chronicle of the conquest of granada-第13章

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wo　bodies　of　the　enemy。　Breaking　up　his　camp；　therefore；　in　all　haste；　he　gave　up　the　siege　of　Alhama　and　hastened　back　to　Granada；　and　the　last　clash　of　his　cymbals　scarce　died　upon　the　ear　from　the　distant　hills　before　the　standard　of　the　Duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　was　seen　emerging　in　another　direction　from　the　defiles　of　the　mountains。

When　the　Christians　in　Alhama　beheld　their　enemies　retreating　on　one　side　and　their　friends　advancing　on　the　other；　they　uttered　shouts　of　joy　and　hymns　of　thanksgiving；　for　it　was　as　a　sudden　relief　from　present　death。　　Harassed　by　several　weeks　of　incessant　vigil　and　fighting；　suffering　from　scarcity　of　provisions　and　almost　continual　thirst；　they　resembled　skeletons　rather　than　living　men。　　It　was　a　noble　and　gracious　spectaclethe　meeting　of　those　hitherto　inveterate　foes；　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　and　the　marques　of　Cadiz。　　At　sight　of　his　magnanimous　deliverer　the　marques　melted　into　tears：　all　past　animosities　only　gave　the　greater　poignancy　to　present　feelings　of　gratitude　and　admiration。　　The　late　deadly　rivals　clasped　each　other　in　their　arms；　and　from　that　time　forward　were　true　and　cordial　friends。

While　this　generous　scene　took　place　between　the　commanders　a　sordid　contest　arose　among　their　troops。　　The　soldiers　who　had　come　to　the　rescue　claimed　a　portion　of　the　spoils　of　Alhama；　and　so　violent　was　the　dispute　that　both　parties　seized　their　arms。　　The　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　interfered；　and　settled　the　question　with　his　characteristic　magnanimity。　　He　declared　that　the　spoil　belonged　to　those　who　had　captured　the　city。　　〃We　have　taken　the　field；〃　said　he；　〃only　for　honor；　for　religion；　and　for　the　rescue　of　our　countrymen　and　fellow…Christians；　and　the　success　of　our　enterprise　is　a　sufficient　and　a　glorious　reward。　　If　we　desire　booty；　there　are　sufficient　Moorish　cities　yet　to　be　taken　to　enrich　us　all。〃　　The　soldiers　were　convinced　by　the　frank　and　chivalrous　reasoning　of　the　duke；　they　replied　to　his　speech　by　acclamations；　and　the　transient　broil　was　happily　appeased。

The　marchioness　of　Cadiz；　with　the　forethought　of　a　loving　wife；　had　despatched　her　major…domo　with　the　army　with　a　large　supply　of　provisions。　　Tables　were　immediately　spread　beneath　the　tents；　where　the　marques　gave　a　banquet　to　the　duke　and　the　cavaliers　who　had　accompanied　him；　and　nothing　but　hilarity　prevailed　in　this　late　scene　of　suffering　and　death。

A　garrison　of　fresh　troops　was　left　in　Alhama；　and　the　veterans　who　had　so　valiantly　captured　and　maintained　it　returned　to　their　homes　burdened　with　precious　booty。　　The　marques　and　duke；　with　their　confederate　cavaliers；　repaired　to　Antiquera；　where　they　were　received　with　great　distinction　by　the　king；　who　honored　the　marques　of　Cadiz　with　signal　marks　of　favor。　　The　duke　then　accompanied　his　late　enemy；　but　now　most　zealous　and　grateful　friend；　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　to　his　town　of　Marchena；　where　he　received　the　reward　of　his　generous　conduct　in　the　thanks　and　blessings　of　the　marchioness。　The　marques　celebrated　a　sumptuous　feast　in　honor　of　his　guest；　for　a　day　and　night　his　palace　was　thrown　open　and　was　the　scene　of　continual　revel　and　festivity。　　When　the　duke　departed　for　his　estates　at　St。　Lucar　the　marques　attended　him　for　some　distance　on　his　journey；　and　when　they　separated　it　was　as　the　parting　scene　of　brothers。　　Such　was　the　noble　spectacle　exhibited　to　the　chivalry　of　Spain　by　these　two　illustrious　rivals。　　Each　reaped　universal　renown　from　the　part　he　had　performed　in　the　campaignthe　marques　from　having　surprised　and　captured　one　of　the　most　important　and　formidable　fortresses　of　the　kingdom　of　Granada；　and　the　duke　from　having　subdued　his　deadliest　foe　by　a　great　act　of　magnanimity。



CHAPTER　IX。

EVENTS　AT　GRANADA；　AND　RISE　OF　THE　MOORISH　KING；　BOABDIL　　　　　EL　CHICO。


The　Moorish　king；　Abul　Hassan；　returned；　baffled　and　disappointed；　from　before　the　walls　of　Alhama；　and　was　received　with　groans　and　smothered　execrations　by　the　people　of　Granada。　　The　prediction　of　the　santon　was　in　every　mouth；　and　appeared　to　be　rapidly　fulfilling；　for　the　enemy　was　already　strongly　fortified　in　Alhama；　in　the　very　heart　of　the　kingdom。　　At　the　same　time；　the　nobles　who　had　secretly　conspired　to　depose　the　old　king　and　elevate　his　son　Boabdil　to　the　throne　had　matured　their　plans　in　concert　with　the　prince；　who　had　been　joined　in　Guadix　by　hosts　of　adherents。　　An　opportunity　soon　presented　to　carry　their　plans　into　operation。

Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　a　royal　country　palace；　with　gardens　and　fountains；　called　the　Alixares；　situated　on　the　Cerro　del　Sol；　or　Mountain　of　the　Sun；　a　height　the　ascent　to　which　leads　up　from　the　Alhambra；　but　which　towers　far　above　that　fortress；　and　looks　down　as　from　the　clouds　upon　it　and　upon　the　subjacent　city　of　Granada。　It　was　a　favorite　retreat　of　the　Moorish　kings　to　inhale　the　pure　mountain…breezes　and　leave　far　below　the　din　and　turmoil　of　the　city；　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　passed　a　day　among　its　bowers；　in　company　with　his　favorite　wife　Zoraya；　when　toward　evening　he　heard　a　strange　sound　rising　from　the　city；　like　the　gathering　of　a　storm　or　the　sullen　roar　of　the　ocean。　　Apprehensive　of　evil；　he　ordered　the　officers　of　his　guard　to　descend　with　all　speed　to　the　city　and　reconnoitre。　　The　intelligence　brought　back　was　astounding。　A　civil　war　was　raging　in　the　city。　　Boabdil　had　been　brought　from　Guadix　by　the　conspirators；　the　foremost　of　whom　were　the　gallant　race　of　the　Abencerrages。　　He　had　entered　the　Albaycin　in　triumph；　and　been　hailed　with　rapture　and　proclaimed　king　in　that　populous　quarter　of　the　city。　　Abul　Cacim　Vanegas；　the　vizier；　at　the　head　of　the　royal　guards　had　attacked　the　rebels；　and　the　noise　which　had　alarmed　the　king　was　the　din　of　fighting　in　the　streets　and　squares。

Muley　Abul　Hassan　hastened　to　descend　to　the　Alhambra；　confident　that；　ensconced　in　that　formidable　fortress；　he　could　soon　put　an　end　to　the　rash　commotion。　　To　his　surprise　and　dismay；　he　found　the　battlements　lined　with　hostile　troops：　Aben　Comixa；　the　alcayde；　had　declared　in　favor　of　Boabdil　and　elevated　his　standard　on　the　towers：　thus　cut　off　from　his　stronghold；　the　old　monarch　was　fain　to　return　to　the　Alixares。

The　conflict　lasted　throughout　the　night　with　carnage　on　both　sides。　In　the　morning　Abul　Cacim；　driven　out　of　the　city；　appeared　before　the　old　king　with　his　broken　squadrons；　and　told　him　there　was　no　safety　but　in　flight。　　〃Allah　Akbar！〃　（God　is　great！）　exclaimed　old　Muley；　〃it　is　in　vain　to　contend　against　what　is　written　in　the　book　of　fate。　　It　was　predestined　that　my　son　should　sit　upon　the　throne　Allah　forfend　the　rest　of　the　prediction。〃　　So　saying；　he　made　a　hasty　retreat；　escorted　by　Abul　Cacim　Vanegas　and　his　troops；　who　conducted　him　to　the　castle　of　Mondujar　in　the　valley　of　Locrin。　Here　he　was　joined　by　many　powerful　cavaliers；　relatives　of　Abul　Cacim　and　partisans　of　Zoraya；　among　whom　were　Cid　Hiaya；　Aben　Jamy；　and　Reduan　Vanegas；　men　who　had　alcaydes；　vassals；　at　their　command；　and　possessed　great　influence　in　Almeria　and　Baza。　　He　was　joined　also　by　his　brother　Abdallah；　commonly　called　El　Zagal；　or　the　Valiant；　who　was　popular　in　many　parts　of　the　kingdom。　All　these　offered　to　aid　him　with　their　swords　in　suppressing　the　rebellion。

Thus　reinforced；　Muley　Abul　Hassan　determined　on　a　sudden　blow　for　the　recovery　of　his　throne　and　the　punishment　of　the　rebels。　He　took　his　measures　with　that　combination　of　dexterity　and　daring　which　formed　his　character；　and　arrived　one　night　under　the　walls　of　Granada　with　five　hundred　chosen　followers。　　Scaling　the　walls　of　the　Alhambra；　he　threw　himself　with　sanguinary　fury　into　its　silent　courts。　　The　sleeping　inmates　were　roused　from　their　repose　only　to　fall　by　the　exterminating　scimetar。　　The　rage　of　Abul　Hassan　spared　neither　age　nor　rank　nor　sex；　the　halls　resounded　with　shrieks　and　yells；　and　the　fountains　ran　red　with　blood。　　The　alcayde；　Aben　Comixa；　retreated　to　a　strong　tower　with　a　few　of　the　garrison　and　inhabitants。　　The　furious　Abul　Hassan　did　not　lose　time　in　pursuing　him；　he　was　anxious　to　secure　the　city　and　to　wreak　his　vengeance　on　its　rebellious　inhabitants。　　Descending　with　his　bloody　band　into　the　streets；　he　cut　down　th