chronicle of the conquest of granada-第12章

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Beltram　de　la　Cueva；　duke　of　Albuquerque；　Don　Inigo　Lopez　de　Mendoza；　count　of　Tendilla；　and　Don　Pedro　Mauriques；　count　of　Trevino；　with　a　few　more　cavaliers　of　prowess　and　distinction。　　He　travelled　by　forced　journeys；　frequently　changing　his　jaded　horses；　being　eager　to　arrive　in　time　to　take　command　of　the　Andalusian　chivalry。　　When　he　arrived　within　five　leagues　of　Cordova　the　duke　of　Albuquerque　remonstrated　with　him　upon　entering　with　such　incautious　haste　into　the　enemies'　country。　　He　represented　to　him　that　there　were　troops　enough　assembled　to　succor　Alhama；　and　that　it　was　not　for　him　to　venture　his　royal　person　in　doing　what　could　be　done　by　his　subjects；　especially　as　he　had　such　valiant　and　experienced　captains　to　act　for　him。　　〃Besides；　sire；〃　added　the　duke；　〃Your　Majesty　should　bethink　you　that　the　troops　about　to　take　the　field　are　mere　men　of　Andalusia；　whereas　your　illustrious　predecessors　never　made　an　inroad　into　the　territory　of　the　Moors　without　being　accompanied　by　a　powerful　force　of　the　stanch　and　iron　warriors　of　Old　Castile。〃

*Illescas；　Hist。　Pontifical。


〃Duke；〃　replied　the　king；　〃your　counsel　might　have　been　good　had　I　not　departed　from　Medina　with　the　avowed　determination　of　succoring　these　cavaliers　in　person。　　I　am　now　near　the　end　of　my　journey；　and　it　would　be　beneath　my　dignity　to　change　my　intention　before　even　I　had　met　with　an　impediment。　　I　shall　take　the　troops　of　this　country　who　are　assembled；　without　waiting　for　those　of　Castile；　and　with　the　aid　of　God　shall　prosecute　my　journey。〃*

*Pulgar；　Cronica；　p。　3；　cap。　3。


As　King　Ferdinand　approached　Cordova　the　principal　inhabitants　came　forth　to　receive　him。　　Learning；　however；　that　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　was　already　on　the　march　and　pressing　forward　into　the　territory　of　the　Moors；　the　king　was　all　on　fire　to　overtake　him　and　to　lead　in　person　the　succor　to　Alhama。　　Without　entering　Cordova；　therefore；　he　exchanged　his　weary　horses　for　those　of　the　inhabitants　who　had　come　forth　to　meet　him；　and　pressed　forward　for　the　army。　He　despatched　fleet　couriers　in　advance；　requesting　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　to　await　his　coming；　that　he　might　take　command　of　the　forces。

Neither　the　duke　nor　his　companions…in…arms；　however；　felt　inclined　to　pause　in　their　generous　expedition　and　gratify　the　inclinations　of　the　king。　　They　sent　back　missives　representing　that　they　were　far　within　the　enemies'　frontier；　and　it　was　dangerous　either　to　pause　or　turn　back。　　They　had　likewise　received　pressing　entreaties　from　the　besieged　to　hasten　their　speed；　setting　forth　their　great　sufferings　and　their　hourly　peril　of　being　overwhelmed　by　the　enemy。


The　king　was　at　Ponton　del　Maestre　when　he　received　these　missives。　So　inflamed　was　he　with　zeal　for　the　success　of　this　enterprise　that　he　would　have　penetrated　into　the　kingdom　of　Granada　with　the　handful　of　cavaliers　who　accompanied　him；　but　they　represented　the　rashness　of　such　a　journey　through　the　mountainous　defiles　of　a　hostile　country　thickly　beset　with　towns　and　castles。　　With　some　difficulty；　therefore；　he　was　dissuaded　from　his　inclination；　and　prevailed　upon　to　await　tidings　from　the　army　in　the　frontier　city　of　Antiquera。



CHAPTER　VIII。

SEQUEL　OF　THE　EVENTS　AT　ALHAMA。


While　all　Andalusia　was　thus　in　arms　and　pouring　its　chivalry　through　the　mountain…passes　of　the　Moorish　frontiers；　the　garrison　of　Alhama　was　reduced　to　great　extremity　and　in　danger　of　sinking　under　its　sufferings　before　the　promised　succor　could　arrive。　　The　intolerable　thirst　that　prevailed　in　consequence　of　the　scarcity　of　water；　the　incessant　watch　that　had　to　be　maintained　over　the　vast　force　of　enemies　without　and　the　great　number　of　prisoners　within；　and　the　wounds　which　almost　every　soldier　had　received　in　the　incessant　skirmishes　and　assaults；　had　worn　grievously　both　flesh　and　spirit。　　The　noble　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz；　still　animated　the　soldiery；　however；　by　word　and　example；　sharing　every　hardship　and　being　foremost　in　every　danger；　exemplifying　that　a　good　commander　is　the　vital　spirit　of　an　army。

