chronicle of the conquest of granada-第21章

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*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


Fear　and　trembling　reigned　for　a　time　along　the　frontier。　　Their　spear　seemed　broken；　their　buckler　cleft　in　twain：　every　border　town　dreaded　an　attack；　and　the　mother　caught　her　infant　to　her　bosom　when　the　watch…dog　howled　in　the　night；　fancying　it　the　war…cry　of　the　Moor。　　All　for　a　time　seemed　lost；　and　despondency　even　found　its　way　to　the　royal　breasts　of　Ferdinand　and　Isabella　amidst　the　splendors　of　their　court。

Great；　on　the　other　hand；　was　the　joy　of　the　Moors　when　they　saw　whole　legions　of　Christian　warriors　brought　captive　into　their　towns　by　rude　mountain…peasantry。　　They　thought　it　the　work　of　Allah　in　favor　of　the　faithful。　　But　when　they　recognized　among　the　captives　thus　dejected　and　broken　down　some　of　the　proudest　of　Christian　chivalry；　when　they　saw　several　of　the　banners　and　devices　of　the　noblest　houses　of　Spain；　which　they　had　been　accustomed　to　behold　in　the　foremost　of　the　battle；　now　trailed　ignominiously　through　their　streets；　when；　in　short；　they　witnessed　the　arrival　of　the　count　of　Cifuentes；　the　royal　standard…bearer　of　Spain；　with　his　gallant　brother；　Don　Pedro　de　Silva；　brought　prisoners　into　the　gates　of　Granada；there　were　no　bounds　to　their　exultation。　　They　thought　that　the　days　of　their　ancient　glory　were　about　to　return；　and　that　they　were　to　renew　their　career　of　triumph　over　the　unbelievers。

The　Christian　historians　of　the　time　are　sorely　perplexed　to　account　for　this　misfortune；　and　why　so　many　Christian　knights；　fighting　in　the　cause　of　the　holy　faith；　should　thus　miraculously；　as　it　were；　be　given　captive　to　a　handful　of　infidel　boors；　for　we　are　assured　that　all　this　rout　and　destruction　was　effected　by　five　hundred　foot　and　fifty　horse；　and　those　mere　mountaineers　without　science　or　discipline。*　　〃It　was　intended；〃　observes　one　historiographer；　〃as　a　lesson　to　their　confidence　and　vainglory；　overrating　their　own　prowess　and　thinking　that　so　chosen　a　band　of　chivalry　had　but　to　appear　in　the　land　of　the　enemy　and　conquer。　　It　was　to　teach　them　that　the　race　is　not　to　the　swift　nor　the　battle　to　the　strong；　but　that　God　alone　giveth　the　victory。〃

*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


The　worthy　father　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　however；　asserts　it　to　be　a　punishment　for　the　avarice　of　the　Spanish　warriors。　　They　did　not　enter　the　kingdom　of　the　infidels　with　the　pure　spirit　of　Christian　knights；　zealous　only　for　the　glory　of　the　faith；　but　rather　as　greedy　men　of　traffic；　to　enrich　themselves　by　vending　the　spoils　of　the　infidels。　　Instead　of　preparing　themselves　by　confession　and　communion；　and　executing　their　testaments；　and　making　donations　and　bequests　to　churches　and　convents；　they　thought　only　of　arranging　bargains　and　sales　of　their　anticipated　booty。　　Instead　of　taking　with　them　holy　monks　to　aid　them　with　their　prayers；　they　were　followed　by　a　train　of　trading…men　to　keep　alive　their　worldly　and　sordid　ideas；　and　to　turn　what　ought　to　be　holy　triumphs　into　scenes　of　brawling　traffic。　　Such　is　the　opinion　of　the　excellent　Agapida；　in　which　he　is　joined　by　that　most　worthy　and　upright　of　chroniclers；　the　curate　of　Los　Palacios。　　Agapida　comforts　himself；　however；　with　the　reflection　that　this　visitation　was　meant　in　mercy　to　try　the　Castilian　heart；　and　to　extract　from　its　present　humiliation　the　elements　of　future　success；　as　gold　is　extracted　from　amidst　the　impurities　of　earth；　and　in　this　reflection　he　is　supported　by　the　venerable　historian　Pedro　Abarca　of　the　Society　of　Jesuits。*

*Abarca；　Anales　de　Aragon；　Rey　30；　cap。　2；　0xA4　7。



CHAPTER　XIV。

HOW　KING　BOABDIL　EL　CHICO　MARCHED　OVER　THE　BORDER。


The　defeat　of　the　Christian　cavaliers　among　the　mountains　of　Malaga；　and　the　successful　inroad　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan　into　the　lands　of　Medina　Sidonia；　had　produced　a　favorable　effect　on　the　fortunes　of　the　old　monarch。　　The　inconstant　populace　began　to　shout　forth　his　name　in　the　streets；　and　to　sneer　at　the　inactivity　of　his　son　Boabdil　el　Chico。　　The　latter；　though　in　the　flower　of　his　age　and　distinguished　for　vigor　and　dexterity　in　jousts　and　tournaments；　had　never　yet　fleshed　his　weapon　in　the　field　of　battle；　and　it　was　murmured　that　he　preferred　the　silken　repose　of　the　cool　halls　of　the　Alhambra　to　the　fatigue　and　danger　of　the　foray　and　the　hard　encampments　of　the　mountains。

