　occasions；　and　an　injured　woman　never　applied　to　him　in　vain　for　redress。　　His　prowess　was　so　well　known；　and　his　courtesy　to　the　fair；　that　the　ladies　of　the　court；　when　they　accompanied　the　queen　to　the　wars；　rejoiced　to　find　themselves　under　his　protection；　for　wherever　his　banner　was　displayed　the　Moors　dreaded　to　adventure。　　He　was　a　faithful　and　devoted　friend；　but　a　formidable　enemy；　for　he　was　slow　to　forgive；　and　his　vengeance　was　persevering　and　terrible。

The　death　of　this　good　and　well…beloved　cavalier　spread　grief　and　lamentation　throughout　all　ranks。　　His　relations；　dependants；　and　companions…in…arms　put　on　mourning　for　his　loss；　and　so　numerous　were　they　that　half　of　Seville　was　clad　in　black。　　None；　however；　deplored　his　death　more　deeply　and　sincerely　than　his　friend　and　chosen　companion　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar。

The　funeral　ceremonies　were　of　the　most　solemn　and　sumptuous　kind。　The　body　of　the　marques　was　arrayed　in　a　costly　shirt；　a　doublet　of　brocade；　a　sayo　or　long　robe　of　black　velvet；　a　marlota　or　Moorish　tunic　of　brocade　reaching　to　the　feet；　and　scarlet　stockings。　　His　sword；　superbly　gilt；　was　girded　to　his　side；　as　he　used　to　wear　it　when　in　the　field。　　Thus　magnificently　attired；　the　body　was　enclosed　in　a　coffin　which　was　covered　with　black　velvet　and　decorated　with　a　cross　of　white　damask。　　It　was　then　placed　on　a　sumptuous　bier　in　the　centre　of　the　great　hall　of　the　palace。　　Here　the　duchess　made　great　lamentation　over　the　body　of　her　lord；　in　which　she　was　joined　by　her　t