When　Muley　Abul　Hassan　heard　of　the　vast　force　that　was　approaching　under　the　command　of　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia；　and　that　Ferdinand　was　coming　in　person　with　additional　troops；　he　perceived　that　no　time　was　to　be　lost：　Alhama　must　be　carried　by　one　powerful　attack　or　abandoned　entirely　to　the　Christians。

A　number　of　Moorish　cavaliers；　some　of　the　bravest　youth　of　Granada；　knowing　the　wishes　of　the　king；　proposed　to　undertake　a　desperate　enterprise　which；　if　successful；　must　put　Alhama　in　his　power。　　Early　one　morning；　when　it　was　scarcely　the　gray　of　the　dawn；　about　the　time　of　changing　the　watch；　these　cavaliers　approached　the　town　at　a　place　considered　inaccessible　from　the　steepness　of　the　rocks　on　which　the　wall　was　founded；　which；　it　was　supposed；　elevated　the　battlements　beyond　the　reach　of　the　longest　scaling…ladder。　　The　Moorish　knights；　aided　by　a　number　of　the　strongest　and　most　active　escaladors；　mounted　these　rocks　and　applied　the　ladders　without　being　discovered；　for　to　divert　attention　from　them　Muley　Abul　Hassan　made　a　false　attack　upon　the　town　in　another　quarter。

The　scaling　party　mounted　with　difficulty　and　in　small　numbers；　the　sentinel　was　killed　at　his　post；　and　seventy　of　the　Moors　made　their　way　into　the　streets　before　an　alarm　was　given。　　The　guards　rushed　to　the　walls　to　stop　the　hostile　throng　that　was　still　pouring　in。　　A　sharp　conflict；　hand　to　hand　and　man　to　man；　took　place　on　the　battlements；　and　many　on　both　sides　fell。　　The　Moors；　whether　wounded　or　slain；　were　thrown　headlong　without　the　walls；　the　scaling…ladders　were　overturned；　and　those　who　were　mounting　were　dashed　upon　the　rocks；　and　from　thence　tumbled　upon　the　plain。　　Thus　in　a　little　while　the　ramparts　were　cleared　by　Christian　prowess；　led　on　by　that　valiant　knight　Don　Alonzo　Ponce；　the　uncle；　and　that　brave　esquire　Pedro　Pineda；　nephew；　of　the　marques　of　Cadiz。

The　walls　being　cleared；　these　two　kindred　cavaliers　now　hastened　with　their　forces　in　pursuit　of　the　seventy　Moors　who　had　gained　an　entrance　into　the　town。　　The　main　party　of　the　garrison　being　engaged　at　a　distance　resisting　the　feigned　attack　of　the　Moorish　king；　this　fierce　band　of　infidels　had　ranged　the　streets　almost　without　opposition；　and　were　making　their　way　to　the　gates　to　throw　them　open　to　the　army。*　　They　were　chosen　men　from　among　the　Moorish　forces；　several　of　them　gallant　knights　of　the　proudest　families　of　Granada。　　Their　footsteps　through　the　city　were　in　a　manner　printed　in　blood；　and　they　were　tracked　by　the　bodies　of　those　they　had　killed　and　wounded。　　They　had　attained　the　gate；　most　of　the　guard　had　fallen　beneath　their　scimetars；　a　moment　more　and　Alhama　would　have　been　thrown　open　to　the　enemy。

*Zurita；　lib。　20；　c。　43。


Just　at　this　juncture　Don　Alonzo　Ponce　and　Pedro　de　Pineda　reached　the　spot　with　their　forces。　　The　Moors　had　the　enemy　in　front　and　rear；　they　placed　themselves　back　to　back；　with　their　banner　in　the　centre。　　In　this　way　they　fought　with　desperate　and　deadly　determination；　making　a　rampart　around　them　with　the　slain。　　More　Christian　troops　arrived　and　hemmed　them　in；　but　still　they　fought；　without　asking　for　quarter。　　As　their　number　decreased　they　serried　their　circle　still　closer；　defending　their　banner　from　assault；　and　the　last　Moor　died　at　his　post　grasping　the　standard　of　the　Prophet。　This　standard　was　displayed　from　the　walls；　and　the　turbaned　heads　of　the　Moors　were　thrown　down　to　the　besiegers。*

*Pedro　de　Pineda　received　the　honor　of　knighthood　from　the　hand　　of　King　Ferdinand　for　his　valor　on　this　occasion　（Alonzo　Ponce　was　　already　knight。）See　Zuniga；　Annales　of　Seville；　lib。　12；　an。　1482。


Muley　Abul　Hassan　tore　his　beard　with　rage　at　the　failure　of　this　attempt　and　at　the　death　of　so　many　of　his　chosen　cavaliers。　　He　saw　that　all　further　effort　was　in　vain；　his　scouts　brought　word　that　they　had　seen　from　the　heights　the　long　columns　and　flaunting　banners　of　the　Christian　army　approaching　through　the　mountains。　To　linger　would　be　to　place　himself　between　two　bodies　of　the　enemy。　Breaking　up　his　camp；　therefore；　in　all　haste；　he　gave　up　the　siege　of　Alham