The　popularity　of　these　rival　kings　depended　upon　their　success　against　the　Christians；　and　Boabdil　el　Chico　found　it　necessary　to　strike　some　signal　blow　to　counterbalance　the　late　triumph　of　his　father。　　He　was　further　incited　by　his　father…in…law；　Ali　Atar；　alcayde　of　Loxa；　with　whom　the　coals　of　wrath　against　the　Christians　still　burned　among　the　ashes　of　age；　and　had　lately　been　blown　into　a　flame　by　the　attack　made　by　Ferdinand　on　the　city　under　his　command。


Ali　Atar　informed　Boabdil　that　the　late　discomfiture　of　the　Christian　knights　had　stripped　Andalusia　of　the　prime　of　her　chivalry　and　broken　the　spirit　of　the　country。　　All　the　frontier　of　Cordova　and　Ecija　now　lay　open　to　inroad；　but　he　especially　pointed　out　the　city　of　Lucena　as　an　object　of　attack；　being　feebly　garrisoned　and　lying　in　a　country　rich　in　pasturage；　abounding　in　cattle　and　grain；　in　oil　and　wine。　　The　fiery　old　Moor　spoke　from　thorough　information；　for　he　had　made　many　an　incursion　into　these　parts；　and　his　very　name　was　a　terror　throughout　the　country。　　It　had　become　a　by…　word　in　the　garrison　of　Loxa　to　call　Lucena　the　garden　of　Ali　Atar；　for　he　was　accustomed　to　forage　its　fertile　territories　for　all　his　supplies。

Boabdil　el　Chico　listened　to　the　persuasions　of　this　veteran　of　the　borders。　　He　assembled　a　force　of　nine　thousand　foot　and　seven　hundred　horse；　most　of　them　his　own　adherents；　but　many　the　partisans　of　his　father；　for　both　factions；　however　they　might　fight　among　themselves；　were　ready　to　unite　in　any　expedition　against　the　Christians。　　Many　of　the　most　illustrious　and　valiant　of　the　Moorish　nobility　assembled　round　his　standard；　magnificently　arrayed　in　sumptuous　armor　and　rich　embroidery；　as　though　for　a　festival　or　a　tilt　of　canes　rather　than　an　enterprise　of　iron　war。　　Boabdil's　mother；　the　sultana　Ayxa　la　Horra；　armed　him　for　the　field；　and　gave　him　her　benediction　as　she　girded　his　scimetar　to　his　side。　　His　favorite　wife　Morayma　wept　as　she　thought　of　the　evils　that　might　befall　him。　　〃Why　dost　thou　weep；　daughter　of　Ali　Atar？〃　said　the　high…minded　Ayxa：　〃these　tears　become　not　the　daughter　of　a　warrior　nor　the　wife　of　a　king。　　Believe　me　there　lurks　more　danger　for　a　monarch　within　the　strong　walls　of　a　palace　than　within　the　frail　curtains　of　a　tent。　　It　is　by　perils　in　the　field　that　thy　husband　must　purchase　security　on　his　throne。〃

But　Morayma　still　hung　upon　his　neck　with　tears　and　sad　forebodings；　and　when　he　departed　from　the　Alhambra　she　betook　herself　to　her　mirador；　overlooking　the　Vega；　whence　she　watched　the　army　as　it　went　in　shining　order　along　the　road　leading　to　Loxa；　and　every　burst　of　warlike　melody　that　came　swelling　on　the　breeze　was　answered　by　a　gush　of　sorrow。

As　the　royal　cavalcade　issued　from　the　palace　and　descended　through　the　streets　of　Granada　the　populace　greeted　their　youthful　sovereign　with　shouts；　anticipating　deeds　of　prowess　that　would　wither　the　laurels　of　his　father。　　The　appearance　of　Boabdil　was　well　calculated　to　captivate　the　public　eye；　if　we　may　judge　from　the　description　given　by　the　abbot　of　Rute　in　his　manuscript　history　of　the　House　of　Cordova。　　He　was　mounted　on　a　superb　white　charger　magnificently　caparisoned。　　His　corselets　were　of　polished　steel　richly　ornamented；　studded　with　gold　nails；　and　lined　with　crimson　velvet。　　He　wore　a　steel　casque　exquisitely　chiselled　and　embossed；　his　scimetar　and　dagger　of　Damascus　were　of　highest　temper；　he　had　a　round　buckler　at　his　shoulder　and　bore　a　ponderous　lance。　　In　passing　through　the　gate　of　Elvira；　however；　he　accidentally　broke　his　lance　against　the　arch。　　At　this　certain　of　his　nobles　turned　pale　and　entreated　him　to　turn　back；　for　they　regarded　it　as　an　evil　omen。　Boabdil　scoffed　at　their　fears　as　idle　fancies。　　He　refused　to　take　another　spear；　but　drew　forth　his　scimetar　and　led　the　way　（adds　Agapida）　in　an　arrogant　and　haughty　style；　as　though　he　would　se